Friday, July 29, 2011

Growing Up In Boom Times now Book Blog Hopping

I am kind of glad that I did not get around to doing a mail call to announce receipt of this gem of a book. As fate would have it, announcing its arrival fits perfectly for this week's Book Blogger Hop question.

The Book Blogger Hop, hosted by Jennifer at Crazy-for-Books.com, connects book bloggers and readers together. It's a great way to meet and greet fellow book bloggers, authors, and reviewers. Each week a new question is offered up for us to answer in our blog post for the hop.

This week’s question:

"Highlight one book you have received this week (for review, from the library, purchased at the store, etc.) that you can’t wait to dig into!"


My Response: I purchased my signed copy of "Growing Up In Boom Times" by author and friend, Chris Brockman. As much as I wanted to read this beauty from cover-to-cover immediately, I have forced myself to keep two other book titles for review in front of it. Of course, it is only natural that I'd sneak a peek between the covers on occasion with it reaching out to me from the top of the pile of books upon my desk waiting to be read.

"Growing Up In Boom Times" is a trip down memory lane for those of us who grew up as Baby Boomers. However, it isn't just a glance at our past; it's a glance at our future -- viewed through the eyes of our present.

Enough about the book for now, lest I spoil it for you. I will share with you the personalized signing from Chris:

To Ruthi, who brings Sunshine
into so many people's lives.
Chris Brockman
06-21-11

How cool is that! While it warms the spirit...

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Are we Screenwriters of our Lives?

I am thoroughly enjoying the reading of No Greater Sacrifice by author John C. Stipa. It is difficult to choose an excerpt to share, as I am finding each part of the story intriguing with meat of the story in each morsel.

This week I share 100 words from chapter VI, page 55:

     "...a test."
     "I wouldn't put it that way. Maybe His plan is as simple as this: He built a place for us to be born, live, and die, to quote you. Either we choose to live a good life or we don't. And when it's all over, it is we who control whether we are worthy of His company."
     Renee sat forward and squared her body to him. "You make it sound like it's a theatre production for God. And life on Earth is the audition."
     "Yes, only we are the screenwriters, with the ability to dictate our own legacy."

And later in this dialogue, David asks Renee, "You got a better theory?"

How about you? How would you answer the question?

My response would be similar to a poetic creation of mine of January 2010, originally posted to Gather as Supporting Players...



And ... What are you currently reading? Snag the WoW Weekly 100 Words badge and link for your post and hop along with us this week! We'd love a morsel of the meat of the story you're reading.

Note: I use The Word Count Tool to count my book excerpts.


Friday, July 22, 2011

2nd Disrupted Lives Book Review

Fresh off the Ruthi Reads press at Squidoo is my 2nd book review of "Disrupted Lives", the first being right here on this blog: Book Review: Disrupted Lives.

For the Squidoo version, I have also added an author Q & A you won't want to miss. So, swim on over to my latest lens for the Disrupted Lives Book Review and Interview with Author Brenda Youngerman.

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

No Greater Sacrifice WoW 100 Words

Last week I finished reading and posted my Book Review of Disrupted Lives. This week, I begin reading No Greater Sacrifice by author John C. Stipa, which while barely into the first chapter already promises to be an amazing journey of nearly 400 pages.

Today, I share with you from Chapter 1, page 17:

     Renee's eyebrows went up. "What do you know about this ritual?"
     "It is heresay mostly, but the ceremony was a rite of passage for religious students wishing to elevate their spiritual awareness. There were five stages. One of them involved purification--"
     "Purification?" Renee interrupted. She pulled away and stared intently into his eyes. "Of what?"
     "One's soul possibly?" Dimitri shrugged. "Why?"
     Renee hesitated before responding. Should I tell him? And then what, ask him if he thinks the ceremony might cure me? Yeah, right, that will sound sober. She moved back into his embrace. "Just curious. Tell me more."

Book bloggers are invited to hop along with us in this WoW Weekly 100 Words blog hop. Just snag the hop button and link for your blog post, add your post link and title to the weekly linky list provided in my weekly WoW 100 post. Although this is a Wednesday hop, you're welcome to hop in at any time throughout the week and share from the book titles you are currently reading.

