The Wild Rose by Jennifer Donnelly: A Review

The Wild Rose by Jennifer Donnelly is a jam-packed combination of historical fiction and romance with a healthy dose of adventure. The final installment in the "Rose Trilogy" is released by Hyperion on August 2, 2011.

Called by The Washington Post Book World as "a master of pacing and plot," Donnelly paints with a vivid palette of espionage, blackmail, steamy romance, exotic places, women's suffrage and politics. She is a born storyteller.

Drink mint tea in a Bedouin tent after desert wanderings sustained only by water, dates and courage. Ride an omnibus as it belches and careens over London's cobblestone streets. Watch a photo shoot of an avant-garde composer in Paris as the sun sets. Vivid description flows through this narrative as it travels from 1914 London to the mountains of Nepal and the Arabian Desert.

We are reunited with old friends Fiona and Joe Bristow, Sid Malone and his wife, Dr. India Selwyn Jones. Highlighted are Seamie Finnegan, famous polar explorer and Willa Alden, the "wild rose" and apparent heroine. Willa photographs and maps the Himalayas with a prosthetic leg. Seamie can't decide what woman he loves and winds up a captain in the British navy. Handsome Max von Brandt, a German mountaineer who toys with women for his own advantage, is a colorful, man-you-love-to-hate character. Maud Selwyn Jones, a scandalous lady novelist, is married to one man and mistress to another.

Extensive period detail entrenches us in the historical setting. After seventy pages of the main characters' back stories from The Tea Rose and The Winter Rose, the book takes off at a fast clip. Women seek equal rights in England. Climbers scale mountains in Nepal. Anxious people wait for news of their loved ones at war. Love, lust, jealousy, deception and action-packed adventure intertwine. World War I looms before us. The Dali Lama, Ernest Shackleton, Lawrence of Arabia and Winston Churchill make appearances.

Author, Jennifer Donnelly, lives in the Hudson Valley of New York. She reads widely and considers research more of an art than a science. Her recently published Revolution won the American Booksellers Young Adult Book of the Year and the Kirkus Reviews Best Young Adult Books. A Northern Light, her coming of age book, received numerous awards. Donnelly's versatility is clear in her creation of The Rose Trilogy.

The stories from The Tea Rose (2002) and The Winter Rose (2008) are intertwined to reacquaint us with characters from the previous novels. Reading the other books in the trilogy will enhance your enjoyment of The Wild Rose, but in case you haven't, Donnelly fills us in on sufficient background. That attempt proves a bit mind-boggling due to the myriad of characters and sub-plots it produces. This reader was sad that minor roles are given to some of the characters I came to love in the first two books.

The novel does yield a refreshing dose of adventure not found in the first part of the trilogy. Their appeal lies in Donnelly's strong, never-give-up female characters, Fiona and India. That element is curiously lacking in The Wild Rose. Here, the author chooses a different tack.

A third book in any trilogy is tricky. Donnelly turns the tables on us by giving her main characters a surprising twist. In The Wild Rose, main characters Willa and Seamie are unlikable, self-absorbed people. Driven Willa uses any quest (mountain, man or fame) as a coping mechanism for her inability to accept her lost limb. When Seamie marries Jenny we are hopeful, but he soon becomes devoid of backbone or honor until the end of the book. Not villains, Willa and Seamie are simply flawed humans clawing their way out of their misery. Some readers may balk at this abrupt change in writing technique. This reviewer found it refreshing. Irritating characters can be more interesting than protagonists. Changing things up a bit is a bold author's prerogative.

Some of the book's themes converge on our current world state, elevating the book's relevance. Political intricacies, horrors of war, drug abuse, and economic crisis mirror many issues facing us today.

Despite the fact that I longed for more character development and fewer characters, I couldn't put the book down. The plot twists seemed outrageous at times, but the novel is engrossing and seductive. Donnelly has a vivid imagination and it gushes through her writing.

