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Category: Author Interview
#Bookexcursion, Author Interview, Debut Author, Middle Grade Literature, Novels in Verse
Happy Book Birthday ALONE: Interview with author Megan Freeman and Review
January 12, 2021 January 12, 2021 lauramossa
I am so thrilled to have had the opportunity to talk with author Megan Freeman about ALONE, her debut middle grade novel in verse which celebrates its book birthday today! I was blessed to read an ARC of ALONE and am so excited that Maddie's story is published and available for all to read.
The Interview:
BB: Hi Megan! Welcome to Beagles and Books! Congratulations on ALONE! How did you get the idea to write this compelling novel?
MF: The genesis for the story came from a mother-daughter book club gathering when my daughter and her friends were in fifth grade. We read Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell and the girls were fascinated by how Karana could survive alone on an island. I pointed out that the island was her home, and she was already comfortable there. The greater challenge was being alone for eighteen years. I asked them to imagine what it would be like for them to come home after school to find everyone in the entire town gone. What if they couldn't reach anyone for help? What if no one came back? What would they do? How would they survive? I couldn't get the idea out of my head and it became the seed of the story.
BB: Did you plan to write ALONE in verse or did that evolve as you were in the writing process?
MF: The writing of the book went through many iterations and took many years. I first wrote the book in prose, third person voice, and past tense. After many rounds of revisions, submissions, and feedback from multiple sources, I began again, this time tapping into my experience and skill as a poet. I rewrote the story in verse, using first person voice and present tense. This allowed me to get inside Maddie's head and explore the solitary and sensory nature of her experience. The prose had served the plot, but the poetry freed the story.
BB: In ALONE, Maddie's town is evacuated but it is never explained why. Is there a reason you kept the evacuation a mystery?
MF: The entire story is told through Maddie's point of view, and so the reader can only ever know what Maddie knows. As a seventh grader in the beginning of the book, she's not paying much attention to events happening beyond her friendships and her life in school. When she's left alone, she becomes concerned about possible threats to her safety, but she doesn't have much information so she can only imagine what might be safe or dangerous. By the time she's finally reunited with her parents (spoiler alert!), she's been alone for so long and she's so relieved, that the cause of the evacuation is secondary to being with the people she loves and has been craving for three and a half years. The final poem in the book gives the reader some information about the nature of what happened, but it isn't Maddie's primary focus, so it can't be the reader's either.
BB: I was in awe of how resourceful and resilient Maddie was surviving on her own. Did her skills come from your personal knowledge or did you do research?
The ideas for Maddie's skills came from a variety of sources. I spent a lot of time looking around my house and my town and speculating on what would be helpful if I were trying to survive alone. I also asked myself what I might do and how I might think if I were in Maddie's situation at her age. And of course I asked my friends and my daughter's friends what they might do in different scenarios. I did have to research certain things, like what happens when the electrical grid shuts down and what the impacts would be on other utilities like water and gas.
BB: The poem, "The Summer Day," by Mary Oliver really struck a chord with me especially the question "Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?" Can you share what the poem means to you and why you included in ALONE?
MF: I grew up hearing Mary Oliver's poems read often, and "The Summer Day" packs a wallop of a punch, especially with that last question you quoted. At first, the intimacy of feeding a grasshopper in the palm of one's hand and then reflecting on one's mortality may seem incongruous, but it's at the heart of what it means to be fully present and awake in one's life. The speaker in the poem is entirely concentrated on the specificity of the grasshopper eating, and it's the speaker's ability to be so present that connects her directly to the miracle of her own life and her place in the natural world. It's impossible to grasp the miracle of one's life without being keenly aware of the inevitability of one's death. To be truly present means coming to terms with the fact that every life is finite, including our own. When we stop taking our lives for granted, we realize there is no greater gift than to be present and alive to the beauty of each moment. The question at the end of the poem, "Tell me, what is it you plan to do/with your one wild and precious life?" is an invitation from the speaker to the reader to become fully present in the world and to manifest a life worthy of the miracle it is before death takes it back.
In ALONE, Mary Oliver's poem becomes the catalyst that helps Maddie think differently about her situation. Her close reading of each line leads her to become fully present to the truth of her life and to stop living in the future of hope or the past of regret. It allows her to let go of the longing that causes her so much suffering, and only then she is able to come to terms with her present reality. Once she does, she finds a measure of peace she hadn't previously known, and she is able to move through her days with a lighter heart, despite her grief. ALONE is a book about physical survival, but it's also about psychological and spiritual resilience. The existential angst that Maddie endures is no less a challenge than the life-threatening situations she finds herself in. To triumph in the story, she needs to overcome existential hurdles as well as physical ones, and this poem helps her do that.
BB: Are you working on any new projects you can share?
I have a few things in the pipeline that I hope to share more about soon, and I'm currently working on a new middle grade novel that I'm really enjoying. It's completely different from ALONE, but I love the characters and the world they live in. It's a pleasure to greet them at my desk every day.
BB: Thank you so much Megan! I really appreciate you taking the time to answer my questions providing a window into your process of writing ALONE.
Maddie and her two best friends secretly plan a sleepover at her grandparents' empty apartment. At the last minute, both friends cancel. Since Maddie has already lied to her divorced parents, she decides to stay there alone binging on old black and white movies and junk food. When she wake up the next morning, she had no idea how truly alone she would be. Her whole town, including her family, have been evacuated overnight. Because of her lie, her mom and dad each think Maddie is safe with the other leaving text messages that they will reconnect at the embarkation point. With no cell phone connection, Maddie returns home but it isn't long before she realizes not only is she on her own but also she will have to survive without electricity and running water. On her search for supplies in her neighborhood, Maddie rescues George, her neighbor's rottweiler who becomes her most precious and loyal companion.
Narrated by 12 year old Maddie, Alone is a riveting novel in verse by debut author Megan Freeman. I was completely in awe of Maddie's resourcefulness and resilience. She takes turns living at both parent's houses depending on weather, recalls her dad's advice of staying put and how to flush a toilet that won't refill, scours the neighborhood for food and solar lights, gets lake water to wash clothes, and drives her mom's minivan with her bike helmet (better safe than sorry). She survives looters, a tornado, and a wildfire. My heart also hurt for Maddie because her loneliness is acute. As I read, I was so grateful she had George for company as well as books. I love the verses when Maddie went to the Millersville Public Library to get books to teach her things as well as provide an escape. And when she discovers poetry, something awakens in Maddie's soul. Realizing that while her situation seems bleak, Maddie realizes she has to do something with her one wild and precious life which is to live as completely and fully as she can.
Alone teaches us great lessons about the power not only to survive but also to believe in the power of new beginnings. Thanks to the author for sharing an ARC of Alone with my #bookexcursion group. Alone publishes on January 21, 2021.
This review was originally published on November 23, 2020.
Photo credit: Laura Carson Photography
Megan E. Freeman attended an elementary school where poets visited her classroom every week to teach poetry and she has been a writer ever since. She writes middle grade and young adult fiction, and her debut middle grade novel-in-verse ALONE will be published in January 2021 from Simon & Schuster/Aladdin. Megan is also a Pushcart Prize-nominated poet, and her poetry collection, Lessons on Sleeping Alone, was published by Liquid Light Press. An award-winning teacher with decades of classroom experience, Megan is nationally recognized for her work leading workshops and speaking to audiences across the country. Megan used to live in northeast Los Angeles, central Ohio, northern Norway, and on Caribbean cruise ships. Now she lives in northern Colorado.
#Bookexcursion, Author Interview, Early Chapter Books, Giveaway
Interview with Hillary Homzie, Author of Ellie May on Presidents' Day & Ellie May on April Fools' Day & Giveaway!
December 18, 2018 lauramossa
Beagles and Books wishes Hillary Homzie's Ellie May a very Happy Book Birthday! The first two books, Ellie May on Presidents' Day and Ellie May on April Fools' Day publish today. Hillary was kind enough to join me to answer questions about her new chapter book series about an enthusiastic and curious second grader. To read my full reviews on both books, please visit my blog post here.
BB: Congratulations on your new chapter book series! I am so excited for readers to meet Ellie May! Can you share with how you came to create her as a character? Any influences or inspirations?
HH: Ellie May announced herself to me. I didn't pre-plan her. In fact, I had to keep typing to figure out what she would do or say next. She constantly surprised me with her enthusiasm and well-intentioned but misguided attempts at securing attention. She's absolutely nothing like me. Okay, I'm sure there's something of me in her somewhere. But she's certainly nothing like the second grade me. I was much more lost in my own world, nose in a book or drawing. If anything, I'm closer to Lizzy, Ellie May's best friend who's artistic and not particularly athletic. However, Lizzy also like rules, and I can't say I'm particularly bound by them.
So now, you really have me wondering, Laura. Where did Ellie May come from? I think I drew some inspiration from my middle son, who's impulsive, energetic and who tries his best to get into the center of things, which means sometimes he steps on a few toes. Hmm, it seems like it's no coincidence that Ellie May is a middle child. In terms of influences, I'd have to cite the crisp characterization and humor in Beverly Clearly's Ramona books and in Judy Blume's Fudge Books.
BB: I love that Ellie's lists, notes, and letters are included in the chapters. Was this an idea from your first drafts or did this come later?
It came about organically. Ellie May just seemed to want to me to dictate her notes. My editor Julie Bliven really liked them, so she asked me to do more, which means they are now consistently interspersed through the books. I have to admit that I got a little carried away with Ellie May's creative spelling, and Julie had to pull me back, but she let me keep in quite a bit of it. Ellie May's still working on her spelling. Hey, I just realized something. I'm not so hot at spelling myself. I'm constantly having to look things up, and I'm a firm believer that spellcheck is one of the world's greatest inventions.
BB: Tell us your impressions when you saw the first sketches of Ellie May by Jeffrey Ebbeler.
HH: I was just thrilled! Jeffrey is extremely talented, and I feel so lucky that he's working on the Ellie May books. He's particularly adept at creating all kinds of humorous details that match the tone of the story. Plus, he truly individualizes the kids and perfectly showcases their personalities and expressions.
BB: The first two in the series are based on Presidents' Day and April Fool's Day. Why did you choose those holidays to begin the series?
HH: With my kids, it was a really big deal who got to be flag leader during the Pledge of Allegiance, so I decided to use that as a scenario. I thought it would up the stakes if Ellie May wanted to be flag leader right before Presidents' Day. Plus, studying and learning about Presidents' Day can be a big part of the primary school curriculum during the month of February. It was an opportunity to have Ellie May consider what it meant to be a good leader, and the importance of honesty in leadership emerged as a theme. This is an issue that kids are especially hearing about right now in the news, and it will be a timeless issue.
Tackling April Fools' Day next just seemed the thing to do. After all, it comes only a couple of months after Presidents' Day, and, well, it's all about being funny. While Ellie May isn't a joker, she's a humorous character because of her mishaps, and so I thought having Ellie May decide to be the funniest kid in her classroom during April Fools' Day would provide lots of opportunities for mayhem and mirth. In particular, I enjoyed weaving in a bit of the history of April Fools' Day and other international holidays celebrating merriment. Plus, when I was in my twenties, I performed and wrote sketch comedy in New York, so I'm always up for a holiday that's about making people laugh.
BB: Any plans for additional Ellie May books in the series?
HH: Well, I have written the first half of a Halloween book, which was so much fun because it involves Ellie May's attempts at scaring people! Of course, there are so many other holidays I'd love to tackle—like Ground Hog's Day. I mean, think about Ellie May in search of a ground hog. It just makes me smile thinking about it.
I know that sometimes I take myself way too seriously and Ellie May reminds me to get back to my inner child, risk-taking and fun–someone who is not being afraid to fail and seeks new experiences with enthusiasm and an open heart.
BB: I couldn't agree more! Ellie May is a good role model for young readers and can teach us all a lesson about the power of curiosity, taking chances, and admitting and growing from your mistakes. I look forward to reading more Ellie May adventures and learning facts about holidays! Thanks so much Hillary for taking the time to stop by Beagles and Books.
Meet Hillary:
