Vote for the Most Romantic Story (Poll & Giveaway)

GIVEAWAY CLOSED

Indigo Books & Music has stated the following books are perfect for Valentine's Day because they are a love story that's as great as your own.  To make it more fun, I've included a poll so you can tell me which book YOU think is the best love story. To make it even more fun, voting (and commenting that you voted) will give you an entry into a giveaway to win whichever books is winning on Feb. 14. *Giveaway is Canada Only*

I really need your help. As a nonfiction reader, I've not ready ANY of these books although I've been interested in reading a few of them. So I certainly don't know which one is the Most Romantic or Best Love Story.

Here's the list of books and info on each. The poll is below it all. AFTER you vote, comment saying that you voted (you can include which book and why if you want, but not mandatory) to be entered. Your email MUST be visible in your profile or on you blog or you must include it in the comment. If I can't contact you, you can't win! You can vote, even if you don't live in Canada! You just don't need to comment.

Indigo Books will be shipping the winning book to the winner. Voting closes Feb. 13 11:59 PM EST so that the winning book and giveaway winner can be announced on Valentine's Day.

The List: (all links are to Chapters/Indigo Website, no affiliation)

The Time Traveler's Wife, Audrey Niffenegger
The story of Clare, a beautiful art student, and Henry, an adventuresome librarian, who have known each other since Clare was six and Henry was thirty-six, and were married when Clare was twenty-three and Henry thirty-one. Impossible but true, because Henry finds himself periodically displaced in time, pulled to moments of emotional gravity from his life, past and future. His disappearances are spontaneous, his experiences unpredictable, alternately harrowing and amusing.


Outlander, Diana Gabaldon
In 1945, Claire Randall, a former combat nurse, is back from the war and reunited with her husband on a second honeymoon-when she innocently touches a boulder in one of the ancient stone circles that dot the British Isles. Suddenly she is a Sassenach-an "outlander"-in a Scotland torn by war and raiding border clans in the year of our Lord...1743. Hurled back in time by forces she cannot understand, Claire''s destiny in soon inextricably intertwined with Clan MacKenzie and the forbidden Castle Leoch. For here, James Fraser, a gallant young Scots warrior, shows her a passion so fierce and a love so absolute that Claire becomes a woman torn between fidelity and desire...and between two vastly different men in two irreconcilable lives.

The Notebook, Nicholas Sparks
At thirty-one, Noah Calhoun, back in coastal North Carolina after World War II, is haunted by images of the girl he lost more than a decade earlier. At twenty-nine, socialite Allie Nelson is about to marry a wealthy lawyer, but she cannot stop thinking about the boy who long ago stole her heart. Thus begins the story of a love so enduring and deep it can turn tragedy into triumph, and may even have the power to create a miracle...

Love in the Time of Cholera, Gabriel Garcia Marquez
In their youth, Florentino Ariza and Fermina Daza fall passionately in love. When Fermina eventually chooses to marry a wealthy, well-born doctor, Florentino is devastated, but he is a romantic. As he rises in his business career he whiles away the years in 622 affairs--yet he reserves his heart for Fermina. Her husband dies at last, and Florentino purposefully attends the funeral. Fifty years, nine months, and four days after he first declared his love for Fermina, he will do so again.

The Princess Bride, William Goldman
A true fantasy classic. William Goldman describes it as a "good parts version" of "S. Morgenstern's Classic Tale of True Love and High Adventure." Morgenstern's original was filled with details of Florinese history, court etiquette, and Mrs. Morgenstern's mostly complimentary views of the text. Much admired by academics, the "Classic Tale" nonetheless obscured what Mr. Goldman feels is a story that has everything: "Fencing. Fighting. Torture. Poison. True love. Hate. Revenge. Giants. Hunters. Bad men. Good men. Beautifulest ladies. Snakes. Spiders. Beasts of all natures and descriptions. Pain. Death. Brave men. Coward men. Strongest men. Chases. Escapes. Lies. Truths. Passion. Miracles."

Memoirs of a Geisha, Arthur Golden
For the protagonist of this peerlessly observant first novel is Sayuri, one of Japan''s most celebrated geisha, a woman who is both performer and courtesan, slave and goddess. We follow Sayuri from her childhood in an impoverished fishing village, where in 1929, she is sold to a representative of a geisha house, who is drawn by the child''s unusual blue-grey eyes. From there she is taken to Gion, the pleasure district of Kyoto. She is nine years old. In the years that follow, as she works to pay back the price of her purchase, Sayuri will be schooled in music and dance, learn to apply the geisha''s elaborate makeup, wear elaborate kimono, and care for a coiffure so fragile that it requires a special pillow. She will also acquire a magnanimous tutor and a venomous rival.

