Ever get stuck in a rut while reading, like nothing grabs you or the story sounds played out?!!? That's how I've felt about the last 5-6 books I've picked up. Not bad but just not for me!
(sidenote - Reading The Black Count by Tom Reiss for my bookclub and I am enjoying but it's a thinker!)
So, I'm turning to the dusty bottoms of my bookshelf and reaching out for old friends. The ones that get me, that know exactly how to get me off the couch and into the book and beyond - Sidney Sheldon, John Dunning, Nevil Shute, Kate Morton, Joshilyn Jackson, George R.R. Martin (gotta re-read the whole series before catching up on the DVD of Season 1), and gosh I wish I had some Nancy Drew, Bunnicula, V.C. Andrews and Sweet Valley!!!
Just like the movies that will never get old (Spaceballs, Princess Bride, Goonies, Blues Brothers, French Kiss, Christmas Vacation, O'Brother) you know when the words are spoken or read they'll make you laugh, cry, snort, gasp, ignore all other forms of life and just plain make you mad. But oh does it feel right!
So this Memorial Day weekend, reach for the OL' RELIABLES, the dusty books/movies/board games (Candyland/Yahtzee anyone?) and play and laugh and explore and share!
Thursday, May 23, 2013
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
For your reading pleasure:
Books that should be in your beach bag or on the nightstand or by the couch or by the wine or even in the bathroom - in otherwords - books that should be kept close at hand:
The Book of Summers by Emylia Hall (Hungarian wine as a side; available at Total Wine & More but you'll have to ask where it is. Chocolate, cheese and goulash!)
Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman
Faithful Place by Tana French (Guiness pairs well with this one; fish and chips)
The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh (white wine definitely)
The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton (red wine or port - definitely chocolate)
Me Before You by JoJo Moyes (beer and/or wine)
A Grown Up Kind of Pretty by Joshilyn Jackson
The Blackwater Lightship by Colm Toibin (Guiness again)
Withering Tights by Louise Rennison (young adult or young at heart)
Sweet Revenge of Celia Door by Karen Finneyfrock (young adult or young at heart)
Anything by Chevy Stevens (under the covers/beach towel reading)
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
World Book Night 2013!!!!
I know, I know!! It's been awhile since I've shared my thoughts on books, life and such.
But! I return with an exciting evening of giving away FREE books in my community for World Book Night 2013! Tonight - April 23 - My family and friends are heading to a local food truck event - Tasty Tuesdays in the Milk District to give away 20 copies each of 2 beautifully and profound novels (but thankfully not give you a headache profound):
The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh
The Tender Bar by J.R. Moehringer!
The goal is to not only support and enjoy delicious local food and brews but also meet people we can share a good story with and encourage reading amongst the adult population of this wonderful country!
(Check out the website for details about the WBN organization and sign-up to give in your community next year! www.us.worldbooknight.org)
I promise to return with a post about tonight's experience and more book reviews.
Keep reading and definitely check out the two books mentioned above - they will not disappoint, I guarantee it!
P.S. I also will bring some beer/wine reviews. But most of the IPA/Sour beers will be reviewed by my hubby and friends. IPA makes my face do something weird.
But! I return with an exciting evening of giving away FREE books in my community for World Book Night 2013! Tonight - April 23 - My family and friends are heading to a local food truck event - Tasty Tuesdays in the Milk District to give away 20 copies each of 2 beautifully and profound novels (but thankfully not give you a headache profound):
The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh
The Tender Bar by J.R. Moehringer!
The goal is to not only support and enjoy delicious local food and brews but also meet people we can share a good story with and encourage reading amongst the adult population of this wonderful country!
(Check out the website for details about the WBN organization and sign-up to give in your community next year! www.us.worldbooknight.org)
I promise to return with a post about tonight's experience and more book reviews.
Keep reading and definitely check out the two books mentioned above - they will not disappoint, I guarantee it!