To learn more about Hillary, visit her at www.hillaryhomzie.com or follow her on Twitter @hillaryhomzie
To celebrate Ellie May's book birthday, Beagles and Books is giving away paperback copies of Presidents' Day and April Fools' Day. Contest begins today and will end on December 26, 2018 at 12:00 a.m. Click the link below to enter.
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/46a61dc011/?
Author Interview, Debut Author, Picture Books
An Interview with Laura Renauld: Author of Porcupine's Pie
October 2, 2018 lauramossa
Beagles and Books is honored to host an interview with author Laura Renauld. Her debut picture book, Porcupine's Pie will be released next week. Stay tuned for my review of this heartwarming story of sharing and friendship on the blog later this week.
Porcupine's Pie
Written by Laura Renauld
Illustrated by Jennie Poh
Beaming Books (October 9, 2018)
Publisher's Summary:
Porcupine can't wait to share Fall Feast with her woodland friends, so when everyone she greets is unable to bake their specialty due to a missing ingredient, Porcupine generously offers staples from her pantry. When Porcupine discovers that she, too, is missing a key ingredient, the friends all work together to create a new Fall Feast tradition. Porcupine's Pie will inspire children ages 4-8 to act generously. A recipe for "friendship pie" can be found at the end of the book.
Congratulations on your debut picture book, Porcupine's Pie Laura! Tell me a little about your writing journey. Have you always enjoyed writing?
Thank you, Laura! I'm so happy to share my book with your readers. Ever since I can remember, books and reading have been an important part of my life. I could sit on my bed and travel to another planet, share a cake with a panda, or hideout in an art museum. I found friends and adventures between the pages. I don't remember writing being part of my childhood in quite the same way. I kept a lot of journals and I created a town newspaper with a friend that we distributed to the neighborhood, but I didn't start writing stories until I was an adult.
Where did you get the inspiration to write Porcupine's Pie?
Have you heard of Tara Lazar's Picture Book Idea Month (now Storystorm)? I've participated every year since 2011. Published authors share idea-gathering strategies in daily posts. It encourages me to fill a notebook that I can draw on all year long. During PiBoIdMo 2014, Tammi Sauer's guest post challenged writers to frame a story as a How-To Book. So I jotted in my notebook: "How to make porcupine pie (or a pie for a porcupine)". (Even at this early stage I thought that Porcupine Pie sounded a bit morbid!) My story never evolved into a How-To Book, but the alliterative title stuck with me and I ran with it!
Porcupine Pie is a beautifully illustrated by Jennie Poh. As an author, share your experience seeing your story come to life with her artwork.
The first time I experienced Porcupine outside of my own imagination was when the book cover was revealed. Porcupine looked different than what I had visualized, but after seeing her strutting through the woods in her little blue boots and carrying a pie, I couldn't imagine her any other way. Creating a picture book is truly a collaboration. I love the color palette Jennie chose and Porcupine's cozy den feels so inviting. The characters were friends in my text, but Jennie's illustrations make those relationships warm and believable. I am very grateful to Jennie for bringing my characters to life.
From your bio, I read that you are a former third grade teacher. How did you make the transition from third grade teacher to published picture book writer?
When I taught third grade, my favorite part of the day was the read-aloud. I chose a variety of picture books as mentor texts for Reading and Writing Workshops, as supplements for Science, Social Studies, and Math units, and as a springboard for discussions on social topics, such as inclusion, bullying, and empathy. I witnessed the power of story to captivate, amuse, and encourage. Stories are powerful and I felt drawn to the creative process.
After I left teaching and had my children, I started to take my writing seriously. I joined SCBWI, attended conferences, sought out a critique group, and found online resources that supported my journey. But most importantly, I made writing a priority and started treating it as a part-time job. My advice to aspiring writers? The laundry can wait!
Besides writing, what are your other passions?
I've always loved to sing. I've been in a choir nearly every year since middle school. In fact, that's how I met my husband: on the choir tour bus in college. I currently sing with my church choir. I belong to a book club and I enjoy hosting tea parties for that group. I also love to bake, which ties in nicely with Porcupine's Pie since I created a pie recipe to include at the end of the book. My book club even got roped into a taste test!
Do you have any other writing projects planned in the future?
My next book is a picture book biography called Fred's Big Feelings: The Life and Legacy of Mister Rogers. It is scheduled to release in Fall 2019, with Brigette Barrager illustrating.
Thank you so much Laura for stopping by Beagles and Books! There is still time to pre-order Porcupine's Pie to receive a signed bookplate and be entered to win a pie kit. Preorder available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Indiebound, and Beaming Books.
About Laura:
Laura Renauld grew up in Vermont with a forest as her playground. While she never met a pie-baking porcupine, walks in the woods were always an adventure. When she is not enjoying nature with her husband and their two boys, Laura can be found reading, singing, and baking in Northern Virginia. This is her debut picture book.
Connect with me online at: laurarenauld.com and on social media:
Twitter – @laura_renauld
Facebook – @kidlitlaura
Instagram – @laurarenauld
Author Interview, Blog Tour, Rockstar Book Tours
An Interview with Author Stacy McAnulty and Giveaway: The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl Blog Tour
April 23, 2018 April 29, 2018 lauramossa
Beagles and Books is honored to kick off The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl Blog Tour organized by Jaime of Rockstar Book Tours. I had the great pleasure to read an ARC of The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl as part of my #bookexcursion group. To read my full review, please click here.
The tour begins with an interview with author Stacy McAnulty. Thank you so much Stacy for taking the time to visit Beagles and Books!
1. Tell us a little bit about your new middle grade novel, The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl. On 1 level, it's a story about fitting in and making friends in middle school. It also has a 12-year-old girl with amazing math skills, quirky friends, a doomed dog, lots of junk food, OCD, musical references, a tells-it-like-it-is grandma, and an epic birthday party.
2. What inspired you to write The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl? I definitely love math, and that's not common among authors. Or at least, there's a stereotype that writers should dislike (or be bad at) math. I'm more comfortable with a Sudoku than a crossword. And when my kids need homework help, I'd rather assist with math than help with vocabulary (I'm talking to you, Wordly Wise books!) But I didn't set out to write a "math story." I was intrigued by savants. I believe everyone's brain works differently. We all see the world and compute in our own way.
3. The main character, Lucy has acquired savant syndrome and also lives with OCD. Tell us about your research before and during the writing of The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl to make Lucy authentic. To begin, I watched a documentary about OCD treatment and did the usual Google searching. I also spoke with two experts—a mom of an OCD child and a psychologist. I'm so thankful to these women for sharing their experiences and knowledge. For the savant syndrome, I read a few memoirs and a book by a leading savant researcher. Because it's so rare, I've never encountered someone with savant syndrome.
4. On your website, you share that like Lucy, you counted words instead of reading them. Are you and the main character Lucy similar in other ways? This is something I did in 4th grade. I'd just moved to a new school, and I was assigned the book How to Eat Fried Worms. We had to sit quietly after recess and read for a set period of time. I struggled with the reading. So instead, I counted the words. I did it because I couldn't read well. Lucy also counts the words, but for her, it's an obsession. Her genius-math brain insists she calculate everything, including the number of words on each page. Lucy and I have a few other similarities. We're both better at math than language arts. We both love Oreos. And we'd both rather hang with our close friends than go to a big bash.
5. I think we can all agree that navigating middle school is tough. Did you draw on any of your own experiences to include in the novel? Not specifically, but I recall being worried all the time in middle school. Am I wearing the right jeans? Will I embarrass myself in gym class? Where will I sit at lunch when my friend is absent? Nothing too terrible happened. I just felt like it could at any moment. It was not an easy time.
6. You have written 8 picture books and 2 chapter book series, The Dino Files and Goldie Blox. The Miscalculation of Lightning Girl is your first middle grade novel. Tell us a little about this transition to writing a novel. While MLG is my first published novel, I have attempted to write several others. So I've been juggling picture books, chapter books, and novels for years. I love being able to jump around. If I'm stuck on 1 project, I can focus on something else. And I truly believe my subconscious is toiling away on the problem project while I look somewhere else.
7. We both share a mutual love for dogs. Tell us a little bit about your dogs. Did any of your dogs inspire Cutie Pi? Yay for dogs! We have 3—Jack, Munchkin, and Reykja ("Ray-Ka"). Cutie Pi is not based on any specific dog, but the love and affection is inspired by every pet I've ever had. Sadly, we lost our dog Pepper in January. I was devastated. Immediately, I emailed my editor, Caroline, and asked her to change the acknowledgments. (The book was ready to go to print.) I begged her to put "In memory of Pepper…" and she did without hesitation.
8. One of my favorite parts of the novel was when Lucy meets Cutie Pi. Did you plan to include dogs as part of the plot? Out of all the relationships Lucy has in the novel, why is her relationship with Pi important? Cutie Pi has been in the story since the first draft. I think Lucy's relationship with Pi is vital because she assumed she didn't like dogs. At the beginning of the book, she's pretty certain she knows who she is and what she needs. Meeting and falling in love with Pi is part of her self-discovery.
9. As a reader, I would love to check in with Lucy and her friends as they navigate middle school. Is The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl a standalone novel or is there the possibility of a series? For now, it's a standalone. Though, I've had a few kid readers, who got their hands on advance copies, ask for more Lightning Girl. And they had some great suggestions for another book. I'm currently working on another middle-grade novel about a 7th grader who learns the world is ending in a few months, and no one believes her. But maybe we'll get to go back to East Hamlin with Lucy, Windy, Levi, and Pi too.
I certainly hope readers will be able to visit East Hamlin again and catch up with Lucy and her friends (and Cutie Pi too)! Thanks so much Stacy for chatting with Beagles and Books.
3 winners will receive a finished copy of The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl, US Only. Enter the giveaway by clicking the link below.
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/e2389ba2734/?
Be sure to join us at all the stops on the Miscalculations of Lightning Girl blog tour:
The Tour Hosts
4/23/2018- Beagles and Books– Interview
4/24/2018- Mrs. Knott's Book Nook– Review
4/25/2018- A Dream Within A Dream– Excerpt
4/26/2018- Here's to Happy Endings– Review
4/27/2018- She Dreams in Fiction– Excerpt
4/30/2018- 100 Pages A Day- Review
5/1/2018- Wonder Struck– Review
5/2/2018- Nerdophiles– Review
5/3/2018- The Underground– Guest Post
5/4/2018- Feed Your Fiction Addiction– Review
Title: THE MISCALCULATIONS OF LIGHTNING GIRL
Author: Stacy McAnulty
Pub. Date: May 1, 2018
Formats: Hardcover, eBook
Find it: Amazon, B&N, iBooks, TBD, Goodreads
Book Summary: Middle school is the one problem Lucy Callahan can't solve in this middle-grade novel perfect for fans of The Fourteenth Goldfish, Rain Reign, and Counting by 7s.
Lucy Callahan was struck by lightning. She doesn't remember it, but it changed her life forever. The zap gave her genius-level math skills, and ever since, Lucy has been homeschooled. Now, at 12 years old, she's technically ready for college. She just has to pass 1 more test–middle school!
Lucy's grandma insists: Go to middle school for 1 year. Make 1 friend. Join 1 activity. And read 1 book (that's not a math textbook!). Lucy's not sure what a girl who does calculus homework for fun can possibly learn in 7th grade. She has everything she needs at home, where nobody can make fun of her rigid routines or her superpowered brain. The equation of Lucy's life has already been solved. Unless there's been a miscalculation?
A celebration of friendship, Stacy McAnulty's smart and thoughtful middle-grade debut reminds us all to get out of our comfort zones and embrace what makes us different.
"An engaging story, full of heart and hope. Readers of all ages will root for Lucy, aka Lightning Girl. No miscalculations here!" –Kate Beasley, author of Gertie's Leap to Greatness
About Stacy:
Stacy McAnulty is a children's book author, who used to be a mechanical engineer, who's also qualified to be a paleontologist (NOT REALLY), a correspondent for The Daily Show (why not), and a Green Bay Packer coach (totally!). She is the 2017 Ezra Jack Keats New Writer Honor Recipient for Excellent Ed, illustrated by Julia Sarcone-Roach. Her other picture books include Earth! My First 4.54 Billion Years, illustrated by David Litchfield; Max Explains Everything: Grocery Store Expert, illustrated by Deborah Hocking, Brave and Beautiful, both illustrated by Joanne Lew-Vriethoff; Mr. Fuzzbuster Knows He's the Favorite, illustrated by Edward Hemingway; and 101 Reasons Why I'm Not Taking a Bath, illustrated by Joy Ang. She's also authored the chapter book series Goldie Blox, based on the award-winning toys, and The Dino Files. Her debut middle grade novel, The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl, will publish in May 2018. When not writing, Stacy likes to listen to NPR, bake triple-chocolate cupcakes, and eat triple-chocolate cupcakes. Originally from upstate NY, she now lives in Kernersville, NC with her 3 kids, 3 dogs, and 1 husband.
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads


text:
Jean Zinn-Justin (born 10 July 1943 in Berlin) is a French  theoretical physicist.

Biography
Zinn-Justin was educated in physics (undergraduate 1964) at the École Polytechnique, and did graduate work in theoretical physics at Orsay, (Ph.D. 1968) under the supervision of  Marcel Froissart.

Zinn-Justin has worked since 1965 as a theoretical and mathematical physicist at the Saclay Nuclear Research Centre (CEA), where he was head of theoretical physics in 1993−1998 . He has served as a visiting professor at
the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT),   Princeton University,   State University of New York at Stony Brook (1972), and  Harvard University, and further guest scientists at  CERN. From 1987 to 1995 he was Director of the  Les Houches summer school for theoretical physics. In 2003 he became leader of DAPNIA (Department of Astrophysics, Particle Physics, Nuclear Physics and Associated Instrumentation) at Saclay.

He has made  seminal contributions to the renormalizability of gauge theories. He is a world authority on Quantum Field Theory in particle and Phase transitions in statistical physics, and, in particular, the Renormalization group organizing and connecting these two areas. He has written definitive books on the subject.

In 1977, he was awarded the Paul Langevin Prize of the Société Française de Physique; in 1981 the Ampère prize of the French Academy of Sciences; in 1996 the Gentner-Kastler Prize of the Société Française de Physique  jointly with the Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft (DPG); in 2003 the Gay-Lussac-Humboldt prize. In 2011, he was elected to the French Academy of Sciences.

Notes

Books
Quantum Field Theory and Critical Phenomena, Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1989, 1993, 1996, 2002, 2021
Path Integrals in Quantum Mechanics, Oxford University Press, 2005,
Phase Transitions and Renormalization Group, Oxford University Press, 2007,
From Random Walks to Random Matrices, Oxford University Press, 2021,

External links
Scientific publications of Jean Zinn-Justin on INSPIRE-HEP

Zinn-Justin's author  page

1943 births
Living people
Theoretical physicists
Fellows of the Institute of Physics
Mathematical physicists
French physicists
École Polytechnique alumni
People associated with CERN
Members of the French Academy of Sciences

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
DAILY INTERNATIONAL ROUND-UP: MONDAY
Kyle Lafferty comes off the bench for Northern Ireland
KYLE Lafferty featured as a second half substitute during Northern Ireland's 1-0 home friendly victory over Slovenia on Monday.
The forward, who recently moved on loan to Birmingham City, replaced Jamie Ward shortly after the restart as Michael O'Neill's side continued their preparations for Euro 2016.
Northern Ireland's win came courtesy of Conor Washington's first half strike, with goalkeeper Roy Carroll saving a penalty in the second period.
For our full internationals rundown, click HERE.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


St. Vincent-St. Mary won the event with 119 points to outdistance second-place GlenOak, which had 60.
Megan Tomei of the Fighting Irish was the field events MVP by winning both the shot put and discus.
The Irish won both the 3,200- and 1,600-meter relays. Freshman Imani Davis won the 200 dash and sophomore Chelsea Laury took the 400.
Taylor McDonald of Nordonia won the running MVP by winning both hurdles events and anchoring the Knights� second-place 1,600-relay team, as well as winning the Iron Bulldog Award for most points at the meet.
Sarah Meek of Firestone won the 3,200, Brooklyn McDaniels of GlenOak the long jump and Gabriela Rodridguez of Copley won the 800.
North Canton Hoover won the meet at Loudonville High School. The Vikings had a 1-2 finish by juniors Kelsey Peare and Ashley Hinderer in the 800 and another 1-2 by Maddie Morrow and Julie Worley in the high jump, and they won the 1,600 and 3,200 relays.
Freshman Danielle Huff won the long jump.
Wadsworth finished second, led by first-place finishes by Paige Szabat in the 1,600 and 3,200, Michalla Gordon in the 300 hurdles and Maddie Gilger in the 400. Cuyahoga Falls was third, as Nicole Waibel and Nicole Rozsa were first and second in the pole vault.
Ross McLelland led off the bottom of the seventh with a walk, stole second and scored on two wild pitches for the host Explorers (17-1).
The Tigers had tied the score at 13 in the top of the seventh with six runs.
The Magics won the first game as Sam Jerome had four single, a run and RBI and J. D. Cuckler had two hits, two runs and drove in two runs.
Drew Gardner had three hits and two RBI for the host Black Tigers (9-11).
Alex Norman led the Magics (12-6) in the second game with three hits and five RBI, and Sean Conner drove in two runs.
Senior outfielder Todd Locke had three RBI, junior Jake Krupar had two doubles and drove in two runs and sophomore left-hander Shawn Jones (2-2) struck out eight for the host Crusaders (17-5).
Deonte Settles drove in three runs and D.J. Wilson and Noah Mallen had two hits each for the host Wildcats (14-5).
Junior catcher Jo Nicodemus had a double and two RBI and freshman pitcher Marissa Fiume got the first win of her varsity career with a four-hitter for the Knights (7-12) at the Rock-n-Fire Invitational.