The English Patient, Michael Ondaatje
With ravishing beauty and unsettling intelligence, Michael Ondaatje''s Booker Prize-winning novel traces the intersection of four damaged lives in an Italian villa at the end of World War II. Hana, the exhausted nurse; the maimed thief, Caravaggio; the wary sapper, Kip: each is haunted by the riddle of the English patient, the nameless, burned man who lies in an upstairs room and whose memories of passion, betrayal,and rescue illuminates this book like flashes of heat lightening.

The History of Love, Nicole Krauss
A long-lost book reappears, mysteriously connecting an old man searching for his son and a girl seeking a cure for her widowed mother''s loneliness.  Leo Gursky is just about surviving, tapping his radiator each evening to let his upstairs neighbor know he''s still alive. But life wasn''t always like this: sixty years ago, in the Polish village where he was born, Leo fell in love and wrote a book. And though Leo doesn''t know it, that book survived, inspiring fabulous circumstances, even love. Fourteen-year-old Alma was named after a character in that very book. And although she has her hands full--[...]--she undertakes an adventure to find her namesake and save her family.

Like Water for Chocolate, Laura Esquivel
The narrator’s great-aunt Tita is the youngest of three daughters born to Mama Elena, the Tyrannical owner of the De la Garza ranch. While still in her mother’s womb, she wept so violently-as her mother chopped onions-that she caused Mama Elena to begin early labor, and Tita slipped out in the middle of the kitchen table, amid the spices and fixings for noodle soup. This early encounter with food soon became a way of life, and Tita grew up to be a master chef. Each chapter of the novel begins with one of Tita’s recipes and her careful instructions for preparation.



Chocolat, Joanne Harris
When the exotic stranger Vianne Rocher arrives in the old French village of Lansquenet and opens a chocolate boutique called "La Celeste Praline" directly across the square from the church, Father Reynaud identifies her as a serious danger to his flock. The priest says she'll be out of business by Easter. To make matters worse, Vianne does not go to church and has a penchant for superstition. But she begins to win over customers with her smiles, her intuition for everyone's favourites, and her delightful confections. Her shop provides a place, too, for secrets to be whispered, grievances aired. Vianne's plans for an Easter Chocolate Festival divide the whole community. Can the solemnity of the Church compare with the pagan passion of a chocolate éclair?

Vote Here (You MUST comment after you vote to be entered into the giveaway!)



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Check out moreValentine's Day Gift Ideasfrom Indigo Books (Chapters/Indigo)

Speed Reviews - Mixture

No Kids: 40 Good Reasons Not To Have Children by Corinne Maier
Stars: ****

Summary: The shocking treatise that was a bestselling international media sensation upon its 2007 publication in France now makes its eagerly anticipated English-language debut. In forty to-the-point, impressively erudite chapters drawing on the realms of history, child psychology, politics, and the environment, Maier effortlessly skewers the idealized notion of parenthood as a natural and beautiful endeavour. Speaking to the still “child-free”, to fellow suffering parents, and to adamant procreationists alike, No Kids is a controversial, thought-provoking, and undeniably entertaining read. - from Amazon.ca

I have children but I just had to read this. I don't regret having children at all but there are times of course that I feel overwhelmed and wish for a few moments of silence (although interestingly enough, when they are both gone I miss them and it's too quiet.)

The reasons are quite convincing but personally I can't imagine not having kids. I think this book may be more serious for those who don't have and don't want kids and more humourous for those of us who do.

My only real problem with the book is that the author has children and openly says she regrets having them. That's sad, I feel sorry for her kids. I think either a woman with children should have written the book as humourous (which it's NOT listed under) or a woman without children should have written it as is.

Links of Interest: No specific website but a search will result in many articles both agreeing and disagreeing with the author.

