I have really enjoyed a lot of good books recently around here and for my giveaway I would like to offer a new copy of one these books shipped directly from Amazon to the winners home (USA and Canada only please). Winners will be drawn Sunday evening and posted here. I will email winners as well for your address.
The Books up for Giveaway are:
*Click the above picture to go to a list of the reviews for these books.
So How to Enter?
Easy peasy – simply leave me a comment sharing a little known fact about yourself. (IE. this could be an unusual talent, a trip you once took, a funny happening, an instrument you play (played, tried to play), an award you won…)
Two Winners!!! Winners will get to choose which book they would like and I will have it sent to them. You do not have to decide the book unless you have won, then you can tell me when I email you. 🙂
Earlier today I posted my review of Born Under A Million Shadows. The book had a positive impact on me and I am now delighted to bring in author Andrea Busfield, to share with us a little about this book. Andrea had first experienced Afghanistan when she was dispatched there to cover “a war on terror”. As Andrea says in the article she wrote for New Statesman, her parents were horrified. In this article Andrea speaks of how she was right in the midst of the war, sleeping on dirt floors, washing out of a bucket, and even shot at! The Afghans who took it upon themselves to protect her during this time were largely Pashtuns from the east who wielded heavy guns and old-school charisma with devastating effect.
It touches my heart when she says “I was humbled by the hospitality of those who have nothing.”
I know that feeling from my time in Honduras and knew that I wanted to know more about Andrea’s story.
Please give a warm welcome to Andrea Busfield.
Andrea Busfield
Welcome Andrea! Am I right to understand that I am currently chatting with you from Austria? What is your weather like?
Andrea: Hello Sheila! Yes, as we speak I’m in a lovely little spa town called Bad Ischl in Upper Austria. And, surprisingly, the weather is hot! It took a while for the summer to kick in but for the past week it’s been sweltering.
I love warm weather! My absolute favorite time of year is now. Before we get into books, how do you take your coffee?
Andrea: The journalists’ way – strong, black, no sugar.
Oh yes, that’s the way I take mine as well – I knew I was born to write – ha ha! Are you a reader as well as a writer?
Andrea: Yes, I do read – sometimes for research, sometimes for pleasure – and the authors who consistently make me smile as I race to turn the page are; Louis de Bernières, Isabel Allende and John Irving.
As you may have guessed, I like intelligent, imaginative story-tellers! I’m also rather partial to books billed as ‘darkly comic’. In short, I like to enjoy my reading time. I like to be entertained. But I think that’s the same with everyone. I can’t imagine anyone picks up a book hoping they won’t like it, but literature – like music and art – is subjective. Sometimes you get it, sometimes you don’t. It doesn’t make the book good or bad, simply different to what you, personally, were looking for.
Is there any one book that really sticks with you?
Andrea: To be honest, there are too many to mention. I remember being floored by Catch 22 when I was a teenager; moved to tears by A Kestrel for a Knave; laughing until I cried reading The Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime; and being horrified, educated and upset by Possessing the Secret of Joy. I know there are many more great books I have read that have had a massive impact on me, but if I try and go through them all our coffee chat will roll into lunch and then dinner… and probably breakfast tomorrow. (That’s not a pick-up line, by the way!)
You mention wonderful books here. As you know, I just recently finished your book, born under a million shadows. You had so many experiences while in Afghanistan, your book could have been about anything really. What made you decide to write this book?
Andrea: I love Afghanistan, I cannot stress that enough, and like anything you love you want others to appreciate it too. There is so much negativity surrounding Afghanistan, be it in the headlines, film or literature, and I simply wanted to correct the balance. Afghanistan is an amazing country and ordinary Afghans are a truly wonderful, hospitable, warm, generous and funny people. In the nine years I have been traveling to Afghanistan – and the two-and-a-half years I lived there – I don’t think I’ve ever smiled so much. Therefore, in an effort to convey that side of the country I decided to write a story about love and friendship, which are the greatest gifts I took away from Afghanistan. Actually, I also came away with a boyfriend and a dog, so I did quite well all told.
Andrea posing with an Afghan National Army soldier outside the bombed out Darulaman Palace in Kabul
Fawad is a funny character. At first I found that surprising and then I found, I really liked it. Why did you decide to go with a character with such a great wit despite his circumstances?