text:
Winner of South of Broad
The winner of the giveaway for a copy of South of Broad is:
Suko!!
Congratulations, Suko, and thanks to all who entered this giveaway! Stay tuned as well, because there will be more great giveaways coming in the near future!
Posted by Zibilee at 12:00 PM 2 comments
Glorious by Bernice McFadden - 240 pgs
Easter Bartlett has just left her home in the South after a series of devastating events has struck her family. Traveling alone from town to town, Easter goes from working as a sideshow act in a traveling circus to becoming a schoolteacher in a one room school. Though she meets new acquaintances and falls in love, Easter is ever on the move whenever the difficulties of life threaten to trap her. When she meets up with an old friend from her home town, Easter decides to travel to New York and gets caught up in the Harlem Renaissance, becoming a contributor of short stories to various magazines. In New York, Easter runs into an old friend from the circus and meets a very rich white woman who will become her benefactor, never dreaming that one day this woman will betray her in the worst of ways and send her future spinning out of control. Though Easter has risen high, she ultimately falls to earth once again, her dreams and plans thrown by the wayside of her ever-changing life. Filled with heartache and wisdom, Bernice McFadden blends the tale of Easter Bartlett with the tale of the real life heroes of the Jim Crow south and the Harlem Renaissance.
Recently I had the distinct honor of meeting Bernice McFadden at a local book fair. She was an amazingly warm and friendly person and she was very enthusiastic about her praise for the blogging community. She took the time to answer some questions for me and really went out of her way to make me feel comfortable. It was such a pleasure to get the chance to talk to her and I am really pleased to have had the chance to review for her.
This book was a very quick read for me. The fact that the prose was so fluid, coupled with the fact that the story moved along with such a great clip made this a book that I was easily engrossed in and finished in one afternoon. Easter's story is one filled with frustration, heartbreak and pain. She made for a very likable protagonist and I relished the time spent with her. She had a great innocence about her and she saw the world in such an interesting way that it was impossible not to fall in love with her. Most of her reactions to her fate seemed genuine and well written but there were points that I felt that I would have loved to have read more about her internal thought process.
The story itself was very inspired. McFadden has a lot to say about the marginalization of the black community during the early century, and says it well. She brings to her reader the agonies and atrocities of lynching and the despicable aspects of segregation and prejudice in crystal clear prose, never overdoing it. Instead she paints a picture of the inequalities between the two races with intensity and a level of reality that I was really able to appreciate. Her characters, real and imagined, were truly a product of their times and they really opened my eyes to the vast gulf separating the races during that time period.
I think that one of the most interesting parts of the book revolved around the storyline of Easter's time at the circus. It was there that she met the flamboyantly sexual and intense dancer, Rain. Though the story alludes to the fact that Easter had bisexual leanings, it was never clearly picked as a subject to focus on in the narrative. Rain and Easter's relationship was interesting because it held the hallmarks of a mother/daughter relationship, as well as being a sisterly and lover-like relationship. When Easter flees the circus, it was easy to see that what she was really fleeing was the feelings that she had for Rain, feelings that were, unfortunately for her, not reciprocated. I was saddened that Easter had to leave with such sadness and bitterness in her heart but was very pleased when the two women's paths crossed again in New York. Though their relationship was very different the second time around, it was nice to see that their journey together would continue.
As the story winds towards its conclusion, Easter has been relegated to a sad fate. Many years have passed and due to the scandal that transpired after her betrayal, Easter is left living out her days far from the splendor in which she once lived. I liked the way McFadden chose to reveal those lost days of Easter's past through flashbacks and thought that it was fitting that she eventually was able to put the pain of her past to rest. Easter found a way to live with her lot after all, though the twists of her tale were full of the sadness of dreams left unfulfilled.
This book had an ever-winding and surprising story that I felt was written with genuine feeling and clarity. I think that those readers who have not yet tried any of McFadden's books would probably do well to start here, though I have also heard great things about another book of hers, called Sugar. If you are the type of reader who enjoys character driven dramas that deal with some of the darker parts of American history, I would definitely recommend this book to you. I think that although it's a shorter read, it carries an important message that should be passed down through the generations. A very thoughtful read. Recommended!
The very generous author of this book, Bernice McFadden has offered one signed copy of Glorious to my readers for a giveaway! If you would like the chance to win, please leave your e-mail address in the comments section of this post. A valid e-mail address must be left in order for you to be entered in this giveaway! I will draw a winner with the help of random,org on May 15th. Good luck to all entrants!
This book was provided as a complimentary review copy.
Posted by Zibilee at 8:00 AM 13 comments
Labels: Giveaway, Historical Fiction
Sounds Like Crazy by Shana Mahaffey - 400 pgs
Holly Miller, a victim of dissociative disorder, has five separate personalities living inside her head. They are known as the committee, and from the maniacally egotistical Betty Jane to the Silent One who spends his days in prayer and meditation, Holly has learned to live with those populating her skull. Though Holly has very frayed family ties, she is managing to live on her own in New York and works as a waitress, supplementing her income with the emergency credit card her mother gave her when she went away to college. But Betty Jane has different plans for Holly and finagles a job as a voice-over artist for a cartoon. The only catch is that each of the committee must participate in the voice-over work for Holly to be successful. This proves to be a major problem, as Betty Jane's ego is growing out of control and she is quickly developing into a diva. Meanwhile, Holly is working with her therapist Milton to finally discover the hidden trauma that has caused her mind to fragment into the committee. Though Holly doggedly tries to ignore both her burgeoning memories and Betty Jane's behavior, the situations in her life are quickly becoming unmanageable. It will be up to Holly to finally integrate the five personalities in her head and uncover the memory that brought them all to her in the first place. Irreverent and at times very moving, Sounds Like Crazy is an unusual tale of one woman's quest to become whole.
I have to admit that for the first fifty pages of this book, I wondered if I would be able to finish it and write a review. I wasn't sure just what the author was doing with the story and I felt that creating a humorous novel whose main character had a serious mental disorder might be a touch offensive. I also thought that the way that the author chose to portray the illness (the personalities living inside Holly actually had an apartment inside her head) and the fact that they were all so flamboyant was going to totally ruin the book for me. I decided to read further and maybe suspend a little bit of my sense of disbelief, and I actually managed to enjoy the book and come understand what the author was trying to do.
Though I initially had some problems with the ways that the personalities were dealt with, they were very interesting to read about. As figments of Holly's imagination, each had a quality that she decidedly lacked and each was able to handle various parts of her life very well. I did get very tired of Betty Jane though, and almost groaned aloud every time she showed up on the page. I think the book would have benefited a bit by using less of her, and although I did understand that she was the main motivator of the novel, I would have liked to have seen a bit more exploration of the others personalities and a little less of Betty Jane. I wondered while I was reading this book just how accurate the author's interpretation of dissociative disorder was. Certain things seemed believable but there were things that seemed very far-fetched to me. It would be interesting to read up on the subject and try to figure out if the portrayal was on the mark.
During the later sections of the book, Holly begins to explore the traumas of her life. With her therapist's help, Holly is able to reflect back to her childhood and some of the things that have shaped her into the person she has become. I found these scenes to be incredibly sad and angering. Both her father and mother were very abusive to her. They called her names, beat her and ignored her. There were scenes where the confusion and terror of a young Holly just bounced off the page, and at times it was a bit too much for me to handle. I felt that both of her parents were terrible and demeaning to all of their children and it was clear to me why Holly's mind had splintered so viciously. The self-hate and despondency that Holly felt was what saddened me the most and made me really turn a lot of anger towards her parents. I can't imagine what it must have been like to live with those kinds of people and thought that they bore a lot of the responsibility for Holly's condition.
I did end up liking the sections dealing with the voice-over work. I always find it interesting to learn about a new subject in my reading, and the way that the author cleverly tucked her tutelage into the story was wonderful. I hadn't imagined the kind of time that goes into voice-over work or the cramped quarters where it takes place. I also thought that it was very clever to have a character with multiple personalities find a job doing cartoon voices. It seemed to be one of the plot points that I most admired and it clearly sweetened the narrative. The voice-over job was a catalyst for Holly in several scenes and really enabled the reader to see more of the other personalities that were stuck in her head.
Though I had my share of problems with this book, I do think that there were some things about it that were very thought provoking and moving. I think that had I been able to suspend my disbelief earlier on, it might have been a smoother read for me. The book drew a lot of curiosity from me because I tend to like stories that explore mental illness, but I do feel that there are some areas that I just couldn't connect to. I think that readers who enjoy unusual stories might like this book, as well as those who like a good mixture of plot and character. A very different kind of read, but ultimately enjoyable.
About Shana Mahaffey
Mahaffey lives in San Francisco, California, in part of an Edwardian compound that she shares with an informal cooperative of family, friends, and five cats. She's a survivor of catechism and cat scratch fever, and is a member of the Sanchez Grotto Annex, a writers' co-op. Her novel, Sounds Like Crazy was named a notable book for Fall 2009 by the San Francisco Chronicle; and her work has appeared in publications such as Sunset Magazine, SoMa Literary Review, Spectrum Literary Journal, Reflections Literary Journal, and assorted literary blogs. In addition to writing fiction, Shana has contributed articles, white papers, and product reviews to various technology publications. She welcomes all visitors to her website and is happy to meet with book groups in-person or in cyberspace (phone/webcam/the works). Her cat blogs for her at www.shanamahaffey.com.
A warm thanks to TLC Book Tours for providing this book for me to read and review. Please continue to follow the tour by visiting these other blogs:
Monday, April 5th: A Blog of Her Own
Tuesday, April 6th: The Scholastic Scribe
Thursday, April 8th: Chefdruck Musings
Tuesday, April 13th: Life in the Thumb
Thursday, April 15th: Heart 2 Heart
Wednesday, April 21st: Knowing the Difference
Monday, April 26th: Rundpinne
Tuesday, April 27th: Raging Bibliomania
Wednesday, April 28th: Jenn's Bookshelves
Thursday, April 29th: Bibliofreak
Posted by Zibilee at 8:00 PM 9 comments
The Vintner's Luck by Elizabeth Knox -- Guest Post with Aarti
I just love it when I can talk about books and reading. That's why it's been such a pleasure to get to know Aarti. She has amazing taste in books, and every time I stop over her site my wish list expands to alarming proportions. We have found a few books that our libraries have in common and have decided to tackle them as joint reads. This is our second read together, and I can honestly say that reading alongside such an intelligent and well-rounded person as Aarti really lets me take reading to the next level. It's like uber-reading. She always has a distinct grip on plot, character and dialogue, and is always able to provide several interpretations of scenes that I sometimes only see spot on. It is with great pleasure that I present her review of The Vintner's Luck today. She really had a wonderful grasp of the story and its implications, and as you will soon see, her reviews are detailed, erudite and just wonderful to read. Hop on over to Booklust as well, to see what other books she is reading! Without further ado, let me welcome Aarti, and her thought provoking review!
The Vintner's Luck, by Elizabeth Knox, meanders over 55 years of life making wine in 19th century France. At the start of the book, Sobran is a rough young man who wants to marry his fickle sweetheart. He gets drunk on his way home one day and stumbles upon an angel, Xas. The two get to talking and decide to meet again the next year- and then every year going forward, on the same date. They don't always meet- Sobran goes to war with Napoleon a few years after they meet, and then later on, he and Xas get into a big fight. But somehow, they always come back together and slowly find out more about each other.
Sobran becomes less rough and more prosperous, achieving an upper-middle class status as a successful vintner. He becomes friends with the local landowner's niece. He has many, many children with the sweetheart who becomes his wife, Celeste. He, in turn, learns about Xas's life, asks him questions about God and Lucifer, Heaven and Hell. The two become close friends, but as their friendship grows, Xas takes more and more dangerous risks.
As Sobran ages, Xas remains immortally youthful and perfect. But still, he has a great deal of wisdom and love to share with Sobran, the man who has become his closest confidante. This unusual and beautiful love story is different than I expected, in some ways disappointing me and in some ways becoming more than I ever hoped.
Interestingly, I didn't even realize that some things about this book disappointed me until I discussed it with Heather! Like Heather, I noticed that Knox's writing style was similar to that of other New Zealand authors I've read, such as Keri Hulme and Patricia Grace. She requires a lot of concentration and a great ability to read between the lines (which, unfortunately, I am not very good at). But this effort is rewarded, as the reader becomes fully immersed in the novel and the main characters.
The secondary characters, though, I never felt invested in. Isn't it strange how sometimes secondary characters can make you fall in love with a book? And sometimes, they are such gray matter you barely notice them? For me, most of Sobran's very large family was all a blur, without distinct personalities. In fact, even some aspects of Sobran's personality were a blur to me. We seemed often to only get snapshots of his life- we'd know his thoughts and his actions, but we didn't always know what drove him to think or act as he did. This really made me struggle to understand him, and I fully gave up on really understanding his family or any of the side plots. In fact, there is an entire murder mystery that I didn't even mention in my plot summary because I admit that I didn't pay it much attention.
My reading of this book was dominated utterly and completely by Xas, and to a lesser extent by Aurora, the landlord's daughter. Xas is a fascinating creature. The descriptions of his wings, of his body, of the way he uses his body to fly or sit or move... they are magnificent. His life story, too, is heart-breaking to hear. Sharing any of it would probably constitute a spoiler, so I will just say that he is a wonderful character who went through a great deal for his beliefs, and it is impossible not to feel for him. He made this story for me- Sobran was there, and central, but for me, it was all about Xas.
Aurora, too, is a strong and generous woman. She has so much wit and class, and I think she was a great role model for any girl who knew her.
In some ways, though, this story is about so much more than the central characters. It tackles many more huge, fundamental questions of religion than I was expecting going into it. At the end, I was left wondering what the author's message really was. Does she believe in a benevolent God or in a manipulative one? Is Lucifer really evil, or just misunderstood? I don't know myself, and I don't think I know enough about faith and religion to grapple with the questions that she raises. It was great to discuss these scenes and questions with Heather, and I'm very glad I had someone to talk to about this book. There were many scenes that we interpreted differently, possibly based on our religious backgrounds, and it was fascinating to see each other's perspectives.
