Earth's Appetite. Poems by Margaret Hasse
I love poetry and have recently found myself in the mood to read it more often and even write it myself from time to time. In October, I met Margaret Hasse and her publisher Mr. Nodin at the Twin Cities Book Festival, when they handed me a copy of Earth's Appetite to review. Little did I know, that Earth's Appetite would draw me in and leave me hungry for more poetry. So I joined a poetry challenge for 2014.
Earth's Appetite is full of words that connect to create a poetry palate full of imagery. Poems in Earth's Appetite are showcased in three categories; Wayward, Household and Fortune. In each category I found many poems to love. Many of these poems celebrate the mundane of everyday life and make you think deeply about the tasks and treasures that invade our time.
My favorite poems include, Some of Fortune's Facts, Shouting from the Rooftop, Just Yesterday and Mason Jar of Odds and Ends (I think I have several of these in my home). As I page through my book, re-reading poems, I find that I can relate to many of these poems and they bring forth many of my memories of my kids growing up, my own high school days, my grandma dying of cancer or my dog at home alone, wondering what he does all day. Hasse writes about the stages of our lives with style and beauty.
Earth's Appetite is a wonderful book of poetry.
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
Sunday, January 12, 2014
Laurie Halse Anderson Speaks in St. Paul
Laurie Halse Anderson Speaks in St. Paul
Carrie Mesrobian, author of the new YA book, Sex and Violence, introduced Laurie Halse Anderson today at the Harriet Island Pavillon in St. Paul. Carrie is a creative writing teacher at the Loft Literary center.
Laurie Halse Anderson's vibrant personality showed as she spoke to a crowded room about her books. Speak is her most famous book and it is the 15 year anniversary of its publication this year. A bad dream changed everything for Laurie. She has had recurring nightmares all her life. One night she woke up and wrote down the bad dream and it became part of her book, Speak.
When Laurie grew up she had a hard time learning how to read. She hated English class in high school, even though she was reading everything in the school library and was stealing her favorite books. She got through high school English class with the help of Cliff Notes.
Laurie's newest book The Impossible Knife of Memory is based on her father who has PTSD. Laurie described her father and his memories to us and became a little emotional and several of us in the audience got choked up. Laurie's dad was 18 years old when he enlisted in WWII as it was nearing the end of the war. He was sent to Dachau concentration camp as it was liberated and part of his job as soldier was to bury the dead. He never forgot this horrible experience and after the war became a pastor. When Laurie was in middle school, his PTSD was raging and he was self-medicating. In their home there was never any discussion of what happened to him during the war. She stated that as he ages, he is becoming more and more forgetful but he never forgets his war experience. At age 87, he still wakes up screaming.
Here are some books and authors that Laurie recommended to the audience;
The Watsons Go to Birmingham 1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis
Life After Life by Kate Atkinson
Longbourn by Jo Baker
Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott
On Writing by Stephen King
The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron
John Green,
Sarah Dessen,
William Faulkner
James Joyce.
I had 7 of my books signed today by Laurie. I have now 8 of her books signed and on my "trophy" bookshelf.
On a side note: Laurie told us about her bookish tattoo located on the underside of wrist. It is the first word from the book Beowulf.
I am so glad I went to see Laurie Halse Anderson today. It is so great to learn about an author and be inspired by them.
Thanks Laurie!!
P.S. Laurie, I want you to know we have a lot in common, maybe that is why I love your books.
Carrie Mesrobian, author of the new YA book, Sex and Violence, introduced Laurie Halse Anderson today at the Harriet Island Pavillon in St. Paul. Carrie is a creative writing teacher at the Loft Literary center.
Laurie Halse Anderson's vibrant personality showed as she spoke to a crowded room about her books. Speak is her most famous book and it is the 15 year anniversary of its publication this year. A bad dream changed everything for Laurie. She has had recurring nightmares all her life. One night she woke up and wrote down the bad dream and it became part of her book, Speak.
When Laurie grew up she had a hard time learning how to read. She hated English class in high school, even though she was reading everything in the school library and was stealing her favorite books. She got through high school English class with the help of Cliff Notes.
