Book Review: Shadow on the Mountain by Margi Preus
4 Stars , Fiction , Historical Fiction , Latest Posts / September 3, 2012

Article first published as Book Review: Shadow on the Mountain by Margi Preus on Blogcritics. About: Shadow on the Mountain by Margi Preus is a historical fiction novel which comfortably fits in the YA category. This is a well researchedand exciting book despite its intended audience. 304 pages Publisher: Harry N. Abrams; 8-page insert of color photos edition Language: English ISBN-10: 1419704249 My rating for Shadow on the Mountain – 4 Buy this book in paper or electronic format More Books by Margi Preus Check out this & more World War II books on Man of la BookStore Thoughts: Shadow on the Mountain by Margi Preus (website) takes place in Norway during World War II and follows the adventures of a boy named Espen. As any good historical fiction novel, the book combines actually historical events while exploring the emotional nature which these events caused. Norway was an important target for the Nazi regime, not because of it is strategically importance, but because of their Aryan look. Hitler clearly hoped to “marry” Germany and Norway in order to produce his vision of the ultimate master race (blond hair, blue eyes and fair skin). However, many Norwegians were against everything the Nazis stood for and resisted bravely. One interesting aspect of the…

Guest Review: One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Márquez
Guest Posts , Latest Posts / September 1, 2012

I was intensely interested in English and world literature throughout high school and college. I devoured every classic and newly published novel that I could get my hands on—from Chaucer to Chabon, Rumi to Rushdie. And during that entire time—what I now consider to be my peak reading period—I somehow managed to forgo reading Gabriel Garcia Márquez’s infamous novel One Hundred Years of Solitude. Sure, I knew that it existed, but there were always other books to conquer. I kept sidelining the tome for other works, until I forgot about it entirely. Buy this book in paper from Amazon.com Years passed before a close friend of mine called me up to tell me of a great book he just read, one that he insisted that I read immediately. Of course the book was One Hundred Years of Solitude; the classic had finally caught up with me. I finished the novel only a few days ago, and I have more than a few things to say about it. Brass tacks plot overview For those of you who haven’t read One Hundred Years of Solitude, here’s a (spoiler free) summary. The entirety of the novel takes place in a town called Macondo in Columbia, a city established by Jose ArcadioBuendia, his wife Ursula, and…

Fun Facts Friday: William Saroyan
Fun Facts Friday , Latest Posts / August 31, 2012

William Saroyan was born this day, 31 August 1908 (d: 18 May 1981); he was a prolific writer of immigrant parents who based many of his stories on his childhood experiences during the Great Depression as well as the rootlessness of immigrants. Mr. Saroyan is known for his short stories and insightful texts. He won a Pulitzer Prize for for his play The Time of Your Life (1939). Books by William Saroyan 1 ) Saroyan’s was left fatherless at the tender age of 3. He was raised in an orphanage along with his brother and sister. 2 ) After his mother reunited the family, Saroyan helped out by selling newspapers at age eight. 3 ) After he saw his father’s writing, Saroyan decided to become a writer. 4 ) The first stories Saroyan wrote appeared in Overland Monthly, some under the name Sirak Goryan . 5 ) My Name is Aram, a short story collection, was published in 1940 and became an international best seller. 6 ) Saroyan’s breakthrough story The Daring Young Man on the Flying Trapeze (1934) takes its name from a 19th Century song. 7 ) During World War II Saroyan served in the US Army and…

Kid’s Book Review: Shoo Fly Pie by Tedd Arnold
Kid's Reviews , Latest Posts / August 30, 2012

When my son (5) saw his big sister’s summer project and “reading responses” (see here and here) he got jealous and wanted to do one also. Here he is with his first reading response of a book we took out of the library for him. A nice comment would be appreciated 🙂 Buy this book from Amazon.com After he finished the story he was even more excited to find out that there is such a thing as shoo fly pie – below is his first taste at the local farmer’s market (I think he liked the book better). Zohar – Man of la Book Disclaimer: we borrowed this book from the local library. BOOK BLOGGERS – Have you read Shoo Fly Pie? If so link up your review below:

Tightwad Tuesday — Free or Affordable eBooks — Military Strategy
Latest Posts , Tightwad Tuesday / August 28, 2012