Overall, I really enjoyed this read, even though I'm not entirely sure I understood it. It was wonderful reading and discussing it with a friend, especially one with whom I comfortable voicing my opinion on some very sensitive issues. I highly recommend it!
Now, head on over to Booklust for the second half of our joint review and check out my review of The Vintner's Luck!
Watermark: A Novel of the Middle Ages by Vanitha Sankaran - 368 pgs
Fair-haired Auda has been mute since birth, and due to her strange looks and lack of speech, has been sequestered away from society for most of her life. Living as an assistant to her father, the paper maker, Auda dreams of one day penning her own work of art on her father's pages. Though Auda and her father lead a quiet existence, life in their bucolic French village is becoming increasingly fraught with unease, as some in the town are being accused of heresy against the Church. But Auda has more pressing problems, for her sister is contracting a marriage between the young girl and the town's unattractive miller, a situation that causes Auda no end of unease. In order to escape his attentions, she contracts herself to the vicomtesse as a scribe in the castle. As she spends her days copying poetry from the crumbling parchment of the past, Auda discovers that a group of inquisitors are bearing down on the village and that their intent is to burn those who they deem to be heretics. Soon Auda comes to realize that she and her father are in grave danger by the rumors of heresy swirling around the village, and that they may have to sacrifice everything to save themselves and the ones they love. Told with a bewitching style and voice, Watermark is a dark swirling tale of secrecy and fear, set in a time where being different can be deadly.
From the moment I plunged into this tale, I realized that it was going to be a dark and treacherous ride. The story opens with the very dramatic scene of Auda's troublesome entrance into the world, leaving her motherless and disfigured. I knew just by this passage that Auda's life would be one fraught with difficulty and pain, and though there were some very joyous moments in the story, the tale lived up to my expectations.
I liked Auda and felt a strange protectiveness throughout the story. She was, in essence, an intelligent innocent, unschooled in the ways of the world, yet still independent and brave. Though most of her life was spent hidden and isolated, she had the same dreams and wishes for herself that most young girls have: to find love, to be respected and valued in the community, and to practice her art. She was not the type of character to feel pity for because she never sunk into pity for herself, choosing instead to lead her life with wonder and acceptance. She had very strong family ties and I really liked the relationship between her father and herself. She was not only his apprentice but his friend and confidante, weathering the hardships of life right alongside of him. Their relationship was sharply contrasted with the relationship she had with her older sister, Poncia, who was always meddling and lecturing, trying to be the maternal force in Auda's life. I had a strong dislike for Poncia and felt her to be at times very cruel.
Towards the middle of the book, Auda gets the chance to form a romantic relationship with a fellow artist. This was a nice aspect of the plot and tended to drown out the darker elements of the story, giving a nice balance to the narrative. As she begins to blossom in new ways, she grows beyond her small world of isolation and forges her way into the world surrounding her. The relationship between the two lovers was unique because it was not only forged in seduction and attraction, but also in mutual respect and admiration for one another's craft. Though the lovers have a difficult time rising above their situations and dangers, they are steadfastly loyal to one another and in the end are rewarded for it. I do wish that there had been a bit more focus on their relationship in the book because I really enjoyed reading about their times together and thought that it would be interesting to watch their relationship grow a bit more.
There were also a lot of great inside details on the craft of papermaking in the book. It's a craft that I had been curious about but knew very little of. The details of paper making were imparted with a great deal of clarity and filled in the plot very nicely. So much about this type of artistry would probably be foreign to most readers, but it was all conveyed with enthusiasm by the author and made for very interesting reading and speculation. I had no idea that it was such a detail oriented craft and that it was not at all popular in its early days.
The sections that dealt with the town's harassment by the inquisitors was truly frightening. Most of the suspected heretics were nothing of the kind, yet they were made to stand trial and torture and were most always executed, no matter what their level of guilt. It was in these sections that the story became gritty and raw. The fear of the Inquisition was a palpable vein running through the characters' lives and it seemed no one was safe from being arrested and burned in this town that had previously been peaceful and sheltered. This aspect of the plot felt very authentically documented and was thoroughly realized within the narrative, and at times, it was the crux of the story. Even the nobles of the town did not escape suspicion, though they were more capable of bartering themselves out of harm's way than most of the other villagers. I think that the author was amazingly adept at creating tension and fear in these scenes, and for me, these were the parts of the story that really stood out with distinction.
This book had a great dark and foreboding atmosphere and some very moving and dramatic plot elements that gave the story an edge over most other historical fiction of this kind. At times though, I felt that the plot moved a bit slowly and in a more roundabout way than what I had been expecting, and I found at times that I had to be patient with the story. If you are the type who enjoys historical fiction that centers around lesser known times and events, I think this book might be of interest to you. Readers who enjoy courageous and independent female characters might also appreciate this book. Though the book was involving, it was not overly dense, and aside from the plot lagging at times, it was an entertaining read. There are also few surprises tucked into the narrative as well, which I think will draw its readers deep into the recesses of the story and give them something to ponder.
About Vanitha
Vanitha Sankaran holds an MFA in creative writing from Antioch University. In addition, her short stories have been published in numerous journals, such as Mindprints, Futures, Prose Ax, and The Midnight Mind. She is at work on her second novel, which is about printmaking in Italy during the High Renaissance.
I read and reviewed this book as part of a TLC Book Tour. Please continue to follow the other tour stops for this engrossing novel!
Wednesday, April 21st: Thoughts From an Evil Overlord
Thursday, April 22nd: Devourer of Books
Monday, April 26th: Café of Dreams
Tuesday, April 27th: Starting Fresh
Wednesday, April 28th: A Few More Pages
Thursday, April 29th: Reading, Writing, and Retirement
Posted by Zibilee at 8:00 PM 12 comments
South of Broad by Pat Conroy - 528 pgs -- *Giveaway*
Leo King, known also as the Toad, is a young man who's seen his share of trouble. Years ago he was the one to find his brother Steve's lifeless body in the family's bathtub, a trauma that he has never been able to get over. Things didn't immediately get better for him, as he then had a run-in with the law and the parole board. Though Leo is a loyal and intelligent young man with an impeccable set of morals and a gift of putting people at ease, he is a lonely boy, seemingly on the outskirts of everything and everyone. As he approaches his senior year of high school, Leo's luck is about to turn around. Unexpectedly, Leo finds his way to the center of a mismatched group of teenagers, each more distinct than the last. There are the twins, Sheba and Trevor Poe, both strangely glamorous but haunted by a dark secret. There is Ike Jefferson, one of the first black students to grace the halls of Peninsula High, and the three mysterious residents of the local orphanage, Betty, Starla, and Niles. Lastly, there are Molly and Chad, the blue-blooded and aristocratic couple from the upper crust of Charleston society. The friendships that begin between the nine young men and women during the fall of 1969 winds it way through the years and becomes stronger and deeper as time crawls forward. Now, years later, news comes that one of the group is in serious trouble. Gathering the friends together, Sheba sets them on a search for her missing brother Trevor, who is rumored to be dying of AIDS in San Francisco. As the friends amass to locate Trevor, they discover that a dangerous man from the twins' past is also hunting them. Will the trials that the group face splinter their incredible friendship or only strengthen and refine it? Weaving backwards and forwards in time, Pat Conroy delivers his readers a tale of friendship and heartbreak set amidst the gorgeous backdrop of Charleston, South Carolina.
I have read quite a few of Pat Conroy's books. I think I even saved a few of them for my keeper shelf, so when I was offered the chance to review this book through TLC Book Tours, I immediately accepted, knowing that I was in for a great reading experience. What I found while reading was a surprise to me, for either I have become a very different kind of reader or Conroy has become a very different kind of writer.
From the outset, I felt that the story in this book was one that was completely engaging. Like all of Conroy's work, it was filled with a magical and wonderful sense of plot and I had no problem getting caught up in its coils very early on. I think that part of the reason for this is that Conroy's style is so disarming and conspiratorial. Reading his books is like being let in on a secret that no one else knows, and the technique really has a way of drawing the reader into the folds of the narrative. That being said, I had some difficulty with this book in other regards because at times the writing felt a bit overblown and sensationalized. I wasn't really expecting that. For the most part, his other books have never crossed the line into romanticized and sentimental language as this one did. It made me a little uncomfortable, and I was wondering if I was being too critical or if the prose in this book was slightly too dramatic.
Another thing that grated on me was the dialogue in the book. At times while reading, I felt like the nerd sitting on the sidelines of the cool kid's conversations. All the inside jokes and verbal familiarities between the characters left me feeling very detached from them. I got the fact that they were very close; in fact it was one of the best aspects of the book, but the way they talked to each other felt alienating to the reader and at times it was really off-putting. I had to repeatedly reread lines because I was so annoyed by this. It felt as if the group's friendship was trying to be sold by telling, not showing, and that is something that has always bothered me when I come across it.
On the other hand, there were some really remarkable twists of plot and language in the book that it would be silly to ignore. The book is almost a love letter to Charleston, and as such, it examines the microcosm of that society in a delicious and wonderful way. There is plenty of meat to sink your teeth into in this story, and as it twists itself into its various permutations, it's very hard not to get caught up in all that Conroy so wonderfully relates. The setting, characters and situations are top-notch, and though I had other problems with the book, I never felt that it wasn't a worthwhile reading experience. I especially liked Leo's connection to his hometown. As we are seeing thing through his eyes, Charleston takes on a colorful and wonderful shroud of life, filled with eccentrics and oddballs, both within Leo's family and in the wider city.
I also think that revolving this story around Leo was a brilliant touch. I really liked him and felt that he was the glue that held both the story and the characters together. He was modest and circumspect, emotional yet rational. I found that wherever he was and whatever he was doing, I followed along like a loyal dog, waiting to see what his next move was. It was very smart to tell this story from Leo's angle because he was the everyman and was very easy to relate to. At times he played the star and at times the audience, but I was glad that as readers, we were in his head, rather than any of the others. If this book had been narrated by, say, Sheba, the story would have been a completely different affair.
I had a hard time managing the emotion in this book. At times, the situations and the characters' reactions to them felt spot on. But other times it was like Conroy got carried away with the melodrama and sentimentalism. I never knew what was coming next and the circumstances of the plot gave me no insight as to how I should feel. For example, a character's death might bring subdued reaction from all the characters in the book, while a smaller and less intense incident would draw out a more prolonged suffering from the bunch. I think this might have been because the plot was very densely packed with shocking and emotional scenes, and it might have been difficult to transmute the characters emotions to fit the particular incidents that they were facing at the time.
Though I had some problems with this story and found it to be a tad over-dramatic, I still think it was a solid read. It's not my favorite Conroy book by far, and for first time readers of this author, I would recommend trying Beach Music. For those who are already fans of Conroy, I think this would make for an interesting read, even if only to compare to his earlier work. I would recommend this book to those who love books about deep friendships that mature through the years and for fans of the city of Charleston. Not a perfect book, but an interesting read nevertheless.
The publishers of this book have generously offered my readers one copy of this book for giveaway! If you would like to win, please leave a comment at the end of this post that includes your e-mail address. You must leave a valid e-mail address to be entered in this giveaway! I will draw a winner randomly with the help of random.org and will announce the winner on April 30th 2010. Good luck to all entrants, and thanks for entering!
About Pat Conroy
Pat Conroy is the bestselling author of nine books: The Boo, The Water is Wide, The Great Santini, The Lords of Discipline, The Prince of Tides, Beach Music, My Losing Season, The Pat Conroy Cookbook: Recipes of My Life and South of Broad. He lives in Fripp Island, South Carolina.
Visit Pat Conroy's website for more info about his work.
Thursday, April 1st: Jen's Book Thoughts
Monday, April 5th: Lit and Life
Tuesday, April 6th: Rundpinne
Wednesday, April 7th: Meanderings and Muses
Friday, April 9th: Luxury Reading
Monday, April 12th: Books and Cooks
Tuesday, April 13th: The Brain Lair
Wednesday, April 14th: Po(sey) Sessions
Thursday, April 15th: Raging Bibliomania
Monday, April 19th: Life in the Thumb
Tuesday, April 20th: Maggie Reads
Thursday, April 22nd: Stephanie's Written Word
Friday, April 23rd: Sherri's Jubilee
Monday, April 26th: The Literate Housewife
Tuesday, April 27th: Peeking Between the Pages
Wednesday, April 28th: Library Queue
Thursday, April 29th: Lakeside Musing
Friday, April 30th: A Circle of Books
Flyaway: How a Wild Bird Rehabber Sought Adventure and Found Her Wings by Suzie Gilbert - 352 pgs
This is the story of Suzie Gilbert and her astounding love for wild birds. From childhood, Suzie has loved and cared for many wild creatures but has been attracted mainly to wild birds. After working as a volunteer at an animal hospital near her home, Suzie begins to come home with abused and unwanted birds that she happily adopts into her family. Deciding that this is not enough, she makes a decision to run a wild bird rehabilitation center from her house. Building space for the birds and setting up shop on the slope of her large yard are only the early steps, and for Suzie, the easiest. Soon she is receiving wounded birds from all over the area and her phone is ringing non-stop. The idyllic job she envisioned is soon wearing thin and she spends a good deal her time agonizing over the fates of even the smallest of her patients and the worries that the birds are eating most of the attention that should be going to her young children. As she relates miraculous stories of survival and terrible stories of loss, Suzie not only bonds with the birds that she has decided to give her life to, but bonds as well with a large network of animal rehabbers all over the world. But after five long years, the losses begin to outweigh the saves and Suzie is headed toward an emotionally harrowing cliff. She must decide if giving up the bird rescue will save her fragile emotional health, and that of her family, or if she should continue doing the work she loves. As she lovingly demonstrates in her attention to the sick and injured birds she deals with daily, sometimes you just have to "bring them back and let them go," a fate that she must also painfully adhere to. Both amazingly tender and heart-rendingly sad, the story of Suzie and her avian companions will bring its readers both joyous smiles and sorrowful tears.