Hyperion graciously supplied the review copy. Opinions expressed are unbiased and wholly that of the reviewer.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6424526

The Mystery Unfolds on "The Butcher's List"

The Butcher's List is a fantastic mystery-suspense novel written by Roger S. Williams. It is a large chapter mystery written in a unique style. Through out each chapter the author carries his readers into the lives of the town people and also into the life of the murderer.

The setting takes place in a small town called Dalton Ca. The Story opens with a new family moving into town. The father, Vince Swanson has relocated to take over the Dalton General Foods Company. Little did this family of four realize what they were now walking into.

Within a matter of days the town has been turned upside down with the disappearance of a small child. While her brother and friend were out biking they make a pit stop and deep in the brushes the brother, Mark discovers his sister's frail body. One of her legs had been cut off.

As the story continues to unfold the sheriff is faced with trying to solve the murder. Just who is this criminal. Roger S. Williams refers to him as "The Man". Now just who is "The Man". Could he be Rev. White the AME Preacher who throws out the word with a vengeance but behind closed doors he has other issues going on.

Is it the Sheriff Frank Martinez who we learn has an anger issue and a hatred for children. Throughout the book we see him using his authority to push them around. Or what about Ralph Porter, the Sheriff's assistant. He felt like he had been shafted for the position he was in..just who is "This Man". Or is it Peggie's boyfriend. All he does is lay around the house all day drinking and blaming others for why he isn't employed.

One thing I see is "This Man" is out for revenge. Something to took place in his life and he is out to get payback from the town. He wants the parents to feel the pain and agony that he is feeling. This man could be the sheriff, the preacher, the lawyer, the doctor. Come and read along with Roger S. Williams and hold on to your seat and let's see who will be next on "The Butcher's List". This man does all he can to keep one step ahead of the investigators. When they start getting to close he must add them to his list. So quietly he stalks out each of the individuals so he can stay ahead of the game. Then like a rattlesnake he leaps into motion.

A great mystery suspense for mature teens and adults. A book once you start reading you can't put down until you learn the mystery behind "The Butcher's List".

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6476497

The Immortals of Meluha and The Secret of the Nagas - Must Read Books!

The Shiva Trilogy of Books consists of three books, namely The Immortals of Meluha, The Secret of the Nagas and The Oath of the Vayuputras. This trilogy of books has been written by an Indian author, Amish Tripathi and has gone on to become best-sellers within a short period of time.

The first book in the trilogy, The Immortals of Meluha, was first published in 2010 and the second part, The Secret of the Nagas, in 2011. The author is currently working on the story of the last and final part of this mystical trilogy called The Oath of the Vayuputras which is expected to be released in 2012.

The Shiva Trilogy is a tale of epic adventure and is set in the ancient world of Meluha. Meluha is a land of prosperity and piece where all people live in harmony with others and with nature. The entire civilization is based on the principle of Lord Rama and the people living here are his descendents known as the Suryavanshis or People of the Sun. The only dark spot in all of Meluha is that they are constantly attacked by their evil neighbors, The Chandravanshis, who have enlisted the help of the terrorist tribe, The Nagas, to vanquish them.

The Immortals of Meluha, the first part in the Shiva Trilogy, introduces us to the main protagonist of the series, a simple warrior tribesman known as Shiva. Initially reluctant to leave his homeland, Shiva arrives at Meluha and falls in love with the perfect nature of life there and only after sometime discovers that he has a bigger part to play in the destiny of Meluha.

Shiva soon discovers that he has been chosen by the Gods to end the war between the Suryavanshis and the Chandravanshis and to stop the attacks of the dreaded Naga warriors. Shiva also falls in love with the beautiful Meluhan princess Sati, who initially fails to reciprocate his love for her but later, relents and also foils the terrorist attacks of the Nagas.

The second part in the Shiva Trilogy series, titled The Secret of the Nagas, has just been released and has already gone on to become a best-seller due to the massive hype and strong marketing that took place before its launch. This book will take off from where the Immortals of Meluha left and will further reveal interesting facts about Meluha, Shiva, Sati and the Nagas.

