Sunday Salon, November 9th, 2008
By APOOO • Nov 9th, 2008 • Category: Sunday Salon •
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I enjoyed the extra hour we got last week…but nothing ever comes without a cost. I hate Daylight Savings Time. I would much prefer if we never changed the clocks. Period. I wouldn’t have to worry about springing forward or falling back. And…therefore when the time changes there’s no losing sleep or feeling like the week we gain an hour is the LONGEST WEEK ever…which is how I felt last week. LOL. And, then coupled with the greatest election night, during my lifetime, I was exhausted by the time Friday rolled around to a weekend filled with High School football (son’s team lost so they’re out of the playoffs), waking up at 6am Saturday morning so that we could be at the garage by 7:15am for daughter’s competitive cheerleading team meet time, after competition travelling to MD to assist with in-laws, and attend engagement party for nephew and his fiancee. Rick (first time) and I (can’t remember anymore) also found out that we have a great-niece or nephew on the way next May. Different nephew…not the same one who is getting married next year. Needless to say, my sister-in-law is ecstatic as she only has two sons and thought that she was going to leave this earth without grand kids. Not sure of what made her think that…given that she is only 50something…lol. Anyway…lots of changes going on…from the White House to the Young’s House (my in laws). And then there’s the Coleman’s…we’re just trying to stay aboard, awake as we survive life with teens.
Oh yeah…we will be dealing with change also. My son has an appointment to get his driver’s license this Saturday. Wish us all luck…we want him to get his license…and we also want to warn you that a new driver will be on the road…LOL. A piece of advice my mom gave me when my son was born was to pray for your kids everyday. I do…but now I will be praying for him ALL DAY. Wait…I do that now. LOL.
On the reading side, I did manage to read and finish four books.
God Gave Me Some Bad Advice by Bryon Harmon–God Gave Me Some Bad Advice by Byron Harmon is an edgy, humorist and colorful read about the author and his family. CLICK HERE to read my commentary about this book. Out of all the books I read last week, it was my favorite!
Whiskey Road by Karen Siplin–review coming up before the end of the month for this one. In the meantime, the book description is posed below to pique your interest.
After one too many run-ins with irate A-list celebrities and their bodyguards on the streets of Los Angeles, paparazza Jimi Anne Hamilton has decided to throw in the towel. But when she planned to ride her BMW K 1200 motorcycle from California to New York, she didn’t count on having her cross-country adventure interrupted by a motorcycle thief. After the brutal attack, which sees both her motorcycle and camera equipment stolen, she finds herself left with only her helmet, a few clothes, and a bag of money she swiped from her attacker. Disillusioned and hurt, Jimi chooses to recuperate in a nearby town where she meets Caleb Atwood, a local contractor fighting his own demons.
Jimi and Caleb make a mismatched pair: black and white, highbrow and low. But in Caleb, Jimi believes she has found someone who feels as much of an outsider as she is. With Whiskey Road, Karen Siplin again succeeds in giving readers a story about opposites who manage to see what no one else can — that they’re right for each other.
Rhythms of Grace by Marilyn Griffith–The saying “each one teach one” fits perfectly in the same breath and statement as Rhythms of Grace. Of all the books I have read by Marilynn Griffith, this one is my all-time favorite. The characters are so real to me. I am certain I could find these people in my everyday life. I did not want this story to end. The words flowed across the pages like music flowing through the air wrapping itself around the body of a dancer. The only thing I am left wondering is will there be a sequel. I recommend Rhythms of Grace to lovers of music, dancers, Christian fiction; anyone who wants to read a book where they most likely will find someone they can relate to or know. CLICK HERE to read the full review from APOOO Exchange Team (AET) member Jennifer. Christian fiction fans will enjoy Rhythms of Grace.
Ms. Etta’s Fast House by Victor McGlothin-Victor McGlothin’s latest novel is set in 1947 St. Louis where the music is hot, women are hotter, and Ms. Etta’s Fast House is the place to be. The bold, the beautiful, the bad and the good mingle at Ms. Etta’s – including the debonair hustler, Baltimore Floyd. Women love him, men want to emulate him, and trouble seems to follow him everywhere.