Other Reviews: Amy Reads,

Buy No Kids at amazon.com and support SMS Book Reviews

When Ghosts Speak: Understanding the World of Earthbound Spirits by Mary Ann Winkowski
Stars: *****

Summary: Lights flicker on and off for no good reason. You feel drained and inexplicably irritable. Your four-year-old is scared to enter her bedroom. Tell these things to Mary Ann Winkowski, and she'll tell you that you have a ghost. A happily married, devout Catholic, suburban mother and full-time paranormal investigator, Mary Ann Winkowski has been able to see earthbound spirits, spirits that are trapped on earth and haven't "crossed over," since she was a little girl. Mary Ann works with these spirits to help them make peace with what keeps them here - whether it be people they can't let go of or homes they love. In WHEN GHOSTS SPEAK, Mary Ann will tell the amazing story of growing up with this gift, and will share tips on how to recognize when you're not alone, and what to do if you are in the presence of a ghost. - from amazon.com

Books about ghosts always bring out the skeptics. I don't think everyone who claims to talk to spirits really does but I do believe there are those out there who can. I believe Mary Ann really does talk to spirits and the fact that she is the consultant for the TV show Ghost Whisperer makes me believe a bit more too. That means a TV station has faith in her too doesn't it?

I was intrigued throughout the whole book. There were a few parts that seemed a bit unbelievable but just like when you are talking to a live person and you can misunderstand what they say, I think it's possible she misunderstood the ghosts sometimes. I will admit that there seem to be a lot of ghosts hanging around, at least in her book. However I think it just seems more common than it is because she's only telling the stories of when ghosts are around.

It's been a while or I'd have a more thorough review. I'd like to recommend you check out the reviews on Good Reads and the few linked below for more information.

Other Reviews: Darque Reviews, Yak Talk, The Reading Monk,

Buy When Ghosts Speak at amazon.com and help support SMS Book Reviews

A Girl's Guide to Modern European Philosophy by Charlotte Greig
Stars: ***1/2

Summary: Susannah’s official boyfriend, Jason, is the perfect foil for her student lifestyle. He is ten years older, an antiques dealer, and owns a stylish apartment that prevents her from having to live in the seedy digs on campus. This way, she can take her philosophy major very seriously and dabble in the social and sexual freedom of 1970s university life. But circumstances become more complicated than Susannah would like when she begins to have an affair with her tutorial partner, Rob. Soon she is dating two men, missing her lectures, exploring independence and feminism with her girlfriends, and finding herself in a particularly impossible dilemma: she becomes pregnant. Forced to look beyond her friends and lovers for support, she finds help and inspiration from the lessons of Kierkegaard and other European philosophers. - from Other Press

If you are a regular visitor to this blog, you know I don't read much adult fiction but I have always been intrigued by philosophy and figured a fictional book would be easier to understand. I'm glad I read this book. I've never been great at reviewing fiction and it's been way too long for me to review in detail but I do remember the basics of the story and that I enjoyed it. It was a little slow in certain parts before she gets pregnant but after that, the story is captivating. References to philosophy are just enough to be interesting but not dry. It inspired me to look up philosophy a bit more although I haven't found a good nonfiction book that I can understand on the subject.

Other Reviews: The Literate Housewife Reviews,

Buy A Girl's Guide to Modern European Philosophy at amazon.com and Help Support SMS Book Reviews

*All books were received in exchange for a review if I finished them. All opinions are honest and are my own. 

Sexaholics by Pynk + giveaway

 

This week is all about SEX! You can read more here but check back every day this week for reviews and giveaways.

NOTE: I won't be describing this book in too much detail as there are under 18s who visit this blog.

Stars: ***1/2

Grand Central Publishing (Division of Hachette Book Group) 2010
Erotica
336 Pages


Summary: Miki, Valencia, Teela Raye, and Brandi share one thing...they are all addicted to sex. United through Sexaholics Anonymous, these women try to recover from their dependence on wild, spontaneous, and even sometimes, dangerous sex. From whips and chains, to sex in public, they have done it all! Led by Dr. Rachel Cummings, each woman takes the first step to recovery by sharing her biggest sexual act with the group. SEXAHOLICS takes readers through the outrageous experiences of four women on their long path to success.

While this isn't the first Erotica I've read, I haven't read that many. I just never had a chance to until recently. So I can't really say if this has more sex than regular Erotica or not. It seems like all the other reviews I've seen are by people not familiar with Erotica either. I don't think this is light Erotica though. There isn't much romance in this book which I know there is in some Erotica. There are some feelings of course but it's not romance. I liked that there wasn't long spaces in between sex scenes. APOOO(review blog), who seems to be familiar with Erotica said:

"Sexaholics is definitely for the freakiest of freaks.  I recommend this novel to erotica lovers who like hard-core, steamy sex scenes and Pynk supporters."

