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27th Virtual Poetry Circle

January 9, 2010 by

It’s a new year and a new classic poem for the 27th Virtual Poetry Circle.

OK, Here’s a poem up for reactions, interaction, and–dare I say it–analysis:

Remember, this is just for fun and is not meant to be stressful.

Keep in mind what Molly Peacock’s books suggested. Look at a line, a stanza, sentences, and images; describe what you like or don’t like; and offer an opinion. If you missed my review of her book, check it out here.

Beloved, my Beloved . . . (a sonnet)
by Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Beloved, my Beloved, when I think 
That thou wast in the world a year ago, 
What time I sate alone here in the snow 
And saw no footprint, heard the silence sink 
No moment at thy voice ... but, link by link, 
Went counting all my chains, as if that so 
They never could fall off at any blow 
Struck by thy possible hand ... why, thus I drink 
Of life's great cup of wonder! Wonderful, 
Never to feel thee thrill the day or night 
With personal act or speech,—nor ever cull 
Some prescience of thee with the blossoms white 
Thou sawest growing! Atheists are as dull, 
Who cannot guess God's presence out of sight.

Let me know your thoughts, ideas, feelings, impressions. Let’s have
a great discussion…pick a line, pick an image, pick a sentence.

I’ve you missed the other Virtual Poetry Circles, check them out here. It’s never too late to join the discussion.

Copyright of Serena M. Agusto-Cox at Savvy Verse & Wit 2007-2010. This is not original content, this content is owned and copyrighted by Serena M. Agusto-Cox
Filed Under: virtual poetry circle

My First Bloggiesta!

January 8, 2010 by

Welcome to my first Bloggiesta!  I’ve decided to sign-up and makes some progress on this blog and War Through the Generations.

For the War blog, here are my goals:

1.  Get the initial Vietnam War Reading Challenge reviews posted.
2.  Link the books on the WWII list to the Amazon Affiliate page to hopefully generate money to pay for giveaways and shipping.
3.  Add books to the recommended reading list for the Vietnam War Challenge (though I think this will be ongoing)

4.  Check on our guest post submissions for the Vietnam War Reading Challenge
5.  Back up the blog

For this blog, here are my goals:

1.  Add a copyright to my feed (which I just did earlier today–so let’s check this off the list)
2.  Rearrange sidebars to my satisfaction
3.  Ensure all challenge reviews have the appropriate challenge tags, images, and links
4.  Make sure that all challenge book reviews are linked on appropriate challenge pages
5.  Organize Google Reader and makes sure all Vietnam War Reading Participants are in their own folder
6.  Update my spreadsheet of ARC and review books and take stock
7.  Think up some article ideas on writing and editing
8.  Comment on as many posts in my Google Reader as possible
9.  Make sure to post at least the first Virtual Poetry Circle post of the New Year!
10.  Backup the blog

I hope I can accomplish at least some of this over the weekend.  If I even get just the War blog stuff done, I will be happy.

Thanks to Natasha of Maw Books for hosting.

I think I’m going to update this post as I go through the Bloggiesta, so you’ll see more cross-outs as I go along. 

***Update at 6:30PM***


I spent about 1 hour before my nap working on sidebars, woke up at 5PM, and have been working for 1.5 hours on backing up the blog and getting the next Virtual Poetry Circle post ready.  Including the time it took me to read and understand the mini-challenge about adding the copyright to my feed earlier in the day, I’ve spent about 3 hours on bloggiesta so far.  


I’ve started updating the WWII Reading list with affiliate links, but I need a break…so that’s 3.5 hours on Bloggiesta so far.  How are you doing?


***Update 1/10/10***


I’ve made significant progress during Bloggiesta!  I’ve been working on linking the WWII recommended reading books to the Amazon Affiliate page, but this may be a long-term project as it gets tedious and tiring.  


I have checked on the guest posts for the 2010 Vietnam War Challenge and will be drafting the review posts we have thus far from our participants.


In total, I’m up to 7.5 hours spent on Bloggiesta.


