Receive Me Falling by Erika Robuck

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)4 Comments

Woven between two worlds…. one woman desperately seeking the truth to her families heritage and one seeking a world where all people are free…. and both women more similar than they would ever know…. ~ Sheila


aEvery slave story is a ghost story. The haunting words of an historian and former cane worker on the Caribbean island of Nevis launch Meghan Owen on her quest to unlock the secrets of an abandoned sugar plantation and its ghosts. After Meg’s parents die in a car accident on the night of her engagement party, she calls off her wedding, takes leave of her job in Annapolis, and travels to land she’s inherited on Nevis. A series of discoveries in an old plantation house on the property, Eden, set her on a search for the truth surrounding the shameful past of her ancestors, their slaves, and the tragedy that resulted in the fall of the plantation and its inhabitants. Through a crushing phone call with her lawyer, Meg learns that her father’s estate was built on stolen money, and is being sued by multiple sources. She is faced with having to sell the land and plantation home, and deal with the betrayal she feels from her deceased father. In alternating chapters, the historical drama of the Dall family unfolds. Upon the arrival of British abolitionists to the hedonistic 19th century plantation society, Catherine Dall is forced to choose between her lifestyle and the scandal of deserting her family. An angry confrontation with Catherine’s slave, Leah, results in the girl’s death, but was it murder or suicide? Hidden texts, scandalous diaries, antique paintings, and confessional letters help Meghan Owen uncover the secrets of Eden and put the ghosts to rest.

My Thoughts:

At first this book that travels in alternating chapters from present time Meg to 19th century Catherine left me struggling to get a grip on both worlds as they unfolded.  And unfold they did.  In past reads that had a similar layout of alternating people or times I had found that I favored one story line over the other.  In Receive Me Falling, I quickly found myself enjoying both Meg’s journey into the past as well as Catherines hopes for the future.

This was not a light story line either.  Author Erika Robuck hits hard on the lives of the slaves in Catherines world.  At times the description of the beatings, the rapes, and even the deaths were enough to grab my breath and tighten my heart strings.  There is even one part of the book that was so vivid, so richly described that I placed a post it in the space to hopefully be able to ask the author about this particular scene.

A read with strong characters both female and male.  A taste of plantation reality as well as modern day heartbreak when your family is not who you thought or hoped they were.  A masterpiece in writing and I do not say these words lightly.


About the Author

Erika is an historical fiction writer.  Her first novel, Receive Me Falling, was released in March of 2009.  She is currently at work on a ericanovel set in depression-era Key West in the home of Ernest Hemingway.
Erika has a keen interest in all things historical, and spends her time reading, writing, researching for her writing, and visiting local, national, and international historic sites.


I received my review copy from Bostick Communications

I would rate this book PG for some strong imageing of slaves

Morning Meandering…

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)15 Comments

a big improvementUp most the night with the Read A Thon and so not sure it really feels like morning.  🙂  The Read A Thon was a lot of fun and I had many visitors that were new who i will have to visit in the next couple of days and see their blogs as well.  I am tired…. and will probably go lay down and take fulla dvantage of the 30 minutes I can rest before I really need to be up and moving.

Thanks everyone who put work and effort into the Read A Thon… for my first one it was a blast and it fun to see how things were done.  I finished 4 books and am currently reading The Help which is where I had planned to end up.  I have receiws to write yet and a great one going live today so watch for it!

Have a great day everyone….. and g night to me for at least 30 minutes… maybe 45….

sleepy

Dewey’s 24 Hour Read A Thon!

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)54 Comments

bookworm2My very first Read A Thon!  I am so excited!  This post will stay on top today (all other posts today will be below so be sure to check them out!

What is Dewey’s 24-Hour Read-A-Thon? For 24 hours, we read books, post to our blogs about OKour reading, and visit other readers’ blogs. We also participate in mini-challenges throughout the day. It happens twice a year, in April and in October.

It was created by the beloved Dewey. The first one was held in October 2007. Dewey died in late 2008. We’re still saddened by her absence, but the show must go on. The Read-A-Thon was renamed to honor its founder in 2009.

This will be my log of what I am doing each hour of the Read A Thon….

8 am:  Start time:  I am up and excited to go.  I am fully loaded with a fresh pot of coffee and finishing up Receive Me Falling by Erika Robuck (loving it!)

9 am:  Checking out the Deweys 24 Hour read A Thon blog to see what challenges are happening… the 8 am book is complete.

10 am:  I am reading Too Many Visitors For One Little House by Susan Chodakiewitz (short read) and now have movied on to Love Has A Face by Michelle Perry (super excited about this one!)

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11 am:  Had more coffee, caught up on the mini challenges (I am a sucker for those!) Commented on a few blogs and continues reading.

