Saturday: 9

Upside Down

Welcome to Saturday: 9. What we've committed to our readers is that we will post 9 questions every Saturday. Sometimes the post will have a theme, and at other times the questions will be totally unrelated. Those weeks we do "random questions," so-to-speak. We encourage you to visit other participants posts and leave a comment. Because we don't have any rules, it is your choice. We hate rules. We love memes, however, and here is today's meme!
Saturday 9: Upside Down

1. When was the last time that you felt your world got turned upside down?  YESTERDAY...WE HAD TO PUT MY DOG TO SLEEP.

2. Should the United States do more to help its own citizens before helping people in other countries?   YES

3. What was something you memorized for school and still can recall? POEM: I'M HIDDING

4. With what types of people do you tend to associate?  NICE PEOPLE

5. Besides blogging what is the last creative thing that you've done?  PROBABLY LINKING UP PEOPLE IN A FAMILY TREE.

6. In nature, what outdoor activities do you enjoy the most?  TAKING PICTURES.

7. When was the last time that you had a great belly laugh?  EARLY THIS WEEK

8. What kind of fashion-sense attracts you?  NOT HAVING ANY, I HAVE NO ATTACTION.

9. What traits in others turn you off?  RUDENESS FOR NO REASON.
Thanks so much for joining us again at Saturday: 9. As always, feel free to come back, see who has participated and comment on their posts. In fact sometimes, if you want to read & comment on everyone's responses, you might want to check back again tomorrow. But it is not a rule. We haven’t any rules here. Join us on next Saturday for another version of Saturday: 9, "Just A Silly Meme on a Saturday!" Enjoy your weekend!

Goodbye my lovely

The pictures are of our Mystery Puppy who left us about 12 hours ago.  We had the choice of doing it last evening or try keeping her going for a couple of days. I've been there with kidney pain and it is horrible. She could not even give a last wag.  I know it was hard but we had to be responsible and let her go in peace. So the pictures below are of our beloved Mystery Puppy.

Goodbye my lovely

mysy
Originally uploaded by spvaughan

Goodbye my lovely

mysy and oscar are ready to go
Originally uploaded by spvaughan

Goodbye my lovely

mysy and oscar
Originally uploaded by spvaughan

Goodbye my lovely

mysy pup smiling
Originally uploaded by spvaughan

Goodbye my lovely

mystery pup
Originally uploaded by spvaughan

Goodbye my lovely

Mystery waits for us to open the gate.  She wants a ride in the car!
Originally uploaded by spvaughan

Goodbye my lovely

mysy at rest.
Originally uploaded by spvaughan

Goodbye my lovely

mysy and oscar at play. looks bad for oscar but all is in fun, no harm
Originally uploaded by spvaughan

Goodbye my lovely

oscar and mystery puppy
Originally uploaded by spvaughan

Why books on tape or CDs

Why do I listen to a book instead of holding it in my hands and reading?

Sometime your hands need to be involved driving or washing dishes or cleaning the house or knitting. What you are doing may seem a bit of a drudge.  Someone telling you a story keeps you company and makes the job seem to go faster.  When driving, you may find slow traffic and stop lights good things as you get to hear more of the story.  It can help you start you drive to work happier (you get to pick up where you left off after parking your car for the night.

Do I have any criteria? 

Of course. I pick out books I might have bought.  I listen to any sample I can find.  A bad narrator can destroy a good book. If the voice of the narrator is irritating in a 30 second snippet, how is it going to be for hours of listening?!?  I did try one because I knew the story was so good.   I deleted it after suffering through 30 minutes!

Abridged vs. Unabridged

Unabridged! every time!  If I would buy a book, I would read the whole thing so that is want I want in a recorded version. Abridged books, for me, are like cliff notes that give you skeleton version.  

Tape or CD

I have some of both but my preference is CD.  CDs won't melt in the car with the windows close to the 100+ temperatures we get in Texas. Also I've never had them get stuck in drive.

Last thought, if DH wants to sleep and I am not ready, I can continue the story in the dark with ear plugs and he can still have his dark quite room.

Sisters, can't live with them, can't live without them

The story of Nefertiti by Michelle Morgan, is told through via her sister, Mutnodjmet.  It is the younger sister who accompanied her parents to the funeral of future pharaoh and reports the proceedings to Nefertiti. It is Nefertiti who marries the new future pharaoh, Amunhotep.  The marriage was arranged in the hope Nefertiti with her strong personality (and father's guidence) will temper her pharaoh husband's heretical desires. 

Mutnodjmet continues to serve her sister in many capacities.  The bond between them is strong and complex and as interesting to follow as is the action around them.  Like the court of Henry VIII, there is love, betrayal, political unrest and religious conflict with a nasty plague throw in for good measure.  

As with Cleopatra's Daughter, this story is very engrossing and hard to put down! 

