Register to win this swag -and don’t forget to shop at Lisa Kline now through January 27th to save 30-75% on all your favorite designers.
Light your fire with a roll of hundreds and enjoy watching your money going up in smoke.
These wads of faux $100 bills are coated with a slow-burning wax that stays lit until your logs catch fire. A set of six $100 bill fire starters costs $14.95. Link
The potential problem has arisen because the first class area of its giant superjumbo contains 12 private suites complete with double beds.
Singapore, which is the first airline to start flying the A380, said the suites were not sound-proofed. It said it did not want anyone to offend other travellers or crew. Singapore added that while the suites were private, they were also not completely sealed.
"All we ask of customers, wherever they are on our aircraft, is to observe standards that don't cause offence to other customers and crew," the airline said in a statement. "Nothing different applies for our Singapore Airlines Suites customers."
Singapore Airlines took delivery of its first A380 earlier this month, with the first services between Singapore and Sydney starting on 25 October. It is now set to take delivery of a further five A380s in 2008, out of its order of 19.
I found this over at Wondr.net and it was just irresistible. Enjoy!
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Peeling eggs, potatoes, and onions can be time-consuming, difficult to do without wasting food, and even dangerous. Here are three videos of fast and efficient techniques for peeling.
Peeling an egg in 5 seconds
Peeling a potato quickly and safely
Peeling an onion without the tears
The winner of the grand prize trip to the Colombian Andes will document their Colombian trip on BlogHer.
The contest ends Oct. 31st, so enter today!
But One Mom’s World seems to have the solution courtesy of Exercise with Mommy. The winner of her Moms Get In Shape contest will get a choice of a DVD (Back in Shape with Baby or Energize and Exercise with your Preschooler) and $20 to Target. More details here.
Contest ends October 27. Good luck!
Enter Sugar Loot's ‘The Cutest Pet’ contest (among a host of other photo contests, btw) by visiting and uploading a photo featuring your pet. Upload your photo entry along with a caption that explains the photo. Each entry will be given a direct link which you can use to give to friends and family as well as post on blogs, forums and other websites to get others to vote for you.
The SugarLoot staff will select a winner from the top rated photos. Prizes: One (1) prize winner – The prize winner will receive a $100 Gift Card to PetCo.com. * You may enter the Contest only once.
Winner selected October 10, 2007.
That's what I used to do all the time (before Kiddo was born) and now do whenever I get a chance. I even used to have a book in one hand while brushing with the other, lol.
I - Imagination.
I suffer from a surfeit of it. Whenever things get stressful, I imagine how it could be made better. I know everybody does that. BUT the difference is that I do it a-la 'Scrubs' - you know, freeze-frame scenario. Have you watched this comedy serial? I couldn't believe it when I first saw Zach Braff do in reel life what I still do in real life.
A - Airplanes.
I love travelling but hate to fly! Or rather, the security checks scare me. Couple of years back I had a guy stand watch over me with an AK-47 while airport security checked out a "suspicious" item in my purse, which turned out to be --- a big bunch of KEYS!!!!! Can you believe it?! Keys - that I had put in this fancy key-bunch my friend had made for me, sort of a like a zip-pull with fancy charms and stuff! A scarring experience for sure!
A BIG "Thanks" to Kylinsmom for not just tagging me for my first Meme but also for honoring me with this award.
"This award is for those bloggers who are nice people; good blog friends and those who inspire good feelings and inspiration. Also for those who are a positive influence on our blogging world.”
Oh, wow! Ah... ahem... I don't know what to say! But I'm feeling thrilled and oh-so Happy! Thank you soo much.
Congratulations... An Island Review, Blonde Reviews and J. Kaye's Book Blog.
I read your blogs all the time, and you are such great people!
Simple Kind of Life blog : The Colleenie Weenie contest for August is here and this time the grand prizeis a set of Logitech Portable Speakers for iPod and other MP3 Players. A second place booby prize is Raising Arizona & Fargo - double DVD set!
Geeky Speaky Blog : The grand prize for the August contest is a Western Digital 80GB Portable Hard Drive with a DVD of The Wedding Singer being the booby, aka second prize.
