Musical Monday, 21 November

Welcome to Musical Monday! 

Lately I can't get enough of Adele. This is the result: "Rolling in the Deep"  haunts me day and night. Perhaps it will stop if I feature it here? Who knows... ;-)

Lyrics:

There's a fire starting in my heart
Reaching a fever pitch and it's bring me out the dark
Finally I can see you crystal clear
Go ahead and sell me out and I'll lay your ship bare

See how I'll leave, with every piece of you
Don't underestimate the things that I will do
There's a fire starting in my heart
Reaching a fever pitch and it's bring me out the dark

The scars of your love remind me of us
They keep me thinking that we almost had it all
The scars of your love, they leave me breathless
I can't help feeling

We could have had it all
Rolling in the deep
You had my heart inside your hand
And you played it to the beat

Baby, I have no story to be told
But I've heard one of you and I'm gonna make your head burn
Think of me in the depths of your despair
Making a home down there as mine sure won't be shared

The scars of your love remind you of us
They keep me thinking that we almost had it all
The scars of your love, they leave me breathless
I can't help feeling


We could have had it all
Rolling in the deep
You had my heart inside your hand
And you played it to the beat

Could have had it all
Rolling in the deep
You had my heart inside your hand
But you played it with a beating

Throw your soul through every open door
Count your blessings to find what you look for
Turn my sorrow into treasured gold
You pay me back in kind and reap just what you sow

(Now I'm gonna wish you never had met me)
We could have had it all
(Tears are gonna fall, rolling in the deep)
We could have had it all

(Now I'm gonna wish you never had met me)
It all, it all, it all, it all
(Tears are gonna fall, rolling in the deep)

(Now I'm gonna wish you never had met me)
We could have had it all
(Tears are gonna fall, rolling in the deep)
Rolling in the deep

(Now I'm gonna wish you never had met me)
You had my heart and soul
(Tears are gonna fall, rolling in the deep)
And you played it to the beat

(Now I'm gonna wish you never had met me)
Could have had it all
(Tears are gonna fall, rolling in the deep)
Rolling in the deep

(Now I'm gonna wish you never had met me)
You had my heart and soul in your hand
(Tears are gonna fall, rolling in the deep)
But you played it, you played it, you played it to the beat.

I must admit I need some help here and I would like to pick your brains. Please, tell me, how you understand the chorus (marked in red) especially such idioms as 'rolling in the deep' and 'played it to the beat' (the heart) ? It is a challenge for a non-English speaker, those pesky idioms, and I am not sure I got them right. I found many translation versions of these and somehow I hasn't been persuaded by them as they tended to be, in my humble opinion, too literal.

Silent Sunday...well, not so silent but still...

Friday Flash Fiction

Amy C at Romance Book Wyrm and Dottie atTink's Place have come up with the idea for a Monday Morning Flash Fiction challenge. Each Monday a new picture prompt will be posted and if you choose to participate - you publish your Fiction Flash  on Friday - 350 words, give or take. Here is the picture posted this Monday:

When Lilian returned home her father was absent. Again. She asked the first person she happened to meet - Mark - where he could be and that insolent boy just shrugged and scowled at her. As Henri was no longer by her side to make her composed she felt it keenly even though she knew Mark's state was not his fault. A scowling Mark was still an abomination, especially that she had a very good idea why he was scowling. It was all her fault, after all. What's more Lara was no longer at the manor - all the vampires all of a sudden seemed to have an urgent business somewhere outside. There was just one place she could go and find more information - the kitchen - and one person who knew or thought she knew more than all Dreane servants combined together - Jenkins, the cook. 

Jenkins smiled at her kindly, gave her a mug of hot chocolate and a bun fresh from the owen. Lilian ate ravenously before she decided to ask about the whereabouts of Lord Dreane.

