martedì, dicembre 30, 2014

The Banshees: A Literary History of Irish American Women by Sally Barr Ebest

The Banshees: A Literary History of Irish American WomenThe Banshees: A Literary History of Irish American Women by Sally Barr Ebest
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Interesting excursus on American writers of Irish descent from the beginning of 1900 up to the present day, with particular attention to the period of feminism and the immediately after Reagan administration, obscurantist like McCarthy period.
I did not know many of these authors and surely now I had the wish to deepen the knowledge of some of them such as Mary McCarthy, Flannery O'Connor and of course read something more of Joyce Carol Oates.

Interessante excursus sulle scrittrici statunitensi di origini irlandesi dall'inizio del 1900 fino ai giorni d'oggi con particolare attenzione al periodo del femminismo e quello immediatamente successivo dell'amministrazione Reagan, oscurantista come poche.
Non conoscevo molte di queste autrici e sicuramente ora mi é venuta voglia di approfondire la conoscenza di alcune di esse come per esempio Mary McCharty e Flannery O'Connor e naturalmente leggere qualcosa di piú di Joyce Carol Oates.

THANKS TO NETGALLEY AND SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY PRESS FOR THE PREVIEW!

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domenica, dicembre 28, 2014

Defiant in the Viking's Bed by Joanna Fulford

Defiant in the Viking's Bed

My rating: 1 of 5 stars

I admit my penchant for the Vikings, but this book didn´t engage me at all because the female protagonist is an idiot, and since I believe that much of a man can be understood knowing the woman he loves ......

Ammetto il mio penchant per i vichinghi, ma questo libro mi ha preso proprio poco perché la protagonista é un'idiota, quindi siccome io credo che molto di un uomo di possa sapere conoscendo la donna che ama......

THANKS TO NETGALLEY AND HARLEQUIN FOR THE PREVIEW!



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venerdì, dicembre 26, 2014

The Trip to Echo Spring by Olivia Laing

The Trip to Echo SpringThe Trip to Echo Spring by Olivia Laing
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

The history of alcohol dependence, as well as friendship in almost all cases, intertwines the lives of Fitzgerald, Hemingway, Williams, Cheever, Berryman and Carver. The author takes advantage of a journey that has carried out in several places as told by these authors, to describe those places who have been part of their lives mostly in an alchoolic state. Several passages are taken from books, others from letters they sent to each other or to friends and relatives. It is natural to wonder how much their skill is attributable to the presence or absence of alcohol, but it is clear that no one can answer this question.

La storia di dipendenza dall'alcool, oltre all'amicizia in quasi tutti i casi, lega le vite di Fitzgerald, Hemingway, Williams, Cheever, Berryman e Carver. L'autrice approfitta di un viaggio che ha effettuato in parecchi dei luoghi raccontati da questi autori, per descrivere quelle che sono state parti delle loro vite in stato alcolico. Parecchi brani sono tratti dai libri, altre dalle corrispondenze che intrattenevano tra loro. Viene spontaneo chiedersi quanta della loro bravura sia da imputare alla presenza o all'assenza di alcool, ma é chiaro che a questa domanda nessuno puó rispondere.

THANKS TO NETGALLEY AND CANONGATE BOOKS FOR THE PREVIEW!

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mercoledì, dicembre 24, 2014

Romulus Buckle & the City of the Founders (Chronicles of the Pneumatic Zeppelin, #1) by Richard Ellis Preston Jr.

Romulus Buckle & the City of the Founders (Chronicles of the Pneumatic Zeppelin, #1)



I'm sorry but after about fifty pages I quit because, although there were the circumstances: action steampunk book, I could not continue due to the lack of plot and the writing.

Mi dispiace ma dopo una cinquantina di pagine ho mollato l'impresa perché nonostante ci fossero le premesse, libro d'azione steampunk, non sono riuscita a proseguire sia per la scarsa trama che per la scrittura.

THANKS TO NETGALLEY AND AMAZON PUBLISHING FOR THE PREVIEW!

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lunedì, dicembre 22, 2014

No Wonder You Feel Like Crap! The hidden, deadly connection between stress, diet, and disease by Richard Weinstein, D.C.



Book particularly interesting because it investigates the correlation between stress, cortisol levels and inflammation in the intestine and then more general.

Libro particolarmente interessante perché indaga la correlazione tra lo stress, il livello di cortisolo e le infiammazioni a livello intestinale e poi piú generali.