Andrea: I know some readers prefer their misery untouched by laughter, but sometimes it’s the only way to claw your way through the horrors of life. Most of the Afghans I know have a particularly dry sense of humor, and a shocking (to us) acceptance of death. When I was writing Born Under… I knew I couldn’t ignore the darker side of Afghan life because poverty, abuse and violence are a daily reality, but not unlike the Afghans themselves, I didn’t want to dwell on it. I didn’t want to pull the reader down, I wanted to show the bad with the good, the loss with the hope – Fawad seemed to be the perfect tool to do that because the character is young enough to be innocent, but old enough to question. Incidentally, some of the scrapes he gets into I stole from the childhood stories of my Afghan friends.
Why did you decide to take a lighter take on a book such as this?
Andrea: So people would come away with a feeling of warmth in their heart for a people and a country that deserves our continued support.
You had one child that really caught your heart during your time in Afghanistan. I know from my experiences in Honduras how that one child can really stick with you. Could you share here a little about this child?
Andrea: From the very first word I wrote, I had the face of one little boy in my mind, a very real little boy called… Fawad.
Real Fawad is a little younger than Fictional Fawad, but he shares the same charm and sense of fun as my character. I first met him in 2005 in the tourist hub (yes, Kabul does have one) of Chicken Street. He was eight years old and he insisted on carrying my bags as I walked from shop to shop. He explained, in perfect English, that he would be my bodyguard for the day. Obviously, he wasn’t only after my company, he was after my money, but from that day on we became friends. Then, when I thought about writing a book about Afghanistan I decided I wanted my hero to be as brilliant and clever and funny and beautiful as real life Fawad and seeing as he was my inspiration I saw no reason to change his name.
The real Fawad
Is Fawad’s story done at the end of this book or might we see him again some day?
Andrea: Some people have asked me whether there will be a Born Under II, but I don’t think so. At the moment my characters are living in a happy ending – and that’s the way I want them to stay!
I heard that you are writing a second book. Can you share a little about this?
Andrea: Actually, my second novel is now published in the UK, hopefully you will get to see it sometime in America! The book is called Aphrodite’s War and it is a love story set in Cyprus between 1955 and 1974. I chose to write about this island because it is another country I have lived in, and loved, and the history is tragic. Cyprus is an island that was divided by war and politics, and which remains divided through politics and hurt. It’s a very sad situation that not too many people know about and I wanted to explore that.
It is tradition to the Author Chats that each person I chat with shares a little known fact about themselves.
Andrea: Hmm, what to reveal. I can play Greensleeves on the recorder very fast; I can do the Rubiks Cube a little slower; and I was once charmingly told by an Afghan host that the meat I was eating was ‘sheep’s bum’. Other than that, I nurse a life-long crush on Clint Eastwood.
Thank you Andrea – I am so thankful for you to taking the time to chat with me!
Andrea: My pleasure, Sheila. Thanks for the opportunity.
It is the point where the Taliban have moved away from the street’s of Kabul, but so much of what they had done remains. The streets are still a place of possible danger with car bombings and shootings and young children like Fawad have seen a lifetime of violence before even reaching their tenth birthday. Fawad now lives with his mother alone. His father and brother have been killed and his sister had been abducted during a house raid years before.
Things start to look up when Fawad’s mother Mariya, finds work as a housekeeper for a modern western woman named Georgia, and her two foreign friends. This moves Fawad out of his bitter aunts home and into a whole new world as he learns about aid workers and journalists. As Fawad learns through some humorous western ways and worries for Georgie and her relationship with the powerful Afghan warlord Haji Khan, he grows in his knowledge of the world and the people in it, bringing a new hope and faith to his life.
My name is Fawad, and my mother tells me I was born under the shadow of the Taliban.
Because she said no more, I imagined her stepping out of the sunshine and into the dark, crouching in a corner to protect the stomach that was hiding me, while a man with a stick watched over us, ready to beat me into the world.
This is the opening paragraph of Born Under A Million Shadows. I breathed in the words and rushed on with anticipation almost feeling the heat of Afghanistan fall over me. I was so ready for this novel to take me in much like Kite Runner did – I could imagine where the plot would go….
and I was wrong.
