Book Review- A Circle of Souls by Preetham Grandhi

A Circle of Souls by Preetham Grandhi

A young girl is abducted and brutally murdered. Another is in the hospital after almost jumping off her balcony in her sleep. Could there be a connection between the two? It doesn't seem possible until Dr. Peter Gram begins counseling Naya, a young adopted Indian girl who is having very vivid and terrifying dreams.

I really loved the paranormal aspect of the story and how it plays into the mystery of the young girl's death. I liked the Indian myths and folklore and how it came into play, definitely not something I had read about before but very interesting and intriguing. The plot and pacing were perfect for a good thriller and made for a great weekend read.

I can't wait to read more by Mr. Grandhi.

4/5

R.I.P IV Challenge

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I've been Tagged!

I was tagged by Melody of Melody's Reading Corner for this fun meme.

Here are the rules:

1. Link to the person who tagged you
2. Share your ABC’s
3. Tag three people at the end by linking to their blogs
4. Let the three tagged people know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their website
5. Do not tag the same person repeatedly but try to tag different people, so there is a big network of bloggers doing this tag

Available or single? Nope. Married
Best Friend? Linda
Cake or Pie? Cake minus the frosting
Drink of choice? Water or sweet tea
Essential item for every day use? iPhone
Favorite color? green
Google? regularly
Hometown? Sanger, CA
Indulgences? Books and yarn
January or February? January. Colder month.
Kids and their names? no kids
Life is incomplete without…? my family
Marriage date? 18 Nov 2000
Number of siblings? 2 sisters
Oranges or apples? Orange
Phobias and fears? clowns, worms
Quote for the day?
Reason to smile? 14 4 year olds sitting and listening to a great book.
Season? Fall. Not Texas fall, though. Not cool enough
Tag 3 people?

Bibliofreak
BermudaOnion
Book Line and Sinker

Unknown fact about me? I played the flute all through school.
Vegetable you hate? I haven't met one I didn't like. :)
Worst habit? procrastinating
X-rays you’ve had? back/chest/ankle/knee/finger, yet I have never actually broken a bone. Go figure!
Your fave food? Sushi
Zodiac sign? Sagittarius

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Sunday Salon (8/30/09)

Happy Sunday! The last sunday of August actually. How did that happen?

So, I guess it is time for a bit of a review of the month.

A bit of a slow month reading-wise. I did manage to complete one challenge this month, though. Yay. I have also signed up for another despite being far from completing the others on that sidebar. I just can't help myself when it comes to challenges.

Here are my books read this month:

64. A Circle of Souls by Preetham Grandhi
63. The Texicans by Nina VIda
62. Undercover by Beth Kephart
61. Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
60. Knots and Crosses by Ian Rankin
59. Back Creek by Leslie Goestch

Only 6! Have to pick it up a bit if I want to make much of a dent in my TBR pile. Lots of books still to be read and so many more I want to get a hold of!

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Thanks to Lit and Life for bestowing upon me this great award. This one is a first for me. I love the panda. :) I feel like I have been a terrible commenter lately so I feel quite honored to get it.

I of course must pass this one on because I love comments, as most bloggers do. These lovely bloggers leave some of the best!

Black Sheep Books

The Zen Leaf

Violet Crush

Serendipity

Stacy's Books

Be sure to visit them and leave them some comments! :)

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I am going to leave you with a clip of one of my favorite songs that I got to hear live last night at the Depeche Mode concert in Dallas.  

Enjoy!

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R.I.P IV Challenge

Oh no, another Challenge I can't miss out on. Carl's R.I.P Challenge is one of the most fun and enjoyable challenges out there. I participated for the first time last year and had a blast reading the books I love.

I will be doing Peril the First. I will be reading four books starting September 1st through October 31st.

Possible books in my to read pile that will work:

A Circle of Souls by Preetham Grandhi (my current read)

Devil Bones by Kathy Reichs

The Last Days by Scott Westerfeld

Soul Catcher by Leigh Bridger

Ghost in the Machine by Patrick Carman

Dracula by Bram Stoker

Mortal Instruments Series by Cassandra Clare

What I read:

1. A Circle of Souls by Preetham Grandhi

2. Ghost in the Machine by Patrick Carman

3. Devil Bones by Kathy Reichs

4. Mortal Instruments Series by Cassandra Clare

City of Bones

City of Ashes

5. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen and Seth Graham-Smith
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Zombie Chicken Award

Thanks to Amanda of The Zen Leaf for passing on to me the Zombie Chicken Award. I love this one. 

The blogger who receives this award believes in the Tao of the zombie chicken - excellence, grace and persistence in all situations, even in the midst of a zombie apocalypse. These amazing bloggers regularly produce content so remarkable that their readers would brave a raving pack of zombie chickens just to be able to read their inspiring words. As a recipient of this world-renowned award, you now have the task of passing it on to at least 5 other worthy bloggers. Do not risk the wrath of the zombie chickens by choosing unwisely or not choosing at all...

