Top Ten Tuesday for April 24th!

Here are previous Smoke & Mirrors Top Ten Tuesday posts. 

This weekly meme was created by The Broke and the Bookish, 

but as of January 2018, moved to That Artsy Reader Girl!

This week's topic is "Frequently Used Words in Book Titles."

At least that is my specific topic!

The original topic is "Frequently Used Words In [Insert Genre/Age Group] Titles."

Considering that I attended the Christamore House Guild's 

2018 Book & Author Benefit Luncheon last Friday and heard A.J. Finn speak, 

I felt compelled to create a short post for this topic, based upon his presentation. 

We learned that Finn's novel, The Woman in the Window, is quite purposefully titled. 
(Okay, I admit I do love this cover!)

This title versus Gone Girl, The Girl on the Train, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo...

well, you get the idea.

He insists that his protagonist, Anna Fox, is an independent woman capable of 
caring for herself while determining the cause of mysterious happenings and events...
she is NOT a "girl"! 
While she may well not be a "girl," having read approximately one-third of TWitW, 
I believe Anna to be totally unreliable as a narrator, and a bit of a mess!
But we shall see...
Honestly, until I heard Finn speak about this, I hadn't seriously considered the 
implications that could be inherent with such titles. 

Amy of GG is quite obviously a grown women, having been married for five years!
Rachel of TGotT is definitely no longer a girl, though she is rather 
an unreliable narrator, even if she is a grown woman! 
And Lisbeth of TGwtDT is...well...in my humble opinion, Lisbeth is a God. 
Perhaps a God unto women! She is 24 years old.
And she is definitely NOT a "girl"! 
I read The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo way before I had a blog for reviews, 
but I can tell you I adore all three books in  Larsson's Millenium series!
And my favorite part of all of them? Is Lisbeth herself...and Blomkvist!

I personally equate a grown woman being called "girl" 
with a grown black man being called "boy." 
Though I believe the latter is far more discriminatory and prejudicial than the former,     denoting much more inflammatory prejudice. 

Perhaps the idea of referring to a "woman" as a "girl" is simply a carryover from an
extremely patriarchal society, as was the U.S. in the past. 

It did get me thinking...

What do you think? 

Have you read any of these books or others with the word "girl" in the title 
when the person referenced is actually a grown woman? 

Happy reading!
--Lynn

Top Ten Tuesday for August 16th!!

Upon first reading this week's topic, I didn't think I could come up with a list of ten books I have read all set within the same locale, but then it occurred to me...

Of course I could--AFRICA!

I love to read about Africa and novels set in Africa...

always will, I guess!
Top Ten Books Set in Africa
This weekly meme is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

Perhaps I was able to make this connection because I just 

read West With the Night, Beryl Markham's autobiography. 

I am in the midst of composing the review to post, and there is 

so much that I want to quote directly from the text!

I agree with Hemingway:

Did you read Beryl Markham's book, West with the Night? 

...She has written so well, and marvelously well, that I was completely ashamed 

of myself as a writer. I felt that I was simply a carpenter with words, 

picking up whatever was furnished on the job and nailing them together

and sometimes making an okay pig pen. But this girl, who is to my knowledge

very unpleasant and we might even say a high-grade bitch, can write rings 

around all of us who consider ourselves to be writers ... it really is a bloody wonderful book."

It was, in fact, this praise that brought the book back into the limelight and 

reissued this 1946 release in 1983 when Markham was 80 years old.

I read Markham's autobiography as a direct result 

of having read Paula McLain's 

Circling the Sun, a historical fiction 

novel depicting Markham's 

childhood and early adulthood, 

including, of course, all her 

"first female" achievements!

This woman was a go-getter, to say the least!

I venture to say there was nothing much she wouldn't try...

and after all, if you never try, you never achieve.

I am glad to have read Nadine Gordimer's My Son's Story. 

I felt it was rather depressing, though authentic and 

I definitely appreciated Gordimer's writing skill. 

