Blog Tour: The Thing with Feathers review and giveaway

By Anne Sweazy Kulju

Genre - Historical Fiction/Saga

Publisher – Tate Publishing & Enterprises, LLC

Release Date – 9-11-2012

Purchase: Amazon | Smashwords |Library Thing

Blurb:

It was the ugliest photo he had ever seen.

And nothing would be the same again.

     As the inhabitants of Cloverdale, Oregon, welcomed in the twentieth century, they were not unaccustomed to hard times and thorny situations. Small communities banded together for protection and hope. Heroes and villains were often difficult to decipher.

     When an itinerate Baptist preacher arrived with his baby daughter and a wife lost on the trail, there was no one prepared to suspect what lurid secrets and heartbreak he might be concealing. As the preacher sets his sights against those who might oppose him, the names and the lives of the good people of Cloverdale may not be spared.

     Yet in the midst of the machinations of a mad man, virtue and valor can persist. The Thing with Feathers is known to fly through wars, depressions, and natural disasters. Will the Marshall clan and the good people of Cloverdale find it in time?

MY REVIEW

The introduction of the book was confusing at first. As the part of the book, it indeed introduced some history for the story. I found myself bombarded with descriptions and retelling for an introduction. It wasn’t actually bad though it wasn’t that good either. I think if some parts were cut, it could help maintaining the attention of the readers. Honestly, I was tempted to put the book down because I felt a bit dizzy reading those in my e-reader. However, I also understand that as intro, some stories need to be told so as to be foundation of what are to come in the later part of the story.

I am a Roman Catholic, but I respect other religions. No matter how devoted, I am aware of some negative acts made by others who are actively linked in religion. In this book, one of the main characters was portrayed as a man of church. However, it was ironic that this character is also the antagonist of the story. He was described as a fake missionary – someone who was a self-proclaimed man of God. He took it upon himself to understand and interpret the words of God and apply it according to his understanding and liking. It was too much.

Living in a Catholic country in Asia, I don’t doubt this would be a controversial topic in my place. Even there was no association of Catholicism in the book it was still based on a Christian belief. I have read some news where leaders of the Church (pastors, ministers, and even priests) were guilty of violating the Canon law. Some got involved in very nasty situation, but I feel there could be nothing compared to pastor featured in this book named Julius Bowman. He was portrayed as a living nightmare for those believers of the religion. I won’t be explicit about what he did, but I consider them the worst things a man of God can do.

More of the physical and spiritual brutality? I am not sure if it was the author’s intention, but I found some similarity between the main characters’ family and the Holy family. The husband, upon receiving the divine “message” decided to take the woman as his wife even though she’s carrying a child whose father is not him. However, it was tinged with evil stories that I found too harsh to be real. In fact, I was surprised and unable to believe that a person could turn out to be evil personified in his lifetime.

I also notice that there were a lot of deaths in the story. A novel can be tragic without getting everyone killed in the process. Almost all of the characters introduced in the earlier parts of the story died. It may be to gain sympathy and some form of emotional attachment to the readers, but it worked for me. I might be a bit disgusted with the brutality of how some characters died, but it sure made me feel vengeful, too. I got carried away in the story that I almost didn’t mind the abrupt cutting of scenes in the story.

In spite of the things I didn’t like, there were some points which made the author and her writing commendable. For one, I like the way she inserted facts, digits, and history in the scenes. She connected the years and events to actual phenomenon like the Great Depression. The scenes felt real and true to the time it happened. Even the accent and personality of the locals during that time were also beautifully exposed in the story.

The characters, when they were still alive, were also depicted as real humans – with flaws. I hate to read books which made the heroes and heroines a paragon of sweet, beautiful and everything nice. Instead of doing just that, the author gave her characters strong flaws which were also one of the driving forces of the story.

Even though there were lots of deaths and evil-doings in the novel, the title itself stood out. The thing with feathers. For those of you who are fan of Emily Dickinson, this might sound familiar to you. The title was derived from one of Dickinson’s poems. In fact, the poem itself was present in the story. It was hope – the thing that made everything still alive even if everything seems stained with darkness. It was something mentioned and displayed in the novel which affected me much. It’s like the light is seeping out of the story and going to my heart. It made me feel hopeful, too.

Overall, the story is okay with things to be liked and others to be improved upon. I share this to people to give them hope:

Hope is the Thing with Feathers by Emily Dickinson

Hope is the thing with feathers

That perches in the soul,

And sings the tune without the words,

And never stops at all,

And sweetest in the gale is heard;

And sore must be the storm

That could abash the little bird

That kept so many warm.

I’ve heard it in the chillest land

And on the strangest sea;

Yet, never, in extremity,

It asked a crumb of me.

*This review is also posted in Goodreads and Amazon.

**Disclosure of Material Connection: I am a member of The Virtual Book Tour Cafe’ and a copy of this book was provided to me by the author. Although payment may have been received by The Virtual Book Tour Cafe’, no payment was received by me in exchange for this review nor was there an obligation to write a positive one. All opinions expressed here are entirely of my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, the book’s publisher and publicist or the readers of this review. This disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.**

About the Author:

ANNE SWEAZY KULJU has won awards for editorials and honors for short stories, but now she writes historical fiction adventures, exclusively. Her debut novel, “the thing with feathers,” was released by Tate Publishing in September 2012. Her book, “Bodie,” a total thrill ride, is expected to release in early 2013, and she is currently busy on her next book, “Grog Wars,” set in 1850’s Portland, Oregon, the Shanghai capital of the world. Anne lives near Pacific City, Oregon, and divides her free time between the beach and Mount Bachelor. Readers may learn more about Anne and correspond with her on her website at www.AnneSweazyKulju.com .

Contact the Author:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Scribd | Linkedin | RedRoom |

GIVEAWAY

To my dear followers, you may win a Nook Book Glowlight and a chance to give a Character’s Name! Click the rafflecopter link below to join.

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2012 Reading Challenge: Done!

Before I totally put 2012 in the past, I would like to share you my accomplishment last year. As the title suggested, I finished my Goodreads Reading Challenge with a time to spare. Last June 28, I joined the quest to read 50 books until the end of the year. That’s like 50 books in six months.

At first, I thought it would be easy. I am a fast reader and have a lot of free time. I am single (never married and no boyfriend), a bit of a loner, and dependent to helpers for house chores. So I was confident I can effortlessly finish what I signed up for. However, a few months after, I got engaged in a lot of social activities, thanks to my Korean friends who flocked the country all of a sudden. I became friend/translator/tour guide rolled into one. Slowly, my readings decreased.

