Shoot The Moon by Billie Letts

In 1972, the tiny windswept town of DeClare, Oklahoma, was consumed by the terrifying disappearance of Nicky Jack Harjo. When he was no more than a baby, his pajama bottoms were found on the banks of Willow Creek. Nearly 30 years later, Nicky mysteriously returns in this intriguing and delightfully hypnotic tale, full of the authentic heartland characters that Billie Letts writes about so beautifully.

I picked up this book awhile ago at a FOL sale because the cover captivated me. I got a request to send it out on Paperback swap and almost sent it out without reading it. I am really glad that I didn't do that!

I was ambivalent about Where The Heart Is, and didn't really expect too much from this book, but I was pleasantly surprised. The book was filled with fun and quirky characters. The writing was smooth and had me drawn in once I got past the prologue. I admit, I had to read the prologue twice, but once I got past that, I hated to put this book down and couldn't wait to pick it back up again. 4 stars

The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch

A lot of professors give talks titled "The Last Lecture." Professors are asked to consider their demise and to ruminate on what matters most to them. And while they speak, audiences can't help but mull the same question: What wisdom would we impart to the world if we knew it was our last chance? If we had to vanish tomorrow, what would we want as our legacy?

When Randy Pausch, a computer science professor at Carnegie Mellon, was asked to give such a lecture, he didn't have to imagine it as his last, since he had recently been diagnosed with terminal cancer. But the lecture he gave--"Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams"--wasn't about dying. It was about the importance of overcoming obstacles, of enabling the dreams of others, of seizing every moment (because "time is all you have...and you may find one day that you have less than you think"). It was a summation of everything Randy had come to believe. It was about living.

In this book, Randy Pausch has combined the humor, inspiration and intelligence that made his lecture such a phenomenon and given it an indelible form. It is a book that will be shared for generations to come.

I have to admit, before my mom loaned me this book to read, I had never heard of Randy Pausch, and his Last Lecture. This was not something I would have picked up without a recommendation from mom. I enjoyed the book, but didn't find it awe inspiring.

The book is a quick read and the stories are short and to the point, some only a page or two. Most of the them are light but you could really tell Pausch cherished his family and was not really scared of dying, but was very sad to have to leave them behind. I think this book will be a treasure for his kids, who unfortunately never had the chance to really get to know him. 3.5 stars

The Map Thief by Heather Terrell

Beijing, China, 1421: It is a momentous time for the Ming Dynasty. Honoring the completion of the Forbidden City, a fleet of unprecedented size sets sail under Admiral Zheng He. Zheng’s mission is to chart the globe, trading for riches and bringing glory to China’s emperor. Among the crew is the talented cartographer and navigator Ma Zhi, whose work will lead to the first true map of the world–but whose accomplishment will vanish when the fleet returns to a very different China than the one it left.

Lisbon, Portugal, 1496: At the height of Portugal’s maritime domination during the Age of Discovery, the legendary explorer Vasco da Gama embarks on a quest to find a sea route to India. On board is navigator Antonio Coehlo, who guards Portugal’s most secret treasure: a map that already shows the way.

New York, present day: Mara Coyne’s new client has left her uneasy. Republican kingmaker Richard Tobias has hired her, he says, because of her skill in recovering stolen art and advocating for the rightful owners, but Mara senses that he is not telling her everything. Tobias reveals that a centuries-old map was stolen from an archaeological dig he is sponsoring in China, and he wants her to get it back. But as Mara begins her investigation, she uncovers the shocking truth: The map is more valuable than anyone has ever imagined, and her client’s motives are more sinister than she suspected.

I read The Chrysalis, Heather Terrell's debut, last year and really enjoyed it. I was thrilled to see another book featuring Mara Coyne, and wasn't disappointed with this globe trotting treasure hunt. The book shifts between China in 1421, Portugal in 1496, and the present. The historical parts of the story are a wonderful backdrop for the fast paced action taking place in the present.

Terrell does a wonderful job of changing her tone and wording with each of the historical sections and the present. This change in tone really gives you an immediate sense of which story line you are following at that moment. I didn't feel as much of a connection with the story set in Portugal, but that may have been just because I wasn't as familiar with that period in history. The story set in China was fascinating though. For me, a good historical novel should make you want to learn more about the time period it is set in, and The Map Thief didn't disappoint.

Mara Coyne is a smart heroine who is willing to take risks when necessary, but also maintains her integrity while dealing with some unscrupulous characters. I hope to be able to follow Mara Coyne on more of her treasure hunts, and will be on the lookout for Heather Terrell's next book. I would highly recommend this book to those readers who enjoyed Da Vinci Code. 4 stars

More information about Heather Terrell and both of her books can be found here. The site includes info on upcoming book signings, podcasts and interviews. Order from Amazon

I've Been Nominated!

Traci at Traci's Book Bag has nominated me as a brillante weblog. Thanks Traci!

Once an award is received, the rules are as follows:

1. Put the logo on your blog.

2. Add a link to the person who awarded you.

3. Nominate at least seven other blogs...hmmm, I will start with the ones that I read on a regular basis and add more later.

4. Add links to those blogs on your blog

5. Leave a message for your nominee on their blog.

My nominees in no particular order are:

Lori's Reading Corner: I love to read The Bookpimp's blog for recommendations.

Melsy's Place: Another PBSer with great recommendations, and I love the pink background too!

love+love=marriage: I love keeping up with Jessie and Greta and they venture into motherhood.

Rhonda's Corner of the World: Yet another PBSer (do you sense a theme here?) with wonderful recommendations and a fabulous layout.

I Feel Bad About My Neck: And Other Thoughts on Being a Woman by Nora Ephron

With her disarming, intimate, completely accessible voice, and dry sense of humor, Nora Ephron shares with us her ups and downs in I Feel Bad About My Neck, a candid, hilarious look at women who are getting older and dealing with the tribulations of maintenance, menopause, empty nests, and life itself.

I actually picked this book up for my mom, but have a hard time having a book in my possession, and not reading it, if it looks remotely interesting. This was a quick read, and it had some mildly funny moments, but not the laugh out loud stuff I really enjoy. It definitely is meant for an older audience and I probably would have enjoyed it more if I was part of their target market, and more of the situations actually applied to me. 3 stars

Tuesday Thingers!

Recommendations. Do you use LT's recommendations feature? Have you found any good books by using it? Do you use the anti-recommendations, or the "special sauce" recommendations? How do you find out about books you want to read?

I actually don't think I have ever looked at LT's recommendations...I have piles of books everywhere and haven't really needed to look very far for something to read. :) The "special sauce" recommendations sound interesting, so I will have to check them out.

Pile of books!

Bookroomreviews's Weblog is hosting a huge 14 book giveaway, which you can enter here.