The Sunday Salon and The Night I Spent with Garth Stein (Thanks to an Indie Bookstore)...

     

Welcome to The Sunday Salon! It's that day of the week we sit back and chat virtually with all our bookish friends. So, grab a cup of Joe, find a comfy chair and let's talk books… or better yet, let's talk about my Saturday night with author, Garth Stein…

It was a cold and dreary day in Connecticut yesterday, a sudden snow storm had left piles of new snow the day before that was now melting. But all was sunshine and anticipation as I prepared for my date with Garth. It was saturday night and there was just a sliver of moon. With much anticipation I got into my car… we were meeting at the library... Actually, me and 50 or so other women (yes, there were even a few men) were meeting him at the library, because thanks to Independent bookstore, Byrd's Books, Garth was doing a reading and presentation of his new book, A Sudden Light…

First, let me say, having a wonderful writer like Garth Stein fly in from Seattle to our little town in Connecticut, is very special. Meeting your favorite writer, being able to ask a question or just listening to an author read from his work is wonderful. Garth was charming and funny, and truly enjoyed interacting with the audience. I have to give him a lot of credit too, because he was working on only a few hours sleep due to his original flight on friday being canceled due to snow and having to take a flight on saturday.

Hosting events like this is another reason why Independent bookstores are special too. Independent bookstores are about reading, authors and nourishing what we as readers like - getting lost in a good book. Of course there is still a bottom line in an Independent bookstore, but before you get there (the bottom line), there is a a shared love of reading. Thank you Byrd's Books for treating our community to this wonderful reading event! Now more on the event and Garth Stein…

You may remember a little book called The Art of Racing in The Rain. That was the amazing little story told by Enzo (the family dog) on the eve of his death, taking stock of his life, sharing the ups and downs of his human family and written by Garth Stein in 2008. Smash hit, numerous awards and literally put (ok, not funny) Garth in the hands of many new readers. But after reading The Art of Racing in The Rain, we wanted MORE! Garth had two books previously published, How Evan Broke His Head and Other Secrets and How Raven Stole the Moon, which I really enjoyed, here's my review, but after reading the latest you look towards the future… and that future was A Sudden Light just published this past September. Thanks to Simon & Schuster, I had the opportunity to read A Sudden Light before it was published and LOVED IT! (Here's my review). All of which leads us to my date night (ok, me and 50 other women… the men too) with Garth last night…

Hosted by Independent bookstore, Byrd's Books of  Bethel, CT. and held at the Ruth Haas Library at Western Connecticut State University, Garth Stein walked nonchalantly into the library about 6:15pm. AND he had SWAG! First he walked around giving everyone these cool matchboxes that looked like miniature A Sudden Light books (Very cool), then he handed out Enzo pins, and finally Enzo temporary tattoos! Then he walked up to the podium and started talking, about independent bookstores, about The Art of Racing in The Rain, about his independent film making career, about his connection to Danbury, Ct . (my little home in Connecticut), about his inspiration for writing A Sudden Light, and about being a writer. He was so interesting (ok, he was cute too) and everyone seemed to have a great time. After his presentation, which seemed more like talking to an old friend, he answered questions from the audience and then signed our books on the way out. Thank you Garth for coming to our little town and thank you Byrd's Books for hosting the event!

Want to learn more about Garth Stein and his books? Here's the link to Garth's Website! Want to learn more about Byrd's Books? Here's a link to Byrd's Books Website ( you can even order books there!)

What better way to spend a saturday night?! ...Ok, now how about your next book Garth! ;-)

Happy reading… Suzanne

A Sudden Light by Garth Stein… A Review

From a master storyteller comes another book that will have you reading late into the night and loving it! What else would you expect from a book written by Garth Stein?! Nothing less, especially if you enjoyed The Art of Racing in The Rain...