As author Andrea Busfield would say, “This is not another Kite Runner.”
I discovered this quickly as I read along and found that Andrea had a witty and biting sense of humor, and she showed it through the character of Fawad.
“He’s a charmer,” my mother admitted as we talked about Georgie’s friendship. “He could talk the birds from the trees that man.”
“Shir Ahmand talks to the dogs in the street,” I offered.
“It’s not quite the same thing,” she replied.
“What do you mean then?”
“You’ll find out soon enough Fawad, because if I am not mistaken you’ve got the same gift – although right now you only seem capable of talking the hind legs off a donkey. But it’ll come son, it’ll come.”
And my mother went back to her chores, leaving me to think about my future talent and my current, previously unknown, ability to cripple donkeys.
The story is told in Fawad’s voice and I enjoyed seeing how strange he found westerners ways. The book finds Fawad at a very curious age. He is not a little boy any more, and he is not yet a man. His feelings of how the westerners dress amused me. His concern for their souls was a constant throughout the book.
Not expecting the humor, at first I wasn’t sure that I liked it in a book about Afghanistan…. but despite my first thoughts, I found out soon I could not help but smile and fall in love with the words. Funny, witty, intelligent, I learned things in this book about the Taliban, the culture, the country, that I had not before known. It took no time at all for me to have trouble putting the book down as it followed my from house, to deck, to car, to gym….
Overall, I came to the end of this book impressed with a well written story that covered the realities of Afghanistan and the children who live there, but not in a heavy manner. This is not Kite Runner, but it is its own self standing book. Andrea Busfield comes across to me as an author I will watch for to see what she writes next.
Author Andrea Busfield is a British journalist who traveled to Afghanistan to cover the fall of the Taliban in 2001. Watch for my author chat with Andrea Busfield coming later today!
Years of war have left many Afghanistan children mentally and physically scarred. Many parents have been killed or disabled. In some cases whole families have been displaced. To make a difference to an Afghan child, please visit this site that Andrea recommends: www.aschiana.com
Cover story: It is a perfect cover – a young boy running and looking back – speaks to me just like the book itself.
Note: there is some crude language in the book, mainly used by the young boys. I felt it was more cultural than offensive.
I borrowed this copy of the book from our local library
Book Lovers/Bloggers are just the best! Yesterday I came home to a box in my mail from Reagan at Miss Remmer’s Reviews. She had recently had a post up about a set of The Chronicle Of Narnia books that I was drooling a bit over. I have my own set and they are ‘much loved” (meaning worn, and brittle) and I keep them up high – more for looking at then reading at this point in their book life.
So – guess what was in my mailbox? Yup! She sent me the books – delightful, beautiful, Chronicles Of Narnia books! Totally “SQUEEEE” worthy.
Thank you Reagan – you rock! 😀
On another note, those of us who registered for BBAW (Book Blogger Appreciation Week) should have received an email with an opportunity to vote for Best Event, Feature, or Meme. It’s Monday, What Are You Reading is on the meme list and that made me “SQUUUUEEEE” again.
Many of you know I inherited this meme when J Kaye from J Kaye’s Book Blog decided to step away from her blog to further her writing career. It is an inheritance I was honored to be offered and hope I can be half the blogger J Kaye was. 🙂
Brainerd Minnesota survived the storm from Wednesday – we did get hit with a couple of tornado warnings, downed trees and a bit of building damage in Baxter Minnesota but nothing too serious that I am aware of. (Makes you want to come visit me – right?)
I am so proud of my book club. If you have been reading this blog for any amount of time you probably know that. Most of us have been together in this group for the past 7 or 8 years. A few of us, have been there the entire time – it will be 10 years of Bookies in August. That’s 120 book club meetings. That’s 120 book club book choices and 120 book club books read.
The Royal "Throne"
Every July we have a free read month. July is so busy in Minnesota, the weather is finally pretty reliable, people have weddings, and family gatherings, weekends at the lake, camping, fishing. grilling…. anyway, we do not have a mandatory read in July. Just read what you want and share at the event. And so, that being said, here is what The Bookies read and recommend :
We ate and laughed and talked books. What to read, what to skip…. We talked movies and summer plans. And we sat ina beautiful yard just enjoying the company.
