"No one can be lonely who has a book for company." ~ Nelle Reagan

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Book Blogger Hop Friday! 3/18/11


This weekly bookish meme is hosted by The Crazy Bookworm

Question of the Week: "Do you read only one book at a time, or do you have several going at once?" 

This is a great question and one that I certainly wondered about.  I know some bloggers have several going at once and, honestly, I don't know how they can do it.  Perhaps if I were a student, I would and could because it would be necessary.

Before blogging, I didn't read more than one book at a time.  Now that I blog, I've gotten so I have two books going at once, rarely three.  I find it confusing otherwise.  I can read a non-fiction and a fiction book at the same time because there's often a great variance between them.  I feel that in order to do justice to the author and his/her work, I need to be focused and I can't if I have too much going on.  Maybe I'm just not that great of a multi-tasker.

How about you?  Do you read several books at once?  How do you keep the plots and characters separate and clear if you do?  Do you read a non-fiction and a fiction book at the same time?  Leave your answers here in the comments and remember to link up with The Crazy Bookworm too!

Have a great weekend!!

Theme Thursday 3/17/11 - Crockery/Utensil


Theme Thursdays, created by Kavyen @ Reading Between Pages, is a fun weekly event that will be open from one Thursday to the next. Anyone can participate in it. The rules are simple:


*A theme will be posted each week (on Thursday’s)
*Select a conversation/snippet/sentence from the current book you are reading
*Mention the author and the title of the book along with your post
*It is important that the theme is conveyed in the sentence (you don’t necessarily need to have the word)
Ex: If the theme is KISS; your sentence can have “They kissed so gently” or “Their lips touched each other” or “The smooch was so passionate”

This will give us a wonderful opportunity to explore and understand different writing styles and descriptive approaches adopted by authors.

This week’s theme is – CROCKERY / UTENSIL 

Here's mine from Nana:  The Four Crystals:

Nana went directly to the kitchen area and from the oven took a small pot from which she poured a prepared tea into three wooden cups.  She brought them to the canvas cloth on the floor and invited Serge and Alexa to sit upon the cushions.  ~ page 151, Nana:  The Four Crystals by Guillermo Romano

Book Review: Nana: The Four Crystals by Guillermo Romano

Nana:  The Four Crystals
Author:  Guillermo Romano
Copyright:  2011
Publisher:  self-published
Pages:  262
ISBN 9781453825051
Source:  complimentary copy provided by the author for review


Nana. The Four Crystals by Guillermo Romano


(from the back cover) Serge is a self-made man with an intense curiosity and thriving ambition.  Desperate for his own sense of meaning, he finds himself in a time of economic downturn, and overwhelming daily challenges.  Burdened with the struggles of life, he finds himself trapped behind his own questions, understanding that life changes in an instant.

To him the answers may lie on an enigmatic woman he unexpectedly meets in the deep jungles of Belize.  This woman, her ancient pendant, and most importantly, her wisdom, will lead Serge on a string of self righteous series of events that could determine his future and the future of the ones around him.

Four crystals stand between him, and discovering who he is.  The meaning of life, past and future will take him through an unbelievable journey to another culture, and another time.  Serge is forced to step up to the challenges presented and figure out who this woman is, what the crystals mean, and one of rediscovery, history and awareness. ...he will be faced with multiple choices. Four Crystals stand between him and discovering who he is. Serge is forced to step up to the challenges presented and figure out who this woman is, what the crystals mean, and more importantly-who he is."

My Thoughts:  The cover art is superb and the plot is reminiscent of Indiana Jones, but with a hunt for something of greater worth than physical value.  However, it is a bit slow to get going which caused some frustration because I could sense the story in those pages just waiting to explode but lacking the ignition.

