Book Journey

Harry Potter and The Sorcerer’s Stone by JK Rowling – special anniversary addition

Published on July 15, 2011July 15, 2011 by Sheila (Book Journey)12 Comments

In the beginning…. it was The Dursley’s at the (now famous) address of Four Pivet Drive, also the opening line to the book. The Dursley’s kept to themselves, not liking anything out of the ordinary – but that was about to change.

One day… a very odd day filled with strangely cloaked persons and owls everywhere…. a package arrives on the doorstep of the Dursleys…

a baby actually. A baby called Harry Potter.

Certainly by now you know the story. Harry is raised by his Aunt and Uncle – if you can call living under the stairs, not being acknowledged, and pretty much treated worse than a house mouse, being raised.

Until one day – a visitor comes. A large visitor and it is suddenly like Harry won the lottery. He is taken to a school for wizards – wizards!!! And this is really where Harry’s story takes flight. With his new friends Ron and Hermione… who knew that Harry Potter would become a household name – and that this amazing book, about an orphaned boy with a scar was only the beginning…

I have looked for a hard covered version of this book for years. I could not find book one in hard cover! Then, this past May in New York, I not only found it at the Harry Potter Exhibit, I found it as the ten-year anniversary edition. SSSQQUUUEEEEEEE!!!!!

SO this week – the week before the final movie release and an end, really, to an era. I had to dive into Harry’s world once again.

It wasn’t me who grew up on these books… it was my kids. But really… I think in a way, I did too. These books became as important to me, as they did my two sons. We read them together…. three copies of each as they came out. Three readers, noses buried deep into a fantasy world of magic, friendships, dark forces, and a school that makes all of this

1daaa — Snape, as J K Rowling always saw him. This was scribbled back in 1992 or 3. Although J K spent years denying that Snape is a vampire, even she admits now he looked a little like Count Dracula in the cloak.

happen.

*sigh* Is it no wonder I love these books so much?

Now I know many die-hard Harry Potter fans were reading either the entire series on preparation for the final movie, or the last book, or the 6th and 7th book again. My goal was to read the first, (this one) and the last.

Why?

Because when something is ending… I like to remember the beginning. Reading Harry Potter and The Sorcerer’s Stone was going back to Privet Drive, before Harry had any idea he was a wizard, back to when Hogwarts was exciting and new, and school friends were the best thing in the world.

I had a blast remembering Harry’s first classes, how at first he and Ron found Hermione annoying and bossy (you may remember the fight in this first book where Hermione overheard Ron talking about how annoying she was…. ). This led to the whole troll in the castle chapter where we who have been through this book (and/or the movie) will always be able to recall the term “troll boogers”.

Pretty much from that point on – the three were friends for life.

Reading this book prior to seeing the final installation of The Deathly Hallows really opened up a bigger picture for me. It was hard to look at the screen as Hogwarts was no longer the beautiful and magical school it was under Dumbledore’s reign…. instead it lays in near ruins not only under poor management, but also being destroyed under the death eaters watch.

It is also pretty amazing to look at these three characters that in this book are all new to the joys of the magical world… and see them in the final movie as hardened young adults facing their destiny head on. Times… they have changed….

I think the biggest thing to remember about Harry Potter and The Sorcerer’s Stone is that it was and always will be… the beginning of something that changed the world as we knew it. It changed the way we read books and it really in all truth, set the bar high for future such reads. I myself can think of a couple of series that made valiant efforts to touch the greatness of Potter and ultimately failed. In truth, I am not sure if anything can ever touch this level of world-changing reading and writing again.

I for one, would love to read a fantasy book that even comes close to the phenomenon that is Harry Potter.

2aaaa — Harry, Hermione, and Ron... Then and Now

The 2011 WHERE Are You reading Map has been updated to Include Harry Potter and The Sorcerer’s Stone

I purchased this lovely hard cover anniversary edition in New York at the Harry Potter Exhibition

Morning Meanderings…. Mischief Managed and Placing The Sorting Hat High On The Shelf

Published on July 15, 2011 by Sheila (Book Journey)32 Comments

Good morning. My Minnesota view outside my window is overcast and gloomy. Rain spatters the windows of my home and for once I find this weather quite appropriate for my mood.

I feel…. melancholy. I feel a little overcast myself really.