I guess I'd not read much of anything before that dealt

with the children of activist parents and their sense of

abandonment and neglect. I felt so badly for both Will and Baby.

Then to realize his mother was also leading a duplicitous life!

In fact I immediately started researching and have decided I 

really want to read her novel The Conservationist.

One of the first books I ever read that was set in Africa was 

The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith! 

I absolutely love this series and feel as if I am there...in Africa, as I read each installation. Book #17, Precious and Grace, is due to be released October 11, 2016. I need to catch up before that time and then post a review on this blog, though I have mentioned McCall Smith and this series, as well as others of his (e.g. Corduroy Mansions and Isabel Dalhousie), 

I have yet to post a review here. 

Heart-wrenching, yet I feel this is 

a very necessary story 

that should make each of us think about 

every single gallon of gas we consume...

Little Bee by Chris Cleave. 

From my Goodreads review: 

This story depicts the ultimate in loving sacrifice. 

And not just once... 

I cannot purchase gas without thinking of this one...

and regretting that I cannot do more.

A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier 

by Ishmael Beah 

These children! 

Such abuse and terror they suffer, 

and through no fault of their own 

other than being alive! 

All these people displaced from 

their homes and villages, 

living in the wild and trying 

to obtain food just to survive, 

never knowing when they may be attacked yet again! 

King Leopold's Ghost by Adam Hochschild 

My Goodreads review posted January 25, 2013:

Read this about 2 years ago for book club and 

I can't remember when I have absolutely loathed and 

despised a historical figure as much as I 

now do King Leopold II. 

I realize it was a very different age with attitudes and 

beliefs that were very different, at least among the 

majority of people, but I can't stand it. 

The exploitation of others for purely monetary gain, 

power, and prestige sickens me. 

I equate this with the present-day corporations that 

exploit workers outside the U.S. because they can 

get by with paying a small pittance for labor and 

thereby greatly increase their 'profit margins.' 

Another huge advantage for companies 

in this global production enslavement--no need 

to provide safe work environments, decent living wages, 

and FORGET any benefits or protections on the job! 

Why we allow this, I will never understand, except that I guess 

the white guys who make up the 1% really DO control the world! 

It is beyond reprehensible, in my opinion! Anyway, I apologize for my rant! 

This book gives an excellent history of the invasion of Africa and literal and figurative 

enslavement of the people living there and is well worth the read 

to gain this knowledge, though it literally makes me nauseous to even think of 

this historical genocide. The stats will blow you away...

The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver 

The Cross-Cultural Book Club I founded at Borders read this at the same time as 

King Leopold's Ghost to get a more comprehensive picture of the invasion of Africa 

by greedy self-serving white men. 

My Goodreads review:

This was one remarkably illuminating fictional work!

 This work depicts how well-meaning yet ignorant self-centered 

narrow-minded "conservative" people 

(typical "white folk," in my opinion) can destroy so much 

while intending to "convert" others (especially "savages") 

to their belief system. This "preacher"/white "American" 

was extremely disrespectful of the people whose country and 

village he had "invaded" and disrupted! Not only that, 

but he drags his family out to a very primitive 

(in comparison to the U.S.) society with absolutely 

no preparation or research to determine what they might need most to survive, let alone thrive. This was an extremely powerful and intense read; enlightening, to say the least! Lesson: meaning well is not enough! Be smart! Research! The fact that you have white skin does not make you smarter than anyone else, 

and especially doesn't mean you know what is best for anyone else!

Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese

My Goodreads review:

For me, this book was quite reminiscent of the 

writing style of African authors I have read, 

so no surprise to learn the author was 

born and raised in Ethiopia. 

This book was quite intense and dramatic, 

yet in an understated way at times. 

The characters were authentically true to 

themselves throughout the book which created 

a very stable foundation for the story. 

My only hesitation with this lengthy saga was 

the Sister's mysterious/unknown impregnation. 

I found the medical details fascinating, as well as the characters, and I thrive on characterization!

What is your favorite setting for a book?