I use The Word Count Tool to count my book excerpts. I type in the box provided, then once I have 100 words, I copy and paste it right into my blog post.

Sunday, July 17, 2011

Book Review: Disrupted Lives

Prologue: Hmm ... Have you ever read a prologue to a book review? Hey, somebody's gotta go first and it may as well be me! My friend Brenda will confirm that I do not care for prologues in books ... smiles. With that in mind, here's my introduction to my review of "Disrupted Lives" by my friend and author, Brenda Youngerman:

I am going to break my self-imposed rules for writing a book review. Rarely do I get personal in a book review; seldom will you see me use the word "I" in a book review; and, it is an extremely rare occasion when I review the author as opposed to, or along with, reviewing the book. In the case of this particular author, this particular book title, I have made the decision to review both the book and the author -- from my personal point of view. I justify my breaking of my review rules by the fact that my author friend is worthy of my doing so, which I shall explain further in the review.


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"Disrupted Lives" by author Brenda Youngerman is the telling across generations of the lifespan of the Lake and Kane families. It is a work of fiction with a purpose, as all of Youngerman's novels are appraised to be.

Having read a few of Youngerman's novels and many of her other writings, I have come to expect and appreciate her desire to make a difference with her writing talent. Brenda seldom scribes for pleasure and even in so doing, social issues rise within her writings. Her compassion for others, for society as a whole, is evident in each of her works.

"Disrupted Lives" touches on matters that directly or indirectly affect not just the characters in the family of the book, but these are also concerns you and I live with every day. Adoption, culture, racism, relationships, family values, and family secrets are just a few of the topics we take a look at through the pages of this historic journey Youngerman takes us on.

From Fiona, the matriarch of the Lake family on down to her grandson of the Kane clan, we see generations of the families affected long term by their own decisions and by the choices of other family members. The life of family was torn apart by paths chosen.

Need and Greed are the two major implied forces battling within the Lake and Kane families. I was pretty sure the adopted grandson managed to affect change until the ending of the story of these families. In the end, I feel Youngerman failed somewhat to convince me that the parents sought their long lost son for any reason other than need and greed. Sure, I was convinced they loved him; I was more convinced they loved their daughter more -- her Need was their Greed. The wheels of the unjust are a perpetual motion, thriving and harmful across generations.

However, I do not believe this is the reaction author Brenda Youngerman hoped for, wrote for. It is my belief that her words for her characters, Darren and Amelia, on two or three separate occasions, could have been chosen more wisely, more precisely, to her purpose.

On the back cover of "Disrupted Lives" you will read: A name does not make a person, a person makes a name. Without a doubt, Brenda Youngerman is making a name for herself in her novels. I do not pretend to be an expert on the art of writing, but I know enough to be able to say this author has talent. She writes with a passionate pen. Each book of this author's I have read has shown writing growth and improvement. (I like this in an author and it may well be the reason I prefer to read and review newer published authors as opposed to renowned authors.)

"Disrupted Lives" has a style all its own, a passion all its own. This Brenda Youngerman title is one you will want to own.


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This book review was written as part of the Disrupted Lives - Blog Tour.

I received a copy of the book from the author for review purposes.

For your convenience, I have provided you with a link to purchase your copy of this book from Amazon.com:



Friday, July 15, 2011

Where to Buy Books - Book Blogger Hop

It's been a long while since I've particpated in The Book Blogger Hop, so today I decided to make and take the time to do so.
The Book Blogger Hop, hosted by Jennifer at Crazy-for-Books.com, connects book bloggers and readers together. It's a great way to meet and greet fellow book bloggers.

Each week a new question is offered up for us to answer in our post for the hop. This week’s question comes from Veronica of Read Books Have Fun.


"How/Where do you get your books? Do you buy them or go to the library? Is there a certain website you use like paperbackswap?

My Response:  In past decades, I'd purchased my books in bookstores, usually neighborhood used bookstores, and also picked up many a good read at garage and yard sales. For the past decade, I would say most books I purchase directly from the authors I have met online. I also occasionally purchase from Amazon.com.