But then I have to finish what I have started. So in the following days and months, I read a lot. You may notice that during the last months of the year I have read more than in the earlier ones. Is it possible to read more than ten books in a month? Yes. I didn’t know I could do that before; it never occurred to me to count the books I’ve read in a month. So in those months that I have read more than enough, I feel elated. Those novels were not audiobooks that could be easily finished; some were paperbacks while others are e-copies.

I have met new authors and tolerated other genres in this challenge. I went back to my comfort zone a lot of times after reading heart-wrenching or traumatic books for me. I laughed and cried. I experienced a lot in this journey and I am glad that I have chosen to do this. Now, I would like to share you the titles I have finished for my Reading Challenge.

Note: You may find my reviews/comments about the books in the month headings.

June Reads

Rapture – Lauren Kate

A Night like This – Julia Quinn

July Reads

Hades – Alexandra Adornetto

Beautiful Disaster – Jamie McGuire

Fallen in Love – Lauren Kate

The Perks of Being a Wallflower – Stephen Chbosky

Underworld – Meg Cabot

A Duchess to Remember – Christina Brooke

Once a Princess – Johanna Lindsey

Let Love Find You – Johanna Lindsey

A Knight in Shining Armor – Jude Deveraux

Paradise – Judith McNaught

Thoughtless – S. C. Stephens

Playing the Odds – Nora Roberts

Pride and Prejudice – Jane Austen

August Reads

Effortless – S. C. Stephens

Perfect – Judith McNaught

The Rise of Nine – Pittacus Lore

September Reads

The Secret Garden – Frances Hodgson Burnett

Heaven – Alexandra Adornetto

Fifty Shames of Earl Grey – Andrew Shaffer

The Time Keeper – Mitch Albom

To Marry a Prince – Sophie Page

The Proposal – Mary Balogh

The Ladybug Girl and the Bug Squad – David Soman

The Boy Who Came Back from Heaven: A Remarkable Account of Miracles, Angels, and Life Beyond This World – Kevin and Alex Malarkey

October Reads

The Bargain – Mary Jo Putney

The Mark of Athena – Rick Riordan

To Dare the Duke of Dangerfield – Bronwen Evans

The Alchemist – Paulo Coelho

The Viscount Who Loved Me – Julia Quinn

November Reads

A Thousand Splendid Suns – Kahled Hosseini

Art Geeks and Prom Queens – Alyson Noel

An Offer from a Gentleman – Julia Quinn

A Rogue by Any Other Name – Sarah MacLean

Lumayo Ka Nga Sa Akin – Bob Ong

Clockwork Angel – Cassandra Clare

Clockwork Prince – Cassandra Clare

The Catcher in the Rye – J. D. Salinger

I Wish Someone Were Waiting for Me Somewhere – Anna Gavalda

The Torturer’s Daughter – Zoe Cannon

December Reads

The Drought – Steven Scaffardi

Kindred – Michelle Cornwell-Jordan

Deadly Eyes – Michael Meyer

His Black Wings-Astrid Yrigollen

The Stone Guardian – Theresa McClinton

Tempting Fate – Nora Roberts

Romancing Mister Bridgerton – Julia Quinn

To Sir Phillip, with Love – Julia Quinn

By the River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept

** End of Challenge (50 books reached)

Divergent – Veronica Roth

The Ugly Duchess – Eloisa James

Looking for Alaska – John Green

I have read 53 books by the end of the year. It is something of an achievement to me. Thus, I decided to join this year’s challenge again. I hope to see you there, too! If you have Goodreads account, you may add me as a friend here.

How many books have you read in 2012?

 

The Drought by Steven Scaffardi: Author interview, book review + giveaway!

 

Summary:

Dan Hilles is a pretty regular kind of guy – regular job, regular bunch of mates, regular male aversion to shopping. But following his break-up with long-term girlfriend, Stacey, he finds himself single again. He’s been out of the game for a while and is a little out of practice. Soon, the very irregular and increasingly worrying issue in Dan’s life is the extended drought he finds himself suffering. And we’re not talking the climate change, scorched earth, God I’m parched variety.

You’ve got to hand it to Dan though – it certainly isn’t from a lack of trying. With stalwart mates Ollie, Jack and Rob on hand to lend their collective pearls of male wisdom and arrange the odd road trip, you’d think Dan’s days of languishing in a sexual wilderness would be numbered. Even best friends can’t help prevent the kind of surreal holes Dan just can’t seem to help digging himself into. And with each failed attempt, his self-esteem plummets to the point where he wonders if ‘little Dan’ will ever work again.

Good job he has Kelly, his reliable and sympathetic colleague, to confide in. As a woman, she can perhaps shed some female light on why he’s failing so miserably with the opposite sex, balancing out the testosterone-fuelled ‘advice’ from the lads. Surely Dan can’t go wrong with Kelly teaching him the various intricacies of a woman’s mind.

Purchase: Kindle | Paperback | Smashwords | Barnes & Noble

About the author: Stand-up comedian Steven Scaffardi published his debut novel The Drought in September 2011 to fantastic praise. The Drought is Scaffardi’s foray into the world of lad-lit.

Contact the author: Website | Goodreads | Twitter |Facebook

I met Steven Scaffardi via Goodreads when he messaged me about a promo on his book. We instantly got along and I have agreed to read his debut novel and write a review. In exchange, he accepted an interview with me. I was ecstatic! The interview went like this:

The Interview

Monica: Thank you for giving us the honor to chat with you. May you please tell us something about yourself.

Steven: I am an indie author from London, and I have also done a bit of stand-up comedy. Other than that, I am a pretty normal guy in my 30s, which basically means I am slowly turning into my dad…!

Monica: What inspired you to write this book?

Steven: I love comedy, and I am a big fan of TV shows like The Inbetweeners and films like American Pie and The Hangover. I have never personally found a book that caters for this market. My other inspiration comes from chick lit novels and rom-com movies – whenever I read or watch them I always think “But a guy wouldn’t really do that!” So I decided to write a comedy about relationships from the man’s point of view.

Monica: Is being a writer your dream profession?

Steven: I would love to be a comedy writer – that would be a dream job. I have already written a book, and obviously I write jokes and sketches for my stand-up, but I would love to get into screenwriting too. Lots of people have said they would love to see The Drought turned into a film, so who knows!