I love reading real-life stories about animals and their caregivers. I usually learn a great deal about what it takes for these animals to survive and the impact they have on their human handler's lives. This story was no exception. By peeking into the life and psyche of Suzie Gilbert, I discovered an amazing plethora of bird facts and myths and was fully able to see the sacrifices that Suzie made in her life in order to help save these wondrous creatures.
This book was unique among the animal tales that I have read for several reasons. One of the first differences that I noticed was the strident attitude that Suzie had about the careless and negligent humans who put these beautiful animals at risk every day. As she explains, about 99 percent of the accidents that befall wild birds can be directly attributed to humans. From your basic garden variety cruelty to the attempts of developers to clear inhabited land for building projects to negligent cat owners who let their animals roam freely outdoors, Suzie explains it all. Far from being beseeching, her anger at these people and situations comes shooting off the page in her vitriolic sentiments. And as I was to discover while I was reading, her anger is completely justified. The birds that make their way into her refuge are scared, confused and sometimes gravely injured. Suzie does the best she can to provide care for the birds but often there is nothing she can do for them but let them die with dignity. Each death seems to take a piece of her soul.
The second way that this book was different than most was the very candid way that Suzie related her mental frailties and fears concerning the birds. When she first begins to have thoughts of running a bird rehab from her home, her heart is light and she harbors dreams and visions of a fulfilling and successful operation in which she will finally be able to do the work she was born to do. But as the rehab becomes a reality, Suzie becomes ever more nervous about the birds that she will be caring for. Is she giving them the right care? Has she made a mistake in taking all types and species of birds instead of specializing? Is she a horrible mother for spending more time with her birds than her children? Will her children grow up scarred from having to help their mother take care of the injured animals? These things weigh heavily on her mind, and although she does some amazing things with her facility, she can never outrun her demons and spends a lot of time being anxious, angry and afraid. These sections of the book were filled with pathos and pain, and it was like looking directly into the brain of someone who was torn to bits by the decisions that she had to make. While I championed the work she was doing, I felt very sorry that there was so much turmoil going on inside her heart.
The amount of information that Suzie supplied about the birds was one of my favorite aspects of the book. It was never overwhelming and always interesting, and I found myself not only learning about different species of bird, but also general facts that are common among all birds. I had no idea that baby birds had to eat every fifteen minutes from sunup to sundown, or that vultures regurgitate the contents of their stomachs when they are distressed. I also didn't know that most birds should not be socialized to accept humans and was surprised to learn that birds will not neglect a baby bird that has fallen from its nest and has been touched by human hands. Suzy is clear and informative with her facts about the birds, debunking myths and making these wild creatures and their habits seem astounding.
There is also a lot of humor in the book. These are the tales of a freezer full of frozen rats being accidentally discovered by her husband; stories of birds that seem almost human; and the parrot who resides in her house screaming out the word "WAR" when one of the wild birds gets loose in the house. She speaks about the baby duck that happily watches television with her children, and George, the raven who touched her heart and healed her aching spirit. Her birds do the unthinkable and their well-being is the reason she strives against the grain to provide them with a safe haven and a loving touch. They are creatures who amaze and startle. Suzie never loses respect for the birds she cares for, despite the long hours and inconvenience that they bring into her life.
This is definitely a book that is worth reading. If you are a lover of animal stories, the book is a must read. I think the book says a lot about the difference that even one dedicated person can make in the world surrounding them, and it is not only a love story about birds, but a story that will touch even the most hardened reader. The information that is imparted is not in the least overwhelming, but instead delightful and thought-provoking. In a world where people are usually only out for themselves, Suzy Gilbert does the unthinkable and transforms the lives of all the creatures she touches, and she is a very admirable woman. An amazingly worthwhile read. Recommended.
About Suzie Gilbert
I grew up in Oyster Bay, New York, on Long Island. I went to local elementary and middle schools, and then to boarding school in Connecticut. I attended a number of colleges (eventually graduating from Columbia University, School of General Studies, in 1983) and had many different jobs, but the only ones that ever really clicked for me were working with animals. After my husband and I were married, we moved from New York City to the Hudson Valley, where I found work at an animal hospital, began bringing home unwanted parrots, and started volunteering at a rehabilitation center for birds of prey. I had two children, Mac and Skye. I wrote a children's book, Hawk Hill (Chronicle Books, 1996), and for two years wrote an environmental column for a small chain of upstate New York newspapers. After 11 years at the raptor center, I decided to rehab injured birds at home, and still do today.
Monday, March 22nd: Seens from the backs of my eyelids
Wednesday, March 24th: A Little Piece of Me
Thursday, March 25th: The Road to Here
Tuesday, March 30th: A Gardener in Progress
Wednesday, March 31st: Bookfoolery and Babble
Wednesday, April 7th: Red and the Peanut
Thursday, April 8th: Rambling Woods ~ The Road Less Traveled
Wednesday, April 14th: Raging Bibliomania
Thursday, April 15th: Regular Rumination
Tuesday, April 20th: Farmgirl Fare
Wednesday, April 21st: Sycamore Canyon
The Lunatic, the Lover, and the Poet: A Novel by Myrlin A. Hermes - 384 pgs
In this inventive prelude to Shakespeare's classic Hamlet, the reader is introduced to a young Horatio, an ever doubting divinity student at Wittenberg University. Horatio lives the life of an impoverished scholarship student, preferring to spend his days fashioning poetry rather than delving into his studies and is finding that his lifestyle is far outstripping his pocket. In order to replenish his finances, Horatio agrees to undertake a commission from a baron to translate a work of romance, but upon accepting the position finds that the baron's true desires are far more weighty than first suspected. What the man really wants is for Horatio to fashion an elaborate stage play from the paltry writings that his wife has been collecting. Though Horatio feels that he is being herded beyond his will and talent, he agrees to the commission and sets about writing the fanciful play. Caught up in his conundrum, Horatio one day happens upon Hamlet, the Prince of Denmark, in a compromising situation. Smitten with the young prince's otherworldly beauty, Horatio makes friendly overtures towards the prince, who happily accepts Horatio's friendship and admiration. The two are soon inseparable, caught up in a strange and intense attraction that leaves little time for other concerns and acquaintances. Soon Horatio is lost in the dreams and schemes of a prince, never truly knowing if the love between the two men is reciprocal or one-sided. When Hamlet catches the eye of the baron's manipulative wife, Lady Adriane, she hatches a scheme to ensnare both Horatio and the prince, hoping to play each man's loyalty against one another, and aids her cause by enlisting the help of a rival poet named William "Shake-spear". This boldly imaginative tale takes its readers on a precarious journey through the passion, jealousy and intimacy of the ill-fated Prince Hamlet and his most constant companion, the loyal Horatio.
Sometimes when reading a book, it becomes apparent very early on that is going to be a tremendous reading experience. Such was the case with this book. I had a very hard time peeling myself away from it for even a moment and was very saddened to have to finally turn the last page. Although I have not read an abundance of Shakespeare's works, it was not hard for me to pick out a lot of of the threads of his plots, lines and witticisms that were woven into the narrative. The story that Hermes has created in this book defies imagination and is written with a style and artistry that I have seldom come across. It was funny and tender and sad, full of the recriminations and rejoicings of its characters. I got completely lost in the beauty of this book and often could scarcely believe the wit and effervescence that ran through the narrative. It was as close as I have come to reading perfection in a long, long time. The heady language used in the book was lush and rich, while the characters were cleverly full of mischief and passion; and the story told was one that defied all my expectations and made me giddy with excitement. A grander tale I could not imagine, and Hermes balanced it all with artistry and wit to spare.
Through the use of humor, bawdiness and lyricism, Hermes creates a tale full of life and passion that sucked me in with one great rush. In her elaborate imaginings of these well-loved characters, Hermes spins a deeply woven tale that that will delight even the most picky reader. Many of the characters from the well known play pop their heads up in the book, including the spies Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, who are portrayed here as sycophantic and lugubrious parasites to the young prince. They are a smarmy duo, obsessed with the prince, and spend most of their time flattering and cajoling Hamlet in a most irritating manner. Prince Hamlet, for his part, is ever trying to deceive and escape them, much preferring to spend his time with Horatio, which makes the two even more ruthless and obsequious. As the prince assiduously tries to avoid the two, he becomes increasingly dependent and enamored with Horatio, a fact that delights the young scholar.
Hamlet himself is an interesting invention: a man-child filled with warring emotions and an increasing fear of madness. His love for Horatio is very mercurial, a fact that Horatio can never understand, and that pains him greatly. Though at times Hamlet can be very foppish and foolish, he harbors some very deep-rooted passions, and these, at times, make him appear very careworn and aged. He never understands the spell he casts over people and the way others treat him often bothers and disheartens him. His desires to love and be loved outweigh all other concerns, a fact which lands him in spot after spot of trouble and keeps Horatio perpetually on his toes. It is interesting to see just how Hermes has fleshed out these characters, imbuing them with deep-seated fears, strange motivations and conflicting desires. They all seem full of breath and alive and I think that is one reason why it was so easy for me to become attached to them so quickly.
The strange relationship between Horatio and his patroness, the Lady Adriane, was one of the most compelling but mystifying sections of the book. Horatio's love for the prince is absolute and all-encompassing, but his unbidden desire for Adriane unnerves him and forces him into the fool's role often. The desires of his flesh are at war with the desires of his heart and soul, and though he wishes to remain true to his prince, he finds himself struggling mightily to do so. Lady Adriane does not help matters in this instance, for she is a great deceiver and finds ways to inveigle her way into the hearts and minds of both men, to their great consternation. She is not a beautiful woman but she is able to cast a spell on all those around her and makes the men she is conspiring with dance like puppets on her string. Despite her conniving behavior, I was strangely enamored of her and thought that her furtive actions were cleverly calculated. Although I did not understand the reasoning and basis of her actions, I knew that when she came on the scene that something unexpected was going to happen. I did feel saddened that she chose to make Horatio suffer so horribly, because he was by far the most winning character in the story, but I do admit that her sections in the narrative were the most gratifying and inventive.
This was a novel of frustration and obsession, and through its intricate swirls of plot and lyrically stylized writing it managed to tell a story that bordered on debauchery. The tale itself was filled with some very clever double entendres and there was a delicate balance of perversity vs. emotional purity throughout its pages. It was also raucously funny at times, in a very unexpected way. I think most of the humor came into play via Horatio's hilarious inner monologue, which was a constant backdrop in the story. When Will Shakespeare makes his entrance, the story delves further into a strange and wonderful direction that is sure to keep the reader guessing. There were also times that the narrative took a beautiful turn into poetry, and much of Horatio's reminiscences of the prince had a beautiful tension of language and emotion that made my heart swell with shared frustration and pain.
I can't recommend this book heartily enough. The mirth and jocularity of the writing, coupled with the surprisingly tender and poetic story it tells was a really beautiful thing to behold. This story stands wonderfully well on its own, so even if you haven't read Hamlet, there is much to discover and exclaim over in this book. Anyone who loves a well written story with clever dialogue would do tremendously well in picking this book up, and I think most would get a lot from the cleverly re-engineered ending that Hermes works into her tale. A witty, adept and beautiful read, highly recommended!
About Myrlin A. Hermes
Myrlin Ambrosia Hermes (yes, that is her real name) was born in 1975 to a pair of eccentric world-travellers who met in a '60s San Francisco avant-garde theatre troupe and took their daughter to live for a year on a commune in India before landing on the island of Maui, Hawaii, where she was raised.
She has a degree in English Literature and Theatre from Reed College and studied Creative Writing at Royal Holloway, University of London.
She is the author of the novel Careful What You Wish For, and has received grants and awards from the Arch & Bruce Brown Foundation, the Institute for Humane Studies, and the Arts Council England. Her non-literary creative projects include an original collage-art Tarot deck, and she is a two-time challenge winner at Craftster.org.
She currently lives in Portland, Oregon, where she is working on a historical novel about 17th-century playwright, spy, and proto-feminist rabble-rouser Aphra Behn.
Check out Myrlin's website and also her blog.
Wednesday, March 24th: Regular Rumination
Thursday, March 25th: Book Addiction
Monday, March 29th: Life in the Thumb
Thursday, April 1st: Steph and Tony Investigate
Monday, April 5th: Raging Bibliomania
Tuesday, April 6th: Wordsmithonia
Wednesday, April 7th: BookNAround
Thursday, April 8th: Laughing Stars
Monday, April 12th: Eclectic/Eccentric
Tuesday, April 13th: Books for Breakfast
Wednesday, April 14th: Worducopia
Thursday, April 15th: Write Meg
Zibilee
Other Noteworthy Blogs
2 Kids and Tired Books
A Woman, a wife, a mom
A Bookshelf Monstrosity
A Devoted Reader
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A Sea of Books
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Alison's Book Marks
Amy Reads
B o o k L u s t
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bibliosue
The Blog of Litwits
Book Addiction
Book Diary
The Book Zombie
Bookfoolery and Babble
The Boston Bibliophile
Calico Covers
caribousmom
Cheaper By The Half Dozen
Classic Reads Book Club
Cleverly Inked
Coffee and a Book Chick
Constance Reader
Diagnosing Mary
eclectic / eccentric
Educating Petunia
Erin Reads
Estella's Revenge
Fizzy Thoughts
Geosi Reads
Hey Lady! Whatcha Readin'?
The House of the Seven Tails
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Infinite Shelf - A Book Blog
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my books. my life.
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The Vintner's Luck by Elizabeth Knox -- Guest Post...
Watermark: A Novel of the Middle Ages by Vanitha S...
South of Broad by Pat Conroy - 528 pgs -- *Giveawa...
Flyaway: How a Wild Bird Rehabber Sought Adventure...
The Lunatic, the Lover, and the Poet: A Novel by M...
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text:
ESCP Business School is the world's first business school and has educated generations of leaders and forefront thinkers. It welcomes 4,000 students and 5,000 executives from 90 different nations every year, offering them a wide range of general management and specialized programs. Through a combination of innovative pedagogy and a research-intensive faculty, ESCP is an essential contributor to the development of European, cross-national management culture.
More about ESCP Business School
Thanh-Long Huynh Master's Degree
Christophe Ollari Bachelors Degree
@ESCP_bs
ESCP has five urban campuses in Paris, London, Berlin, Madrid, and Torino.
It is the first and only multi-accredited business school in the world with 3 international accreditations: AACSB, EQUIS, EFMD Accredited Programme.
It is also the first business school to become a full member of the European University Association (EUA).


