In Which Snickers Tackles the B&B Industry.

The Book:

Title/Author: Running a Bed & Breakfast For Dummies by Mary White.

Published: April 13 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc.

How I Got It: I happened across it at the library.

Why I Read It: In the simplest terms, I felt like it.

The Review:

The only reason why I didn't give Running a Bed & Breakfast For Dummies 5 stars was for the simple fact that I have no intention of actually owning a B&B myself. Hence, I have no outlet with which to practice White's insights and tips - and she includes a lot of them!

Running a Bed & Breakfast For Dummies is extremely user-friendly. It's organized in such a way that if I wanted to skip ahead to access certain information, I could - I didn't have to read the entirety of the book in order to get there.

Not only did this book give great insight as to how the B&B industry operates, it also has excellent marketing and bookkeeping strategies that could be applied to businesses outside of innkeeping. The idea of accounting software hadn't occurred to me, and I certainly could use help in that department! It even includes great cleaning tips and recipes.

Even though I read this book more or less for kicks, I visited some of the online directories and some of the websites of the various B&B's  mentioned, and I've discovered quite a few inns I'd like to visit!

In short, if you're thinking about starting up a bed and breakfast (or have nothing else better to read), give Running a Bed & Breakfast For Dummies a shot. It'll be worth it, I promise.

The Rating:

4 stars.

Top Ten Tuesday-- Kimberly's Top Ten Favorite Heroines

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created here at The Broke and the Bookish. This meme was created because we are particularly fond of lists here at The Broke and the Bookish. We'd love to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!

Each week we will post a new Top Ten list complete with one of our bloggers answers. Everyone is welcome to join. All we ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND sign Mister Linky at the bottom to share with us and all those who are participating. If you don't have a blog, just post your answers as a comment. Don't worry if you can't come up with ten every time..just post what you can!

Top Ten Heroines

Ok, so I had a blast typing this up. I love finding novels with a good heroine. There are some spoilers in here, but I’ve marked them. In no particular order (except for the very first one.)

1. Yelena Zaltana (Study Trilogy)- She is my favorite heroine from any book or movie. She overcomes so much, and becomes an incredible person. She is tough, funny, has a mind of her own, she’s a powerful magician, and overall just a fantastic character.

2. Katniss Everdeen (Hunger Games)-**KINDA SPOILER WARNING** She can be so aggravating! She’s clueless really. But oh so likable. She loves her family and they always come first. She can’t really hate anyone, even though she says that she does. Plus she’s tough, doesn’t let anyone push her around. And she’s the Mockingjay!

3. Lirael (Abhorson Trilogy) **SPOILER WARNING**- Lirael is just a great character. She starts out as a timid girl who only wishes for what she can’t have. Eventually she becomes a great person, a power magician, Abhorson, AND she’s a librarian! She has one of the coolest pets possible too, who could resist “The Dog”?

4. Hermione Granger- (Harry Potter) Do I really need to explain why I like her? She’s smart, tough, and she puts up with Ron and Harry! I mean, that really deserves consideration. And she slapped Malfoy, which is a win in my book. (Pardon the pun)

5. Lyra “Silvertongue”Belacqua-( His Dark Materials Trilogy) Honestly, how can you not like her? She’s just a kid but she’s tough and has a snarky sense of humor.

6. Flavia de Luce (Falvia de Luce) - Much too smart for her own good and endlessly entertaining. You have to love the 11 year old girl that figures everything out long before the adults do.

7. Nita Callahan (Young Wizards)- She loves books, loves science and would do absolutely anything for her family or her friends.

8. Gemma Doyle (Gemma Doyle series)- Her powers are so different and interesting. She’s determined not to become the person that society thinks she needs to be. No fancy parties and polite conversations for her.

9. Ella (Ella Enchanted) –She’s funny, and tough and she gets the prince in the end!

10. Elizabeth Bennett (Pride and Prejudice)- She gets to marry Mr. Darcy, enough said. Kidding kidding! But seriously, half of modern heroines are modeled after her. She’s tough, funny and determined to live the life that she wants. 

 NEXT WEEK'S TOP TEN TUESDAY: Top Ten Words I Love (you know..because we bookish people like our words!)