Monica: I am a new writer and blogger and I am interested to know about author’s writing environment. Do you prefer writing in pen and paper or in computer?

Steven: Definitely on the computer! I think it would take too long by hand and my hand would end up aching too much from all the writing! I write a lot of ideas down with a pen and paper, and then play around with those ideas, but then I have to type them all up on to my computer again anyway! I also use my phone to make notes too.

Monica: When you want to take a breather from writing, what do you usually do?

Steven: I find that going for a run always clears the head, and I have actually thought of some of my best ideas when out jogging. I just plug in my iPod and listen to some music and that helps me put a soundtrack to my ideas, which is something I would encourage any writer to try because it really works!

Monica: We have agreed and accepted that all writers are also readers. What are the books currently in your nightstand?

Steven: I read lots of different types of books. At the moment I am reading quite a heavy book about the conditions inside a Bali prison! But after that I’ll want to read something light-hearted or fun. I read a series of books this year called The Book With No Name which was brilliant fun, especially if you like Quentin Tarrantino movies.

Monica: Who are your literary influences?

Steven: I would say lad lit authors like Mike Gayle, Danny Wallace, and Nick Hornby influence me because they also write man books! I’d love to achieve half the success of those guys, but I am a long way off that at the moment.

Monica: If you could be a literary character who would you be and why?

Steve: Michael Corleone from The Godfather. My favourite character of all time, although The Bourbon Kid from The Book With No Name is a pretty cool guy too!

Monica: Any current/future projects?

Steven: I am currently writing the follow-up to The Drought. At the moment the working title is The One That Got Away, although I am now toying with the idea of calling it The Flood! It follows on from where the last book left off, and I am also planning a third book to complete the series.

Monica: What can you advice to those aspiring writers?

Steven: Try and write every day, whether it is writing a novel, blogging, or just putting down ideas. And don’t ever let anyone tell you that you are not good enough. Always believe in yourself. Another indie author (Nick Spalding) once told me that the most important thing you can do as a writer is talk to as many readers as possible, and he wasn’t wrong! Really simple, but great advice, form a very good writer!

My review

Rating: 4/5

Prior to this novel, I haven’t heard about the existence of lad-lit. I have read stories which were written by men, but not the counterpart of chic lit. It made me curious as to how something can be classified as such, so after I finished the book I was reading, I didn’t waste time and start checking what the fuss was about.

The story started at the end – well, that’s what the chapter said anyway. This was refreshing as most of the novels I have read recently didn’t use this technique. Right away, the story unfolded and one can easily guess why the novel was titled like that. The title and theme were introduced in the first chapter, and I actually like it. I have had experiences reading other books which until now I couldn’t decipher why they were titled like that.

It was narrated in first person, and it made the connection between the character and the reader (me) stronger. In this kind of story, first person point-of-view is recommended and I am glad the author chose to use that.

The main character, Daniel Hilles, was portrayed as a typical English man – or just a man. I felt a bit awkward at first when I have read Dan’s thoughts and actions, but I realized that this is how real men are. Well, mostly. Football and video games, drinking and planning to get laid. There were languages I never imagined I could muster and bold acts I would never wish to see. Still, it’s just my sensitivities. The author wrote the novel in such a way to introduce man’s true thoughts, feelings, and actions that I was appalled to note that if this is how real men are, then I hardly know them at all.

Then there were Dan’s friends. The author wasn’t satisfied to tell a story of a single man, but he included his boisterous and crazy friends as well. I wasn’t surprised though. In any chic lit, the star always have her side kicks with her, so why not in a lad-lit? The characters of Dan’s friends were shown as what real men friends are – supportive in almost everything and never lacking of suggestions no matter how absurd they are.

The characters were realistic. They weren’t depicted as perfect and flawless personalities and I like that. There were instances were they were characterized negatively, and it made them more believable, like they are just normal people.

But what I liked best in the novel was the way Dan was complaining and expressing his heart out about us, women, and our tendencies. It was an eye-opener for me to read this novel. I found myself nodding in almost all of his complaints about our womanly actions. I don’t know how to help him with his problems with women because I also don’t know how we are like that, but I feel for him. I have realized that it is difficult to be a man.

I don’t want to give you spoilers, but I would like to share you some of Dan’s thoughts and questions about women:

On shopping with a girlfriend:

1. Whose bright idea was it to put the changing rooms bang in the middle of the lingerie department? Groups of men are forced to awkwardly stand around, trying their best not to look like pervs. The problem is, the more you try to look like you are not hanging around sniffing women’s underwear, the more paranoid you become that everyone thinks that is exactly what you are doing.
2. “Which one do you prefer?” Hmm, let me think. I don’t care! Just pick that one, pick any of them! Whichever one you choose will be met by the same response: “Really? I prefer this one.” If you have already made up your mind, don’t ask us.

On general:

1. “Why do they always expect you to know what’s wrong with them? If you ask them and they say nothing, and then don’t expect us to press any further on the matter.”
2. “Why do girls insist on chatting continuously when you’re watching the footy, but as soon as the adverts come on they shut up?”
3. “Men are not mind readers. If something is wrong then you should just come out and tell us. It is not fair to presume we don’t care because of out lack of mind-reading abilities… Come out and ask what you want. Subtle hints don’t work. Strong hints don’t work. Obvious hints don’t work. Just say it!”

Men, do you agree? Another thing I liked most about this book is the funny way the author narrated Dan’s life. It was utterly hilarious. I was trying hard not to laugh while I read this in a coffee shop while waiting for my friend, and I ended up coughing instead.

All in all, the novel was pretty find and I like it. I would have given it five stars if the situations Dan got into were more believable. If I could retitle this, it would be Lemony Snickket’s “A Series of Unfortunate Events”. Dan got into a lot of trouble in ending his drought, and in some points I stopped and asked myself if it was really possible to happen in a single person.

That’s the only problem I had with this book and it didn’t affect the way I like it. I would definitely recommend this to everyone, especially to those women who wanted to understand men.

*This review is also posted on Goodreads.

Now, on the good news. Steven is so kind as to gift my readers an early Christmas treat. Until December 13, Steven is offering The Drought for free in Smashwords to everyone as long as you are living in the same planet we are residing! You may download an e-copy of his debut novel in any format you wish. Just go to this Smashword link and type the promo code: KW38E

There you go. Now, how awesome is that? You may read this hilarious dating novel for free! If you liked it, please feel free to write a review, too.