Laurie's newest book The Impossible Knife of Memory is based on her father who has PTSD. Laurie described her father and his memories to us and became a little emotional and several of us in the audience got choked up. Laurie's dad was 18 years old when he enlisted in WWII as it was nearing the end of the war. He was sent to Dachau concentration camp as it was liberated and part of his job as soldier was to bury the dead. He never forgot this horrible experience and after the war became a pastor. When Laurie was in middle school, his PTSD was raging and he was self-medicating. In their home there was never any discussion of what happened to him during the war. She stated that as he ages, he is becoming more and more forgetful but he never forgets his war experience. At age 87, he still wakes up screaming.Here are some books and authors that Laurie recommended to the audience;
The Watsons Go to Birmingham 1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis
Life After Life by Kate Atkinson
Longbourn by Jo Baker
Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott
The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron
John Green,
Sarah Dessen,
William Faulkner
James Joyce.
I had 7 of my books signed today by Laurie. I have now 8 of her books signed and on my "trophy" bookshelf.
On a side note: Laurie told us about her bookish tattoo located on the underside of wrist. It is the first word from the book Beowulf.
I am so glad I went to see Laurie Halse Anderson today. It is so great to learn about an author and be inspired by them.
Thanks Laurie!!
P.S. Laurie, I want you to know we have a lot in common, maybe that is why I love your books.
Saturday, January 11, 2014
Planet Taco Giveaway Winner!
Planet Taco Giveaway Winner!
Jeffrey M. Pilcher was the December Author in the Spotlight here on Book Snob and he is giving away one copy of his book, Planet Taco. A Global History of Mexican Food to a Book Snob follower. I am excited to announce the winner is....
Marie from Michigan
Congratulations Marie. I sincerely hope you enjoy your new book!
It will make you hungry.
Here is an excerpt from my book review:
Planet Taco is a great book for those willing to put in the time and a great name for a future Mexican restaurant. I can guarentee that you will learn a lot from reading this book. The writing style is intellectual and studious and some people will feel like they are reading a textbook on Mexican food. If you can put in the time to read Planet Taco, it is worth it. This book would make an excellent companion for those traveling to Mexico for a vacation.
Jeffrey M. Pilcher was the December Author in the Spotlight here on Book Snob and he is giving away one copy of his book, Planet Taco. A Global History of Mexican Food to a Book Snob follower. I am excited to announce the winner is....
Marie from Michigan
Congratulations Marie. I sincerely hope you enjoy your new book!
It will make you hungry.
Here is an excerpt from my book review:
Planet Taco is a great book for those willing to put in the time and a great name for a future Mexican restaurant. I can guarentee that you will learn a lot from reading this book. The writing style is intellectual and studious and some people will feel like they are reading a textbook on Mexican food. If you can put in the time to read Planet Taco, it is worth it. This book would make an excellent companion for those traveling to Mexico for a vacation.
Friday, January 10, 2014
The Fallout by S. A. Bodeen Giveaway
Fallout by S. A. Bodeen Giveaway
S. A. Bodeen is the Minnesota author in the spotlight here on BookSnob for the frigid cold month of January. We have had two two days of school canceled because of extreme cold temperatures. It was crazy cold! Today it feels like a heat wave at 30 degrees.
S.A. Bodeen is giving away one copy of her book The Fallout to a BookSnob follower from the United States. The Fallout is the sequel to The Compound.
Here is the synopsis from Goodreads:
The Fallout by S. A. Bodeen
In this long-awaited sequel to The Compound, Eli and his family can run but they can't hide.
After barely escaping from the compound where Eli’s dad kept his family for six years, they’re learning to acclimate to “normal” life—whatever that is for them. It seems like the entire world wants to know what happened to this high profile family.
Slowly they begin to make their way back into the world, but Eli can’t escape the creeping feeling that they’re being watched everywhere they go. But by who?
Eli’s anxiety is heightened as unnerving information continually surfaces about Eli’s dad’s company. Not to mention the sketchy new friend his twin brother Eddy has. Nothing seems to be “normal” anymore. New people are entering their lives—but who can Eli and his family trust?
Contest Rules:
Fill out the Rafflecopter form.
Open to U.S. residents only
Ends 1/31 at Midnight.
Good Luck!!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
S. A. Bodeen is the Minnesota author in the spotlight here on BookSnob for the frigid cold month of January. We have had two two days of school canceled because of extreme cold temperatures. It was crazy cold! Today it feels like a heat wave at 30 degrees.
S.A. Bodeen is giving away one copy of her book The Fallout to a BookSnob follower from the United States. The Fallout is the sequel to The Compound.
Here is the synopsis from Goodreads:
The Fallout by S. A. Bodeen
In this long-awaited sequel to The Compound, Eli and his family can run but they can't hide.
