And I’m meowing at the cover of Francis Ray’s It Had to be You. LOOK at this cover model!

Hot, huh?

Yep, it’s another rock book — about a hot rock producer and … of all things, a violinist!

What a cool twist. Violins and rock music… sounds a little bit like a certain Finnish band I happen to simply adore…

Given how much I liked What the Librarian Did (read my review) despite its flaws, I’m curious to know if Francis Ray can pull off the rock world, too.

Wasn’t it just the other day I was blogging about a new Metallica book?

Today came word of ANOTHER one.

Renowned British rock journalist Mick Wall will release a new book, “Metallica: Enter Night – The Biography”, in hardcover via Orion in the U.K. on November 11.

(See Blabbermouth for the whole article)

Sheesh. It seems like the whole world has decided to write about my favorite real-life band. And that’s fine (or it would be if they’d all send me review copies so I could compare/contrast them. HINT, folks!).

It’s been quiet here this week. I’m sure you’ve noticed. I’m sure you’re getting excited to see what I’m working on bringing you for the Musical Hanukkah Celebration and my big push to donate at least half my royalties in November and December to charity. (Hint: I just got word of sales at Sony, B&N, and Apple today. So if you shop at any of those places, get ready to buy ’cause the books are THERE!)

Stay tuned. We’re going to have a LOT of fun. I’ve got lots of two-parters for you guys, too. And lots of your favorite characters (and a few you’ve seen here but haven’t warmed up to yet. Yet.).

Musical Hanukkah. Metallica. Books. Who’da thunk???

I don’t remember the last time I did a mail call post. I’ve been doing a lot of them over at Rocks ‘n Reads so I don’t double-post over here, but lately, that hasn’t been an issue. I’m so busy getting the Musical Hanukkah Celebration together (read this page for more details) that it appears I’ve been neglecting you guys.

Not true. Totally not true. Once we start rolling with the new fiction, you’ll agree.

In the meantime, I picked up three books from my beloved PO Box on Friday, so I figured I’d share with you what I got.

First was from BookMooch: Yes, the River Knows. It’s written by Tracy Dunham. I’d wanted it because I recently read the first in this series, Wishful Sinful, and really liked it.

Next was another rock and roll novel, thanks to my good friend Mary at BookHounds. She sent me her ARC copy of Olivia Cunning’s Backstage Pass. I hear it’s hot. I hear it’s good. I hear I now get a chance to see for myself.

And finally, Thomma Lyn Grindstaff sent me a copy of Mirror Blue. I’ll be raffling this off to anyone who makes a direct donation to the Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation between, well, now and the end of the year. Maybe I’ll even sneak in a read between now and then… If you’d like to make a direct donation as part of the Musical Hanukkah Celebration, the link is above.

That’s it from West of Mars this week. Lots going on, lots more to come. I hope you’re reading something good — and will join in this year’s Musical Hanukkah Celebration as we take it from the realm of fiction into the real world.

If you’d like to see what others discovered in their mailboxes this week, stop by The Story Siren and Mailbox Monday, this month hosted by She Reads and Reads

Oh, I’m just going to shamelessly cut and past what Blabbermouth said.

Chronicle Books has just released “The Ultimate Metallica” book of photographs by legendary rock photographer Ross Halfin.

Halfin has documented METALLICA for nearly 25 years, from their beginnings as a scrappy, furious garage band to their current status as the heaviest and most popular metal band in the world. Featuring a foreword by METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich and an afterword by guitarist Kirk Hammett, “The Ultimate Metallica” collects the best of Halfin’s amazing images, taken over the years with access granted exclusively to him as the band’s main lensman. His candid photographs — taken on stage, backstage, on and off tour — are supplemented by text from many people close to the band, including managers and music writers, plus some colorful personal observations from Halfin himself.

Ulrich says of Halfin’s work, “He just gets right the fuck in there. . . . Every drop of sweat, every molecule of saliva, every out-of-place nose hair, it all gets captured cuz he’s just fucking there.”