Sexaholics has a LOT of sex in it, all different kinds, but it does have a storyline too. It isn't till the middle of the book or so that it really comes through but you soon see there is a story and the characters are developed enough that you can kind of see yourself as her. The ending was amazing and there were some shockers including one disturbing scene but I enjoyed the book both as Erotica and as a novel.

The beginning of the book includes an author's note that explains some basics about sex addiction, namely that men are the ones to most commonly be associated with it. Sex addiction is NOT just wanting lots of sex and Pynk did her research so that the book is factual and should be of special interest to those who feel they may be sexaholics. In fact at the end of the book she directs worried readers to the Sexaholics Anonymous website to do a quiz to see if they may have sexaholic traits.

My only problem was I kept mixing up the characters. If you read it within a few days time with no breaks, it's no problem. However if you read for a while, stop for a few days or more and then pick the book back up, it takes some time to remember which person was which.

Links of Interest: Pynk's Website, Sexaholics Anonymous, Sex Addicts Anonymous,

Other Reviews: My Overstuffed Bookshelf, Just Jennifer Reading, Rhodes Review, APOOO,

Buy Sexaholics at amazon.com and support SMS Book Reviews

*I received a copy of this book for review from Good Reads First Reads Program.

GIVEAWAY CLOSED

Obsession: An Erotic Tale by Gloria Vanderbilt

Chris at Book-a-rama has been hosting the Blog Luv Fest and today is the last day. This review is a part of the Blog Luv Fest.

Stars: ****

Summary:
Talbot Bingham is a renowned architectural genius who, with his formidable wife, Priscilla, creates an architectural community. When he dies unexpectedly in the middle of their tenth wedding anniversary celebration, the devastated Priscilla is left keeper of the flame of Talbot's genius. Going through her husband's archives, she comes unexpectedly upon a pile of neatly tied letters, and the shocking secret of her husband's intimate life—a discovery that shatters the foundation of her soul and spirit. The reader is left to decide if the other woman represents another facet of Priscilla, or if Priscilla her-self has invented the other woman who completed the world her husband so recently inhabited? 

I don't read Erotica very much but I wanted to try it. I thought it was a pretty good read. It was definitely erotic but the story itself was interesting too. It was interesting because the ending isn't definite, you can interpret it a few different ways.

At only 160 pages, it's a fairly quick read, which personally I prefer when it comes to this genre. Now I don't want to get into it too much as there are children who read this blog but let's just say that if you want light erotica, this is the wrong book. It's very explicit and covers all different kinds of sex. Let's just put it that way.

Links of Interest: NYTimes Article about Obsession, 

Other Reviews: NONE YET

Buy Obsession at Amazon.com and support SMS Book Reviews

*I received this book from HarperCollins for review. All reviews are written honestly.

The Christmas Cookie Club by Ann Pearlman

Stars: *****

Summary: Mark your calendar. It's the Christmas Cookie Club! Every year on the first Monday of December, Marnie and her twelve closest girlfriends gather in the evening with batches of beautifully wrapped homemade cookies. Everyone brings a dish, a bottle of wine and their stories. [Read More]

Although I've reviewed for Atria Books before I missed the offer for this book so I got a copy from the library to read this season. I'm glad I did, it was awesome!

The Christmas Cookie Club is exactly the kind of Christmas story I was looking for. One I could follow along with even if I read a little here and there, something light that I could read surrounded by children and a puppy and something other than a romance story (which most Christmas books seem to have.) Although there is talk about love in this book, it's not the focus.

Not only is this an awesome read, the storyline is based on a real story and will hopefully inspire others to start their own cookie club. I'm not a baker and I don't have many friends but for someone who does, it would be a great tradition to do every year. Especially since they donate a dozen cookies EACH (that's 144 cookies total) to hospice.

The story itself was compelling, even if most people's lives aren't that crazy, I'm sure some people's are. Before each chapter is the recipe for the cookies that each woman makes so you can make them at home too. In between chapters there is also sections with history and information on common baking ingredients such as sugar, salt, ginger, nuts, chocolate and more. These were fairly interesting, some more than others.  It was definitely a nice touch.