Though I wanted to identify with the characters, I didn't and found the story was explained more than told,  if that makes sense.  I wanted to find the rhythm of it, to develop a kinship with Serge, to feel the pain and uncertainty he did.  I did momentarily but it didn't last.  But the overall story is interesting and, at moments, exciting. Romano has a great story to tell and the help of a good editor would definitely assist Nana: the Four Crystals to find its momentum and showcase its strengths.  I have no doubt the story is strong and this would help it reach its potential.

One of my favorite scenes in the novel is that of Serge's job interview.  Many a person would have walked away from it all, having endured intense scrutiny, judgment, bribes and temptations, but not Serge.  This shows a strength of character with high morals and scruples.  Serge also proves himself to be a genuine gentleman in the face of temptation.  Satisfied with the results, the "big guy" offers Serge a job that he has a mind to refuse but doesn't and it makes all the difference in the direction his life takes.

Nana:  the Four Crystals is a story of love, hope, adventure and mysteries in the jungles of Belize.  It was an enjoyable journey, once on the road it began.

Rated 3/5

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

W...W...W...Wednesdays 3/16/11


W...W...Wednesdays are hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading.To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…


• What are you currently reading? 
  • I am finishing Nana: The Four Crystals by Guillermo Romano.  I began this book last month but have had to set it aside more than once.  I am determined to finish reading it today.
  • Also bookmarked is The Day Before the Berlin Wall by T.H.E. Hill
  • Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte (online version).  I simply must read this before seeing the movie which has seriously piqued my interest!  It comes out here in Edmonton this Friday ! 
• What did you recently finish reading?
  • Good Returns: Making Money by Morally Responsible Investing by George P. Schwartz, CFA review here.
  • Proud to Have Been A New York City Transit Cop by John R. Martin review here.
  • At Home in Mitford by Jan Karon (for bookclub and previously reviewed here.)
• What do you think you’ll read next?
  • Next on my To Read List is The Chinese Conspiracy by John Marriotti
  • who knows?  If time allows, I'll tackle my TBR pile.  Which reminds me I have several E-books in wait too.  So much to read ;)
What did you finish this week and what have you begun reading?  I'd love to know.  Please comment below and remember to link up with MizB too.  Check back next Wednesday to see if I accomplished my goals.  Til then, have a great week and good reading!

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

A Stranger's Choice

I just had a wonderful idea which actually requires me to step outside my comfort zone and talk to strangers!!  I know!  It has been mulling around in my head for a short time and yesterday I made it happen!  So, here's how it goes.  On occasion, depending on how brave I am, I will go up to a total stranger who is reading, wherever that place may be.  The task is to inquire about the book they are reading and ask how they are liking it.  Then the homework begins.  I will research the title and blog about the book!!  Fun and unique (I hope).

So, today's the first day.  The first ever installment in this new series, A Stranger's Choice, on My Bookshelf.  My husband and I managed a lunch date at Costco, of all places.  As we were sitting at our table and having a nice little chat, another customer sat at a table near ours, eating a cone and reading! 

After explaining my plan to my hubby, I sullied my courage and walked to her table and did it.  In case you didn't know, this took a fair bit of courage as I can be painfully shy.  I totally shocked my husband!  So this actually helps me in a couple ways as I battle my inborn trait of shyness and accomplish this new task!  You know, she was actually happy to talk about her book!!!  Who knew?  Well, I guess I should have expected it because I love to talk/write about what I'm reading so it stands to figure that others will too!

Her book of choice, which she had just purchased, is Rules of Life by Richard Templar.  She said she is really enjoying it and let me know that the author has written others with a similar theme.  They're even available at Costco!  (Must be new because I hadn't seen them there before.)  She proceeded to tell me about the other books in this author's repertoire that I noted to be available at Costco including Rules of Work and Rules of Parenting.  After determining my husband's patience quota for the moment, I walked speedily to the book stacks and found three of his titles there.  Here's what I learned about Rules of Life.


