Memoir Monday presents... House of Prayer No. 2 by Mark Richard

Called a "special child," Southern social code for mentally — and physically — challenged children, Richard was crippled by deformed hips and was told he would spend his adult life in a wheelchair. During his early years in charity hospitals, Richard observed the drama of other broken boys' lives, children from impoverished Appalachia, tobacco country lowlands, and Richmond’s poorest neighborhoods. The son of a solitary alcoholic father whose hair-trigger temper terrorized his family, and of a mother who sought inner peace through fasting, prayer, and scripture, Richard spent his bedridden childhood withdrawn into the company of books.

As a young man, Richard, defying both his doctors and parents, set out to experience as much of the world as he could — as a disc jockey, fishing trawler deckhand, house painter, naval correspondent, aerial photographer, private investigator, foreign journalist, bartender and unsuccessful seminarian — before his hips failed him. While digging irrigation ditches in east Texas, he discovered that a teacher had sent a story of his to the Atlantic, where it was named a winner in the magazine's national fiction contest launching a career much in the mold of Jack London and Mark Twain.

A superbly written and irresistible blend of history, travelogue, and personal reflection, House of Prayer No. 2 is a remarkable portrait of a writer’s struggle with his faith, the evolution of his art, and of recognizing one's singularity in the face of painful disability. Written with humor and a poetic force, this memoir is destined to become a modern classic.

Mark Richard sounds like an amazing person, overcoming not only the stigma of being called "special", and not in a good way, but his physical handicaps as well. This story sounds inspiring, and with all the buzz surrounding this memoir, especially about Mark's wonderful prose, I'm looking forward to devouring this one. House of Prayer No. 2 is being released tomorrow! But you can find Mark Richard's writing already on your bookstores shelves! He's written numerous books as well as winning numerous writing awards including the PEN/Hemingway Award for his short story collection The Ice at the Bottom of the World.

The Sunday Salon... "Love Stories" Aren't Just Romances

Welcome to another Sunday Salon! Pull up a chair, grab that second cup of joe and let's talk books! Tomorrow is Valentine's Day! And that makes me think of great romances in literature! Even if you don't read romances per say, there are plenty of romances in all types of literature. Which are the most memorable ones?! Which ones make your heart sing? We all remember the tragic love story of Romeo & Juliet, and of course there is always Heathcliff and Catherine of Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights. What other love stories come to mind? Here are a few notables on my shelf...

The Time Travelers Wife by 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 experience unpredictable, alternately harrowing and amusing.

This is such a wonderful love story, and Audrey Niffenegger did a wonderful job writing it. I love time travel stories and this was unique in that the reader just doesn't go back and forth in two time frames, Henry jumps back in forth in time all throughout Clare's life. The time jumps may be a little confusing at first, but soon the story takes over and you're totally wrapped up in the developing love story between Clare and Henry. If you have not read this yet, READ IT! One of my all time favorite books. And as far as the movie goes, they did a pretty good job with that too.

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini... The unforgettable, heartbreaking story of the unlikely friendship between a wealthy boy and the son of his father's servant, The Kite Runner is a beautifully crafted novel set in a country that is in the process of being destroyed. It is about the power of reading, the price of betrayal, and the possibility of redemption, and it is also about the power of fathers over sons—their love, their sacrifices, their lies.

This is the story of the love of between two young boys growing up. It is a beautiful story and a devastating one. If you haven't read this book yet, go out and buy it NOW! And be prepared for your heart to break in the process.The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini... From Barnes & Noble:

"I became what I am today at the age of twelve, on a frigid overcast day in the winter of 1975." So begins The Kite Runner, a p

oignant tale of two motherless boys growing up in Kabul, a city teetering on the brink of destruction at the dawn of the Soviet invasion. Despite their class differences, Amir, the son of a wealthy businessman, and Hassan, his

devoted sidekick and the son of Amir's

household servant, play together, cause mischief together, and

compete in the annual kite fighting

tournament -- Amir flying the kite, and Hassan running down the kites they fell. But one day, Amir betrays Hassan, and his betrayal grows increasingly devastating as their tale continues. Amir will spend much of his life coming to terms with his initial and subsequent acts of cowardice, and finally seek to make reparations.

