A Patchwork of Books

The Kitchen Counter Cooking School review

2012-01-31T08:54:00.000-05:00

I love a good memoir, especially when it teaches me something, and I definitely loved this one. I learned more about simple recipes, cooking techniques, and kitchen etiquette in this book, than I ever would have expected and the only thing that could have made it better was videos illustrating some processes.

Author Flinn takes nine at-home cooks (or non-cooks as often is the case) and just teaches them the basics of food and cooking. No more processed junk, we can make those same dishes ourselves. No more poor knife skills, we can do it properly, FASTER. Everyone learns a few basic recipes and how to spin off of those into a more complex dish or meal. Everything from salad dressing to bread baking is covered, including making the perfect scrambled eggs, something I definitely needed help with.

My husband and I have been into eating "healthier" for the past few years and I've tried to eliminate a lot of the processed foods from our house. We haven't bought salad dressing in probably a year and have completely done away with "boxed" dinners that ruled our house in the early years of our relationship. We definitely have a few processed staples hanging around, like bread, parmesan cheese, and bbq sauce, but Flinn has definitely inspired me to learn to make my own. Or at least buy fresh parm instead of the shelf stable grated stuff.

Another huge push I've been giving after reading about these women and their lives is to buy quality knives. We have a moderately priced knife set in a block that sits on the counter. 5 dinner knives and 6 assorted others. Flinn really impresses upon her students and the reader that a cook really only needs 2 or 3 good knives, but they need to be a nice quality. Ours are most definitely not. We won't even talk about the fact that the biggest knife in the set can't easily slice through a tomato. Sigh.

Finally, the most important point I think Flinn makes, is the idea of less waste. We all waste SO MUCH FOOD, whether it be forgetting about the lettuce in the crisper drawer and having to throw that away, or buying too much at the grocery store and not being able to eat it in time. I've been incredibly conscious about using all of our produce before it goes bad, after reading this. That alone is saving us money and reducing the perfectly good food that gets thrown in the garbage.

If you're a reader of fun memoirs or at all a foodie, I would highly recommend checking this one out. It was inspiring, enjoyable to read, and completely easy to relate to. Loved it! I'm going to be purchasing my own copy just to reference from time to time!

The Kitchen Counter Cooking School
Kathleen Flinn
304 pages
Adult Non-Fiction
Penguin
9780670023004
September 2011

Picture Book Saturday

2012-01-28T20:49:00.000-05:00

We've started trying to establish a bedtime routine with Elliott, though since he's only a few weeks "adjusted" age, it may be pointless. Either way, we've been making sure to have family storytime each night and this one made an appearance in our reading stack tonight!

Bunny tells the reader all of the things he loves about bedtime, including taking a bath, reading a story with Dad, and talking about his best moments of the day. Dad has a special saying for Bunny that he says every single night, making him feel very special and then Bunny gets to dream, all night long.

It's a short story with soft illustrations, great for encouraging toddlers into their own routine. Taking a bath, putting on pajamas, reading a story, etc. Elliott is obviously a bit young, but it certainly can't hurt to start, right?

A nice bedtime read.

The Things I Love About Bedtime
Trace Moroney
Board Book
Scholastic
9780545290166
January 2012
Review copy provided by publisher

Don't Breathe a Word review

2012-01-26T09:49:00.000-05:00

Joy is fleeing her life. Leaving behind her parents, always hovering because of her asthma, and her abusive boyfriend, Asher. She flees the comfort of her suburban home, her friends, and virtually her entire being, headed for the streets of Seattle, hoping she can find the boy who once offered to help her.

On the streets, Joy finds a new family, but with that sole comfort comes a price. She's dirty, has no money, winter is coming, and the fear of being beaten up, robbed, or raped is an every day reality. A harsh reality that so many teens in Seattle and all over this country, face every single day.