Links of Interest: The Christmas Cookie Club Website, Ann Pearlman on Twitter, Ann Pearlman's Webpage, Interview with Ann Pearlman on BermudaOnion's Blog, Guest Post by Ann Pearlman on Booking Mama,

Other Reviews: Books, Movies and Chinese Food, S. Krishna's Books, A Patchwork of Books, Booking Mama, BermudaOnion, Cafe of Dreams, My Cozy Book Nook, TexasRed Books,

Buy The Christmas Cookie Club at Amazon.com and support SMS Book Reviews

Guest Post: Inspiration From a Smile by Tim Whitney

Tim Whitney is the author of Thanksgiving At the Inn. More details after the story.

Back in the spring of 1983 I was a 'typical' cocky high school senior, counting the days until I could escape my small home town and run off to college in Boston. My last hurdle before graduation was a volunteer project called the 'May Project' where we had to choose a community service to perform and then write a paper. As an athlete and captain of the swim team, I volunteered for the YMCA and the Boy's Club as a counselor. But the Jesuits had a little surprise for me. Instead of giving me a project in my comfort zone, they assigned me to a school for handicapped children.

I'll be honest, I led a very sheltered life and had never really been exposed to handicapped children, let alone autistic children. At the time the cases of autism were far fewer than they are today and I was so naive that I did not even know the difference between artistic and autistic. The overall experience was totally overwhelming and I went home exhausted every day. From gaining an appreciation for special needs teachers and parents to developing an incredible appreciation for so many things I had taken for granted in my life it was an amazing, humbling, and enlightening experience. It was a pivotal tim e in my life that changed my perspective on the many things I should be grateful for in life.

On the last day there, I was asked to spend time with a little girl in the class that was severely handicapped, both physically and mentally. Somehow I had managed to become her favorite and her smile touched my heart. We went out on the swings, enjoyed the beautiful spring day, and she spoke to me in basic sign language. Later that day as class was ending, the teachers thanked me for spending my time with her and how much it had meant. Then they let me know she only had a matter of weeks to live. I can still picture that day, the smile on her face, and the range of emotions that swept me up like a rogue wave pulling a drowning swimmer out to sea.

I tell this story because it changed my perspective on life and her smile still etched in my memory 25 years later, was in part the inspiration for my book. We all h ave two choices in life- to be grateful for everything we have, or be bitter for everything we don't. The little girl's smile has been a calibration point for my life. With so much adversity in her life, she still had a smile on her face, love in her heart and an appreciation for everyone around her. I learned more about life, gratitude, humility, and laughter in that month than I had in the previous18 years. When I wrote Thanksgiving at the Inn, I wanted to share this message and other life lessons I've learned along the way in hope that I could help someone else realize that we all have so much we take for granted when we should be thankful.

Inspiration takes many forms and for each of us it's unique. For me, it all started with a little girl's smile.

Wishing you a thankful holiday season,

Tim Whitney
Author of Thanksgiving At the Inn

The Unit by Ninni Holmqvist

Stars: ****

ISBN: 978-1-59051-313-2
Other Press (June 2009)
272 pages
Fiction, Dystopian
Originally Pub 2006 in Sweden as Enhet by Norstedts

Summary: In the world of The Unit by Ninni Holmqvist, men over sixty years old and women over fifty—who are not engaged in “useful” professions, or are childless—are categorized as “dispensable,” and will enter a “Reserve Bank Unit” for biological material. Once inside, childless dispensables like fifty-year-old Dorrit Weger can live out their days in comfort, while they contribute themselves for drug and psychological testing, and donate their healthy organs, little by little, until making their final donation. Despite its undercurrent of ruthlessness however, the prevailing ethos of the Unit—and the society beyond—is to take care of others.
Resigned to her fate, Dorrit lives out her days in the Unit with peace and consolation. But when she meets a man inside and falls in love, Dorrit is faced with questions that challenge her at the very core of her identity; with the overtones leading to her ultimate decision: Escape or comply.

I haven't read many Dystopian novels but I do like The Giver by Lois Lowry and Brave New World by Aldous Huxley although I do agree the latter can be hard to digest. But I love how creative the authors are at thinking up a way that some people might think is the "best" way for us to live in the future.

Usually when new books come into my house, they go on my shelf in the order they came in. I don't always read them in order but I try to read the ones that have been here longer first. Well I started reading this one the day it came, it didn't even make it to the shelf. I love the cover and that and the summary are what drew me in.