Friend to many, Baltimore has a cadre that includes the new interns at the renowned Homer G. Phillips hospital as well as some with shadier skills and less than perfect pasts. Penny, an ill-treated girl, who reminds Baltimore of his little sister, is also adopted into the “family”. However, change comes in more ways than one on the cusp of Baltimore’s arrival in St. Louis. His best friend, Henry, seemingly does a complete reversal leaving the lush life (including a steamy relationship with Ms. Etta) and hurriedly marries a school teacher with a ready-made family. He even foregoes his friendship with Baltimore and Etta to join/integrate the police force – a move that severs ties from his dark past and con-artist friends. However, when Baltimore crosses dirty, racist cops in a `get-rich-quick’ scam, sleeps with the “wrong” woman, and ends up on the trial for his life, it is all of his friends (including Henry) that come to his aid, risking their reputation, professions and lives to save him from the gallows in a creative, yet dangerous rescue.
CLICK HERE to read the rest of this review by AET member, Phyllis Rhodes. If you enjoy fictional tales with historical footage, I also recommend Ms. Etta’s Fast House.
This week, I’m looking forward to getting in some extra reading time, since I will be off on Veteran’s Day. Also, I hope to read the following books:
Sinful Too by Victor McGlothin
Matrimony by Joshua Henkin
The Naked Truth by Marvelyn Brown
Sweetsmoke by David Fuller
Book of Lies by Brad Metzer
In looking back, lots of good things happened last week, and the icing on the cake was entering a contest and actually winning! Yea me…the book I won was Testimony by Anita Shreve. I’m looking forward to receiving and reading this one…especially since I’ve read so many good reviews about it and have been trying to win a copy for the last two months…LOL.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
What was the BEST book you read LAST WEEK?
What’s on your reading list?
Have you read any of the books above?
Share your books via the comments section below.
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Hey SIS!
I have not had time to read last week. From Halloween night in Highland with Obama to covering the countdown to election day, voting on election day and covering the polls and the alternative to the Chicago party in Gary I was worn out. Then my brain turned on and said finishing up the fiction manuscript you were dallying with – I finished it at midnight! Now I am off and running with Veterans Day ceremonies and other assignments. Plus a copy of our book did well at a private auction for an organization last week – $50. And more, more, more stuff.
maybe I can read something eventually
Hey sis…slow down…gotta make time to smell the roses and have a latte’…lol.
my reading is slowing down because its the end of the school year, but i did read one good book last week. Can I Get a Witness? by ReShonda Tate Billingsley was an excellent read. i did read one of the books from the above list. i read Ms. Etta’s Fast House and all i could say when i finished it was WOW!! it truly had my attention and I was all in
Hi.
You son, driving! OH NO! Are you ready for that? I remember, vividly, the day that I got my driver’s license and drove around my very busy city alone. I remember thinking, “I can go ANYWHERE and there is nobody who can stop me!” Of course, I didn’t. I mean… where would I go, anyway? But, I was responsible when it came to driving. I think that I did prove the statistics true by getting in a minor bumper accident. Overall, I was resonsible and did an OK job with the driving privileges (I mean, as far as THEY knew, I was doing exactly what I was supposed to be doing). I did do things and go places that I wasn’t allowed to. But, I survived… still breathing!
Congrats on Obama becoming our President. I know how much you wanted that for our country! I’m sure you had a great week enjoying that energy over there (it was more subdued in “The O.C.” )
How in the heck did you read 4 books this week! You kill me! I don’t know how you do it! I’m not quite done with 3.
Anyway, have a great week… I hope you do the Three Wishes Contest. Even though you don’t need a new header.. she can trade it in for buttons or signatures or whatever you can use.
Have a great week.
Sher
Sher´s last blog post..I Dream of… Genie?
Whew…reading all that made me tired and I so agree with you on the time change!!!
I haven’t read anything in the last two-weeks…was busy getting our President Elect…Elected (Doing Happy Dance)
I have read ‘The Naked Truth’ by Marvelyn Brown…excellent book (I brought a couple of copies and gave them away as gifts)
If I told you what was on my TBR list…I’ll get tired again *Sigh* but I did order the new Blair Underwood novel (Bad Lisa) I always say I’m not buying anymore books until I get through the ones I have on my shelf…but end up buying new ones anyway…I will spend my last dollar on a book!
Next year I will make a commitment to release the novel which is gathering dust and get back to writing another! (Pray for a sister)
Have a wonderful week!!!
Congrats on the contest. There certainly has been a lot of change within the last week. And I so feel ya on the daylight savings thing.I will have to check out some of the books that you mentioned above. Oh, and good luck with the driving license.