Another great year and event – we crowned our new Queen Lori (see that picture in my morning post -it’s awesome!).
Yesterdays Queen Event for our book club went wonderfully. We had a nice evening – not too warm out and not too cool. We were at Sharon’s home which is a lovely spot on the lake, ate wonderful food, talked books, and chose a new Queen for the year.
Every July we dress up, have a potluck, pick our August read, and our October Classic. We read one classic a year as a group and choose it in July so people have time to secure a copy and read it (because seriously, some classics do not read through quickly).
After many wonderful selections brought up for our August read – we chose Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger. Our Classic for October will be The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath.
I have more to share about the event – but I am saving that for my post later today. I will have more pictures up as well as what everyone read and recommended in July.
Crowning the new Queen - Lori N! Runner up is Brenda W
Its dark and gloomy here this morning. In fact it is so dark it looks like it is about midnight. We are in for a big storm and I am just now starting to hear the rain pound the glass of the windows. Too bad I have to get to work – this is ideal weather for a good mystery…
Recently I had the privilege to dig into a wonderful mystery, The Missing Element. One of the draws for me to this book was that author John Betcher is a fellow Minnesotan. As Johns story centers around Minnesota areas I enjoyed reading about areas I was familiar with first hand.
What started out as a “I want to read Minnesota authors!” goal…. became more as I found elements, if I may use your word of choice John, in this read that I have missed in may other reads of this genre. With a bit of humor and a refreshing look into marriage, I found myself really liking the characters that John had placed into his book. His characters…. have character. 🙂
So – with no further raving and babbling by me…. I am thrilled to share Book Journey space today with author John Betcher.
John Betcher
John, welcome. I am so glad you were able to make time to join me today and talk books. Before we get down to business, how do you take your coffee?
John: Thanks for the offer, Sheila. But I picked up a Diet Mountain Dew on the way in.
John's beverage of choice
Nice touch John…. note to self…. John likes Diet Mountain Dew. When did your writing career begin and what was your first publishing?
John: Other than 25 years of legal writing as a private practice lawyer . . . I started writing for publication about 5 years ago. My first published materials consisted of three feature articles in Coaching Volleyball magazine, the AVCA Journal. The last of these, in 2009, was a cover story. http://www.virtualonlinepubs.com/publication/?i=13938I jokingly say that U.S. Men’s Volleyball Olympic Gold Medal Coach, Hugh McCutcheon, had to wait until the next issue to get his picture on the cover — Hugh and the Olympic team were, indeed, the cover story for the following issue.
Were you a reader when you were younger? If so, what genres drew you in and do you have a favorite (or two) book/author?
John: I was an avid reader during my pre-school and elementary years. I credit my mother, a reading teacher, for that. I used to love the Boxcar Children and the Laura Ingalls Wilder books. In Junior and Senior High I read a lot of historical biographies. Now I enjoy mysteries and thrillers.
I have many favorite authors: John Sandford, Brian Haig, Jeffrey Deaver, Kurt Vonnegut . . . the list goes on. But the author I was reading the most of right before I began writing fiction was the late Robert B. Parker. Must’ve read about 20 of his Spenser detective books in a row. I would have to say that Parker’s writing has had the greatest influence on my own style.
John as you know, I really enjoyed The Missing Element. As a fellow Minnesotan, I enjoy reading about areas I am familiar with. What reasoning did you have in choosing the area that you did for this book?
John: Well . . . I’m also a native Minnesotan and current resident of Red Wing. Having spent all of my life here, Minnesota was the natural choice for my book’s setting. I’m familiar with not only its geography, but its people, history and culture. I tried to draw on those familiarities to add texture to the book.
Beyond these reasons, the Twin Cities are widely known for their contributions to high-technology. 3M, Seagate, IBM, Medtronic and many other prominent technology companies operate, and were even founded, here. The University of Minnesota also has widely respected computer security experts on its staff. Since the book has a rather large cyber-espionionage component, what better location for the technological suspense?