Oh how I love a good ghost story and A Sudden Light definitely makes the grade! Mix in a family curse, quirky characters, a spooky house, a beautiful setting, and a love story that goes beyond the grave and you have the beginning of the page turner this is. But what really makes this so good is the wonderful writing! Garth Stein sweeps the reader into the story as our young 14 year old protagonist recounts the summer he spent at his grandfather's house in the woods, where he discovers that the universe is connected in many ways and that the spirits of our ancestors live on in us.

Trevor Riddel is 14, his parents are on the verge of divorce, due mostly to Trevor's Dad losing his job and the family home, and life as Trevor knows it, is about to change forever. As part of a "trial" separation, Trevor's Mother goes back home to England to her family and Trevor is whisked away with  his Dad to his family, in a remote woodsy retreat in the woods. There Trevor meets for the first time his Aunt Serena, who is a bona fide "hippy", and his ailing Grandfather, Samuel, who his Aunt and Father want to commit, so they can tear down the family house and sell the land that is worth millions. But could it be that simple? No…

The falling down mansion in the woods, is the legacy of Timber barren Elijah Riddel, whose fortunes were amassed at the sake of many people and of the natural world itself. As we learn of the history of the Riddel family and fortune, we are swept back in time, through the spirits of the house and in journal passages & dreams, to when Elijah Riddel's power and money knew no bounds to devastating the natural beauty of the land around him. Tragedy soon follows, which is a wake up call for  Elijah, who then begins desperately trying to make amends to redeem himself for his eternal soul and the souls of his descendants.

Strike a match if you dare and walk through the secret passages of A Sudden Light… You won't be able to stop yourself from moving forward… or turning those pages as fast as you can! I received this as an eGalley from Simon and Schuster and could not stop reading it! But you'll have to wait until Sept 30th, 2014 to devour it! Make sure you put in on your TBR list now! Thank you Simon and Schuster for the eGalley! I loved it!

Raven Stole The Moon by Garth Stein... A Review

Raven Stole The Moon by Garth Stein...

And Garth Stole my Attention!

A Tale of Grief, Devotion, Redemption, and Timeless Mystery...

When a grieving mother goes to the remote Alaskan town where her young son drowned, she discovers that the truth about her son's death is shrouded in legend...

Back of the Book...When Jenna Rosen abandons her comfortable Seattle life to visit Wrangell, Alaska, it's a wrenching return to her past. Long ago the home of her Native American grandmother, Wrangell is located near the Thunder Bay resort, where Jenna's young son, Bobby, disappeared two years before. His body was never recovered, and Jenna is determined to lay to rest the aching mystery of his death.

But the spectacular town provides little comfort beyond the steady and tender affections of Eddie, a local fisherman. And then whispers of ancient legends begin to suggest a frightening new possibility about Bobby's fate. Soon, Jenna must sift through the beliefs of her ancestors, the Tlingit--who still tell of powerful, menacing forces at work in the Alaskan wilderness.

The beliefs are shared by Dr. David Livingstone, a Tlingit shaman, who warns Jenna about the danger of disturbing the legendary kushtaka--soul stealing predators that stalk a netherworld between land and sea, the living and the dead. But Jenna is desperate for answers, and she appeals to both Livingstone and Eddie to help her sort fact from myth, and face the unthinkable possibilities head-on.

Armed with nothing but a mother's ferocious protective instincts, Jenna's quest for the truth about her son--and the strength of her beliefs--is about to pull her into a terrifying and life-changing abyss....