Dorrit is the main character in the book but there are a bunch of other secondary characters that we see a lot of. Many of the character names are unusual, but I suppose "popular" names chance with the times and this is the future. There are quite a range of names, from highly unusual, to uncommon to old fashioned. Other names include Elsa, Vivi, Johannes, Alice, Kjell, Fredrick, Petra, Boel and more. We were shown a lot of the before-life of Dorrit but I would have liked to have heard more about the before-life of other characters such as Johannes and Elsa.

There are many themes running throughout the book including but not limited to ageism, what makes us needed and identity. I'm not good at explaining this so I'll quote the press release which says it beautifully:

"Based on her own experiences, Swedish author Ninni Holmqvist delves into the nature of the female psyche, exploring its struggle to find an identity in the face of culturally-defined relevance, ageism, and gender roles based on child-bearing. Holmqvist has achieved a debut novel of humor, sorrow and tenderness, while exploring the bonds of love and friendship in a utilitarian existence, cynically disguised as compassion.

The Unit raises poignant questions that may finally receive their fair share of the spotlight as the Baby Boom Generation faces retirement en masse. Submitted for your review or profile feature consideration."

Now as for plot, I think it could have been handled better. The beginning did an okay job of wheeling me in but the first page could have been better at grabbing me. I think first lines are important and "It was more comfortable than I could have imagined." fell a bit short. Also with adult fiction, I find the good books have me reading the last third non-stop, where I can't put it down or look away for a second because it's so good. I didn't have anywhere near as strong a pull with this book. I read the middle third all together but the end had me slowing down a bit. The end shocked me though, but not necessarily in a good way. I would have preferred a different ending.

Overall though I did enjoy the book, it's quite different from what I generally read as I don't make much time for fiction but I'm glad I read it. I prefer nonfiction because I like to think and learn but this fiction novel definitely had be thinking as well, weighing their system of being/working in my head and trying to think of a way it could work and still be within my moral system.

Buy The Unit Now

Other Reviews:

Gods Behaving Badly by Marie Phillips

Stars: *****

Summary: Being a Greek god is not all it once was. Yes, the twelve gods of Olympus are alive and well in the twenty-first century, but they are crammed together in a London townhouse-and none too happy about it. And they've had to get day jobs: Artemis as a dog-walker, Apollo as a TV psychic, Aphrodite as a phone sex operator, Dionysus as a DJ. Even more disturbingly, their powers are waning, and even turning mortals into trees--a favorite pastime of Apollo's--is sapping their vital reserves of strength. Soon, what begins as a minor squabble between Aphrodite and Apollo escalates into an epic battle of wills. Two perplexed humans, Alice and Neil, who are caught in the crossfire, must fear not only for their own lives, but for the survival of humankind. Nothing less than a true act of heroism is needed-but can these two decidedly ordinary people replicate the feats of the mythical heroes and save the world?

Gods Behaving Badly was hilariously funny! I knew it would be a great book right near the beginning in I believe chapter 2 when I read something so crazy and ridiculous I was bursting out laughing and RAN into the other room to tell my husband what happened even though he never reads. I'm dying to tell you what had me so hysterical but I don't want to ruin the surprise.

On that same note though, I must warn you that if you have a problem with sex in a book, do NOT read this book. It's not romance or erotica but there are some sex scenes. I mean Aphrodite is in the book, remember?

I think what made the book so funny was that we are imagining these Almighty Greek Gods as everyday people in the 21st century. I'm not great at reviewing fiction (which is why I focus on non-fiction) so here are some great quotes and be sure to check out the other reviews linked below.

"So there was Apollo and Aphrodite, and Artemis, who was rather more of a hands-on boss than Alice was used to, and Eros and Hermes, both of whom looked at her with a good deal more curiosity than she was comfortable with, and Ares, who always put her in a bad mood for some reason, and Hephaestus, who was so very ugly that she felt sick every time she saw him [...], and Dionysus, who made her nervous because he was always drunk, and the other two women, Athena and Demeter, who ignored her so completely that it was almost like noticing her - all of these people who were so perplexing and whom she couldn't talk about." - pg 82

And this next quote is part of a funny spot in the book. Apollo got advice from one of the other Gods to apologize if he feels guilty because that's how you get rid of the feeling.

"You do not apologize because you feel guilty and you want the feeling to
go away," said Neil.

"You don't?" said Apollo.

