October's Book of the Month

 

Hello Everyone! I chose the picture posted above because it reminds me of reading to my daughter Mareena when she was little. Every afternoon until she was about eight or nine years old, we would take one of her books that she wanted to read or that she was reading and we would curl up together on my big bed. 

We would spend an hour or so reading a chapter of her book, and then take a nap together. Her absolutely favorite author at that time was an English author named Enid Blyton. Ahh, nice memories... 

My picks for 'Books of the Month' will be decidedly more adult these days, but they will be from almost any genre. October's Book of the Month is:

A Map of the World  by Jane Hamilton

  Published as: A Map of the World in May 1994

Publisher: Doubleday

Birth Name: Jane Hamilton

Born: 13 July 1957 in Oak Park, Illinois

Canonical Name: Jane Hamilton
Pseudonyms: None

A Map of the World by Jane Hamilton was the forty-seventh book that I read in 2016. I have had this book on my TBR shelf since June 7, 2016 although my first reading of this particular book took place about a decade ago. My reread of it took me sixteen days to read. This book is definitely still a keeper for me. 

Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight

Stephen King - Lisey's Story: A Novel

49. Lisey's Story: A Novel by Stephen King (2006)

Length: 513 pages

Genre: Horror 

Started: 18 October 2016

Finished: 28 October 2016

Where did it come from? From Bookmooch

How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 17 October 2016

Why do I have it? I like horror and have read and enjoyed several books by this author in the past.

Scott Landon was an award-winning, best-selling novelist and he and his wife Lisey Debusher Landon had been happily married for twenty-five years until his untimely death. Their relationship may have been filled with the typical ups and downs that every couple experiences, but overall, Lisey believed that their marriage was extraordinarily and profoundly intimate - sometimes frighteningly intimate. Scott Landon had recently passed away two years ago, and Lisey is only now coming to terms with what a complicated man her husband truly was.

Lisey had always suspected that her husband had sometimes lived in a world of his own - a world of dark secrets that threatened to consume him utterly. As a matter of fact, Scott himself had taught Lisey about the different sides of his personality - sides that she sometimes found endearingly charming, yet sometimes disturbingly eccentric. Yet, she also believed that their enduring love for each other would always be the key that was strong enough to protect Scott from himself.

Starting early on in their relationship, even before their marriage, Lisey learned about many things from Scott. As a matter of fact, she had to learn about these things in order to better understand the man who would soon become her husband. She had to learn about the importance of books and blood and bools - indeed, there were certain times during their life together, when Lisey believed that Scott was actually trying to teach her a completely different language - a whole new perspective on life that was entirely their own.

It was only later when Lisey began to realize - no, to truly understand - that there was actually a special place where Scott went to be alone. It was a place within his own mind that both terrified and healed him, a place that could alternately eat him alive or give him the ideas he needed in order to live. It was a place of sunlight and shadow, genius and creativity - a world entirely of his own creation, known as 'Boo'ya Moon'. Now it's Lisey's turn to face Scott's demons; her turn to make her own journey to 'Boo'ya Moon'.

What begins as a grieving widow's effort to sort through her esteemed husband's personal papers, becomes a nearly fatal journey into the darkness that had enveloped Scott Landon's mind and soul. So now it falls to Lisey, to make her own pilgrimage to honor her husband's memory. She must find her own way to journey to Scott's special place - the place where his wealth of creativity and imagination existed; and dwelt alongside his increasing fear of his encroaching insanity.

I've recently discovered that Stephen King considers this book to be his favorite one of all his works. Indeed, Lisey's Story: A Novel is definitely Stephen King's most personal novel that he has written, as the genesis of his ideas for the story came about during his convalescence from the near-fatal car accident that he suffered in June of 1999. In my opinion, my own favorite book by Stephen King is Pet Sematary - which was written in 1983.