Best of all for the past couple of years, most of the books that I read are offered up via authors at Reviews4Reviews.com, where I am a registered book reviewer, in exchange for a posted book review.

I also enter a lot of book giveaways on the internet and generally win two or three books a month by doing so. In fact, just yesterday I was announced winner of "The Art of Forgiving" book giveaway over at Two Kids and Tired Books.

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

WoW 100 - What kind of a mother does that?

     She sadly looked at him and through her tears quietly replied, "I fell asleep and when I woke up the baby was gone. What kind of a mother does that?"
     "Amelia," Tyler leaned forward again, "I want you to listen to me very carefully. You were eighteen years old. You were sent away to a home that handled situations like yours. The likelihood that you 'fell asleep' is probably more that you were drugged into a deep enough sleep for them to take the baby away from you. Most women after giving birth have an adrenaline rush and are alert...

The 100-word excerpt above is found in chapter TWENTY-NINE, page 184 of  Disrupted Lives by author Brenda Youngerman.

This will be my last share from the book "Disrupted Lives", although I will be posting my book review for this title this coming Sunday, July 17th, as part of Brenda Youngerman's Disrupted Lives Blog Tour beginning at Fiction With A Purpose.

I have a pile of books on my TBR list and will begin next week sharing 100 word excerpts from three books I am currently reading! I also hope to begin getting back to writing and posting my book reviews, as I am way behind on that ToDo List, too.

Book bloggers are invited to hop along with us in this WoW Weekly 100 Words blog hop. Just snag the hop button and link for your blog post, add your post link and title to the weekly linky list provided in my weekly WoW 100 post. Although this is a Wednesday hop, you're welcome to hop in at any time throughout the week and share from the book titles you are currently reading.

I use The Word Count Tool to count my book excerpts. I type in the box provided, then once I have 100 words, I copy and paste it right into my blog post.


Friday, July 8, 2011

WoW 100 Roommate Reader Choice

Due to the loss of a family member, I've not read at all this past week. Thus, my friend and roommate, Scott, is selecting my WoW 100 Words share for you this week. Scott had shown an interest in this book when it arrived in my mailbox and has completed reading: Disrupted Lives by author Brenda Youngerman.

Scott's thoughts on this Youngerman novel:

"The book is well put together, having accurate history about the old south, and customs, and how racially prejudiced people really were. I enjoyed the two brothers, how they lived apart; how they both became pro quarterbacks was fantastic.

And yes! Yes, I would buy the book! But, of course, I didn't have to because I read Ruthi's copy, before she did!"

Scott's choice words to share with you are from chapter EIGHT, page 64:
    
     The acquittal of Kelvin Farm was headline news in Atlanta. Fiona, who had not spoken to Chad in over six months, called and said, "Did you do that?"
     "Do what Mama?"
     "Get that colored out of jail?"
     "Yes, ma'am, I did!" he said jubilantly.
     "Shame on you!" she said, "I have never been as ashamed of you as I am today." She hung up the phone.
     Chad put the receiver back into the cradle and just stared at the phone. What is wrong with her, he thought.
     Chad quickly became the defender of those who were innocent and were willing...

I invite you to share the book(s) you are currently reading by hopping along in my book blog hop, WoW Weekly 100 Words. Although this is a Wednesday hop, you are welcome to hop in at any time throughout the week. Just grab the button and link for your blog post where you share exactly 100 words from your current read(s) and add your post URL to the linky list provided at the end of this post. Feel free to share anything else you'd like on your post, especially book-related items. And be sure to visit throughout the week so you can introduce yourself to others on the WoW lists each week.

I use The Word Count Tool to count my book excerpts. I type in the box provided, then once I have 100 words, I copy and paste it right into my blog post.


Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Family and Funeral

Due to the loss of my Aunt Martha Bell, WoW Weekly 100 Words blog hop will be late this week. I will post my 100 words and the linky list for you by Friday. I'll be working this morning, then attending viewings at the funeral home this afternoon, and the funeral is on Thursday.

I've created a tribute to my aunt and invite you to visit Loss of a Pea in a Pod to learn more about this grand lady who shall be missed much by me.