"Some people seem more contented, fulfilled, enthusiastic about life... just plain happier. Is it genes? Money? No. It's the choices they make, how they behave, every single day. Now, Richard Templar brings together the rules that happy, successful people follow: small, simple, common-sense, doable rules that can change your life!" (Google Books)

The Rules of Life is a philosophy book written by Richard Templar. The book is divided into sections: personal; partnership; relations; social and universal, with each topic suggesting rules to make life better. The book is an international best seller and is the next book in the 'Rules-of' series, succeeding 'The Rules of Work'.  Here are the other titles in the series:

Rules of Management: The Definitive Guide to Managerial Success (Paperback - 30 Nov 2004)

The Rules of Life: A Personal Code for Living a Better, Happier, More Successful Kind of Life (Paperback - 8 Nov 2005)

The Rules of Wealth: A Personal Code for Prosperity (Paperback - 31 Oct 2006)

The Rules of Money: How to Make It and How to Hold on to It (Paperback - February 2007) ISBN 0-13-239410-3

The Rules of Parenting: A Personal Code of Raising Happy, Confident Children (Paperback - 3 March 2008)

The Rules of Love: A Personal Code for Happier, More Fulfilling Relationships (Pearson Education Limited, UK 2009)

The Rules of Work, Expanded Edition: A Definitive Code for Personal Success (FT Press, June 22, 2010)


(source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rules_of_Life)

 Of course, you  know, I didn't stop there!  I had to peruse the tables of books, noting new releases, popular books which continue to take their place amongst the stacks, and found several that I really want to read.  Did you know Frances Mayes has a new novel out called "Every Day in Tuscany"?  If you've read or had the occasion to watch "Under the Tuscan Sun," you'll understand my excitement!  This is based on the author's real life experiences as she moves to Tuscany, buys a little villa on a whim (bad decisions...don't you just love them?), and starts over in this new land among strangers.  Humourous, witty and touching.  It's a feel good kind of story with depth and likeable flawed characters. 

Also noted were "The Imperfectionists" by Tom Rochman (I really want to read this story about journalists), "Major Pettigrew's Last Stand" by Helen Simonson, "The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest", "The Forgotten Garden", several novels by Jodi Picoult, Nora Roberts, Tom Clancy and so much more.... Can I work there?

And the Winners Are:

(drumroll, please).  After submitting the numbers to random.org the winner was #6:  Sidne, the BCR who commented:

I would love to win a copy of Utopia Texas rdg.rendezvous@gmail.com. By Sidne,the BCR on It's Monday, What Are You Reading AND Giveaway!!! ... on 3/8/11
Sidne lives in the United States. 

The other winner was supposed to be from Canada, but no Canadians entered!  hmph... So the closest would be Heather who was once a Canadian.  Here's her comment:

Thanks for the opportunity - heather @ actingbalanced dot com from the USA, but originally from Canada ;) By heather@actingbalanced.com on It's Monday, What Are You Reading AND Giveaway!!! ... on 3/8/11

Thank you everyone for your comments and Congratulations to the winners!  I have sent emails to notify the winners.  You have 48 hours to email me with your mailing address or the prize will be forfeited and another winner will be chosen.

Teaser Tuesdays! 3/15/11


"A gentle rhythmic knocking sound swam down into the darkness that had swallowed my consciousness and attracted its attention.  My consciousness hung out the 'Do Not Disturb' sign and tried to ignore it." ~ page 1, The Day Before the Berlin Wall by T.H.E. Hill

And this is how the story begins!  The next few sentences get even better!!  Looks like it'll be a page turner!

Teaser Tuesdays is hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Please take a moment to introduce yourself and your teaser and then stop by Should Be Reading to join the linky. Have a great day!