Actually, I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. Perhaps it wasn't my absolute favorite, but I still found it to be extremely well-developed and highly intriguing. The plot of Lisey's Story: A Novel by Stephen King was extraordinarily imaginative and descriptive. Overall, I enjoyed the story very much, although I found certain parts of the story to be almost overwhelmingly descriptive.

I must admit that while these particular scenes were certainly very well-written; I generally tried to avoid them - as they tended to give me what Mareena calls 'the cringing skin crawls'. I would also like to mention that in my own opinion, this book probably could have benefitted from being approximately one hundred pages shorter. Having said that, I would still give this book a strong A!

A! - (90-95%)

Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight

I Participated in the First Annual 'Puzzle-a-Thon'!

Hello everyone! I hope that you're all just fine this morning - I certainly am! :) Anyway, I just wanted to give you an update on how I'm doing so far.

I know that many book bloggers around the World Wide Web tend to set themselves mini readathons if they feel like they are getting a little bit behind with their reading. I seem to have done the same thing with jigsaw puzzles! From Sunday night, October 23rd to Tuesday night, October 25th, I hosted my own personal 'Puzzle-a-Thon'. I took two days off from reading Lisey's Story: A Novel by Stephen King and focused solely on doing jigsaw puzzles. I was actually able to finish a total of nine jigsaw puzzles out of the box of twelve, although I have also started doing a tenth one.

To be perfectly honest, I've had to do something that I very rarely have ever done. There have been a few scenes in Lisey's Story: A Novel by Stephen King that have caused me to feel moments of what Mareena calls 'the cringing skin crawls'. Stephen King is a great writer, don't get me wrong, but he seems to be extraordinarily descriptive of certain scenes. I really don't like having to skip parts of the book while I'm reading, but I have found that I've had to do exactly that whenever I sense that I'm possibly getting close to a scene that might give me an attack of 'the cringing skin crawls' - lol!!!

As regards my own reading, I actually finished reading Lying Awake: A Novel by Mark Salzman on Tuesday, October 18th! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and thought it was such a delightful little story. On Monday, October 17th, Lisey's Story: A Novel by Stephen King arrived in the mail. Apparently, Mareena requested the book for me as a 'just because' gift for October; and I started reading it on Tuesday, October 18th!

Despite my getting occasional moments of 'the cringing skin crawls', I'm actually really enjoying reading Lisey's Story: A Novel by Stephen King. In my opinion, Stephen King has an incredible imagination and the plot itself is very intriguing. According to Goodreads - as of today, Wednesday, October 26th - I've read 386 pages out of 513; or approximately 75 percent of the story. I don't think that I have that much left to read; so it shouldn't take me that much longer.

Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight 

I'm Looking to Give Myself a Good Scare!

Hello everyone! I hope that you're all just fine this morning - I certainly am! :) Anyway, I just wanted to give you an update on how I'm doing so far.

Well, with Halloween coming up next Monday, October 31st, Mareena and I are searching through our collection of horror movies. While Mareena has found her favorite movie, The Changeling with George C. Scott and Trish Van Devere, we still want to find our copies of The Exorcist, The Woman in Black, and What Lies Beneath. So far, we have only been able to find one of these movies. Oh, and yes, the twist in 'The Exorcist' series on Friday night, October 21st was definitely jaw-dropping!

Anyway, despite doing a lot of crossword puzzles and word jumbles from the newspaper, I've kind of been leaving the sum-doku puzzles alone for a few days. So far - as of Saturday afternoon, October 22nd - I've finished a grand total of six jigsaw puzzles from the giant box of twelve, although I have since started on a seventh one. I don't think it should take me all that long to finish it!

As regards my own reading, I actually finished reading Lying Awake: A Novel by Mark Salzman on Tuesday, October 18th! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and thought it was such a delightful little story. On Monday, October 17th, Lisey's Story: A Novel by Stephen King arrived in the mail. Apparently, Mareena requested the book for me as a 'just because' gift for October; and I started reading it on Tuesday, October 18th!