Last night, as the clock struck midnight and many (most) of you were well into the sleep world… I was sitting in a crowded, chatty movie theater waiting anxiously, and a little precariously as the opening to Harry Potter 7 part 2 lit upon the big screen.

I think most die-hard Potter fans would agree that this final movie is at once exciting and sad.

I have talked about it more than once here about how Harry Potter came into my kids lives in the later part of 1998 and Scholastic brought it into my home on that lovely little paper ordering sheet that the kids and I drooled over. Through the years we read them together, and last night while I was here in Brainerd Minnesota watching the movie, my college son was in Mankato Minnesota doing the same thing. 😀

While the movie was exciting and with 5 theaters showing it last night in my small town alone at 250 seats per theater and $8.50 per ticket… well I can only imagine the impact heard around the world –

BUT…

to me it did not generate that same excitement I had standing in the forefront of a line that wrapped around Barnes and Noble or insert book store of your choice here…. waiting for the next book to get in my eager hands.

I am forever grateful to be a part of this era of Harry Potter. To have lived it first hand as the books were printed, as the excitement grew, the first movie to the last. I wonder if they even fully know the impact they made not only on the lives of children, but on their parents, not only the movies – but the BOOKS – THE BOOKS. The books that made readers from non- readers all over the world.

I leave this morning this ode to Harry Potter:

AND for those of you who have shared with me that you have not read the books… have not seen the movies and are on the outside scratching your head as to the over all over the top obsession I have with these books…. here is a 6 minute recap of all that has happened in the movies to bring you up to full speed (also – full spoilers here to all previous movie – but not this last one)

1bbbb — Oh yes.... this is even a new level of dorkiness for me 🙂

Have an awesome rest of your morning! I am reading today, and enjoying my day off. 😛

South Of Superior by Ellen Airgood

Published on July 14, 2011July 14, 2011 by Sheila (Book Journey)16 Comments

When Madeline Stone walks away from Chicago and moves five hundred miles north to the coast of Lake Superior, in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, she isn’t prepared for how much her life will change.

Charged with caring for an aging family friend, Madeline finds herself in the middle of beautiful nowhere with Gladys and Arbutus, two octogenarian sisters-one sharp and stubborn, the other sweeter than sunshine. As Madeline begins to experience the ways of the small, tight-knit town, she is drawn into the lives and dramas of its residents. It’s a place where times are tough and debts run deep, but friendship, community, and compassion run deeper. As the story hurdles along-featuring a lost child, a dashed love, a car accident, a wedding, a fire, and a romantic reunion-Gladys, Arbutus, and the rest of the town teach Madeline more about life, love, and goodwill than she’s learned in a lifetime.

1bba — Lake Superior is the largest of the five traditionally-demarcated Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded to the north by the Canadian province of Ontario and the U.S. state of Minnesota, and to the south by the U.S. states of Wisconsin and Michigan. It is the largest freshwater lake in the world by surface area if Lake Huron and Lake Michigan are considered to be two lakes. It is the world's third-largest freshwater lake by volume. ~ Wikepedia

Living in an area of Minnesota where Lake Superior is a regular sight when we travel north to our cabin, the title of this book caught my attention.

I have always liked the story line of a person being uprooted from their “comfort zone” and placed into a new life. This is the story of Madeline and her return to where she was born that leads to life lessons that she never could have anticipated.

Madeline’s new life is not without difficulties and I enjoyed her trying to find her niche while she still struggled with the lifestyle she came from and where she now was. While it takes awhile for her to literally WARM UP to her surroundings, the town needs to warm up to her too. (I was picking up a bit of a Renee Zellweger vibe from the movie “New In Town“.

The book is pretty paced, not too slow but not a fast page turner either. I enjoyed the book as a lite summer read that was enjoyed from my lawn chair on the back deck with a never-ending pitcher of iced tea.

This book was part of a TLC Book Tour

Morning Meanderings… BOOK CLUB…. The First Rule Of Book Club…

Published on July 14, 2011 by Sheila (Book Journey)16 Comments

Good morning! 😀

If you visit here occasionally, often, frequently, mornings with your own coffee cup (kudos by the way for that!) then you probably know that I am always gushing about my book club.

If your newer here – hi, welcome, and I LOVE my book club.