Jess' Review: Journeys into Justice (Nile Harper)

(image from Goodreads)

Title: Journeys into Justice: Religious Collaboratives Working for Social Transformation
Author: Nile Harper
Publisher: Bascom Hill Publishing Group, 2009
Notes: I received this book to review from the publisher.
Journeys into Justice analyzes the role of Protestant Christianity in social justice movements in the United States. This academic book offers case studies of Christian social justice movements ranging from local to international, in particular highlighting their successes and failures.

This book is an interesting one because it has a relatively niche audience. Its case studies aren't particularly riveting for anyone who is looking for a light read. This is an academic, research-oriented book, which is a major downside of this book. If it were organized in a more narrative format, I think its reach would be much greater.

However, the content of the book is interesting. Social justice supporters and people interested in social change movements can find an incredible amount of examples, and may be more likely to include religious organizations and communities into their aims. Harper also acknowledges the power of inclusivity in regard to interfaith initiatives, which is something that lends more credibility to the book (and to Harper's research).

I do question Harper's strong focus on the successes. While it's true that there are numerous warnings about starting social justice movements and sustaining them, I think that this book presents the positives without fully elucidating just how these movements became so successful. The history and background offered with each case study barely scratches the surface.

Harper's book is a good start, and I would be curious to read future editions to see how these movements progress. I occasionally found the different studies' authorship to be frustrating, since Harper's style differs considerably from some of his compilation peers. I would recommend this book for anyone interested in social justice, community engagement, or sociology, especially when pared with other similar texts.

Rating: 3 stars

Jamie's recap of PAYA

I gave a recap on my personal blog of my day at PAYA when I got home that night. I decided I should probably share with you all about my day.  This year was the first year of PAYA-- a literary event to bring YA book lovers together and to raise money for the Pennsylvania libraries so that they can build strong YA sections.

I was a little apprehensive about going to this event by myself. I didn't really want to be hanging out by myself all day. Luckily, Christina contacted me and let
me know that she and a bunch of other book bloggers were going to meet up for brunch before the event started. I was definitely excited to go now that I was going to meet up with other book bloggers!

I made the 50 minute drive to West Chester and met up with the group of bloggers and authors for brunch. We went to a really cute restaurant in downtown West Chester and got to chat. It was so much fun meeting everyone and talking about books and blogging.  It was so much fun getting to meet these awesome bloggers and authors. I met-Katelyn from The Bookshelf Sophisticate, Anne from Potter, Percy, And I (and her really sweet mom Veronica), Laura & Michelle from Borders Express in Exton, Cyn Balog, Jennifer Murgia, and Shelena Shorts!

After brunch we went headed back to the PAYA event! We did some major damage to our wallets before the signings started.  I bought The Pace (Shelena Shorts), Angel Star ( Jennifer Murgia), The Secret Year (Jennifer R. Hubbard), and Sleepless (Cyn Balog). We had so much fun meeting all the authors--despite the fact that we were sweating our butts off in that room. They are some really awesome people! Afterwards we browsed around the used book sale and checked out the bake sale and the raffles that had a ton of really great prizes!

Anne, myself, Katelyn, Cyn

Myself, Steph, James, Jenn, Anne, Kristi, Christina

We then got a chance to mingle with some other book bloggers who were there. We got to chat with Kristi from The Story Siren, Steph from Steph Su Reads, James from Book Chic, Jenn from Book Crazy, and Caitlin from Scarrlet Reader. They are honestly all such wonderful and fun people. It was such a great time being able to chat with fellow bibliophiles about the crazy world of blogging, our passion for reading and all about how our significant others put up with our sometimes insane bookish ways.

 I hope to get a chance to meet up with them all again sometime! I'm excited for other literary events. I'm planning on going to the Brooklyn Book Festival and the National Book Festival in September. I hope I'll get a chance to meet up with other bloggers!

So You Want To Be A Wizard

Book: So You Want To Be A Wizard

Author: Diane Duane

How I got my hands on it: The first time I read it I picked it up in the school library

Why I read it: My English teacher in Jr. High read the first chapter to my class, I was hooked after that

Rating: 5+Stars

So I have to admit that I read this book years ago. I’m starting classes again on the 23rd and have not had a lot of time to read. This is one of my very favorite books though, and I thought it would be fun to review it.

