Wednesday - Blog Report

Hello Everyone!!

I just wanted to say that I am going to catch up with blogs and google reader in the next few days. I had a reading deadline or two. So I am a bit behind. When I can't stay in touch with the Blog groups I get cranky!!!

I won a book from Amy at Passages to the Past. Check out her blog it is outstanding. Thank you Amy!

I have to say I am very excited about upcoming reads. I am going to do A Circle of Books Giveaway soon! Stay tuned.

Toni

Winners!!!! Sundays at Tiffany's and Beat the Reaper

Sundays at Tiffanys:

1. kat bryan

2. tara

3. darby

Beat the Reaper:
1. dey
2. diana d
3. katy

Your audio books will be shipped from Hatchette. I will email you all for your shipping addresses and get the info out to Hachette asap for your prizes.

Thank you for entering everyone. I hope to have another giveaway in February. Stay tuned.

Dar, thank you for your help today.

eclipse - Stephenie Meyer - Review

Eclipse, by Stephenie Meyer

My Review:

There is so much to say on this third in the series book by Stephenie Meyer. I can hardly think that I have something to say that hasn't already been stated.

I really liked it. I am so caught up in the books, the characters, the plot and all the hooplah in Forks. I am so bummed that I only have one book left. Thankfully I don't own it yet so I can actually finish some other really good stuff in my pile. This book was over 600 pages.

I loved the steamy side of Bella's hungering and craving for Edward. I liked Bella the seductress better than the clumsy whiny Bella. I thought it was quite passionate. I have to admit a few scenes had me saying.. "come on Edward why not?" I have read people saying that the writing in the books is not sophisticated enough and I get that point. But I think Meyers can really steam up a scene without graphic detail really well and to me that is what good story telling and writing is all about.

It is hard to write a review of the book without spoilers. I actually loved Eclipse, possibly even more so that New Moon. I had read that after Twilight, the series sort of went downhill, so I have been sort of bummed thinking that I might be disappointed. But I haven't found that to be the case at all. I loved the danger and the conflicting decisions that Bella must make. I even cried at the end big time... sobby wobby cries.

I grew to love Jacob and his family as much (well almost) as the Cullen family. I think there could be a whole lot more books that can come of that line. I think someone mentioned this to me in a comment recently.

I really enjoyed the book! I hope others continue to enjoy the story. I do think it is quality Young Adult reading, however this book, in my opinion is more for the 12-13 + age group. I feel there is a lot more violence, passion, conflicting emotions, and moral questions that should have parental support than in the first two books.

I am excited now because the next time I get a chance, I get to read all the Eclipse reviews that I have been holding off due to spoilers. If you have a review that you would like to share please please post it in my comments with a link so I can read it along with other Circle of Books readers..... (the good, the bad, the ugly.. I want to hear it all)


My Twilight review here
My New Moon Review here

Full Description:

Readers captivated by Twilight and New Moon will eagerly devour Eclipse, the much anticipated third book in Stephenie Meyer's riveting vampire love saga. As Seattle is ravaged by a string of mysterious killings and a malicious vampire continues her quest for revenge, Bella once again finds herself surrounded by danger. In the midst of it all, she is forced to choose between her love for Edward and her friendship with Jacob --- knowing that her decision has the potential to ignite the ageless struggle between vampire and werewolf. With her graduation quickly approaching, Bella has one more decision to make: life or death. But which is which?

Once again I want to thank Jenn from Jenn's bookshelf for sending me this book to read. Thanks Jenn.

The American Journey of Barack Obama - Review

Thank You Anna from Hachette.

I was happy to receive this book a few months ago and host a giveaway compliments of Hachette. I thought today with Barack Obama being sworn in as the 44th President of the United States, that it was a good time to get around to posting my review. It was nice as it provided a reason for me to strum through the pictures again.

My Review:
The book is put together very well in all aspects. It reads very eloquently, with a good biographical feel to it. It is a comprehensive time line of Barack Obama's life and political history. It is a stunning photo journal and editorial into the "American Journey of Barak Obama." The photography is breath-taking, and very moving. It is everything we have come to expect from Life Photography and publications.