Both Contests end on August 21st.
On August 30th ONLY email Cheryl (cherylktardif@shaw.ca) a copy of your Amazon or Chapters “order has been shipped” receipt as proof of purchase (don’t worry; it doesn’t have your credit card info on it).
The first 44 people to send her their receipt WILL WIN one of 44 exciting PRIZE PACKAGES!
Prizes:
- Grand Prize: The first receipt that she receives on August 30th will WIN a limited edition collector’s copy (autographed) of the original Whale Song novel featuring cover art by world-famous David Miller; a beautiful Whale Song limited edition collector’s mug; an autographed copy of BOTH Divine Intervention and The River; and some beautiful bookmarks. Prize valued at approximately $100.00.
- 43 Second place prizes: The next 43 receipts that she receives on August 30th will WIN their choice of either Divine Intervention or The River (autographed) and a beautiful bookmark.
Thirteen years ago, Sarah Richardson’s life was shattered after the tragic assisted suicide of her mother. The shocking tragedy left a grief-stricken teen-aged Sarah with partial amnesia.
But now a familiar voice from her past sends Sarah, a talented mid-twenties ad exec, back to her past. A past that she had thought was long buried.
Torn by nightmares and visions of a yellow-eyed wolf, yet aided by the creatures of the Earth and by the killer whales that call to her in the night, Sarah must face her fears and uncover the truth―even if it destroys her.
You scored as Ginny Weasley, You definitely share your mother's (Molly Weasley) fiery resolve and slowly but surely people are learning to respect you because of it.
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To enter the Off and Running Contest, you've got to show you’re a true sk*rt by:
a) voting on at least 10 items every day this week
or
b) submitting a link to sk*rt everyday this week
or
c) leaving comments on at least 2 sk*rt items everyday this week
More details here. The winners will be announced Tuesday, August 7th.
* a battery operated hula dancer
* macadamia nut pancake and waffle mix
* dry roasted macadamia nuts with sea salt
* milk chocolate covered macadamia nuts
* milk chocolate toffee covered macadamia nuts
* dark chocolate macadamia covered nuts
* tropical fruit scented candle
* vintage art Hawaii post cards
* a kukui nut lei
If, like me, it's been your lifelong ambition to visit this paradise and haven't been able to do so due to one reason or another, then winning this cool prize pack may just help alleviate the pain somewhat! So, what're you waiting for? Go here and get the details.
Yes, indeedy! Your eyes didn't deceive you. You can go ahead and enter for a chance to win this stupendous prize at 5 Minutes for Mom. This incredible prize is valued at $799.99 and is courtesy of Best Buy.
Some highlights of this great prize are :
- ultra slim, lightweight
- 1366×768 Resolution, with 16:9 widescreen ratio for cinema-quality viewing
- built in high definition capabilities
- equipped with a V-Chip for parent control and is Energy Star compliant.
And - for extra fun - your new TV can double as a PC monitor so that you can download and watch HD movies.
Get more details and enter here.I tried embedding this widget in my sidebar but it won't work. Help, anyone?
Note - changing the height and the width just clipped it but didn't shrink it.
So long, Professors McGonagall, Flitwick and Sprout.
See you, Hogwarts.
How : Moms submit in 600 words or less, your story of being a mom and why you deserve to win this prize. Entries should be sent to contest *at* agirlsgottaspa *dot*com. Visit A Girl's Gotta Spa! for complete details.
When: Now - July 20th; winner announced July 23rd
Who: For moms that reside in the US
Prize: A beauty prize pack worth $300 and a gift pack of goodies from Glamour Magazine
Taken From : The Budget Fashionista.The same way when I'm watching 'Everybody Loves Raymond' and on pops Bill Engvall. I hate it as well. No, I recant that. I hate it even more, cause the guy actually pauses the show, while mouthing off about his soon-to-be-released show. This takes the proverbial cake! And he does it at the exact moment when Ray is about to say a rib-cracking one liner! The nerve of it!!!! Isn't it enough that we're subjected to an ever-increasing parade of senseless ads during commercials?! Now even the little glimpse of the actual show we're supposed to be watching between commercials is being paused to make room for even more ads?! SHAME on you TBS for this poor poor way of promoting a show.