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon... Claire Randall is leading a double life. She has a husband in one century, and a lover in another... 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. She is catapulted without warning into the intrigues of lairds and spies that may threaten her life ...and shatter her heart. 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.

Ok, I did tell you I loved time travel stories, and Diana Gabaldon hits a home run with the love story between Jamie Fraser and Claire Randall! This story is HOT, historical and addictive. There are 7 books (big fat books!) in this series and if you haven't read the first book in the series, and you love historical romance, this is a perfect choice. Diana Gabaldon's writing is wonderful too! BTW, the "old" covers are beautifully illustrated. The "new" covers are a plain color with the title.

Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy... Anna Karenina tells of the doomed love affair between the sensuous and rebellious Anna and the dashing officer, Count Vronsky. Tragedy unfolds as Anna rejects her passionless marriage and must endure the hypocrisies of society. Set against a vast and richly textured canvas of nineteenth-century Russia, the novel's seven major characters create a dynamic imbalance, playing out the contrasts of city and country life and all the variations on love and family happiness. While previous versions have softened the robust, and sometimes shocking, quality of Tolstoy's writing, Pevear and Volokhonsky have produced a translation true to his powerful voice. This award-winning team's authoritative edition also includes an illuminating introduction and explanatory notes. Beautiful, vigorous, and eminently readable, this Anna Karenina will be the definitive text for generations to come.

This was a wonderful read! It is such a classic and the doomed love affair between Anna and Count Vronsky is unbelievably contemporary for being written in the 19th century! A few things to note though in reading Anna Karenina- there are a lot of names to keep straight. In Russian literature, there are proper names, nicknames and "common" names. There is a "key" to the names at the beginning of the Pevear and Volokhonsky version, which is the translation that I highly recommend, but eventually you will become familiar with who is who. Also, the story is centers around the love story of Anna and Count Vronsky, but there is a lot of political talk that you'll have to muddle through that may not interest you, but adds to the climate of the times. Loved this book!

An oldy but goodie...

The Glass Lake by Maeve Binchy... From Publisher's Weekly: Bestselling novelist Binchy again explores the passions and priorities of Irish women in a seductively written tale that's a bona fide page-turner. She sets this story in the small village of Lough Glass, the "glass lake" of the title, in Dublin and in London, animating each place more by the robust characterization of the people who live there than by the use of descriptive detail. When Kit McMahon is 12, her sad and distant mother disappears while walking along the lake. Authorities find the family's boat overturned, and, when Kit discovers a sealed letter addressed to her father, she fears that the suicide confession will keep her mother from a consecrated burial. She burns the letter, adding another burden to her misery. Helen is not dead, however...When Kit discovers her years later, the anguish of both women is intensified by the complex situation, and the secret they now share eventually explodes in a way neither could have foreseen.

This was actually the first "romance" I ever read. A friend handed me this book and said I should read it. It sat on my headboard for a LONG time. Gosh, it was almost 600 pages! I finally decided I better get it back to her and opened it up. Well, I really enjoyed it! It's the story of a mother's love, but also how she is torn between being a mother and a woman in her own right. The twist in the story is what Helen decides to do in the name of love, and the consequences of her actions. This was also my first Maeve Binchy novel. I enjoyed her writing and the almost 600 pages went by in a flash. And this also opened up my reading to romance.

Other great "love story" notables... Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford, Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See (another all-time favorite book!), Dracula in Love by Karen Essex, The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson, and yes I'm going to mention... Twilight by Stephanie Meyer. Let's not forget Love Story by Erich Segal either!

What "love stories" can you add?! Love stories can be romances, but love encompasses the deep feelings we have for our family & friends as well, not to mention the love we feel for our furry friends too! Share your favorite love stories!