A quote from the editors that I really enjoyed from the book.

"There will be future chapters. Everyone agrees on this too. Where and when people disagree, they are nonetheless better off for knowing the man."

It makes a beautiful coffee table book.

I do recommend this book to all readers.

Thank you Hachette.

Full Description:
For decades Americans have turned to LIFE to see, understand, and remember the most important events and people of our time. Just as LIFE once opened up the glittering Kennedy White House, LIFE now focuses its lens on Barack Obama. The American Journey of Barack Obama covers the candidate from his childhood and adolescence to his time as editor of The Harvard Law Review and his Chicago activist years, culminating with the excitement and fervor of the historic 2008 Democratic National Convention. The unfolding drama of Obama's life and political career is cinematic in scope, and never has it been presented so compellingly. In addition to a powerful array of photographs that were taken by many of the country's greatest photographers (and some that were snapped, in the quiet moments, by Obama family members
themselves), this book also includes a Foreword by Senator Edward M. Kennedy, an incisive narrative biography and original essays by some of our finest writers, including Gay Talese, Charles Johnson, Melissa Fay Greene, Andrei Codrescu, Fay Weldon, Richard Norton Smith, Bob Greene and several others. Many readers will find a new understanding of Obama. All readers will feel that they are bearing witness to a singular, undeniably American story.

Sundays At Tiffany's - Winners

And the Winners are:




Mindy
Trin
Joy
Ms.Bookish
Mom2anubal.

I will email the winners tonight!!
Congrats!

Thank You Hachette.

Love and Other Natural Disasters - Blog Tour

Love and Other Natural Disasters, Holly Shumas

Blog Tour:
Please see the end of the post for a blogroll of participants. Thank you Miriam from Hachette for sending the book and organizing this blog tour.


Full Description:
Eve is eight months pregnant and in the middle of a Thanksgiving celebration when she discovers that her husband Jonathan has developed an intimate relationship with a woman over the past year. Jonathon asserts his innocence (an affair involves physical intimacy, and he didn't have any), while Eve feels deeply betrayed by the emotional connection he shared with someone else. What Jon has done seems so terrifyingly out of character that Eve finds herself questioning her entire reality. Did she ever really know Jon at all? Was their happiness together a lie? Is emotional intimacy more forgivable than sexual intimacy? And can their marriage survive?

My review:
I will start of by saying I enjoyed the book. The first chapter was hard to get through. Just the whole pain of the situation in the story hit home to me even though I have not been through anything similar. I could sense and feel the betrayal of the situation as a wife, a woman, and a mother. As Eve discovers and ventures into the pain of the situation, I just felt so sad for her. I was compelled to read more of the book.

Most of the time I felt Eve's reactions and feelings to be something similar to what I would do and how I would feel. Especially having a fondness for flannel pajamas that were her "greatest comfort outside of chocolate." This book has questions that whisper throughout. "What would you do? Is Eve making the right decision? Do we feel sorry for Jon? And of course, what about the children? and most of all is "an emotional affair more forgivable than a sexual one?"

About halfway through the story, I began to say "okay, let's do something here....people c'mon." Seeds had been planted to blossom in the story for us to know more to this story than just Jon's betrayal. I wanted to watch Eve and Jon grow into the situation and take responsibility to fix it or move on. There has been a world of dysfunction in Eve's life as well as Jon and I wanted to see what they could make of their past, present and future as a family.

I found the story to be realistic and believable especially in these days of computer communication.

I found the characters to be likable and even lovable. I like strong and flawed characters. It is human to be flawed and to pick up bumps along the way in life. And it is only normal that our life is affected by the way that we react to things. To learn from our mistakes is the key to life. Working on repairing a marriage after trust is broken must be a really challenging process with a lot of humility and commitment involved. I think Holly Shumas did a great job writing about this.

I recommend the book.

Author Information:
Holly Shumas lives in Berkeley, California, where she is a marriage and family therapist. This is her second novel.

Book Browse Reader Here:

Our Tour Group. See what other bloggers are saying about this book.
http://jennsbookshelf.blogspot.com/
http://www.writeforareader.edublogs.org
http://www.bermudaonion.wordpress.com
http://booksamyreads.blogspot.com
http://cafeofdreams.blogspot.com/
http://ablogofbooks.blogspot.com/
http://athomewithbooks.blogspot.com
http://www.myfriendamysblog.com
http://thetometraveller.blogspot.com/
http://bookingmama.blogspot.com/
http://2kidsandtiredbooks.blogspot.com
http://www.skrishnasbooks.com
http://enroutetolife.blogspot.com/
http://www.anovelmenagerie.com
http://printedpage.us
http://cindysloveofbooks.blogspot.com/
http://luanne-abookwormsworld.blogspot.com/
http://bookopolis.blogspot.com
http://www.bookthoughtsbylisa.blogspot.com
http://exlibrisbb.blogspot.com/
http://www.marjoleinbookblog.blogspot.com
http://linussblanket.com

2nd 2009 Challenge - Outlander Challenge 2009

Outlander Challenge - I'm doing it! I have been debating on my second challenge for 2009. I have read Outlander in the past and I have a few of the sequels, I just haven't got around to reading them. This is the perfect opportunity to read along with others.

The Rules

1. Sign up!
2. You must read each of the six current Outlander Series novels prior to the publication of An Echo in the Bone (scheduled publication September 2009).
3. The format can be of your choosing (audio, book, Kindle, etc).
4. You must post your thoughts/comments/inspirations/criticisms at least once on each book.
5. Books can crossover to other reading challenges if you wish.
6. Have fun!

Details

Sign up

The Bookshelf Meme - From Jo-Jo

The Book Shelf Meme:

Okay so.. I got this Meme from Jo-Jo.

It is a questionnaire meme. Please talk about the following.


The book that’s been on your shelves the longest:

It is a tie. I have three! My mom got me hardbound readers editions of Gone with the Wind, Dr. Zhivago, and Lady Chatterly's Lover in Christmas of 1983. I still have them. I have moved and got rid of most books about 4-5 times over my life. I have always hung onto these.

A book that reminds you of something specific in your life (a person, a place, a time, etc.):

This is a thought provoking question. I think I will have to go back to 1983 and Gone with the Wind. I did an 18 page report on it in my senior year in high school. Good times!

A book you acquired in some interesting way (gift, serendipity in a used bookstore, prize, etc.):
I think the best and most fun time for me was going at midnight to Borders to get my Deathly Hallows books in my Harry Potter Scarf. I think that was a GREAT TIME!



A book that’s been with you to the most places:

Well the book that has the most miles on it would be The Autobiography of Henry VIII, by Margaret George. I got to meet up with my book club in Baltimore in 2006 and that was our selection for August that year. So Henry went with me. It was a hoot. I have some great pics of me and my girl friends having a book / slumber party. I might share the photo, but I think I need permission to post a Jammie photo online.


The most recent addition to your shelves:

A very nice co-worker mailed me a book and I received it yesterday by Nicholas Evans called The Loop. He and I like to talk about books and dogs and he remembered this book and sent it to me. I am excited to read it.


A bonus book that you want to talk about but doesn’t fit into the other questions:

One of my favorite books that I love to have nearby all the time is The Hours, by Michael Cunningham. I really love the book. I know it isn't a upbeat book, but it always puts me into a trance and the writing is magnificent. I think it qualifies for one of the most unique books I have ever read.



So I am going to tag the following blogs:
Dar at Peeking Between the Pages
Jenn at Jenn's Bookshelf
Debbie at Wrighty Reads.

Here are the rules for those of you that were tagged:

1. Tag 3-5 people, so the fun keeps going!
2. Leave a comment at the original post at A Striped Armchair, so that Eva can collect everyone’s answers.
3. If you leave a comment and link back to Eva as the meme’s creator, she will enter you in a book giveaway contest! She has a whole shelf devoted to giveaway books that you’ll be able to choose from, or a bookmooch point if you prefer.
4. Remember that this is all about enjoying books as physical objects, so feel free to describe the exact book you’re talking about, down to that warping from being dropped in the bath water…
5. Make the meme more fun with visuals! Covers of the specific edition you’re talking about, photos of your bookshelves, etc.

Hachette Audio Book Give away - Sundays at Tiffany's

Sundays at Tiffany's, by James Patterson and Gabrielle Charbonnet
Audio Book Giveaway - Three copies!

First of all let's thank Anna from Hachette

The Giveaway is from 1/10/2009 - 1/25/2009. Drawing on 1/26/2009, posted here!

It is a simple Random.org selection process. Just leave a comment and enter to win. You must leave your email contact information for me to let you know if you are one of three lucky winners!

Rules:
Over 18 only
Open to Canada and US only (books are shipped from Hachette)
No P.O. Boxes allowed.

Listen to a sample here.

Summary:
As a little girl, Jane has no one. Her mother, the powerful head of a Broadway theater company, has no time for her. She does have one friend-a handsome, comforting, funny man named Michael-but only she can see him.

Years later, Jane is in her thirties and just as alone as ever. Then she meets Michael again-as handsome, smart and perfect as she remembers him to be. But not even Michael knows the reason they've really been reunited.

SUNDAYS AT TIFFANY'S is a love story with an irresistible twist, a novel about the child inside all of us-and the boundary-crossing power of love.

Good Luck Everyone.

Thank you Hachette!

Hachette Audio Book Giveaway - Beat the Reaper

Beat the Reaper, by Josh Bazell - Audio Book Giveaway - Three copies!

First of all lets thank Anna from Hachette

The Giveaway is from 1/10/2009 - 1/25/2009. Drawing on 1/26/2009, posted here!

It is a simple Random.org selection process. Just leave a comment and enter to win. You must leave your email contact information for me to let you know if you are one of three lucky winners!

Rules:
Over 18 only
Open to Canada and US only (books are shipped from Hachette)
No P.O. Boxes allowed.

Listen to a sample here.

Full Description:
Meet Peter Brown, a young Manhattan emergency room doctor with an unusual past that is just about to catch up with him. His morning begins with the quick disarming of a would-be mugger, followed by a steamy elevator encounter with a sexy young pharmaceutical rep, topped off by a visit with a new patient - and from there Peter's day is going to get a whole lot worse and a whole lot weirder. Because that patient knows Peter from his other life, when he had a different name and a very different job. The only reason he's a doctor now is thanks to the Witness Protection Program-and even they can't protect him from the long reach of the New Jersey mob. Now he's got to do whatever it takes to keep his patient alive so he can buy some time...and beat the reaper.

BEAT THE REAPER is not just the only novel that will be compared to Quentin Tarantino's films, Grey's Anatomy, and Chuck Palahniuk-it's also the most original and entertaining debut thriller you'll read this year.


Good Luck Everyone!

Chunkster Challenge - I am doing it!

Yep.. I am in! Here are the rules: (See full Details here)

*A chunkster is 450 pages or more of ADULT literature (fiction or nonfiction) Don't complain folks, I read all thousands of pages of the Twilight series and they were good, but not a challenge. A chunkster should be a challenge.

*If you read large type books your book will need to be 525 pages or more I asked around and the average LT book is 10-15% longer or more so I think that was a fair estimate.

*No Audio books in the chunkster. It just doesn't seem right. Words on paper for this one folks.

* You may start any time after signing up. You must complete your reads before or on Nov 15th.

*Short Stories and Essay collections will not be counted.

*Books may crossover with other challenges (see option 4 for a collaborative effort with TBR challenge)

*Only option 4 requires that you make a set list of books to complete the challenge

For My Challenge I am going to be:

*Do These Books Make my Butt Look Big? - this option is for the slightly heavier reader who wants to commit to 3-5 Chunksters over the next ten months.

My Selections:

Drood, by Dan Simmons
Annette Vallon, by James Tipton
Helen of Troy, Margaret George

Lemonade Award

Dar at Peeking Between the Pages gave me this award.
This one is the Lemonade award for blogs with great attitude and/or gratitude. Thank you Dar.

I am supposed to pass it along, but I am going to go off the cuff and just invite anyone who visits my blog to snatch it up and please pass it along to another blogger.

Happy Day to you all.... and show the love pass along the ice cold Lemonade and have thoughts of the Good Ole Summer Time....

On the book front, I am in the middle of Eclipse and I am really enjoying it and anyone who wants to see some of the mittens that have been knitted modeling Bella's mittens from the movie I have a knitting blog and you can see them there!!! I haven't made mine yet, but I am working on them. I love them because it is a secret way to be a Twilight Nerd and only other Twilight Movie Fans would know.... Gotta love it!!!

I got a Butterfly Award - Thank you

Thank you ladies.

I got this award from Kaye at Pugdy Penquin Perusals and Jenn from Jenn's Bookshelf.


This is a “meme” award, so it gets passed on. The rules for passing it on are:

1. Put the logo on your blog.
2. Add a link to the person who awarded the blog to you.
3. Award up to ten other blogs.
4. Add links to the blogs you award onto your blog.
5. Leave a message for your awardees on their blogs.

I am passing this award on to:
Alyce at At Home With Books
Sharon at Sharon Loves Books and Cats
J. Kaye at J.Kaye's Book Blog
Jo Jo at Jo-Jo loves to read
Serena at Savy Verse and Wit
Dar at Peeking Between the Pages

There are so many more including those who sent it to me!! (Kaye and Jenn) ( I read, love and comment on almost any blog I go to... I am not so good a the MeMe thing).

Sundays at Tiffanys -Book Giveaway

Summary:
As a little girl, Jane has no one. Her mother, the powerful head of a Broadway theater company, has no time for her. She does have one friend-a handsome, comforting, funny man named Michael-but only she can see him.

Years later, Jane is in her thirties and just as alone as ever. Then she meets Michael again-as handsome, smart and perfect as she remembers him to be. But not even Michael knows the reason they've really been reunited.

SUNDAYS AT TIFFANY'S is a love story with an irresistible twist, a novel about the child inside all of us-and the boundary-crossing power of love.

About James Patterson click here.

Sponsored by Hachette. (Thank you Valerie!!)

A Circle of Books is giving away Five Copies of this book.

Details: (pretty easy)

US and Canada Only
No P.O. Boxes Please.
Drawing from Random.org on January 14th, 2009
(I will announce the winners on January 15th HERE)

Simply leave a comment with your email address and you will be entered. If you blog about this contest you will get 3 entries. ( please let me know if you blog about it on your comment or email me).

Good Luck Everyone!!!

My Girl

Just a happy photo to share with everyone....with a silly story.

My daughter came home for Christmas! What a good time I had with her. Jessica is just the Best!

Funny little story. I booked the travel a few months in advance. And I did double checked her flight time the night before. (so I thought) I thought I had plenty of time to tidy up and get ready for her visit as her flight didn't arrive until 10 pm Monday evening. Even though I thought to myself "why did I book a flight that late, it really cuts the visit short." Oh well....

So on Monday morning I get a call at 6 AM or so in the morning and it was an exuberant Jessi talking away. I was groggy and didn't really panic when she said she was in Denver.." yeah yeah honey, hugs and kisses....can't wait to see you too..mmm" I layed my head on the pillow and "what??" Uh.. yeah.. if she was in Denver then she would be home in a three hours!!!!... Aye Aye Aye!!! a quick rush to the computer to verify the time. Oh my gosh! Hubby and I got up and finished the housework and showered and picked her up.... about five minutes late.... she was still waiting for luggage... Anyway.. as you can tell by now her plane was to arrive at 10 AM not PM.

I am so glad she called or I would have been in sweats at Walmart or something and I would have had one ticked off daughter thinking that I forgot about her. Ha ha.... not really funny if you know my Jess. Uh.. don't be late or forget about Jess... or..... Well.... It is funny NOW... that everything turned out.

It was wonderful to have her home for the holidays.

PS. Dexter loves her too!