This was actually just the type of book that I was looking forward to reading in honor of the Halloween season. According to Goodreads - as of today, Sunday, October 23rd - I've read 312 pages out of 513; or approximately 60 percent of the story. So far, it seems to be a really good book!

Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight

Alright, so Television is Getting Really Good!

Hello everyone! I hope that you're all just fine this morning - I certainly am! :) Anyway, I just wanted to give you an update on how I'm doing so far.

So, I suppose that I'm playing a little bit of catch-up; it's not to a point of gridlock yet, but there is so much that I want to remember to write about that I'm pretty sure that I must miss some important things from time to time. Anyway, I finished the final jigsaw puzzle out of the box of twelve on Sunday night, October 16th! Then, I turned around and started doing the puzzles all over again - Surprise, surprise! LOL!!! As of yesterday evening - Thursday, October 20th - I've finished four jigsaw puzzles from the box of twelve.

My sum-doku puzzle addiction has been showing itself intermittently - as of yesterday morning, Thursday, October 20th - I've been alternating between two puzzle books. In the sum-doku puzzle that I have been doing since June 20th, I've finished approximately 89 puzzles. In the newest sum-doku puzzle book I've been doing, I have finished approximately 58 puzzles.

Well, ever since the series premiered on Friday, September 23rd, Mareena and I have watched every single episode of 'The Exorcist'. Apparently, tonight's episode is supposed to have quite a twist, and then the show is being pre-empted for the next two weeks by the World Series. Gee, how can they hold us in such suspense?

As regards my own reading, I actually finished reading Lying Awake: A Novel by Mark Salzman on Tuesday, October 18th! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and thought it was such a delightful little story. On Monday, October 17th, Lisey's Story: A Novel by Stephen King arrived in the mail. Apparently, Mareena requested the book for me as a 'just because' gift for October; and I started reading it on Tuesday, October 18th!

This was actually just the type of book that I was looking forward to reading in honor of the Halloween season. According to Goodreads - as of today, Friday, October 21st - I've read 219 pages out of 513; or approximately 42 percent of the story. So far, it seems to be a really good book!

Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight

Mark Salzman - Lying Awake: A Novel

48. Lying Awake: A Novel by Mark Salzman (2000)

Length: 181 pages 

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Started: 13 October 2016

Finished: 18 October 2016

Where did it come from? From a Library Book Sale

How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 7 June 2016

Why do I have it? I like contemporary fiction and Mark Salzman is a new author for me.

Somewhere outside present-day Los Angeles - cloistered inside a Carmelite convent - Sister John of the Cross spends her days in contemplation of the divinity of the Lord. While the pace of life within the walls of this holy place has remained unchanged for centuries, Sister John has dedicated her life to the service of others. She has used her God-given talents to bring recognition to her sisters and to her convent by writing inspirational and religious poetry. While she has spent her many years there honoring God and His many blessings, she has also experienced something not many people ever have.

She alone witnesses visions of such dazzling grace and spiritual intensity, that she is viewed as a modern-day prophetess by many of her sisters. These visions are both extraordinarily powerful and profoundly insightful, and Sister John has even gained some small measure of fame from within the community of Los Angles because of the brilliance of her poetry. However, despite her growing prominence as an author and poet, Sister John still remains humble and counts herself extraordinarily blessed to have had such wonderful experiences and gives all glory to God. However, sooner or later Sister John will eventually face a very human dilemma.

For years she has suffered from debilitating headaches, sharp pain that usually accompanies Sister John's miraculous visions. When a doctor reveals that her headaches may actually be a sign of something more dangerous, she faces a devastating choice. Because if Sister John's spiritual gifts are just physical symptoms of a serious illness rather than signs of grace bestowed on her, will seeking an earthly "cure" mean that her soul will ultimately become bereft; or that God will eventually forsake His faithful servant?