Military Strategy… can books get anymore interesting? Reading about heroics in battle is the stuff which makes books exciting, but strategy is what makes them interesting. Heck, The Hunger Games is about strategy as much as the Killer Angels is even though they are two very different styles of storytelling and genre. Of course there is the grandaddy of all military strategy books, The Art of War which is being talked about today as much as it was many moons ago. The lessons in these books do not belong only on the battlefield, but in everyday life whether at home or in business. Check them out, let me know what you think. Check out the books below, I only found one for free but the rest are $0.99 at the time this post was written. Authors: If you’d like your book to be fea­tured on Tight­wad Tues­days please email me. Harold’ The Last of The Saxon Kings [Illustrated] by Edward Bulwer-Lytton Digital List Price: $0.99 Print List Price: $18.98 Kindle Price: $0.95 includes free wireless delivery via Amazon Whispernet You Save: $18.03 (95%) Harold Godwinson, (1022 – October 14, 1066 A.D.) also known as Harold II, is widely regarded as the…

Book Review: The Orchardist by Amanda Chopin
4 Stars , Fiction , Latest Posts / August 27, 2012

Article first published as Book Review: The Orchardist by Amanda Chopin on Blogcritics. About: The Orchardist by Amanda Chopin is a novel taking place in Washington State at the early part of the 20thCentury. This is Chopin’s first book and is a majestic debut, a new book which reads like an old friend. The pub­lisher is giv­ing away one copy of this book— use the Raf­fle­copter form at the end of the post to enter. 448 pages Publisher: Harper Language: English ISBN-10: 006218850X My rating for The Orchardist – 4 Buy this book in paper or electronic format Thoughts: The Orchardist by Amanda Chopin is a beautifully written and haunting novel, a mood not usually captured by first time authors. The prose is lyrical and the characters enchanting, even though they might not be likeable they grow on the reader and make one invest in their future. The reason I requested to be on the tour for this book is actually quite nostalgic. Many years ago, what seems like 100 years ago (and unfortunately, what seems like 100 lbs. as well) I walked along the Inca Trail in Bolivia(slightly less famous than its Peruvian counterpart which I walked several weeks later). After a few days we…

Cover Gallery: The Insidious Dr. Fu-Manchu
Cover Gallery , Latest Posts / August 25, 2012

This week I reviewed The Insidious Dr. Fu-Manchu. As it is with many books which have captured the public’s imagination there are varied covers galore. Below are some of my favorites. I especially like the first one, even though I wouldn’t have minded the leather bound (3rd one down) edition. There are several others Fu-Manchu books, I’m not sure I’ll read them all but I think the covers were certainly better than the first book in the series. So tell me, which one is your favorite? Zohar -Man of la Book

Fun Facts Friday: Dr. Fu-Manchu
Fun Facts Friday , Latest Posts / August 24, 2012

1 ) The Insidious Dr. Fu Manchu, the first book in the series, is actually a collection of short stories. The novel was originally called The Mystery of Dr. Fu-Manchu but the title was changed when released in America. 2 ) Fu-Manchu’s goal is to restore the Chinese Empire to its former glory. Even though he uses some despicable and cruel methods, the book does show him as a benevolent man who uses compassion as well as ruthlessness. 3 ) When MGM adapted The Mask of Fu Manchu in 1932, the assembled group of Asian villains (Chinese, Persians, Indians, Arabs) stated that they must “kill the white men and take their women”. The statement prompted a group from Harvard to petition MGM to stop from making further films based on the novels. 4 ) Before the US entrance to World War II (around 1940), the State Department asked MGM to stop making future films starring Fu-Manch. This was because China was an ally against Japan. 5 ) Once the US entered World War II the books’ publisher, Doubleday, ceased publication of the series for the duration. 6 ) The author, Sax Rohmer, stated in his biography that “Of course,…

Book Review: The Insidious Dr. Fu-Manchu by Sax Rohmer
3 Stars , Fiction , Latest Posts / August 23, 2012

Dr. John Petrie, a physician and our narrator, meets his friend Denis Nayland Smith who served as British police commissioner in Asia. Smith seems to know all things Asia and the innate ability to get all the support he needs from British government officials. Petrie is, of course, knowledgeable in medicine, forensics, chemistry and an ace with a pistol – for good measure.

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