Ross Halfin has toured with and photographed many bands, including IRON MAIDEN, DEF LEPPARD, KISS, THE CLASH, SEX PISTOLS, and THE WHO. He lives in Surrey, England.

Okay, so not so mmrow on the out-of-place nose hairs, but the rest? Total. Mmrow. I need this book. Research, don’tcha know… research.

I’m posting this here instead of at Rocks ‘n Reads so more of you will see it. Once again, Jennifer Estep has knocked one out of the park. Go pick up Venom, which releases today. Or, heck, pick up the entire Elemental Assassin series.

Sometimes, when you work your way through a series of books, you get the feeling the author wasn’t expecting this or that to happen. That the unfolding series of events is as much a surprise to the writer as it is to you, the reader.

Not so with Jennifer Estep’s Elemental Assassin series. This is one of the best plotted series I’ve encountered in years. In other words, as we devour Venom, the latest release in the projected five-book series, there’s a sense that nothing has been left to chance. Everything that happens has a reason, and we’re building to something big, explosive, and Earth-shattering.

Just the way I like it.

In Venom, a number of things are happening. Gin Blanco finds that retirement is a difficult state to remain in. She may not be taking money to do her job, but people still need the skills of her alter ego, the assassin named The Spider. Just because she wants to run a restaurant and take classes at the local community college doesn’t mean people’s lives have gotten any easier.

In fact, as Venom progresses, Gin’s life is getting a bit harder. Her baby sister isn’t just alive, but is the newest hire on the Ashland police force. Bria is replacing Donovan Caine, the man Gin had serious chemistry with but who couldn’t handle her being on the dark side of the law.

Baby sister’s no pushover and her presence, sniffing around Gin as she attempts to figure out what’s going on, quickly becomes constant and reliable. Gin’s not ready to expose their relationship yet — although I do wonder how ignorant Bria truly is. I hope I’m not disappointed in future books and that she’s figured it out.

Also replacing Donovan Caine is a new dude in Gin’s life. The chemistry is there. He knows she’s an assassin. If the weapons he’d forged and hung on his wall are any indication, Owen Grayson could very well be Gin’s soulmate. This man has many mysteries he’s hiding. While some are revealed in Venom, it’s obvious there are many, many more we’ve yet to encounter. Owen has the same delicious potential as baby sister Bria.

Believe it or not, these are merely the subplots. Like I said, the Elemental Assassin series must have been planned out from the get-go, because the heart of this story is that of Roslyn the vampire. She’s found herself, entirely unwillingly, in a relationship she wants no further part of. As those dark secrets are revealed, it’s obvious that Gin is, once again, set on assassinating a truly heinous being. I dare anyone to argue for this low-life’s survival.

As awful as Roslyn’s problem is, it is at the same time a stroke of luck for Gin. This is the opportunity she’s been wishing for: the chance to bring down Mab Monroe and her city-wide-controlling operation. Oh, Gin’s not going to effect this downfall in one fell swoop. Nope. That’s where the beauty of Estep’s plotting comes in. This opportunity to help Roslyn becomes the first step in achieving Gin’s ultimate goal. As the series unfolds over the next two books, we’ll get to watch what happens. Will it succeed, will it fail… we don’t know. It could easily go either way.

That’s because Estep isn’t afraid to put her characters on the hook. She lets them get beat up (as Gin does in the opening scene of Venom). They take their lumps. By doing this, Estep creates the niggling sense that maybe Gin won’t have a happily ever after — at least, not in the way Gin’s envisioning it.

And as readers, we eat up that uncertainty. We need to keep reading. We need to know. And we agonize that book four in the series, Tangled Threads, won’t be out for another six months.

Overall, Estep’s dark world continues to both fascinate and feel like a familiar place we take refuge from our own lives in. This is a world where vampires go out during the day, where Giants are real people, and Dwarfs are infused with good magic. It’s a world of possibility. And by creating an assassin, not only does Estep get to play with the big moral questions, she allows us to wish we could be Gin. Just long enough to turn into the Spider and … take care of … things… ourselves.

Venom. You’re not surprised to hear this, but it’s a West of Mars recommended read.