The Torturer’s Daughter by Zoe Cannon – author interview and book review

THE TORTURER’S DAUGHTER BY ZOE CANNON

Summary

When her best friend Heather calls in the middle of the night, Becca assumes it’s the usual drama. Wrong. Heather’s parents have been arrested as dissidents – and Becca’s mother, the dystopian regime’s most infamous torturer, has already executed them for their crimes against the state.

To stop Heather from getting herself killed trying to prove her parents’ innocence, Becca hunts for proof of their guilt. She doesn’t expect to find evidence that leaves her questioning everything she thought she knew about the dissidents… and about her mother.

When she risks her life to save a dissident, she learns her mother isn’t the only one with secrets – and the plot she uncovers will threaten the lives of the people she loves most. For Becca, it’s no longer just a choice between risking execution and ignoring the regime’s crimes; she has to decide whose life to save and whose to sacrifice.

It’s easy to be a hero when you can save the world, but what about when all you can do is choose how you live in it? THE TORTURER’S DAUGHTER is a story about ordinary teenage life amidst the realities of living under an oppressive regime… and the extraordinary courage it takes to do what’s right in a world gone wrong.

Now available in: AMAZON, BARNES & NOBLES, SMASHWORDS, KOBO, and in print soon!

The Interview

Hi, Zoe. Thank you for sharing your time with us for this interview. I hope that the readers of this blog will learn more about the person behind the wonderfully written novel, The Torturer’s Daughter. So without further ado, let’s start.

1. Since when did you start writing and what was it about?

I started writing not long after I learned to read on my own. To me, the one was a natural extension of the other; I loved books, and it only seemed natural that I would write some of my own. The first book I ever wrote starred the characters from Scooby-Doo, my favorite TV show at the time, and it was illustrated with stick figures. My writing has gotten a bit more sophisticated since then – although I’m not sure my artistic skills have, so it’s a good thing my books don’t need illustrations!

2. What inspired you to write a dystopian novel such as Torturer’s Daughter?

I’ve always loved dystopian stories. I’ve seen many different variations on the theme, from classic totalitarian dystopias like 1984 to stories set in post-apocalyptic worlds. My favorites tend to be the ones set in repressive totalitarian societies – but in books like 1984 everything tends to be stylized, exaggerated, larger than life. When I wrote The Torturer’s Daughter, I wanted to explore what a more realistic version of that kind of repressive society would look like. What if the dystopian world looked familiar enough to almost be the world we know… but at the same time it was a world gone horribly wrong?

3.Which do you prefer to use when  writing: pen and paper, or computer?

I’ve always preferred writing on the computer (to the consternation of my teachers in elementary school, who thought that typing an assignment rather than writing it by hand was a sign of plagiarism!). I’ve always been kind of clumsy with my hands, so computers have been a lifesaver for me. Typing lets me keep up with my thoughts, while the slower pace of writing by hand means I’m likely to forget what I wanted to say by the time I get around to saying it. I also like the convenience of being able to change things as much as I want, as soon as I want, without having to cross stuff out or recopy the whole thing. Writing by hand has its place; it’s what I prefer for my personal journal. But for fiction, it’s typing all the way.

4. Who are your literary inspirations? Name a few authors.

Orson Scott Card is a major inspiration of mine. I’m not a fan of his personal philosophies, but he is an amazing writer. He was one of the first adult-fiction authors I read as a kid, and I like his work now as much as I did then. His philosophical science fiction always feels meaty and satisfying, while staying engaging at the same time.

I discovered Lois McMaster Bujold more recently, but she has quickly become one of my favorite authors, and someone I would be happy to emulate. Reading her prose feels like watching someone practice martial arts – it isn’t flashy, it doesn’t call attention to itself, but it does what it sets out to do elegantly and efficiently, with no missteps and nothing wasted. The vision of the future that she portrays in her books is one of the most plausible fictional futures I’ve seen, probably because it seems to be based on the premise of, “In the future, people will be the same as they’ve always been.” But one of the best things about her books is how she often sets characters up as other – strange, different, sometimes even villainous – and then makes them not only sympathetic but relatable, without changing anything about them. The underlying message I take from her books is that there’s no such thing as an “other” – there are only people. That’s a message that matters a lot to me, and it’s one of the main themes of The Torturer’s Daughter.

Holly Lisle is another inspiration for me, less for her work itself – although I love her books, especially her Korre series – and more for everything she’s done to help other authors. My writing wouldn’t be what it is today without her writing courses, and her everyday insights into the life of a working writer gave me a realistic view of what the writing life entails long before I started publishing.

5. Any current/future projects?

My next project is going to be another story set in the same world as The Torturer’s Daughter. I’m not ready to share anything about it just yet, but I can tell you that fans of The Torturer’s Daughter will like it. If you want to find out when the new book is available, you can sign up for my mailing list here: http://www.eepurl.com/pbNOn

6. If you were living in that setting in the book, will you also blindly believe the Internal and its cause?

I’d like to think I wouldn’t. Don’t we all want to believe that if we were living in a dystopian world, we would be the ones to see it for what it really was, rather than being taken in by the lies that everyone else falls for? But it isn’t that simple. If I were raised in Becca’s world, if that world were all I knew, what would I believe? What other frame of reference would I have? I’d like to believe I would understand the truth and fight for what was right… but the truth is, I really don’t know.

7. Any message to your readers?

There can be a lot of division between readers over what to read and how to read it. Is literary fiction snooty? Is romance trashy? Is YA fiction immature? Are ebooks the doom of the literary world as we know it? But we all love books, and that’s what matters. Just keep reading – that’s the important thing. Read what you love, no matter what anyone else thinks about it.

About the Author:

Zoe Cannon writes about the things that fascinate her: outsiders, societies no sane person would want to live in, questions with no easy answers, and the inner workings of the mind. If she couldn’t be a writer, she would probably be a psychologist, a penniless philosopher, or a hermit in a cave somewhere. While she’ll read anything that isn’t nailed down, she considers herself a YA reader and writer at heart. She lives in New Hampshire with her husband and a giant teddy bear of a dog, and spends entirely too much time on the internet.

*You may contact Zoe Cannon in her website at http://www.zoecannon.com/.