THANKS TO NETGALLEY AND PANVERSE PUBLISHING LLC FOR THE PREVIEW!

sabato, dicembre 20, 2014

Winning a Bride (Bridal Favors, #2.5) by Jade Lee

Winning a Bride (Bridal Favors, #2.5)Winning a Bride by Jade Lee
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

There are a few new things that can be written in a romance novel, and this books falls into the cliché "you will realize that I am the only man for you," what elevates it slightly above the average is the ability to write, amuse and fascinate the reader that has Jade Lee.

Ci sono poche cose nuove che possono essere scritte in un romanzo d'amore e anche questo ricade nel cliché "ti renderai conto che sono l'unico uomo per te", quello che lo eleva leggermente al di sopra della media é la capacitá di scrivere, divertire e affascinare il lettore che ritengo abbia Jade Lee.

THANKS TO NETGALLEY AND SOURCEBOOKS CASABLANCA FOR THE PREVIEW!

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giovedì, dicembre 18, 2014

William Gibson by Gary Westfahl

William Gibson

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I was expecting a life a little "more lively", but Gibson's is not so exciting as one might expect from the inventor of cyberspace, at least the one in novels. Interesting, however, for the lovers of his novels, because it provides some background information and then there are other works by the author as the scripts, reviews and articles. A collection almost boundless.

Mi aspettavo una vita un po' piú vivace, ma quella di Gibson non é poi cosí eccitante come ci si potrebbe attendere dall'inventore del cyberspazio, quanto meno quello romanzesco. Interessante comunque per gli amanti dei suoi romanzi, perché ne fornisce il background e poi ci sono informazioni sulle altre opere dell'autore come i copioni, le recensioni e gli articoli. Una raccolta quasi sconfinata.

THANKS TO NETGALLEY AND UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS PRESS FOR THE PREVIEW!

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martedì, dicembre 16, 2014

Norse Jewel by Gina Conkle

Norse JewelNorse Jewel by Gina Conkle
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Cute story, with the retired Viking who falls in love with a slave he bought, but she is even unable to manage the home.... then betrayals, reconciliations and maybe a happy ending, but this was not being sufficiently explored, in my opinion.

Storia carina, con il vichingo in pensione che s'innamora della schiava incapace che ha comprato per gestire la casa, poi tradimenti, riconciliazioni e forse un lieto fine che peró non viene sufficientemente esplorato, secondo me.

THANKS TO NETGALLEY AND ENTANGLED PUBLISHING LLC FOR THE PREVIEW!

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domenica, dicembre 14, 2014

The Heart of the Plate: Vegetarian Recipes for a New Generation by Mollie Katzen

The Heart of the Plate: Vegetarian Recipes for a New GenerationThe Heart of the Plate: Vegetarian Recipes for a New Generation by Mollie Katzen
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The bible of vegetarian and vegan recipes, well explained and with pictures (almost always), collected in all parts of the world and with ingradients not too hard to find.

La bibbia delle ricette vegetariane e vegane, ben spiegate e con le immagini (quasi sempre), raccolte in tutte le parti del mondo e con ingradienti non troppo difficili da trovare.

THANKS TO NETGALLEY AND HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT FOR THE PREVIEW!

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venerdì, dicembre 12, 2014

Five Star Billionaire by Tash Aw

Five Star BillionaireFive Star Billionaire by Tash Aw
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The best thing about this book, which I admit I findo not so fascinating because I was not able to immerse myself in the characters or to empathize at least with some of them, is the description of Shanghai, the atmosphere that reigns there and what are (at least currently), the goals that motivate young Chinese today, or some of them. I admit the easy generalization because they reminded me in some way, some of the people I've encountered in books of Qu Xiaolong, one of my favorite authors.

La cosa migliore di questo libro, che ammetto non mi ha affascinato in quanto non sono minimamente riuscita ad immedesimarmi nei personaggi o quanto meno ad empatizzare per alcuni di loro, é la descrizione di Shangai, dell'atmosfera che vi regna e di quali siano almeno attualmente, gli scopi che motivano i giovani cinesi di oggi, o almeno alcuni di essi. Ammetto la facile generalizzazione perché mi hanno ricordato in qualche modo, alcuni dei personaggi che ho incontrato nei libri di Qu Xiaolong, uno dei miei autori preferiti.

THANKS TO NETGALLEY AND RANDOM HOUSE PUBLISHING GROUP - RANDOM HOUSE FOR THE PREVIEW!