Monday, March 14, 2011

Book Review: Good Returns: Making Money by Morally Responsible Investing by George P. Schwartz

Good Returns:  Making Money by Morally Responsible Investing
Author:  George P. Schwartz, CFA with William J. Koshelnyk
Copyright:  2010
Publisher:  The Barnabus Agency and Geodi Publishing
Pages:  191
Includes:  Table of Contents, Foreward, Introduction, Photo Section, Appendices A,B,C, and Index
ISBN 978-0-9844042-0-9

"Schwartz persuasively demonstrates that we can be successful investors without owning shares of companies that violate Catholic Church teachings" - Laura Ingraham, Nationally Syndicated Radio Host

"George Schwartz, a highly successful mutual fund founder and investment manager, explains the important distinction between the pop culture notion of socially responsible investing and the narrower and more exacting demands of morally responsible investing.  He reminds investors that even the smallest shareholder is an owner of the corporation and therefore accountable for the moral suitability of its products, services and policies...." - Hon. James L. Ryan, U.S. Court of Appeals, 6th Circuit

Many people invest in stocks as their financial advisor recommends or they follow the stock market and hope they are choosing something that will profit them in the long run.  How many actually think about the companies they are buying stock in?  This book recommends the reader exercise some good moral judgment when choosing their investments.  Using the teachings of the Catholic church, George P. Schwartz presents some ideas that perhaps the average investor doesn't think about.  He advises his clients and now his readers to choose  investments based on what the company they're investing in stands for and the practices it supports. 

Good Returns offers good advice for the investor to do/consider before making their choices including some age old advice, reminders and tips before selecting where to put your money.  There are chapters on investment planning, how to diversify, hedge funds, annuities and so much more.  An eye-opener for sure, if you are looking to invest, consider the future you're investing in and the vehicle you are using to get you there.

I learned a lot from reading this book and I have a bit of a background in the financial industry.  The biggest message Mr. Schultz seeks to convey is that we can make a difference in our society by making well-informed decisions about our investments.

Rated 3/5  Good for those who are in the market, looking for good investments.  Mr. Schwartz has some excellent ideas for you.

Win a Book!

(updated 03/30/11 CLOSED) -Enter now to win a copy of Utopia Texas.  Entries are low so chances to win are great!!  Contest closes at midnight tonight!  (March 14, 2011) Click here to enter for your chance to win one of two copies.  Open to US and Canada.  Winner selected by random.org and posted tomorrow.  Include in your comment your Email and Country.  New followers get a bonus entry!!

Sunday, March 13, 2011

In My Mailbox (Just received) 3/13/11


In My Mailbox was started by The Story Siren.

The idea behind IMM was not only to put new books on your radar but to also encourage blogger interaction. IMM explores the weekly contents of my mailbox & books bought.

Anyone can participate in IMM and you are not limited to only sharing books that arrive via your mailbox. You can also share books that you've bought or books that you've gotten at the library.

Quicksilver by Joy Spraycar
- A recurring nightmare holds Serry Miller in its grip and has for most of her life. In spite of her fear of the man who becomes a monster, she's in love with him. Not only does she have nightmares while she sleeps, she's living in one with an abusive, alcoholic husband. When, Serry's drunken husband hit's Quinton Worthington's car, she sees the face of the man from her nightmares on a stretcher entering the hospital. When he looks at her and calls her by her name, she is plummeted into a life that she has only dreamed about. Quinton Worthington has suffered for over a hundred years. That's when his evil father ripped Serenity, the love of Quinton's life, from him. At the same time, he changed Quinton into a monster. When Quinton sees Serry's face in the hospital, he believes that Serenity has come back, and he will do anything to be with her. There's only one thing that stands in their way of having the life they want: Quinton's father and the curse of the werewolf.




Animal Stories Daddy Told Us by Innocent Emechete. 
Animal Stories Daddy Told Us is a sixteen chapter collection of African animal stories for children describing day to day activities in animal kingdoms. These animals think, talk and manage their affairs. Like humans they have governments and political intrigues; argue their cases and settle their disputes....an all round entertainer and moral teacher for children and young at heart. It affords children the opportunity to look at real life experience through interactions with animals they already love and trust. Like cartoon stories, children of all ages will have fun with this set of African animal stories with animals interacting in their kingdoms far, far away.