The Review

The novel was set in a dystopian novel controlled by a totalitarian government. This was evident in the rich description in the story of uniform housings with stark white walls and security cameras, enforcers guarding the area, mandatory civilization classes in school, whistle blowers, as well as executioners for violators of the laws. These depict a fearful scenario for the reader. Starting the story with the main character worrying about her best friend who was captured by the government, it successfully caught the interest of the reader. This opening piqued the curiosity of the reader and filled her mind with lots of why and how questions. The reader admits that this is one effective way of keeping an audience on hold. As the story progressed, there were more evidences on the existence of a repressive government.

The characters were richly described mentally and emotionally, if not that much physically. The main character, Becca, was portrayed as a teenager living inside her safe bubble. She might be living in a dictatorial government, but the author smartly created the feeling that Becca was immune to that. One factor that made her feel protected was the fact that her mother was the regime’s torturer for violators.

However, something changed when her best friend, Heather, was caught by the government and Becca had to go to plead for Heather to be saved. The author increased the tension when Heather became allegedly involved in dissident activities. In an oppressive government, the reader has knowledge on how bad it would look like for someone to oppose the agency. And the author has also researched on that.

The writer created a vicious world of oppression in the form of The Internal, the government in the story. It successfully, and a bit morbidly, described how a dissident must be punished when he was proven to be guilty of nonconformist activities and/or propaganda. The theme suddenly shifted to an enclosed room with a dim yellow light illuminating the plain concrete walls and bloodstains.

Fortunately for the reader, the darkness didn’t stop there. The author had a foresight of not creating a lull when the tension was already climbing in the story. The darkness continued when Heather’s parents were executed because of treason to the government and their admission of doing so. Heather, as their daughter, was put in a difficult situation which sprouted doubts in Becca’s mind about the system.

The author also made a realistic conflict in the novel. The main character found herself trapped between believing her mother and everything Internal symbolizes and doubting the entire system by believing Heather and Becca’s new friend, Jake. Becca was believably created to have crises in her identity, beliefs, and principles – the common situations teens find themselves in.

Throughout the novel, the reader kept on guessing on Becca’s actions. The entire story was gripping! It made the reader frustrated whenever she couldn’t find clues for the solution of the main character’s dilemma. As a result, the novel became a page-turner. The reader could not put it down.

Overall, The Torturer’s Daughter proved not only a dystopian, but a thrilling novel. It was a rollercoaster ride filled with paranoia, confusing choices, and doubtful principles. It became a guessing game and the reader just smiled to herself when the author outwitted her in the end. The characters and plot seem believable and it made the reader wonder on how many societies in remote areas are suffering from this kind of set-up.

I give two-thumbs up and a big toe for this creation by Zoe Cannon. I only have two complains though – there wasn’t enough history given about the government and how it turned out to be like that; and there wasn’t any announcement for a sequel.

**You can also find my review in Goodreads.

What do you think? Interested in reading it? Go on and try!

Have questions for Zoe? Just hit “Comment” and ask your question. Zoe will be glad to answer them.

July: Read books

For the month of July, I have only read thirteen books (approximately 2.3 days/book). I’m not sure if I should be happy or not with this statistics, but I guess I should be glad to have read something than others who have not read anything at all. However, I somehow feel like I should have read more if only I have more free time.

Anyway, here’s the list of the books that I have read during Julius Caesar’s birthmonth. I have written the book titles, authors, my ratings, and Goodreads summary for each.

• Hades by Alexandra Adornetto. Rating: 3/5.

I have read the first book, Halo, because it was the first angel novel where the divine entity was a woman. I’ve been fascinated with angelology for months and waited for the second installment to read.

• Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire. Rating: 2/5.

I was (okay, still am) obsessed with Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy not because of the sex stuff, but of the story and realistic personality the characters portray. After finishing the trilogy, I admit I got depressed as I know there could be nothing else that I could draw parallel with my Fifty. My friend and colleague then gave me a “What to Read after Fifty Shades” list and this book was included. She persuaded me to read this book.

•  Fallen in Love by Lauren Kate. Rating: 5/5.

In my previous post, I have written about the Fallen series. This book is a bonus installment, lying between books 3 (Passion) and 4 (Rapture).

• The Perks of being a Wallfower by Stephen Chbosky. Rating: 4/5

Honestly, I have read this novel only because there’s a film adaptation starring Emma Watson. I got intrigued and gave the book a chance. At first, I didn’t like it because of the way the narrator, Charlie, wrote. Basically, the novel is Charlie’s journal where he writes his entries beginning with, “Dear friend”. As the story progressed, I became attached to Charlie and sometimes saw myself in his position. Definitely a good read.

• Underworld by Meg Cabot. Rating: 4/5.

After I got addicted with Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, I found myself looking for interesting fiction with mythology as a theme. I came across one of my favorite YA authors, Meg Cabot, and tried the first book of the trilogy – Abandon. I found myself fascinated by John Hayden (keeper of Hades) attracted by mortal Pierce Oliveira. More like Hades and Persephone!

• A Duchess to Remember by Christina Brooke. Rating 3/5.

I never get tired of reading 18^th century and regency era romantic novels. The story started with Lady Cecily disguising herself as a footman in order to enter Rand’s house, Duke of Ashburn. She believes he has the possession of a letter that could destroy her betrothal.

• Once a Princess by Johanna Lindsey. Rating 5/5.

Johanna Lindsey is one of my favorite authors and I have this urge to read all of her work. The title of this novel caught my attention, especially the word princess. If you have any Korean language background, you will notice that my ID – gongjumonica means Princess Monica. Anyway, Lindsey made a simple rags to princess storyline to something wonderful in this masterpiece.

• Let Love Find You by Johanna Lindsey. Rating: 3/5.

I wasn’t happy while reading this novel so I guess I didn’t feel so enamored by the story. A woman who failed to get a husband in two seasons and a man who played Cupid found themselves getting attracted to each other.

• A Knight in Shining Armor by Jude Deveraux. Rating: 5/5.

I’d give this novel six stars if I could. Jude Deveraux made such a masterpiece this time. Yes, I’m a fan of historical romance, but this is the first time that I cried so hard just by feeling the passion and grief shared between the characters, at the same time laughing on some points of the story. I was never a fan of time travel plots since I know that more often than not, the characters end in separate ways. However, the author used reincarnation in the story, and in the end, all seems well. I admit that at first, I wanted to tear the pages and throw the book, but since I was using my phone as my eBook reader at that moment, I realized that it wouldn’t be wise to just throw it away. I cried and cried just like Dougless and perhaps Nicholas would also tease me of being onion-eyed. Their story, albeit fiction, gives us hope that love indeed transcends time. It knows no boundaries. Bodies might change, but the souls will always find their way to each other.