P.S. I also will bring some beer/wine reviews. But most of the IPA/Sour beers will be reviewed by my hubby and friends. IPA makes my face do something weird.
Monday, September 10, 2012
Frustration
Yes, I'm frustrated! Frustrated that I am not running a bookstore right now, frustrated at my current position (which I'm thankful for but feel stuck at), frustrated with all the politics swarming out there and frustrated over lack of acceptance for other people's opinions.
What does this have to do with books? Well, guess I'm frustrated that for all of those that keep asking about the bookstore are also those that can't wait to let me know what books they've downloaded on their iphones, kindles, nooks, etc. There's your answer. Yes, I'm being Frustrated Franny but it seems therapeutic to share:) And a resounding YES, that I have many friends and family who have always supported me and still support me in my efforts and I am thankful for them:)
But I also asked God for a clear answer on opening a bookstore and I feel he has given me an answer or at least a partial answer and although there is no answer yet to what to do now??, I'm learning to accept not owning a bookstore (at this exact moment) and looking to the future!
On a non-frustrated note, I've read some great books lately and will share those reviews soon (as well as some yummy beer and wine selections)! And I do have hope and believe the bookstore is still very much alive, but maybe just not for me, myself and I!
What does this have to do with books? Well, guess I'm frustrated that for all of those that keep asking about the bookstore are also those that can't wait to let me know what books they've downloaded on their iphones, kindles, nooks, etc. There's your answer. Yes, I'm being Frustrated Franny but it seems therapeutic to share:) And a resounding YES, that I have many friends and family who have always supported me and still support me in my efforts and I am thankful for them:)
But I also asked God for a clear answer on opening a bookstore and I feel he has given me an answer or at least a partial answer and although there is no answer yet to what to do now??, I'm learning to accept not owning a bookstore (at this exact moment) and looking to the future!
On a non-frustrated note, I've read some great books lately and will share those reviews soon (as well as some yummy beer and wine selections)! And I do have hope and believe the bookstore is still very much alive, but maybe just not for me, myself and I!
Thursday, August 16, 2012
Summer Reading - Psychotic to Sweet and back again
Sorry for the delay in posting. I've been in a non-writing mood:( But definitely been reading and have a few books I'd like to share! As the title of this post might suggest, the books I've read have taken me further into my mind than I'd like but have also lightened my heart.
My first-time with these authors:
You Don't Want to Know by Lisa Jackson - Lots of pages with intricately woven characters and storylines (past and present) but that's not the crazy part. The crazy comes in Jackson's talent for creating such vivid characters that the pages fly by and you realize that your rear is asleep and you should feed your family. Ava hasn't been the same since her son Noah was last seen - missing, kidnapped, dead?? Ava has to make her mind her own again or she'll never find out what really happened to Noah and want evil is lurking in, around and across the waters at Neptune's Gate.
Adam by Ted Dekker - I seeeeeee you. John 10:10 Believe!
(really looking forward to reading Forbidden by him and Tosca Lee for book club.)
Authors that fit like a cozy robe:
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn - Nick meet Amy. Amy meet Nick. Get ready to be sucked into their world. A place of romance and youth; of failures and deceit. Each chapter brings you closer and further from the truth of love. (Sharp Objects and Dark Places are Flynn's other novels. I recommend all 3, but Sharp Objects is my favorite.)
Spring Fever by Mary Kay Andrews - Ah, Andrews is back with more sass and kick-ass! Annajane will make you laugh and gasp and Mason will make you feel sexy. Enjoy!
Currently reading:
The Fine Color of Rust by P.A. O'Reilly - I'm currently calling her the Joshilyn Jackson of Australia - spunk, laughter and the God's truth! (Thanks Atria books for the Galley Alley copy!!)