Here's a Recap of this past weeks blog... for Memoir Monday I highlighted The Memory Palace by Mira Bartok. "Using a mnemonic technique from the Renaissance—a memory palace—Bartók imagines, chapter by chapter, a mansion whose rooms secure the treasured moments of her reconstructed past." Combining the authors artwork with her memories, creates a unique premise for a memoir and became a must read on my list! ...Monday was also the first discussion of Jane Eyre for the Jane Eyre Read-a-Thon hosted by Laura's Review Bookshelf. This is the first I've read Jane Eyre, and something I didn't realize is how Jane was an orphan being brought up by her Aunt. AND how cruel her Aunt and cousins treated her. I have to say I'm really enjoying Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. Her writing is fresh. ...On tuesday, author Michelle Moran stopped by with a guest post about Madame Tussaud, the woman. Michelle's newest book coming out Feb. 15th is Madame Tussaud: A Novel of the French Revolution and her guest post reveals a little of the woman behind the wax museum! I also just received an ARC of Michelle's book, Madame Tussaud, and from the first page the story hooks you!! I'm really enjoying it! *AND, to celebrate the release, I'm having a giveaway for Madame Tussaud which starts this coming tuesday!...Then on friday for First Lines, I shared the beginning of The Coffins of Little Hope by Timothy Schaffert. Schaffert gives us Essie, an octogenarian obituary writer, who may have found "the story" of her life, which turns the sleepy little town into something else as curiosity seekers embark on the town.

So, how was your week? What great books have you put on your shelf?! Share your reading suggestions, so we all can enjoy great reads! And in the meantime, have a wonderful day!

First Lines...

"I still use a manual typewriter ( a 1953 Underwood portable, in a robin's-egg blue) because the soft pip-pip-pip of the typing of keys on a computer keyboard doesn't quite fit with my sense of what writing sounds like. I need the hard metal clack, and I need those keys to sometimes catch so I can reach in and untangle them, turning my fingers inky. Without slapping the return or turning the cylinder to release the paper with a sharp whip, without all that minor havoc, I feel I've paid no respect to the dead. What good is an obituary if it can be written so peaceably, so undisturbingly, in the dark of night?"

... The Coffins of Little Hope by Timothy Schaffert coming April 2011

Author Michelle Moran visits Chick with Books Today with a Guest Post!

Best selling author, Michelle Moran, whose three previous books Nefertiti, The Heretic Queen & Cleopatra's Daughter have made her a favorite of historical fiction fans, is up to her old tricks again! She's coming out with another great book about another important lady from the history books - this time Madame Tussaud! Yes, we all know about the famous wax museums in her name, but there is so much more rich history behind Madame Tussaud that you may not know...

Today, Michelle is going to share a little behind the scenes history with us with her guest post about Madame Tussaud: The Woman. Join me in a warm welcome for Michelle!

MADAME TUSSAUD: The Woman

When most people hear the name Madame Tussaud, the first thing that comes to mind are the eerily lifelike waxworks which crowd her museums throughout the world. But who was the woman behind the name, and what was she like in the flesh?

Madame Tussaud’s story actually began in 18th century Paris. While most people know her from her famous museum in London, it was in France, on the humble Boulevard du Temple, where Marie first got her start as an apprentice in her uncle’s wax museum, the Salon de Cire. At the time, the Boulevard du Temple was crowded with exhibits of every kind. For just a few sous a passerby might attend the opera, watch a puppet show, or visit Henri Charles’ mystifying exhibition The Invisible Girl. The Boulevard was a difficult place to distinguish yourself as an artist, but as Marie’s talent grew for both sculpting and public relations, the Salon de Cire became one of the most popular attractions around. Suddenly, no one could compete with Marie or her uncle for ingenious publicity stunts, and when the royal family supposedly visited their museum, this only solidified what most showmen in Paris already knew — the Salon was an exhibition to watch out for.