• Paradise by Judith McNaught. Rating: 3/5.

McNaught is one of my other favorite authors. Giving your book a title such as Paradise will make readers have high expectations on the story. The author did not fail such expectations though I’d rated it 3 out of 5 – one to make room for improvement, and another because I don’t like Meredith. Haha!

• Thoughtless by S. C. Stephens. Rating: 5/5.

This was also included in the TBR list for Fifty Shades depressed readers. I’ve given it a shot and was immediately overwhelmed by the story. Kiera, the heroine, is my mirror. At some points in my life, I was like her – lonely, confused, in need of comfort. I like this story because Stephens did not make the characters perfect just so the readers will like them, but she appealed sense that all of us commit mistakes, sometimes bigger than others. A fiction, but could happen to anyone.

• Playing the Odds by Nora Roberts. Rating: 3/5.

Aside from Johanna Lindsey, Jude Deveraux and Judith Mcnaught, Nora Roberts is also my favorite. I have tried The MacGregors #1 to kill time as it’s just a light reading. The plots wasn’t much developed and so were the characters, but served its purpose waste time.

• Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. Rating: 4/5.

I have read this classic before though I didn’t have the chance to finish it at first. Since recently I felt like I should read more Classics, I started with Jane Austen. In the beginning this novel irritated me a bit, but I got enchanted and carried away as the plot moved on.

Those are the thirteen books I have read in the month of July. I hope that by the end of August, I could finish more books than this, as my TBR list is growing so rapidly.

How about you? How many books have you read last month?

Wisest is she who knows that she doesn’t know

Who are you? Where does the world come from?

These are two questions that Sophie got when she received her mail. A story about a Norwegian girl coming to philosophical consciousness with the aid of her philosopher friend, Jostein Gaarder’s Sophie’s World helped the readers travel to the history of Western philosophy, from Socrates time to Sartre. Gaarder’s style to put a sort of textbook material into an interesting mystery novel motivated young readers to read it, too.

I’ve read this book as a requirement in one of my classes in History of Political Thoughts. I always want to read books, but I’d never wanted to be forced reading something. However, I’m glad my professor insisted doing so. After reading the book, I felt like I was in the tip of the rabbit’s hair and exposed to the world. I feel liberated, unlike those people in the Allegory of the Cave, chained, imprisoned and seeing only shadows of the true form of the real world.

But as time passed by, I got sidetracked with other things in life, and down I fall – deeper to the rabbit’s hair. As the philosopher in Sophie’s World pointed out, as a person matures, she tends to just accept what is happening as the reality. There’s no more curiosity, just the cold acceptance of everything as a fact.

However, yesterday I stumbled upon one of Vico’s old blog, and I found one of his book recommendations – The Book of General Ignorance. The title itself is catchy, as I think that “The Book of General Knowledge” would be common and expected. The authors are John Lloyd (not Cruz, LOL) and John Mitchinson. Since I am always book thirsty, I checked the blurbs/back cover copies and reviews of this book and found that a lot of its readers find it entertaining and educational!

According to my search, this is a sort of trivia book, which aims to correct all our misunderstandings and misconceptions on what we know as the common knowledge.

Then I didn’t waste another minute. I told this to my colleague and together we got ourselves a copy of this book and add to our “to-read” shelves.

I will be reading this book soon after I have finished at least five more books that are in my priority to-read list. Once I have finished with it, I will have a write-up about the book here.

Stay tuned~

Fallen

I have started reading this series since I was in my senior year in college, year 2010. After I finished with Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight saga, I have moved on and searched for a new addiction. I knew I wasn’t ready to go out of the young adult paranormal genre, and so I have stayed in that classification and browsed for different titles with interesting plots. Eventually, I came upon a story that is not about vampires, werewolves, and faeries, which were all occupying the “new released” shelves in the bookstore. An angel love story.

Okay. My country is a “Catholic and conservative” nation who believes that she must protect the souls of her people. Just thinking of the uproar from the clergy when Dan Brown’s Da Vinci Code was released made me smirk. Tsk tsk. I want to discuss more about this behavior the Church has been exhibiting lately, though I assume it would be a lengthy write-up and not much connected with my current entry here.

So, yes, an angel story. I’m such a sucker for star-crossed lovers, and add up the fact that one of the main characters is an angel made me get interested and hooked easily. The saga consists of four books, and I have finished reading the fourth and last installment a day ago. I’d admit – I didn’t have the strength to put down my phone once I have opened the book in my ebook reader. I was, in lack of a better word, captivated by the plot. Lauren Kate did it big this time. I was a bit surprised with the twist as I haven’t guessed correctly what it would be. Kate’s sudden turn of the story in Rapture was so unexpected yet seemingly fitting if one would recount those subtle hints and lines mentioned in the previous books. I applaud Kate for creating the fourth novel in such a way that would certainly leave a mark to those who are fans of the story. I daresay one will definitely find satisfaction and “completion” after reading the last book. Unlike other installments’ final book, one can find himself smiling after reading Rapture. It’s not like a cliffhanger or an open-ended plot, though it still leaves something for the imagination.

I won’t say much about the story as some readers might not want a spoiler. I’ll just post here the series along with the books’ blurbs and/or back cover copies. I hope you guys will find time to read the saga and find yourself fallen in love after reading each book, especially Rapture. And who knows? Perhaps like the Roman poet Virgil, you may also believe in omnia vincit amor, or love conquers all. And that whatever battles you may face and choices you may make, God will always be there – forgiving as always.

Enjoy reading!

Fallen (Book 1)

Some Angels are Destined to Fall

There’s something achingly familiar about Daniel Grigori.

Mysterious and aloof, he captures Luce Price’s attention from the moment she sees him on her first day at the Sword & Cross boarding school in sultry Savannah, Georgia. He’s the one bright spot in a place where cell phones are forbidden, the other students are all screw-ups, and security cameras watch every move.

Even though Daniel wants nothing to do with Luce–and goes out of his way to make that very clear–she can’t let it go. Drawn to him like a moth to a flame, she has to find out what Daniel is so desperate to keep secret . . . even if it kills her.

Dangerously exciting and darkly romantic, Fallen is a page turning thriller and the ultimate love story.