12 noon:  Eating a little bag of trail mix… checking in on new challenges.  Taking a break soon to write a post on a great post I seen at Maw Books that is calling me…. then seriously back to my book.

1 pm:  Back to the mini’s… I am hooked on the challenges…Oh NO!  Must stop so I can read.  Reading now and had some yogurt.

2 pm:  Made popcorn for the reading challenge last hour and am now enjoying it while still into my book.  Also did some lunges in the kitchen while the popcorn popped so I wasnt just sitting all day…LOL

3pm:  Reading on…  about half way through.

4 pm:  Sat the book down and read a graphic comic on line.  It was for a mini challenge.  I have never read a graphic comic before.  Deciding with my hubby what to plan for dinner… (I am hoping we just order pizza!)  Oh – and I won a mini challenge comment prize and was able to pick to books out of the prize package!  I went for Shiver and The Lost Symbol!  🙂

5 pm:  Dinner break w/ hubby and then shut laptop down so I could finish the book and stop being tempted by the mini challenges and comments… 🙂

6 pm:  Used this hour and finished reading Love Has A Face by Michelle Perry! YES!

7 pm:  Back on line and catching up on comments and looking to see what the challenges are for this hour… then I have a few small childrens reads I am going to do before I go to a bigger read..

8 pm:  I have started The Help.  Yippy!  I have so been looking forward to this read!  :0  Cha Cha happy dance – seriously!  I did all the mini challenges this hour because – they are so fun!

9 pm:  Holy cats!  13 hours in for me… I feel good.  Maybe a bit more coffee.  Enjoying The Help so far and knew I would.  I did the Dewey post… I had too.  Such an amazing person… I wish I had known her.

10 pm:  Ok now I am a bit tired…  got up and stretched a bit.  Book is good.  I put it down to do the two mini challenges and now am back on it.

11 pm:  Still here… reading only now and not commenting so much.  At 11:30 I am checking the mini challenges for this hour and then will return to the reading.

MIDNIGHT:  Getting tired.  Broke up the pattern of reading by writing a review for one of the books I finished.  I wanted to capture the details while it was still fresh in my mind!  Checking in on the Read A Thon site to see what is new…

1 am:  Wow… its like I am coming full circle… but not…LOL.  Yup getting tired and giddy.  I did the challenges.  Still reading but it is not sticking to the brain as well….

2 am:  I think I am done.  Eyes dont work any more….

3 am – 6: am:  Sleeping 😉

6 am:  Up – cheering for those who are still going….




Wrap Up Mini Challenge

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)4 Comments

1. Which hour was most daunting for you?

At 2 am is when I was losing it….


2. Could you list a few high-interest books that you think could keep a Reader engaged for next year?

Receive Me Falling was excellent and quick moving, I would also suggest if you have a small series you have been wanting to get into this may be a good time too….


3. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year?

I thought this year was wonderful…


4. What do you think worked really well in this year’s Read-a-thon?

It all went together well.  Everyone seemed to work together from the challenges to the cheerleaders.


5. How many books did you read?

4


6. What were the names of the books you read?

Receive Me Falling, In The Name Of Love, Too Many People In One Little House, When The Roof Caves In and I am working on The Help


7. Which book did you enjoy most?

Receive me falling was really a wonderful read.  The Help is going to be excellent but I am not done with it yet


8. Which did you enjoy least?

The House one….  and there was another one not mentioned here that I started and stopped.

9. If you were a Cheerleader, do you have any advice for next year’s Cheerleaders?
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10. How likely are you to participate in the Read-a-thon again? What role would you be likely to take next time?

Oh I would love to participate again!  I would be a reader again and I would love to host a mini challenge

5 Children Read Favs (Mini Challenge)

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)2 Comments

Ok… its after midnight and I am taking part of this challenge posted by Chronicles Of An Infant Bibliophile

For this challenge we are supose to list 5 of our favorite childrens read.  Ok here I go:


a


Charlotte’s Web :Oh come on, no brainer right?  Loved this book as a child – I really did.

a


Are You There God Its Me Margaret…. ok I grew up on Judy Blume and I swear I owe part of my reading habits today to her wonderful books!

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Really just about anything Dr. Seuss.  I think I knew these books by heart.  I had, my kids had them….


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This one will probably surprise you.  If you know me you know that dolls creep me out.  Always have.  This is the exception.  Mrs Beasley was ok and I even had a Mrs. Beasely doll growing up.  I have no idea what happened to her.


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Original Nancy Drew…. not remakes.  No.  Much be the good old  ones.  In fact I have some of these I found at a flea market.  I hope to find them all.