I read Dont Ever Tell Brandon Massey. It was ok. Im reading Passin by Karen E Quinones Miller as I thought I read it already LOL
yeah… I got the chance to slow down earlier this evening. while covering a fundraiser at one of those fancy bars. covered the fundraiser and don’t have to turn the story in until later in the week. So I spent a good three hours with friends attending the fundraiser who decided to spend the rest of their time in the main bar area. I’m good now, lol!
Seems like we’re in a season of change.
I’m currently reading Orange Mint and Honey by Carleen Brice. I will probably finish it tonight since I have about 50 pages left.
What was the BEST book you read LAST WEEK? Best book I read last week would have to be OFFICER DOWN by Mo Shines. Author did an excellent job of making readers feel his character’s pain. About a mother seeking vigilante justice after her 14-year-old son is gunned down by the police.
What’s on your reading list? Right now I’m reading CHANTE’S SONG by Donneil D. Jackson. Enjoying it. Also on my reading list is: LAYING DOWN MY BURDENS Brenda L. Thomas and GANGSTA BITCH by Sonny F. Black.
Linda,How did you manage to not realize you had read Passin’? LOL
Miss Etta’s Fast House is on my list this week. I finally finished Rhythms of Grace and I actually liked it; It wasn’t perfect but there were enough twists and turns to keep me interested. It is Christian Fiction and it was heavy on the Fire & Brimstone which can be a turn off but I liked that she had a theme of a small town in Ohio and the setting and flavor of a town that had a rich history and the secrets of this town. It also gave me more insight into the history and racism of Ohio, a state where a lot of slaves esaped to and the lingering racism. I do thing some things were dragged out but like how she pulled back the layers on the secrets the characters had. Secrets was the major theme. Some issues were not resolved and the way it ended, there could be a sequel but I don’t think it is needed.
Good luck with the driver’s license. It will be a blessing in a way. You won’t have to play Driving Miss Daisy as much but you will be getting less sleep until he hits the door.
Dera´s last blog post..Black Republicans. Who Needs Them?
SO TRUE!
StarrLisa…the Naked Truth ain’t nothing but the truth! I highly recommend that read to everyone in OUR community…teens, parents, adults…all of us need to read this book.
Unfortunately I have not read any of the above books. One reason is because my genre of choice is romance, so I read more of those than any, but I do tend to stray every now and again, that being said I have read the following:
Midnight: A Gangster Love Story
Law of Desire by Gwyneth Bolton- loved it!! read it twice
Trust In Me- Melanie Schuster
Quade’s Babies-Brenda Jackson
I read 2 books last week:
The Cassandra Cookbook by Shawn James
Butta Cutz by Arlene Brathwaite
both good books for their respective genre. I have 3 books on my reading list for this week and next.
The Love Child’s Revenge by Nicole Bailey-Williams
Faith vs. Fate by Harold A. Bascom & Shaun Stephenson
Battle of Jericho by Kendra Norman-Bellamy
I’ve read Rhythms of Grace as you stated above. I haven’t picked up any of the others, but I’m still interested in reading Matrimony. Maybe sometime next year I will be able to fit it in.
Good luck to Paul regarding the driving test. He’s smart so he will do great.
Jennifer C.´s last blog post..NaNo WriMo
Thanks Jennifer…and glad the review books held your interest.
Susan said:
“Law of Desire by Gwyneth Bolton- loved it!! read it twice”
This is good to know, because I just received it to review and I must confess besides Gwyneth’s blog I have never read any of her writing. I am pumped now.
Jennifer C.´s last blog post..NaNo WriMo
Yas, these last few books have been on point. I guess it was good that I fought through the othe things wrapped in covers with words to get to the good stuff. lol
Jennifer C.´s last blog post..NaNo WriMo
Hey Yasmin, check over at my blog. You won a copy of Gods Behaving Badly. I sent you an email but don’t know if you got it or not. I need your snail mail address. You can click on the link on my blog and it’ll take you to my email address. Congrats!
Darlene´s last blog post..Mailbox Monday (Nov. 10)
I am interested in your comments on Testimony.
Wow – need to find which unpacked box has Ms. Etter as everyone is saying good things.
But I am looking forward to A Mercy
I have to say I have yet to read a bad book by Gwyneth Bolton…I will pick up a book by her without reading the backcover!