But as the Salon’s popularity grew, so did the unusual requests. Noblemen came asking for wax sculptures of their mistresses, women wanted models of their newborn infants, and – most importantly – the king’s sister herself wanted Marie to come to Versailles to be her wax tutor. While this was, in many ways, a dream come true for Marie, it was also a dangerous time to be associated with the royal family. Men like Robespierre, Marat, and Desmoulins were meeting at Marie’s house to discuss the future of the monarchy, and when the Revolution began, Marie found herself in a precarious position. Ultimately, she was given a choice by France’s new leaders: to preserve the famous victims of Madame Guillotine in wax, or be guillotined herself.

Madame Tussaud: A Novel of the French Revolution is the story of Marie’s life during one of the most tumultuous times in human history. Her survival was nothing less than astonishing, and how she survived makes for what I hope is a compelling read.

*Thanks Michelle for stopping by Chick with Books and giving us a glimpse into the life of Madame Tussaud! Michelle Moran's book, Madame Tussaud: A Novel of the French Revolution will be released Feb. 15th! AND to celebrate, on the release date (Feb.15th), Chick with Books is going to host a GIVEAWAY for a signed copy of Madame Tussaud by Michelle! (plus a little something extra from Michelle). Stop by Feb. 15th for all the details!

Memoir Monday... The Memory Palace by Mira Bartok

My first impression of The Memory Palace by Mira Bartok was "here we go again". Another memoir about living with a schizophrenic mother, etc., etc. But then the reviews started coming in fast and furious about this book. Hmmm, maybe I need take another closer look at this one... Here's what Publisher's Weekly wrote about The Memory Palace:

"This moving, compassionately candid memoir by artist and children's book author Bartok describes a life dominated by her gifted but schizophrenic mother. Bartók and her sister, Rachel, both of whom grew up in Cleveland, are abandoned by their novelist father and go to live with their mother at their maternal grandparents home. By 1990, a confrontation in which her mother cuts her with broken glass leads Bartók (née Myra Herr) to change her identity and flee the woman she calls the cry of madness in the dark. Eventually, the estrangement leaves her mother homeless, wandering with her belongings in a knapsack, writing letters to her daughter's post office box. Reunited 17 years later, Bartók is suffering memory loss from an accident; her mother is 80 years old and dying from stomach cancer. Only through memories do they each find solace for their collective journey. Using a mnemonic technique from the Renaissance—a memory palace—Bartók imagines, chapter by chapter, a mansion whose rooms secure the treasured moments of her reconstructed past. With a key found stashed in her mother's knapsack, she unlocks a rental storage room filled with paintings, diaries, and photos. Bartók turns these strangely parallel narratives and overlapping wonders into a haunting, almost patchwork, narrative that lyrically chronicles a complex mother-daughter relationship.

This sounds fascinating to me. Like a treasure chest of memories, Bartok constructs her memoir around these objects. And glancing through excerpts of Mira Bartok's book, I found some beautiful artwork along with her compelling prose. So, The Memory Palace is now on my wish list! Have you read this one yet?! Share your thoughts if you have, I'd love to hear what you thought of this!

The Sunday Salon... Love Letters of a Different Kind - Epistolary Novels

Still buried under two feet of snow?! I know here in Connecticut it seems like the snow will never stop, but it's Sunday morning! Time to grab that cup of joe and chat about something we all love -Reading! And speaking of reading,there are always some great discussions to be found on Goodreads about books, and always great recommendations. Are you familiar with Goodreads? Goodreads is a social network for readers. There are book clubs, discussion groups, book giveaways, reviews and a virtual place to shelve your books and keep trackof them. If you've never visited Goodreads, and you're a reader, hop on over and check it out! Here's the link to Goodreads, I promise you won't be sorry!