In Honour Of Dewey

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)Leave a comment

For this mini challenge we have asked to take a few minutes and remember Dewey.  I didn’t know Dewey.  I came into the blogging world after she had gone on…. but there is truly this amazing presence of her still today.  From all areas of The Blogesphere, I have seen her name, read about the amazing things she has done, and wished that I could have been one of those to say that I had had known her as well.

I first seen the sidebar memes that said in Memory of Dewey.  I wanted to ask about her, but didn’t know how.  I didnt want to leave my question in a comment and I didn’t know any of my fellow bloggers well enought to ask in an email.  I did wonder though… who was Dewey?

It wasnt until BBAW that I heard the entire story and with tears in my eyes I read about her incredible pressence, how she made everyone feel appreciated and welcome, how she built up a community of bloggers and knit them together… all the while dealing with an illness that if I understand correctly, she did not reveal in any way.

Her passing, was a surprise that shook the core of many of the long term book bloggers.  Reading on the BBAW posts I read comment after comment of lives she had touched.  As tears ran down my face my heart actually ached for this wonderful person who I had never met, but had touched so many.

Even though I never new Dewey… through you, the book blogging community, I feel that I did.  And for that I am grateful.

deweycolour

Here is to you Dewey.  May your star shine brightly in Heaven. ♥

Half Way Through…..

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)2 Comments

Mid-Event Survey

We now interrupt the regular scheduled reading for this announcement 🙂

1.  What are you reading right now?  I am just getting ready to pick up The Help by Katherine Stockett

2. How many books have you read so far?  3

3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-Thon?  The Help is the book I was holding off on as it is a big read and I really have been looking forward to this one for a long time.

4. Did you have to make any special arrangements to free up your whole day?  It actually worked out well on its own.  My hubby worked until 4 then came home and watched an hour of tv.  I ate dinner with him but he was tired and went to bed early.  I have been alone most of the day and nothing really pressing that couldnt wait until tomorrow or Monday to do.  🙂

5. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those?  Nothing really – a freind stopped by this morning to drop off a malaria pill in prep for our trip next week.  We talked for about 5 minutes and she was gone.  The phone has been quiet too.   Excellent day!

6. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon, so far?  Since this is my first I guess I have had a lot of surprises.  The challenges are fantastic… I didnt think they would be so detailed and I didnt think I would be posting today at all (ha ha as you scroll through my many posts!)  but I really love it.  The cheerleaders are awesome.  I have had newbies at my blog today – quite a few actually that I look forward to visiting back in the next couple of days.  Everyone has been just great!

7. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year?  I really dont.  I was just thinking earlier that a lot of planning went into this and it is running as far as I can see – very well.  Kudos to the hard working people behind the Read A Thon.  This is really a blast.

8. What would you do differently, as a Reader or a Cheerleader, if you were to do this again next year?  Now that I know a little more on how it works I would definately want to donate a prize or two for one thing.  I think I would also love to have my name thrown in to host a challenge.  I just think that is fun!  Otherwise – nothing really different.  I couldnt have had a more laid back day.

9. Are you getting tired yet? Actually no.  I have walked around the house a bit and have taken little breaks here and there to put the laundry in the dryer or grab some water.

10. Do you have any tips for other Readers or Cheerleaders, something you think is working well for you that others may not have discovered?  I hope that most of the readers are also getting involved in at least some of the challenges.  I have discovered new blogs today by doing them and have had new visitors as well.  I think it is a great community builder so I would highly recommend take the breaks and enjoy the challenges!  🙂

Music to Read By….. (Mini Challenge)

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)Leave a comment

Holy mini challenges batman!  This being my first time doing the Read A Thon I have to say I LOVE IT!  The challenges are fun and exciting.  I had no idea I would be posting so much today!

This challenge by Fizzy Thought is to 1) post music that reminds me of the challenge

Here is my Read A Thon theme song….

Seriously; cant you picture it…. the slow soothing rhythm… it starts out so slow like when we all got out of bed this morning.  Imagine us rubbing our eyes, considering the shower and thinking nah… we are not going anywhere.  Now picture the coffee pot brewing and we are standing in front or our selections to read (the camera would slowly span the wide variety of choices)…

Now you have selected your read and filled your cup with your favorite morning brew.  The beat picks up as you open that first read and continues to poor out beautifully as you get more into the book, turning the pages faster and faster, first laughing then crying…. and finally you reach the end and slowly reach for another.

Thank you.  Thank you very much.  😉

Reading Is Fundamental (RIF)

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)1 Comment

This mini challenge is at Joystory where we are asked to post about children reading or being read to.

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This picture is of my friend Julie and one of the girls we know in Honduras, Saritta.  Saritta was abandoned by her mom and left on the streets.  Julie is working with her here with reading and writing.

Honduras children have a special place in my heart.  Given the right tools, these kids are so willing to learn and incredibly bright.

Stop by the RIF website and learn more about what RIF is and what we can do.

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