“Sexy and fascinating and scary…I loved love loved it!” -P.C. Cast, New York Times bestselling author of the House of Night Series.

Torment (Book 2)

Love never dies.

Lucinda is sure that she and Daniel are meant to be together forever. Now they are forced apart in a desperate bid to save Luce from the Outcasts–immortals who want her dead. As she discovers more about her past lives, Luce starts to suspect that Daniel is hiding something. What if he has lied to her about their shared past? What if Luce is really meant to be with someone else?

Passion (Book 3)

Luce would die for Daniel.

And she has. Over and over again. Throughout time, Luce and Daniel have found each other, only to be painfully torn apart: Luce dead, Daniel left broken and alone. But perhaps it doesn’t need to be that way…

Luce is certain that something—or someone—in a past life can help her in her present one. So she begins the most important journey of this lifetime… going back eternities to witness firsthand her romances with Daniel . . . and finally unlock the key to making their love last.

Cam and the legions of angels and Outcasts are desperate to catch Luce, but none are as frantic as Daniel. He chases Luce through their shared pasts, terrified of what might happen if she rewrites history.

Because their romance for the ages could go up in flames… forever.

Rapture (Book 4)

The sky is dark with wings . . . .

Like sand in an hourglass, time is running out for Luce and Daniel. To stop Lucifer from erasing the past they must find the place where the angels fell to earth. Dark forces are after them, and Daniel doesn’t know if he can do this—live only to lose Luce again and again.

Yet together they will face an epic battle that will end with lifeless bodies . . . and angel dust. Great sacrifices are made. Hearts are destroyed. And suddenly Luce knows what must happen.

For she was meant to be with someone other than Daniel. The curse they’ve borne has always and only been about her—and the love she cast aside. The choice she makes now will be the only one that truly matters.

In the fight for Luce, who will win?

The astonishing conclusion to the FALLEN series. Heaven can’t wait any longer.

Fallen in Love (Book 3.5) Bonus book

Luce and Daniel’s relationship is emblematic for eternal love–but their story is not the only kind of love. This is a book inspired by you, my readers, who have shared your love stories with me from the beginning and shown me how many different shapes love takes. Set far back through the Announcers–somewhere between Passion and Rapture–Fallen in Love is a grand tour of romance that reaches through time and through hearts. Get a little bit closer to knowing the eternity of Luce and Daniel–and swoon as Miles, Shelby, Roland, and Arriane navigate their hearts’ destinies.

See what happens between the lines of the Fallen Series, and fall in love, again, forever.

Blurbs, back cover copies, and more of the series can be found at http://laurenkatebooks.net

an excellent vintage

I don’t know why. Perhaps it’s because most people left the work area, or I’m alone in “gate 4” that’s why I thought of drinking. And not just an ordinary beer, or a cheap brandy. I am not a drinker myself, and I’ll admit I don’t have much experience drinking. But I am grateful for Ambassador Fred Almendrala’s class on Protocol and Etiquette where he had our wine tasting. What a delectable education that has been! I missed that class. Our professor was my own Morrie Schwartz, and my classmates were good. We had tasted wine and some sort of hard liquor; I can’t even remember their names now. All I know was that I have enjoyed only the sparkling wine he had freely given us. What a joy to experience drinking wine fermented years ago and might have been given as present to my professor when he was still in service in the diplomatic corps.

I know, this sounds a bit dull. But hey, I don’t drink. Thanks to my current addiction, Fifty Shades of Grey, I am now resolved to fix the situation. Why not try to drink some of the wines mentioned in the trilogy when you have the opportunity to do so? Here is the list:

 

White Wine

Sauvignon Blanc

Sancerre (a type of Sauvignon Blanc from Loire Valley, France)

Pouilly Fume (a type of Sauvignon Blanc from Loire Valley, France)

Pinot Grigio

Chablis

Frascatti

Prosecco

Champagne

Bollinger Grande Annee Rose 1999

Cristal

Red Wine

Barossa Valley Shiraz

My favorite would be the Grey’s favorite, too – the Bollinger Grande Annee Rose 1999. I’ve heard it’s an excellent vintage. *winks. As of the moment, this costs almost $180 per 750 mL bottle. I’ll be looking forward to taste this soon!

Signs you are addicted to Fifty Shades of Grey

I know I have recently published a post on my write-up for the Fifty Shades of Grey, but I can’t stop myself. I have this insane urge to persuade everyone to read and be fond of the reality of life in Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele’s love story. I am aware that I am so hooked into this series, and I just can’t let it go. If I could, I would send PDFs and epubs file formats of the books to my friends, colleagues, and associates just to have them crazed over the trilogy, too. As I type this, the idea seems appealing. Hmm. I might do this.  Don’t get me wrong, I won’t have sales commission if ever I will send the files to my friends. *winks*

Why do I want to have my friends read and be captured by the series, just as what it did to me? I think I know. I want to talk to them about the books – the plot, characters, crises, dialogues, etc. Well, I already have my colleague for that, but it seems I want more. Hmm, there’s that word again. (You can relate if you have read at least the first book.) As I was saying (er, writing? whatever), I want a lot of people to appreciate what a wonderful series E. L. James created. Sometimes I fear that I might soon establish a Fifty Shades Fans Club here in the country. Jeez, what’s wrong with me? (laughs).

Anyhow, if you have read the first installment, I’m sure that you won’t keep your hands from the second one (if you have a copy, for that matter). Jeez, why am I perpetually arguing with and commenting at myself? It’s kinda crazy, I know. As I was saying, once you have read the first book, it’s a sure kill. You will not stop yourself reading the whole series. You will get hooked, addicted, obsessed, and whatever word Mr Thesaurus has to offer. You will. Like me.

Creepy? I don’t think so.

Signs you are addicted to Fifty Shades of Grey by Monica (최다해)

• You have finished reading the entire series in less than a week.
• Then after the last installment, you have decided to re-read all the three books AGAIN.
• You searched for all the songs mentioned in all the books. (Me).
• Worse, if you have listed them while you were reading. (Not me!).
• You created a playlist for all the songs.
• You have downloaded the songs and made one your current general ringtone.
• You loved a song in a playlist and self-declared that this must be the OST of the series – Try by Nelly Furtado.
• You have searched the chords of the said song and watched in YouTube on how to play it in your acoustic guitar.
• Your taste in music is starting to be eclectic – from Thomas Tallis to Kings of Leon. (laughs)
• You are starting to argue with yourself much often, and the funny thing is you don’t find it strange at all.
• You are always asking for your inner goddess and subconscious to be agreeable with you.
• You are starting to call people by their last names, like Mr. Grey, Miss Steele.
• You tend to cock your head in one side when you are thinking or asking question.
• You practice in the mirror your perfect smirk.
• You start quoting dialogues from the book like:

“We aim to please.”