Yes, I’m back again and I think I’m done for the rest of Bloggiesta because I want to read some more of my books that are calling to me.  I’ve spent a total of 10.5 hours on blog stuff, and I think that’s pretty good for my first crack at it.  Some of these projects will be ongoing.  


Have fun everyone!

Copyright of Serena M. Agusto-Cox at Savvy Verse & Wit 2007-2010. This is not original content, this content is owned and copyrighted by Serena M. Agusto-Cox
Filed Under: announcements, Bloggeista

D.C. Literature Examiner Goodies

January 8, 2010 by

I know we’ve all be busy with the holidays and reading our new books.

I’ve been busily interview poets and authors on D.C. Literature Examiner again.  You knew I couldn’t resist.

Please check out my latest interview with Poet and Musician John Amen!  We talk about his writing habits, his thoughts on how music and poetry are similar, and what poets he recommends.  Check out the interview here and here.

One of his books, More of Me Disappears, made my 2009 top poetry books list.

I’ve also had the pleasure of talking about John Shors’, author of Dragon House, charity efforts in providing books to street children in Vietnam.  If you’d like to see how well his project has gone or how his book sales are connected to the charity, please go here.

Finally, I had the pleasure of interviewing Into the Beautiful North author Luis Alberto Urrea.  We discuss how movies influenced him, particularly with this novel, his writing, his playlists, and more.  Don’t forget his recommended reading.  Check out the interview here and here.

Urrea’s book made my best of audiobooks for 2009!

I hope you’ll be checking these interviews out in your down time.

Copyright of Serena M. Agusto-Cox at Savvy Verse & Wit 2007-2010. This is not original content, this content is owned and copyrighted by Serena M. Agusto-Cox
Filed Under: announcements, Interviews Tagged With: , ,

2009 WWII Reading Challenge Giveaways

January 8, 2010 by

The 2009 WWII Reading Challenge at War Through the Generations may have ended on Dec. 31, 2009, and given way to the 2010 Vietnam War Reading Challenge (signups are still open).

But the fun doesn’t end there for our 2009 WWII Reading Challenge participants!

We’ve got giveaways for all you who participated and even if you didn’t complete the challenge, there is an opportunity to win books.

The best part is that these giveaways are international.

Want to know how to enter?  GO HERE.

Copyright of Serena M. Agusto-Cox at Savvy Verse & Wit 2007-2010. This is not original content, this content is owned and copyrighted by Serena M. Agusto-Cox
Filed Under: announcements

The Bum Magnet by K.L. Brady

January 7, 2010 by

K.L. Brady’s The Bum Magnet is local chicklit for Washington, D.C., residents and stars the bum magnet herself, Charisse.  She’s a real estate agent with a serial dating problem, always seeming to attract the wrong kind of man and hanging onto them.  Dwayne, Lamar, Sean, and Marcus are just some of the bums in this book, but are they all bums?  That’s what Charisse has to figure out, if she can get past her own hangups.

“‘Charisse, a good man is like Santa Claus, believing in him feels real good until you find out he doesn’t really exist.'”  (Page 1)

Brady’s debut novel uses a lot of colloquial language and delves into the wrong relationships of her characters through journal entries and flashbacks, but readers may not feel a connection to Charisse right off.  She’s a bristly, independent woman on the one hand, but a dependent, lonely woman on the other.  Like all of us, Charisse has her strengths and her weaknesses, but she seems to have a hard time recognizing the obvious and in many ways she goes off the deep end.

“No, to me, spying on a boyfriend was not only justified, it was a requirement.  Hey, I keep it real.  To ask me not to spy on a scheming boyfriend would be like asking a lion not to hunt, a dog not to bark, or babies not to throw up.  ‘Verification’ was an instinctive to me (and all womankind), as giving birth.”  (Page 61)

As she makes the decision to focus on herself and analyze her past relationship failures to improve her relationship capabilities, she stumbles upon the man of her “dreams,” Dwayne, shortly after breaking it off with Marcus.  Things are soon spiraling out of control for Charisse when past flames reappear and past mistakes rear their ugly heads.   