Next month will be our ten-year anniversary. We started in August of 2001 and we have grown in so many ways – in what we read, how we do reviews, and how to keep it exciting and fun for our now group of 14.

We had our book club meeting on Tuesday (second Tuesdays…. 10 years of second Tuesdays!) and not only was it our Annual Queen Event, Sharon had taken the initiative to design t-shirts for us and take orders and well… here are the two designs we now have:

Ahhh…. right? I love them!!!

Yesterday I went rollerblading with Wendy. First time since the big bike crash and it was great to get our on the trail again. We bladed 12 miles. Thanks Wendy! 😀

Bike miles in 2011: 196

Rollerblade miles: 30

Morning Meanderings… A New Queen and The Next Book Club Pick

Published on July 13, 2011July 14, 2011 by Sheila (Book Journey)24 Comments

Good Morning! 😀

Another lovely book event last night. We had our annual Queen Event which is always a blast. Every July we have a “free read” month. We do not have a book we all discuss, instead we potluck together and share what we read and what we recommend.

Oh…

and did I mention we dress up in fun dresses and choose a Bookies Queen?

Huh…. you think I would have mentioned that. 😛

Five years ago we read a book by Cassandra King called Same Sweet Girls and picked up a little idea from that book to do this event. We thought it would be a fun one time thing…. dress up and choose a Queen…. instead it became an annual event.

So what does one do to be Queen? We give little speeches, or sing, or read a poem, any thing to encourage others to vote for us. It’s really all in fun. And the things we come up with…. well…. hilarious.

What does the Queen do? The “Queen” breaks all book nomination ties. If we vote on a book to read and come up with a tie, the Queen chooses the book. Same with where to meet or special meetings. She also becomes the proud owner of the crown, the scepter, and uh…. the royal throne ( a gold spray painted toilet). 😛

So last night we had a wonderful get together with food, and dresses…. we discussed what we have been reading and then we voted on our August book club read which will be: The Devil In The White City by Erik Larson. We also chose our classic read for October Classic month and the book that won is Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (yup – never read it).

We ended our evening with the vote and…. our past Queen Lori, called up the Queen and runner up…. Sharon and Amy…

Congratulations Amy! Sharon is the runner-up and will fulfill the Queen duties when Amy is not available to do so.

Once Upon A Time There Was You by Elizabeth Berg

Published on July 12, 2011July 12, 2011 by Sheila (Book Journey)6 Comments

On her wedding day, Irene Marsh sits in the bride’s room asking her best friend Valerie to go and get the car and help her escape. And if Valerie doesn’t want to help, Irene understands; she says can take a bus home.
On the night before his wedding, John Marsh sits in a bar with his best friend who asks a nervous John to recall why he’s marrying Irene, in an effort to calm him down. John says: “Because she doesn’t wear make-up?”
This marriage ends in divorce. No surprise there, not even to Irene and John. In fact they would both agree the only good thing that happened during their marriage was their daughter Sadie.

Now at age 18, Sadie is living with her mother and feels smothered by Irene’s over bearing need to control everything that involves Sadie, and John while still playing the role of the good father, lives back in Minnesota and seems distant and unavailable when Sadie needs him.

When tragedy strikes, hitting the core of what Irene and John held dearest, the once couple is brought back together to support one another while they try to support their daughter as well.

As I continue my way through the works of Elizabeth Berg I found myself with her newest release, Once Upon A Time There was You. I felt almost from the beginning that this book was going to be predictable. A few pages in, I felt as though I knew how it would all end and with a resigned sigh, I proceeded deeper into the book.

It made me, and hopefully you as well, happy to know I was wrong.

Irene was not a strong woman. She was self-conscious about her body, her age, and the fact that her daughter soon would go off to college and she would be alone. Irene dated yes, but never really connected with anyone. Even her best friend Valerie said that Irene was restless… never satisfied with just staying put.

“It’s like you’re all the time digging in the tomato bin, saying, ‘Where are the apples?'”

~ Valerie to Irene page 276

And John was actually the more likable of the once couple. He was calm, patient, and thought before he spoke, unlike Irene who’s every emotion ran right out her mouth.

Really though, this book centers around Sadie and Sadie’s “happening” is the plot of this book, and I have to say, a weak plot at that. What happened to Sadie could have been quite a powerful story line. In fact when it was happening I was thinking whoa…. this is going to really be explosive of how the book moves forward.