Both, The Immortals of Meluha and The Secret of the Nagas, are available at all leading bookstores although it's best to order them through some online retailer because of the amazing discounts they offer.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6489930

Blood, Bone, and Butter

There are times while reading Blood, Bone, & Butter by Gabrielle Hamilton that I find myself smiling from the simple pleasure of her prose. A good writer can tell you how she makes pasta. A great writer makes you want to dust the flour off your hands once she has finished telling you how she makes pasta. Gabrielle Hamilton is a great writer.

The opening pages of Blood, Bone, & Butter paint an achingly beautiful portrait of an ideal life lived with the perfect family that you know it will go terribly wrong in short order. And when it does go pear shaped, there is a great sense of loss. I wanted, really wanted, that perfect vision of living the good life to carry on for a little while longer. But that is not what this book is about, that is just the fantasy of what was, like Bambi before his Mom dies. The end of innocence is the beginning of the story.

And there are a lot of stumbles and rambles and pointless meanderings in this 291 page story of one of the best female chefs in NYC. (She is waiting for the day when she is one of the best chefs.) But like the odd and off topic chapters in Moby Dick, I didn't really mind most of it, as I find the author's company charming and her word choices and descriptions always visceral and engaging.

One of the interesting discussion is the fact that women chefs are still something of an oddity in the rarefied world of cooking. This strikes me as odd, since I grew up watching the flamboyant Julie Child and the flaming Graham Kerr. The idea that being a chef is one of the last strongholds of Real Men in America was something of shock when I read Anthony Bourdain's Kitchen Confidential-I guess somethings never change. This is kind of like hearing that being a Hair Dresser is the last job for Real Men in America.

Hey, didn't the 19th Amendment pass in like 1919 or something? Just wondering.

More than anything else it brings out my latent desires to cook-to do more than whip up the occasional familiar meal, to make something grand and unusual like the great meals that Gabrielle plans and prepares with those rare and wonderful ingredients that don't seem to exist outside the small world where she lives and moves.

It is funny to read her loving descriptions of unusual and exotic foods, and then have her immediately berate the whole food movement as nothing more than a bunch of morons on both sides of the transaction ruining fresh produce markets with their self righteous views of food.

Gabrielle Hamilton is a chef/author/mother/wife/lesbian/nutso/feminist and she puts her years of college writing classes to good use. She has honed her sentences to brilliance, but like many other great technicians of the English language, she tends to focus of the trees at the expense of the forest. The overall story is a mishmash of random recollections that are loosely tied together in chronological order with food as a central theme. The most jarring bit is when we jump from Gabriellia being a poor schmuck working as a catering cook to being a guest on the Martha Stewart Show and sitting on a panel at The Culinary Institute of America. The transition from her looking at an unrented restaurant to being a celebrity chef appears instantaneous. Her move from lesbian to married with children also seems to happen in the blink of an eye.

Blood, Bones & Butter: The Inadvertent Education of a Reluctant Chefends without any real resolutions to the many issues brought up in the last third of the book. We are left feeling that Gabrielle's greatest accomplishment in life is not being a great chef, but in having the courage to trim a few tree branches. It was still a great read, I just wish it had a bit more structure.

As a portrait photographer I found the author's photo to be a bit odd. Gabrielle Hamilton is standing barefooted behind a house holding an industrial tray of tomatoes. It's an awkward pose and it makes my shoulders and back hurt to look at it. It's one those author's photos I look at and think-you know, I could have taken a better portrait.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6369700

How Christian Books Can Help

Are you a wide reader? Do you love collecting books? Do you prefer fact or fiction? Or is it love stories that you love? Have you ever encountered a book that has changed your life and its course?

As a college student, I used to love collecting books, reading them during lunch break, or in times when I don't feel like listening to my professors. I remember saving all the money I have left from my allowance just to buy the next book I want to read. Buying Christian Books that can change my life has been a real investment for me.

Through reading my Christian Books, you'll be able to learn from other Christians that life is not perfect and that only God can give a perfect LOVE. You'll learnt that He can meet every need of each human being, for He loves them as He loves Jesus.