"Why, my dear, of course I know where he went. Everybody knows. His secret tree hunting hut, where else? He took Roze with him of course and I am sure they are very busy right now, smoothing out all that vampire business. Would you like more of that chocolate? Or maybe a dish of soup?"

"No, thanks Jenkins. I would like to know where that tree hut is. Could anybody show me the way?"

"I suppose our Mark would be more than willing to help and he knows that place pretty well. Mark, come here, you are needed my boy! Do not pretend you are not behind those cupboards now, you know I can see your nose and one of your shoes very clearly! You will lead Miss Lilian to the tree hunting hut Lord Dreane has got from these nice faeries."

Before Lilian could suggest anybody else or say anything at all Mark emerged from behind the cupboards, a bit dirty and still very sullen but nevertheless definitely present. Jenkins gave him a mug of hot chocolate as well, laughing at his childish attempts to hide and then making a fuss when she noticed the state of his clothes and the general lack of cleanliness. Lilian didn't comment on the fact that she had asked Mark about her father previously without success, focused on her chocolate and dark thoughts swirling in her head. How come the nicest person around, somebody who exchanged plenty of information with her getting close to nothing in return, was a vampire? Without Henri she would have been devastated by Mark's attitude and even more ignorant than now. These thoughts made her finish her drink rather quickly, take Mark by his elbow and direct him firmly but without a word to the door. She had to talk with her father and he was her map and compass.

Review: India Black (Madam of Espionage 01) by Carol K.Carr

Book info:
Book form: e-publication, mobi format

Publisher: Berkley Trade; Original edition (January 4, 2011)
Language: English
Target audience: adults
Genre: historical fiction, adventure

Synopsis (almost from Goodreads):

Sir Archibald Latham of the War Office dies from a heart attack while visiting a fashionable brothel called Lotus House, owned and run by Madam India Black. His death unexpectedly thrust that lady of disrepute into a deadly game between Russian and British agents who are seeking the military secrets Latham carried in his leather briefcase. Unfortunately the briefcase disappears mysteriously right after his death along with one of Madam Black’s employees. Blackmailed into recovering the missing documents by a British spy known as French, India finds herself dodging Russian agents-and the attraction she starts to feel for the handsome conspirator.

What I liked:

The main character of the story is Miss India Black, an intelligent whore with lots of dry humor and a fairly cynical view on life. I loved her narrative voice (as the book is told from her perspective) because it was brutally honest, outspoken and wickedly entertaining. However, the fact that India, once a working girl, now the owner of a brothel, is in peace with her inner self, accepting her fate without any remorse or second thoughts, I liked the best. She makes absolutely no excuses and enjoys her life as it is. She says:

Still, I wouldn’t trade Lotus House for the world. There may be easier ways of earning a sou: I could allow some pedigreed ass to keep me in French perfume and silk gowns, tucked away in a cozy pied-à-terre in St. John’s Wood, and driving a four-in-hand along Rotten Row. But I like my freedom.

It was refreshing.

What’s more, there’s an individual called Vincent – a young street urchin who is cleverer and braver than any spy although his body odour might make you cringe and his appearance and lifestyle are simply outrageous. He is utterly charming in character though – a great addition to our madam and the whole novel. 

The book was a breeze to read and I enjoyed the narration pace – quick and vivacious, like the heroine. The mystery was a bit simplistic but nicely executed. Do not expect a lot of romance here, contrary to that last line of the Goodreads synopsis. India is not a person to fall in love – she knows men too well and has no illusions left about them. I think the lack of romance is actually an advantage which made her character only more believable.


Finally the cover is simply lovely, especially the dress and the fan.

What I didn’t like:

In short the plot. Unfortunately the more I read the more I had to suspend my disbelief. Perhaps I was overthinking again…anyway here are the results.

 Firstly India leaves Lotus House, her home and the only source of her income, dangerously unattended for almost a week. Very uncharacteristic for such a level-headed businesswoman who, early on in the book, emphasizes how important it is for her to be present there all the time, watch over her girls, her clients and all the takings.