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giovedì, dicembre 11, 2014

Mind, Body, Home: Transform Your Life One Room at a Time by Tisha Morris

Mind, Body, Home: Transform Your Life One Room at a TimeMind, Body, Home: Transform Your Life One Room at a Time by Tisha Morris
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Surely it is my fault, but the set of Feng Shui, numerology, Chinese theories on health and karma in the end seemed to me like a big witchcraft and therefore impractical and scarcely believable.

Sicuramente é colpa mia, ma l'insieme di Feng Shui, numerologia, teorie cinesi sulla salute e karma alla fine mi sembra come una grossa stregoneria e quindi per me poco praticabile.

THANKS TO NETGALLEY AND LLEWELLYN WORLEDWIDE, LTD. FOR THE PREVIEW!

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mercoledì, dicembre 10, 2014

Taming the Alpha Box Set: Scarlett Dawn's Valas Playboys recensione di Amyra

From deliciously sizzling contemporary bad boys, to pulse-tingling paranormal hotties, you’re sure to fall in love and in lust with any or all of these alphas. Over twenty fabulous authors bring their A-game to tempt your every desire.
Anthology Includes: Werewolves & Shifters, Demons & Devils, Paranormal & Urban, Military, Vampires, Genetic Engineering, Witches & Wizards, Contemporary,  Dystopia, Romantic Comedy, Romantic Suspense, Special Forces, Dragons, Demons, Billionaires, Magic, Fantasy, Futuristic and so much more!


Authors:

Viola Rivard--The Dragon’s Appraiser
What can she offer the dragon who has everything?
S. E. Smith–Taking on Tory: Magic, New Mexico Book 2
Discover what happens when a reclusive Werewolf finds out he isn’t the only one who likes to bite!

Mandy M. Roth–Broken Communications
Immortal Outcasts, Book 1–Part of the Immortal Ops World

Michelle M. Pillow–Determined Prince–Captured by a Dragon-Shifter
With no one left to marry on the planet, the dragon shifters are starting to get desperate.

Sidney Bristol–Bound and Tamed, Bayou Bound #4
She’s a woman on a mission to retake her body. He’s a man with the talents to push her to new levels.

V. M. Black–No Gentleman
A reckless debutante. A jaded, deadly vampire.

Shelli Stevens–Falling for the Firefighter
When her cousin sets the kitchen on fire, Kim comes face to face with a man from her past. Despite the sparks that fly, she’s afraid to fall for the firefighter who might leave her burned.

Jessie Donovan–Cougar’s First Christmas
Despite coming from two worlds, can their love survive the greatest of tests?

N.J. Walters–Coming Home
A burned-out DEA agent discovers home is where the heart is.

Ella Drake–River Arrow
Don’t get involved. That grim policy has saved Jared’s skin in his post-apoc world. But when Mari faces a drifter gang, he risks losing his boat, his trade route and his life.

Eve Vaughn–Theirs
They’ll do whatever it takes to reclaim what’s Theirs

Jaycee Clark–Reconnected
Lee tried to forget the woman who stole his heart years ago, but now that there’s a killer after her, he’ll do whatever he must to keep her safe.

Lauren Hawkeye–Mistaken Identity
In her job as a decoy sent out to catch cheating men, Hannah thinks she’s seen it all. Yet nothing can explain her attraction to Adam… or what she does as a result.

Scarlett Dawn–Valan Playboys
Never human, never bored, Lana Claire meets her magical match in Valan royalty.

Natasha Logan–Under His Spell
Destiny comes with a price.

Jaide Fox–Renegade
Altered by science, the Renegades are the ultimate warriors—indestructible and deadly.

Tracey H. Kitts–Once Upon a Full Moon
Freya’s life is changed forever one full moon.

Reagan Hawk–Performance Criteria
What do you get when you mix a high IQ and a lot of spare parts? The man of your dreams, of course.

Candice Gilmer–His Velvet Touch
He was going to use her, but he didn’t expect to need her.

J.S. Hope--Foxheart
Can an unexpected visitor vanquish the demons that lurk in the darkness of a lonely man’s soul?

Inez Kelley–Hail Mary Honeymoon -Josie and Wade will either win it all or lose everything when they play a risky game to save their marriage.

Eryn Blackwell–One Night of Passion
Death cannot keep them apart, but he only has one night to prove to her they are meant to be together.

