First Chapters March 5, 2008

Don’t judge a book by its cover. We’ve heard this phrase repeatedly, usually having nothing to do with an actually book. But when it comes to spending your hard-earned money, you don’t want to be fooled by pretty pictures and catchy titles. You want a guarantee (as much as you can get) that you will enjoy the book you purchase. Back cover copy gets you some idea whether you’ll enjoy the book you’re considering. But a 100-word synopsis of a 90,000-word novel still makes the decision tough.   

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I came across a feature on the New York Times site that might help you when it comes to selecting books. ‘First Chapters’ allows you to read the first chapter of selected books from the New York Times bestsellers list. The chapters can be emailed, saved or printed.  

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So if you’ve been thinking about buying Stephen King’s Duma Key, you can read the first chapter before investing your $28.00.

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Fave Five March 2, 2008

NEW YORK TIMES (March 2, 200  

HARDCOVER FICTION

1. THE APPEAL by John Grisham
2. STRANGERS IN DEATH by Nora Roberts writing as J.D. Robb
3. 7TH HEAVEN by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
4. LADY KILLER by Lisa Scottoline
5. DUMA KEY by Stephen King

 PAPERBACK TRADE FICTION

1. THE PILLARS OF THE EARTH by Ken Follett
2. THE OTHER BOLEYN GIRL by Philippa Gregory
3. NINETEEN MINUTES by Jodi Picoult
4. WATER FOR ELEPHANTS by Sara Gruen
5. THE KITE RUNNER, by Khaled Hosseini  

PAPERBACK MASS-MARKET FICTION

1. SISTERS by Danielle Steel
2. LET SLEEPING ROGUES LIE by Sabrina Jeffries
3. THE FAITHFUL SPY by Alex Berenson
4. TOM CLANCY’S ENDWAR by David Michaels
5. LACED by Carol Higgins Clark  

HARDCOVER NONFICTION

1. LIBERAL FASCISM by Jonah Goldberg
2. IN DEFENSE OF FOOD by Michael Pollan
3. THE AGE OF AMERICAN UNREASON by Susan Jacoby
4. RECONCILIATION by Benazir Bhutto
5. PREDICTABLY IRRATIONAL by Dan Ariely  

PAPERBACK NONFICTION

1. EAT, PRAY, LOVE by Elizabeth Gilbert
2. THREE CUPS OF TEA by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin
3. THE AUDACITY OF HOPE by Barack Obama
4. DREAMS FROM MY FATHER by Barack Obama
5. 90 MINUTES IN HEAVEN by Don Piper with Cecil Murphey   

USA Today (based on sales through Sunday, Febraury 24, 200  

FICTION AND NONFICTION

1. A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle 
2. Strangers in Death by Nora Roberts writing as J.D. Robb
3. The Appeal by John Grisham
4. EAT, PRAY, LOVE by Elizabeth Gilbert
5. The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory

 Essence Magazine (March 200  FICTION Hardcover

1. Waking with Enemies by Eric Jerome Dickey
2. Sweeter Than Honey by Mary B. Morrison
3. Sleeping with Strangers by Eric Jerome Dickey
4. Blonde Faith by Walter Mosley
5. Them by Nathan McCall

 FICTION Paperback

1. True to the Game II by Teri Woods
2. Still a Mistress by Tiphani
3. Still Hood by K’wan
4. Blood Kin by Robert T.S. Mickles, Sr.
5. Millionaire Mistress by Tiphani

 NONFICTION Hardcover

1. The Vixen Diaries by Karrine Steffans
2. Reposition Yourself by T.D. Jakes
3. Dear G-Spot by Zane
4. Gangsters of Harlem by Ron Chepesiuk
5. The Rose That Grew From Concrete by Tupac Shakur

 NONFICTION Paperback

1. Snakes in The Pulpit by Reuben Armstrong
2. The Willie Lynch Letter by Willie Lynch and Kashif Malik Hassan-el
3. The Black Biblical Heritage by John L. Johnson
4. As a Woman Thinketh by Dorothy J. Hulst
5. Failure Is Not an Option by Alan M. Blankstein

 CBA (March 200  

1. The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman
2. 3:16 by Max Lucado
3. Love and Respect by Emerson Eggerichs,
4. Quiet Strength by Tony Dungy
5. 90 Minutes in Heaven by Don Piper with Cecil Murphey

 ECPA (February 200  

1. Quiet Strength by Tony Dungy
2. How to Pray by John Wesley
3. The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey
4. 3:16 by Max Lucado
5. 90 Minutes in Heaven by Don Piper with Cecil Murphey

DON’T JUST READ ABOUT WOMEN’S HISTORY…LIVE IT March 1, 2008

In the early nineteenth century, women were considered second-class citizens whose existence was limited to the interior life of the home and care of the children. Women were considered sub-sets of their husbands, and after marriage they did not have the right to own property, maintain their wages, or sign a contract, much less vote. It was expected that women be obedient wives, never to hold a thought or opinion independent of their husbands. It was considered improper for women to travel alone or to speak in public.* 

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Although I know these statements are true, it’s still hard for me to imagine living in such a time. I grew up hearing tale after tale about my female ancestors. Lucy, Mary, Vester, Nevada. They weren’t docile and demure like the women described above, but strong and independent.  

My great-grandmother and grandmother have been widows for as long as I can remember. Although grandma (my great-grandmother) only had one child, she helped raise her siblings’ children and always opened her home to whoever needed som’teet (something to eat) or a warm bed.

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My grandmother (Muh) kept her family together after the death of my grandfather. Armed with an eighth-grade education and a strong work ethic, she get up early and catch a ride to the fields to pick strawberries or whatever crop was in season. I’d sit at her feet while she shelled peas or snapped beans and listen to the latest episodes of ‘the good old days’. Muh is eighty-seven now and she does get out much anymore. The stories have started to repeat, but they’re just as entertaining as they were when I was growing up. So now when I hear her start a conversation with “I remember (so and so)”, it’s time to live a little women’s “her”story.

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*Read more about Women’s History at history.com.