But…

it wasn’t.

And so the book moves on from this point and I along with it, wondering what big thing would happen…. but alas, did not.

As I turned the last page (actually I really did turn the last page because I did not realize it was the last page…) I do not know if I had a full sense of closure. Yes, most of the story was brought full circle, but in the end… it felt…. incomplete to me.

An enjoyable light read. Nothing more.

Amazon Rating

Good reads Review

The 2011 WHERE Are You reading Map has been updated to include this book

I borrowed this book from my local library

Morning Meanderings…A Chance To Win Forever by Maggie Stiefvater And A Queen Event

Published on July 12, 2011July 12, 2011 by Sheila (Book Journey)48 Comments

Good morning! 😀

Sun shining… mood hitting level awesome…. what could be going on?

OH – many things! For one, today releases Forever by Maggie Stiefvater. I reviewed this a few weeks back with the appropriate level of SSQQQUUEEESSSS so you know…. check it out. 😀 (Amazon rating here)

And check this out…. I am so not a fan of book trailers but this is something incredible…

I had pre ordered Forever back in January right after I finished Linger. When I received the ARC at BEA this year, I still wanted the hard cover that I had pre ordered so that book is due here in the next couple of days. Hmmm…. what to do with the ARC? (*see bottom of this post)

Tonight is our book club Queen Event which is basically a potluck event where we all dress up in formal wear and give little speeches of why we should be the Queen. Why do we do this? It came out of a book we read years ago called Same Sweet Girls by Cassandra King. It is just a fun crazy thing we do every July and it is a lot of crazy fun!

Here is a glimpse into last years 2010 event:

Click here to read about this event

and here is 2009 before…

Click here to read about this event

I bought my dress for tonight on clearance… I have a closet full now of these fun dresses… (one of which you may have seen dive into the lake for the polar plunge in May). 😛

I love this event because we all agreed to do it… I wasn’t sure they would, but yes, for the past 5 years we have done this and had so much fun seeing what everyone came up with for their speech… some sing, some rhyme… some read off cards like a politician. It is all in fun and we do have fun! 😀

Pictures and results will be up tomorrow 😀

**Leave a comment today on this post and I will choose one random winner to receive my ARC copy of Forever which I will send out to them this week.

It’s Monday! What Are You reading?

Published on July 10, 2011July 10, 2011 by Sheila (Book Journey)97 Comments

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading is where we share what we read this past week, what we hope to read this week…. and anything in between! D This is a great way to plan out your reading week and see what others are currently reading as well… you never know where that next “must read” book will come from!

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 telling me how many you visited. **You do not have to have a blog to participate! You receive one entry for every 10 comments, just come back here and tell me how many in the comment area.

Last weeks winner:

Megan from Hardcover Feedback

WOO HOO!!!! Please choose an item out of the Reading Cafe Grab Shelves and email me your choice with your mailing address as well! journeythroughbooks@gmail.com

**New books added today to the Reading Cafe giveaway!

I am really excited about this weeks meme! Mainly because as of this afternoon I completed a hard and busy two weeks of projects that had left me with minimal time to visit what you are reading, let alone read much myself. Here is what I did manage to finish this week:

Escape From Zobadak by Brad Gallagher (book review – MG)

The Secret Lives Of The Four Wives by Lola Shoneyin (book tour and review)

Bloody Jack by L A Meyer (audio review – first in the series… and ooh… you are not going to want to miss this one!)

Candy Freak by Steve Almond (audio review with addition to review since posted *see below)

Casino Royale by Ian Fleming (audio review out of my norm for the Shaken Not Stirred Challenge)

Oh and I forgot to post a picture to go with my Candy Freak post… the review explains what is happening in this pic… and the result…;)

mmm hmmm.... I kind of get into my reviews. Click pick to go to story

Another strong audio week which really is a sign of summer…. I can listen to audio while grilling, cleaning, mowing the lawn, when on the go – this is a great way to still get your “reads in”. 😛

That said… here is what I have happening now and on going through this week…

Those parts of Medium Raw–more of a collection of essays than a streamlined narrative–that seemed to grow out of that celebrity, such as Bourdain’s feuds with food critics and celebrity chefs, impressed reviewers the least. But they still found much to savor, particularly Bourdain’s biting personality, his own humorous self-deprecation, his ability to bring out the unknown elements of the restaurant industry, particularly the kitchen and service staff who might otherwise be ignored, and, not least of all, the well-written (if often vulgar) and compelling stories.

