Good morning, and welcome to another edition of Monday Memes. Mailbox Monday is hosted through August by Staci, at Life in the Thumb. What Are You Reading? is hosted by Sheila, at Book Journey.
MAILBOX MONDAY:
I received only one book in the mail: a review book from the author. During the month of September, I’ll be featuring this review on one of my blogs, and on 9/28, I’ll be interviewing the author at Dames of Dialogue.
1. The Rasner Effect, by Mark Rosendorf
Rick Rasner escaped death in a New York City bridge explosion – but he couldn’t escape becoming an unwitting participant in a top secret military experiment. When the Duke Organization, a group of ruthless killers, set off a violent explosion, they wiped out Rick Rasner’s life as he knew it. Many years later, as he still struggled to remember any shred of his former existence, he put a new life together – as a therapist in the Brookhill Children’s Psychiatric Residence, a facility for troubled urban teens. Brookhill’s policies, set by head director Katherine Miller, seemed brutal and oppressive. She bullied the therapists too – Rick’s meek personality left him incapable of handling her attacks. He developed an unexplainable bond with fifteen-year-old patient Clara Blue – something about her conflicted, volatile personality struck a cord deep inside his psyche. Rick wanted to help her and the other patients, yet met with non-stop opposition from the staff. The Duke Organization resurfaced, searching for Rick Rasner. When they found him at the Brookhill facility a bloody hostage situation ensued. The lives of both Rick and Clara were about to change – but for the better or worse? Disgraced mercenary Jake Scarberry was forced out of the witness protection program and back into action – after the Duke Organization. An unpredictable chain of events result between Jake, Rick, and the Duke Organization – and Clara Blue. This complex psychological suspense/thriller will leave you questioning exactly who to root for in a battle of good versus evil.
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WHAT ARE YOU READING?
This past week has been one of those filled with variety: a wonderful mix of writing, reading, and family moments.
In case you missed them, here are a few of my “non-meme” blog posts:
On Saturday, I enjoyed some family time with Fiona. We went to the gym, we saw The Help (my second time!), and we had dinner with her parents to celebrate their birthdays.
My Reading Week-Click Titles for Reviews:
1. On Chesil Beach, by Ian McEwan
2. Commencement, by J. Courtney Sullivan
3. Digging Out, by Anne Richardson (Roiphe)
Still Reading:
The Handmaid’s Tale (read-along), by Margaret Atwood
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What’s Up Next?
1. Rock Bottom, by Erin Brockovich
2. Next to Love (e-book), by Ellen Feldman
3. A Moveable Feast, by Ernest Hemingway
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That’s it for this week…if I have time, there are a few that I’m eyeing…but let’s just wait and see!
What’s on your nightstand? What came in your mailbox? I hope you’ll stop by and share….
Your mailbox book sounds exciting.
A Moveable Feast is also wonderful. I read it years ago, but I recently read The Paris Wife, and now I want to read it all over again.
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I had read other Hemingway books when I was young…and then The Paris Wife triggered my NEED to have A Moveable Feast. Thanks for stopping by, Susan.
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Looking forward to hearing how the Rasner Effect turns out. You always open my world with new exciting reads. Many thanks for making me look beyond my conventional reads 🙂
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Oh, how sweet of you to say, P. K. I think that we all expand the worlds of one another with these memes, don’t we? Thanks for stopping by.
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Happy reading this week!
Here is mine
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Thanks, Brooke, and I hope the hurricane skates right by you….glad you could stop by.
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The Rasner effect sounds like a nail-biting psychological thriller. I hope you enjoy it. You will find Next to Love an interesting read too.
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Oh, I’m glad to hear that, Laura. I have enjoyed several other books by Feldman. And The Rasner Effect does seem to have that nail-biting thing I love in my books! Thanks for stopping by.
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oh i want to read next to love! i can’t wait to read your thoughts on it!! hope you enjoy the book you received this week.
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I think I will, Toothy…I am looking forward to them all! Thanks for stopping by.
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I’ll be interested to read your review of The Handmaids Tale. I’ve heard good things about this!
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I have been meaning to get to Heminway and never do. I really should.
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It’s like they say….soooo many books and soooo little time! I hope you do get to experience one or more of them, though. Thanks for stopping by, Mystica.
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The Rasner Effect sounds intriguing. New blog look. NICE!
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Oh, glad you like the new blog look, reading rendezvous….I like changing things up, but maybe I’ll leave this one alone for awhile.
I think The Rasner Effect looks good, too. Thanks for stopping by.
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I have A Moveable Feast in audio. I want to listen to that before I read The Paris Wife.
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Yes, as I’m reading A Moveable Feast, I’m thinking it doesn’t matter which you read first. The Paris Wife is from Hadley’s POV, while AMF is definitely from his. Thanks for stopping by, Leslie.
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I read A Moveable Feast a couple years ago and really liked it. Even with homework, I did manage to meet last week’s reading goals. Please come see what I finished and what I’m reading now.
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I am amazed at how much you get done, Sarah…but sometimes having a lot to do only enhances your focus. Thanks for stopping by.
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Love the cover on the Rosendorf novel!
Laurel, Thanks for your thoughts of concern for me during Hurricane Irene; I appreciate that.