“I hoped she wasn’t crazy.  For some reason, I’d always attracted crazy people.  Not eccentric crazy, but wear aluminum foil as a fashion accessory crazy.  They always shared their life stories with me.  Did I have an inviting demeanor or a friendly face? Perhaps.  Although I had a deep-rooted fear that crazy people might just be naturally drawn to other crazy people, which would make me one of them.”  (Page 122)

The Bum Magnet has a lot of drama, and Charisse attracts it like wildfire.  Readers will either enjoy the roller coaster ride or wonder when they can get off.  Brady has an active imagination and the dialogue will have readers giggling.  Brady’s writing is entertaining and has great potential.

FTC Disclosure:  Thanks to K.L. Brady for providing me with a free copy of The Bum Magnet for review.  Clicking on title and image links will lead you to my Amazon Affiliate page; No purchase necessary, though appreciated.

K. L. Brady is a D.C. native but spent a number of her formative years in the Ohio Valley. She’s an alumnus of the University of the District of Columbia and University of Maryland University College, earning a B.A. in Economics and M.B.A., respectively. She works as an analyst for a major government contracting firm and is an active real estate agent with Exit Realty by day—and writes by night (often into the wee hours of the morning). She lives just outside of D.C. in Cheltenham, Maryland, with her son, William, and two pet Betta fish, Spongebob and Jerry, and lives to eat chocolate, shop, read, and write.

***International Giveaway Details*** 

1.  Leave a comment on this post about what new author you’ve found in the new year.
2.  Blog, Tweet, Facebook, or otherwise spread the word about the giveaway and leave a link on this post.

Deadline Jan. 14, 2010, 11:59PM EST

This is my 1st book for the 2010 New Authors Challenge.

Also, this another stop on the Literary Road Trip.

Copyright of Serena M. Agusto-Cox at Savvy Verse & Wit 2007-2010. This is not original content, this content is owned and copyrighted by Serena M. Agusto-Cox
Filed Under: chicklit, giveaway, New Authors Challenge, Read in 2010, review copy, reviews, The Literary Road Trip Tagged With: ,

Outside U.S. Giveaway & Winner

January 7, 2010 by

For the U.S./Canada giveaway of Jennie Shortridge’s When She Flew (click for my review), I had 30+ entrants and Random.org selected:

Susan from All the Pretty Pages

However, my copy for an international reader is still up for grabs, so…

To Enter:

1.  You must live anywhere in the world except the United States and Canada

2.  You must leave a comment on this post about why you want to read When She Flew.

3.  You must include a way for me to contact you quickly.

4.  For additional entries, please blog, tweet, or facebook this giveaway and leave me a link here.

Deadline is Jan. 15, 2010 at 11:59PM EST

FTC Disclosure:  Clicking on title links and images will bring you to my Amazon Affiliate page; No purchase necessary, though appreciated.

Copyright of Serena M. Agusto-Cox at Savvy Verse & Wit 2007-2010. This is not original content, this content is owned and copyrighted by Serena M. Agusto-Cox
Filed Under: giveaway, winners

2009 Challenge Wrap-Up

January 6, 2010 by

I haven’t done my 2009 Challenge wrap-up yet, but I figured today would be as good a day as any.

I also have two challenges from 2009 that spill over into 2010, but I’ll give you a progress update at the end of this post.

First up is the WWII Reading Challenge I co-hosted with Anna from Diary of an Eccentric at War Through the Generations.  I initially set out to read 5 books for the challenge, and actually exceeded my goal.  I read 10 books!  I only read one of the books I originally set out to read.

Here are the links to my reviews for the 10 books I completed for the challenge:

1.  Reading by Lightning by Joan Thomas
2.  Bloody Good by Georgia Evans
3.  T4 by Ann Clare Lezotte
4.  Now Silence by Tori Warner Shepard
5.  The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
6.  Tallgrass by Sandra Dallas
7.  Night of Flames by Douglas Jacobson
8.  Searching for Pemberley by Mary Lydon Simonsen
9.  Inglourious Basterds by Quentin Tarantino
10.  Words That Burn Within Me by Hilda Stern Cohen

I hope you take the time to check out those reviews if you missed them.  There are some great books in that list and one of them was my top pick for 2009.