After barely escaping from the compound where Eli’s dad kept his family for six years, they’re learning to acclimate to “normal” life—whatever that is for them. It seems like the entire world wants to know what happened to this high profile family.
Slowly they begin to make their way back into the world, but Eli can’t escape the creeping feeling that they’re being watched everywhere they go. But by who?
Eli’s anxiety is heightened as unnerving information continually surfaces about Eli’s dad’s company. Not to mention the sketchy new friend his twin brother Eddy has. Nothing seems to be “normal” anymore. New people are entering their lives—but who can Eli and his family trust?
Contest Rules:
Fill out the Rafflecopter form.
Open to U.S. residents only
Ends 1/31 at Midnight.
Good Luck!!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
Lying Awake by Mark Salzman
Lying Awake by Mark SalzmanAudio Book Review
Narrated by Linda Stephens
4 hours and 22 minutes
Sister John of the Cross has been having visions from God. She is a spiritual leader and writer in her cloister community in Los Angeles and has been living in this monastery for a long time. Along with her visions she is starting to have horrible, paralyzingly painful headaches. Mother Emmanuel encourages her to seek medical treatment after she passes out during prayer. The doctor finds something in her brain causing her headaches and wants to do surgery. Sister John isn't sure what to do and is worried that she will lose her spiritual gifts.
I listened to this as an audio even though I own a copy of the book. I am disappointed I didn't read the book because the audio was hard to follow and kept jumping back and forth throughout time. Novels told in multiple time periods aren't good choices for audio books for me. The storyline is intriguing and interesting but I was lost in a couple of places. The narrator was OK . When paging through the actual hardcover copy, I noticed chapter titles and illustrations that would enhance the reading experience.
Lying Awake really gives you an insight into the monastic life of a nun.
My verdict; read it. Don't listen to it.
Monday, January 6, 2014
Reading Goals and Challenges for 2014
Reading Goals and Challenges for 2014Today the weather in Minnesota is so cold the Governor canceled school for the entire state. School districts have already canceled school for tomorrow because of the frigid temperatures. So I get two extra days to work out, read, watch movies, clean, grade papers and write or blog. So happy to just hang out with my kids. Sometimes it is nice just to stay home in your warm house and curl up with a good book.
I have made a couple of reading goals or challenges for this year.
1. My number one goal is to read all of the books I received as gifts for the holidays. This includes 6 books; The Ghost Bride, Doctor Zhivago, Wonder, Fangirl, Everybody Sees the Ants and The Gendarme.
2. My second goal is to listen to more books on audio. I started listening to audio books in 2013 for the first time while I clean, cook and drive and I love it!! Listening to a book has changed my reading experience. I have found that a great narrator enhances a book. I listened to 12 audio books last year and want to read more. So I am looking forward to an audio book challenge. I plan to read 15 to 20 audio books this year and this is the Socially Awkward level according to the challenge. Stop by and Sign up at http://www.hotlistens.com/2014-audiobook-challenge/
3. My third reading goal is to read more electronic books. I have a lot of Ebooks piled up on my kindle and nook apps and I need to get started reading them. I prefer a REAL book but ebooks are cheaper and take up less space in my house so I want to start reading them more. Last year I read ONE Ebook. So this year I am going to try and read 5 more than last year and that means I will read 6 Ebooks or at least pass the Floppy Disk level which is 5 books according to the challenge.Stop by and Sign up at http://workadayreads.com/2013/11/2014-ebook-reading-challenge-sign-up.html
4. I am participating for the 3rd time in the What's in a Name Challenge. This year it is hosted by The Worm Hole. Here are the categories: Choose a title of a book that fits in the category and read it.

A reference to time (Eleven Minutes, Before Ever After)
A position of royalty (The People’s Queen, The Last Empress, The Curse Of The Pharaoh)
A number written in letters (The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, A Tale Of Two Cities)
A forename or names (Rebecca, Eleanor & Park, The Unfinished Work Of Elizabeth D.)
A type or element of weather (Gone With The Wind, Red Earth Pouring Rain)
5. I would like to read more poetry books this year and so I am joining a poetry challenge. Last year I read two books of poetry. Original Fire by Louise Erdrich and Earth's Appetite by Margaret Hasse and I loved them both. So this year I am going to try and double the number of poetry books I read in 2013 and read 4 in 2014. You can sign up for this challenge here: http://savvyverseandwit.com/2014/01/dive-into-poetry-challenge-2014.html6. I want to continue reading a short story every week in 2014. So I am challenging myself to read 3 short story collections. I read one short story book in 2013 called This Close by Jessica Francis Kane and it was awesome. I couldn't find a specific blogger challenge to sign up for so it is something I will keep track of.