I really enjoyed your characters The Becker’s. I am very curious what made you decide to go with a married couple, almost “dynamic duo” for this suspenseful read. I thought it was an unusual move, as most main characters are out saving their world alone or with a “love interest” but not a spouse. I found it to be a refreshing way to create your characters.
John: One of the aspects of the Parker novels I always enjoyed was the loving relationship between Spenser and his S.O., Susan. I just took that relationship a bit farther in The Missing Element. Having a strong and loving marriage of my own for the past 27 years was also a factor. And I love strong women in fiction. While Beth may not feature quite as prominently in future books, their relationship will always be there. I suspect she will continue to add her own expertise, intellect and support to all of Beck’s activities.
I also enjoyed Beck’s friend and big help throughout the book. Bull. He was a handy guy to have around. Does Bull represent anyone in your life that you would consider to be that “go to always has your back” guy?
John: Bull is a guy who is very much like Parker’s “Hawk” character in the Spenser series. Nebulous but intriguing background. Always willing and available to help out. Very effective in providing “muscle” (and many other special skills) when necessary. Loyal . . . but mysterious.
So the answer to your question is, “No.” He’s more based on a American Indian version of Hawk than on anyone I know in real life. Thank goodness my life is mundane enough to not require Bull’s sort of assistance! Haha!
The 19th Element is your new release and I was pleased to see that this as well has James Becker. I am curious about the title – as you went from The Missing Element to the Nineteenth Element. What does this title mean and how does it tie into The Missing Element?
John: The use of the word “Element” in the title of the Beck series of books is intended to be a sort of “branding” of the series — like Sandford’s “Prey” series, or Janet Evanovich’s numerical sequencing.Beyond that, just as “The Missing Element” has a meaning in this book, “The 19th Element” has a specific meaning in the second book . . . one that I’d rather not disclose at this point.
What is currently happening in your life?
John: As a self-published author, I’m spending a lot of time marketing my two new books. The publishing industry has changed so much in the last year or two, and will likely change even more in the next couple years. I’m trying to get ahead of the industry and target my marketing efforts — local, regional and national — where they will work most efficiently in this new environment. Part of my marketing effort is maintaining a blog at Self-Publishing Central Blogspot and a website at www.johnbetcher.com. Suffice it to say that all of this is a formidable challenge for a small town writer — especially one who is trying to keep his day job.
I do have another novel in the works — not a Beck book though. But if Beck catches on, it’s a series I would love to pursue.
And I continue to do research into areas that I think might be interesting for Beck, et al to explore. My next interview is with a law enforcement specialist about drug enforcement and trafficking. Just two days ago I interviewed a geneticist to see what interesting plots might arise out of the arcane knowledge in that area.
Can you tell I love to learn?
John it is a tradition for me to ask the authors I chat with to share a little known fact about themselves.
John: I probably hold the highest level of volleyball coaching certification of anyone you know. I’ve even had the privilege of studying with the gurus at the US Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs.
I published the second book in the Beck Series before the first. The real Book One of the Series is THE 19TH ELEMENT. I had reasons . . .
Ooh – now I am curious! Thank goodness I just received The Nineteenth Element in the mail and get some answers to the mysteries. Thank you John for your time today.
John: Thank you, Sheila. I appreciate you inviting me for this chat.
Readers can find out more about John Betcher and his books at:
Morning. 😀 I had a fantastic Monday and hope you did too. Group Power in the morning, worked, and roller bladed. My aunt was in town from Alaska. I went out to dinner last night with her and another aunt and uncle of mine. We do not get together often so it was a nice time catching up. Busy full day….
And tonight is our annual Bookies Book Club Queen event. Time to pass the crown on to whoever takes the vote tonight. It should be fun, potluck and hanging out at one of our members homes. Tomorrow I should have pictures for you as well as book recommendations from the Bookies. We do not read a book for July, this is our free month to read whatever you like and then we get together during the Queen Event and discuss the books we chose.
2009 Queen Event (rained out so was held at my home)
So that’s the big day coming up! I work today and then have a few things to prep for tonight. I will wear the crown tonight for the last time – until I pass it on to our Bookies Queen of 2010-2011. 😀
Hope you have a wonderful day – I cant wait to relax tonight and sink into a good book! I am finishing up a pretty good one that should be reviewing in the next couple of days.