So You Want To Be A Wizard (from here on referred to SYWTBAW) is the first book in the Young Wizards series. I would call it a scientific American version of Harry Potter. Where Harry Potter was based heavily on fables and fairy tales, the Young Wizard series is based on science. The author, Diane Duane, has a degree in Astronomy and it heavily influences her writing. All of the ‘magic’ in the series is tied into science and how that knowledge allows wizardry to work.

The story opens with Nita, running down the sidewalk desperately trying to avoid being caught by the bullies that are following her. Just as she is running out of breath she spies the one place that she knows she can find safety-- the library. She ducks inside and manages to lose the bullies. While she is waiting to make sure it’s safe to leave the library she spends time walking along the bookshelves, running her hands along the spines of the books, her ‘old friends’ as she refers to them. Something catches her hand, a loose thread from a book, and she stops to look at it. The title of the book is So You Want To Be A Wizard. She opens it to the first page and finds ‘The Wizards Oath’ it says that by taking that oath she will be granted power, she will become a wizard. She takes the oath and her life is forever changed. The book that Nita had found was a ‘Wizards Manuel’, with it she learns everything she needs to know to be a wizard. Nita soon finds and makes friends with another beginning wizard, Kit, a Hispanic boy just a year younger than her. Soon Kit and Nita find themselves involved with things that are far more serious and dangerous than either of them could have imagined.

This truly is one of the best YA fantasy series out there. The books get even better as they go along. The characters develop and new characters are introduced that you will fall in love with. The plots are unique and intriguing. The idea that all of their ‘wizardry’ comes from science is fascinating. It’s obvious that the author knows her stuff, and you actually learn little tidbits here and there about astronomy or botany or just random scientific facts.

They are very “bookish” books. The characters have a great love of reading. One of the ‘traits’ of a Wizard is a love for books. One of my favorite quotes of all time comes from SYWTBAW. “Reading one book is like eating one potato chip.” Isn’t that fantastic?

I feel like I know the series so well that I can’t adequately describe it. But I really do urge you to read the series, especially if you enjoy YA or Fantasy.

Natanya's Ramblings on This Mean Disease

Title/Author: This Mean Disease: Growing Up in the Shadow of My Mother’s Anorexia Nervosa by Daniel Becker

Publisher/Year Published: Gürze Books, 2005

How I got this book: Library

This Mean Disease is, as the subtitle states, Daniel Becker’s memoir of his life as the son of a woman with anorexia nervosa. He starts with the point at which his mother’s anorexia began, which was not, as one might expect, when she was a teenager, but instead at age 34, when she was already married with children. Becker continues through his life, up until his mother’s death, including both his own story and information from relatives, family friends, and doctors. He recounts his ignorance of his mother’s condition, his feelings of hopelessness, and his attempts to cope with them with drugs and parties, as well as his difficult relationship with his disconnected father.

This is the first straight-out memoir I have read, and as such, I feel kind of weird rating someone’s life. However, I have nothing negative to say about Becker’s well-written piece. His story is interesting, making a compelling book, and he did well at avoiding unnecessary details (something I feel would be difficult when recounting one’s entire life), keeping This Mean Disease short and easily comprehensible, but still beautifully written. The simplicity of the writing keeps the memoir from pulling too hard at our heartstrings or wrenching us apart into pieces, as many depressing books do. Becker does not try to elicit our sympathy, but rather seems to have set out to tell us his story and allow us to view it objectively and make of it as we may, a method I found beneficial to the telling. The story on its own is heart-wrenching enough. Thus, despite the lack of vivid descriptions, it is not difficult to get into the story and understand what Becker went through. Though most people cannot easily relate to the story as a whole—even at the time, with so few recognized cases of anorexia nervosa, most patients were teenagers or young adults, not mothers of three in their 30s, 40s or 50s—we can understand why Becker felt the way he felt at different stages of his life.

What makes this book all the more interesting for me, however, is that I know Daniel Becker as he is now. He was my teacher in high school, and I still talk to him frequently when I go back to visit. He is always cheerful, very smart, and a great person to go to for advice. I could never have guessed that he grew up with so much misery and pain, but I respect him all the more now that I know, and for being able to tell his story.

