Day 24 April A to Z Challenge my theme is characters from books I’ve read and some audience participation.
Letter X is for Xania from Humming by Rachel McAlpine
Humming is a contemporary tale set in Golden Bay New Zealand. Golden Bay is found on the northeast coastline of the South Island. The story is set in the small community of Petitport and the story begins in 2001. Ivan is an artist, Jane runs a café, they have a relaxed open relationship. Ivan can constantly hear a humming noise and the search for it’s cause drives him to distraction.
Much of the community is brought together by a Tai Chi class that meets regularly. Xania has just returned from a year in Argentina studying Tai Chi under master Shan, she has returned to find many of her previous classes have dissolved under the unsatisfactory tutelage of Luna. Xania is expected to raise money for a Tai Chi centre in Auckland and must raise the funds for her Argentinian masters. The plans involve getting Ivan to paint pictures to raise funds for the centre.
Ivan likes being the centre of attention and plunges into deep depression when things don’t go his way, Jane panders to his artistic needs, but as his fiftieth birthday approaches he finds Jane stifles his artistic vibes. He is flattered by attentions he gets from Xania and other members of the Tai Chi group, which blindly lead him to involvement in illegal trading of protected species.
Xania’s passions for a healthy lifestyle are extreme as is her love of Argentina and the Tai Chi world. Through-out the book we read one sided e-mails to her former lover in Argentina as she makes a case for the Auckland centre. The situation almost hints at a cult style influence as Xania opens bank accounts and gives a finale sacrifice for the cause.
Jane and Ivan’s relationship runs hot and cold as they both battle with distractions. Ivan fails to understand Jane’s own artistic passion for her café and her pickles and preserves, nor does he appreciate the lengths she goes to tolerating his whims. Other members of the Tai Chi group also go through relationship challenges which conclude at the end.
This is quite a compelling read, the search for the source of the hum draws you in and the relationship issues keep you reading. Ivan is unpredictable and Xania is extreme enough to raise your eyebrows.
Find a copy here from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com
For my audience participation I’m asking readers to create book titles using the letter X for the picture below.
A book title and cover picture can often make or break a book sale. Is a book cover eye-catching? Does the book title appeal to the reader?
Have fun creating book titles from my own pictures, you might even think about a genre they could fit.
Leave your answers in the comments below and I’ll chose my favourites. – sorry bit of a random pic today folks.
Randomly chosen bloggers taking part in the challenge for you to visit
http://www.keepthetailwagging.com/blog/
https://notapunkrocker.wordpress.com/
http://barkingalien.blogspot.co.uk/
As part of the challenge we encourage readers to leave comments, thank you.
Xylose And Its Uses ~
In which Physicist Xander Bloomfield discusses other uses for the crystalline sugar usually used in dyeing and tanning. Chapter one: Pavement Painting.
Okay, okay, there’s always an open dictionary beside me….!!!
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Ha ha oh so glad you’ve found some X words.
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This sounds quirky. One to xplore.
X Was His Name.
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Good one June, thanks.
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Reblogged this on Barrow Blogs.
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This sounds an interesting read. Xavier Goes to School – a picture book (sorry, very unimaginative)
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No that’s fine Cathy, when I reminded myself of the picture this morning, I really wasn’t sure what people would invent.
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Here are the great titles from yesterday’s letter W; Walking on Sunshine, Walk a mile in my shoes, Walkin’ back to Happiness, Walk on the Wild side, walk on by, Wear and Tear in Tyne and Wear, Wanderlust.
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Hi Rosie – you’ve tempted us in to read the book … sounds like I’d learn something about countries I’ve never visited .. Love Cathy’s idea for a title – clever! Cheers Hilary
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Thanks Hilary, that’s what I’m all about, spreading the good word about books.
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XXVth School Reunions And All Their Horrors – a collection of true life tales of reunions gone wrong and proof…if ever it was needed that one should never revisit the past 🙂
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Love it! Thanks Georgia.
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Haaaa! Brilliant – now let’s compile it!
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Xerus Inauris (the South African Ground Squirrel) Goes to School – reassuring picture book to help little ones who are about to start school. It’ll also help anxious parents too. 🙂
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Great one – now how do you pronounce that name?
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Good question, Rosie…
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Ha ha, you consulted the dictionary too, Wendy!!
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Actually I tried my trusty OED first, Terry, but you’d nicked the best word, so I went for plan B – Google. Am I taking this too seriously? 🙂
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I love everyone’s enthusiasm.
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Since X sometimes stands for cross, how about School Xing. Not the best letter to try to create a title … 🙂
@dino0726 from
FictionZeal – Impartial, Straighforward Fiction Book Reviews
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Hi Diane, you did better than me I looked at my own picture this morning and drew a complete blank, so well done you.
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O blast Rosie this is extra difficult … The School of X-Rays?
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You’re doing really well though.
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X Lessons – sorry, it’s late. (and so am I!)
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Hi Adrienne, you made it in time.
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Xerox and The Missing Final exam.
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Thanks John a good title, with exams just around the corner for many.
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X’s & O’s: The School of Tic-Tac-Toe
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Nice one Jeffrey, thanks for stopping by.
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Reblogged this on theowlladyblog.
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