Christian books helps you to have an encounter with Christ. Through these books, you will be able to know God's desire, God's heart, what plans He has for you, and what great things He has in store for you.

As a Worship Leader in our church, I used to invest in Christian books those talks about leading a congregation through music. I read a lot about Darlene Zschech, and her journey with God. In her books, she imparts more on how God meets her, on how she was so thankful that God is the great lover of all and that He can make things right even when she feels that there's no way out from her situation.

God uses those writers to write about his love. He sends them gifts to write and talk about their love with God. God uses a lot of ways to touch us, to make us feel His presence. To communicate with us, He anointed singers to write His love songs and writers to write His love story.

Christian books are one of the most helpful tools in knowing God's heart. It helps us develop a deeper and more intimate relationship with God. For when we read, we find a place where we can have peace, alone in a room and have a one-on-one conversation with God. Wisdom is a gift from God. The more books you read, the more you'll know Him and the more closely you can get to Him.

There are different books you can find, books about His love as a Father, as a Friend, as a Mentor, as a Companion, as a Servant, as Lover, as a Brother, as a Colleague, the Best Buddy you can ever have.

Invest into books that can change your life, books that can make you closer our Creator, books that can teach you about His love and His passion on you. Spend into books that can help you become a better person, books that can impart wisdom and knowledge about life, love, on how to handle worlds demands. Have a good walk with God through reading Christian Books.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6371056

Panasonic Debuts 16,000-Lumen Projector

Panasonic has unveiled a range of new audiovisual gear for education, such as a 16,000-lumen LCD projector along with a new widescreen classroom projector.

Among the slate of new projectors Panasonic debuted this month is the flagship PT-EX16KU LCD projector, which is created for big venues such as auditoriums and lecture halls. It provides a brightness of 16,000 lumens, a resolution of 1,024 x 768 (XGA), along with a contrast ratio of two, 500:1.

Though particulars are still scant on the PT-EX16KU, Panasonic reported that the high-end unit utilizes a quad-lamp design and light filtering technology, created to create more vivid imagery, and is housed inside a ruggedized chassis. The networkable projector is compatible with Panasonic's free projector management utility, Multi Projector Monitoring and Control Software program.

The PT-EX16KU is expected to ship in September for $29,999.

The business has also unveiled a new line of classroom and small-venue projectors, the PT-VW330 series, consisting of 3 models.

The PT-VX400U offers a brightness of four,000 lumens, a resolution of 1,024 x 768 (XGA), along with a contrast ratio of two,000:1. The PT-VX400NTU provides a brightness of 4,000 lumens, a resolution of 1,024 x 768 (XGA), along with a contrast ratio of two,000:1. The PT-VW330U provides a brightness of 3,000 lumens, a resolution of 1,280 x 800 (WXGA), and a contrast ratio of two,000:1.

The PT-VX400U is anticipated to ship in September for $2,399, and also the PT-VW330U ought to also be available in September for $1,679. The PT-VX400NTU will probably be rolled out later this year for $2,499.

The PT-VW330 series includes wireless presentation technologies and an optional device called the Easy Wireless Stick (ET-UW100) for iOS devices like the iPad. A free application, the Panasonic Wireless Projector, is available for iPhone and iPad as well.

Other features of the PT-VW330 series include:

1.6x optical zoom;

Simple Setting feature to help with automatic correction courtesy of a built-in camera sensor;

Automatic reduction of energy consumption based on the projected image.

Other new offerings from Panasonic include the PT-DW730 and the PT-DX800. The PT-DW730 offers a brightness of 7,000 lumens, a resolution of 1,280 x 800 (WXGA), along with a contrast ratio of two,000:1. The PT-DW730 should be available in August for $10,999 to $11,399.

The PT-DX800 provides a brightness of eight,000 lumens, a resolution of 1,024 x 768 (XGA), and a contrast ratio of 2,000:1. The PT-DX800 ought to be available in August as well for $10,949 to $11,349.

