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Saturday, March 20, 2010

Six Sentence Saturday

Welcome to Six Sentence Saturday.
Where I try to express my thoughts on recent reads using only 6 sentences!!!!.
At the end of each review I will post a
rating scale of 1-5 using the cute and original (lol) Playing Cards.
Rating scale will be as follows:

5 of Hearts- You must read this book NOW!!
4 of Hearts- A great read, put it on your TBR list.
3 of Hearts- Glad I read may read more from this author
2 of Hearts- Why did I finish this?
Joker Card - Don't bother (why did I?)
 
City of Refuge - Tom Piazza
This book made an emotional impact on me as a human. I sat in my home with all of the luxuries that we take for granted and watched as this tragedy in New Orleans unfolded in front of the nation. The stories of SJ, a black man who was born and raised in New Orleans, and the transplant from the midwest Craig, each brought their own struggles to this story and actually became REAL people to me. Never far from my mind was Chris (a real person who has a great book blog), who actually lived through this horrendous ordeal and never gave up on his hometown. For those of us that were not directly impacted by the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, I absolutely recommend this book to you. Not only will it give you a first-hand account of what occurred before, during, and after, but it will also touch you on a very human level.
My Rating:


Talk about a great romp into history!!! This book takes place in the present time with Eloise who is researching English spies in Napoleon's France during the early 1800's. When she starts to read the letters that have been preserved, we the reader, is then transported back in history and the story unfolds. I loved how the author did this and I thought it brought the story together in a very cohesive fashion. I am in love with the characters that she has created....each brings something different to the table. I was NEVER bored, the story was NEVER slow, and I am in serious need of the next one in this series!!!!!!!!!!!!
My Rating:



I really enjoy reading fiction books that are set in the world of the Amish. I've grown up around the Amish but their way of life has always intrigued me. My normal choice for Amish stories is Beverly Lewis, so I wasn't sure what to expect with Fisher. I felt that the writing was very stilted and the story was one I've read before, so I was feeling very disappointed and let down. After reaching the half-way point something happened, maybe an editor paid better attention to the flow of the words and started to really help the author. Whatever it was, I'm glad that it happened because it changed my mind about whether or not I would pick up the next book when it's released in October....and the answer is YES!
My Rating: (3.5)

25 comments:

  1. "Pink Carnation" sounds like it would make a fabulous movie! I'm adding it to my list. Thanks, Staci :)

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  2. Staci, I love your Six Sentence reviews. So concise and yet so informative. Anyway, I loved City of Refuge. It made my top 10 last year. Really absorbing. Also, I love Laruen willig's books. Romp is the perfect word for the Pink Carnation.

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  3. I am adding The Secret History of the Pink Carnation and City of Refuge to my TBR list. Thanks!

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  4. Okay, *sigh* one more for the BIOS list! The Secret History of the Pink carnation really grabbed my attention.

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  5. Pink Carnation is new to me - sounds good and you sound like you really liked it :)

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  6. I love this feature! I really want to read City of Refuge, so I'm glad to see you liked it.

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  7. I'm glad to hear that you liked The Secret History of the Pink Carnation. I have the first two books in the series and look forward to reading them. I've not read Amish fiction, it just hasn't drawn me in even though we have an Amish community nearby and we see them at stores nearby. Their lifestyle fascinates me but I'm not sure that I'd enjoy the fictional stories.

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  8. So glad you enjoyed Pink Carnation! Glad The Choice got better for you as you read.

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  9. City of Refuge sounds really good. We all need reminders to be grateful and to see the trials that others have gone through.

    The last two are on my list already.

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  10. Wow they all sound very good! I have The Choice on my wish list. I'm a Beverly Lewis reader too.

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  11. Oooh, I may need to read The Secret of the Pink Carnation!

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  12. i sooooooooooooooooo can't wait for saturdays for your reviews always make me :):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):)

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  13. I really love your six sentence feature. I want to read The Secret History. You've convinced me.

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  14. Hi Staci
    I've landed here from your comment in response to Rhapsody in Books' review of my latest novel, Paper Lanterns.

    I don't know if you'd enjoy my books,yourself, but when I saw that you describe yourself as a book addict, I thought you might be interested in my recent post, referring to the experience of a journalist who tried to give up books for a week.
    http://www.christinecoleman.net/survive-week-books/

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  15. PS
    I meant to say that I really like your novel use of playing cards!

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  16. I'm surprised you only gave City of Refuge 4 stars. LOL I really loved that novel and its power. I think everyone should be reading this book. I want to check out his other N.O. book as well.

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  17. Hi there,
    I have an award for you on my blog!

    :)
    Michelle

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  18. Six sentence reviews-great idea! I love the rating system too :) I left you an award on my blog. You can go here to claim it:
    http://bippityboppitybook.blogspot.com/2010/03/suddenly-sunday_21.html

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  19. Because of you I downloaded The Pink Carnation on my reader. You're naughty!

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  20. I always enjoy your mini reviews, Staci. :-) City of Refuge is on my radar. I am glad you liked it so much. I wasn't too familiar with Willig's book before you mentioned it--it sounds like something I would like. Will definitely check it out.

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  21. City of Refuge is one that I won, but am donating :(

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  22. Serena couldn't stop talking about City of Refuge. I think she'll make me read that one at some point. ;)

    --Anna
    Diary of an Eccentric

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  23. I love stories set in the napoleon era. great job as usual.

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  24. I'm so glad you enjoy City of Refuge, Staci. I really need to see if the library has it. (I put in on my paperbackswap wish list, but fear I might be dead before I ever get a copy that way.)

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  25. I want to read City of Refuge and was curious about The Choice. I love Amish fiction (the very few I've read), and I even have several in one of the series written by Lewis. What series have you read? Do you have a favorite?

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