As you may already know by now, I am obsessed with Hamilton. I even started a fan group at Facebook. As a result, Skyhorse Publishing reached out to me to feature a historical fiction novel coming out next week....The Hamilton Affairby Elizabeth Cobbs. They even have THREE copies for some lucky readers in the US and/or Canada! Of course, now I have lines from "The Reynolds Pamphlet" in my head! Check out the book trailer. You can also watch it at Amazon for a chance to win a copy over there too. (US only. Ends 8/2.)
Synopsis: For fans of the Lin-Manuel Miranda’s hit Broadway musical Hamilton, set against the dramatic backdrop of the American Revolution, and featuring a cast of iconic characters such as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and the Marquis de Lafayette, The Hamilton Affair tells the sweeping, tumultuous, true love story of Alexander Hamilton and Elizabeth Schuyler, from tremulous beginning to bittersweet ending—his at a dueling ground on the shores of the Hudson River, hers more than half a century later after a brave, successful life. Hamilton was a bastard son, raised on the Caribbean island of St. Croix. He went to America to pursue his education. Along the way he became one of the American Revolution’s most dashing—and unlikely—heroes. Adored by Washington, hated by Jefferson, Hamilton was a lightning rod: the most controversial leader of the American Revolution. She was the well-to-do daughter of one of New York’s most exalted families—feisty, adventurous, and loyal to a fault. When she met Alexander, she fell head over heels. She pursued him despite his illegitimacy, and loved him despite his infidelity. In 1816 (two centuries ago), she shamed Congress into supporting his seven orphaned children. Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton started New York’s first orphanage. The only “founding mother” to truly embrace public service, she raised 160 children in addition to her own. With its flawless writing, brilliantly drawn characters, and epic scope, The Hamilton Affair will take its place among the greatest novels of American history.
Elizabeth Cobbs, Professor and Dwight E. Stanford Chair in American Foreign Relations at San Diego State University, has won literary prizes for both history and fiction: the Allan Nevins Prize, Stuart Bernath Book Prize, San Diego Book Award, and Director's Mention for the Langum Prize in American Historical Fiction. Her books include AMERICAN UMPIRE (2013), BROKEN PROMISES; A NOVEL OF THE CIVIL WAR (2011), ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE: THE PEACE CORPS AND THE 1960s (2000), and THE RICH NEIGHBOR POLICY (1992). She has served on the jury for the Pulitzer Prize in History and on the Historical Advisory Committee of the U.S. State Department. She has received awards and fellowships from the Fulbright Commission; Hoover Institution on War, Revolution, and Peace; Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars; Organization of American States; American Philosophical Society; Rockefeller Foundation, and other distinguished institutions. Her essays have been published in the New York Times, Jerusalem Post, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, China Daily News, National Public Radio, Washington Independent, San Diego Union, and Reuters. Her current project is a history of women soldiers in World War One. Visit Elizabeth at her website, Facebook, and Twitter.
How to win: Use Rafflecopter to enter the giveaway. If you have trouble using Rafflecopter on this blog, enter the giveaway here.
Keeping it simple here...because today is my birthday, I want to give away some books. The gift of reading (and the amazing books I've had the opportunity to read) has been a treasure to me over the past 40 years (maybe less since I didn't start reading until I was three or four years old).
Unlike my book blog, I'm limiting this to US/Canada.
Good luck!
These are NOT the books I'm giving away. That part is a surprise!
How to win: Use Rafflecopter to enter the giveaway. If you have trouble using Rafflecopter on this blog, enter the giveaway here.
One of my favorite blogs, Airing My Laundry, does a post every week that was inspired by a section of Glamour magazine. She invites her followers to do their own posts like this. I enjoy doing this a every so often, so I thought it's time for another list. Since I don't do this weekly, my list will be long. It's okay...
*To have a wicked case of Hamilaria. If you have this too, join my fan group.
Along with this...
*That some of the Original Broadway Cast of Hamilton has left already or will be leaving soon. I know some people are devastated about this, but I'm used to seeing people other than OBC perform in shows and as long as they do an amazing job, that's what matters most. It's also cool to see how someone else interprets a role. And I can imagine that the original cast would feel burnt out after a while and need to "Take a Break."