Becker’s story is unique, honest, beautiful, and haunting, and this review certainly does not do it justice. I feel in a way privileged to have gotten to see into this part of Becker’s life.

4 stars

Tahleen reviews: "Mockingjay" by Suzanne Collins

Title: Mockingjay

Author: Suzanne Collins

Publisher: Scholastic, 2010

Where I got it: I borrowed a loaner nook from work (we can do that—more perks to being a bookseller) and I downloaded it onto there. So, e-book.

Rating: ★★★

If you've never heard of this series, and haven't heard anything about the anticipation for this book, you don't pay attention to the book industry. This has been one of the most eagerly awaited books of the year, probably right behind Steig Larsson's The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest. Long story short, everyone who keeps up with YA has read, is reading, or is planning to read this last book in Suzanne Collins' bestselling series.

I promise I will not give out any spoilers without making it completely obvious beforehand, but I do think you might be wondering why I am only giving it three stars.

But first: plot summary. By the way, **POSSIBLE SPOILERS FOR FIRST TWO BOOKS IN SERIES**. Katniss Everdeen, after being taken out of the custody of the Capitol, is taken to District 13, long believed to be obliterated. What she finds is a strictly organized society and rebel movement. Now the face of the cause, Katniss is the one crucial element the rebels and rebel leaders need for their plan in a Capitol takedown. Katniss needs to figure out where she stands, on all counts.

**END OF SPOILERS**

I think part of the reason I didn't particularly care for this one was the buildup and the hype surrounding the entire series. Yes, it is provocative and addictive, violent and slightly philosophical, but I was never really wowed by anything. There was way too much explanation in the beginning; all exposition, barely any showing as opposed to telling. It fell a little flat for my tastes, and despite the constant action I rarely felt energized. I wasn't attached to any of the new characters introduced, and I slowly stopped caring about a lot of the old characters too, which is never good.

I also thought it got way too preachy at the end. There was absolutely no subtlety; everything was spelled out in black and white, kind of like this comic by Kate Beaton. We understand, it's bad to kill children. You don't need to tell us fifty times in a few different ways.

As for the ending, well, I won't say much, but it's lackluster. I felt it climaxed too soon, and Collins was scrambling to tie up loose ends toward the end. I'm satisfied, but feel like it could have been more. Like most of the book, it fell short.

Now after all this criticism, don't think I hated it. No, I liked it well enough; there were certainly points where I couldn't put it down, one of which almost made me late for work today. If there's one thing Collins knows how to do, it's create suspense. She likes to end her chapters on crazy things that happen out of nowhere, forcing you to turn the page in order to find out how the heck they're going to handle each disaster.

I'm sorry to those of you who are offended by my less-than-stellar review, but I just don't think this book is as great as it's made out to be. It's certainly a worthwhile, thought-provoking and discussion-generating read, but it's not the best book I've read this year. Let's just say that if you had to pick one book to read this year, I'd suggest you not pick this one.

200 Followers in 2 Months Giveaway!!

We said that if we hit 200 followers we would have a giveaway. What I did NOT realize at the time, when we hit 200, is that it was exactly 2 months since we posted our first review! So yay for hitting 200 followers in 2 months. It's got a nice ring to it :)

So, what the heck are we giving away??


There are 5 prize packs that you can enter to win. Please read these quick rules:

- You can enter for as many of the prize packs as you want but please only ONE entry for each. If you enter more than once, I'll delete them. Pretty simple.
- You don't have to be a follower to enter the giveaway but we would love if you would take the time to check out some past review and whatnot to see what we are all about!
- Our international friends are very much welcome to enter!
- The giveaway ends on September 7th 2010 at 11:59 (EST)


Prize Pack 1: (Angel Star by Jennifer Murgia. Sleepless by Cyn Balog. Both are SIGNED. You will also get some swag-- 13 to Life button, Sleepless bookmark, Angel Star bookmark & sticker)


Prize Pack 2: (ARC of I'd Know You Anywhere by Laura Lippman & Such A Pretty Face by Cathy Lamb (ARC) -- both have B&N store number written on them)



Prize Pack 3: ( ARC of The Poison Diaries by Maryrose Wood & ARC of The Eternal Ones by Kirsten Miller --both have B&N store # written on them)



Prize Pack 4: ( ARC of The Fall by Chuck Hogan & Guillermo Del Toro & Jane Slayre by Charlotte Bronte, Sherri Browning Erwin --both of these have B&N store number written on them)
  


Prize Pack 5:  ( ARC of Great House: A Novel by Nicole Krauss (has B&N store number written on it) & Matrimony: A Novel by Joshua Henkin) 
 


Click HERE  to enter!


