Books of Interest

I am embarrassed to say how long it has been since I have published a post that discusses books.  I think my blog is evolving into something other than a book blog - but that is a subject for another day.

Today I thought I would share the eclectic assortment of reading material that I have gathered this week.  It should be a fun weekend!

She Walks in Beauty: A Woman's Journey through Poems by Caroline Kennedy.  This was purely an impulse buy - I had a coupon that I desperately wanted to use but refused to buy another fiction book without reading some of the many I already own.  This book caught my eye, however, because lately I have this desire to learn to appreciate poetry.  Part of the reason is because I think as an English teacher I should have a comfort level with this mode of writing, but the other reason is because I feel that poetry will force me to slow down and notice the details of life that I have raced passed all these years.  I like this anthology because it was written by a middle aged woman for middle aged women.  There MUST be some poems in here that I can relate to!  I plan to spend a few minutes each day reading through a poem or two and savoring the images and messages that are conveyed within.

Knopf Mapguides:  Paris  While I am not certain that my trip to Paris will take place this summer, I am still having fun planning it.  I found this little gem at the "going out of business" sale at our local Borders *heavy sigh* and knew I had to have it.  I love the size - it would fit in any size purse or backpack, including the Vera Bradley mini-hipster that I plan to carry at all times.  The 19 Arrondissements are divided into 10 pull out maps - so that I can actually read the street names without having to use a high-powered magnifying glass.  Each section includes a list of the top attractions - as well as a few local restaurants and cafes.  I have even added a few attractions of my own on the corresponding maps which I found in Literary Cafes of Paris (Noel Fitch) and Markets of Paris (Dixon and Ruthanne Long).

At this same book sale I found A Homemade Life by Molly Wizenberg.  JoAnn and Margot both reviewed this book a while back and I knew at the time that it was one I would enjoy.  While my family would doubt that I truly have a love of cooking - given my lack of time in the kitchen these past few months (years?), I do harbor dreams of someday returning to gourmet creativity.  The reason I decided to purchase this book now, however, is because I want to learn how to write about food before going on my Parisian holiday.  I would like to know how to incorporate all the senses when describing the most simple meal of bread and cheese - in a way that would compliment my photos and create a fulfilling experience for anyone who cares to read of my adventures.

Finally I am slowly reading, digesting, and completing the exercises found in Inner Excavation by Liz Lamoreux.  I found this book over the holidays while browsing the mixed media art shelves.  I like that the author focuses on three aspects of the creative life in order to try to discover the person that lies within.  She first focuses on photography and the idea of slowing down long enough to live in the present.  She is teaching me to see beauty in every day life and to learn to be purposeful in my photography throughout the year, not just on special occasions.  Then she encourages the reader to experiment with poetry - which can come from reading, journaling, or just allowing the mind to roam free.  Finally she asks us to combine these two endeavors into a mixed media collage that offers ultimate freedom of expression through color, texture, words, images, .... well, you get the idea.

To celebrate this new inner journey I decided to treat myself to a new journal and matching pen: something in which I would normally never allow myself to indulge.  In fact, after I bought these they sat on my table for weeks:  I didn't want to write in it for fear of messing up something so beautiful.  But as a statement of my new quest of adventure, I decided to just start writing - in pen of all things (I always write in pencil so that I can erase my mistakes).  I have decided that it is time to start embracing my imperfections.

I chose this particular pattern for two reasons.  The name of the pattern is Watercolor and it reminds me of the en plein air style of Monet.  So, in honor of my upcoming trip to study the Impressionists, I thought that this would be a fitting companion.  In addition, the predominant colors of this journal are lime green (my favorite) - violet and gray.  Since becoming a grandmother I have decided to claim the poem When I Grow Old, I Shall Wear Purple as my own (although I can vow that you will never see me in a red hat!!).  I try to wear purple most days of the week (my wardrobe is a bit sparse of this color now - but I will slowly add pieces as time progresses) and I am also trying to "live" now rather than wait until "someday"  And finally, I think it is significant that the background color is gray - and not white.  White is stark and sometimes cold - whereas gray is softer, as though the wisdom that comes with age has mellowed its temperament.  I would like to think that is what my gray hairs symbolize..

Book Acquisitions (not quite Mailbox Monday)

It has been a great Memorial Day weekend here!  On Saturday my husband and I went to the Half Price Bookstore in Westport, MO and then we ventured to a "new-to-us" but rather established local Dive (as Guy Fieri would call it) called the Westport Flea Market Bar and Grill.  Well, the flea market was nothing to sneeze at but the grill --- oh my word, one of the best hamburgers I have ever eaten!  I don't think I will have  problem coercing Geoff to go to Half Price Books any longer - if I promise him lunch in return.

On Sunday we went to a Hot Air Balloon festival in a small town about twenty minutes away.  When we left our house around 5:30 it was sunny; when we arrived at the park it was cloudy; thirty minutes before take-off they canceled the show.  There was a chance of two inch hail and sixty mile per hour winds!  (this would be typical Kansas threatening weather, so we really weren't too concerned...but totally understood the reason for the cancellation).  Fortunately we had enough time to taste a delicious pulled-pork sandwich and take a couple of pictures.  Hopefully we will have better luck next year.