Sherri L. King–Legendary Choice
She chose to live a life less ordinary, never knowing it would involve a sexy demigod who would show her just how legendary that life could be.

Kennedy Kovit--The Bet
When his best friend bets him that he can’t romance the pants off their boss’s daughter, he can’t resist.

Madelyn Porter–Rite of Passion
To escape he plans on seducing his beautiful captor.


I received this ebook from Scarlett Dawn in exchange for an honest, release day review.
This is the review of Scarlett Dawn's Valas Playboys only.
Let's start saying that I love how this author write. This novella contains the best features of the Forever Evermore series and the Cold Mark serial. If you, like me, are dying to see more of our Vaq, than these Valas playboys can sure take the edge off the waiting. I adore them!
The first half of the novella was a roller coaster and I devoured it. Absolutely engaging and a lot of fun and sexy. One scene was a lot steamy so be warned.
The last half was a little more boring and family-oriented. Let's just say that ending are not the strongest suit of Mrs. Dawn.
Vote: 4 stars!

lunedì, dicembre 08, 2014

The Godborn (The Sundering, #2) by Paul S. Kemp

The Godborn (The Sundering, #2)

My rating: 1 of 5 stars

Considering that the first book I did not like very much and this is even worse, it seems fair to say that will not read the other 5 books of the series written by various authors "The sundering." Probably I was not even the right person for this kind of book, despite a past as a player of D & D.

Considerato che il primo libro non mi era piaciuto molto e che questo é pure peggio, mi sembra lecito affermare che non finiró i sette libri che compongono la serie scritta da vari autori "The sundering". Probabilmente non ero nemmeno la persona giusta per questo genere di libri, nonostante un passato da giocatrice di D&D.

THANKS TO NETGALLEY AND WIZARDS OF THE COAST FOR THE PREVIEW!

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sabato, dicembre 06, 2014

Living with Your Body and Other Things You Hate by Emily Sandoz, Kelly Wilson, Troy Dufrene

Living with Your Body and Other Things You Hate

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Nice book about body image managed with coaching techniques, mindfulness and cognitive behavioral techniques. Finally someone who is also talking about people´s past experiences as the basis of what is happening in the present. It is working in the "here and now", but you can´t always pretend that the "there and then" never existed!

Bel libro sulla body image, gestita con tecniche di coaching, mindfulness e tecniche cognitivo comportamentali. Finalmente qualcuno che tratta anche la gestione del proprio vissuto passato come base di quello che accade nel presente. Va bene il qui ed ora, ma non si puó sempre fare finta che il lá ed allora non sia mai esistito!

THANKS TO NETGALLEY AND NEW HARBINGER PUBLICATIONS, INC.!

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giovedì, dicembre 04, 2014

The Companions (The Sundering, #1) by R.A. Salvatore

The Companions (The Sundering, #1)

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I admit that the fantasy has never been my favorite genre, but this is what Netgalley suggested and I tried, unfortunately as I´m an obsessed serial reader, I hate it when I read a story that comes from another totally unknown to me, and although this book can be read as a stand-alone novel, I am always annoyed.

Ammetto che il fantasy non é mai stato il mio genere preferito ma questo me lo aveva suggerito Netgalley e ci ho provato, purtroppo come serial reader ossessionato, detesto quando la storia che leggo deriva da un'altra che ignoro totalmente, e anche se questo libro puó essere letto da solo, rimango sempre infastidita.

THANKS TO NETGALLEY AND WIZARDS OF THE COAST FOR THE PREVIEW!

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martedì, dicembre 02, 2014

Play Your Bigger Game: 9 Minutes to Learn, a Lifetime to Live by Rick Tamlyn

Play Your Bigger Game: 9 Minutes to Learn, a Lifetime to LivePlay Your Bigger Game: 9 Minutes to Learn, a Lifetime to Live by Rick Tamlyn
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Another self-help book based on coaching. Once you have identified your dream, your potential, your capacity to exploit, why wait? Everything has already been written by others and read by me, and this manual does not add anything new.

Un altro libro di autoaiuto basato sul coaching. Una volta che hai individuato il tuo grande sogno, il tuo potenziale, la tua capacitá da sfruttare, perché aspettare? Il tutto é giá stato scritto da altri e letto dalla sottoscritta e questo manuale non aggiunge niente di nuovo.

THANKS TO NETGALLEY AND HAY HOUSE FOR THE PREVIEW!

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