I haven’t done a Booking Through Thursday prompt in eons, mostly because they haven’t really appealed. Today’s does.

It’s all about what we’re reading now, and if we enjoy it and all that.

So…

I’m reading three books right now — an ARC copy of Jennifer Estep’s Venom. It’s coming out on September 28 (yeah, I waited until the last minute. The file refused to convert to .epub nicely, so I have to read on the laptop) and if you haven’t started Jennifer’s Elemental Assassin series yet, you are SO missing out. Start with Spider’s Bite, the first, and go from there.

Really. Jennifer knows how to build a world that’s so comfortable, you’ll think YOU live there.

I’m also about to finish up Linda Fairstein’s Death Dance. If you’ve read my book talks for any length of time, you’ll remember I’m a HUGE Fairstein fan. You don’t have to read the series in order. They’re smart and full of historical facts about the city of New York. During her years as a prosecutor, Fairstein herself pioneered a lot of the ways in which rape victims are dealt with and helped in the court system. We’ve still got a long way to go, but she was instrumental in taking those first vital steps.

And finally, because I needed something to read and the laptop was tied up by children or husband — not to mention I’m overdue to turn the review in — I’m reading Jan Bornstein’s Deuces are Wild. It’s the third in a trilogy, and it’s rock and roll fiction. I’m not terribly far into it yet, so we’ll see…

Remember to keep your eyes on Rocks ‘n Reads for other books I’m reading. Add it to your reader; I don’t post there often.

Now, I’m not the world’s hugest Queen fan, and I totally didn’t get the significance of Queen with Paul Rodgers.

That doesn’t mean the idea of a behind-the-scenes book about the pairing doesn’t get me all excited. Especially after these three I mentioned last time. And after the fact that Iron Maiden somehow inspired this post (and gave us Wardrobe Girl), I think it’s fairly well established that if it’s about rock and roll, I can pull inspiration from it.

(Then again, this particular oldie was NOT inspired by rock and roll but by my very own grocery store. So who really knows what’ll inspire me — and when. Maybe I should instead say that by reading all these nonfiction rock books, I’m picking up the details that fill in the cracks of my own music industry background and allow you guys, my readers, to live and breathe this world with me as accurately as possible.)

Anyway, here’s the latest book: Rockmos!

Only 111 are going to be printed. Boo for me and the hopes of getting a review copy. A small percentage is going to be donated to charity (nothing like what I’ll be doing in November and December this year!), and all prices that I’ve seen aren’t in US dollars.

Still, I can covet…

I’m typing this with a cat on my lap, so please ignore any typos. I should mention I’m also using a laptop. And I’m short. That means not a lot of real estate for a cat AND a computer.

Welcome to my life.

Let’s focus on what really matters around here. No, not more griping from me. Books!

First up is the new one from Nikki Sixx, who sorta pissed me off by saying he didn’t want The Heroin Diaries to become a PSA for suburban housewives. I’m a writer, thankyouverymuch, even if I am home all day long and live in the suburbs of Mars. And besides, Nikki, you wrote a book I related to. Bite me.

His book, once the biting is over, is called This is Gonna Hurt. It’s a memoir. It’s a photo gallery. It’s Nikki and it’s gonna be all-around cool. I hope.

And yes, it’ll have a soundtrack from Sixx AM. I hope you guys remember how much I liked the soundtrack to The Heroin Diaries. If not, here’s a link to some thoughts on the subject from Chelle.

Not enough real-life rock and roll for you? I know. I don’t delve into it here on the Meet and Greet nearly often enough. I’m making up for it today, I suppose.

Next up is I’m in the Band, written by the ultra-gorgeous (or so I perceived her when in my 20s and seeing White Zombie for the first and only time. Only? Hmm. Maybe not…) Sean Yseult. Yes, Sean’s a woman. And she’s compiled ELEVEN years of tour diaries into this one book. I’m in heaven, and not just because of the Spinal Tap reference there. Sean’s diaries went to eleven, everyone!

STILL not enough?

