The Cutting by James Hayman (Rating 4.5)

Published by St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books
ISBN-13: 978-0-312-53129-4
ISBN-10: 0-312-53129-X
At the request from Pump Up Your Book, a HC copy was sent, at no cost to me, for my honest opinion.
  Synopsis: (from the book’s jacket) Early on a September evening, the mutilated body of a pretty teenaged girl, a high school soccer star, is found dumped in a scrap-metal yard. She has been viciously assaulted, her heart cut from her chest with surgical precision. The very same day a young business woman. also a blonde and an athlete, was abducted as she jogged through the streets of the city’s west end.
  Thoughts: First I have some caveats to this review..due to personal issues it took me a lot longer than usual to finish this book. I wish I had been able to read this during a non-chaotic time. This review will be written as if I had read it as I have read books in the past. The length of time that it took me to finish it, by no means reflects on the author and/or his book. With that said, and having finished reading this novel, it is hard to believe that this was the debut novel by Mr. James Hayman. His writing style is amazing for a new author. He pulls you into the story and never lets go. Not only with the nail biting story line but even the relationships among the characters. The author’s ability to convey his written words to allow this reader to form my own visuals were amazing for a first novel. The suspense in this book took so many different twist and turns right to the very last page made it one roller coaster read!!
  My Opinion and Rating: I gave this a 4.5 rating only due to the fact that I thought that Lucinda’s character and the situation she was in should have been given more attention since she was a main character in the plot. But this is my opinion and my opinion only. But overall, if you like suspense, mystery, who done it, books then read this!! Put this author on your radar, a first novel this good, can only get better with future novels. I anxiously await knowing what and when his next novel will be published. The only thing left to say is……Mr. Hayman, KUDOS!!!!!!! WELL DONE!!!!!!

And if you would like to know more about Mr. James Hayman, check out his Guest Author Spotlight on this blog dated 03/23/10.

Hosted by Rebecca at Just One More Page http://rebeccavoy.blogspot.com/
Today’s MUSING MONDAYS post is about multitasking.

Do you – or are you even able – to do other things while you read? Do you knit, hold a conversation, keep an eye on the TV? Anything?
  This is a bit difficult to answer.  I’m not sure if it would be considered multitasking.  I usually have the tv on a cable news station, volume low and if there is “breaking news” or I hear something of interest, I stop reading.  Reading while having a conversation?  Only if someone interrupts me and asks a question.

in the fun. You don’t need a blog to comment, but if you do and want to join in, links provided for each and all memes.

Hosted by Rebecca at Just One More Page http://rebeccavoy.blogspot.com/
Today’s MUSING MONDAYS post is about multitasking.

Do you – or are you even able – to do other things while you read? Do you knit, hold a conversation, keep an eye on the TV? Anything?
  This is a bit difficult to answer.  I’m not sure if it would be considered multitasking.  I usually have the tv on a cable news station, volume low and if there is “breaking news” or I hear something of interest, I stop reading.  Reading while having a conversation?  Only if someone interrupts me and asks a question.

in the fun. You don’t need a blog to comment, but if you do and want to join in, links provided for each and all memes.

That is what Slapdash Sunday is for!
  So far, this morning is perfect, the family are still sleeping, I have coffee mug in hand, reading my subscribed newsletters and google reader and then I saw it !!!! (which will tie in to Slapdash Sunday).  “Book’n With Bingo (http://bookinwithbingo.blogspot.com) is hosting a giveaway for Ted Dekker’s The Bride Collector so I had to enter since I have seen many postive reviews of this book.  Also I learned he has written 20 books so I have a lot of catch up to do.
  Then Bermudaonion (http://bermudaonion.wordpress.com)had/ a picture of the books she received this week.  And again, more books went on my TBR list because I haven’t read 2 of the authors, from what she received, in quite a while.  I have a TBR spread sheet on my computer where I enter books/authors from the reviews I read or books from sites like Goodreads, Library thing, etc.

So…here is my question(s)….the saying is “too many books, too little time.  So true…So true…especially if your are a true avid reader.  Are your TBR lists fof the scale, , do you really think that you will read all the books on your TBR lists (lol maybe its due to my age), how do you keep track of your TBR lists.  I may list approximately 10-15 books a week from bloggers’ reviews and if I am not in a reading slump, I can get through a couple of books ( however, right now I am in a slump which is frustrating me because I am so behind in reading my “requested review books”)  And the list is growing….What are your thoughts on this topic?  Let’s have a Slapdash !!!!!