Last month I spent quite a few hours searching for a Snowy Egret. It had been sighted along the river where I monitor birds for the forest preserve. I never did find the egret, but I did see a lot of other birds. One of them was an Eastern Phoebe, a common bird during the summer months.
A pair of Phoebes were catching bugs and flying back and forth near a bridge over the river, stopping occasionally to perch on the railing – a sort of lookout point. After observing them for a few minutes, I realized they probably had a nest under the bridge. I couldn’t see the nest without wading into the river, which I wasn’t about to do, but their behavior was consistent with nesting birds.
A nest under the bridge
Phoebes prefer to breed in wooded areas near water but will also use human built structures such as the eaves of buildings, decks and under bridges. The nests are composed of mud, moss and leaves mixed with grass stems and animal hair. They are either placed on a firm surface or adhered to a wall with mud.
A summer resident
Phoebes will occasionally venture into backyards, although they will not use feeders. They are members of the flycatcher family and mainly eat flying insects, but will also eat other bugs and seeds. This is a bird I often hear before I see them. The male has a raspy song which sounds like “fee-bee”, from which they get their name. [song]
The Phoebe is a summer resident in the eastern half of the US and ranges up into parts of Canada. They are one of the first arrivals in early spring. [map] After the breeding season they will migrate south of the frost line to the central and southern US and Mexico.
Saturday Snapshot was originated by Alyce at At Home With Books. It is now hosted by Melinda of West Metro Mommy. Visit her blog to see more great photos or add your own.
© 2014 Under My Apple Tree. All rights reserved.
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The Vacationers
by Emma Straub
Narrated by Kristen Sieh
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Publish Date: May 29, 2014
Format: Audio Download: 6 hours | 39 minutes
Audio Listening Level: Easy – Intermediate
Rating: 3 of 5
Publisher’s Synopsis:
For the Posts, a two-week trip to the Balearic island of Mallorca with their extended family and friends is a celebration: Franny and Jim are observing their thirty-fifth wedding anniversary, and their daughter, Sylvia, has graduated from high school. The sunlit island, its mountains and beaches, its tapas and tennis courts, also promise an escape from the tensions simmering at home in Manhattan. But all does not go according to plan: over the course of the vacation, secrets come to light, old and new humiliations are experienced, childhood rivalries resurface, and ancient wounds are exacerbated.
My Thoughts:
The ‘vacation’ was supposed to be an idyllic get away, a time of relaxation and celebration among family and close friends, except for one problem. No one was thrilled with idea of actually going on vacation. Everyone had issues that were interfering with having a good time.
This was a typical dysfunctional family – if it is possible to be typically dysfunctional – struggling to find answers and resolutions. Original? Not really. We’ve seen these situations before in movies and television, but I enjoyed the story anyway. None of the characters were particularly likable, but they weren’t despicable either. And watching their stories unfold was a bit like peeking into a neighbors window during an argument (not that I would ever do that), and being very glad your family didn’t behave that way. Or so you believe.
I liked the way the book was laid out. Each day of the vacation was a chapter and we experienced what each of the characters was doing that day. The writing was witty and humorous, and at only six and a half hours, just right length to entertain and not get bogged down in too much detail.
Audio Production:
The audio production was delightful. The narration was performed by Kristen Sieh, who kept the story moving at a brisk pace with nicely done accents and some emotional impact. There are a number of characters to remember, and once I figured out who everyone was, it was an easy listen. I don’t know if I would have appreciated the witty writing as much had I read, rather than listened to, this enjoyable performance.
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Source: Review copy provided by Penguin Audio.
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Almost wordless: Early in the morning the prairie was filled with blooming Spiderwort plants.
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More Wordless Wednesday. © 2014 Under My Apple Tree. All rights reserved.
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Save the Date
by Mary Kay Andrews
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Publish Date: June 3, 2014
Format: Hardcover | 448 pages
Rating: 4½ of 5
Synopsis:
A Savannah florist is about to score the wedding of a lifetime — one that will solidify her career as the go-to-girl for society nuptials. Ironically, Cara Kryzik doesn’t believe in love, even though she creates beautiful flower arrangements to celebrate them. But when the bride goes missing and the wedding is in jeopardy, Cara must find the bride and figure out what she believes in. Maybe love really does exist outside of fairy tales after all.
My Thoughts:
Cara Kryzik is determined to make her boutique flower shop a success, and she is going to do it on her own. No more borrowing money from her dad or accepting help from anyone. It’s the wedding season and business and business is good. What could possibly go wrong? As it turns out, quite a bit. Financial troubles, difficult brides, a missing puppy, a previously reliable assistant that’s now slacking off and another florist trying to ruin her reputation and her business.
Set in Savannah, the book oozes southern charm. Vivid descriptions, colorful characters and snappy dialog keep the plot zipping along. Even the Goldendoodle puppies have engaging personalities. There are a multitude of subplots and crises to keep the reader turning the pages.
This was an easy read that was charming and captivating; not always realistic, but this is a book you read for fun and entertainment. I cheered for underdog Cara and wanted her to have that happy ending. A perfect summer read: Weddings, flowers, and romance with a too-good-to-be-true guy.
Giveaway Information:
Courtesy of the publicist, I have one copy of Save the Date to give away to a reader with a US mailing address. To enter, fill out the form below on or before midnight, July 5th.
[Giveaway Has Ended]:
Winner: Angel W.
Source: Review copy and giveaway provided by Tandem Literary
© 2014 Under My Apple Tree. All rights reserved.
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Welcome to Mailbox Monday, created by Marcia of To Be Continued, a place where readers share the books that came in their mailbox during the last week.
After several years of being on tour with different blogs as the monthly host, the Mailbox Monday Blog is now the permanent home for the meme.
This was a good week for the mailbox with a nice mix of print and audio books. Did you know this is audiobook month? Book Journey is celebrating the entire month with great stories, interviews and a giveaway. Check it out!
If it seemed like I wasn’t around much last week, this is why: My main computer, the desktop with the big hard drives, all my photos, editing software, financial data – pretty much my digital life – crashed. It took me a few days to diagnose the problem (corrupted partition), reinstall windows, software and recover my data. Fortunately I retrieved everything except the database index that contained the tags and descriptions of my photos. On the positive side, I can listen to audio while I manually open every photo and re-tag it. Grumble.
Print Books
Flings by Justin Taylor from Harper.
The acclaimed author of Everything Here Is the Best Thing Ever and The Gospel of Anarchy makes his hardcover debut with a piercing collection of short fiction that illuminates our struggle to find love, comfort, and identity.
Dear Daughter by Elizabeth Little from Viking.
Ten years ago, in a trial that transfixed America, Janie was convicted of murdering her mother. Now she’s been released on a technicality she’s determined to unravel the mystery of her mother’s last words, words that send her to a tiny town in the very back of beyond.
The Science Book: Big Ideas Simply Explained from DK Publishing.
An inventive visual take on astronomy, biology, chemistry, geology, and physics. With eye-catching artwork, step-by-step diagrams, and illustrations that break down complicated ideas into manageable concepts, The Science Book will have readers conversant in genetic engineering, black holes, and global warming in no time.
Audio Books
Mr. Mercedes by Stephen King from Simon & Schuster Audio.
In a mega-stakes, high-suspense race against time, three of the most unlikely and winning heroes Stephen King has ever created try to stop a lone killer from blowing up thousands.
All Fall Down by Jennifer Weiner from Simon & Schuster Audio.
With a sparkling comedic touch and tender, true-to-life characterizations, All Fall Down is a tale of empowerment and redemption and Jennifer Weiner’s richest, most absorbing and timely story yet.
The Arsonist by Sue Miller from Random House Audio.
From the best-selling author of While I Was Gone and The Senator’s Wife, a superb new novel about a family and a community tested when an arsonist begins setting fire to the homes of the summer people in a small New England town.
FaceOff edited by David Baldacci from Simon & Schuster Audio.
In an unprecedented collaboration, twenty-three of the world’s bestselling and critically acclaimed thriller writers have paired their series characters—such as Harry Bosch, Jack Reacher, and Lincoln Rhyme—in an eleven-story anthology curated by the International Thriller Writers (ITW).
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New Giveaway
The Fever by Megan Abbott:
A haunting, thought-provoking page-turner that examines the powers of desire, guilt, secrets, and fear. It’s at once entrancing and disturbing, and readers will not be able to put it down until the very last page.
Click the image for details.
To enter, fill out the form. US addresses only by midnight 6/28.
How was your week?
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Last month I wrote about a Wood Duck that appeared injured and needed to be taken to the wildlife rehab facility. He was walking, unable to fly, and offered little resistance when we picked him up and drove him to Willowbrook Wildlife Center. Spring is a busy time for the rescue organizations and they were swamped with patients. They promised to let us know if the bird recovered.
A few weeks later I received an email letting me know that the duck had fully recovered. He did not have any injuries but was suffering from exhaustion and dehydration. He was released back into the wild at the same location where we found him.
This is a picture of a different Wood Duck I saw a few weeks ago in the wetland area of the nature park by my house. There are a lot of Wood Ducks in the area, so I’m sure it is a different duck than the one I rescued.
Wood Ducks are shy birds and rarely come out into the open, preferring swampy areas within the woods. After all the rain this past week, they will have their privacy. The mosquitoes in that section of the woods are fierce, and hungry, and I’m staying out of there. And did I mention there is poison ivy in the woods? Yeah, lots of that too.
Saturday Snapshot was originated by Alyce at At Home With Books. It is now hosted by Melinda of West Metro Mommy. Visit her blog to see more great photos or add your own.
© 2014 Under My Apple Tree. All rights reserved.
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Loosely inspired by the nationally reported story of the purported “mass hysteria” outbreak in Le Roy, NY in 2012, The Fever is a haunting, thought-provoking page-turner that examines the powers of desire, guilt, secrets, and fear. It’s at once entrancing and disturbing, and readers will not be able to put it down until the very last page.
To celebrate this week’s release of The Fever, I have one copy to give away to a reader with a US address.
About the Book
The Fever
by Megan Abbott
Genre: YA Thriller
Publish Date: June 17, 2014
Format: Hardcover | 320 pages
The panic unleashed by a mysterious contagion threatens the bonds of family and community in a seemingly idyllic suburban community.
In the idyllic community of Dryden, Tom Nash is a popular high school teacher and the father of two teens: Eli, a hockey star and girl magnet, and Deenie, a diligent student with a close-knit group of friends-who are all horrified one day in class when Deenie’s best friend, Lise, is struck by a terrifying, brutal, and unexplained seizure. As Lise clings to life in the hospital, the seizures systematically infect more teenage girls, one by one, sending the entire town into terrified, questioning chaos. Is there a dangerous virus at work? Is it something in the school itself? Are the girls faking it? Who or what is to blame-and who will be next?
As hysteria and contagion swell, a series of tightly held secrets emerges, threatening to unravel friendships, families and the town’s fragile idea of security.
About the Author
Megan Abbott is the Edgar Award-winning author of six previous novels. Her writing has appeared in the New York Times, Salon, the Los Angeles Times Magazine, The Believer, Los Angeles Review of Books, Detroit Noir and Queens Noir among other places. She received her PhD in literature from New York University. She lives in New York and recently served as the John Grisham Writer-in-Residence at the University of Mississippi. Currently, she is working on the screenplay for her novel, Dare Me, soon to be a major motion picture.
Connect with Megan
Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Webpage
Early Praise for The Fever
“An unforgettable inquiry into the emotional lives of young people… It’s also a powerful portrait of community, with interesting echoes of The Crucible…Abbott may be on her way to becoming a major writer.”
–Booklist, Starred Review
“Thrilling…a gripping story fueled by razor-sharp treachery, jealousy, hormones, and the insecurities of teenage girls.”
–Publishers Weekly
“The book to beat… in the “Is it the next ‘Gone Girl’?” sweepstakes.”
–Janet Maslin, New York Times
“The lives of teenage girls are dangerous, beautiful things in Abbott’s stunning novel… Abbott expertly ratchet[s] up the suspense…nothing should be taken at fact value.”
–Kirkus, Starred Review
“THE FEVER is deliciously, page-turningly ‘no, no, leave me alone, I’m almost done!’ Abbott nails both the reality of being a teenage girl and the hyper-reality of memory.”
–BookRiot
“No one understands the social dynamics of teenage girls better than Megan Abbott…settling into THE FEVER, one realizes that Abbott is setting a rhythm, one that’s measured and paced with the brilliance of one of the best living mystery writers.”
–Grantland
Giveaway Information
Courtesy of the publicist, I have one copy of The Fever to give away to a reader with a US mailing address. To enter, fill out the form below on or before midnight, June 28th. For an extra entry, tweet or blog about the giveaway. Winners will be contacted by email and have 48 hours to respond.
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© 2014 Under My Apple Tree. All rights reserved.
Source: Giveaway provided by Tandem Literary.
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