Yeah, for me, either. So now let’s move on to Corey Taylor. Maybe you’ve heard of his band, Stone Sour. Or that other side project he’s got. I think it’s called something like Slipknot. His book is called The Seven Deadly Sins, and it talks about the WILD years with Slipknot. This is a Susan Must Have book.

Hell, all three of them are.

So… if you’ve got connections or are in the know or what have you, why not send your favorite rock and roll writer a review copy? I’d be glad to read and review it over at Rocks ‘n Reads, where all the cool book reviews hang out…

(Damn. Only one of the three has a buy link up at Powells.com. C’mon, publicists! I NEED these books! And no, I can’t buy them myself. Seen my royalty checks lately???)

This actually took place a week ago, but I’ve been so blown over by the experience, it’s taken me this long to get my thoughts down.

I don’t remember how it happened, only that it was March or April of this year when I realized that one of the authors I follow on Twitter is a local man. Mitchell James Kaplan. He was mentioning appearances he’d be doing around the city … and dammit, I couldn’t get to a single one.

He’d written a book: By Fire, By Water. It’s a historical novel, set in the time of the Spanish Inquisition. And it’s about Conversos and Jews and Christians and Columbus and real people and some fictional ones…

By Fire, By Water sounded PERFECT for my book club.

So I pitched it to them. I suggested we read it sooner rather than later (we’ve got over a year’s worth of books waiting to be read) so that we could invite Mitchell to join us.

He did.

This was the first time we’ve had an author visit us. We’ve gone to hear Rochelle Krich speak at the Mystery Lover’s Bookshop, and we’ve had India Edghill call in, but I’ve never given up my spot on the loveseat for an author.

Let me tell you, Mitchell is a delight. He’s SO FUCKING KNOWLEDGEABLE, it’s a week later and I’m still letting what he had to say sink in. He’s soft spoken and smart as a whip. A gentle soul, too — the sort who always intimidate me, the force of nature that I am. He’s led a really neat life up to this point; it really puts my own self-perception to shame.

And the book? I’d heard from some online reviews that it started slowly. One had even said it never picked up.

While I found the first ten pages to be a bit tough going, I also found them filled with lovely sentences. (One of my book club members ran off with my copy of the book or I’d list some here). Just gorgeous writing, stuff I hadn’t expected from an ex-screenwriter.

But then I stopped focusing on the writing and let the story suck me in. It’s a great story, broad in its ambition. By Fire, By Water isn’t just a phrase used in the upcoming High Holiday services, it describes this book, too. The silversmith’s forge. The inquisition and the burning of a character at the stake. And the subplot of Christopher Columbus. Fire. Water.

If you’re in a book club, I suggest you read this and see if Mitchell can Skype or Webcam in to visit with you guys. If you’re in the Pittsburgh area (or near enough to make the road trip worthwhile), go see him. If you’re out of the area, why not see if you can work out something with your local bookstore, to make a visit from him worth everyone’s time and energy?

And the rest of you, go read this book. Here’s a buy link to Powell’s. Mystery Lovers’ Bookshop might have some autographed copies left. Why not ask?

My good friend Mary sent me the heads-up about this one: Olivia Cunning has a new series she’s launching. The series is called Sinners on Tour. The band at the heart of the series is called Sinners. Each member will have his own book.

The first book is called Backstage Pass.

Of course I want to read (and review) this one. Perfect for me, no?

What more do I need to say? Other than darn it, I need more time to write! (and yes, I’m drafting this while my arm is bad. Like you can’t tell?)

Be sure to stop in and read my interview over at The Editorial Department!

1. It’s out! Go buy it.

2. Here’s a 15% off coupon code for the print version at Lulu: BEACHREAD305

3. Of course, it’s not autographed… you’ll have to buy a copy direct from me for that to happen.

4. Since the Lulu price is so high, I’ll cut you a break if you order direct from me.

5. Need it in digital? I recommend Smashwords.

6. Smashwords can do you up with whatever format you require. Even Kindle. (Me, I read in e-pub)

7. AND you can use the code for 50% off. (only until the end of the month)

8. If you need the companion books, The Demo Tapes (Year 1 and Year 2), they are FREE until the end of July.

9. You guys have waited a long time for this book. Too long.

10. I appreciate your patience.

11. Buy it. Read it. Review it. Talk to your friends about it.

12. Vive la Trevolution!

13. And before you ask, yes, there’s a sequel in the works. When you get to the end of Trevor’s Song, you’ll see why I mention it now… Go read!