“Don’t bite that lip. You know what that does to me.”

“What is it with elevators?”

“Laters, baby.”

“Are you smirking on me, (name)?”

• “Oh my” means a lot to you.
• You have searched the internet on how Escala’s penthouse looks like.
• You started searching and trying to taste the wines mentioned in the trilogy, especially Bollinger Grande Annee Rose 1999, which, as we know, is an excellent vintage. *winks*
• You like to see men wearing a tie, especially a silver grey tie.
• When friends ask if you like or want something, you tend to answer with a yes or no, followed by “that’s a soft/hard limit for me”.
• You are starting to have your own cast of the first installment, as rumor has it that there will be a film adaptation of the trilogy.
• What’s worse (or scarier), is that deep within yourself you wanted to star as Anastasia Steele.
• You want to have more.

The list is endless. I can go on and there will be lots of things to say. One thing is certain: Fifty Shades of Grey really captured my heart and interest, and I doubt there will be more than Christian Grey in the other novels. I am not thrashing out the others. I’m just scared to say that this might be the case.

I want more… the Fifty Shades trilogy

As promised, here is my entry for my current book addiction: E. L. James’ Fifty Shades of Grey.

After my successful attempt to persuade my colleagues to get a copy and try to read The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins, I was thinking of the next series that will captivate our attention. We have watched the movie adaptation of the first book, but we were disappointed in some ways. We need to move on. Fortunately, one day, a colleague sent me an e-mail on our possible next target. “Another THG in the making?”, she queried. I was intrigued. I downloaded the epubs attached in the mail and promised to get a glimpse on the first installment, as it appeared to be a trilogy, too.

When I had the free time, I opened my android ebook reader (my trusty Aldiko) and scanned my bookshelf for the Fifty Shades of Grey. It’s the first book, and I found myself reading the author’s biography and acknowledgement, which I rarely do when I read. I guess it’s because I was somehow curious about the author since I have heard many positive feedbacks regarding her writing.

The story started with the heroine complaining about how to put her hair into submission. Oh no, another teen fiction? Meg Cabot, anyone? I know I was a bit judgmental, so I tried returning my focus on the book. It’s light in the start, just the usual – a girl rambling about her physical appearance, unfairness of life (er, regarding her roommate’s condition), and God knows what else, poverty and global economic meltdown? Still, I gave the novel a try. I have been too enamored with my English literature set in Regency era, and I want a breath of fresh air. Perhaps this book will do.

After a few chapters, I got surprised. I was hooked! The story is like a modern Cinderella type. Witty but innocent woman who came from an average family falling to a young, gazillionaire rich, and amazingly handsome man. The story seems real, unlike my favorite dukes and earls.  I went on reading, trying to tear the virtual page as I leafed through my ebook. The plot was intoxicating.

SPOILER ALERT!

DON’T SCROLL DOWN IF YOU DO NOT WANT A SPOILER.

THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE TO STOP SCROLLING DOWN.

Well, if you are reading this sentence, it means that you did not heed my advice and shouty capitals (smirks). Well, here it goes:

Anastasia Steele, an English literature student, was volunteered to do an interview for the school paper since her roommate and friend, Kate Kavanagh, was ill. She drove to Seattle to interview one of the most eligible bachelor in the state, Mr. Christian Grey. He was incredibly young, yet had amassed a lot of companies and industries already on his own. Sexy as a Greek god, no wonder Miss Steele was easily attracted to him in the first place. On the other hand, Mr. Grey found her innocence and frequent blushing (her occupational hazard, she admits) quite refreshing and slowly realized that he, too, was attracted. However, what he had in mind for her was something that Miss Steele cannot even imagine. What he only wanted from her was to be his submissive, his sex slave, but what she expected was hearts and flowers – all those romantic gestures she learned from her literary heroes and heroines. She wanted more, more from his offer. More of him. So… the story… begins.

Enough of storytelling.

Yes, the novel introduced BDSM in the story, and I daresay that I was somehow culture shocked with the details mentioned in the book. However, the good thing was that James deviates from other BDSM and erotica authors by focusing the spotlight to the plot and its characters, and not the sexing.

The characters really grew into me. They are like normal people, unlike the current trend in supernatural vampires, werewolves, and fallen angels. Though I won’t go as far as to say that they act normal, as the hero, more than once acted anything but. I meant who would give an Audi as a graduation gift? Or fly to Seattle using a helicopter and pilot it? (Spoiler, I know.) Both the hero and the heroine enchanted my heart and made me feel like I really know them in person. And that perhaps is one of the reasons why a lot of people can’t stop talking about this trilogy. James have done an exemplary technique that not many authors can – capturing the readers’ attention and heart by giving them characters, who are not perfect and  have a lot of flaws, to love. I guess appealing to the audience’ humanity by making the characters susceptible to faults and sins makes the readers relate to them somehow. And for that, I am giving James a two thumbs up, and toes, if I could.

Taking everything into account, I daresay that this is one hell of a masterpiece. It was very inspiring to note that Fifty Shades of Grey is James debut novel. I am in awe of her for making a successful series that will forever leave a mark in my heart. I don’t know where to go from here. Reading books with the same genre would feel weird, as I know deep in myself that nothing would compare to Christian Grey, his intelligent, no nonsense attitude; possessiveness and stalker tendencies bordering to insanity; unconditional love; and kinky fuckery (?). This novel definitely raised the bar for its genre. James proved that novels in this category have meat (and heart, too) and not only about sex and stuff. I commend her for this.

Well, I guess this write-up is getting too long. I can go on writing about the series as I am, in doubt, smitten with the story as Grey is with Steele. And as I finish writing this, I can’t help but wonder when will my own Christian Grey, my dear Fifty, will come. Or will he ever come? And then, as if I have won the state lottery, got the cure for cancer, or had the three wishes from Aladdin’s lamp, I smiled. Who knows? Like me, Anastasia Steele met his Grey when she was 21. Like me, she was also working in a publishing company. Hmm. The possibilities…