Thanks - On a happier note, I've been lucky enough to win some nice goodies in the past few months. So I wanted to write and say thanks to these wonderful bloggers who chose me as a lucky winner. You know who your are! :-) Aw, shucks, let me name them : Kailani, Liquid Silver Blog, Favorite Pasttimes, Celebrity Baby Blog, Michele Hauf, Simply Ali, Mommy Brain, A Family Runs Through It, Mommy Knows, Rose Petal Betty, and finally, Anjali.
{If I missed someone, sorry about that!}
Scholastic announced today [6/11/03] the winners of the Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix national essay contest. Ten essays were selected from over 12,000 entries received. The winning children and their chaperones will be the guests of Scholastic for an all expense paid trip to London, England to hear J.K. Rowling, the author of the phenomenal best-selling Harry Potter books, answer questions and read from her extraordinary new novel, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix at a live event at The Royal Albert Hall on Thursday, June 26th.
Fans were asked to write a 300-word essay expounding on the question "IF YOU COULD HAVE ONE SPECIAL POWER TAUGHT AT HOGWARTS, WHAT WOULD IT BE AND WHY?" Entries were judged based on originality and clarity. The ten winners range in age from 8 to 16, and are from all areas of the United States.
Arthur Levine, Editorial Director, Arthur A. Levine Books/Scholastic, editor of the Harry Potter books, a judge of the essay contest said: “Reading these essays was a wonderful reminder of the deep connection J.K. Rowling’s books make with her readers; how her stories tweak the imagination, and speak to our deep yearning for the power to make our lives better and to leave an impact on this world.”
Excerpts from the winning essays:
Sudipta B., NJ, Age 16
"As a Hogwarts student, I would like to be taught a charm that could compel a wicked man to experience the painful suffering of his victims and the tragic consequences of his actions... Had Lord Voldemort ever witnessed from the other side of his wand the last and painful gasps of his victims, James and Lily Potter might have been alive today.”
Daniel B., CA, Age 8
"The best potion I would make would be the Autistic Cure Potion. I would give some of it to Suzie (my sister), and then give the rest to other kids with autism. If Suzie didn't have autism we could go to the same school. She could just be a normal kid."
Marty C., VT, Age 12
"My brother (Alex) is not a kid. He's older than me and has no friends. Although he has a huge vocabulary and a wild imagination, he can't read anything more than easy readers...I shout 'EVOLOUTIO REPARO!!' (Latin for 'repair reading.')...Alex grinned like Hagrid discovering a new 'pet.' 'You cast a spell on me!'...'I can read Harry Potter now!'...'Just let me read to you.' he said.”
Nancy C., OK, Age 14
"The Rictusempra Spell causes the recipient to laugh and giggle uncontrollably, while the Tarantallegra Spell makes them waltz madly... These spells would be an exhilarating way to quarrel with one another while having joy and excitement... I would also perform the Rictusempra ad Tarantallegra spells on a couple of my teachers and friends. A few of them are a little too serious with life and deserve some cheer and happiness. The Rictusempra spell would also be beneficial to them; laughter is found to reduce stress, lower blood pressure, produce disease-destroying antibodies, and release endorphins. The Tarantallegra would decrease obesity and depression, as it is practically impossible to stay gloomy when you are dancing."
David D., FL, Age 14
"Although I am only fourteen years old I have the experience of a broken heart due to the death of my mother and it still has not healed. For this reason I am determined to learn how to acquire the power of healing broken hearts...It can help people all over the world and cure problems. I loved my mom and she is gone. I would like the sadness to start lifting somewhat.”
Louisa G., ID, Age 11
"If I could have a chance to have a magical power, I wouldn't. I spent a long time trying to figure out what I would want to do or become. Would I rid people of pain? Would I learn to fly, speak all languages, or become an elf? None of these. I realized that I'm happy just the way I am. I have a good family, nice friends, and a lot of books."