Also of note, Panasonic's LFT30 and LFP30 Series Expert LCD Displays had been unveiled for use both indoor and outside applications. The units are created to be lightweight, portable, and energy-efficient. The LF30 series is envisioned for big, open locations. The LF30 and LFP 30 are anticipated to become available in October. The LFT30 is anticipated to ship in January. Pricing was not accessible at press time.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6383057

New York Times - The Saga Continues

Can print journalists be objective about the future of news? Page One attempts to answer this question in 17 essays and interviews with respected and well-known writers from various positions in newspaper and public affairs worldwide.

David Folkenflik, NPR's award-winning media correspondent based in New York City, edits the book.

The project was originally a documentary film shown at Sundance in January 2011. At the core of the film is a story told by journalists in the business representing different generations. David Carr, a former drug addict, is out of central casting as an eccentric, old school, gravely voiced reporter. On the other side of the proverbial desk is Brian Stelter who epitomizes the model of a fresh faced, new media journalist.

The essays contained in the book cover the global challenge of how will newspapers and professional journalism survive in the age of the digital demon Websites like WikiLeaks, Gawker, Politico, and the Huffington Post.

For a reporter, a job at the New York Times equaled being admitted to Harvard University. The romance of the New York Times held forth until 2007 as things began to change. After the paper moved into its resplendent and high-tech new home across town, even the Times could no longer hold off the advance of a changing landscape and stuttering economy.

Kate Novack and Andrew Rossi created this idea for a film project. Novack and Rossi are husband-and-wife documentary filmmakers. An earlier film by this team is "Eat This New York," about friends trying to start a restaurant in Brooklyn.

Each essay reveals, and offers solutions, to the various ailments of the newspaper business. Some take on the Internet as the insect that infected journalism and caused it to wither away.

The history of the newspaper business is filled with stories of deals gone bad, buyouts, massive firings and questionable business decisions about what is news and what people want or will read.

James O'Shea is the former managing editor of the Chicago Tribune and then the editor of the Los Angeles Times. In his essay, he chronicles the calamitous events when the Tribune Company of Chicago acquired Times Mirror Company of Los Angeles.

O'Shea calls it the "Deal from Hell," as the arrangement emptied the Times of nearly 50 percent of its news staff and changed the editorial style from one of hard news to cotton candy.

He is emphatic that it is not the Internet that was not the cause of declining readership but the reaction of those who are in charge. O'Shea said, "The lack of investment, greed, incompetence, corruption, hypocrisy, and downright arrogance of people who put their interests ahead of the public's," as the reason newspapers are having problems.

Others, such as the piece by Jennifer 8. Lee, taught the paper how to embrace the electronic frontier and see it as a way to flourish as it never could before by creating a new arm for its staff to explore; the blog.

Chapter Eight by Evan Smith, former editor and president of Texas Monthly, writes about a growing anecdote to the threatened loss of real investigative journalism, which are the grant and donation supported nonprofits. These entities are creating a new business model: public news organizations.

In this chapter Smith describes these organizations as the saving credible journalism in a world of one sided and un-vetted opinion.

The mission of nonprofit and nonpartisan journalism is to disseminate the product, investigative reporting, to news agencies for free. They can afford to do this as large grants, foundations and contributions fund the newsrooms. The idea is to keep good journalism alive and good journalists employed.

The first of this new breed is ProPublica in New York followed by the Texas Tribune out of Austin and the Bay Citizen in San Francisco. It is a model being emulated around the country.

The Associated Press is expanding on its own model to distribute content from nonprofit news organizations to newspapers around the world. Investigative News Network, another nonprofit, has 51 members of news organizations also producing investigative journalism available to newspapers and other outlets.

The manuscript/script is thorough, thoughtful, and exceptionally well written. Each essay offers another wrinkle in the evolutionary saga about the fate of newsprint. All of the authors, including Alan Rusbridger, Editor in Chief of The Guardian newspaper and executive editor of its sister Sunday paper, the Observer, and Hillary Clinton, U.S. Secretary of State, have something of value to bring to the story.

For those interested in the status of how news is being analyzed and delivered, Page One is a most encompassing volume on the issue of the future of journalism and newspapers. Highly recommended.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6416995