Joy's story is fictional, but it gives a voice to the thousands of teens on the streets that no one speaks for. So many of us would think that Joy's comfortable, middle/upper class home, caring parents, and kind friends would be enough to keep her happy. No one sees what's underneath...what causes pain for so many and forces them to run away. I loved the honesty in the story and in Joy's emotional state and how her feelings are still that of a teen girl's, even after being forced into adulthood so quickly.

Written on a tough subject, this one won't be for everyone. Rape, abusive relationships, drug use, prostitution...they all make appearances. The amount of cursing is definitely up there, though realistic in its use. I'm typically not a fan of lots of f-bombs being dropped unless that type of speech is actually a true part of the story and I really felt it fit here. That being said, I would still advise parents to possibly screen this book to see how comfortable you are with your teen reading it. Mature subject matter, but IMPORTANT subject matter.

I've never read a book by Cupala before, but I'm thoroughly impressed. Can't get Joy and her story out of my head.

Don't Breathe a Word
Holly Cupala
299 pages
Young Adult
HarperCollins
9780061766695
January 2012
Review copy provided by publisher

The Flight of Gemma Hardy review

2012-01-24T08:11:00.001-05:00

10-year-old Gemma Hardy has not had a great start in life. Both of her parents are dead and her Uncle, the only one left that shows her any kindness at all, is also now dead. Stuck with an Aunt that hates her and cousins who could care less about her, Gemma is pretty much alone in the world. Strong and determined though, Gemma is not one to be easily pushed around and is often in trouble for defending herself against her Aunt's verbal tirades.

Thinking she's escaping her cruel family, Gemma ends up at a boarding school with teachers that are just as cruel. As a scholarship student, she's not much more than a servant, with the occasional study session on the side. Still, Gemma's determination doesn't falter.

The book continues to follow Gemma as she grows into an intelligent young woman, fiercely set on becoming something in her life. She takes jobs, forms relationships with a variety of different people, some kind, some not-so-kind, finds love and continues to search for her rightful place in the world.

The beautiful writing is so nice to read and something I wanted to make sure to read slowly, taking in all the words. Though often filled with sadness, Gemma's story also has a lot of underlying humor, as no matter what horrible thing is brought her way, she manages to keep a fairly positive, upbeat attitude.

I loved the Scottish setting and the descriptions of the Orkney Islands...a place I don't think I've previously read about. I loved Gemma from page one and between the writing, the setting, and the great characterization, this is definitely a book I will be recommending to a lot of readers. I'll also be looking into more of Livesey's books.

The Flight of Gemma Hardy
Margot Livesey
464 pages
Adult Fiction
Harper
97800620646
January 2012
Review copy provided by publisher

Week in Review

2012-01-22T20:39:00.000-05:00

This week flew by! Between appointments and hanging out with friends, I feel like the husband, the boy, and I haven't been home at all. We're finally home and relaxing with football on the tv. Not sure if that's a good thing, or not.

I had my 6 week postpartum appointment and have been cleared for exercise...good news, since I started going to the gym again like 2 weeks ago. Oops. Couch to 5K is going well so far, though I desperately need a recommendation for some new running shoes. I don't run outside (walk a lot), so it's really only treadmill running, but MAN do my knees hurt right now. Running with old shoes is a bad idea.

Elliott is doing great...gaining weight like crazy and acting like a real newborn. Screamed his head off after he scratched his precious little face the other night and nearly broke my heart. Does that ever go away? Hearing this boy cry just makes me so sad! Ooh and I think I forgot to mention last week that 1/15 was his due date, so he's officially born now! hehe Developmentally, he's not really considered "on the charts" until his due date, so when he's 4 months old, he'll really be only 2 months old in terms of what milestones he's hitting. I'm SO anxious to get my first real smile!

Considering all the time I spent away from the house, it's no wonder I didn't get a whole lot of reading completed. I did finish Don't Breathe a Word by Holly Cupala, which was fantastic. Review of that to come this week. I had to, sadly, give up on the audio I was listening to, Once Upon a River. The writing was beautiful and the story totally intriguing, but I had only listened to not even four discs and there had already been four descriptive sexual encounters. I'm no prude, but these just made me uncomfortable, being that the main character is only 15. After #4, I decided I was done. Bummer.