A big thanks to Tahleen, one of our awesome bloggers here at The Broke and the Bookish, as she has been in cahoots with me (Jamie) planning this giveaway and she managed to get some of the ARCS for the giveaway!

R holds forth on The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell

The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell
Villard, 1996
How I got this book: The library!

Why I read this book: I'll go a bit more in depth about it later in this review, but it's pretty much down to this - Priests. In. Space. Awesome.

The monitoring of celestial radio waves pays off in The Sparrow when signals featuring extraterrestrial singing are picked up. Alien intelligent life is out there. While official diplomacy is stalled, the Jesuits organize a private mission of their own, as they have done for hundreds of years with far-flung civilizations back on Earth.

Years later, it is discovered that the sole survivor of the mission (and the main character of the book, for that matter) is Jesuit linguist Emilio Sandoz. He is eventually rescued from whatever Unnamed Nastiness it is that he’d endured, and finally returns to earth amid controversy. The bottom line – What was this Unnamed Nastiness, why the controversy, and what exactly happened out there?

Now, my experience with this book is pretty much a quintessential case of expectations having been set too high.

A number of factors contributed to my initial high expectations: The influential science fiction literary awards this book has won; the high rating on the Goodreads site (currently standing at an average of 4.17 out of 7,833 reviews – and I figured that 7,833 people seemed like a pretty reasonable sample size); the gorgeous cover (it made me want to leave it sitting around in conspicuous areas of my room to act as part of the décor); and most importantly…

I like the idea of books about priests, and I like the idea of books about space. Put the two of them together and as far as I’m concerned, it’s on – as it were – like Donkey Kong.

Add all of that together and I was raring to get at this book. I won’t lie to you, as I checked it out from the library and held it in my hands, I was convinced that I was about to become acquainted with my new favourite novel.

Similarly, though, a number of factors contributed to my bitter disappointment:

The first thing that really, really struck me – certainly for the first half of the book, before the depressing and messed-up stuff really sets in – was that everybody spends the entire time exhibiting how supposedly funny they are and laughing their heads off at each other. Well, I wouldn’t have minded this in the least if the characters actually were funny. As it is, a lot of these droll little conversations probably suffer from the ubiquitous “You Had To Have Been There” syndrome... You know, when something might have been funny if you were privy to it as it is happening, but it turns out to be a lot less funny when retold secondhand, or on a piece of paper. That really frustrated me; possibly a little bit more than it should have, had I not been anticipating really awesome characters demonstrating their mastery of the art of conversation.

The second thing that struck me was the heavy use of character archetypes, because when her characters aren’t spending their time literally ROFLing, they’re busy fitting themselves neatly into character tropes. And I don’t mean science fiction tropes, mind! I mean ethnic stock characters, and priests either deeply repressed or affiliated to the mob. Considering that Russell is a biological anthropologist, it felt a bit like she was cramming in as many of the cultural anthropology stereotypes she’d picked up (in undergraduate Anthropology 101, presumably) as possible. Ooh, it's kind of harsh of me to say that. But it's kind of true.

And another thing, something kind of silly and petty but which never fails to unnerve me a little bit – There is a character somewhere in there who appears to be a slightly fictionalized version of the author. Kudos to Russell for not making herself the main character, but still. Still. These things tend to bother me because it makes me feel like I’m staring straight into the author’s psyche. Which is fine if the author has written an introspective, semi-philosophical piece of work, but generally not so much in other cases.

Anyway, thanks for bearing with my overwhelming negativity up to this point. I didn’t quite dislike the book that much actually; there certainly were aspects of it that I really enjoyed. As I mentioned earlier, I was really drawn to the book in the first place because of its basic idea: A Jesuit mission goes to space and meets aliens, and much religious angst ensues. The bits of the book that dealt with that directly I generally liked – the creation of an imaginary civilization with its own conventions, gender roles and rigid social order.

