Book Ratings

Shannon Hale wrote a post on her Squeetus blog that got me thinking about rating books.

I know this was awhile ago, but I haven't spent the time to really think about it. I admit I did rate books by the 5 star rating that Goodreads has on their site. Theirs is basically 1 if you didn't like it, 2 if you thought it was o.k., 3 if you liked it, 4 if you really liked it, 5 if you thought it was amazing. I thought it was an o.k. system, but every now and again I would look at the books that had the same rating and I thought to myself that some of those books I liked more than others. So I guess it wasn't really a true interpretation of how well I liked some books as opposed to others. I just sort of gave up on rating books anyway.

For one thing, everyone has different tastes. So matching up perfectly with another person's tastes is going to be impossible. For another thing, I would look at a book rating I had given months later and rethink my decision. A book that I thought was completely amazing at the time I read it had somehow evolved to "maybe it wasn't as great as I thought." I have to admit that in a way other people's opinions can tend to sway me. I am more of a follow the crowd type person. Believe me, I am fully aware of the shortcomings of that personality trait, but that is a totally different topic.

For awhile now I haven't been giving the 5 star ratings on this site. I think I will keep it up on Goodreads, just because that site is more for me to keep track of books I have read and want to read. However, I do need some sort of system to evaluate the books I review. I liked what one person commented on Shannon's blog.

Leslie commented:
"How did this book change my outlook on a specific topic?

Did I see myself in any of the characters? Did I see someone else I know?

How will what I do today or tomorrow be influenced by what I read?

Can I identify with the motivations of the characters?

Good, bad, liked it, didn't like it. It doesn't really matter for me. What does matter is amid a busy life or work, family and the hundred other commitments I have this week, will I remember this book? Will I remember it when a situation arises that is similar to that in the book? Will I be able to talk intelligently about it at the next book club meeting--even if it wasn't the scheduled reading.

And if I will remember it--if it made me think--that is when I believe the book and the reader have both done their job."

Now I don't know if I am going to examine books that deeply, but I like some of those thoughts. Can I identify with any of the characters, is the book memorable, is it worth talking about or is it merely escapism?

So my basic idea for reviewing books is talking about what things I did or didn't like. Along those lines I like to include how much swearing or sexual garbage is in the book. Don't get me wrong, I like romantic stuff, but sometimes the lines are crossed as to what I want to be reading. I know that doesn't hold true for everyone, but I appreciate clean books. You know who else has this format down to perfection? Melissa of One Librarian's Book Reviews. She has one of my favorite book blogs.

I know many book bloggers have posted discussions similar to this, so I'm not going to ask if you do or don't like rating systems. Instead I am going to ask, what kinds of things do you look for or would like to see in a book review?

I know my blog has a long way to go as far as book reviews are concerned, but I am still glad to belong to the book blogging community. I have read and heard about many more books, so many that I can't keep up, but I am still amazed at the power of book bloggers. Thanks for sharing your thoughts with the world.

Log Cabin Quilt Block

A couple of posts ago I mentioned the friendship quilt I am working on. This is the block I am doing. It is the Log Cabin Block. Traditionally the center is supposed to be red, because red represents the hearth of the home. I didn't know that when I made my quilt block, but it is just a fun little fact I picked up. Here are some more fun facts that I read about on Quilty's Quilt History blog:

The history behind the log cabin blocks.

1. Traditionally the block had a light side (happiness) and dark side(sorrow) to represent life in a home.

2. The yellow or red center would represent a hearth in a home (red) or a candle left burning to guide a family member home at night (yellow). There has been some controversy to having a black center. This is rumored to represent a safe haven/comfort for escaping slaves during the Civil War.

3. In sewing the log cabin block, it is sewn from the center out representing the building of a home, one log at a time surrounding the hearth/heart in the middle.

That isn't all the information I found on Quilty's Quilt History blog. Click on the link above to read more about the Log Cabin quilt block.

Maybe when I finally get my finished quilt blocks back (the ones that are currently being rotated through the group) I can share the history of the other blocks on my quilt. That could be a fun new segment. I think I'll call it Amy's Block of the Month. I'll keep you posted.