I started Survive by Alex Morel, which totally sucked me in after the first couple of pages and my small group started a new study, using The Hole in Our Gospel as a guide. I think it's going to be fairly eye-opening.

I reviewed Far From Here by Nicole Baart and am giving a copy away. Be sure to enter before 1/31!

I also featured Kelly from Stacked, with a guest post about books she's excited for in 2012, via their covers.

And that's it for me! Anything exciting happen to you this week?

Guest Post: Kelly from Stacked and 12 Titles by Their Covers

2012-01-20T09:25:00.000-05:00

12 x 12: Twelve Titles by Their Covers (Then 12 More)

When Amanda asked if I'd write a guest post, my first thought was to showcase 12 books I'm eager to read in 2012 based on their cover alone. But as I started going through my personal list, I realized some of the books I'm really looking forward to either already have covers or, you know, I wanted to read for less vapid reasons. So instead, I offer 6 in 2012 I'm looking forward to reading based on their covers, then 6 more I'm eager to read just because.

Drowning Instinct by Ilsa Bick (January 28, 2012)

I haven't read either of Bick's other titles yet, but it's this cover that compels me to start. I'm not a fan of the girl drowning cover nor the girl with the messy hair cover, but there's something about the composition here that draws me in. Maybe because it's unexpected. The black profile against the bright blue background totally captures my attention, and the book doesn't at all look juvenile (not that that usually stops me, but it's a huge plus here). Bonus: it sounds like an intense and dark contemporary title, my cup of tea.

Cinder by Marissa Marr (January 3, 2012)

This cover gives off EXACTLY the vibe I want it to – science fiction, slightly creepy take on a well-known fairy tale. It stands out to me because it is eery. I'm not a big fantasy reader, but give me a fairy tale that's being spun into something science fiction, and I'm sold.

Tokyo Heist by Diana Renn (June 12, 2012)

This is a busy cover and it excites and exhausts me when I look at it, and I mean that in the best possible way. This mystery/adventure story takes place in Tokyo, and I kind of feel that vibe is completely appropriate in the cover. And the police tape? Checkmate. This sounds like the fast-paced sort of criminal-filled read I really dig.

Catch & Release by Blythe Woolston (January 28, 2012)

I think this might be one of my all time favorite covers. It's deliciously simple: a few fish hooks and a font that mirrors the idea of moving water. Intentional understatement in a cover works for me, and if there aren't people on the cover, even better. This is a story about a MRSA outbreak – a topic I have not read – and knowing how much I dug Woolston's first title, I have a feeling her sophomore effort will be as satisfying, if not even more.

This is Not a Test by Courtney Summers (June 19, 2012)

I think the color du jour this year is this blue green color, meant to represent water without necessarily being water. Alas. This cover has everything I hate on it: the broken girl! The jagged collar bone! The wind-swept hair! But you know what it has that makes me happier than it should? Blood. Not only are there blood splatters at the top, but if you look at the girl's face, it has blood on it, too. The font is splattered, as well. I dig it a LOT. And surprise: this is a zombie book. But really, this one's about the blood splatters.

Wanderlove by Kirsten Hubbard (March 13, 2012)

Talk about a contrast, right? What I love about Kirsten's sophomore cover is how simple and clean it is. Yes, there's a girl on the cover, but she doesn't look sullen or sad or broken. She looks like a teen girl who is – wait for it – happy. But more than that, what I love is that this cover features Kirsten's art (right there in the “o” of love). The book has her original art within the story, a concept I don't think has been utilized a lot in ya novels marketed to girls. Plus, this novel takes place outside the US and is a travel story and romance. Bonuses all around.