Happy reading!

                                                                         --Lynn

Top Ten Tuesday for August 2, 2016!!

This weekly meme 
is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

Of course, this is a wicked topic for someone like me 

who is trying NOT to purchase more books, 

but still it is tons of fun to imagine! 

This week's topic:

The Top Ten Books I'd Buy Right Now if 
Someone Gave Me a Fully-Loaded Gift Card

Of course, that card would need to work at my local indie bookstore!! 
(NOT Amazon...please!)

#1  I would buy the hardcover

     Harry Potter series in the trunk! 

      I have always secretly wanted this! 

      And yes, I am definitely 

      "a child at heart"!! Oh, and, of course,

      I would purchase one set for each of

      my three son's households, for the 

      grandkids!

      I have reread this whole 

      series 3 times!!

      and honestly, would love 

      to do so again...soon!

#2  I would purchase all the books in Laurie R. King's 

      Russell & Holmes series! I own two, but would love to 

      own them all! My husband (who is retired) literally 

      'inhaled' this series after I introduced it to him! 

      I am slowly trying to work my way through it, but have 

      (as usual) over-committed myself to reading challenges, 

      Read-Alongs, etc.! :) I was introduced to this series     

      through the Christamore House Guild's 

     Book & Author Benefit this past spring. 

      What a delight to speak with Ms. King and 

      hear her talk about writing and her experiences! 

      I now own a personally inscribed copy of The Murder of Mary Russell, the most recent 

      release in this series! And although I rarely am enamored with a cover image, this one

      is absolutely gorgeous, in my opinion!

#3  I would love to own a 

gorgeously bound set of all 

Agatha Christie's books!

When my husband first established 

an E-Bay account I would drool 

over these and dream...

Christie represents my first foray

into "adult" mysteries.

For that reason, she, her books and characters will always hold a special place in my heart!

Try as I might, this was
the closest cover image
I could find to my own
gorgeous edition!

#4 I would love to purchase all the gorgeously bound 

oversized elegantly illustrated children's classics 

I could find for my grandchildren! 

There would need to be three of each title, 

one for each of my three son's households. 

I remember just such an edition of 

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking Glass 

that someone gifted to me as a child. I loved that book so much!

The illustrations were gorgeous, some full page!

They were not the least cartoonish 

or especially spooky/scary. 

I would love to be able to provide such editions 

for all my grandchildren. 

They really are special!

#5 I would purchase whatever books my friends and fellow readers desired 

and gift them! 

I never will forget bringing signed copies of 

two of our favorite books to my 

book club members following a trip to 

Seattle where I met so many wonderful 

authors, including two of our 

Borders Book Club's favorites, 

Erica Bauermeister and Garth Stein! 

I brought back gifts for each member, 

a signed copy of 

The School of Essential Ingredients and 

The Art of Racing in the Rain.

One member was especially thrilled, 

stating that she had never before owned a signed copy of any book!

That reminded me that what one person may consider common,  

may well be a brand-new delight to someone else!

#6 I cannot imagine a better feeling than to be able to stock 

each teacher's classroom library and each public school's library! 

If I'm gonna dream, I'm gonna dream big! 

How much fun would that be?!? 

As a former schoolteacher and librarian, it would definitely 

"put me over the top" for inspiration and fulfillment! 

And once I'm done in the U.S.? 

On to other countries! Why not?!? :)

Just imagining that makes my heart feel full and puts a huge smile on my face!

Wow...

<sigh>

Okay, back to my real life now! :)

 How about you? 

Top Ten Tuesday for July 26!!

I have really been getting into Top Ten Tuesdays lately, 

and this week is no exception!
This is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

I may have mentioned before that I LOVE to LEARN!

Truly, if I had the money and thereby the time 

I would probably have amassed many degrees by now!

But I didn't have either the time or money, so...I hold only one undergraduate degree. 