Cassandra Campbell's narration is good for the story. 

For me, Nefertiti by Michelle Moran, deserves a five out of five rating.  But maybe you should read it for yourself to find out if I am correct n my judgement.

I spy

This was an Audible.com selection, The Secret History of the Pink Carnation by Lauren Willing. 

If you are a fan of old movies, I am sure you will remember Travor Howard as the Scarlet Pimpernel.  You may also have heard of another English fellow, the Purple Gentian.  But, have you heard of the Pink Carnation? Me either before this listen; thanks to our heroine, Eloise Kelly! In Eloise's search she comes across letters that tell us "the secret".  

The dialog as quick witted as the pace is fast and salted with humor.

Give yourself a giggle and check this one out.

Cleopatra's Daughter

I tried, I really tried to win a copy of Cleopatra's Daughter by Michelle Moran from every blogger offering it up for grabs!  I entered every contest, completed all steps to increase my odds.  'Just would not happen.  Then I checked to see if Audible.com had it.  They did and I had credit! Yea, team! I got it.

This is the summary at Audible.com

The marriage of Marc Antony and Cleopatra is one of the greatest love stories of all time, a tale of unbridled passion with earth-shaking political consequences. Feared and hunted by the powers in Rome, the lovers choose to die by their own hands as the triumphant armies of Antony's vengeful rival, Octavian, sweep into Egypt. Their three orphaned children are taken in chains to Rome; only two---the 10-year-old twins Selene and Alexander---survive the journey.

Delivered to the household of Octavian's sister, the siblings cling to each other and to the hope that they will return one day to their rightful place on the throne of Egypt. As they come of age, they are buffeted by the personal ambitions of Octavian's family and court, by the ever-present threat of slave rebellion, and by the longings and desires deep within their own hearts.

The fateful tale of Selene and Alexander is brought brilliantly to life in Cleopatra's Daughter. Recounted in Selene's youthful and engaging voice, it introduces a compelling cast of historical characters: Octavia, the emperor Octavian's kind and compassionate sister, abandoned by Marc Antony for Cleopatra; Livia, Octavian's bitter and jealous wife; Marcellus, Octavian's handsome, flirtatious nephew and heir apparent; Tiberius, Livia's sardonic son and Marcellus's great rival for power; and Juba, Octavian's watchful aide, whose honored position at court has far-reaching effects on the lives of the young Egyptian royals.

Selene's narrative is animated by the concerns of a young girl in any time and place---the possibility of finding love, the pull of friendship and family, and the pursuit of her unique interests and talents. While coping with the loss of both her family and her ancestral kingdom, Selene must find a path around the dangers of a foreign land. Her accounts of life in Rome are filled with historical details that vividly capture both the glories and horrors of those times.

One of the reasons I enjoyed this story was because it gives a possible answer to the question of "what happened to the children?"  I was familiar with most of the major characters but knew very little about the children, other than Cleopatra's oldest child with Cesar did not live long after his mother.  The story pulled me in quickly and did not let go until a satisfactory ending.  It has whetted my appetite for other stories by Michelle Moran.  

I am glad it is in my listening library as I know I will want to hear it again as the narrator, Wanda McCaddon, added much to the Ms. Moran's words. 

On a 1-5 rating, it rates a 5 with me.  

Hand-me-downs are good

E

Especially when it come from my sister to my mother to me!  What a lovely surprise! I had no knowledge about the book, so checked it out on Goodreads.  The following what was said there:

I wonder how the book got to Guernsey? Perhaps there is some sort of secret homing instinct in books that brings them to their perfect readers." January 1946: London is emerging from the shadow of the Second World War, and writer Juliet Ashton is looking for her next book subject. Who could imagine that she would find it in a letter from a man she's never met, a native of the island of Guernsey, who has come across her name written inside a book by Charles Lamb.... As Juliet and her new correspondent exchange letters, Juliet is drawn into the world of this man and his friends--and what a wonderfully eccentric world it is. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society--born as a spur-of-the-moment alibi when its members were discovered breaking curfew by the Germans occupying their island--boasts a charming, funny, deeply human cast of characters, from pig farmers to phrenologists, literature lovers all. As Juliet begins a remarkable correspondence with the society's members, learning about their island, their taste in books, and the impact the recent German occupation has had on their lives. Captivated by their stories, she sets sail for Guernsey, and what she finds will change her forever. Written with warmth and humor as a series of letters, this novel is a celebration of the written word in all its guises, and of finding connection in the most surprising ways.

Did someone say 'MURDER'?

Why yes, she did.  She is Melissa of Melissa's Bookshelf.  
And then she showed this:

And then she mentioned Daphine du Maurier.

And then she had a review.

And then she had a giveaway contest.

And then I entered.

And then I won!