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Yes, it makes me think of “a dark and stormy night.” Ooooh.
I’m glad you’re doing okay, Diane. Hurricanes must be such a scary experience. So far, we only have earthquakes, but those can be horrendous, too.
Thanks for stopping by.
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Hope you love Next to Love as much as I did!
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I am excited about it, since I haven’t read an Ellen Feldman book in awhile. Thanks for stopping by, Anna.
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The Rasner Effect does sound complex. Hope it’s a good one! How are you liking The Handmaid’s Tale?
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Oh, I’m soaking it up, Jenny Q. I spend just a small amount of time on it each day, since it’s for a read-along. But so far, I’m re-experiencing it as I did the first time.
Thanks for stopping by….and I think The Rasner Effect will be a page turner.
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I hope it’s a good book! It looks like you’ve got some good reading coming up.
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Thanks, Kathy…glad you could stop by, and I’m looking forward to them all.
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Will be looking forward to your thoughts on the Erin Brockovich book. Have a great week Laurel!
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Thanks, Nise…glad you could stop by. I’m very curious about how such a fabulous advocate might be as a fiction writer.
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“The Handmaid’s Tale” sounds interesting and so does “Next to Love”. How are you liking your Kindle?
Here’s my “Monday” post.
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I’m still adjusting to my Kindle, Angelica, but I really LOVE how easy it is to download and acquire new books. Thanks for stopping by.
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I’ll be interested to see your thought on A Moveable Feast. Our bookclub is reading that for December. Enjoy all your new books. Have a wonderful week, Laurel, and happy reading.
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Thanks, Kaye…I am excited about AMF so far. What a great bookclub choice that is. Hope your group enjoys it. Thanks for stopping by.
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You had a good week and I love that you seen The Help twice!
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Yes, Sheila, and taking my granddaughter was a good choice, too. She is too young to have experienced any of these things first hand, but she was still connecting with it. Crying and laughing. Thanks for stopping by.
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Added Rock Bottom to my wish list. Looks really interesting!!
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Thanks for stopping by, Lori…I think it looks good, too! Have a great week!
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I had to read For Whom the Bell Tolls when I was in high school and I’ve had no desire to try Hemmingway since then. Maybe I should give some of those old nemesises (what is the plural of nemesis anyway) a new try.
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Oh, I know how assigned reading can spoil books for us. I actually liked For Whom the Bell Tolls…it was Shakespeare that kind of turned me off, but mostly having to read all of those footnotes!
Sometimes we do see things differently in adulthood. Thanks for stopping by, RAnn.
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The Rasner Effect looks interesting, enjoy your books.
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Thanks, Mary Ann….glad you could stop by! Have a great week…..
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Great book list. I’m guessing The Help is worth watching since you saw it twice. 🙂 I loved the book and have heard great things about the movie as well.
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Yes, definitely, Sami! I enjoyed the book, and this doesn’t happen often, but I loved the movie even more. Thanks for stopping by.
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On Chesil Beach looks good and is defintely a book I want to read. I only live about 10 miles away from Chesil Beach so I really ought to make the effort to read it! Ian McEwan can be a bit grim and doesn’t appeal to everyone but I rather like his books (I’m currently reading Gerard Woodward who has a similar way about him).
I’m glad you enjoyed the movie of The Help; so often the film versions can be disappointing when you’ve really loved the book but I’m hearing lots of good things about The Help.
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Thanks for stopping by, Sophia. Yes, On Chesil Beach was kind of grim, but I was in the mood for it. The Help (movie version) was actually better than the book, which I don’t often say. Mainly, I think, because hearing the dialect was great; and the music throughout reminded me of the sixties, so I was rockin’. LOL
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Moveable Feast! What a great book! Enjoy.
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I agree, Deb….thanks for stopping by!
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Rock Bottom looks very good! I hope you enjoy it! Great books this week. Happy reading!
And thanks for stopping by Lost in Literature earlier!! 🙂
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I’m looking forward to it, Lisa. Thanks for stopping by! Have a great week….
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Next to Love looks really good. I’ve never read anything by that author before. Enjoy your week!
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I think so, too, Yvonne. I’m thrilled, since I haven’t read a book by this author for years!
Thanks for stopping by.
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I thought hard about A Moveable Feast for my non-fiction pick last week, but I went with 84, Charing Cross Road instead. I’m sure Hemingway will be up soon though. Enjoy your week!
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I do want to read the 84,Charing Cross Road book, too.
Thanks for stopping by, Jen.
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I like the sound of Next To Love and The Handmaid’s Tale has been on Mt TBR forever lol
Have a great week and enjoy your reads 🙂
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I’m very slowly rereading The Handmaid’s Tale, since it’s a read-along. I’ve never done a read-along online, so I’m not sure how it’s supposed to work.
Can’t wait to read Next to Love. Thanks for stopping by, Teddyree.
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The Rasner Effect looks and sounds interesting. That cover!
Looks like you have a good reading week ahead of you. Happy reading!
I’m going to go check out your point of view and character post now. 🙂
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Thanks for stopping by, Michelle…and for checking out my posts from Snow Chronicles. I am always happy when I feel as though someone out there is reading the posts!
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