Pursuit of Happiness by Sheldon Greene
The American Revolution is near collapse. Joshua Rutledge, a Quaker and a member of the Rebellion’s first spy organization, the Committee of Correspondence, is sent to the Caribbean to retrieve a desperately needed French arms shipment. He must both locate the arms and persuade a Jewish ship owner to transport them back to America through the British blockade. Rutledge falls for Amelia Sayre, the unconventional wife of a slave owner known for his brutality. From Jewish life in the Caribbean to the birth of the Marine Corps, from slave rebellion to Benedict Arnold’s seducer, Pursuit of Happiness is rich in detail, spiced with romance and action, larded with trenchant dialogue and an abundance of interesting, well-rounded characters. This fact-based page-turner never falters as it moves to a stunning climax. Fans of Patrick O’Brian, Bernard Cornwell, or Daphne Du Maurier should love it.



The Killing Game by J.C. Stevens
The Killing Game is about a Mob hit man forced out of retirement to kidnap and deliver a government witness but instead has a plan of his own to survive...




The Cholesterol Delusion by Ernest N. Curtis M.D.
Approximately one-half of the adult population of the United States are being told that they harbor within their bodies a silent killer. This "killer" is cholesterol. Millions are prescribed cholesterol lowering drugs making these pills the most prescribed (and most profitable) medications in the history of American medicine. They are told that these drugs will protect them from the ravages of heart disease. Dr. Ernest Curtis points out in his new book, The Cholesterol Delusion, that this is patently untrue and can be easily demonstrated by critical analysis of the data presented in the very medical studies that purport to show their benefit.




Sentimental Me by Charles L. Fields

Don't let the nostalgic title Sentimental Me fool you. This fast paced travel mystery is a true gem. It takes Boston lawyer, Charles Stone to Agua Prieta, Mexico to see why a slain U.S. Border Patrol Agent made a woman with known Drug Cartel connections the beneficiary of his $500,000 life insurance policy. Stone was often called in by the Franklin Life Insurance Company to investigate what they referred to as "exotic cases." He recently returned from an assignment in Ireland involving the Real IRA and a notorious international arms dealer. Exposing fraudulent activity almost cost him his life.

Needing a little R&R, he accepted the retainer and hoped the trip to Arizona and the Mexican border city would not be as dangerous, but nothing Franklin Life assigned him had ever been a "piece of cake". This investigative journey, rich in descriptive side events, introduces the reader to murder, drugs, arms smuggling and the powerful people who make it all happen. It is a ride to hell and back.




Reflections of a Successful Wallflower by Andrea Michaels
Andrea Michaels is literally one of the backbones of the special events industry. Launching her business when there was no formalized or defined marketplace, she was and still is a trailblazer, pioneering the way for others to follow. Always on the cutting edge of the business, she has stacked up a pile of firsts (and 50 prestigious awards) in her legendary career - from initiating corporate branding and messaging into events and interactive themes that create experiences for the guests to entering the international market ahead of her colleagues and incorporating never-before-used technology into her events, just to name a few. That alone should make her extraordinary, but she runs much deeper. Noted as one of the most caring and giving educators of our time, she has traveled the world to teach others not just her art and craft but to help them learn from her own mistakes. How did this genius evolve? Why is she so revered by all her peers? What does she know that we don't?

Reflections of a Successful Wallflower can only be compared to reading Andrea's diaries. This first inductee into the industry Hall of Fame shares, openly and candidly, not only the public wunderkind but the inner woman. Discover the workings of one of the foremost event producers in the world. You'll laugh; you'll cry; you'll be in disbelief and fascinated at the same time. She is a storyteller, and her stories and her life are great lessons for everyone.



Now that I have put these titles together in a post, I realize just how much reading I have ahead of me!  Wow!  I hadn't posted my "Just Received" for 2 or 3 weeks so this is somewhat lengthy but there are some  promising reads here!!

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