Imaginary Things by Andrea Lochen

Imaginary Things by Andrea Lochen 400 pages, Paperback Published April 2015, Astor+Blue Editions
Source: sent for review by publisher
Do your kids have imaginary friends? Did you as a child? 
This book follows a young single mother and her son as they try and adjust to a new life in the country with family that are helping them out. While there an unexpected occurrence happens. One that seems impossible and kinda crazy. 
Having just dealt with her son's father being diagnosed bi-polar, Anna thinks she may be losing it when she starts seeing her son's imaginary friends come to life. Are they dangerous? She doesn't know, but she worries for his safety. 
I really enjoyed the magical feel of this book. Not knowing what was real or imagined made for a little suspense mixed in with a very nice story about family, love and figuring out the real and imagined dangers in our lives.
About the Author

Andrea Lochen is the author of two novels, IMAGINARY THINGS and THE REPEAT YEAR. She earned her Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from the University of Michigan. She teaches at the University of Wisconsin-Waukesha and lives in Madison with her husband and daughter.


For more information about the book and author visit her WEBSITE.


Happy Reading! _________________________________________
 FTC Disclosure: Clicking on book title and/or image links will lead you to my Amazon Affiliate page.

Vote for Remi by Leanna Lehman

About the Book

Fiery US government teacher Remi Covington is relentless in her desire to impart the genius of the democratic process to her students. Her so-called “academically challenged” high school seniors sometimes find her enthusiasm more than a little annoying―so, in an effort to teach her a lesson, they execute a brazen, high-tech, social media blitz touting her as the newest candidate in the upcoming US presidential race. Much to everyone’s surprise, Remi plays along with her students’ ruse―and in a nation weary of politics and career politicians, she unexpectedly finds herself the darling of the American public. 

As the campaign takes on a life of its own, Remi is forced to confront a myriad of long-held social biases and cultural clichés, and realizes she isn’t quite the woman she thought was. Vote for Remi is about a would-be a presidential candidate who, despite being all wrong―the wrong gender, the wrong party, and certainly the wrong social status―discovers that she might be exactly what America needs: someone with a passion for doing what is right.

About the Author

Leanna Lehman is the author of quirky political fiction novel, Vote For Remi (She Writes Press). She worked in the education field for six years, and specialized in developing online educational programs that assist at-risk teens. She lives in Fallon, Nevada, with her rescued dog Henry Higgins, and spends her free time painting, hiking, snowboarding, camping, and traveling to the coast. She found her passion for writing while undergoing chemo therapy in 2008-2009, when she began journaling her experience.

For more information about the author and the book visit her WEBSITE.

Giveaway

If you would like to win a copy of Vote for Remi, leave a comment on this post. 

I would love to hear what your campaign slogan would be if you were running for President! (But not necessary to enter.)

Giveaway is open to US residents only. 

You have until June 3rd to enter. 

Happy Reading! _________________________________________

Lost in Translation, Part 2.

I am currently reading The Three-Body Problem by Cixin Liu, a science fiction novel that has been translated from Chinese. While reading, it made me think of my previous post about what may get lost in translations. Was I missing some important things?
I found this article (really a review) about the book's translation and found it very interesting. By keeping the book translated as close to the original writing, did the translator actually make it less accessible to English readers? Would US readers enjoy it more if it had been Americanized? I have a feeling there would not be agreement from readers on that point. 
I for one don't feel books should be "dumbed down" or "Americanized" to make it more palatable for readers. However, I do understand that publishers would do that to sell more books. 
What are your thoughts?
Happy Reading! _________________________________________
 FTC Disclosure: Clicking on book title and/or image links will lead you to my Amazon Affiliate page.

Day 1: Bout of Books

Time to get my reading groove back. (I hope.)

Bout of Books 13 begins today.

Here is what I have to read this week:

 eBook selection:

The Three-Body Problem by Cixin Lui (book club)

Imaginary Things by Andrea Lochen (review)

The Appetites of Girls by Pamela Moses (review)

The Seven Sisters by Lucinda Riley (review)

In Paperback:

Dark Places by Gillian Flynn 

Daily tracking

Monday 5/11

Currently reading: The Three-Body Problem by Cixin Lui

Percentage read today: 9%
Total read: 9%

Books finished:

Notes: This book was selected for my book group which meets on Wednesday. I need to get this read now. It is not what I usually read, and am finding it difficult to get into. Here's to finishing on time...or at least get closer than 20%. *ebook, started with 20% already read before today

Tuesday 5/12

Currently reading: The Three-Body Problem by Cixin Lui
Percentage read today: 7%
Total Read: 16%
Books Finished:

Notes: Ack. Not enough read before falling asleep! 36% read. Not going to have this read before tonight. May have to miss anyway since I am not feeling well. 