I also participated in the Everything Austen challenge in which you could read Jane Austen’s books, spinoffs, or watch movies.  All in all, you could mix and match to reach the six items required, which is what I did.  I didn’t start this challenge with a specific list.

I read five books for the challenge and watched one movie.  Check out my reviews below.

1.  Mr. Darcy, Vampyre by Amanda Grange
2.  Pride & Prejudice (2005) movie
3.  The Trials of the Honorable F. Darcy by Sara Angelini
4.  A Match for Mary Bennet by Eucharista Ward
5.  Willoughby’s Return by Jane Odiwe
6.  Searching for Pemberley by Mary Lydon Simonsen

You also will find one of these books in my top picks of 2009.

OK, as for the ongoing challenges through mid-2010 or thereabouts, this sums up my progress:

The Sookie Stackhouse Reading Challenge ends on June 30, 2010, and you must read the entire series, which for me is 9 books since I had never read these before.  I’ve only read two books for this challenge, but I fully expect to catch up and finish this one.  Click on the links below for my reviews:

1.  Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris
2.  Living Dead in Dallas by Charlaine Harris

I signed up for the Valparaiso Poetry Review challenge a bit late, but since I had already reviewed poetry earlier in 2009 and those reviews counted toward my totals, I signed up for the highest level of reading 11-15 books.

These are the ones I’ve read:

1.  How to Read a Poem by Molly Peacock
2.  Becoming the Villainess by Jeannine Hall Gailey
3.  Green Bodies by Rosemary Winslow
4.  Apologies to an Apple by Maya Ganesan
5.  Carta Marina by Ann Fisher-Wirth
6.  More of Me Disappears by John Amen
7.  Fair Creatures of an Hour by Lynn Levin
8.  At the Threshold of Alchemy by John Amen
9.  Holocaust Poetry compiled by Hilda Schiff
10.  Words That Burn Within Me by Hilda Stern Cohen
11.  Vampire Haiku by Ryan Mecum

You will find one of these books in my top picks of 2009.  While I have met the lower end of the scale, I plan to read more through the end of the challenge on May 16, 2010.

Also, I’ve been cleaning up some sidebar stuff and I decided to use thumbnail images for the 2010 Challenges; you can find those in the right sidebar under the Best of 2009 Amazon.com shelf.

How did you do with your challenges last year?

Copyright of Serena M. Agusto-Cox at Savvy Verse & Wit 2007-2010. This is not original content, this content is owned and copyrighted by Serena M. Agusto-Cox
Filed Under: challenges, everything austen challenge, WWII Reading Challenge

Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy: The Last Man in the World by Abigail Reynolds

January 5, 2010 by

Abigail Reynolds’ Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy:  The Last Man in the World examines what it would have happened in Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen had Elizabeth Bennet not refused Mr. Darcy’s marriage proposal.  Lizzy is stuck in a situation in which she is forced to accept Darcy’s proposal, or at least she feels that is the case.  The marriage happens quickly and Lizzy is filled with anxiety about her role as Mrs. Darcy, what to expect from her husband, and how to overcome her prejudice against her him.

“Was his pride so great that it did not occur to him she might refuse him? Elizabeth opened her mouth to deny his allegation, but before any sound could emerge, she recognized the danger.”  (Page 6 of ARC)

Reynolds has a firm grasp of Austen’s work and her Pride & Prejudice characters, and that knowledge shines through as we follow Lizzy and Darcy into their alternate universe.  From misunderstandings to barbs, Darcy and Lizzy spar with one another and hide their true feelings as they fear the other’s reproach.  The servants and the housekeeper, Mrs. Reynolds, are just as they should be — hovering on the outskirts and ready to lend help when necessary.

“But when he turned his head sideways on the pillow, his eyes clouded with the drug, she leaned towards him to meet his lips with her own.  It was a gentle kiss, but his lips were hot against hers.  Elizabeth almost shook with the emotion of it.”  (Page 108 of ARC)

Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy:  The Last Man in the World is a treat that will transport readers into regency England with a set of new and old characters.  Lizzy and Darcy may be one of the greatest classic love stories, and Reynolds‘ spin on the love story reads like a classic.  Lizzy is still strong-willed, but tentative in her new marriage and her new circumstances.  Darcy is a bit harsh at times, but readers will forgive him his transgressions.  Readers should be cautioned that there are some intimate scenes that give this novel a more contemporary feel.  All in all, this is a delightful variation.

***Giveaway Details***

Sourcebooks is offering 2 copies of Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy:  The Last Man in the World to U.S./Canadian readers of this blog.

1.  Leave a comment on this interview about what you would like to ask Abigail Reynolds.
2.  Leave a comment on my review of Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy.
3.  Blog, tweet, Facebook, etc. this giveaway and leave a link here.

Deadline is Jan. 11, 2010, 11:59PM EST

FTC Disclosure:  I received a free copy of Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy from the Sourcebooks for review.  Clicking on titles or images can bring you to my Amazon Affiliate page; No purchase necessary, though appreciated. 

This is my 1st book for the Jane Austen Challenge 2010!

Copyright of Serena M. Agusto-Cox at Savvy Verse & Wit 2007-2010. This is not original content, this content is owned and copyrighted by Serena M. Agusto-Cox
Filed Under: fiction, giveaway, Jane Austen Challenge 2010, Read in 2010, reviews, sourcebooks Tagged With: ,

Jane Austen Challenge 2010

January 5, 2010 by

The Life (and Lies) of an Inanimate Flying Object is hosting the Jane Austen Challenge 2010!  And you knew I would join, didn’t you?

Here are the reading levels to help you choose:

  • Newbie 2 books by J. Austen, 2 re-writes, prequels, sequels, or spoofs (by other authors)
  • Lover 4 books by J. Austen, 4 re-writes, prequels, sequels, or spoofs (by other authors)
  • Fanatic 6+ books by J. Austen, 5+ re-writes, prequels, sequels, or spoofs (by other authors)

The challenge runs from Jan. 1, 2010, through Dec. 31, 2010. You can change your reading level during the challenge, any book format counts, and books can overlap with other challenges.

OK, so I guess you are interested in what level I’m signing up for . . . Yes, I am crazy about Jane and the other contemporary versions.  These books could change as well.

I’m a Lover

Here are my possible Jane Austen books:

  1. Persuasion by Jane Austen
  2. Lady Susan by Jane Austen
  3. Mansfield Park by Jane Austen
  4. Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
  5. Love & Friendship by Jane Austen or Sandition by Jane Austen
  6. Sense & Sensibility by Jane Austen or Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen

Here are my possible Spinoff, rewrites, etc.:

  1. Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy:  The Last Man in the World by Abigail Reynolds
  2. Pride & Prejudice & Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith
  3. Sense & Sensibility & Sea Monsters by Ben H. Winters
  4. Impulse & Initiative by Abigail Reynolds
  5. According to Jane by Marilyn Brant

What will you be reading for this challenge?

Copyright of Serena M. Agusto-Cox at Savvy Verse & Wit 2007-2010. This is not original content, this content is owned and copyrighted by Serena M. Agusto-Cox
Filed Under: challenges, Jane Austen Challenge 2010

New Year’s Read-a-Thon Wrap-up

January 4, 2010 by

I think the holidays have scrambled my brains or turned them to mush because when I initially signed up for the New Year’s Read-a-Thon, I thought great I would finish reading The Bum Magnet and Jane Austen’s Persuasion.  Little did I know, I had a date with Mr. Darcy in the latest Abigail Reynolds’ novel, Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy:  The Last Man in the World.

So, after initially continuing to read The Bum Magnet, I set it aside and nearly finished Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy:  The Last Man in the World.  


That’s a sad update I know.  How’d your read-a-thon weekend go?

Copyright of Serena M. Agusto-Cox at Savvy Verse & Wit 2007-2010. This is not original content, this content is owned and copyrighted by Serena M. Agusto-Cox
Filed Under: New Year's Read-a-Thon