Brittany H., NY, Age 16
"My quest for healing begins when I was 2 1/2, and had to watch my dad's slow recovery from a massive stroke. He is now left without any physical mobility on his left side. My imagination used to wander, as to how I could magically change things. Life has thrown my mom and me a devastating curve, and only my ability to pretend could rescue me from reality...Within a blink of an eye my magic brings lifeless limbs to moving miracles. As I would watch him regain his life back, my imagination soars."
Emily G., IN, Age 8 1/2
“My favorite spell is Polyjuice Potion, because you can be other people! My friend Tara, in my class is blind. If I could use Polyjuice Potion, I’d become her and see what it’s like to be blind. Then I could help her better.”
Thomas P., CA, Age 15
"If I had the opportunity to choose one spell, charm, hex or curse to learn and be able to perform on command for the rest of my life, my immediate choice would be the summoning charm, for reasons which, if not already painfully obvious, shall be thoroughly explained herein... Oh, how I would relish my newly acquired ability as I sat, summoning random objects to my side for no particular reason at all, and then giggling fiendishly, as members of my family exchange dark looks with one another."
Angela W., MI, Age 14
"Obliviate!' No matter how many times I say the word, it never seems to work. When a teacher asks, 'Why didn't you do your homework?' and I yell back 'Obliviate!' in hopes that she'll forget the assignment existed, she just stares at me blankly...And, sadly the same result generally occurs when I try to make my sister forget that I borrowed her CD...On that account, after much contemplation, intensive soul-searching, and a couple of animated conversations with myself, I've decided that the ability to perform memory Charms would have to be the best power."
On June 26th at the historic Royal Albert Hall in London, J.K. Rowling will treat her fans to an exciting event. The extraordinary afternoon will begin with a conversation between Rowling and actor/author Stephen Fry. She will then read personally selected excerpts from Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and answer questions from children about the new book. The entire event will be broadcast via a MSN Live Webcast at 11:00 a.m. (EST) in the U.S. The event will then be archived online for 7 days.
But what exactly is a "Wiki"?
Here's what Google helped me find : Wiki is a piece of server software that allows users to freely create and edit Web page content using any Web browser. Wiki supports hyperlinks and has a simple text syntax for creating new pages and crosslinks between internal pages on the fly. The first ever wiki site was created for the Portland Pattern Repository in 1995.
I had no idea.
Now some enterprising romance fan has taken it a step further and created -
"The Romance Wiki". Here's what it says on the site :
"RomanceWiki is creating an ongoing history of the market-leading romance genre. Never before has there been a single resource to combine the various elements of the genre: authors, books, publishers, awards, reviews, influences, and connections. In addition to building the history of romance novels, RomanceWiki provides resources for journalists, authors, and readers. The RomanceWiki will be a collaborative effort. Every member of the romance community has something to offer, and we encourage you to add your stories and insights to RomanceWiki. "
Clever and resourceful - I like this! Wonder if there's a wiki for other genres as well?
You scored as Elizabeth Bennet. As one of Austen's most beloved characters, Elizabeth Bennet represents what most women would like to become: strong, independent, and loyal. Of course, she has her faults including a stubborn will of iron and a clinging to first impressions. Overall, Lizzie is bright and lovable...something to admire and aspire to.
Which Jane Austen Character are You? (For Females) Long Quiz!!! created with QuizFarm.com |
Sonora wanted a special day to honor her father, William Smart. Smart, who was a Civil War veteran, was widowed when his wife died while giving birth to their sixth child. Mr. Smart was left to raise the newborn and his other five children by himself on a rural farm in eastern Washington state.
After Sonora became an adult she realized the selflessness her father had shown in raising his children as a single parent. It was her father that made all the parental sacrifices and was, in the eyes of his daughter, a courageous, selfless, and loving man. Sonora's father was born in June, so she chose to hold the first Father's Day celebration in Spokane, Washington on the 19th of June, 1910.
President Calvin Coolidge, in 1924, supported the idea of a national Father's Day. Then in 1966 President Lyndon Johnson signed a presidential proclamation declaring the 3rd Sunday of June as Father's Day. President Richard Nixon signed the law which finally made it permanent in 1972.