7. Lastly, I want to continue to plug away and continue reading the Pulitzer Prize fiction winners. I did not read one book from this list last year and I am disappointed in myself. UGH. So I need to read at least 2 or 3 Pulitzers this year. I have read 18 total out of the 90 or so novels that have won the prize.
Wish me luck!!
What challenges are you entering??
Sunday, January 5, 2014
The Best Books of 2013
The Best Book of 2013!I read 83 books in 2014 and I met my goal. Yahoo.
49 of the books I read were written by women and 34 of the books I read were written by men. I've never kept track of the difference between male and female authors so I find the statistics interesting.
The books I have chosen for this list are my favorites reads of the year. It is always hard to choose the top ten books of a given year because I have read and enjoyed so many of them. But alas here is my own personal attempt to come up with a top ten book list of the best books of 2013.
Young Adult
1. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green - If you haven't read this yet all I can say is: What are you waiting for?? It is extraordinary.2. Ask the Passengers by A. S. King- This was the best book I read over of the summer. Fabulous.
I am looking forward to reading more of her books.
3. Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell - Every Minnesotan teen should read this book to tell adults (who like to ban books) that you can choose what to read on your own and if you censor perfectly wonderful books, we will read them anyways.
Honorable Mention in this category goes to:
Never Fall Down by Patricia McCormick - Based on the true story of a child soldier in the caught in the middle of Cambodian genocide and Civil War.
Adult Fiction
1. The Round House by Louise Erdrich - Hands down the best fiction book I read last year. Wow! It won the National Book Award. Louise Erdrich is one of my favorite authors and this book just blew me away.
2. The History of Love by Nicole Krauss - Loved it. It was creative and beautiful and the ending surprised the heck out of me. Well written.3. The White Queen by Philippa Gregory - Another one of my favorite authors. The White Queen is Elizabeth Queen of York and her story absolutely fascinates me. I also watched the Starz mini-series of the same title and was immersed in the world of the famed, Cousin's War for half of the year.
Honorable Mention in this category goes to:
Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya - I loved the characters in this novel, especially Ultima and the narrator, Antonio. So good.
Narrative Non-Fiction
This is the first time in a long time that I have included several titles of non-fiction on my list.
1. When Women Were Birds. Fifty-Four Variations on Voice by Terry Tempest Williams - The first book I have ever read by Williams and it is a good one. This book gave me a lot to think about and I have a lot of tags marking the important passages. I won't be borrowing this one to anyone but I will be giving them as gifts. A great book for mothers and daughters.
2. Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative by Austin Kleon -
This book was a life changer for me. It made me look at the world in a completely different way and has inspired my creativity and my writing. Love this book. I plan to re-read it this year.
3. Why Be Happy When You Can be Normal by Jeanette Winterson - To appreciate this book you really need to read Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit by Jeanette Winterson first. Why Be Happy is her memoir and it is deeply personal and introspective. It was a revelation to me and I had much in common with Winterson.
4. This Is The Story of a Happy Marriage by Ann Patchett - I love Ann Patchett and really enjoyed this collection of her essays new and old. It gave me an insight into the writing life and give you a whole lot of information on a multitude of topics to think on.
Honorable Mention in this category goes to:
A Choice of Weapons by Gordon Park - This was the Minneapolis One Read book for 2013 and it was a text I used in my senior social issues course called VOICES. This book is well-written and is the memoir of the first African American photographer hired by Life magazine. Check out his photography!
There you have it.
So tell me, what books made your best of the year list??
Thursday, January 2, 2014
Book Gifts
This year I made a goal for myself to read all the books I received as gifts during the Holidays. So often I receive a book and then I add it to my shelf full of books to read and then it lingers there on the shelf for way too long. So I am determined to read these books this year and I thought I would do a post on it to hold myself accountable.Here are the books I received as gifts and that I plan to read in 2014. Note: Two of the books I bought myself as gifts while Christmas shopping so I am also counting them.
Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell is a Secret Santa gift from Caitlin at http://cookingandcomposition.wordpress.com/
Everybody Sees the Ants by A.S. King is also a Secret Santa gift from Caitlin at
http://cookingandcomposition.wordpress.com/ A.S. King is a new favorite author of mine.
Thank You Caitlin!! I love my new books and can't wait to read them.
For Christmas, my son Max picked out this book: The Ghost Bride by Yangsze Choo and I am reading it now as my first book of the year! I am loving it.