I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed this book. In my opinion, it was a delightful story and I really appreciated this poignant glimpse into a life spent within a convent. I will say that I have always been interested in reading anything that involves living the cloistered life. I would certainly give this book an A+!

A+! - (96-100%)

Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight

I Want to Read Something in Honor of the Season!

Hello everyone! I hope that you're all just fine this morning - I certainly am! :) Anyway, I just wanted to give you an update on how I'm doing so far.

Anyway, ten days ago - on Thursday afternoon, October 6th - I decided to treat myself and bought a box of jigsaw puzzles. There are actually twelve different puzzles in the entire box, but surprisingly that has only kept me occupied for a short amount of time. As of yesterday morning - Saturday, October 15th - I just finished the eleventh jigsaw puzzle out of a giant box of twelve. I may finish the entire box very shortly, but I have had so much fun doing these puzzles that I totally expect that I will be doing them again sometime very soon.

My sum-doku puzzle addiction has been showing itself intermittently - as of yesterday morning, Saturday, October 15th - I have finished a total of 54 sum-doku puzzles. Also, since the middle of June - June 20th to be exact - I have been doing sum-doku puzzles from another book. Since Thursday morning, August 11th I've actually managed to complete a grand total of 79 puzzles from that particular book. Not too bad at all, if I do say so, myself!

As regards my own reading, I actually finished reading A Map of the World by Jane Hamilton on Wednesday evening, October 5th! Since I set aside Deadly Impulse by Olga Bicos on Thursday, October 13th, I immediately started reading Lying Awake: A Novel by Mark Salzman. According to Goodreads - as of Friday afternoon, October 14th - I've read 17 pages out of 181; or approximately 9 percent of the story.

Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight

My Minor Puzzle Blitz Continues!

Hello everyone! I hope that you're all just fine this morning - I certainly am! :) Anyway, I just wanted to give you an update on how I'm doing so far.

Anyway, exactly a week ago - on Thursday afternoon, October 6th - I decided to treat myself and bought a box of jigsaw puzzles. There are actually twelve different puzzles in the entire box, but sometimes it feels good to splurge a little bit. As of today - Thursday, October 13th - I have managed to finish a grand total of nine jigsaw puzzles from the box. I have to say that I was expecting such a giant box to last me a little bit longer than it seems like it might, but I suppose it is still not too bad.

So, because I received an injury at my doctor's appointment, I had to go to a follow-up appointment where they told me that they wanted me to monitor my blood pressure and pulse for the next three months. I started charting my results on Monday morning, September 27th and except for a couple of days where my blood pressure and pulse were slightly higher than usual, for the most part the results have been fairly consistent. Since Monday night, October 3rd - the night when all my levels were so surprisingly low - I have continued to chart my progress.

All the results has been relatively stable except for the one night last week when I woke up from a particularly comfortable nap and somehow managed to have an elevated reading on both my blood pressure and my pulse. I did a double take on both readings since I knew that I wasn't dreaming or worried about anything, and so rechecked both results later. Back again to the normal range; as it should be.

As regards my own reading, I actually finished reading A Map of the World by Jane Hamilton on Wednesday evening, October 5th! I was wondering what to read next, and eventually chose to read Deadly Impulse by Olga Bicos on Friday, October 7th. Since then, I have decided to set that book aside for a while in favor of reading Lying Awake: A Novel by Mark Salzman; which I just started this morning: Thursday, October 13th!

Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight

I'm Not Suffering Through Another Reader's Block - It's Just That Puzzles of All Sorts Surround Me!

Hello everyone! I hope that you're all just fine this morning - I certainly am! :) Anyway, I just wanted to give you an update on how I'm doing so far.

Granted, I suppose that I haven't been doing all that much, besides the occasional jigsaw or sum-doku puzzles. I've also been reading quite a lot, but to be perfectly honest jigsaw puzzles have been waylaying my attention from time to time. I have no problem with choosing books and starting to read them, but sooner or later my head is turned by something in the puzzle 'genre'! LOL!!!