Yes, I am coveting a cookbook.

But… of course it isn’t ANY OLD cookbook.

Nope. It’s a cookbook written by Steve “Buckshot” Seabury, and it’s called… Mosh Potatoes – Recipes, Anecdotes And Mayhem From The Heavyweights Of Heavy Metal.

Among some of the contributors are said to be: LAMB OF GOD, the guys in TYPE O NEGATIVE (sob), GUNS N’ ROSES, ANTHRAX, MEGADETH, OVERKILL, TESTAMENT, QUEENSRŸCHE, BISON B.C., STEEL PANTHER, MUDVAYNE, LIFE OF AGONY, DREAM THEATER

Here’s the press release I saw. Beware the annoying Bing pop-ups. Here’s an interview with Buckshot (and why they didn’t just come right to me, I don’t know…).

Hopefully, I’ll have a review for you one day…

1. Both versions of Trevor’s Song are now on sale!

2. Buy the digital versions (that means e-book versions) at Smashwords, where the novel’s half-off and the Demo Tapes are free. Use the coupon codes you see listed, if five bucks is too rich for your blood…

3. Buy the print version at Lulu. Or direct from me.

4. I’ll be selling it direct for cheaper, once you factor in the shipping charges. I can explain why privately, if you’re curious.

5. I’m available for interviews and guest blog posts.

6. I’ve got a bunch waiting to be written, though. Summertime’s slowed me down.

7. Yesterday was the pool. Today’s a quiet day. Tomorrow’s the Science Center. And I’m too whipped in the evenings to do much writing. Ouch.

8. I need to get over that, and fast. The Tour de France is in full swing, and it’s wonderful to write in front of.

9. I’m pulling for Andy Schleck, I think. But I have other favorite cyclists, too.

10. Check out their thighs! Wow. Things of beauty, these pro bikers’ legs.

11. Watching the Tour makes me want to go out and bike, but I’m still sidelined by an arm injury. Every time I set eyes on my road bike, I pout.

12. I think the cat has a kidney stone. Or maybe a UT infection. Or both.

13. That’s about it… stay cool, everyone!

Deadbeat

All you guys who haven’t bought my book yet. Feel free to fix that.

Print
Digital (that’s an e-book, you deadbeat. Any fucking format your heart desires.)
or from Susan, who’ll only charge you like nineteen bucks if you’re in the States or Canada, which is cheaper than Lulu’s got it for. (Amazon ain’t got it yet. Deadbeat.) AND Susan will throw in an autograph for you. Hers? Mine? Order my book and see for yourself.

Since it’s been quiet over here, I’m posting my weekly mail call (a merge of In My Mailbox and Mailbox Monday) here instead of at Rocks ‘n Reads.

I only got one book, but it’s a doozy (when don’t I get a doozy, though? You guys know me. I adore books). My friend drey sent me her ARC copy of Joshilyn Jackson’s newest book, Backseat Saints.

I haven’t read anything by Ms. Jackson since gods in Alabama, which I thought was a brilliant book. From what I’m hearing of Backseat Saints, this won’t disappoint (neither will the intervening books, but I need to get my hands on them before I can judge properly).

So that’s it. One book. My attempts to tame the TBR mountains continue…

(News of Trevor’s Song in print to come, along with the cover art. In the meantime, you e-book readers should head over to Smashwords and pick up a copy in your preferred format. Half-off this month as part of the Summer Sale!)

If you saw my Facebook status last night (If Any Idiot can self-publish a book, I clearly need to change my name), you may be able to figure out I’m hung up on getting you guys the print version of Trevor’s Song.