It’s Monday! What Are You Reading, is where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week. It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list.
I love being a part of this and I hope you do too! As part of this weekly meme I love to encourage you all to go and visit the others participating in this meme. I offer a weekly contest for those who visit 10 or more of the Monday Meme participants and leave a comment. You receive one entry for every 10 comments, just come back here and tell me how many in the comment area.
Congratulations! Please choose an item out of the PRIZE BOX and email me your choice with your mailing address as well! journeythroughbooks@gmail.com
It really has been quite the week around here. I was not overly busy on the home front so was able to get a bit of reading in AND get my work outs back on track. I already can feel my energy level going up! 😀 Here’s what bookish things happened this past week:
Deliver Us From Evil by David Baldacci, available for giveaway in Hard Cover, and in Audio format.
Word Shaker On line Book Club has been dusted off, tuned up – and is finally ready to go! What are we reading? Check it out!
Born Under A Million Suns by Andrea Busfield (review coming up this week)
D U F F by Kody Keplinger (review coming this week)
Between Sisters by Kristen Hannah (still reading)
I am feeling good at this pace. I have petty much given up on Summer TV (I can never find anything on anyway) so my reading in the evenings has increased and I am really enjoying it! So whats brewing this week? PLENTY of EXCITING STUFF!!!
A World War II story told through the eyes of a young German Girl.
A pink apron came with this review book…. I am thinking I may have to wear the apron and make some cupcakes for this review
My conversations with this author alone have been funny – I am curious to see what this book has in store…
I have to admit, this book scares me a little. I am a huge animal lover and I just have this feeling that this one is going to be good, but also pull at my heart-strings. This review will also have a giveaway of a copy of this book.
Oh, and watch this weekend for Bookworming in the 21st Centuries Book Extravaganza – I am participating and think it will be a lot of fun! 😀
As if the books are not going to be a fun enough week, Tuesday is also my book clubs annual Queen Event and I am so excited! We dress up in formal wear and have speeches of why we should be Queen. (This is out of the book Same Sweet Girls by Cassandra King). We potluck and have a blast! I am the reining Queen and I will be passing on my crown, scepter and throne (which is a gold spray painted port a potty because that is just how classy we are! 😀 ) I love my book club and I can not wait to see what talents we have this year! **Watch the Wednesday post for the recap of this event!
Books I won and am giving away at our Bookies Queen Event - they each come with a Dairy Queen Gift certificate! Oh.... and whats that t shirt I am wearing? That would be my Edward from Twilight T shirt I won from I'd So Rather Be Reading Blog
Ok – enough chatter – I am ready to see what you are reading this Monday! Please enter your link where it says “click here” and I as well as hopefully many of the other wonderful Monday memers will stop in to say hi and peek at your books! 😀
Powered by Linky Tools
Click here to enter your link and view the entire list of entered links…
Word shakers on-line book club is back on. The plan – a book will be announced here every six weeks. There will be a sign up form if you are interested in taking a part in the discussion that will go along with the book. Questions will be emailed out to the participants to answer and email back. Parts of the responses may be used in the post of the book review, as well as a Linky set up to link all your reviews too. *You do not have to be a blogger to participate in this book club.
If you have already read the book you are still welcome to join in. A six-week window will be given for each book to give participants enough time to secure the book and read it. If you would like to be included in a mailing group that will be notified each time a new read is announced, leave me a comment below saying so and I will add you to the group. (*You do not need to post your email, I receive it with every comment)
Where did word shakers come from? I read a lovely book called The book Thief, and if you have not read it I highly recommend it. There is a part in the book when one of the characters writes a story involving a word shaker. The whole story is beautiful, and if you have the opportunity to read even the word shaker part of the book it is pages 445-450. The part that touches me deeply is:
THE BEST word shakers were the ones who understood the true power of words. They were the ones who could climb the highest . One such word shaker was a small, skinny girl. She was renowned as the best word shaker of her region because she knew how powerless a person could be without words.
I think this one touches me so because I am a word lover, much like many of you, and therefore – we are all word shakers.
Join me for this months read: The Wife’s Tale by Lori Lansens
Book Journey 