Anyway, with regard to my jigsaw puzzle quota, as of this morning - Monday, October 10th - I've managed to finish two more puzzles, bringing my total to six jigsaw puzzles out of the box of twelve. Actually, not too bad. Also, along with doing the occasional crossword puzzle out of the newspaper, I've done another eighteen sum-doku puzzles - bringing my grand total of puzzles to 47 sum-doku puzzles as of Monday, October 10th!

As regards my own reading, I actually finished reading A Map of the World by Jane Hamilton on Wednesday evening, October 5th! I was wondering what to read next, and eventually chose to read Deadly Impulse by Olga Bicos on Friday night, October 7th. This book has been on my bookshelf since May 20, 2013 and looks very intriguing, despite being on my TBR pile for approximately three years! According to Goodreads - as of Monday, October 10th - I'm on page 25 of 379; or approximately 7 percent into the story.

Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight

Do You Want to Hear a Funny Story?

Hello everyone! I hope that you're all just fine this morning - I certainly am! :) Anyway, I just wanted to give you an update on how I'm doing so far.

Anyway, two days ago - on Thursday afternoon, October 6th - I decided to treat myself and bought a box of jigsaw puzzles. There are actually twelve different puzzles in the entire box, so that should keep me going for a little while! Since the last jigsaw puzzle that I finished was on Friday morning, September 16th, I actually thought that I deserved to get some new puzzles for myself. As of today - Saturday, October 8th - I think I've finished about four of the jigsaw puzzles; at least, so far.

So, because I received an injury at my doctor's appointment, I had to go to a follow-up appointment where they told me that they wanted me to monitor my blood pressure and pulse for the next three months. I started charting my results on Monday morning, September 27th and except for a couple of days where my blood pressure and pulse were slightly higher than usual, for the most part the results have been fairly steady. I have actually been pleasantly surprised by the results - practically text-book level perfection! LOL!!!

So, on Monday night, October 3rd Mareena and I were watching a horror movie on television: The Grudge 3, starring Johanna Braddy and Shawnee Smith. About halfway through the movie - actually during the ads, right after watching a cliffhanger scary scene - I happened to remember to take my blood pressure and pulse. I took them, then had to recheck them just to make sure that I had them correct: my blood pressure was 122 over 49; and my pulse was 63! LOL!!!

As regards my own reading, I actually finished reading A Map of the World by Jane Hamilton on Wednesday evening, October 5th! I was wondering what to read next, and eventually chose to read Deadly Impulse by Olga Bicos yesterday, October 7th. This book has been on my bookshelf since May 20, 2013 and looks very intriguing, despite being on my TBR pile for approximately three years!

Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight

Jane Hamilton - A Map of the World

47. A Map of the World by Jane Hamilton (1994)

Length: 390 pages 

Genre: Contemporary Fiction 

Started: 19 September 2016

Finished: 5 October 2016

Where did it come from? From a Library Book Sale

How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 7 June 2016

Why do I have it? I like contemporary fiction and have read and enjoyed Disobedience by the same author in the past.

Although Alice and Howard Goodwin and their two young daughters have lived in Racine, Wisconsin for several years, they are still considered to be relative outsiders by a majority of the townspeople. The family actually operates the last remaining dairy farm which is located on the outskirts of the town. While the farm has always been a dream of Howard's; finally realized by infusions of money given to him by his disgruntled mother, Alice considers herself to be constitutionally unsuited to be a farmer's wife. She works as a school nurse because she loves children, but is otherwise disorganized, skittish and emotionally volatile.

Alice is also extremely lonely, but she finds some solace in her friendship with her best friend Theresa. Theresa also has two little girls, and so both young mothers arrange alternating play dates while babysitting each other's children. During a particularly brutally hot day in June - in the midst of a terrible drought - Alice daydreams for just a few crucial moments while the four girls play together. In the space of a few short minutes, Alice's life as much as the lives of everyone around her, takes a tragic turn.