BUT you who like e-books are in luck. It’s now available for sale at Smashwords (oh, how I love them!), and since it’s the Summer Sale, I’ve discounted it. No, not down to free, like The Demo Tapes are, but half off. Which is a whopping $2.50.

Go. Spread the word. You’ve waited a LONG time for this.

And as soon as I get the ISBN up and running (if you are planning on keeping the book on your shelf and don’t care about an ISBN, I believe you can pick it up at Lulu right now), I’ll let you know.

In the meantime, if you’d like to get an autographed copy of the book direct from me, holler. I need to know how many copies to order… It’ll be $12.99 plus shipping.

Okay, so Lori and I have been chatting for a bit now about doing something to feature her book, The Last River Child. She even had two copies sent to me so I could read one — and I did! A bit ago.

It seems this summer slowdown of mine hit well before the summer started.

Still, author Lori Bloomfield hasn’t released a new book, so we’ll call The Last River Child a Featured New Release. Which means that in addition to giving away both copies of this book (I dare you to tell me which I read. ’cause… I can’t tell. Yep, I’m THIS gentle on my books.), I asked Lori THE question:

What song makes you think of your book?

Her answer?

After much thought about what song reminds me of my book I am going to go with “Stolen Child” by Loreena McKennitt. Wow, I feel like I’m on a game show, or something. It was a fun question to roll around my mind. Really, I was searching for a song that created a certain mood and I think this fits the bill.

Know what? This song is THE BEST representation of the book. If this book were a song, it’d be this one. Nicely done, Lori!

Here’s the book’s blurb:

In the summer of 1900, a meteorite lands on the day of Peg Staynor’s baptism, barely missing the small church in rural Ontario. This, along with Peg’s almost colorless eyes, is enough to resurrect a local superstition that will haunt Peg and her family for years. Many believe Peg to be a river child, taken over by an evil spirit from the Magurvey River that winds its way through the town. Feared and shunned throughout her childhood, Peg is blamed for every misfortune, from drought to ailing livestock. When her mother, her fiercest protector, dies suddenly on the same day WWI is declared, young Peg must face not only the mistrust of the villagers, but of her father. His grief has driven him to take solace in drink and old superstition, leaving Peg with only her head-strong older sister, Sarah, for support. It will take the terrible reality of World War I to shake off the grip of old world beliefs. As the town’s young men begin to return mentally and physically damaged, or not return at all, the sheltered atmosphere of the town is broken. A bright flame of change will sweep through everyone’s lives, leading Peg into the future.

So. To win one of the two copies… just leave me a comment, telling me WHY you want to read it. What strikes your fancy? Being sincere when you say you want to read it ’cause you trust my taste and judgment won’t get you bonus points but WILL make my day.

I’ll send at least one copy around the world, and keep the other one for you US or Canadian friends. But if I pick two North Americans, so be it. I’ll pick the winners in the usual way — random kid power! And… I’ll give you ten days to enter. That makes July 16.

Oh, yeah. If you don’t leave me a way to contact you, your entry doesn’t count.

And for the disclaimer garbage: Lori had her publisher send me both copies. Actually, she asked that one be sent, and so one was. Twice. In two envelopes, even. So that’s why I decided to give this charming book away — be warned; it lingers. That’s all I got out of it, really. Nothing financial. Just a good read, and darn it, but that’s good enough for me.

Yep, boys and girls, it’s time for the Summer Sale over at Smashwords. Which means that once again, I’ve put the two Demo Tapes anthologies on sale — you can get them for free!

Seriously. Free.

Just like I did during Read an E-Book Week. I’m doing it again ’cause I made a lot of new converts to the Trevolution. And with Trevor’s Song finally about to come out (if I ever finish the formatting for Smashwords, and put the ISBN graphic on the back cover of the print version), this is the perfect time to help spread the word.

Here’s the link:
And here’s the Coupon: SW100.

Share the coupon. Spread the love. You know Trevor would!

If you read my review of Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist over at Rocks ‘n Reads, you’ll see the story of how I came to read this book last week.