12 December 2018, 16:25 Died on level 239 by Zlom and Infernal Archer.
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Time Left: 5 hours 10 minutes 24 sec.


text:
Q: installed Ubuntu 16.04 alondside windows 10 on the same partition I have installed Ubuntu 16.04 alondside windows 10 on the same partition. Now i cannot access windows, as it boots ubuntu directly.
i cannot find any options to boot to windows, i have no experience with the grub or any options to get windows.
Please help me to solve this as my windows contain very important information, which i don't want to lose.
detail information helps. Thank you

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Sandeep Mathrani is planning for "mild recession" next year
GGP CEO forecasts dip in post-election market
Apr.April 14, 2016 07:30 AM
General Growth Properties CEO Sandeep Mathrani says a recession is coming, albeit a mild one.
The retail chief, whose company owns a stake in Manhattan's famed Crown Building as well as malls across the country, is forecasting a dip in the market despite strong economic fundamentals, he said Wednesday, speaking on a panel at NYU's REIT Symposium.
"If you're in the A-class mall space today, there is still tremendous demand for space, rents are still growing with positive double digit spreads. We don't see a slowdown in 2016 of the fundamentals," he said. "That being said, I think we'll see a mild recession post the election cycle in 2017 going into 2018 so it would be wise for us to plan our balance sheets for that to occur."
Mathrani attributed a recent dip in store occupancy rates across the country – in his own company's mall portfolio, same-story occupancy fell to 96.5 percent from 96.7 percent in the fourth quarter – to a "rationalization" by retailers who grew their footprints too quickly.
"The biggest issue is that America is over-retailed," he said. "The reason we have so much square footage is that the retailers were so focused on growing that they increased their store counts. Do you really need 4,000 Walmarts, 4,000 T.J. Maxxs and so forth? Now, there's a rationalization going on where retailers say, 'How can I make my stores more productive and efficient?'"
GGP, the second largest mall REIT behind rival Simon Properties with a market capitalization of nearly $25 billion, diverted from its focus on malls last year to buy a stake in the Crown Building on Fifth Avenue and 57th Street in partnership with Jeff Sutton. The partners recently inked a deal with Ermenegildo Zegna, which plans to open a new 9,000-square-foot flagship store in the retail space. Bulgari has also taken space at the building.
Asked about his rationale for making the deal, Mathrani, who quashed rumors of a takeover by Brookfield Property Partners in February, offered the following explanation:
"When you look at the mall business, it's pretty much consolidated across five public REITs, so it hard to grow," he said. "The closest thing that comes to the A-class mall is an urban asset with high –productivity and a CEO to CEO relationship with the retailer. It's probably the best retail corner in the world. We think it's highly symbiotic."
The GGP honcho, who received a compensation package over $39 million last year, wasn't the only one cautioning of a blip in the market.
"Given how long this has gone on, we should have some kind of correction," said his fellow panelist, Boston Properties CEO Owen Thomas. "The question is how deep will that be? Cap rates are quite low, particularly for Class A office properties across the country, certainly in coastal fortress markets. I don't know how much upside there is in that, but it's hard to imagine they'll go much lower."
Equity Residential Sam Zell also said Wednesday he expects a downturn in the upcoming year; he too predicts it will be mild.
general growth propertiesSandeep Mathrani
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WeWork's turnaround star will need a new script
Inside WeWork's $2M+ settlement over claims of drug use, sexual harassment
WeWork gets serious: Inside the hiring of Sandeep Mathrani
Sandeep Mathrani to be named CEO of WeWork
Analysts still baffled by Brookfield's big bet on malls