It also seemed very unlikely that a luxurious whore house can be run without any muscle. Although allegedly India’s brothel caters to a 'better' segment of society (minor nobility, government officials, military officers, etc) she still serves alcohol there and a drunk gentleman is first a drunk and gentleman later (if at all); what’s more, imagine what would happen if somebody (or even a group of somebodies) from lower classes tried to barge in and have some 'fun'... In short the book did lack a secondary character who, temporarily at least, would be able to perform the necessary duty of protection and client supervision.

Another scene: India and French, the English agent she has to cooperate with, fall down uncontrollably from a height of over 6 meters; they land on a frozen ground but neither of them is hurt. What’s more, they start bickering almost immediately. Are their bodies made of steel?

Also the fact that extremely cruel Russians proved not so cruel after all and let poor Vincent live I found rather suspicious – I know the boy was necessary to forward the plot and I did appreciate that the blighter survived but it would be far more logical to kill him off…

Last but not least - Mr. French was not a great addition here, character-wise. I found him a bit bland and not especially intelligent when you compare him to India and young Vincent…perhaps he will improve later.

Final verdict:

It was a nice book but if you're expecting a very correct historical fiction novel from Victorian times do not pick this up. You will be disappointed and even annoyed. The language in particular is not from that period and might drive anal purists crazy.

Would I read the next book in the series? Yes, I would. As it was just a debut novel I do hope the author will construct a more intriguing and solid plot which can match the wit, power and fun of India's character. 

Tuesday Intros # 01

This meme is hosted by Diane at Bibliophile-by-the-Sea

Encouraged by my friend Tracy's excellent blog I decided to try a new meme which is a variant of teasing tuesday but with more text.

 Would you buy/ borrow/read a novel which starts like this? Would you find such an introduction interesting or rather repulsing? It is the first paragraph from "India Black" by Carol K. Carr. 

"My name is India Black. I am a whore.
If those words made you blush, if your hand fluttered to your cheek or you
harrumphed disapprovingly into your beard, then you should return this volume to the shelf, cast a cold glance at the proprietor as you leave, and hasten home feeling proper and virtuous. You can go to Evensong tonight with a clear conscience. However, if my admission caused a frisson of excitement in your drab world, if you felt a stirring in your trousers or beneath your skirts when you read my words, then I must caution you that you will be disappointed in the story contained in this volume. No doubt you’re hoping to read in these pages the narrative of a young woman’s schooling in the arts of love or perhaps a detailed description of some of my more memorable artistic performances. As for the former, there’s enough of that kind of shoddy chronicle available, most of it written by men masquerading as “Maggie” or “Eunice,” and therefore not only fictitious but asinine to boot. As for the latter, I’d be the first to admit that I was a tireless entertainer in the boudoir, but that’s another story for another time and will cost you more money than this volume when I get around to writing it down."

I was charmed at once - such an honest and direct narrative voice is a nice change indeed!

What about you?

Mini review: Asenath by Anna Patricio

This book was provided by the author's publisher via my lady Blodeuedd's excellent blog in return for an honest review. Just in case - I haven't been compensated for writing the said review in any way and the fact that the book came free of charge didn't influence me either.

Book info:
Form: e-book, mobi format,
Genre: historical fiction, YA adventure
Target audience: YA

Synopsis:

The novel is a creative version of the life of Asenath, the Egyptian wife of Joseph, the son of Jacob and Rachel from the Bible. You might remember him – he had a coat of many colours and was rather disliked by his half-brothers – and you most likely won’t remember her, as she is just mentioned once, as his wife and the mother of his two sons. We are given just a name and still the author managed to fill all the gaps with her vivid imagination.