Garth Stein is an amazing writer. Each sentence is like a piece of poetry. The images his writing creates are powerful, but it's his ability to get to the raw underlying emotions of his characters that what will hook you. Garth knows people. His characters are authentic and believable. And he is able to easily transfer the emotions of his characters to the page. You can feel the pain of a mother who has lost her child, the frustration of a man who doesn't believe in anything but the mighty dollar, and he makes you believe in the connection of your soul to something other than what is explainable. Raven Stole The Moon is such a wonderful mix of fiction with rich Native American folklore of the Tlingit Indians. Garth slowly guides us from life in Seattle to the beautiful Alaskan wilderness. He weaves the story of Jenna Rosen seeking answers to her sons death and attaining some peace with it all, with the legends of her ancestors the Tlingit effortlessly. (The Tlingit are also the ancestors of Garth, as his mother is a native of Alaska and she descends from Tlingit Indians) There are plenty of interesting characters to flush out the story including Jenna's distraught husband, the shaman hired to deal with evil spirits, and a detective hired to bring Jenna back home. Raven Stole The Moon is a heart-wrenching, sad, yet wonderful read. If you loved Garth's book The Art of Racing in the Rain, you will enjoy this book too! (If you haven't read The Art of Racing in the Rain YOU SHOULD!)

Would you like to read an excerpt? Here's a link to Raven Stole The Moon at Harper Collins. And you can read all about Garth and his books at Garth Stein's website! I want to thank Sarah from Terra Communications for sending me a copy of Raven Stole The Moon! It was wonderful! Raven Stole The Moon is available now from your favorite bookstore! Raven Stole The Moon is actually Garth's debut novel originally published in 1998! We're all very lucky that it's been re-released by Harper Collins!

*P.S. This Book is Kindle Ready!

The Dog Days of Summer... or what kind of books to read if your in a 'doggish' mood

THE DOG DAYS OF SUMMER.......

Summer is typically referred to as The “Dog Days” of Summer because it’s so hot that it’s not fit for a dog. But where did the phrase really comes from? Well,the Dog Days refers to the period of July 3 through Aug. 11 when the Dog Star, Sirius, rises with the Sun. As a result, the ancients felt that the combination of the brightest luminary of the day (the Sun) and the brightest star of night (Sirius) was responsible for the extreme heat that is experienced during the middle of summer....

Well, the first day of summer finally came! Here in Connecticut I hope that it marks the beginning of some sunny days, because it seems like all we've had here is rain, rain, and more rain for the past month!

In honor of "The Dog Days of Summer" and my love for all things dog (including my adorable Keeshond BJ)... here are some great Dog Books....

The Art of Racing in The Rain by Garth Stein is a wonderful book! All told thru the eyes & nose of Enzo a dog who is part philosopher, part social worker and who on the eve of his death recalls all that he and his family have been thru. His family is Denny, the up and coming race car driver who is his master, friend & hero, Denny's wife Eve, and little Zoe their daughter. A heart wrenching and yet laugh out loud story that has Enzo learning most of his 'philosophy' from watching TV but is amazingly more human than some people. If you are a 'dog person' you will love this book! Enzo teaches us what the meaning of loyalty, love and hope is. Read more at Garth's Website! And remember that box of tissue's before you start to read!

Dog on It by Spencer Quinn is a kind of "dog noir".First meet Chet, the narrator of the story, who "works alongside Bernie, a down-on-his-luck private investigator. Chet might have flunked out of police school ("I'd been the best leaper in K-9 class, which had led to all the trouble in a way I couldn't remember exactly, although blood was involved"), but he's a detective through andthrough." A Book with a lot of positive buzz! Read more about: Dog on It!

Tails of Love by Lori Foster, Stella Cameron and 8 other New York Times Best Selling Authors... "From Seeing Eye dogs to the cat who cuddles in your lap,

animals are there for us in more ways than we can count. Helping us get through the day with a wag of the tail and a tilt of the head, they let us know that someone is on our side—no matter what. They also have an amazing ability to break down barriers between people; bringing families and loved ones closer, and giving strangers an excuse to strike up a conversation. In Tails of Love, each writer draws from her own unique perspective on our loyal friends—exploring the many mysterious ways they bring love into our lives." And what is especially nice about this book is that All Author and Agent proceeds from sales of the book will benefit the AAF - Animal Adoption Foundation - a no-kill animal shelter in Hamilton, Ohio. You can find out more about this book at Lori Foster's website!