My Mom and Step-Dad got me Dr. Zhivago for Christmas and I am looking forward to reading this around March for an online Literary Event, hosted by 3 amazing bloggers (myself included). (announcement to come later).
I bought myself these two books and when I saw the price I couldn't
resist.
Wonder by RJ Palacio. I have heard wonderful things about this book and I figured I needed to read it for myself to see what everyone is talking about.
The Gendarme by Mark Mustian is another book I am reading for the online Lit Collective Reading Retreat. The theme is World War I and this book was at half-price. The cover photo is just stunning of this beautiful girl.

So there you have it. SIX books I received as gifts and plan to read in
2014.
What books did you receive as gifts??
Wednesday, January 1, 2014
The First Book of the Year-2014
The First Book of the Year-2014What is the first book you are reading this year??
I made a goal this year to read all the books I received as gifts during the year and so I am starting with this book, The Ghost Bride by Yangsze Choo which was given to me for Christmas by my son, Max.
Here is the synopsis from Goodreads:
"One evening, my father asked me if I would like to become a ghost bride..."
Though ruled by British overlords, the Chinese of colonial Malaya still cling to ancient customs. And in the sleepy port town of Malacca, ghosts and superstitions abound.
Li Lan, the daughter of a genteel but bankrupt family, has few prospects. But fate intervenes when she receives an unusual proposal from the wealthy and powerful Lim family. They want her to become a ghost bride for the family's only son, who recently died under mysterious circumstances. Rarely practiced, a traditional ghost marriage is used to placate a restless spirit. Such a union would guarantee Li Lan a home for the rest of her days, but at a terrible price.After an ominous visit to the opulent Lim mansion, Li Lan finds herself haunted not only by her ghostly would-be suitor, but also by her desire for the Lim's handsome new heir, Tian Bai. Night after night, she is drawn into the shadowy parallel world of the Chinese afterlife, with its ghost cities, paper funeral offerings, vengeful spirits and monstrous bureaucracy—including the mysterious Er Lang, a charming but unpredictable guardian spirit. Li Lan must uncover the Lim
family's darkest secrets—and the truth about her own family—before she is trapped in this ghostly world forever.
Sheila over at BookJouney is holding an event regarding the first book of the year. She has created a book collage and a linky for everyone to hop around and see who is reading what.
What is the first book you are reading this year?
January Author in the Spotlight
January Author in the Spotlight
Happy New York and welcome to 2014!! Woo Hoo!!
It's is a New Year and a new month so I get to announce a new Minnesota Author in the Spotlight. I would like to welcome young adult author, S. A Bodeen to BookSnob. She has recently moved here from Oregon and is a Minnesota transplant. We are happy to call S.A. Bodeen a Minnesota resident.
S.A. Bodeen has written several young adult novels. Here are the titles and synopsis from Goodreads:
The Gardener by S. A. Bodeen
Mason has never known his father, but longs to. All he has of him is a DVD of a man whose face is never seen, reading a children’s book. One day, on a whim, he plays the DVD for a group of comatose teens at the nursing home where his mother works. One of them, a beautiful girl, responds. Mason learns she is part of a horrible experiment intended to render teenagers into autotrophs—genetically engineered, self-sustaining life-forms who don’t need food or water to survive. And before he knows it, Mason is on the run with the girl, and wanted, dead or alive, by the mysterious mastermind of this gruesome plan, who is simply called the Gardener.
Will Mason be forced to destroy the thing he’s longed for most?
The Gardener is a 2011 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year.
The Raft by S.A. Bodeen
Robie is an experienced traveler. She’s taken the flight from Honolulu to the Midway Atoll, a group of Pacific islands where her parents live, many times. When she has to get to Midway in a hurry after a visit with her aunt in Hawaii, she gets on the next cargo flight at the last minute. She knows the pilot, but on this flight, there’s a new co-pilot named Max. All systems are go until a storm hits during the flight. The only passenger, Robie doesn’t panic until the engine suddenly cuts out and
Max shouts at her to put on a life jacket. They are over miles of Pacific Ocean. She sees Max struggle with a raft.
And then . . . she’s in the water. Fighting for her life. Max pulls her onto the raft, and that’s when the real terror begins. They have no water. Their only food is a bag of Skittles. There are sharks. There is an island. But there’s no sign of help on the way.
Compound by S. A. Bodeen
Eli and his family have lived in the underground Compound for six years. The world they knew is gone, and they've become accustomed to their new life. Accustomed, but not happy.