"No. You apologize because you feel guilty and that guilt is how you know that you've done something wrong. And then you want to make amends. You don't apologize because you wan tot make yourself feel better. You apologize because you want to make the other person feel better."

"But why should I want to make you feel better? said Apollo. He was
beginning to uncurl. "I couldn't care less how you feel."

"Yes, I think I gathered that." - pg 208

The copy I reviewed has a Reading Group Guide inside as well as a short essay by Marie Phillips on writing fiction and Marie Phillips Top 10 Books That Make Her Laugh.

You can check out this YouTube video on Gods Behaving Badly. Check out the Marie Phillips website and her blog.

Other's Reviews

Book Reviews by Bobbie
Booking Mama
Care's Online Book Club
Book-a-rama
Jenn's Bookshelf
A Novel Menagerie
A Reader's Respite
Savvy Verse and Wit
Diary of an Eccentric
Becky's Book Reviews
The 3 R's: Reading, 'Riting and Randomness
Sophisticated Dorkiness

The Polygamist by Ndabaningi Sithole

Stars: ****1/2

Summary: Seven wives share Menzi Dube, head of a Rhodesian tribal village, on a rotating basis. And although they enjoy all the benefits of a rich and progressive husband, they are less than satisfied with having to share him sexually. When one of the tribe's young wives goes astray, having found the several weeks' interval between her husband's visits unbearable, the other women are most sympathetic. This provokes extensive and spirited debate over the mutual plight as female "victims" of the age-old custom of polygamy.

Ndanda, Dube's eldest son, who has been away for many years, returns wearing European clothes, as most of Dube's family has been longing to, has been educated in missionary schools as a teacher, and plans to marry a girl from a Westernized family... just one girl. Dube vows to save his son from the certain disaster of monogamous union, but Ndanda resists, determined to bring his people into the "modern age."

I picked this book up at a local thrift store because the title caught me. This was an incredibly interesting book and fairly well-written, considering it was written by a man in a Rhodesian prison. It was published in 1972 by The Third Press which seems to be defunct*. You can't even buy it new on amazon although there are some used copies, most for $40 - $90 though depending on publishing date.

Even though the book is fiction, the characters all follow typical Rhodesian cultural practices at the time. It's quite thought provoking because you see the up and down sides to polygamy as well as their other cultural practices. Also the polygamy that is/was practiced in Africa isn't the same as the polygamy families in the U.S. and elsewhere. Following is a quote that shows another of the cultural practices:

"A little girl entered the hut. She carried a wooden bowl of water. As soon as
she approached Dube, she knelt down and then placed the bowl on the circular
hearth which was made of mud. "There's the water, father," she said rising to
her feet. "That's all right, my child" acknowledge Dube tenderly [...]She rose
to her feet and soon left the hut. Custom observance was very strict at Dube's
village just as it was at other villages. The little girl had to announce
formally, "There's the water," to indicate that it was her pleasure to bring
that water, and that it was now at their disposal. The formal announcement had
the effect of releasing the water from her, so to speak, so that it could be
used freely."

Similarly, here's a quote regarding polygamy:

"...and so each of the seven wives had a special attribute which endeared her to
Dube. They were beautiful, hardworking, and obedient and, with the exception of
Manyati, they all had children. [...] But if the younger wives of Dube secured
his goodwill with their youthfulness and beauty, the older ones held the
executive and political reins on his estate."

In the chapter that's from, he explains each wife, where she was found, how many heads of cattle was paid for her, what he likes about her and how many children she has born for him so far. It's very evident that he truly loves ALL of his wives and for different reasons and that he treats them all fairly.

The ending was really enjoyable and I wish this book was available to a wider public because I most definitely recommend this to everyone.

* Third Press, Joseph Okpaku Publishing Company Inc. (New York, 1970; ceased publishing in 1986 - from wikipedia

Choosing To Be: Lessons in Living from a Feline Zen Master by Kat Tansey

Stars: ****1/2


Summary: Choosing to Be is a magical story about becoming fully present and achieving the true freedom of enjoying life just as it is. Guided by her inscrutably wise and perceptive Buddha master who just happens to be a Maine Coon cat, and inspired by his comical little brother who is the essence of pure Buddha nature, Kat overcomes seemingly impenetrable obstacles to achieve inner peace. She breaks out of the prison of her ordinary mind and arrives at a place that was there all along, the sky-like freedom of her own Buddha mind. - from website, read rest here.