Today I volunteered to help a friend scrapbook an album for her daughter's upcoming wedding.  It has been nearly two years since I scrapbooked (and I used to be a consultant!) and it felt really good to be in that creative mode again.  In fact, I was so inspired that I came home and printed off a couple of photographs from a previous European vacation that I hope to develop into some kind of Mixed Media art project (are you familiar with this term?  It was new to me until this weekend, but I am anxious to try it out).  Anyway, that will be my focus for this upcoming week.

In the meantime....I did not let the Half Price Bookstore 20% off Sale go to waste.  I managed to visit all four stores in my area and I found four great bargains.  I think I was rather selective because I know the annual library book sale is coming up on June 8-12 and I am saving my pennies for that one.  The books I managed to bring home from this week's sale include:

• unopened audiobook on CD of To Kill a Mockingbird with Sissy Spacek as narrator.  I have had several bloggers recommend this as a great audiobook,  and since I read this book every year in anticipation of teaching it to my 9th graders, I thought an audio experience might be a nice change.  The Half Price price was $14.98 and I was able to take another 20% off of that!
• A Christmas Memory, One Christmas, and The Thanksgiving Visitor by Truman Capote.  I have read this book before and really enjoyed it.  I knew I wanted to have it in my own personal Christmas collection, and the condition of the book is nearly new.  I simply could not resist.
• We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson.  I read this book last year for Carl's RIP Challenge and I knew I wanted to have it in my own personal library.  I would like to re-read it each fall - it was just that good.  I have been on the lookout for this book for well over six months and with the added 20% off --- it was another "steal" as far as I am concerned.
• Looking at Pictures by Joy Richardson.  I mentioned my trip to the Nelson Atkins Museum last week and the hour I spent in their bookstore.  I hemmed and hawed whether to by this book for at least half an hour.  Instead I opted to come home and request it from the library.  Once I received the book a couple of days later, I instantly knew that this was a book that I had to have.  I can't tell you how ecstatic I was to find this at Half Price - and with an additional discount.  I felt as though I had brought home the mother load!!

I also managed to receive three books this week in the mail -- a rare occurrence for me.  One of the books I won - and the other two I received from Paperback Swap.  Yes, I have decided to try this book swapping site - mostly due to the accolades of Cathy and Kim - and I must say that it is a pretty amazing.  It has taken me a while to get acclimated.  I have managed to mail 8 of my own books, but have only received 2 from other participants.  Although I am learning that the key is to keep you wishlist filled (and Paperback Swap helps you with that task by sending you a wish list every weekday with approximately 2,000 books that are available for you to peruse - you can even set your own parameters - and "wish away")  and to check the "just listed" queue on a regular basis.  I can see where this site could become very addicting in the future!  The books received in my mailbox include:

• Real Murders by Charlaine Harris.  I am not really into the Sookie Stackhouse series, but this one focuses on Aurora Teagarden, a librarian who finds herself in the midst of a who-done-it.  Librarians are more my style.
• Farm Fresh Murder by Paige Shelton.  This was a win from Rob at Books are Like Candy Corn and it is an autographed copy no less!  I am very exited to read this first in the series!
• Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind by Ann B. Ross.  This was my second Paperback Swap receipt.  I can't remember where I heard of this author, but I was instantly intrigued by her story.  She did not write this series until well past her forties, and it is now a highly successful series.  She  gives this middle-aged teacher some hope in life!

So there you have it -- a list of seven new books brought into the household to stay.  This does not include the fifty plus library books I have strewn all over the place - but that would be the subject of another post.

Recent Book Acquisitions

There was quite a bit of interest in my recent book adoption program, so I thought I would write a quick summary post.

I have come to learn that if I don't GO to the store, then I won't be able to buy (duh!).  So, I haven't necessarily put myself on a book buying ban, but I have limited myself to the number of trips that I am allowed to take to the local thrift stores until after my summer school course (and then WATCH OUT!!)

Here is the list of recent adoptions (I prefer to think of it as me giving the book a new home rather than making a purchase); most of them were purchased during the month of March.  The vast majority of them were found on the clearance shelves and cost about $2.00; others were purchased at the recent coupon sale:

• Creating a Charmed Life by Victoria Moran (I remember that Jenners gave very favorable reviews for this book, so when I saw it on the shelf I simply could not resist)
• French Lessons by Alice Kaplan (this book was required for a memoir course offered last summer which I did not take, but several recommended.  Since I was a French major, they thought this would be a great book for me)
• Back When We Were Grownups by Anne Tyler
• Breathing Lessons by Anne Tyler (I did not have a chance to finish Noah's Compass before it was due to the library, but I thoroughly enjoyed the chapters that I read.  When I saw these two books by the author I decided to take chance and hope they are as good)
• The Intellectual Devotional by Kidder & Oppenheim (who could resist the subtitle:  Revive your Mind, Complete your Education, and Roam confidently with the Cultured Class)
• American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld (I read favorable reviews of this book last year and even managed to enjoy the first couple of chapters while waiting at a bookstore.)
• The Somnambulist by Jonathan  Barnes (this has been on my TBR list for years.  I remember the author was a guest on the Barnes and Noble book club website and after following the conversation, I knew that this would be a book that I would enjoy)
• The Lumby Lines by Gail Fraser (this book is making the rounds lately - most notable Wendy and Margo mentioned it on their blogs)
• The Likeness by Tana French (I actually purchased her first book, In the Woods, from the clearance shelf a few months ago.  Someday I will read them - I promise!)
• The School of Essential Ingredients by Erica Bauermeister (I read this book and enjoyed it - but when I found this hardcover book in pristine condition for $2.00 --- I simply could not resist)
• Writer's Guide to Character Traits by Linda Edelstein (a student of mine saw this in the local bookstore and recommended it to me.  When I saw it available at Half Price - I knew that it was meant to be.  Actually, I am planning to start a school "writing library" - so this book will serve double duty)
• Lost by Gregory Maguire (I wasn't a fan of the book Wicked - although I love the premise and can't get enough of the musical.  I would love to try another Maguire book to see if perhaps I like it any better)
• The Unauthorized Harry Potter Companion by Colin Duriez (I took a hiatus from my exercise plan - but I do plan to start up soon and with that will be the continuation of the Harry Potter audiobooks.  Since my mind doesn't seem to retain facts as well as it used to - I thought this book might help me keep track of all the useful information across the seven volumes)
• The Annotated Mona Lisa by Carol Strickland (I actually read this book from the library about 3 years ago before I went to Paris.  I have never learned how to appreciate art, but it is definitely a skill I would like to hone over time.  This book is simple, condense, but informative and I look forward to re-rereading it before I head to Europe this summer)
• Better Picture Guide to Travel Photography by Michael Busselle (not pictured - but discussed on a previous post.  I would like to learn to compose a nice picture before I leave for Oxford in the hopes of coming back with photos that others will actually want to view)
• Travel Writing by L Peat O'Neil (not pictured - and purchased through Alibris.com  I actually skimmed through several books on travel writing over the past couple of weeks, but I found I kept wanting to take notes as I read this one.  I want to try to practice some writing exercises on writing about place before I attend Oxford, again with the hopes that I can document my excursions in an interesting way that others might like to read them)
• American Writer's at Home by J. D. McClatchy (this was a total impulse buy.  It is a hardcover book with beautiful illustrations of famous American authors' homes.  Many of the authors that I am reading for this summer are featured in the book and I thought I might appreciate some of this kind of background information)

So there you have it --- 17 books purchased for the grand total of approximately $47.00!!

I haven't decided which gives me the most thrills:  reading a great book - or finding a great book bargain.  Both are high on my "things that make me happy" list.  I am pretty ecstatic right now :)

Mailbox Monday

Ohh - I am so excited!  I can actually participate in Mailbox Monday hosted by Marcia at the Printed Page.


Each week I read all of your posts with a tinge of envy.  Of course I am happy for all your wonderful bookish mail, but deep inside I wish that my mailbox had been filled with literary delights too.  Well, this week I received a very special box from Amazon.  I really hadn't intended to buy this many books, honest.  But you know....they had this special promotion of buy 3 books get the 4th one free and I had already selected 3 books that I really needed wanted to buy.  So finding a fourth was mandatory!  And I absolutely, positively loved Dog Gone It and vowed to purchase the second book in the series when it became available.  The fact that it was on-sale made that an imperative buy as well.  AND....I did have all those Christmas gift cards that needed to be spent.


So as you can see, this box of 6 books was really not an impulse purchase; it was simply meant to be.

• Surviving Hitler by Andrea Warren.  I reviewed this book a couple of weeks ago (here), and I simply knew that I needed to include it as part of my own personal library.
• Thereby Hangs a Tail by Spencer Quinn.  Most of you know by now that I am a sucker for any dog story.  I read the author's first book in this series, Dog Gone It, and absolutely loved the plot, the characters, and the voice of  Chet the dog.  I am very anxious to read this second book.
• Mr. Dixon Disappears by Ian Sansom.  I reviewed the first in this series, The Case of the Missing Books, and absolutely loved it!!  When I obtained this book from the library (the second book in the series), I knew by the end of the first paragraph that it was one that I needed to own - not just borrow!
• Eye of the Crow by Shane Peacock.  I read the first few chapters of this book and was completely enthralled (thank you, Belle, for the recommendation).  Since I will be teaching a unit on Sherlock Holmes' mysteries later this semester, I thought this would be a nice recommendation for summer reading for my 7th grade class.
• Fablehaven by Brandon Mull.  This is actually a book that I purchased "sight unseen."  It was suggested as a possible next read if you liked Harry Potter and Percy Jackson.  Since both of these series are hot buttons for my students, I thought I might try this one for myself.  I had read the first two chapters of a library edition and was definitely intrigued.
• The Lightening Thief by Rick Riordan.  I have had two students breeze through this entire series over the course of two weeks.  Because of their high praise, I have had three more students begin the series.  I figure if this book is good enough to encourage 5 middle schoolers to read --- it must be investigated.  I would like to try to read this one ASAP so that I can go to the movie and do a compare and contrast.