Asenath, according to Ms. Patricio, is an adopted daughter of a Heliopolis priest; before that she was a low-born peasant called Kiya; after an attack of foreign invaders and the death of her parents her life altered beyond recognition. Still her sad experience stayed with her, making her life as an aristocratic lady rather difficult. However, the same experience helped her find the love of her life – seeing a slave lying on the ground in scorching sun she didn’t hesitate one moment and let him drink some water. The same slave later will become a grand vizier of Egypt and her husband.

What I liked:

It was a nice story and a book rather pleasant and easy to read. Written in the first person narrative it is a compelling tale of a stunning success of a simple peasant girl and a simple Hebrew slave – from rags to riches, nothing less. The book is geared definitely toward the Young Adult market and I suppose these readers will appreciate it the most, especially if they have read some Bible stories as well and are acquainted with Joseph and his story.

The cover is rather nice as well - I like the colours!

What I didn’t like:

As I said, the fact that it is clearly an YA position influenced the way it was told. In my humble opinion it was too sanitized. Asenath/Kiya’s slavery time is glossed over; the authoress also kind of forgot that the initial intention of Joseph’s brothers was to kill him; only after the intervention of the eldest one, Rueben, who seemed to be the most level-headed and responsible at that time, they agreed to spare him and sell into slavery (the Elohist version) . The rest of them were mad of jealousy and hated Joseph’s guts just because he dared to be the favourite of his dad.

I would also like to see more Egyptian court life and less teenage angst. I know the book was written from Asenath’s point of view but it would be more complex if another narrative voice was added and a new perspective with it.

Finally let me say that many details of everyday Egyptian life seemed surprisingly modern. Asenath’s childhood friend proposes during an official function, kneeling before her…I am not sure it was done that way in ancient times. Asenath gets married dressed in white with a veil…not sure about that either. The pharaoh appologising to his subject – no way, he was the living god! In other words – if you want to find out more about the culture of ancient Egypt, it is not the right book.

What I learned:

Joseph and Asenath, a mosaic in Basillica di San Marco  via Wikipedia

Let me also add that the story of Joseph's near seduction by his master's wife bears a marked similarity to the Egyptian story of the Tale of Two Brothers, which was popular at the time of Pharaoh Seti II (roughly 1200-1194 BCE). It has also been suggested that there are similarities between the rise to power of Joseph, and Manethos' tale of Osarseph, who was Syrian born, and rose to be Vizier of Egypt, beginning his career under Pharaoh Merenptah and his son Seti II. Indeed the name Potiphar (Joseph’s master) may even be a version of Merenptah's name (Poti = Ptah, Phar = Pharaoh). The "seven lean years" has been taken to refer to a Middle Eastern famine documented at that time.

Final verdict:

I liked the novel but only for its entertainment factor. The historical background was like that of any Disney movie (The Prince of Egypt anyone?) so not impressing at all. Still kudos for finding an interesting topic and an original heroine.

Review: Dark is the Night (Dark Justice) by Brindle Chase

Genre: Paranormal erotic romance

Pages: Ebook, 173

Published: June 2011

Synopsis (most of it from Goodreads but I tried to be creative):

Katherine Wells is Cleveland's top homicide detective. She's hot on the trail of the so-called ‘Antoinette killer’, a serial murderer dubbed into that moniker because he leaves the string of burnt and beheaded bodies behind. New victims keep turning up all the time. While searching for clues, Katherine encounters Alexander – they meet in a pub where the last couple of victims had been seen the night of their murder. Alexander’s intoxicating old world persona captivates her and she suddenly finds herself head over heels in love. It is a rather torrid love affair - the passion is so overwhelming that her sense of law falls into blissful chaos.

As an elder vampire, Alexander lives alone and struggles for anonymity in the modern world. Killing isn't personal; it's to prevent the victims from becoming your own undead rivals on a limited area. What’s more, his kind can't be discovered. With Katherine's investigation getting too close to the truth, the other vampires demand he eliminates Detective Wells. Katherine discovers Alexander's supernatural secret and he learns Katherine's the detective he must silence. Well, he's everything she ever wanted and everything she stood against; she is the love of his life. Torn between their feelings and the law she's sworn to uphold, they must make difficult choices against time, the police and the other vampires.