I've always been a little interested in Buddhism and I love animals so I thought I'd give this a try. I really liked it. It's fun to read and gives some great meditation tips.

It's a little weird in that Kat Tansey was taught by her cat. You wonder if she learned on her own and attributed it to her cat or if her cat really talked or if she's just lost it. In the foreword by Patricia Heller, it says:

"Oddly enough, this book is classified as a work of fiction. It shouldn't be, and I'll tell you why I say this. I have met the real life Maine Coon cat, Poohbear, the wise and benevolent Buddha Master in Tansey's story, and know him to be quite a talker."

I don't know what to believe. I do believe you can get insight from animals but I don't know about months of teachings on meditation and Buddhism. Whether it's fiction or not, the information is helpful and has renewed my interest in learning meditation.

Also Kat Tansey experienced Depression at the beginning of this book which I can identify with and I found the teachings at the beginning very interesting and helpful. I'm sure I'll be rereading this book a few times and I almost never reread books.

The book is peppered with black and white photographs of the two cats which are absolutely delightful, as most cat pictures are.

I think this book is a good book for those interested in cats, meditation, depression or Buddhism or any combination of those.

Links of Interest: Choosing to Be,

Other Reviews:  Linus's Blanket, Lesa's Book Critiques, Socrates's Book Reviews, Amazing Doctor Zen's Wonder Blog

Buy Choosing to Be at amazon.com and help support SMS Book Reviews 

Call of the Witches: Book 3 of the Witchery Series by Laura Stamps

Stars: ****

First a little about the series (from the author's blog):

THE WITCHERY SERIES Trilogy (published by Trytium Publishing)

A sexy paranormal romance novel series in paperback. In this series you'll meet five wonderful Witches: Savannah, Maylene, Mirabella, Noelle, and Ravena. There's something for everyone in this trilogy. The novels range from empowering to romantic to erotic. You'll also find real spells, chants, and rituals in each one. Big fun!

1.) The Witches of Dixie (an empowering novel)

http://www.thewitchesofdixie.blogspot.com/

2.) What Witches Want (a sweet, sexy romance novel)

http://www.whatwitcheswant.blogspot.com/

3.) Call of the Witches (an erotic romance novel)

http://www.callofthewitches.blogspot.com/

So if you like Paranormal Romance, this is for you. If you happen to be Pagan, all for the better, but you don't have to be Pagan to enjoy it. If you're uncomfortable with sex talk, don't read the rest of this review.

I was lucky enough to be able to review the third book in the series, Call of the Witches. The blog link above will give you an excerpt.

Summary: Maylene Whitmire is a Wiccan Witch plagued with bad-news boyfriends. They flock to her like bees to honey. Each one seems different in the beginning, but they all end up the same. Bad news. And she's fed up. When Artemis, her Patron Goddess, suggests a two-year vow of celibacy, Maylene jumps at the chance. Three months before her celibacy vow ends she runs into Blaine Rutledge, a Wiccan Green Witch and the sweetest, sexiest man she's ever met. Sparks fly, and her libido sizzles. My, oh my! The last few months of her celibacy vow are about to become not only an erotic adventure but also the greatest challenge of her life.

First of all if you don't already know, I've never read a Paranormal book and I've never read Romance. So this book was my introduction to both genres. I wouldn't have tried it if it weren't about Wiccans. I enjoyed this book but don't expect to see many if any more Paranormal or Romance reviews on this website.

I don't know how much sex is usually in a romance novel (feel free to tell me romance enthusiasts) but I was forewarned that this book was just a hair away from being classified as Erotica. This was fine with me. (sly grin) It had just about the right amount of sex for me, but then I'm quite open minded when it comes to reading and talking about that subject matter.

As a Pagan, I enjoyed the spells, chants and rituals and could see myself using them if the need came to be. The only thing out of the whole book that I didn't like was the use of the word sex:

"Another ripple of desire zips through her sex, and her thoughts wander to his
sensuous lips and how good they must taste. " - Chapter 3

It started to bug me after the third time. I'd rather something like sexual organs or genitals or even privates if a less direct term was desired.

Since I've never read Paranormal or Romance books I can't properly compare this book to others in the genre so if anyone else has read this and especially if you've read other Paranormal or Romance novels, please leave your thoughts!

More Links:

Laura Stamp's Blog (find out about her other novels)

Her "Erotica and Paranormal Romance" Blog (talks about Erotica and other naughty things)