Recently on Goodreads there was a discussion in the Books on The Nightstand group, run by Ann Kingman and Michael Kindness about favorite books about books.(Ann Kingman and Michael Kindness are two bookish people who have a great podcast, Books on the Nightstand, all about books! And a great companion blog to that too!) Someone mentioned The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows. Have you read it yet? I loved this book, it takes place during WWII, when an English novelist receives a letter from a man she's never met, who lives in the small island of Guernsey. The man found her name inscribed in a used book. They begin a correspondence, and the novelist, Juliet Ashton, finds her next writing project- The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society, a book club formed in a spur of the moment decision as an alibi when the German soldiers occupying the small island find some of the citizens breaking curfew. It is a wonderful, charming novel. The correspondence grows from just the two of them writing each other, to practically the whole town writing Juliet. It is an epistolary novel - a novel written entirely in letters!

Then someone added to the discussion about another epistolary novel that they enjoyed - Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn. I had never heard of this book, but since enjoying The Guernsey book so much, I thought I'd check out Mark Dunn's book. And THAT got me to thinking about other epistolary novels... Have you read any epistolary novels? It's an interesting way to write a book, but also an interesting way to read a book. Kind of like being a voyeur... peeking into someone's private correspondence. To be considered an "epistolary novel", the novel needs to be written with diary entries, documents, letters etc. The novel doesn't necessarily need to be all "letters", but they must play an important & major part of the novel. Now "epistolary" novels can also mean books written in the form of emails, blogging and tweets!

When The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society novel took off in popularity, it was thought by some to be unique because of the way it was written, but epistolary novels have been around a long time! In fact epistolary novels date back all the way to 1485, with The Prisoner of Love by Diego de San Pedro. Probably the first well known and wildly popular epistolary novel was (Love) Letters of a Portuguese Nun "written by" Marianna Alcoforado, that told the passionate love affair between the nun and a french officer. Even a very young Jane Austen wrote a novella, Lady Susan, in this form. So today, I thought we'd take a look at some contemporary epistolary novels...

Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn... Ella Minnow Pea is a girl living happily on the fictional island of Nollop off the coast of South Carolina. Nollop was named after Nevin Nollop, author of the immortal pangram,* “The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.” Now Ella finds herself acting to save her friends, family, and fellow citizens from the encroaching totalitarianism of the island’s Council, which has banned the use of certain letters of the alphabet as they fall from a memorial statue of Nevin Nollop. As the letters progressively drop from the statue they also disappear from the novel. The result is both a hilarious and moving story of one girl’s fight for freedom of expression, as well as a linguistic tour de force sure to delight word lovers everywhere.

After reading about this on Goodreads, I just had to get a copy. This sounds like such a fun novel. I can't wait to see how the letters disappear from the novel. Ella Minnow Pea (L M N O P) has also gotten rave reviews too! Some people have called this a dystopian novel because of the control that the "good intentioned" government has over its citizens.

The Pull of the Moon by Elizabeth Berg... In the middle of her life, Nan decides to leave her husband at home and begin an impromptu trek across the country, carrying with her a turquoise leather journal she intends to fill. The Pull of the Moon is a novel about a woman coming to terms with issues of importance to all women. In her journal, Nan addresses the thorniness—and the allure—of marriage, the sweet ties to children, and the gifts and lessons that come from random encounters with strangers, including a handsome man appearing out of the woods and a lonely housewife sitting on her front porch steps. Most of all, Nan writes about the need for the self to stay alive. In this luminous and exquisitely written novel, Elizabeth Berg shows how sometimes you have to leave your life behind in order to find it.

What can I say, if you're of a certain age and a woman... I downloaded a sample on my Kindle to get the feel of the book. At first, on the surface, the letters Nan started writing to her husband seemed to be rather humorous, reflecting on the "horrors" of aging, but there is also an underlying sadness to Nan too. I like the writing of Elizabeth Berg, and know she won't fail me.

Heart on my Sleeve by Ellen Wittlinger... While on a college visit, Chloe meets Julian, another prospective freshman, and infatuated, the two high school seniors begin a long-distance relationship. Chloe is thrilled that she'll have a boyfriend at college, although she doesn't know how to break the news to Eli, her best friend whom she's sort of dating. As Chloe and Julian prepare to meet again, they must face the question of whether their relationship is based on who they really are or who they imagine each other to be.