Now that you've seen six I want to read by their covers alone, here are six more I'm eager for (some have covers and some don't):

Survive by Alex Morel (August 2, 2012)

When Jane decides she needs to end her life, she's got a plan. But it doesn't go off quite as she planned and now her desire to end it all might just become a struggle to live.

Through to You by Emily Hainsworth (November 20, 2012)

Camden's girlfriend's died, and he's grieving deeply. But then he discovers she's alive – it's just in a parallel universe. But disturbing the universe might be dangerous. The novel sounds romantic with the right elements that work for me in a fantasy novel.

The List by Siobhan Vivian (April 1, 2012)

Confession: I've read this book already. I'm excited for other people to read it, as it is by far Vivian's strongest work to date. It's a story of 8 girls who find themselves on their school's infamous prettiest/ugliest list, and through each of their voices (all written so, so well), we learn what the repercussions of those labels are. Any girl will relate to these girls – each of them.

Level Two by Lenore Appelhans (Fall 2012)

Felicia occupies Level Two, a space between earth and heaven, and she's happy in it. That is, until she's broken out by Julian, who she'd met on earth. This science fiction title has dystopian elements to it, though it certainly sounds different than a lot of what's out there already.

Live Through This by Mindi Scott (Fall 2012)

There's not too much about this one yet, but, it follows the story of a girl who is finally learning how to fall in love while dealing with the repercussions of being a victim of sexual abuse. Scott's first book impressed me with its strong voice, and I suspect this one will do the same, while taking on another dark topic.

Something Like Normal by Trish Doller (June 19, 2012)

I'm a sucker – total sucker – for homecoming stories. That is, the ones about soldiers returning, not the high school dances. Trish's debut follows Travis as he returns home from Afghanistan to a family in pieces and to a girl whose reputation he hurt in middle school. While she carries that grudge, the two of them find out that maybe, just maybe, there's something deeper between them.

Far From Here review and giveaway

2012-01-17T12:45:00.000-05:00

I've been a fan of Nicole Baart's for years and was really excited to get my hands on her latest. I really love her trilogy (beginning with After the Leaves Fall) and The Moment Between was quite the quiet thriller. Now, with Far From Here, we just have pure emotion and resiliency on the pages. I wish my she could write quicker...

In Far From Here, we meet Danica, a young wife to Etsell, a pilot. Quite ironic, as Danica is scared to death of flying. On a remote flying job in Alaska, one Danica begged him to not take, Etsell's plane disappears without a trace and the aftermath that follows for Danica is filled with confusion, grief, and so many questions. Did Etsell's plane crash and he's dead? Did he just leave her? And most of all: is it better to know or not to know?

Danica's character is written in a heartfelt way and leaves a lasting impression. I've thought of her story often in the weeks since I've finished the book and in the beautiful way that Baart manages to portray a potentially tragic situation. She wrestles with trying to understand exactly what has happened to her life in a completely believable manner and I definitely connected with her.

The ending...oh the ending. I won't go into it, obviously -- no spoilers here -- but I immediately wanted to call up the author and beg her to fill me in on some things. Please?! Nicole...if you're out there...I want to know!

If you're looking for a good, deep read where you'll end up immersed in the characters' lives, I would highly recommend a Nicole Baart book. Thought provoking, with lovely prose, I've never been disappointed.

Lucky for you, I have a copy of Far From Here to give away! To enter, just leave a comment on this post by 11:59pm on 1/31 and I'll use the random number generator to choose a winner. Lots of time to enter! U.S. only.

Week in Review

2012-01-16T12:08:00.000-05:00

What is it about having a baby that makes reading so hard? Oh...the diapers, feedings, changing clothes, spit-up, no sleep you say? Well, yes, I'm smack dab in the middle of all that and getting a chance to read is pretty difficult. And even when I do have a minute, lately I've been at the gym or organizing closets. Life has become incredibly domestic in the past couple of months, but we're definitely trying to get into a semi-routine.

