Friday, February 26, 2010

Friday Finds - February 26, 2010

 
This meme is hosted by MizB at Should be reading.

 The Stormchasers; Jenna Blum
 I found this book at Lori's Blog, and thought it sounded like one I would enjoy.

(Amazon) ... As a teenager, Karena Jorge had always been the one to look out for her twin brother Charles, who suffers from bipolar disorder. But as Charles begins to refuse medication and his manic tendencies worsen, Karena finds herself caught between her loyalty to her brother and her fear for his life. Always obsessed with the weather-enraptured by its magical unpredictability that seemed to mirror his own impulses- Charles starts chasing storms, and his behavior grows increasingly erratic . . . until a terrifying storm chase with Karena ends with deadly consequences, tearing the twins apart and changing both of their lives forever.

Two decades later, Karena gets a call from a psychiatric ward in Wichita, Kansas, to come pick up her brother, whom she hasn't seen or spoken to for twenty years. She soon discovers that Charles has lied to the doctors, taken medication that could make him dangerously manic, and disappeared again. Having exhausted every resource to try and track him down, Karena realizes she has only one last chance of finding him: the storms. Wherever the tornadoes are, that's where he'll be. Karena joins a team of professional stormchasers-passionate adventurers who will transform her life and give her a chance at love and redemption- and embarks on an odyssey to find her brother before he reveals the violent secret from their past and does more damage to himself . . . or to someone else.

 
The Infinities; John Banville
I found this one at Sandra's Blog!

AMAZON... On a languid midsummer’s day in the countryside, old Adam Godley, a renowned theoretical mathematician, is dying. His family gathers at his bedside: his son, young Adam, struggling to maintain his marriage to a radiantly beautiful actress; his nineteen-year-old daughter, Petra, filled with voices and visions as she waits for the inevitable; their stepmother, Ursula, whose relations with the Godley children are strained at best; and Petra’s “young man”—very likely more interested in the father than the daughter—who has arrived for a superbly ill-timed visit.

But the Godley family is not alone in their vigil. Around them hovers a family of mischievous immortals—among them, Zeus, who has his eye on young Adam’s wife; Pan, who has taken the doughy, perspiring form of an old unwelcome acquaintance; and Hermes, who is the genial and omniscient narrator: “We too are petty and vindictive,” he tells us, “just like you, when we are put to it.” As old Adam’s days on earth run down, these unearthly beings start to stir up trouble, to sometimes wildly unintended effect. . . .

Blissfully inventive and playful, rich in psychological insight and sensual detail, The Infinities is at once a gloriously earthy romp and a wise look at the terrible, wonderful plight of being human—a dazzling novel from one of the most widely admired and acclaimed writers at work today.


 
Saving Gracie; Carol Bradley
This is going to be a tear jerker, especially since it is about the same breed of dog and circumstance, as the one my sister-in-law adopted on Saturday. Her dog Mica is so lovable.

AMAZON... Journalist Bradley exposes the hidden world of puppy mills, where dogs are caged like chickens and forced to repeatedly breed until they die. Unlike most factory farm animals that endure painful confinement and are slaughtered within six months of birth, mill breeding dogs are sentenced to many years of existence in deplorable conditions; many don't learn to walk because their cages don't give them enough room to stand. Bradley details the raid of one such mill, Mike-Mar Kennel in Oxford, Pa., which led to the seizure of more than 300 dogs, mostly adults that had languished for years with broken limbs and untreated diseases. Dog 132, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel later named Gracie, was rescued during the raid. Nearly blind, with decayed teeth and a strong aversion to human contact, Gracie flourished under the love and patience of her adoptive owner, Linda Jackson. Bradley's powerful narrative will tug at heartstrings, raise public awareness, and, hopefully, help put an end to puppy mills.

22 comments:

  1. Saving Gracie seems very sad, I don't know if I could read it. I'm an animal lover, especially dogs. However, I am intrigued by The Stormchasers, it seems like s book I would really enjoy.

    Jennifer @ Mrs. Q: Book Addict
    http://web.me.com/quirion

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  2. Have you read Jenna Blum's first book, Those Who Save Us? If not, you really need to. It has stuck with me ever since I read it.

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  3. All 3 of these look great! I am not sure that I could bring myself to read Saving Gracie, as I was nearly in tears just reading the summary. The Stormchasers has truly captured my attention, however, and I look forward to hearing how you like it.

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  4. The Infinities was added to my wish list this week, too!

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  5. Oh, these sound intriguing...especially the Stormchasers one.

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  6. Jen, I have the book and plan to read it this year;glad u enjoyed it.

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  7. The Stormchasers looks like a good one. I'm not sure I could read Saving Gracie through all the tears I'd be shedding.

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  8. These are all new to me...thanks for sharing them!

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  9. I find myself wanting all of them!!!!!!!!

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  10. These books are all new to me. I look forward to your reviews.

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  11. There is no way I can read Saving Gracie.

    My experience with John Banville is too much symbolism: he has to be read slowly and carefully.

    So The Stormchasers it is.

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  12. Looks like some great finds! Jenna Blum is on my must-read-authors list! Really want to read her works.

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  13. Storm Chasers sounds good. I think I read another book by Jenna Blum. I'll have to check

    I could never read Saving Gracie, I never read animal books, too sad

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  14. very 'deep' reads this week. I don't think I could read the Gracie one. too sad for me! good luck!
    SB


    not too serious i hope

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  15. The Infinities sounds like a great read - I'm going to go add it to my TBR too!

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  16. Great sounding books - especially The Stormchasers!!

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  17. The Stormchaser looks really interesting.

    I gave you a shoutout on my blog today:

    http://debsbookbag.blogspot.com/2010/02/giveaway-saturday-10.html

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  18. I couldnt do Saving Gracie - it would break my heart. Books about Animal abuse just are too much for me.

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  19. The Stormchasers interests me the most !

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  20. I really gravitate towards books that feature characters struggling with mental illness, so The Stormchasers looks like a great read. Going to look for this right now!

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  21. The Stormchasers sounds great and I love the cover! Great finds.

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