For one, its zombies! And of course, it is given to those who believe in "excellence, grace and persistence". I do try for those, even if not always successful. :)
So, to avoid "the wrath of the zombie chickens" here are my five worthy bloggers to also receive this great award.
Natalie @ The Book InnGrace @ Books Like BreathingRebecca @ Lost In Books
Melody @ Melody's Reading CornerMarie @ Boston Bibliophile
Thanks again , Amanda! _________________________________________

Book Review- The Texicans by Nina Vida

The Texicans by Nina Vida

THE TEXICANS tells the story of people trying to make it in Texas not long after it becomes a state. Aurelia, a Mexican with healing powers and Joseph, a Jew who comes to settle his brother's estate after his death are the main focus of the story but their are many more interesting characters that make appearances in this book. Their are runaway slaves, the Texas Rangers and settlers, and of course the Comanches and Tonkaways whose lands are being taken over by the settlers.

Nina Vida presents the stories very well and the lives they must have led in mid 19th century Texas. Joseph's journey is the most interesting and best portrayed. I think if the story was more about him only it would have been an even better read. Aurelia's story was okay, but in the end I didn't see a reason for its inclusion. I kept expecting more of a connection between the two, a romance that never occurred. I felt sorry for the two's hard life, which I am sure was more realistic to the time, but I would have liked another ending.

It was an enjoyable tale, well written and set in an interesting time.

3.5/5

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BBAW '09 Meme/Nomintation

In case you didn't know (and I don't know how you couldn't) BBAW is coming up soon. Nominations are in and the fun begins on September 14th.

1) What was the highlight (something that happened, a post, an activity, etc.) of BBAW for you last year?

Finding a lot of really great blogs that I didn't know about before. I was new to book blogging last year so it was a great way to see what made blogs popular and also a way to get others to visit mine.

2) What is one new blog you discovered during BBAW last year?

A Guy's Moleskine Notebook

3) What tips would you share to help others get the most out of their BBAW experience?

Participate in the meme's, visit new blogs, leave comments! That is what it is all about. Have fun!

I can't believe I have been nominated for Best General Review Blog. 

Yay! Thank you, thank you! I am ever so grateful and excited about the nomination. 

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More Great Books to Read!

I am so excited! 
I have finally gotten my hands on Cassandra Clare's The Mortal Intsruments series. A friend has lent me her copies and I can't wait to get started. I have been wanting to read these for so long.

Other books have also made it into my house in the past few weeks (all for review):

Soul Catcher by Leigh Bridger (LibraryThing Early Reviewer's)Rumer & Qix by Kathleen S. Wilson (AME, inc)Ghost in the Machine (Skeleton Creek) by Patrick Carman (author, Scholastic)


Mailbox Monday is hosted by Marcia of The Printed Page_________________________________________

Darcy Bookmark Winner

We have ourselves a winner!

hmsgofita

Email me your address to marireadsATyahooDOTcom and I will get the bookmark to you ASAP.

Congrats, Heather!

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Movie Review-Lost in Austen

LOST IN AUSTEN was on Ovation the other day but I didn't realize it until it was already on the third episode. I quickly set the DVR to record, turned off the T.V and caught up on YouTube. 

So, have you heard about this miniseries? I only heard about it recently, before joining the Everything Austin Challenge. Decided it would make a good addition to my list of all things Austen.

Series Info: First released in the UK on September 3, 2008 as a four part miniseries. Ovation first broadcast it in the US in January 2009.

From the (DVD)Back Cover: Amanda Price is sick of the modern world. She yearns for the romance and elegance found in the books by her favorite author, Jane Austen. But she's about to get a rude awakening as one fateful evening, she is propelled into the scheming 19th century world of Pride and Prejudice while that book's Elizabeth Bennet is hurled into hers. As the book's familiar plot unfolds, Amanda triggers new romantic twists and turns within the Bennet family circle as she clumsily tries to help the sisters nab husbands and even captivates the tantalizing Mr. Darcy herself. But what about Elizabeth...and what will become of one of the world's greatest love stories?

My Review: I was really excited about the premise of the series. A modern day gal finds a door that just so happens to open into the world of Pride and Prejudice. The acting was great, the locations were perfect and the plot was good but for some reason I just couldn't get into it. Perhaps it was the way I was watching- stop and start on YouTube? I don't know, but there was something lacking and I can't put my finger on it.

What did I like? I really liked Alex Kingston in this. She was great as Mrs. Bennett. The changes to the story due to Elizabeth being gone and Amanda there instead were creative and somewhat believable as being part of the Austen world. I did love and laughed when Amanda has Mr.Darcy get in the lake and walk out a la Colin Firth. That was a highlight. :)

I really wished there was more about Elizabeth and how she was getting on in modern London. Also, a little less quick transitions between scenes. I kept thinking that I was missing parts (again due to watching on YouTube). I might have been. I really should get this on DVD and watch. 

Anyway, it was fun and I did enjoy. But like I said before, there was something missing that will keep me from considering this a favorite. 

A movie adaptation is apparently in the works. Wonder how that will differ from the series? 

3/5

Everything Austen Challenge
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