text:
using System;
using System.Collections.Concurrent;
using System.Threading.Tasks;
using FluentAssertions;
using Xunit;
using Rocks.Dataflow.Fluent;

namespace Rocks.Dataflow.Tests.FluentTests.ExceptionHandlingTests
{
	public class FluentTransformManySyncTests
	{
		[Fact]
		public async Task OneItemThrows_ProceedTheRest ()
		{
			// arrange
			var result = new ConcurrentBag<string> ();

			var sut = DataflowFluent
				.ReceiveDataOfType<string> ()
				.TransformMany<string> (x =>
				{
					if (x == "b")
						throw new TestException ();

					return new[] { x };
				})
				.Action (result.Add)
				.WithMaxDegreeOfParallelism ()
				.CreateDataflow ();

			// act
			await sut.ProcessAsync (new[] { "a", "b", "c" });

			// assert
			result.Should ().BeEquivalentTo ("a", "c");
		}

		[Fact]
		public async Task WithDefaultExceptionLogger_OneItemThrows_LogsTheException ()
		{
			// arrange
			var exceptions = new ConcurrentBag<Exception> ();
			var failed_items = new ConcurrentBag<object> ();

			var sut = DataflowFluent
				.ReceiveDataOfType<string> ()
				.TransformMany<string> (x =>
				{
					if (x == "b")
						throw new TestException ();

					return new[] { x };
				})
				.Action (x => { })
				.WithMaxDegreeOfParallelism ()
				.WithDefaultExceptionLogger ((exception, item) =>
				{
					exceptions.Add (exception);
					failed_items.Add (item);
				})
				.CreateDataflow ();

			// act
			await sut.ProcessAsync (new[] { "a", "b", "c" });

			// assert
			exceptions.Should ().HaveCount (1).And.ContainItemsAssignableTo<TestException> ();
			failed_items.Should ().Equal ("b");
		}
	}
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub