Weekly Book Chat {Moments & Mysteries}

From GReads (TGIF):
Q. Book Moments: What has been your favorite moment (scene) in a book that you've read so far in 2012?

Favorite moment in a book so far happened in Divergent, Veronica Roth. I love how Beatrice's family rallied together when things got tough. They weren't even on speaking terms, but when they needed each other - they were there. It reminds me of my family - no matter what, I know my parents & brother have my back, and I have theirs.

From Alison Can Read and Parajunkee (Feature and Follow):
Q. What book would you love to see made into a movie or television show and do you have actors/actresses in mind to play the main characters?
The Scorpio Races, Maggie Stiefvater - the film rights has already been bought by Warner Brothers. I'm not a huge movie buff so I have no idea who to cast. Sean, the leading man, is dark & brooding, but strong & good-hearted - so I'm going with Taylor Lautner (who plays Jacob in the Twilight series); while Puck, the leading lady, is a young girl, fragile yet with a strong sense of character & love for her family - so my choices are Willow Smith, who might be too young, or Zoe Kravitz - any suggestions?

From Pen to Paper
Q. Friday Recommends - Pick a book that you've read, and have enjoyed enough to recommend to other readers.
Since I'm paying particular attention to Mystery books in March, my recommendation is a mystery book I enjoyed around this time last year - True Evil by Greg Iles. I finished this book in 500+ page book in 2 days - it was gripping, complex & drew me right in!
Dr. Chris Shepard is thirty-six years old, newly married, and well on his way to a perfect life. Or so he believes. But that future is forever cast into doubt the day Special Agent Alexandra Morse walks into his office and drops a bombshell: Dr. Shepard's beautiful new wife is plotting his murder. Shepard is so shocked that he almost throws Agent Morse out of his office. Yet once he is alone, doubt begins to gnaw at him. Paranoia magnifies the small cracks in his marital relationship, and soon he can have no peace unless he knows the truth.

*** 2012 Best Translated Book Awards longlist was announced on Feb. 28, 2012, featuring authors from 14 countries writing in 12 languages. This is a good list to bookmark if you're interested in literature set in different countries. I plan to read Scenes from Village Life, Amos Oz and Seven Years, Peter Stamm.

*** Amazon's Best Books of the Month March Picks is out. I love short stories, so Birds of a Lesser Paradise: Stories, Megan Mayhew Bergman is on my reading list - although I don't like the cover. Also Vanishers, Heidi Julavits looks interesting, and is the first paranormal that's made the list this year.

*** Diagram Prize Shortlist (2012) is out and the voting is open for the or Oddest Book Title of the Year. The titles are so odd - but my vote goes for Cooking with Poo. The winner will be announced on March 30, 2012.