What I liked:

An erotic romance....right...it was definitely a position outside my comfort zone but I've read a lovely review of Lis and decided to give the book a try. As curious as a cat, you know. If I wanted to be nasty (completely out of my character of course) I would say this book is a kind of “Twilight” for adults. By and large we are dealing here with a similar premise: a very handsome vampire predator all of a sudden finds his true love (or soul mate or whatever you call it) in a shape of a mortal woman and she is only too eager to join him but…he hesitates. However, that comparison would be rather unkind because this novel was simply darker and better. Alexander is one old vamp who could break such a whimpering idiot as Edward in two and then floss his teeth with all those sparkles left on the floor. Already the opening scene shows him hunting and killing two people; we know at once it is not a nice, goody-goody bloodsucking ‘vegetarian’ killing off the last wildlife specimens and being proud of it. His detachment is kind of scary and his reasoning behind the kills – chillingly flawless.

I also rather liked Catherine –she is a smart, confident and successful woman; she works in a male dominated profession but knows how to deal with her colleagues and criminals as well. When she meets Alexander their passion is explosive and all of a sudden nothing else matters (Metallica anyone?), not even the moral standards or Katherine's job - after all, you can find another position but what are your chances of meeting another love of your life any time soon? I still appreciated the fact that, despite being a bit mentally challenged every now and then (or, to put it boldly, falling into a mating haze as soon as Alexander is in the proximity) she was completely aware that her moral structure is breaking down like thin ice beneath a careless skater She mentions it several times and here you have one quote:

"And then it hit me again. I was standing there naked with a gorgeous but homicidal vampire, plotting to cover up his crimes. My crimes. We’re not talking about misdemeanors here, these were hard core felonies. Murder, tampering with federal evidence and hacking the FBI. Jesus Christ what had become of my life that it all made sense, perfect sense?"

I appreciated also the fact that Katherine, like any intelligent woman, guessed who and what Alexander is just after one display of his superhuman strength and agility; afterwards she wasn't shy to ask and he had enough reason to tell her the truth. I am sick and tired of characters, be them male or female, who are described as intelligent and then behave like complete morons - e.g. it takes them almost half of a book to solve a "mystery" the average reader is able to work out after one page.

What’s more? It is a first person narration as we are presented both sides of the story (Alexander’s and Katherine’s) simultaneously. It is not my favourite type of narration but it didn’t bother me here.

Finally it did make for a highly erotic read. It is basically one of these novels which might help you reduce your carbon footprint significantly – take it to your bathroom, turn cold water on, start reading and all of a sudden your shower is hot and all the room- steamy!


What I didn’t like:

If you cook you know how important it is to be careful with the right dosage of sugar. Too much and your dish is ruined; without it, though, it would be bland. The excess of sugar is also my main complaint when it comes to erotica books – too many sex scenes, obscuring the plot or sometimes even substituting it entirely (the last case makes a book DNF instantly, I hate plotless books) are really not my piece of cake. Do not look for a lot of complex world build up or psychologically viable background because more often than not you will be disappointed.

Accordingly I must admit I would like this novel far better if there were more psychology and action (outside bed that is). It wasn’t bad but it could have been better. I suppose it’s, by and large, a matter of your reading preferences. After all it would be stupid to buy a hairdryer and then criticize it for not having all the functions of your mobile phone... I don't know why but somehow this title made me very domestically inclined. ;-).

The cover is misleading and rather bland. I think the character of this book is not reflected in it. I also was able to find some grammar mistakes - the editor could have been a tad more thorough.

Final verdict:

If  you like your paranormal romance very steamy you will enjoy this one – it was an entertaining read although a bit dark and bloody. Definitely not “Twilight” anyway!