*That today is the last day of my thirties.
*That I haven't written a post about my cruise yet (I still have it all in my head, so I will soon!!!)
*To see two musicals in one week (Rent and Evita)
*To not care about that Pokemon Go thing. (And I'm not being facetious. It just doesn't interest me. Not begrudging anyone else the fun and entertainment.)
*To have finally shown my younger son Big and to notice all the inconsistencies even more this time around. Still so funny!
*To admit this:
*To be done with season four of Orange is the New Black and still freaking out about it. Also, to have known a major spoiler and not have told my husband because he hates them as much as I do, if not more. (I will write a post about this and a few other shows soon.)
*To be unmotivated. It's like I have birthday senioritis or something.
*To think that this is NOT okay in the slightest! (And by "this," I do NOT mean shutting down an online chat.)
If you read this post a while back, you would know how much I love watching The Goldbergs. I started season two around Pesach and got my in-laws into it, as well. I also got my sons into it and they binge watched season 1 and then when they caught up to me in season 2, we watched together. (I'm just glad the swears are bleeped out and that the adult jokes are over their head. They still find a lot of things very funny.)
I'll cut right to the chase with favorite episodes this time.
#1 Love is a Mix Tape:In the second-season opener, Adam takes the next step in his blossoming relationship with Dana by creating a mix tape for her, but the tape falls into Beverly's hands instead. Elsewhere, Barry gets caught with a fake ID.
Season 2 started out on a hilarious note with this episode. The best part was Beverly playing the tape in the car while Dana was right there and Adam having to come up with an excuse for what had happened. Also, David Spade as the fake id seller was great! (I love the SNL actor cameos on this series!)
#2 Mama Drama:When Adam isn't cast as the lead in the school musical, Beverly helps him star in a competing show. Murray stubbornly tries to avoid traffic, opening a rift between him and Barry.
So many great things about this episode, from Adam being a total diva to Murray's impatience with traffic.
#3 The Facts of Bleeping Life:Adam and Barry form a garage rock band, and promptly invite Erica and Lainey to join with unforeseen consequences. The royal wedding inspires Bev to renew her vows with Murray.
"Did his vows end with 'sha la la la'?" So many funny moments!
#8 I Rode a Hoverboard:Adam's exaggeration about how he broke his arm could jeopardize his friendship with Emmy Mirsky.
Adam's George Michael impression won me over, but his little lie had some funny consequences.
#10 DannyDonnieJoeyJonJordan: Beverly is ordered to clean out the garage by Murray, who wants everything gone except for one trunk that he's particularly sentimental about. Meanwhile, Adam and Barry discover Erica's old collection of New Kids on the Block memorabilia.
Hands down, the best episode of the season! I could not stop laughing. Not only was the NKOTB homage beyond awesome, but the artwork stuff was hilarious too.
Murray: "I love Babby. Who's Babby?"
Beverly: "You're Babby!"
#14 Barry Goldberg's Day Off:Trying to copy one of his favorite movies, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Barry skips school.
I love the way this episode played out. The funniest was trying to get the host at the restaurant to act snooty (or snotty?) but he was all friendly. Also, Charlie Sheen's cameo was unexpected and awesome. Of course, I had to show my kids FBDO after we saw this.
#15 Happy Mom, Happy Life:Dana and Adam are given a doll to parent for a school project, but end up in jeopardy of failing because of Beverly's "grand-smothering." Meanwhile, Erica tries to get back at Barry for monopolizing her best friend's time by joining the JTP, however her plan doesn't go as expected.
I love that Nick Swardson plays a scam artist selling fake CPK dolls and how scary they look. Also, the Heart song playing every time someone has a moment with Erica. I did get teary-eyed over the nice thing Barry did for Erica toward the end. And Adam's teacher's reasoning for giving him a good grade.
#16 The Lost Boy:Adam attends a Phillies game with his dad and ends up lost in the stadium after Murray allows him to leave his seat on his own. Elsewhere, Beverly's guilt trip backfires when Erica and Barry drive off without her during an argument on their way home from the mall. Repeat after me: "It's not real. Don't feel." I love how that backfired and how Barry got all into bedazzling his clothes. And what is a "nubby" anyway? I always joke with the kids about giving them snuggies and nubbies now. Adam reminded me of my older son with not wanting to go to the bathroom by himself. I do agree that it is a bit much to send a kid to the bathroom by themselves at a big crowded place like that.
#17 The Adam Bomb:Adam and Barry get in a prank war, while Erica tries to become a pop star.
I love that Erica was a Tiffany fan. I was all into her music in the late 80s and played her tape over and over and over again. (It was my comfort music for a while.) The pranks were pretty funny...especially the photo one.
#21 As You Wish:Murray's joy over Adam wanting to play a sport is short-lived once he discovers that it's fencing, and worse yet, he was inspired by a scene from The Princess Bride. Meanwhile, things don't go exactly as planned when Beverly tries to make a love connection between Barry's wrestling coach and Erica's voice teacher.
Honestly, I was thinking this would play out like the "Ferris Bueller" episode and Pops would be reading the story to Adam while the other characters played the various parts. Beverly could be all "I'm not a witch. I'm your wife!" However, there were some great parts to this episode. I also love the matchmaking. It reminded me of Clueless in some ways. (Ironically, Wallace Shawn is in that movie too!)
#22 Dance Party USA:Adam, thinking Pop's good luck might rub off on him, takes a gamble and ends up losing his beloved toys. Meanwhile, Erica's dream of appearing on a popular TV dance show turns into a nightmare when Barry gives her pink eye.
Erica's situation reminded me of You Again (movie from 2010 starring Kristen Bell). All the betting with the principal was funny too.
#23 Bill/Murray:Murray bonds with Lainey's dad and learns what it means to be a true friend.
Clued me in to why adult male friendships are so complex! I also love how Adam was trying to mimic the "Take On Me" video, but it came out just a tad different...
#24: Goldbergs Feel Hard:Beverly insists on throwing Erica a going away party when she leaves for her summer arts school.
The description is just a small part to a great episode. I love Barry's little slip-up. It reminded me of Chandler on Friends. (Except Chandler got a much better response.) I did not expect Dana to say what she did though! And Erica and Murray's "love-off" was pretty funny.
Great season overall! I can't wait to watch season 3 and wouldn't mind it being on DVD right about now...
Well, my older son apparently was very motivated to write (more than I have been lately), and decided to write a sequel. Here goes...
The galaxies once created a planet named Zorkanog far far away from anyone’s solar system. Zork finally got a job that his parents Zork and Zork liked. Zork worked at the mission control center preparing the spaceships for Zorkanog orbitings. He knew all the instructions so whenever someone shouted, “Pour the oil!” He would do it.
One day when Zork was working on the ship, the instructor shouted, “Squeeze the lemonade!”
It was almost as if Zork had a question mark on top of his head. “Squeeze the lemonade?” Suddenly, Zork’s eye spotted something. It was a lever that had the word LEMONADE on it. Zork had the urge to pull it and when he did, the rocket started rumbling. The label was upside down! The rocket ship was really called the EDANOMEL.
“I said to squeeze the lemonade! Not the lever!” The instructor shouted
“Uh oh!” Zork mumbled.
The rocket ship started to rumble.
“Whoah!” Zork shouted.
Zoom! The rocket ship flew into the galaxy of Altania. Boom! Zork landed on the ground of the EDANOMEL. The platform opened and Zork walked out onto a dusty planet. There was a sign that said:
Welcome to Languia
Zork thought to himself, Languia? I’ve never heard of Languia before. Zork walked along a dirt path until he came to a noisy carnival.
An alien went up to Zork and asked, “Lang lang lang lang-lang lang?”
Zork responded, “Zorky zork zorkety zork zork.”
The creature that spoke Languish had a confused look on his face. The problem was Zork spoke Zorkon while the creature from Languia spoke Languish. Zork saw a roller coaster. When he went on, he could feel the roller coaster taking up speed. Flip! Zork forgot to buckle up. He landed in the EDANOMEL.
“BLAST OFF! a pixelated voice spoke.
Zoom!
When Zork was back in the comfort of his house he thought to himself, Maybe I should think of something better to do than squeezing lemonade.