Despite the craziness, I AM reading, just slowly. I finished a couple of books: The Kitchen Counter Cooking School by Kathleen Klinn and Bitterblue by Kristen Cashore, both of which I thoroughly enjoyed and helped in my "quality over quantity" method of reading this year. I'm also in the middle of an audiobook, Once Upon a River by Bonnie Jo Campbell and though it's super heavy, it's written really well. It's definitely a way to keep myself awake at 3am when I'm feeding Elliott. Pop in the earbuds and I listen without stimulating him.

This week I also reviewed Finding Somewhere by Joseph Monniger and The World We Found by Thrity Umrigar and gushed over John Green's The Fault in Our Stars, as well as started up my Picture Book Saturday feature again with a review of Homer the Library Cat by Reeve Lindbergh.

As for Elliott, he hasn't done much this week, except eat, sleep, and be cute. He has finally progressed into most of his newborn clothes and has started to love looking at black and white books. He stares at the pages with huge eyes until I turn the page. I'll admit, made me a little teary the first time he focused on that black and white fish! I'll be purchasing some others here pretty soon.

Hope you all had a great week and are enjoying this holiday!

Picture Book Saturday

2012-01-14T16:11:00.000-05:00

It's been a long time since I've done a Picture Book Saturday post, but I'm hoping this means I'm back in the swing of things. Planning and scheduling posts with a newborn around has been a lot more difficult than I imagined, but we're all getting into somewhat of a routine, so with any luck, I'm back to regular Picture Book Saturday posting.

I'll probably stick with just one or two titles a week. The best of the best! Here's my favorite from this week:

Homer the Library Cat by Reeve Lindbergh and illustrator Anne Wilsdorf

Fun, cozy illustrations help to tell the story of Homer, a cat that simply wants a quiet place to take a nap. He's used to his quiet house and the quiet woman he lives with, but one day everything is just noisy! He not only can't find a quiet place anymore, but he can't find the quiet lady either. Homer ends up going on quite the adventure trying to find the perfect quiet place and the perfect quiet person.

The rhymes flow perfectly, making this a really nice choice for a read aloud and I think kids will get a kick out of all the different places Homer tries out before he finds the perfect one. I really liked it!

Homer the Library Cat
Reeve Lindbergh
32 pages
Picture Book
Candlewick Press
9780763634483
November 2011
Review copy provided by publisher

The World We Found review

2012-01-13T11:55:00.000-05:00

Armaiti, Laleh, Nishta, and Kavita were best friends while attending university during the 1970's in Bombay. They were incredibly progressive for their time and place in the world, attending rallies and political protests, determined to see change in their country.

Fast forward 30 years and each of their lives has taken a different path, leaving them virtual strangers, except for the memories of the past. When Armaiti, now living in the United States, receives a devastating diagnosis, she wishes for nothing more than to have all of her friends back together again, one last time. A wish much more difficult to accomplish than one would expect.

I loved that the very rights the four women fought for in their university days become the main focus of their thoughts again. The novel, filled with gorgeous writing and lovely descriptions, brought the reader full circle, from protests on equality to a woman living in a virtual jail in her own home.

Each woman has to face the truth of what her life has become and what that says about her future. Though not told in alternating chapters as some books are, we still are given an equal look at each woman's situation and her determination to have what she once had. The characters are deep and thoughtful and the settings, both in India and America, are perfect for the plot.

I've never read Umrigar's work before, but I was definitely impressed with what I read. I learned a lot about India and it's political turmoil, as well as different religions, all while being totally involved in the story. A great read!

The World We Found
Thrity Umrigar
320 pages
Harper
9780061938344
January 2012
Review copy provided by publisher

The Fault in Our Stars...my experience.

2012-01-11T10:41:00.008-05:00

You know how sometimes you pick up a book, not sure what to expect, and rather than simply reading it and getting a plot and characters and a setting, you realize that someone out there...the author presumably...has stolen your heart? It hasn't happened a whole lot for me, though there are plenty of fabulous books out there that I love and am passionate about, but it has most definitely happened with two books. The Book Thief and now, The Fault in Our Stars.

I read The Book Thief in 2006, before ever starting this blog, and after just having made a cross country move to New Mexico. I read it in two days, sitting on our old, hand-me-down couch. When I finished it and as I was sobbing for the three hours it took me to recover from the last few chapters, I realized I had an experience. An experience which my husband now refers to as "The Book Thief moment in time," meaning: he thought I had really lost my marbles for a while there. Markus Zusak, though writing about a different time period, country, subject matter than anything I had personally experienced in my life, had gotten into my soul and stolen my heart. He UNDERSTOOD things and was able to put them into a book, that happened to fall into my hands.

Well, I've had another "Book Thief moment in time." John Green, an author I already loved reading, has now done this with The Fault in Our Stars. This one I read on my screened-in porch, 5 years after The Book Thief, with rain pouring down outside, pregnant with our son (yes, I was one of the few that got to read it waaaay back in September). Totally different subject, at a different point in my life, and still, I had an experience.

With Hazel and Augustus, Green left me feeling as if I were reading parts of my life in book form. In fabulous, hilarious, heart-wrenching book form. I felt he had placed the love I have for my husband into these two teens and wrote our love story, as weird as that may sound. Neither of us has ever had a terminal illness or anything like that, but he got how everyone has this feeling of being robbed of time at some point in their lives, as well as how you can just know someone so intensely that you simply cannot picture your life without them. And, in fact, the thought of them being gone kinda wrecks you.

This quirky teenage romance, filled with books and nerdiness, and awesome amounts of wit and cleverness simply stole my heart. It is easily in my top 5 books read of ALL TIME. I want to write long ridiculous fan letters to John Green, thanking him for connecting me with Hazel and Augustus and their crazy worlds. Instead, I'm just going to go back and read it again.

You must get this one if you haven't already. Order one for yourself, your sister, your brother, your mom, your neighbor. Everyone. Do it!

And just as a quick sidenote, John Green rocks. His videos with brother Hank, are hilariously entertaining and his desire to "decrease world suck" is both impressive and inspiring. He's one every teen -- and adultfor that matter-- should know about.

(I was sad I didn't get a Hanklerfish when my finished copy arrived yesterday, but I'm happy with my red signature!)

Buy from Powells
Buy from IndieBound

The Fault in Our Stars
John Green
256 pages
Young Adult
Dutton
9780525478812
January 2012
Review copy provided by publisher

Finding Somewhere review

2012-01-09T08:09:00.002-05:00

Hattie loves horses. She's grown up around them and now works at a stable in her free time and feels completely alive while she's there, especially when spending time with her favorite horse, Speed. When the owners of the stable decide that the elderly horse needs to be put down, Hattie knows she can't allow that to happen.

Hattie and her best friend Delores, a girl with serious problems of her own, set off on one unique road trip. Mission? Set Speed free and allow him to be a real horse for whatever time he has left. They meet several different people along the way, horse lovers themselves, each taking a place in Speed's ultimate story and in the girl's lives.

I LOVED the writing. Not really a "horse book" person, I wasn't sure how into the story I would get, but the emotion just pours off the page. It's one of those books that just oozes heart and I'm a sucker for those. You know instantly that Hattie isn't simply some crazy kid determined to have an adventure, but that she wants the best thing for a horse that has given her so much. She's also fairly realistic, a quality I appreciated, and realizes that Speed is elderly and knows she's taking a big risk for the possibility of a very small amount of time for him.

Not just a horse story, each of these girls are dealing with some serious personal demons, adding to the reasons that neither were sad to leave home. Those "issues" are blended seamlessly into the road trip/horse plot and left me loving both girls and wanting to see them both succeed in what they set out for.

I would hand this to those who love horse books, but are a bit more mature and ready to deal with the tough subjects discussed between Hattie and Delores. Obviously, non-horse lovers are also able to enjoy the story, myself being a prime example, especially if a great character-driven novel is what you're after.