The resulting tragedy only serves to alienate the Goodwins even further from their neighbors, as the residents of Racine begin to close ranks against Alice and her family. When she is subsequently arrested for an unthinkable crime, Alice is devastated by the vicious accusations being made against her - but because Howard is unable to raise her bail - she must remain in jail. While Alice suffers tremendously though her time in jail, she still learns a great deal about human frailty and solidarity.

Meanwhile, Howard and her girls must undergo their own trial by fire. A Map of the World is the touching second novel written by Jane Hamilton. This is a beautifully written story that paints a stunning picture of a marriage placed under serious pressure due to calamitous circumstances. It also poignantly addresses the capricious turns of fate and the lives caught in the unyielding grip of regret.

I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. The story was well-written and full of sympathetic characters. I found myself totally immersed in the plot and I could completely understand how a person's entire life could be ruined by false accusations. As a matter of fact, reputations can be totally destroyed by the aftermath. I have actually read this book once before - approximately a decade ago - but as I can barely remember the plot, it's almost like I've never read the book at all. I would give this book a definite A+!

A+! - (96-100%)

Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight

Despite All Signs to the Contrary, I am Still Reading!

Hello everyone! I hope that you're all just fine this morning - I certainly am! :) Anyway, I just wanted to give you an update on how I'm doing so far.

Well, I'm delighted to let you all know that the 'goose egg' on my head as well as the two black eyes have finally gone better. As a matter of fact, everything was completely back to normal by Friday, September 30th! So, thank goodness for that!

So, as it is now officially the month of October, there is a boatload of horror movies that are going to be shown on television all throughout the month. Usually, the standard 'slasher' movies are always on - such as Saw, Wolf Creek, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Wrong Turn. Granted, Mareena and I have watched three of these movies together, but honestly there just wasn't enough of a backstory to hold our attention - at least not beyond the preliminaries - before we moved on to the chains, torture, and the crazed psychotic serial killers portion of the movie. I have to say that both of us could only watch these films once, and that was enough.

As regards my own reading, I actually started A Map of the World by Jane Hamilton on Monday, September 19th. According to Goodreads, as of this morning - Monday, October 3rd - I'm currently on page 285 of 400; or approximately 71 percent into the story. Since my own copy of A Map of the World by Jane Hamilton is actually 390 pages; reading 285 pages means that I have read approximately 73 percent of the story so far. I'm rather surprised that it's taking such a long time for me to read this book, but I am still enjoying the story.

Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight

Reading Wrap-up For September at Moonshine and Rosefire

Hello everyone out there and I hope that you all had a terrific reading month for yourselves. I am known as Rosefire around the Internet and this is my new personal reading blog. I originally posted my reviews over at my daughter's blog, Emeraldfire's Bookmark but am now in the process of transferring them all over to my own blog. My daughter makes blogging look like so much fun that I thought that I would try it out for myself! :)

Anyway, I started out September with 1,062 books lying around the house and ended the month with 1,061 books unread. All the books that I acquired this month came from Bookmooch.

Let me try to break down the influx for you:

Changes to the TBR pile

Rereads
- The Rector's Wife by Joanna Trollope

Added to my TBR pile (oh well, you win some and you lose some! Not too bad though, I suppose:))
- The Rite: The Making of a Modern Exorcist by Matt Baglio

Taken off my TBR pile and sent to a new home (Yay! Happy Dance! :))
- Dying Young by Marti Leimbach
- Bless me, Ultima by Rudolfo A. Anaya
- The Race: A Novel by Richard North Patterson
- Sins of the Fathers by Susan Howatch

Well, there it is...the breakdown! All in all, a very good reading month for me. Here's a further breakdown:

Books Read: 1
Pages Read: 285
Grade Range: A+!

So, there you go! The reading month that was September. I hope that you all had an equally good reading month; if not a little better. :) See you all next month! :)

Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight