Throwback Thursday: Just One Phone

Do you remember having just one phone at home?   I do.  It was a wall phone in the kitchen, and it had a long cord.  If you wanted to talk privately to friends, you had to stretch the cord as long as possible (I got to be a pro at this).  There was, of course, no caller ID ... so there was a thrilling moment of waiting to see who was on the line.  Of course, I love my smartphone and use it constantly ... but somehow I remember the "good old days" fondly as well.

Do you remember the "good old days" of having one phone at home as well?  I'd love to hear your memories in the comments, below.

Review and Giveaway: The Glassblower's Wife by Joanna Campbell Slan

THE GLASSBLOWER’S WIFE
by JOANNA CAMPBELL SLAN
Historical Mystery – short story

Synopsis:
When Jewish glassmakers and their families flee the powerful Doge of Venice, the cost of their freedom is three hundred and fifty-seven mirrors—the creation of the magnificent Hall of Mirrors in Versailles. But the Doge sends assassins to pick off the artists, one by one. Can Ruth Telfin, the mute widow of the head glassmaker, save her people?

Review:

The Glassblower's Wife is a long short story about the glassmakers who created the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles.  Although I love history and historical fiction, I was not familiar with the fascinating and sad background of this story.

The central characters are Rabbi Saul Telfin, who is a master glassblower, and his wife, Ruth, who was born mute.  I loved reading about both of them, and found them compelling both individually and as a couple.

The story is beautifully told by Joanna Campbell Slan.  It reminded me a bit of the fairytale-like stories of Isaac Bashevis Singer.  My only complaint is I wish it had been longer;  I would love to read a whole book about Ruth's life.   I cannot recommend this story highly enough!

About This Author

Joanna Campbell Slan is the award-winning author of the Kiki Lowenstein Mysteries (an Agatha Award Finalist) and two other mystery series. Her stories in the Chicken Soup for the Soul series has been read and loved by millions. Her books reviving the classic heroine Jane Eyre have won the prestigious Daphne du Maurier Award. In her past life, Joanna was a television talk show host, an adjunct professor of public relations, a sought-after motivational speaker, and a corporate speechwriter. She is married to David Slan, CEO of Steinway Piano Gallery-DC. The Slans make their home on Jupiter Island, Florida.

Author Links:
Website  http://www.joannaslan.com
Blog http://www.joannaslan.blogspot.com
Facebook http://www.Facebook.com/joannacampbellslan
Twitter http://www.twitter.com/joannaslan
Goodreads  http://www.goodreads.com/joannacampbellslan
Pinterest http://www.pinterest.com/joannaslan

Purchase Link:
Amazon

Two Giveaways:
The author is generously offering a giveaway contest for a $50 Amazon gift card.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

There is also a giveaway for this tour stop. The prize is an e-copy of The Glassblower's Wife (your choice of format).
a Rafflecopter giveaway

I received a copy of this story from Great Escapes Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.
 

Reading - Kindle or Print Books?

Do you usually read Kindle or print books?   I am a lifelong book person.  I have worked in bookstores, I sell vintage children's books, and I was very sure I never wanted a Kindle.  Then, a few years ago, one of my friends got a Kindle.  He showed it to me, with the categories you can make for your books, how easy it is to instantly download books, and I started to rethink my reservations.  That year I got a Kindle for Christmas.  I have to say I love it!   Things I particularly love about reading via Kindle:

• I read a lot of big books, like family sagas and historical fiction, and the Kindle is so light and easy.
• It's easy to make your own categories and organize your books on the Kindle.  I love this feature!  I can look at all my mysteries, historical fiction, classics, etc. easily this way.
• Downloading Kindle books from Amazon is so easy.  I get newsletters with Kindle deals (my blog post with websites here) and the Kindle Deal of the Day books are wonderful.  I've gotten many favorites, like Wicked, The Great Gatsby, The Thorn Birds for $1.99 or less that way.
• The Kindle holds a LOT of books.  This is wonderful for those of us with overflowing bookshelves.
• It's a natural for reading on a trip or in any situation where you want a variety of reading materials (without carrying around a stack of books).
• I love having longtime favorites on one little device, ready to read at a moment's notice.  I am slowly but surely adding the Betsy-Tacy books by Maud Hart Lovelace and the Jalna family saga by Mazo de la Roche to my Kindle.   A re-reader's dream!
• Your Amazon purchases are held in the cloud, so if you switch Kindles or want to read via iPad or tablet, you can download them there easily as well. 
• Overdrive is a dream!  This is the free library program to check out books digitally in Kindle format (my blog post here).  I have found some newer, popular books on Overdrive that I really didn't want to purchase ... and with a shorter wait than one would have for the print editions at the library.

This isn't to say, of course, that I don't love print books as well.  I love vintage children's books, and will always enjoy having those in print editions.  I also am a great fan of nostalgic, highly visual books, like the Images of America series  ... and those just translate better in print.  

When I review books, I read about 50/50 print and Kindle editions.  It's all great because it's all reading.

What do YOU prefer - Kindle or print?  I would love to hear from you in the comments section, below.

Music Monday - "Free Man in Paris" by Joni Mitchell (1974)

Last week, Joni Mitchell was in the news.  She was found unconscious and hospitalized. Thankfully, it appears she is getting better.  I have been thinking about her music.  Her 1974 album Court and Spark is one of my all time favorite albums, and very much part of the soundtrack of my life.  A song from that album, "Free Man in Paris," has been stuck in head ... so it is a natural choice for Music Monday this week.  Get well, Joni!

A Vintage Easter Surprise: Fleck's Certified Easter Egg Colors, 1930's

What a fun surprise!  I had to share with you.   My best friend, who knows how much I love whimsical holiday ephemera, just brought me this packet of Fleck's Certified Easter Egg Colors.  From the design, I would date this as 1930's vintage.  The package is opened and does not contain colors.  What it does contain is lots of gorgeous transfers and paper designed to decorate Easter eggs.  I have a small vintage Easter collection, and I will treasure this.  I absolutely love the designs.  I scanned the front and back of the packet and just a few of the transfers inside to share with you.  I found it interesting that there were some comic strip and pop culture characters included, like Pluto (Disney) and Dagwood Bumstead.  Thought you might enjoy these pics as well!