Author Yann Martel of the "Life of Pi" fame and winner of the prestigious Booker prize has a new mission in life, viz to educate the Prime Minister of Canada in "stillness". Martel was upset that Harper had paid no attention during a recent parliamentary ceremony to honor Canadian artists. Apparently Harper was busy shuffling papers and not paying attention despite Martel's futile attempts to "to bring him close to me with my eyes."
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070417/od_nm/books_dc;_ylt=AjgD.okqmYBOyo0z04wyvfZREhkF
Check out this crazy story on CNN - apparently a mom near Chicago has been receiving a live video feed from inside the space shuttle Atlantis — on her baby monitor. She has a Summer Infant brand video monitor that has two channels, and one is broadcasting her baby, as expected. The other, for some bizarre reason, is broadcasting a space mission. The mom, a school teacher, has been totally enthralled. Meanwhile, NASA is scratching their heads and trying to figure out exactly why this is happening.
Why is the best things in science are always by accident ;-)
The short list for the Miles Franklin award for 2007 have just been announced. The Miles Franklin award is the most prestigious prize awarded for Australian Fiction.
The finalists are:
Careless by Deborah Robertson
In the midst of her life with her small brother and unpredictable mother, Pearl is a child who strives to get things right. But the events of one summer's day are about to change her life, and nothing may ever be right again. In ways connected but unforeseen, this child's tragedy will also enter the lives of two strangers. Sonia lives in a cooler, greener part of the city, where she is learning to live alone after the death of her famous husband. And at the edge of the city, close to the beaches, in a run-down building, the young sculptor Adam Logan contemplates the celebrity that his artwork has brought to him. Through a seductively woven plot that reflects the interlacing nature of our lives, Careless explores the ties of caring and responsibility, for the living and the dead, that are formed, and broken, in our society.
Carpentaria by Alexis Wright
A portrait of life in the newly established coastal town of Desperance centres on the powerful Phantom family, whose members are are the leaders of the Pricklebush people.
Dreams of Speaking by Gail Jones
'She wished to study the unremarked beauty of modern things, of telephones, aeroplanes, computer screens and electric lights, of television, cars and underground transportation. There had to be in the world of mechanical efficiency some mystery of transaction, the summoning of remote meanings, an extra dimension - supernatural, sure. There had to be a lost sublimity, of something once strange, now familiar, tame. We must talk, Alice Black, about this world of modern things. This buzzing world.' Alice is entranced by the aesthetics of technology and, in every aeroplane flight, every Xerox machine, every neon sign, sees the poetry of modernity. Mr Sakamoto, a survivor of the atomic bomb, is an expert on Alexander Graham Bell. Like Alice, he is culturally and geographically displaced. The pair forge an unlikely friendship as Mr Sakamoto regales Alice with stories of twentieth-century invention. His own knowledge begins to inform her writing, and these two solitary beings become a mutual support for each other a long way from home. This novel from prize-winning author Gail Jones is distinguished in its honesty and intelligence. From the boundlessness of space walking to the frustrating constrictions of one person's daily existence, DREAMS OF SPEAKING paints with grace and skill the experience of needing to belong despite wanting to be alone.
Theft: A Love Story by Peter Carey
From Australia to Manhattan via Tokyo, Peter Carey’s new novel is a strange sort of love story. Once famous artist Butcher Bones is reduced to being a caretaker for his biggest collector and nurse to his erratic brother, Hugh. When the mysterious Marlene turns up, events take a very peculiar turn.
The bookshelf, commissioned specially by AbeBooks and created by acclaimed American book sculptor Jim Rosenau, is the only one of its kind and is the perfect accessory for your collection of JK Rowling novels. Not even JK owns one of these. Click here to learn more about Jim and his work.
To enter the contest, we want you to compose a poem dedicated to Harry Potter. It can be anything from a limerick to a haiku to a love poem to an elegy to a sonnet. Be creative – the finest poem about the Boy Wizard will win and we’ll also publish the best ones on AbeBooks. There is no limitation on length. You can enter up to three times separately but each entry must contain just one poem. AbeBooks’ Jordan Gordon, an account manager, has started the ball rolling with his own poetic composition - read the poem here.