Synopsis from goodreads.com:
Set in the Australian bush, a wryly funny, beautifully observed novel about friendship, motherhood, love, and the importance of fighting for things that matter. Loretta Boskovic never dreamed she would end up a single mother with two kids in a dusty Australian country town. She never imagined she’d have to campaign to save the local primary school. She certainly had no idea her best friend would turn out to be the crusty old junk man. All in all, she’s starting to wonder if she took a wrong turn somewhere. If only she could drop the kids at the orphanage and start over . .
And thanks to RareBird Lit I'm reading a nonfiction book that I never thought I would and I am enthralled.
The Ascension of Jerry by Chip Jacobs
from the dust jacket:
Bumbling hitmen. Burning corpses. A threatened son. Life in hiding. Jerry Schneiderman’s orderly world evaporated when his business partner was executed by an assassin in 1979 Los Angeles, and the buzzard-eyed ringleader came for him. Though the killers behind the murder-for-hire corporation were nabbed, the trauma annihilated Jerry’s family and strip-mined his trust. Recovery only came years later with Jerry’s improbable rebirth as a prank-loving activist who defended the weak by milking his scars.
Up next!
Broken Harbor by Tana French - While she usually leaves me with unsatisfying endings, I keep coming back. As soon as I'm done with my current reads, I'll be heading back to Ireland to see what trouble "Scorcher" has gotten into this time. (French's other books (read in this order): In the Woods, The Likeness, and Faithful Place (my fave so far).)
Synopsis (from goodreads.com):
Mick "Scorcher" Kennedy, the brash cop from Tana French’s bestselling Faithful Place, plays by the book and plays hard. That’s what’s made him the Murder squad’s top detective—and that’s what puts the biggest case of the year into his hands.
On one of the half-built, half-abandoned "luxury" developments that litter Ireland, Patrick Spain and his two young children are dead. His wife, Jenny, is in intensive care.
Shine, Shine, Shine by Lydia Netzer - Our September book club read and I'm trying to hold off till then so I remember every detail. Friends and family have read and loved it. Looking forward to giggles and tears:)
Synopsis (from goodreads.com):
Sunny Mann has masterminded a life for herself and her family in a quiet Virginia town. Her house and her friends are picture-perfect. Even her genius husband, Maxon, has been trained to pass for normal. But when a fender bender on an average day sends her coiffed blonde wig sailing out the window, her secret is exposed. Not only is she bald, Sunny is nothing like the Stepford wife she’s trying to be. As her facade begins to unravel, we discover the singular world of Sunny, an everywoman searching for the perfect life, and Maxon, an astronaut on his way to colonize the moon.
My first-time with these authors:
You Don't Want to Know by Lisa Jackson - Lots of pages with intricately woven characters and storylines (past and present) but that's not the crazy part. The crazy comes in Jackson's talent for creating such vivid characters that the pages fly by and you realize that your rear is asleep and you should feed your family. Ava hasn't been the same since her son Noah was last seen - missing, kidnapped, dead?? Ava has to make her mind her own again or she'll never find out what really happened to Noah and want evil is lurking in, around and across the waters at Neptune's Gate.
Adam by Ted Dekker - I seeeeeee you. John 10:10 Believe!
(really looking forward to reading Forbidden by him and Tosca Lee for book club.)
Authors that fit like a cozy robe:
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn - Nick meet Amy. Amy meet Nick. Get ready to be sucked into their world. A place of romance and youth; of failures and deceit. Each chapter brings you closer and further from the truth of love. (Sharp Objects and Dark Places are Flynn's other novels. I recommend all 3, but Sharp Objects is my favorite.)
Spring Fever by Mary Kay Andrews - Ah, Andrews is back with more sass and kick-ass! Annajane will make you laugh and gasp and Mason will make you feel sexy. Enjoy!
Currently reading:
The Fine Color of Rust by P.A. O'Reilly - I'm currently calling her the Joshilyn Jackson of Australia - spunk, laughter and the God's truth! (Thanks Atria books for the Galley Alley copy!!)