I was looking over my Netflix queue a day or two later and I realized that Nick and Norah, the movie, wasn’t going to be available for instant watching much longer. In fact, I had something like a day left. So, I interrupted a fine evening outside in the dark, watching the clouds go by, to come inside and fire up the Instant Viewing. Good thing; I had mere hours left before it was gone.

Let me say first off that there are very few movies I like better than the book. Joyce Maynard’s To Die For is possibly the only book that wasn’t as good as the movie. No, not because of Nicole Kidman or Matt Dillon. Because of the power of the visual at the very end. (Saying anything more will spoil it. Just go watch the flick, will ya?)

Now, Nick and Norah had some very good visuals to endear the movie to me. The sight of Nick’s old, beat-up Yugo. And New York itself, looking every bit as good as it did when I roamed it on similar nights (never as long and, regrettably, never with a potential love interest of my own) during my own college youth.

But… the book is a million times better. Not just because we get to hear Nick and Norah’s internal monologues, but because many of the changes made by the writers were poor.

Okay, the whole bit about Nick’s Yugo being mixed up for a taxi was funny. And yes, I howled out loud when the enraptured (ahem) couple actually paid him for the lift.

But the change in the subplot involving Caroline? Like I didn’t see the cell phone being dropped a mile away… it wasn’t funny. It wasn’t even realistic that once she picked it up, it worked.

And the gum? Oh, man. That never lost its ick factor (and if that means I’m old, don’t tell me!).

You may not believe this, but I hated the scenes in Electric Lady Studios. It stretched disbelief that Hendrix’s guitar is sitting there so casually, on a guitar stand and not mounted to be preserved (although, having never been in Electric Lady, it very well could be). But for Norah to tell Nick to go and put it on and try it out? And then to take it into the studio and make music with it? She’s just met this guy, for crying out loud. There are all these trust issues between them, and she hands him a guitar worth millions?

And the tape recording their little tryst on the couch… same thing as with Caroline and the phone. It took away from the beauty of the story, which was these two kids learning to let go, to rise above, and to reach for the possibilities of what lies ahead.

Which means I really missed the book’s scene in the Marriott. There was so much more to that scene than to its replacement, the one in Electric Lady. (Not to mention the subtext introduced by the scene happening in the building Daddy owns and is famous for.) It was a real moment of growth for Norah. We lost all of that, only to be given that horrible sight of the soundboard, recording away. That, too, introduced themes and ideas that don’t belong in this story of newfound love.

One last rant: Nick had a cruel streak to him that, in the book, had belonged to Norah’s boyfriend. It didn’t work for Nick to call Norah frigid. In fact, it made me want her to slug him and walk away, playlist suddenly and inalterably finite.

A lot of the reviews of the book mention the issue of the language. You guys know the word FUCK doesn’t bother me in the least. It didn’t bother me in the book. To me, it helped create atmosphere and authenticity. The sad part is that these critics (as many do with Fat Kid Rules the World, which you know is one of my all-time favorite books) are allowing something so simple to obscure their view of a truly beautiful story.

Stick to the book, folks.

Although I haven’t answered a Booking Through Thursday question in awhile (some have been over at Rocks ‘n Reads, if you don’t have my quiet little book blog on your feed reader yet), the weekly prompt still shows up in my own reader.

I had to laugh at this week’s question:

Do you read book reviews? Do you let them change your mind about reading/not reading a particular book?

If you head over to my friend Florinda and her 3 R’s Blog, you’ll see that I wrote a guest blog post that went live just today. It’s about how important it is to us authors that people review our books. I’m not talking about the authors who’ll send out e-mail to everyone in their address books, asking for a review, either. I’m talking about the difference an ordinary person can make to an author’s sales.

So… yes, I DO read reviews and let myself be swayed by them. And believe me, thanks to Win a Book, I now read a LOT of reviews. I even read the reviews in my GoodReads updates feed.

Look. My wishlist is now over 2100 books long. My TBR mountains consist of probably close to 540 books (down ten from my last estimate!). While I believe in the power of serendipity to help me find those books on my wishlist and to get to read them, I still can use a little help in choosing what to read.