The contest closes on Friday 6 July 2007 so there is ample time to get your creative juices flowing. We’ll announce the winner on July 10 and ship the bookshelf before July 21. The bookshelf includes a fastner for wall attachment and simply requires a screwdriver when mounting it to the wall.The entries will be judged by AbeBooks and our decision will be final. Anyone can enter but if you’re under 18 then you will need your parents’ permission.
Best of luck – may the best Muggle win.
Contest RulesPeople are so generous. As you will find when you visit 5minutesformom.com, where they are giving away dvds. All you have to do is comment to be entered to win.
Here are the details : We are giving away 5 copies of Franklin and the Turtle Lake Treasure DVD. All you need to do is leave your comment and you will be entered in the draw. We will announce the winners next week. (This contest is open only to US shipping addresses.)
And Adventures in Babywearing is giving away a cd that's sure to enthrall and inspire kids. Hurry up though. Today's the last day to enter.
Enter to win Katie Brazelton's Praying for Purpose for Women (Zondervan, 2005) from Laura at her blog, My Quotidian Mysteries
The Wonder Mom wants to give one of her lucky readers a copy of The Rest of Us.
Over at A Hamburger a Day they want to give you a book called, "Hamburgers & Fries".
The Saffron Kitchen by Yasmin Crowthers
January 2007
On a blustery day in London, Maryam Mazar's long–hidden past emerges—with tragic consequences for her pregnant daughter, Sara. Unable to bear the guilt, Maryam runs away to the remote village in Iran where she was raised and disowned by her father. When Sara decides to follow, she discovers the price that her mother paid for her freedom and of the love she left behind. In this stunning debut novel, Yasmin Crowther paints a magnificent portrayal of betrayal and retribution set against the backdrop of Iran's tumultuous history and wild, physical beauty.
Petropolis by Anya Ulinich
February 2007
Sasha Goldberg has always been an outsider. A chubby, biracial Jewish girl growing up in the Siberian town of Asbestos 2, whose father abandoned the family for America, leaving her to navigate adolescence under the shadow of her overbearing mother. When following her heart gets her into trouble at home, Sasha becomes a mail–order bride and emigrates to suburban Arizona, finds herself trapped as a millionaires' pet Soviet Jew in Chicago, and eventually lands in Brooklyn where she confronts her past and finally discovers herself. Petropolis is a hilarious and poignant debut that takes on motherhood, immigration, and American culture, signaling the arrival of a major new voice in fiction.
The Bastard of Istanbul by Elif ShafakMarch 2007
In her second English language novel, Turkish author Elif Shafak confronts her country's genocidal past in a colorful tale set in both Turkey and the United States. At its center are the four sisters of the Kazanci family, who live together in Istanbul, and Armanoush, the Armenian-American stepdaughter of their brother, Mustapha. Events are set in motion when Armanoush secretly travels to Turkey and unwittingly uncovers a secret that links the two families together and ties them to the 1915 Armenian massacre. Full of vigorous, unforgettable women characters, The Bastard of Istanbul is a bold, powerful tale that will confirm Shafak as a rising star of international fiction.
No! I Don't Want to Join a Book Club by Virginia IronsideApril 2007
Don't harass her about para-sailing or taking Italian language courses. Forget about suggesting she join a gym. Marie Sharp may be a little creaky in the bones as she heads towards the big 6–0, but she's fine with it. She would rather do without all the moving–to–Florida–bicycling–across–Mongolia–for–the–hell–of–it hoopla that her friends insist upon. She's already led an exciting life: she came of age in the 1960s, after all. Now, with a new grandchild on the horizon, all she wants to do is enjoy what she considers the most interesting stage of her life. No! I Don't Want to Join a Book Club is an unexpected delight of a novel about letting go of youth and embracing your inner curmudgeon!