Another thing I liked was the conceit of alternating the chapters between scenes about the expedition itself and scenes of Sandoz’s recovery after his return. The way she juxtaposed Sandoz’s pre- and post-expedition personalities was, well, just brilliant. Seriously, Russell’s powers of foreshadowing are breath-taking and awesome and added a whole lot to the overall motion of the plot. Well, it added a whole lot to my personal appreciation of The Sparrow, anyway.

Overall, however, while I enjoyed the basic story line and the themes involved, I felt like they could have been presented better. And by “better” I mostly mean “with less scenes featuring the characters falling about laughing about things that aren’t really that funny”. (Sorry for bringing it up so much, but that in particular really irked me!) I’m giving The Sparrow 2.5 stars – I’m not failing it because I still felt pretty involved with the story. In fact I think I might even read the sequel, Children of God, though I’m not so sure whether it’s the sadist or the optimist in me that compels me to do so.

Stephany Read Sizzling Sixteen by Janet Evanovich

Book Title/Author: Sizzling Sixteen by Janet Evanovich

Publisher/Year Published: Diversified Publishing June 2010

How my grubby hands got a hold of this book: From the library!

Why I read this book: It's from one of my all time favorite authors!

Rating: 5 stars

Janet's Stephanie Plum series is about this girl named Stephanie, who's a Bounty Hunter. In case some of your don't know what a Bounty Hunter is, it's a person who goes around their area, searching and locating criminals who have failed to appear in court, otherwise known as an FTA. If and when these people are caught, they're taken to jail, and kept there until a new court date comes along. The Bounty Hunter gets a certain amount of money from capturing that particular FTA. And, that's exactly what Stephanie does!

Stephanie works for her cousin, Vinnie, who is an absolute creep! And Stephanie's two best friends Connie, and Lula also work at the same bonds office. Stephanie is assigned certain FTA's and her and Lula set out to go find these people.

This series is the best series I've ever read. It's the type of series that literally makes you laugh out loud. It's hilarious, scary, and makes you glad you aren't Stephanie Plum or have to deal with the things she does!

In this particular book, her cousin, and the owner of the Bonds office has been kidnapped by some bookies. He has a huge gambling problem, and he owes them $786,000. As the days go on, Connie gets updated phone calls from this bookie, saying that the price is going to keep rising, and by a certain date, if they don't have the money, Vinnie will be killed. So, Stephanie is off to hopefully find and capture Vinnie along with the random FTA's that she has to find.

Lula is probably the funniest character in this book, and all of the Stephanie Plum books. She's an crazy, loud, size 16 woman who tries to fit into size 4 pants, and small shirts. She's got dark caramel skin and wants to shoot everyone and every thing that gets in her way while they're searching for Vinnie, and whoever else they're looking for. Oh, and she's a former 'ho!

Stephanie, Lula and Connie have to come up with all of the money to free Vinnie, and they're not sure how they're going to do it. They end up having a huge sale at the Bond's office where the entire area shows up, but they still don't have all of the money. They need to find another way to come up with the money, and quick.

I probably should also mention Morelli and Ranger. These are two men in Stephanie's life who she can't decide who she wants to be with. Morelli is her on again-off again boyfriend of a few years, and in this book, they're mostly off again. He's also a plain clothes cop. And Ranger is a very dark, sexy and secretive security agent with his own bat cave.

This book is full of laughter, love, friendship, loyalty, and lots of dangerous, firing exploding, stink bombs and trip bombs that Stephanie has to go through in order to save her cousin Vinnie. Does she do it? Does she come out of the situation alive? This is a must read to find out! And that's why I gave it 5 stars!

Side Note: You do not have to read this series in order. All of her Stephanie Plum novels mention enough in the beginning of each book to understand what's going on. I didn't start reading them in order until her 10th book came out. She has 16 books in this series in total, along with a few random Stephanie Plum book that aren't apart of the series, but are still wonderful to read! And, as one more FYI, she has numbers in her titles, because those are the numbers of FTA's and/or bad guys, that Stephanie faces in each book! Nifty huh!?