Synopsis from goodreads.com:
Set in the Australian bush, a wryly funny, beautifully observed novel about friendship, motherhood, love, and the importance of fighting for things that matter. Loretta Boskovic never dreamed she would end up a single mother with two kids in a dusty Australian country town. She never imagined she’d have to campaign to save the local primary school. She certainly had no idea her best friend would turn out to be the crusty old junk man. All in all, she’s starting to wonder if she took a wrong turn somewhere. If only she could drop the kids at the orphanage and start over . .
And thanks to RareBird Lit I'm reading a nonfiction book that I never thought I would and I am enthralled.
The Ascension of Jerry by Chip Jacobs
from the dust jacket:
Bumbling hitmen. Burning corpses. A threatened son. Life in hiding. Jerry Schneiderman’s orderly world evaporated when his business partner was executed by an assassin in 1979 Los Angeles, and the buzzard-eyed ringleader came for him. Though the killers behind the murder-for-hire corporation were nabbed, the trauma annihilated Jerry’s family and strip-mined his trust. Recovery only came years later with Jerry’s improbable rebirth as a prank-loving activist who defended the weak by milking his scars.
Up next!
Broken Harbor by Tana French - While she usually leaves me with unsatisfying endings, I keep coming back. As soon as I'm done with my current reads, I'll be heading back to Ireland to see what trouble "Scorcher" has gotten into this time. (French's other books (read in this order): In the Woods, The Likeness, and Faithful Place (my fave so far).)
Synopsis (from goodreads.com):
Mick "Scorcher" Kennedy, the brash cop from Tana French’s bestselling Faithful Place, plays by the book and plays hard. That’s what’s made him the Murder squad’s top detective—and that’s what puts the biggest case of the year into his hands.
On one of the half-built, half-abandoned "luxury" developments that litter Ireland, Patrick Spain and his two young children are dead. His wife, Jenny, is in intensive care.
Shine, Shine, Shine by Lydia Netzer - Our September book club read and I'm trying to hold off till then so I remember every detail. Friends and family have read and loved it. Looking forward to giggles and tears:)
Synopsis (from goodreads.com):
Sunny Mann has masterminded a life for herself and her family in a quiet Virginia town. Her house and her friends are picture-perfect. Even her genius husband, Maxon, has been trained to pass for normal. But when a fender bender on an average day sends her coiffed blonde wig sailing out the window, her secret is exposed. Not only is she bald, Sunny is nothing like the Stepford wife she’s trying to be. As her facade begins to unravel, we discover the singular world of Sunny, an everywoman searching for the perfect life, and Maxon, an astronaut on his way to colonize the moon.
Saturday, June 2, 2012
Fun Younger Kids Titles for the Summer!
Thanks to Amulet Books for these advanced readers for kids:
Jinxed by Kurtis Scaletta
For young baseball fans! The adventures of the Pine City Porcupines! Fun chapter books to enjoy over the summer.
Fake Mustache by Tom Angleberger
Disguises and very short robbers, hmmmmm!!! Can Lenny stop Casper before it's too late? Get your laughter on for the summer!
These were read, recommended and enjoyed by some enthusiastic young book fans!!
From Scholastic Press (thanks!):
Capture the Flag by Kate Messner
On bookshelves beginning July 1! Just in time for Independence Day!
I read this one and loved it!! High adventure at the airport with plenty of hijinks! A piece of history could be destroyed, so Anna, Henry and Jose are on a mission to make sure that doesn't happen:) Will they figure out the mystery in time?
172 HOURS ON THE MOON by Johan Harstad
Read this book!
Interestingly informative, dark and addictive! Three lucky teenagers picked by a lottery to go on a mission back to the moon for a 172 hour stay in the name of research and publicity of course. Signs, warnings and an old-man's memory aren't heeded. What is this mission really about and can it be stopped before it's too late?
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