But...that is better than not having had the opportunity or ability to obtain that one! :)

This week's topic:

Top Ten Things Books Have Made Me Want To Do 

or Learn About After Reading Them


I realize you are probably tired of seeing these next two titles on here, but they are both such rewarding and enlightening reading experiences!!

The one book I've read most recently that made me truly curious and wanting to know more about the subject matter was 

Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson. 

I have the Social Justice Book Club (#SJBookClub) 
to thank for this one!

This book club is hosted by 
Kerry of Entomology of a Bookworm, 

and was founded by herself, 
Shaina of Shaina Reads, and Shannon of River City Reading.

Stevenson founded the Equal Justice Initiative, headquartered in Montgomery, Alabama.

Though this book is absolutely heartbreaking, each person in this country should read it! 

He is proving there can be hope, love, and mercy, by creating a measure of true justice and fairness. Our first positive contribution is to be educated and informed...only then can we truly advocate for a better world, starting by working for those unfairly accused, or worse, unfairly incarcerated and/or sentenced to death. Many of these convictions are obtained by ignoring often irrefutable evidence that would exonerate these "victims" of the U.S. 'justice system,' which is many times anything but...just. :(

The second book read for the Social Justice Book Club was 

The Long Shadow of Small Ghosts: 

Murder and Memory in an American City 

by Laura Tillman.
I admit to a bit of trepidation about this book and exactly what it 
would entail, mainly because I do NOT like to read true crime...
But this was so very much more than that!
I could personally relate to so many aspects of John's and Angela's lives, since I worked as a mental health professional 
advocating for clients' care and maintenance.

Many of the clients with whom I worked dealt with many of the same issues these two people faced... It is gutwrenching and hopefully, for those unfamiliar with such challenges and the people in our society who wrestle with them, very eye-opening. As Tillman notes, we all participate in an execution, by virtue that we, as citizens of a representational democracy are responsible for such.

Dr. Sarat, a professor of political science at Amherst College, author of 

Gruesome Spectacles: Botched Executions and America's Death Penalty, states

Since 1973, one person has been exonerated 

for every nine executed. (205)

...don't I and every other American have a personal stake in every execution that occurs?

How can any of us discover our position on such a law without comprehending its full weight, 

as we might if we saw it enacted? (208)

Though I have personal experience advocating for people facing such challenges, I would like to do more to advocate for political and policy change to not only increase services available to those who need them, but particularly convenient and reasonable access to services. 
**Lynn now steps down off her social service soapbox...everyone breathes a sigh of relief!**

To continue with discussion of the death penalty and social justice, 

I read The Confession by John Grisham about 5 years ago. 

I was caring for my mother, advocating for her medical care in her 

later years, and I associate some rather poignant memories with this title. It was when I first realized just how impaired her cognitive functioning was in some ways. Much as Will Schwalbe 

did in The End of Your Life Book Club, I was hopeful that mother 

and I could read and discuss the same book, helping to keep her 

active in some way and to connect with each other. 

(A task which was always virtually impossible for my mother and 

myself to accomplish throughout my lifetime.) 
Although mother selected this book, she was unable to track well enough to read it.

This was the first (and last) full-length novel I have read in electronic format. Ebooks are just not for me--I am evidently old and set in my ways! :)

Though this was a work of fiction, I felt in many ways it most likely reflects reality. 

Prosecutors and other legal 'professionals' are unwilling to set aside their own success in obtaining convictions to consider the last-minute possibility of a confession by the actual perpetrator of a crime, even if it means an innocent man 

(a teen at the time of his arrest) is unjustly and unfairly executed...

One of my favorite reads ever was 

The Aviator's Wife by Melanie Benjamin.

This was the fourth book read for the 

Literary Wives Online Book Discussion Group.

Prior to reading this book I knew little to nothing 

about either Charles or Anne Morrow Lindbergh.

This was eye-opening, to say the least.

He supported the Nazi Regime?

He also supported multiple 'families' in various worldwide locations while simultaneously being married to Anne?