I would not be completely honest if I did not let you know of a few books that managed to find their way into my home, bypassing the mailbox.  Again, I am really not to blame.  See, Half Priced books had a 20% off coupon in celebration of Valentine's Day and I just couldn't let that kind of a deal go to waste.  In my defense, I used great restraint and only purchased 4 books for a total of $16.00.

• The Unauthorized Harry Potter Companion by Colin Duriez.  As many of you know, I am listening to this series on audio book.  For a visual learner like myself, I feel that I can benefit from a dictionary of sorts to show me the correct spelling of wizard and muggle words, and to refresh my memory of significant events, characters, places, and such.  This was found in the clearance section and I simply could not pass it up.
• The Pemberley Chronicles by Rebecca Ann Collins.  I have wanted to start this series for quite some time - both from the standpoint of being a Pride and Prejudice fan - and from a writer's point of view.  I am fascinated that this author could write a 7 book series detailing the lives of these classic characters after the joyful ending of the original work.  I also think I will use this book to show my Brit Lit students the lasting power and presence of Jane Austen - some 200 years after her death.
• The Big Over Easy by Jasper Fforde.  I enjoyed The Eyre Affair, and I am interested in reading Shades of Grey, but there is something about the concept of bringing fairy tale characters to life in this nursery crime series that has me very intrigued.
• The Bookshop by Penelope Fitzgerald.  This book has been reviewed on several book blogs lately and I am always interested in reading books about books - so when I saw it sitting forlornly on the clearance bookshelf, I felt as though it was calling my name.

So how about you?  Have you come across any must-have books this week that you simply could not refuse to bring home?

Kindle Shopping

I have no idea what sparked my recent Kindle shopping expedition. It could have been influenced by Savidge Reads Sensation Season and all the talk of Wilkie Collins, Mary Elizabeth Braddon, and Susan Hill. OR...it could have been influenced by Carl's RIP IV challenge that I have taken to like a fish takes to water (who would have thought that I had such a dark side?!) But whatever the influence, I took out my Kindle today and visited the Kindle store - in the comfort of my own home (it was a nasty day today with cloudy skies and a high of 48 degrees --- I had no desire to get out in today's weather).

Now I am well aware that Kindle users can download hundreds, if not thousands, of free public domain classics from numerous sites (I tend to use manybks.net and freekindlebooks.org), but the primary problem with these free downloads is that it is somewhat cumbersome to navigate through large "chunksters" --- which is what I tend to read (you know -- the 500+ page books of Charles Dickens, Wilkie Collins, and Alexander Dumas). When browsing through the Kindle store, however, I discovered the wonderful world of "Complete Works of......" by Mobile Reference. Not only do these very reasonably priced (ok -- CHEAP) ebooks provide great reading material for a nominal sum, but the table of contents is hyperlinked to each novel/short story, and then each novel has chapter hyperlinks as well. The text is VERY easy to read, and the dollar value makes this frugal blogger smile :)

Here is a run-down of what I purchased today (now granted, I still had Amazon gift certificates leftover from last Christmas - so in actuality, these downloads cost me absolutely nothing. If any of my family members are reading this post, however, I have completely depleted all gift certificates and would covet these as possible Birthday / Christmas gifts for 2009)

I purchased the Works of Charles Dickens --- over 200 --- for the nominal price of $4.79

I also purchased 50+ works of Wilkie Collins for $4.79 as well.

The works of Elizabeth Gaskell, including her biography of Charlotte Bronte for $3.99

The novels of Mary Elizabeth Braddon for $3.99

And then, for an amazing $1.00 EACH I received:

• the 7 novels of Jane Austen
• the major works of L. M. Montgomery
• the 8 major works of Henry James
• the Bronte Family Collection

Other collections that I have downloaded samples, but not yet committed to the purchase, include: Leo Tolstoy, Fyodor Dostoevsky, Louisa May Alcott, Alexander Dumas, and George Eliot.

I realize that the Kindle is not for everyone. And I am learning that the Kindle is not for ALL my reading needs. But as far as collecting the classics in a manageable format (I can take my entire classic collection with me at all times for under 2 pounds!) and at a fraction of the cost of traditional books, I simply cannot help but shout from the rooftops that I truly LOVE my Kindle!

In case you have not heard about the Kindle, you can read my initial review of this eReader here.

Now, if anyone knows how to add more hours to the day --- I will be all set!

BBA: Book Buyers Anonymous

Well, they say that the first step to recovery is to admit that you have a problem. Before my family stages an intervention (and the house becomes a fire hazard due to the overstocking of books), I guess I must make a public confession: I have a book buying addiction. More specifically, I can't control myself when it comes to shopping for bargain books. I am not sure which provides the greatest 'high': purchasing the book itself, or marveling at how much money I saved in the purchase of the book. Here is the physical evidence:

Now, in order to rationalize this book pile, let me say that these have been purchased throughout the month of September - the vast majority were found in the clearance section of Half Priced Books (that means they were $3.00 or less) - AND many of them were purchased during the special 20% off sale. I mean - just think of all the money I saved!

And I simply cannot accept all the blame here. Nearly Every single one of these books came highly recommended from YOUR book blogs. Before I found this glorious blogosphere, I would venture into the bookstore about once a month and simply rely on the book flap summary to dictate my purchase decisions. Now I am bombarded each and every day with book reviews that end with "You simply must read this" or "I highly recommend this book" How can I ignore such forceful mandates --- that would be rude, wouldn't it?!

I must admit that when I enter a bookstore, my mind is immediately transformed. I become glassy-eyed and simply marvel at all the literary paper around me. My heartbeat slows down, my mind clears of the day's drama, and I immediately start daydreaming of the day that I will have all the time in the world to read until my heart's content (that day will come - right?) It is almost as if I enjoy the "thought" of someday reading these books as much as I actually enjoy reading the book. Is that normal?

Anyway, I figure that I have several options:

1. I can stop going into bookstores until I have read all the books on the TBR shelves.


2. I can stop reading book blogs so that I am not tempted to feed my addiction by your reviews.


3. I can ignore the problem and be content that this is my greatest vice in life.

For now, I vote for option 3. I'll let you know when the family intervention is scheduled.

BEA Highlights #3: The Authors and the Books!!

Well, it took long enough - but at 4;57 pm on Thursday afternoon the UPS truck finally pulled up outside my house and delivered my long-awaited box of BEA goodies. Now, it is not like I have the time to immediately start reading these new additions to my personal library - but it is just the thought that these precious gems are now in my possession instead of wandering the streets of Kansas.

It was like Christmas at our house. The dogs were thrilled to have a box to chew; my daughter was thrilled with the newest YA books and couple of choice foodie books as well; my other daughter is quite anxious to read the Stephen Schwartz story (Wicked is her obsession); and my husband even received a couple of surprise gifts.

Now that I have attended my first BEA and I have "gotten my feet wet", I feel better prepared for next year. I now know to do thorough research prior to the event (discover which galleys are being given away at which booth and plot out the booth location; prioritize author signings to maximize time) and to be more selective in the books I choose to bring home (yes the galleys are free - but shipping must be paid). Also, I am still discovering my blog "voice" - so to speak - and want to try lots of genres before narrowing my focus. This year I chose a variety of books to ship home; next year I anticipate being more discerning in my selection. I am also hoping to persuade my 15 year old daughter to do some joint reviews of YA books with me. She loves to read (although she has rather discriminating tastes) and I think her Point of View will provide a unique perspective for the readers of this blog.

Well, enough of the background info - on with the loot. There are two authors that I wish to highlight right off the bat. The first is the duo authors of Novel Destinations, Shannon McKenna Schmidt and Joni Rendon. These are two of the nicest "strangers" I believe I have ever met. When I reached the front of the line I asked if they would mind if I took a picture for my blog. They immediately started asking ME questions - and requested that I send them a copy of the photo "if it wouldn't be too much trouble" - are you kidding?! Of course I would be happy to send them the photo. I then found enough courage to ask if they would mind autographing two copies of the book: one for me (I have read it twice from the library and definitely want my own edition) and one as a give away for my blog readers. They were more than happy to do so and even asked for my business card.


The second author I wish to highlight is Tom Wilson, the author (and cartoonist) of Zig-Zagging: a Memoir. Tom is the son of the originator of the Ziggy cartoons and he has now followed in his father's footsteps. Not only did he autograph each book - but he drew a personal ziggy in each and every book he signed --- the entire time he was drawing and writing he carried on a upbeat and humorous dialogue with his fans. As you can imagine, it took him quite a while to autograph each book so while I only able to have one copy signed (and he personalized it before I had the opportunity to request otherwise), he was kind enough to offer me a 2nd book as a giveaway for my faithful readers.

I was also fortunate enough to receive two autographed copies of The Physique of Deliverance Dane (sorry, no photos as the signing took place in the publisher's booth and it was very tight quarters). Again, the author and publicist were so accommodating of my request - and come to find out this was Katherine Howe's first autograph signing session ever!!

By now you certainly realize that I will have 3 different autographed books to give away. That is the good news. The bad news is that I leave for my summer school program in 10 days and will not have the opportunity to run effective giveaway campaigns in that amount of time (I would have a Post Office on campus - but the time commitment to this program is huge and I am afraid that I will not be able to maintain the blog activity as well as I should). I think instead I will run one giveaway later this week (my husband can mail the package while I am away); run one giveaway when I return; and then the final giveaway at the end of the summer. I hope that is satisfactory.

In the meantime, let me quickly show off the rest of my books.

This is the pile of books that I was able to have autographed while at BEA. Besides the 3 books spotlighted above, I was also able to secure autographed copies of:

The Memorist by MJ Rose (she LOVES bloggers and even requested my card)
The Overnight Socialite by Bridie Clark (a modern retelling of My Fair Lady)
Murder in the Latin Quarter by Cara Black (I now have the 1st and the last in this series)
Don't Know Much about Literature by Kenneth C and Jenny Davis
Defying Gravity: The Creative Career of Stephen Schwartz by Carol de Giere
The Real Real by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus (authors of the Nanny Diaries)
The Mysterious Benedict Society (volumes 1 and 2) by Trenton Lee Stewart
Food Jobs by Irena Chalmers (she was delightful! She gave me her business card when she learned that my youngest is interest in culinary school and signed it "Come to the CIA")

This pile of books focuses on the YA genre. Some of the books I picked up because I thought my daughter might enjoy, and some I picked up because I thought I might enjoy and/or I might be able to recommend to my students as outside reading material for next year. And yes, I was fortunate enough to snag (without autograph) the amazingly popular, Catching Fire!


School of Fear by Gitty Daneshvari
Murder at Midnight by Avi
Peter and the Sword of Mercy by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson
Once was Lost by Sara Zarr
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
Fire by Kristin Cashore
Viola in Reel Life by Adriana Trigiani
Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld




The final pile of books is a miscellaneous grouping of adult fiction books that I thought I might enjoy. Some will stretch me outside my comfort zone, and others I am very anxious to delve into immediately.

Have a Little Faith by Mitch Albom
Tell me Something True by Leila Cobo
Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson (hard to believe I have not yet read this modern day classic)
A Big Little Life by Dean Koontz
The Secret Diaries of Charlotte Bronte by Syrie James (I read her first book and LOVED it!!)
The Gift of an Ordinary Day by Katrina Kenison
The Unnamed by Joshua Ferris
Loving Mr. Darcy by Sharon Lathan
A Separate Country by Robert Hicks
Roses by Leila Meacham
Alex Cross's Trial and I, Alex Cross (double volume) by James Patterson
The Taste of Home Cookbook (newly revised)

Library Loot - 5.15.09

Yesterday the Booking Through Thursday prompt asked if we consider ourselves "book gluttons" - that is, constantly adding more and more books to our TBR shelves when we can't possibly read what we own already. I personally think that should be a requirement of a book blogger: you must be willing to bring more books into the house than you can possibly read in a lifetime, and still seem unfilled if you can't buy more on a regular basis.

Here is a case in point: Last night I visited my local library to pick up 5 books that were available from my list of requested books. I still have 9 books on hold. In the month of May (and we are only half way through the month) I have purchased 8 books. I need to read approximately 12 books between and June 15 for my Master's program. I will be attending the Book Expo of America (BEA) May 28-31 in NYC -- and I know I am sure to find new releases that I MUST have now. Can you understand why I titled yesterday's post: Is there a 12 step program for Bibliophiles?!

Now perhaps if I were a speed reader like some of you, this would be no problem. But alas, I am not. I savor every word of the books that I read (at a relatively slow pace) and for those books that I need to study this summer - I will also take notes. I am hoping to balance my reading time between today (my official last day of school for the 2008/2009 year!!) and June 15. I WILL accomplish all required reading, but I also hope to read my first 3 ARCs and post reviews.

In the meantime, the 5 books that I picked up from the library this week fit none of the above requirements. They are strictly for my own personal enjoyment:

Murder on Astor Place by Victoria Thompson. I discovered this new-to-me series while "buying indie" a couple of weeks ago. The setting is NYC at the turn of the century, and the titles are all places that I recognize from having lived there from 1984-1988. This is the first in the series.

Feint of Art by Hailey Lind. This is another series that I discovered on the same indie-shopping day. This series focuses on the art world - something of which I have little knowledge, but great desire to learn.

Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout. This book has been on my TBR list since January when I first read your reviews. However, once it won the Pulitzer for 2009, I bumped it to the top of the list. Surprisingly enough, I only had to wait about 2 weeks to obtain a library copy.

Fingersmith by Sarah Waters. This book comes highly recommended by Farm Lane Books and since I so enjoy her blog, I figured her recommendations must be good.

Among the Impostors by Margaret Peterson Haddix. I just completed Among the Hidden this past week (review will hopefully happen next week after all final grades have been calculated) and enjoyed it enough to want to read the next book in the series.

Will I will all of these in the allotted time of 3 weeks - along with all my other reading requirements? Probably not. But it will sure be fun trying.

Mailbox Monday - 5.11.09

I am always so excited when I have the opportunity to participate in Mailbox Monday. It doesn't happen very often, so I truly savor the times that I can. Mailbox Monday is the brainchild of Marcia at the Printed Page. Head on over there to find a link to fellow bloggers' list of books received this week.

Here is what I have found in my mailbox over the last couple of weeks. The only downside is that I simply cannot read all of them right away - as I have about 10 books that I need to read prior to June 15 when I start my summer classes. Oh well, I will attempt to read as many as possible:

I won Admission from S. Krishna's giveaway and I am super excited to begin reading this one! Here is a summar of this book, thanks to Amazon.com: For years, 38-year-old Portia Nathan has avoided the past, hiding behind her busy (and sometimes punishing) career as a PrincetonUniversity admissions officer and her dependable domestic life. Her reluctance to confront the truth is suddenly overwhelmed by the resurfacing of a life-altering decision, and Portia is faced with an extraordinary test. Just as thousands of the nation's brightest students await her decision regarding their academic admission, so too must Portia decide whether to make her own ultimate admission.

My second prize-winning book this week included the much-talked about Girls in Trucks by Katie Crouch. I was intrigued by the cover of this book from the first time I saw it: A carefree young woman dressed in a beautiful feminine dress juxtaposed with the almost redneck title that conjures up the image of girls in jean shorts riding in the back of an old pickup truck. Here is a portion of one summary posted on Amazon: Sarah Walters, the narrator of GIRLS IN TRUCKS, is a reluctant Camellia Society debutante. She has always felt ill-fitted to the rococo ways of Southern womanhood and family, and is anxious to shake the bonds of her youth. Still, she follows the traditional path laid out for her. This is Charleston, and in this beautiful, dark, segregated town, established rules and manners mean everything. But as Sarah grows older, she finds that her Camellia lessons fail her, particularly as she goes to college, moves North, and navigates love and life in New York. There, Sarah and her group of displaced deb sisters try to define themselves within the realities of modern life. Heartbreak, addiction, disappointing jobs and death fail to live up to the hazy, happy future promised to them by their Camellia mothers and sisters. Thank you, Dawn of She is Too Fond of Books, for hosting this great giveaway.

A while ago Kaye of Pudgy Penguin Perusals hosted a give away for Laura Child's newest tea shop mystery, Oolong Dead and I happened to be one of the two lucky recipients. My book arrived on Friday - autographed - and sent directly from the author's home address! I have read the first 2 books in this lovely cozy series and will probably try to read all the others in the series, saving this for last.

I also received my first two books this week as a result of requests made through Shelf Awareness. I am very excited to have the opportunity to read a book "hot off the presses". The first book that came in the mail from Bloomsbury Publishing was Valeria's Last Stand by Marc Fitten: Life in an isolated Hungarian village is turned upside down by an unusual love affair in Fitten's promising debut. In the small hamlet of Zivatar, 68-year-old Valeria is known by all as a cantankerous woman, quick to criticize everything from the produce at the market to the mayor's lofty ambitions to lure foreign investors to the town. But a chance encounter one day with the elderly local potter—a man Valeria has known for years but never noticed—changes everything. The widower potter falls just as hard for Valeria, despite his relationship with Ibolya, the owner of the village's only tavern. Unaccustomed to being smitten, Valeria tries to maintain her normal routine, but the village is in an uproar over this unlikely love triangle. The arrival of a traveling chimney sweep intent on bilking the townspeople sends another ripple through what was once a placid village.

The 2nd Shelf Awareness book received by Picador Publishing was Burnt Shadows by Kamila Shamsie. This is another book that I was keenly attracted to its cover (which I know you can't judge a book by its cover - but you can certainly buy a book because of its cover!) Sweeping in scope and mesmerizing in its evocation of time and place, Burnt Shadows is an epic narrative of disasters elided and confronted, loyalties offered and repaid, and loves rewarded and betrayed.

I participated in a survey for Reading Group Guides and as a thank you they offered to send one of 8 different books. I happened to receive A Year of Pleasures by Elizabeth Berg. I am somewhat embarrassed to admit that I have not read any of Berg's works, so I was very pleased with this lovely gift. A Boston widow of several months, 55-year-old Betta Nolan, fulfills her dying husband's dream of moving out to the Midwest and starting a new life. "It will give me peace to know that what you will do is exactly what we talked about," says John commandingly before dying of liver cancer; Betta, an author of children's books, sells their Beacon Hill brownstone and takes off, buying an oversized Victorian in the small town of Stewart, Ill., 49 miles from Chicago. Lonely, she finds herself tracking down three former college roommates from the late 1960s, Lorraine, Maddy and Susanna, whom she ditched once she met John. The women reappear one by one and help give her the courage to open a shop called What a Woman Wants (it'll sell "all different stuff that women loved. Beautiful things, but unusual too. Like antique birdcages with orchids growing in them"). Meanwhile, she begins to make friends in town, notably with attractive young handyman Matthew and natty oldster Tom Bartlett.

Yesterday I treated myself to a Mother's Day gift (I had coupons that were going to expire!) I had reserved The Boy in the Striped Pajamas and Hunger Games at my local library on March 21 - thinking I could read them for the 24 hour readathon. WRONG! I am still about 30th in line for both of them. At this rate, it will be the end of the summer before my name is called - and I just don't want to wait that long (and I have a feeling I will to have these in my personal library anyway). So, I purchased both books - along with a CD that I simply could not resist - Beethoven for Book Lovers.

My daughters decided to make dinner for me as a Mother's Day gift (enchiladas, rice and angel food cake --- yummy!) and I was "banished" from the kitchen for the afternoon (oh darn!). It was the perfect opportunity to hide out in my book nook and begin reading Hunger Games. Suffice it to say, the book does live up to the hype: it is suspenseful from the first page! I read the first 200 pages yesterday and I will probably finish the book this evening. Not sure much more reading will be done this week, however (or posting of reviews) as this is finals week and there will be lots of grading.

As a "last hurrah" with two of my high school book club students - we took a trip to Lawrence today after school to visit some of the college town bookstores. Everyone had a great time and found some worthwhile books to purchase. I found two mysteries by Julie Kaewert that I have been wanting to try for quite sometime. The series is entitled, A Booklover's Mystery - so I figure it must be good. I also found an "uncorrected proof" of The Secret Diaries of Charlotte Bronte by Syrie James and was very excited. I thoroughly enjoyed her Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen and expect this one will be just as good. According to Amazon, this book is expected to be released at the end of June, so I will try to read it before I leave for my summer classes and post a review for y'all to read.