This is a YA novel that's gotten some great buzz, and The Horn Book praised by writing... "Wittlinger's novel - about genuinely connecting, not just communicating - will hook readers, both with its lovestruck but thoughtful main characters and with its realistic-looking but easy-to-follow layout of e-mails, instant messages, and handwritten letters flying back and forth among the protagonists and their friends and family." This is also a great example of how epistolary encompasses not just "letters", but newer forms of communications!

Last Days of Summer by Steve Kluger... Last Days of Summer is the story of Joey Margolis, neighborhood punching bag, growing up goofy and mostly fatherless in Brooklyn in the early 1940s. A boy looking for a hero, Joey decides to latch on to Charlie Banks, the all-star third baseman for the New York Giants. But Joey's chosen champion doesn't exactly welcome the extreme attention of a persistent young fan with an overactive imagination. Then again, this strange, needy kid might be exactly what Banks needs.

This book is not just made up of letters, but is filled with notes, report cards, postcards and other "writable things". It looks to me like it would be a sweet coming-of-age story, written in a very inventive way. And something "you guys" out there would really enjoy!

Other notable epistolary novels... The Color Purple by Alice Walker, White Tiger by Araind Adica, Girls of Riyadh by Rajaa Alsanea, 84 Charing Crossing Road by Helene Hanff and The Map of Love by Ahdaf Soueif.

*Here are some suggestions from Chick with Books Readers... Nikola from Nikola's Book Blog shares Dracula by Bram Stoker, Kaye from Pudgy Penguin Perusals shares The Ginger Tree by Oswald Wynd, and Uniflame shares life on the refrigerator door by Alice Kuipers. Thanks everyone for sharing these suggestions!

Here's a Recap of this past weeks blog... for Memoir Monday I highlighted a book any foodie reader would appreciate - Blood, Bones and Butter by Gabrielle Hamilton -which is a look at the 25 year journey Gabrielle took before opening up her acclaimed NY restaurant, Prune. Gabrielle has a great writing style that just easily sweeps you up in the story. Then on Wednesday (even though the date says Sunday), I reviewed the 1st book in the adorable Manga series Chi's Sweet Home by Konami Konata. Written in the Western style, which is how graphic novels usually are written (read front to back), Chi's Sweet Home tells the story of a Chi, a lost kitten who eventually finds a home and a family with the Yamada's. If you've ever lived with a kitten, you will love the antics of Chi. Publisher's Weekly calls it the cutest Manga of 2010, and I have to agree- it is sweet and kids of all ages (including my age) will enjoy it. Then for First Lines on friday, I shared the beginning of The Raven's Bride by Lenore Hart. This book is a ghost story, a love story and from the opening lines looks to be a delicious read! The ghost of Virginia Poe, the love of Edgar Allan Poes life opens the book coming to visit her lover & husband. I can't wait to dive into this book! BTW, Today is the last day to grab one of the 3 romances Sourcebooks is offering ebook fans! One is a historical fiction from Elizabeth Chadwick! Here's the link to read more about Sourcebooks free ebooks!

Other mentionables... Delirium by Lauren Oliver was released this week!! Here's my review of Delirium. If you enjoy dystopian love stories, YA love stories, great books, you have to read this! I have to warn you though, it is only the first book in a planned trilogy! I really need to read book two now!! Also the Jane Eyre Readathon hosted by Laura of Laura's Review Bookshelf started! Feb. 7th will be the first "check-in". No pressure, read at your own pace, and it's not too late to start! Basically, if you'd like to read Jane Eyre and have a place to discuss or comment on what you're reading, getting insights from other readers, etc. this is a way to share it all. Here's the link to the original Readathon Sign-up. This week Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness will be released! I chatted about Discovery of Witches in a Sunday Salon a few weeks ago as one of my hot picks! Kind of like a Harry Potter for adults. And the 3rd book in the Flavia de Luce mysteries by Alan Bradley, A Red Herring Without Mustard will be released this week too!