I seen a couple of episodes of Bourdain’s tv show a while back and was fascinated by his travel and food experiences. Yes, he is rough around the edges and that is even more apparent in this audio that I am about an hour into, but if you can over look the roughness – there is an interesting tale underneath. At least so far.

Even on their wedding day, John and Irene sensed that they were about to make a mistake. Years later, divorced, dating other people, and living in different parts of the country, they seem to have nothing in common—nothing except the most important person in each of their lives: Sadie, their spirited eighteen-year-old daughter. Feeling smothered by Irene and distanced from John, Sadie is growing more and more attached to her new boyfriend, Ron.
When tragedy strikes, Irene and John come together to support the daughter they love so dearly. What takes longer is to remember how they really feel about each other.

I had started this book a while ago… sat it down… renewed it at the library… and now have picked it up again and am sailing along. 😀

The night is not safe for mortals. Denise MacGregor knows all too well what lurks in the shadows — her best friend is half-vampire Cat Crawfield — and she has already lost more than the average human could bear. But her family’s past is wrapped in secrets and shrouded in darkness — and a demon shape-shifter has marked Denise as prey. Now her survival depends on an immortal who lusts for a taste of her.

He is Spade, a powerful, mysterious vampire who has walked the earth for centuries and is now duty-bound to protect this endangered, alluring human — even if it means destroying his own kind. Denise may arouse his deepest hungers, but Spade knows he must fight his urge to have her as they face the nightmare together, because once the first crimson drop falls, they will both be lost.

Yes…. my reading and audio is all over the grid this week. 😛 This audio was one I picked up through Blackstone audio at BEA and thought I could give it a try. So far…. hmmm…. it is… a love story… and really, not so bad. Does anyone else think this dude on the audio cover looks like a young Timothy Hutton? Anyone? Anyone?

When Madeline Stone walks away from Chicago and moves five hundred miles north to the coast of Lake Superior, in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, she isn’t prepared for how much her life will change.

Charged with caring for an aging family friend, Madeline finds herself in the middle of beautiful nowhere with Gladys and Arbutus, two octogenarian sisters-one sharp and stubborn, the other sweeter than sunshine. As Madeline begins to experience the ways of the small, tight-knit town, she is drawn into the lives and dramas of its residents. It’s a place where times are tough and debts run deep, but friendship, community, and compassion run deeper. As the story hurdles along-featuring a lost child, a dashed love, a car accident, a wedding, a fire, and a romantic reunion-Gladys, Arbutus, and the rest of the town teach Madeline more about life, love, and goodwill than she’s learned in a lifetime.

Late! Late tour review. Last weeks CRAZINESS caused me a miss on this one and gah… catching up 😀

That’s whats on the barbie.. I am still finishing the Harry Potter Books, and listening to the second in the series Bloody Jack audio too.

I have requested and received all the Mondays in July off from work! WOO HOO!!! This is a much-needed break from life happenings and with busy weekends, Monday is a great recoup day. It also means I will have more time to explore what all of you are reading and for the first time in weeks I am going to get around and see you and what is trending through the book blogs! 😀

Be sure to add your What Are You Reading post link below where it says click here, so I as well as others can find their way to you! 😀

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Morning Meanderings… Cabin Trip. Jenga. And a Good Time Had By All

Published on July 10, 2011 by Sheila (Book Journey)14 Comments

Good Morning!

Home as of yesterday afternoon and a happy road trip to the cabin was complete. I went with my son Brad and his best friend Andy to our cabin on the North Shore on Friday. We had limited time, but made the 3+ hour trip anyway… just to hang out and Brad had never seen the Cabin (he is home from the Navy just until this coming Tuesday).

We had a lot of fun putting our way there… stopping for lunch at Grandma’s in Duluth, Dairy Queen in Two Harbors for ice cream and then arriving at Finland, Minnesota. We went to dinner down the road at Our Place and then back to the cabin for an exciting round of Jenga. Would you believe I have owned the game all of the four years of the cabin and have never played it?