Wednesday 5/13

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Thursday 5/14

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Friday 5/15

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Saturday 5/16

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Sunday 5/17

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To Catch a Falling Star by Anna Belfrage

To Catch a Falling Star by Anna Belfrage 420 pages, eBook and Paperback Published March 2015, SilverWood Books Genre: Historical Fiction/ Time-Slip

Source: Received from publisher for review
My Review
I will admit first that it took me awhile to realize why I was so confused at the beginning of this book. The time continuity didn't seem possible and had me wondering what exactly was going on. I was totally lost. 
Well, turns out To Catch a Falling Star is Book 8 in The Graham Saga and if you have read the previous seven books, you will know exactly what is going on and how all these people are related. I mean, when a present day person goes back in time and says his mother chopped off the leg of the priest that finds him in a courtyard in Seville in the year 1688- that just didn't seem possible. Right?
Anyway, once I realized that there were other books before this one I did a little research and was quickly back on track to enjoying this time-hopping historical drama. The books follow time traveller, Alexandra Lind and in this installment, she and her husband make the journey from America to Scotland, Matthew Graham's homeland. Their return isn't exactly what he hoped it would be. 
Their journey, the changes in Scotland, and their need to return home makes for a very entertaining conclusion to this series.   So much going on in this one and I enjoyed it all. It is an interesting time period and locations to portray. I also really like books that deal with time travel. Seeing how a modern day person adapts to life in the past is interesting to me. I think I now need to start from the beginning. It was probably not a good idea to start with the last book, but that's how it goes sometimes. At least I know I am really going to like figuring out how this all started.
Here is the list of the previous books in the series. 
The Graham Saga books (1-7)
A Rip in the Veil Like Chaff in the Wind The Prodigal Son A Newfound Land Serpents in the Garden Revenge and Retribution Whither Thou Goest
About the Author

I was raised abroad, on a pungent mix of Latin American culture, English history and Swedish traditions. As a result I'm multilingual and most of my reading is historical; both non-fiction and fiction.
I was always going to be a writer or a historian, preferably both. Instead I ended up with a degree in Business and Finance, with very little time to spare for my most favourite pursuit. Still, one does as one must, and in between juggling a challenging career I raised my four children on a potent combination of invented stories, historical debates and masses of good food and homemade cakes. They seem to thrive. Nowadays I spend most of my spare time at my writing desk. The children are half grown, the house is at times eerily silent and I slip away into my imaginary world, with my imaginary characters. Every now and then the one and only man in my life pops his head in to ensure I'm still there. I like that, just as I like how he makes me laugh so often. I'll probably live to well over a hundred.
I was always going to be a writer. Now I am. I have achieved my dream.
For more information, please visit Anna Belfrage's website and blog. You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.
For more reviews, giveaways and guest posts on this tour, click on the banner:

Happy Reading! _________________________________________
 FTC Disclosure: Clicking on book title and/or image links will lead you to my Amazon Affiliate page.

Lost in Translation

Do you ever wonder what gets lost when books are translated into other languages?

I remember reading the first Harry Potter book and realizing all the little changes that were made from the British version to the US version, and that wasn't even changing the language. I mean, come on, even the title was changed.

Books are always getting translated into other languages and a good translator will do their best to keep it as close to the original. They will try not to lose the humor, the simplicity or complexity of the words, the hidden meanings and double entendres. I could see this being a very difficult thing to do.

Imagine Pride and Prejudice without the little hints and glimpses of the budding love between Elizabeth and Darcy underneath their jabs and spoken dislike of each other. If that didn't get translated correctly the reader would reach the end of the novel and be completely confused as to why these people, that hated each other, were now getting married. 

So, do you think this needs to be done by a person or could a translation software program like, Smartling, be able to translate, not only the words but the feeling of our most loved pieces of literature? They translate website content not books, but I am sure you know what I mean. But would you if you were reading a translation of this post?