Now just look at that cover! Can you feel the gloominess of the night; the chill wind that carries the scent of the sea as you read one of du Maurier's books or watched a movie braced on one of them?

The review...ah, think of a Nancy Drew but in this setting of time and space! Wouldn't you have to enter?  Of course you would and be joyous as I was when the book arrived on the doorstep!

You really should visit Melissa's blog if only for good reviews and check out her giveaways too...it's a fun thing!

PS:  For those of you wondering why this just showed up when it originated earlier, my computer blew away my original post leaving only the title and opening line.  So don't get made at your machine.

From Blossom Street to Hannah's List

I first became away of Debbie Macomber in a hobby story looking for yarn and patterns. I found 2 pattern books that were based on 2 of her books and encouraging knitters to knit squares for Warm Up America. 

So when in Twitter, I saw the Book Vixen posted review and giveaway of Hannah's List, I had to read the review and enter her giveaway.  Happily, I won not only the book but a $25 Visa gift card (more books!!!)! 
You can read the Vixen's review here.  Do stay around after reading her review for current reviews and/or giveaways that might interest you.

The difference between the North and the South - at last, clearly explained!

This is via one of my grand nieces:

The North has Bloomingdale's, the South has Dollar General. The North has Coffee Houses, the South has Waffle Houses. The North has dating services, the South has family reunions. The North has switchblade knives; the South has Lee Press-on Nails. The North has double last names; the South has double first names. The North has Indy car races; the South has stock car races. The North has Cream of Wheat, the South has grits. The North has green salads, the South has collard greens. The North has lobsters, the South has crawfish. The North has the rust belt, the South has the Bible Belt. FOR NORTHERNERS MOVING SOUTH . . .In the South: --If you run your car into a ditch, don't panic. Four men in a four-wheel drive pickup truck with a tow chain will be along shortly. Don't try to help them, just stay out of their way. This is what they live for. Don't be surprised to find movie rentals and bait in the same store.... do not buy food at this store. Remember, "Y'all" is singular, "all y'all" is plural, and 'all y'all's' is plural possessive. Get used to hearing 'You ain't from round here, are ya?' Save all manner of bacon grease. You will be instructed later on how to use it. Don't be worried at not understanding what people are saying. They can't understand you either. The first Southern statement to creep into a transplanted Northerner's vocabulary is the adjective "big ol'," as in big ol' truck or big ol' boy.  Most Northerners begin their Southern-influenced dialect this way. All of them are in denial about it. The proper pronunciation you learned in school is no longer proper. Be advised that "He needed killin' " is a valid defense here. If you hear a Southerner exclaim, "Hey, y'all watch this," you should stay out of the way.  These are likely to be the last words he'll ever say. If there is the prediction of the slightest chance of even the smallest accumulation of snow, your presence is required at the local grocery store. It doesn't matter whether you need anything or not. You just have to go there. Do not be surprised to find that 10-year olds own their own shotguns, they are proficient marksmen, and their mammas taught them how to aim.In the South, we have found that the best way to grow a lush green lawn is to pour gravel on it and call it a driveway.AND REMEMBER:  If you do settle in the South and bear children,  don't  think we will accept them as Southerners. After all, jus' 'cause the cat had kittens in the oven, don't mean we're gonna call 'em biscuits.

I miss J. Kaye

O the blog is still there but my lady friend is not and I am so late on this one! 

From J. Kaye's Book Blog, I won an audio copy of Beat the Reaper by Josh Bazell. 

Hachette has this as a description:

Dr. Peter Brown is an intern at Manhattan's worst hospital, with a talent for medicine, a shift from hell, and a past he'd prefer to keep hidden. Whether it's a blocked circumflex artery or a plan to land a massive malpractice suit, he knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men.
Pietro "Bearclaw" Brnwna is a hitman for the mob, with a genius for violence, a well-earned fear of sharks, and an overly close relationship with the Federal Witness Relocation Program. More likely to leave a trail of dead gangsters than a molecule of evidence, he's the last person you want to see in your hospital room.
Nicholas LoBrutto, aka Eddy Squillante, is Dr. Brown's new patient, with three months to live and a very strange idea: that Peter Brown and Pietro Brnwa might-just might-be the same person ...
Now, with the mob, the government, and death itself descending on the hospital, Peter has to buy time and do whatever it takes to keep his patients, himself, and his last shot at redemption alive. To get through the next eight hours-and somehow beat the reaper. 
Spattered in adrenaline-fueled action and bone-saw-sharp dialogue, BEAT THE REAPER is a debut thriller so utterly original you won't be able to guess what happens next, and so shockingly entertaining you won't be able to put it down.

Now, if that doesn't suck you in, I don't know what else I can say except, I really liked it! It's offbeat, different, and a good listen!  

Check the book or cd and J. Kaye's Book Blog for good stuff!