I hope I piqued your interest with something today! What do you think about epistolary novels?! Love 'em? Hate 'em? Never read one before? If you found a trunk full of old love letters, would you open and read every one? Share what you're reading here! And if you have any bookish suggestions, you can share them here too!

Happy reading... Suzanne

A Little eBook Treat from Sourcebooks

Here's a little ebook treat from Sourcebooks!

The following three eBooks will be free from today until Sunday:

Lydia Bennet’s Story by Jane Odiwe

Her new release Mr. Darcy’s Secret just came out on February 1st

Love at First Flight by Marie Force

Her new release Everyone Loves a Hero just came out on February 1st

The Greatest Knight by Elizabeth Chadwick

Her highly anticipatded release, To Defy a King will be released March 1st

Click on the book titles to go directly to the free Kindle versions of these ebooks. If you have a different eReader, here's the link to go directly to Sourcebooks to choose the book for your particular eReader. The PDF or ePub books you can get directly from the Sourcebooks site, and there are links below the author's book to take you to Nook, Kobo, Sony and iBooks.

Thanks Sourcebooks! And thank you to Beth from Sourcebooks for passing along the information!

Watch out Kindle & Sony... Apple wants to take a Bite out of you!

Enjoy reading your ebooks on your iPhone, iPad and other app devices? Well, Apple thinks they should get a cut of the profits of those ebooks. In a surprising move this week, Apple told Sony that they could not sell their ebooks within their App, the sale had to go thru Apple's system. Meaning that you wouldn't be buying your Kindle book from Amazon, or your Sony ebook from Sony when you decide you want to purchase a particular book while reading it on your iPad or iPhone, it would go through Apple's payment system, and thus Apple getting the 30% standard ebook profit.

Apple said it would still allow access to any ebooks purchased prior to this new demand and any ebooks purchased outside the App, but what of the future? One of the nice things about having a reading App for your iPhone and iPad from one of the other eReader companies, is the ability to read your ebooks on various platforms and to simply press a button to purchase an ebook you want. I decide I want to read my Kindle copy of Pride & Prejudice on my iPhone, it's a simple tap away. But say, I finish that book and want to purchase another book, my tendency would be to purchase it right from the App, but why would Sony, Amazon or B&N want to have you buy new ebooks on your iPhone or iPad, if Apple is the one profiting?! I'm sure they wouldn't. And that means the possibility of dedicated devices again. No more convenience of reading different ebooks platforms on one device, at the risk of losing the next sale. And that seems to be a step backwards to me.

Steve Haber, president of Sony’s digital reading division, said on Monday that Apple had told his company that from now on, all in-app purchases would have to go through Apple.

“It’s the opposite of what we wanted to bring to the market,” Mr. Haber said. “We always wanted to bring the content to as many devices as possible, not one device to one store.”

What do you think? It seems to me that there are a lot of Apps that sell things besides ebooks, and that Apple could profit from as well. Is it just that Apple is seeing less profits from iBook sales because the other ebook platforms are more versatile? I can read my Kindle books on my iPhone, iPad, and computer; I can read an iBook on my iPad. Which format would you purchase? And even though you don't own a Sony eReader, with an App, you can purchase a Sony ebook (or any ebook) anyway and read it using an App. Follow the link to read the full article, Apple Moves to Tighten Controlof App Store by Claire Cain Miller and Miguel Helft, from the february 1st New York Times online edition.

First Lines...

"The city's streets lie dark as catacombs beneath a black ceiling of moonless sky. A low fog unrolls across the harbor like a carpet of frost, pushed by a salt-laden breeze. My thin cotton gown is little protection against the chill, but no matter. The cold can no longer make me cough or shiver..."

...The Raven's Bride by Lenore Hart, coming Feb. 15th!