It was actually fun and we made it to level 32 before Brad (uh huh… I totally ratted him out) crashed the tower of Jenga.

Yes, we are watching Grown Ups on the TV. 😀

We came home yesterday afternoon and I went out to dinner with hubby then a good nights sleep.

Today I move the IHN guests to their next location and with a little luck I will be home by noon to relax this afternoon into a good book. Crazy week is almost…. officially over 😀

Casino Royale by Ian Fleming

Published on July 9, 2011July 9, 2011 by Sheila (Book Journey)21 Comments

Meet James Bond. He is charming, sophisticated, handsome, ruthless, and licensed to kill. In this first of the Bond stories, James’ mission is to take out a lethal high rolling Russian Operation called ‘Le Chiffre’ by ruining him at the baccarar table, forcing him into an early “retirement” so to speak.

Lady luck seems to have sides with 007 as Le Chiffre hits a losing streak… but you never know what will happen when playing such high stakes and a beautiful female agent by the name of Vesta may just turn the roll of the dice a different way…

First off… we need a little theme music:

This is my first experience with James Bond. Yup. It’s true. I have never watched a movie, well, maybe caught glimpses but enough to know I had no read interest, and I have never read a book about 007. From what I knew going into this challenge (more on that in a minute) is that James Bond was some sort of FBI, spy, or vigilante…. I was not sure. I also thought from the little I knew, that he was a lady’s man – there was always a new girl in every movie, and so in his spare time, he drank his signature drink with the ladies, and then occasionally killed a bad guy.

So in recap…. never committed to a woman, killed people, wore uptight suits everywhere, cocky attitude, cheesy theme music….

Yup. Not really my thing…

Now wait. before you go thinking, “whoa Sheila, did you just write the anti – review?”, hear me out. I am telling you what I thought prior to my Shaken Not Stirred experience.

Ok – whats Shaken Not Stirred? This is a Challenge started by the wonderful Jennifer of Literate Housewife, working with the wonderful Blackstone Audio. Our challenge is, if we choose to accept it, is to listen to the 007 audio, one per month – and we also gather each month at a Twitter party under the hashtag #shakennotstirred and watch the movie that goes with the audio together.

I am always interested in stretching my audio taste buds… I have said before I tend to be more daring in my audio choices, then I am in my reading. A book is easy to put down and my mind will just drift away if it is not holding me. Audio however I usually give a longer chance to suck me in. I am usually driving or doing something while listening so it is not always convenient to take it out and choose another – not saying that I haven’t just that audio tends to take me longer to say “nah” too.

Ok enough background info as I am already late on this review. This was our June selection, the kick off to the challenge, and while I did join in on the Twitter party and the watching of the movie, I missed out on the June review date as I was not done with the audio. I actually started listening to it late and well…. just finished now.

There are a few pleasant surprises I found in Casino Royale. One is that when I listened (and watched the movie) tot his audio, I seen the story behind James Bond and for some reason that really made a difference to me. Seeing how he got his start, and how he handled himself in this early book made all the difference to me. Actually, and I shared this with Jennifer, Literate Housewife, I now felt as though I understood him. The little glimpses of what I knew of him, and my pre judgement of him changed and suddenly – I felt I knew the man behind the gun.

I know, totally cheesy right? 😛

Casino Royale turned out to be a pleasant listen, a good story line. By starting at the very beginning I was able to understand that Bond was an agent (not the vigilante I had thought…. although that would have been super cool!) and I was able to learn about the agency he worked for. I also learned that the “00” or double O stands for agents with a license to kill. James Bond, becomes 007. The 7th in the agency with this license.

Bond never quite shook the “ladies man” label I had given him prior to this audio. He obviously is, and not always the nicest one either. He has a few lines that made me think I was right about these books/movies, but then he would turn it around to a softer side of him that has left me still uncertain. The jury is still out on this one.

I ended this audio impressed with myself for taking on this challenge into an area I never though I would go, as well as for the fact that it really wasn’t that bad. I found the story line interesting, and now having listened to this audio and see the Casino Royale movie, I feel as though I understand Bond a bit better as we go forward. I think I may know now why he has a new woman in every book.

Simon Vance was an amazing narrator. He did an excellent job on the Bond vibe and I can see why he had won awards for his readings. Wow.

I look forward to our July discussion and review of Live and Let Die.