For Eli, no amount of luxury can stifle the dull routine of living in the same place, with only his two sisters, his father and mother, doing the same thing day after day after day.
As problems with their carefully planned existence threaten to destroy their sanctuary—and their
sanity—Eli can't help but wonder if he'd rather take his chances outside.
Eli's father built the Compound to keep them safe. But are they safe—or sorry?
The Fallout by S. A. Bodeen
In this long-awaited sequel to The Compound, Eli and his family can run but they can't hide.
After barely escaping from the compound where Eli’s dad kept his family for six years, they’re learning to acclimate to “normal” life—whatever that is for them. It seems like the entire world wants to know what happened to this high profile family.
Slowly they begin to make their way back into the world, but Eli can’t escape the creeping feeling that they’re being watched everywhere they go. But by who?
Eli’s anxiety is heightened as unnerving information continually surfaces about Eli’s dad’s company. Not to mention the sketchy new friend his twin brother Eddy has. Nothing seems to be “normal” anymore. New people are entering their lives—but who can Eli and his family trust?
Happy New York and welcome to 2014!! Woo Hoo!!
It's is a New Year and a new month so I get to announce a new Minnesota Author in the Spotlight. I would like to welcome young adult author, S. A Bodeen to BookSnob. She has recently moved here from Oregon and is a Minnesota transplant. We are happy to call S.A. Bodeen a Minnesota resident.
S.A. Bodeen has written several young adult novels. Here are the titles and synopsis from Goodreads:
The Gardener by S. A. Bodeen
Mason has never known his father, but longs to. All he has of him is a DVD of a man whose face is never seen, reading a children’s book. One day, on a whim, he plays the DVD for a group of comatose teens at the nursing home where his mother works. One of them, a beautiful girl, responds. Mason learns she is part of a horrible experiment intended to render teenagers into autotrophs—genetically engineered, self-sustaining life-forms who don’t need food or water to survive. And before he knows it, Mason is on the run with the girl, and wanted, dead or alive, by the mysterious mastermind of this gruesome plan, who is simply called the Gardener.Will Mason be forced to destroy the thing he’s longed for most?
The Gardener is a 2011 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year.
The Raft by S.A. Bodeen
Robie is an experienced traveler. She’s taken the flight from Honolulu to the Midway Atoll, a group of Pacific islands where her parents live, many times. When she has to get to Midway in a hurry after a visit with her aunt in Hawaii, she gets on the next cargo flight at the last minute. She knows the pilot, but on this flight, there’s a new co-pilot named Max. All systems are go until a storm hits during the flight. The only passenger, Robie doesn’t panic until the engine suddenly cuts out and Max shouts at her to put on a life jacket. They are over miles of Pacific Ocean. She sees Max struggle with a raft.
And then . . . she’s in the water. Fighting for her life. Max pulls her onto the raft, and that’s when the real terror begins. They have no water. Their only food is a bag of Skittles. There are sharks. There is an island. But there’s no sign of help on the way.
Compound by S. A. Bodeen
Eli and his family have lived in the underground Compound for six years. The world they knew is gone, and they've become accustomed to their new life. Accustomed, but not happy.

For Eli, no amount of luxury can stifle the dull routine of living in the same place, with only his two sisters, his father and mother, doing the same thing day after day after day.
As problems with their carefully planned existence threaten to destroy their sanctuary—and their
sanity—Eli can't help but wonder if he'd rather take his chances outside.
Eli's father built the Compound to keep them safe. But are they safe—or sorry?
The Fallout by S. A. Bodeen
In this long-awaited sequel to The Compound, Eli and his family can run but they can't hide.
After barely escaping from the compound where Eli’s dad kept his family for six years, they’re learning to acclimate to “normal” life—whatever that is for them. It seems like the entire world wants to know what happened to this high profile family.
Slowly they begin to make their way back into the world, but Eli can’t escape the creeping feeling that they’re being watched everywhere they go. But by who?Eli’s anxiety is heightened as unnerving information continually surfaces about Eli’s dad’s company. Not to mention the sketchy new friend his twin brother Eddy has. Nothing seems to be “normal” anymore. New people are entering their lives—but who can Eli and his family trust?
This month you can expect a book review, an author interview, a contest and a hopefully a guest post. You can visit Stephanie at her websites: http://www.rockforadoll.com/ or http://www.writersabodeen.com/
Visit BookSnob often and have a great January and start to 2014. Happy Reading and stay warm.
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