Finding Somewhere

Joseph Monniger

240 pages

Young Adult

Random House

9780385739429

November 2011

Review copy provided by publisher

Pure...an adrenaline rush

2012-01-04T07:24:00.001-05:00

Pressia lives in a world filled with danger and the fear of not making it through the day. After the Detonations, most people are deformed, fighting for their lives, and wishing everything could go back to Before. She's about to turn 16, the age a person is required to turn themselves over to the militia to be trained as a soldier, but Pressia knows she can't possibly do that. She can't leave her grandfather and she can't fight for something she doesn't believe in.

When the Detonations occured, some lucky people escaped without a mark on them. They live in the Dome and are referred to as "Pures." Partridge is a Pure, but rather than feeling grateful for living in a world where food, clothing, and safety are abundant, he feels lonely and lost in his search for love from his father.

As Pressia fights for her life and Partridge decides to leave his, the reader is a given a heart pounding story of survival and hope, told from both of their perspectives. There's a whole lot of action, mixed with beautiful, insightful writing that will make the reader take pause and think about the characters and the storyline.

I couldn't put the book down! I wanted to race through it, but savor it at the same time, knowing book 2 won't be out for quite some time. The first page will easily hook you and though most of us have read plenty of dystopian/post-apocalyptic novels, this one is definitely unique. Pressia was a wonderfully strong character and Partridge showed how growing up in a life of privilege does not necessarily mean a life of happiness.

I believe this is being marketed as an adult novel, but I would have no problem handing it to teens. Definitely a crossover that will appeal to dystopian fans. One of my favorite reads of the 2011.

Pure
Julianna Baggott
448 pages
Adult Fiction
Grand Central Publishing
9781455503063
January 2012

Goodbye 2011, Hello 2012!

2012-01-02T15:16:00.001-05:00

Despite having a crazy year, I did fairly well in 2011 book-wise, I think. I read 49 books less than I did in 2010, however, I also had an almost-full-time job (definitely full-time with hour+ commute each way), lots of traveling, and a baby on the way. Not to mention, delivering E. 2 months early, spending lots of time in the NICU, and now being on baby duty 24/7.

I read a lot of good books, but definitely not a whole lot of GREAT books. I had a few standouts in different genres: Picture Books, Middle Grade, YA, and Adult. Still, nothing like The Book Thief level or anything (though John Green's The Fault in Our Stars came fairly close...review of that next week).

Here are the "stats:"

Total books: 135 (does not include picture books or NF picture books)
Library books: 46
Review books: 89
Female authors: 111
Male authors: 24
Non-Fiction: 9
Audiobooks: 14

I definitely read a lot of review books, but don't be fooled...those don't ALL get sent to my house. Working in a small indie bookstore, reading ARCs is a part of the job, so a lot of my review copies came from there.

After looking at the books I read, I did set a few goals for 2012, though I use that term loosely. The chances of my actually sticking with something are slim to none, considering my new busy life, but I'm really going to give it a shot.

1. Read more non-fiction. In 2010 I read a lot of non-fiction and with this year's count only coming in at less than 10 books, I definitely would like to up that.

2. Read more male authors. I'm one of those women drawn to women authors and what they write about. Can't help it. I would, however, like to at least double the amount of male authors I read this year.

3. Continue my 2011 goal of reading quality over quantity. I'm fairly good at just putting a book down if it's not holding my attention, but I really want to not only keep that up, but not even bother picking up books that I know I'm just not going to really like. For example, continuing a series I'm not loving, just because I feel like I should finish the series off. This means I probably won't be reading the prequel to "The Maze Runner" series. Sorry James Dashner.

4. Re-read one of my own books per month. I have a ton of great books that need attention and I think one book a month is doable.