I have about 10 final papers to grade (plan to do that tomorrow) - about 25 grammar finals to grade by Friday afternoon (some students will take the final on Wednesday, others will take it on Friday) - and about 10 computer applications finals to grade on Wednesday afternoon. I will attend the graduation ceremony on Friday night and then.....I will be officially on summer break!!! Can you tell I am excited?

Bought Indie

Friday, May 1 was deemed National "Buy Indie" Day. The noble idea was to visit a local independent bookstore (NOT a chain bookstore) and purchase at least one book (if you are unsure of local independent bookstores in your area, visit the store finder feature at indiebound.org). I immediately marked the date on my calendar when I first heard of the event - and had been counting the days ever since.

I knew that it would be difficult for me to participate on a Friday (too much end-of-school-year activities), so I decided to treat myself to a casual Saturday morning shopping spree.

In Johnson County, KS we have two independent bookstores: Rainy Day Books (a very nice, all-purpose reading bookstore that offers several author events each year) and I Love a Mystery bookstore which sells not only newly published mysteries, but also gently used books as well. Since I did not have the opportunity to visit either of these terrific bookstores, I am planning to extend the "buy indie" book DAY -- to "buy indie" book MONTH! My last day of school is Friday, May 15 and I am hoping to treat myself to another casual book-buying expedition on Saturday the 16th. I am also giving thought to attending the Annie Barrows book signing event on Tuesday, May 19 (she is the co-author of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society -- a book that I read from the local library and would love to own a personal copy). Perhaps I can convince my book buddy to go with me --- what do you say, Jil??

Yesterday's adventures took me to Lawrence, KS - home of the University of Kansas Jayhawks. Lawrence is a leisurely 30 minute drive from my house and Massachusetts Avenue is the quintessential college-town main street. I listened to my Harry Potter CD on the way there and back - and enjoyed a lovely bookish morning. I visited an old favorite, The Dusty Bookshelf, and spent quite a bit of time perusing the floor-to-ceiling shelves of used books. I managed to find a very nice copy of Jaqueline Winspear's book, Birds of a Feather, to accompany my recent book giveaway win of Maisie Dobb from Lesa's Book Critiques.

After browsing at this store I ventured around the corner to an independent store that I had not yet visited, The Raven. What a wonderful little treasure! Most of the books are new (although there is a nice little section of used paperbacks) --- and while the store stocks a variety of genres, the emphasis is on mysteries! I was in heaven!! I spent a good hour looking around, discovering new authors - new series - and familiar favorites. In the end I decided to purchase the 2nd Hannah Swensen book, Strawberry Shortcake Murder, and the first in a new series by Rys Bowen, Her Royal Spyness.

All in all it was a wonderful, relaxing day and I am so happy that I could participate in this worthwhile event. My bookish adventures, however, are not over yet. This week begins the Scholastic Book Warehouse sale, which for our area runs from May 6 - May 21. This is such fun as all the leftover books that have been available at fundraisers across the country are now housed in the local warehouse and sold at a significant discount. I go every year and always find some great bargains. I usually go with an eye for books that I might want to teach in the future. This year, however, thanks to all the wonderful YA reviews on your blogs, I will also go with an eye for books that I would like to add to my personal library.

So how about you? Did you have an opportunity to participate in the Buy Indie event? If so, what did you decide to buy? I am always looking for more great titles to add to my ever-increasing TBR list.

Read-a-thon: 4:00 pm post

I've got to tell ya -- this read-a-thon came at absolutely the PERFECT time for me. Yesterday was a rotten, horrible, want-to-crawl-in-a-cave-and-disappear kind of day. I was totally humiliated at school and truly wanted to secede from the human race. My normal MOD would be to do just that: to not take part in this read-a-thon and just hide for the weekend. Boy...am I glad I chose to push myself and do this.

The support and encouragement from this community is GREAT!! I have learned how much a simple one-sentence comment can mean to a blogger - and I will try so very hard to improve my commenting techniques in the future. All of you who have taken the time to support me today are truly appreciated.

And...if that weren't enough.....I received an email from Dawn of She is Too Fond of Books to tell me that I won a copy of Girls in Trucks!!!! I have lusted after this book from the first time I saw the cover (which is totally inconsistent with the title --- thus my immediate fascination). OH boy --- what a difference a day makes :)

Ok -- so my current stats are as follows:

books completed: 1
book currently reading: Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
pages read in current book: 60 out of 410
cumulative number of pages read: 384
cumulative number of hours read: 6.0

This book is amazing!! My husband ranks this as one of his top 10 movies, and I had a student read this book last year and she absolutely loved it. It is NOT a quick read however. Such great descriptive language and character development makes me want to linger over every written word. If I only cared about the number of pages I read for this event, I would save this book for another time and select another cozy mystery. However, I want my first read-a-thon to be meaningful ---- and so therefore I will continue reading, and enjoying, this classic work of literature!

I will be taking my hubby out to dinner tonight. He will be celebrating 50 years young on Tuesday, and this has been on the calendar for quite sometime. I plan to read some more tonight however, and will post a blog entry later (probably around 10:00 or so). I also plan to set my alarm early tomorrow - not to read, but rather to serve as cheer leader to those die-hards who are striving to read 24 hours straight.