She was an established writer and though Anne edited his book,

The Spirit of St. Louis, which won the 1954 Pulitzer Prize for Autobiography or Biography, he never acknowledged any contribution made by her. Though he might have been a brave and talented navigator, 

in my humble opinion, he was an asshole in his personal life and political beliefs.

Amazingly, Anne never appeared to harbor any ill-will against him for all this (and more), 

but rather she helped him as she could, even as he lay dying. 

I was gratified to learn that she did make a life for herself 
once her children were self-sufficient adults out on their own!

I want to read so many other books as a result of having read 
this one to learn more about both of these people, but 
especially Anne. I have read and greatly enjoyed 
Gift From the Sea by Anne, though I've yet to complete 

a blog post about this book, it is definitely one I will keep 
to reread bits and portions of throughout the 
remainder of my lifetime. 

I found it to be reflective and spiritually uplifting.


My Life on the Road by Gloria Steinem

Though I have recorded notes from this book, 

I have yet to distill my thoughts into a blog post.

(In fact, there may be multiple posts for this one!)

This was the first read for 

Emma Watson's Feminist Book Club on Goodreads 

(Emma's Book Club--Our Shared Shelf)

and it was so enlightening!

I enjoyed this book so much and was grateful for this 

reading and learning experience!

Again, I knew next to nothing about Steinem and was so happy to learn more about her, her life, her experiences, her insights,

and especially her work as a "community organizer"!

This makes me want to learn more about feminists' 

efforts and opportunities to advocate for equal opportunity.

A truly scary read, 
Your Heart Is a Muscle the Size of a Fist 
by Sunil Yapa, 
raises some real questions concerning the validity of 
some global organizations such as 
the World Trade Organization (WHO) 
and the World Bank/World Bank Group. 
Additionally, this novel leads us through the 
individual lives of several protestors, 
an estranged father who leads 
the Seattle Police Department, two of the SPD officers, 
and finally, an international diplomat.
One thing that impressed me most about this book was the way Yapa depicts the duality of human nature: Each human being can be kind, gentle, and compassionate, even risking our own life to save that of others, and yet, in a different situation/role, we can be crueler to others than can perhaps be imagined. Much as we might imagine these global organizations are 'doing good,' they might actually reflect this same duality...
I definitely recommend reading this one!


The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith
This series is one of my absolute favorites. 
What does it make me want to learn about?
Africa. 
I would love to visit and explore this vast country. 
The Elephant Whisperer by Lawrence Anthony 
and Circling the Sun by Paula McLain, 
both excellent books in very different ways,
have served to only further peak my interest in this country.


I know I have mentioned this one before, 
but really, it is an amazing reading experience! 
Two Boys Kissing is just so much more than 
"two boys kissing"!
And while you might expect me to state that 
reading this book made me more curious 
about homosexuality, it did not. 
I long ago became comfortable with 
that concept as well as other 'variations' 
upon gender assignment issues. 

What it did make me want to do is read more 
of David Levithan's writing! 
Though I have yet to follow-up on that desire, 
it is very strong and I'm sure I will read more of his books!

I read Finding Jake by Bryan Reardon 
last year and LOVED it! 
Reardon's writing resonated with me so very well!
Though I am not a fan of 'true crime' in the least, 
and despise sensationalism in the mass media, etc., 
this book gave an alternative POV to 
a school shooting than I've ever read before--
truly unique and thought-provoking!
It was reminiscent of One Mississippi by 
Mark Childress in that it explored a school 
shooting from an adolescent's perspective. 
The Hour I First Believed by Wally Lamb is 
another book that explores a school shooting from a unique/often overlooked perspective. It explores the life of a person only involved in the periphery of such a catastrophic event in the aftermath of that event. The repercussions can be life-altering to so many...


On a bit lighter note, I would love to learn more about penguins, specifically their relationships with humans, 
after reading 
The Penguin Lessons: What I Learned From a Remarkable Bird 
by Tom Michell. 
I loved this poignant yet uplifting memoir! 
As did all the other members of the Borders Book Club! 

What book has motivated you to learn more?