Five Skies by Ron CarlsonMay 2007
Beloved story writer Ron Carlson's first novel in thirty years, Five Skies is the story of three men gathered high in the Rocky Mountains for a construction project that is to last the summer. Having participated in a spectacular betrayal in Los Angeles, the giant, silent Arthur Key drifts into work as a carpenter in southern Idaho. Here he is hired, along with the shiftless and charming Ronnie Panelli, to build a stunt ramp beside a cavernous void. The two will be led by Darwin Gallegos, the foreman of the local ranch who is filled with a primeval rage at God, at man, at life.
As they endeavor upon this simple, grand project, the three reveal themselves in cautiously resonant, profound ways. And in a voice of striking intimacy and grace, Carlson's novel reveals itself as a story of biblical, almost spiritual force. A bellwether return from one of our greatest craftsmen, Five Skies is sure to be one of the most praised and cherished novels of the year.
Lulu Meets God and Doubts Him by Danielle Ganek
June 2007
When figurative painter Jeffrey Finelli is run over by a cab in front of the Simon Pryce Gallery on the night of his first opening, the art world falls all over itself for a piece of the instantly in-demand work by the late "emerging artist." At the center of the show is an enormous painting called Lulu Meets God and Doubts Him that becomes the object of most desire. As the artist philosophically muses before meeting his untimely end, "It represents the creative endeavor."
After Finelli's death, the gallery receptionist, aspiring artist and protagonist Mia McMurray, finds herself at the center of the art world's most sensational story. For suddenly everyone wants Lulu. Mia, in her clever, clear-headed voice tells the ensuing tale, the details of which she finds endlessly amusing and unavoidably alluring. While she watches a Birkin-toting wannabe collector, a well-muscled Irish artist, a real estate baron, and niece/muse of the artist, Lulu Finelli, duke it out over the oversized piece, Mia, Ã la Holly Golightly, finds her own creative outlet and artistic identity, not to mention love.
As The Devil Wears Prada demystified the world of high fashion, Danielle Ganek's delightfully funny and insightful first novel paints the oddly captivating New York City art scene as it exists today.
God Is Dead by Ron Currie, Jr
July 2007
When God descends to Earth as a Dinka woman from Sudan and subsequently dies in the Darfur desert, the result is a world both bizarrely new yet eerily familiar. In Ron Currie's provocative, wise, and emotionally resonant novel we meet God himself; the Dinka woman whose mortality He must suffer when He inhabits her body; people all over the world coping with the devastating news of God's demise; a group of young men who, fearing the end of the world, take fate into their own hands; mental patients who insist that a god still exists; armies taking up the eternal war between fate and free will; and parents who, in the absence of a deity and the "lack of anything to do on Sundays," worship their children.
On the surface, this is a world utterly transformed—yet certain things remain unchanged: protective parents clash with willful, idealistic teenagers; idols are exalted; small-town rumor mills run unabated; and children often don't realize how to forgive their parents until it's too late.
Red Rover by Deirdre McNamerDeirdre McNamer has won praise for the intelligence, beauty, precision, and sweep of her fiction. Her first novel in seven years, Red Rover tells the story of three Montana men who get swept up in the machinations of World War II and its fateful aftermath. As boys, Aidan and Neil Tierney ride horseback for miles across unfenced prairie, picturing themselves as gauchos, horsemen of the Argentine pampas. A hundred miles away, Roland Taliaferro wants only to escape the violence and poverty of his family. As war approaches, Aidan and Roland join the FBI. Roland serves Stateside while Aidan—in a gesture as exuberant as a child in a game of red rover—requests hazardous duty and is sent as an undercover agent to Nazi-ridden Argentina. Neil becomes a B-29 bomber pilot.
Aidan returns to Montana ill, shaken, and divided from Roland over the FBI's role in the war. On a cold December day in 1946, he is found fatally shot, an apparent suicide. The FBI stays silent. Only when Neil and Roland are very old men, meeting by chance in a rehabilitation facility, does Aidan's death become illuminated, atoned for, and fully put to rest. This beautifully crafted, far-ranging novel will catch readers up in the grace and hard truths of the lives it unfolds.