Pay It Forward

I got a fun gift in the mail the other day from Britt of Book Habitue. So now it is time to Pay it Forward. The first 3 people to comment on this post get a gift from me. Right now I have no idea what it will be, but it could be fun figuring it out. The only other rule is if you win you have to Pay it Forward to 3 people on your blog.

getting gifts feels good
makes me feel someone cares, but
giving is joyful

Remembering September 11

utter disbelief
sit, watch endless news reports
two towers falling

This haiku is to basically remember my experience on 9/11. It is probably something that many Americans can relate to.

many heroes lost
freedom, country, fellowmen
never forgotten

We will never forget those brave men and women whose actions were to save others while risking themselves.

Promoting Secret Speakers

Have you heard of Secret Speakers yet? It is a new book out that needs some promoting. Here is the book trailer:



Go to the Secret Speakers website to read more about it, and download 5 free audiobook chapters. I am very interested in reading this book.
You can also join the Secret Speakers Goodreads Group to help promote it.

What's in Your Pocket?

key fob, tangled mess
cell phone, post-its, pen and change
pockets bulging full

The Friendship Quilt

This year I am part of a group making a friendship quilt. This is where you pick a pattern for a quilt block (mine is the Log Cabin block), and you rotate your fabrics every month. This way I am getting a different quilt block made by everyone in the group. I, in turn, will make my Log Cabin block out of everyone's fabric. That is why it is called a friendship quilt. So in honor of that I wrote a haiku. I tried to add a picture of my quilt block, but the computer is not my friend right now. So you'll just have to imagine it instead.

needlepoint, up down
stitch history, add a block
quilted time capsule

Spam is Good Brain Food

For your feasting pleasure, here is the haiku I submitted on Epic Rat for Zombie Appreciation week.

Two halves scrambled brains
One part spleen, two liver slabs
Zombie spam sandwich

Zombie Haiku at The Epic Rat

If you haven't been over to The Epic Rat blog this week, well you haven't lived. It is zombie week over there, and I was very interested in Cecilia's post on Zombie Haiku by Ryan Mecum. It looks pretty interesting. Maybe I should check it out, but in the meantime, you all should definitely check out Zombie Week. You had better hurry though, Zombie week ends tomorrow. Sorry I didn't post this sooner, but these days it is hard to get to the computer.

That's not all!! If you are entered in any of the Zombie giveaways or Zombie Grab you can get extra entries for writing a Zombie Haiku. So go for it!! Here is a video for your brain feasting pleasure. Thanks Epic Rat!

A Circle of Souls by Preetham Grandhi

Genre: Psychological Thriller

I was so lucky to receive an ARC copy of A Circle of Souls from the author, Preetham Grandi. I have to admit that at first I was apprehensive. This kind of book isn't my usual read and I am always nervous to encounter content riddled with swearing, gruesome scenes, and sometimes sex. However, I was happily surprised to find that A Circle of Souls was not like that at all. So first and foremost I want to thank the author for that, because it just proves you can write a stunning book without the muck.

The Plot: A Circle of Souls is set in Newbury, Connecticut where a young girl has been murdered. Since it is such a strange murder, the police detective calls the FBI for their top agent. Nearby at the Newbury hospital, a psychiatrist is trying to help a new patient who is having disturbing dreams at night. The seven year old girl can draw her dreams with complete accuracy the next day, and somehow the sketches are giving clues to solving the murder.

What I liked: I think the title of this book is a perfect description of how literally all the characters are tied together. I really enjoyed that aspect. The chapters tend to alternate between the two main groups of characters, so that really helps the book in terms of leaving you wanting more. It is definitely a page turner.

Another thing that I liked is the author's knowledge of child psychiatry. Where he actually is a psychiatrist, it makes the situations much more real for me. It really reminds me of another author I like, Robin Cook.

Since this book is about a murder, it is inevitable that we would have to hear some specifics about how it happened. I would call those parts a little bit shocking, but overall I didn't mind it. The author did a slendid job of keeping it from getting too disgusting to handle.


What I didn't like: There was just a little part at the end that kind of felt weird to me. I don't want to say what it is, because it is just a bit of a spoiler. I don't think it is a bad thing, I just think it is a different philosophy that is more difficult for me to embrace. That won't hold true for everyone and it didn't in any way change my view of the book or my enjoyment of it.

I was very pleased with this book. I thought it was a great read, and I want to thank the author, Preetham Grandhi, for sendimg me this book. I would highly recommend it to anyone. If you want to contact the author or see more about this book visit the website: A Circle of Souls.