I also set a Goodreads goal to read 130 books, but I don't know that I'll reach that. It would be nice to read about the same amount as I did last year, but realistically, it probably won't be happening. I am, however, making it one of my personal goals to watch less television (again, quality over quantity), so hopefully that free time will be spent with my books. Sorry, Say Yes to the Dress/Amazing Race/XFactor...you've been deleted from the DVR schedule.

I think all of my goals are reachable. Can't wait to see what everyone else comes up with!

Week in Review and Cybils love

2012-01-01T16:34:00.000-05:00

We had such a lovely Christmas holiday, finally being home from the hospital with E. and just relaxing with our new family of three. On Christmas Day we actually did almost nothing, not even turning on the tv. Just opened presents, read a lot, Aaron fixed my (always) broken computer, and we snuggled with the dogs and the boy. Perfect day!

It's hard not having a lot of family in town, and though we do have a great small group from our church and plenty of other friends who invited us to share in their day, we chose to not take E. out anywhere. We're still super cautious about germs, with him being a preemie and as small as he still is, so we kept things quiet. Fine by me. Even dinner was courtesy of Wegmans and it was fabulous! If I can help it, I'm never cooking a holiday meal again. A nice thought.

I didn't receive a whole lot of "bookish" things for Christmas, as my family is one of those that refuses to buy me books (even if I give a list), but I did get this:

It's a Light Wedge I've already used it several times and I love it! No more bulky light sticking out of the top of my book, falling on the ground, where I have to crawl around on the the floor at night trying to find it. Perfect size and the perfect amount of light for reading. A great invention that I'll end up using a lot, especially with late night feedings still happening.

I also received these:

So pretty! They're from SuJinBiJoux, an Etsy shop that I'm becoming quite the fan of. I have a tendancy of losing/breaking jewelry, so I prefer to keep mine on the inexpensive side. And these are the first pair of gold-anything I've ever owned. Nice job to the husband!

The in-laws arrived on Friday to spend New Year's with us and E. Another round of present opening and lots of fun pictures taken.

that was a yawn, not a scream, promise.

Books have dominated this last weekend, with my finishing of Finding Somewhere by Joseph Monniger, a book I loved and totally underestimated. Review of that will be coming this week. I also plan to do one more round-up post of my year of reading before diving into 2012 book reviews.

And, of course, the Cybils finalists were announced this morning! I'm on the 2nd round panel of judges, meaning I get to assist in choosing the final winner from these books:

Darth Paper Strikes Back by Tom Angleberger

The Friendship Doll by Kirby Larson

Ghetto Cowboy by G. Neri

The Great Wall of Lucy Wu by Wendy Wan-Long Shang

Nerd Camp by Elissa Brent Weissman

Warp Speed by Lisa Yee

Words in the Dust by Trent Reedy

This is my first time serving on a 2nd round panel and I'm excited to actually help make "the decision." So official sounding! I've read 4 of them already, though I'm sure I'll be rereading to give myself a refresher. Should be fun!

Elliott:

Our little guy is growing like crazy! He's a bit over 5lbs now and starting to outgrow his preemie clothes. He's going to be like his dad...long and lean...so his long little legs are pushing out the bottom of his sleepers, while they're still baggy around the middle. I have feeling I'm going to need to learn how to take in clothes at the waist.

He's eating well and slowly starting to stay awake longer, focus on things, and enjoy a tiny bit of play time. He's still not even to term (38 weeks today), so we won't be seeing most of the typical newborn/1 month old behavior for awhile, but it's fun to spend time with him doing something other than feeding/changing diapers/watching him sleep.

Big doctors appointment this week. He failed his initial hearing test in the NICU and although not uncommon in preemies to fail, he definitely does not display typical reactions to loud sounds, so we have that little twinge of worry that he may have a hearing issue. Follow-up is this Wednesday and we'll find out more then. We're fairly certain he'll be fine, the audiologist who did his initial test gave us nothing except confidence, but just not knowing is nerve wracking!

Look for my final 2011 round-up post tomorrow and a couple of new guest posts in the coming week. Hopefully everyone had a safe and happy holiday!

Favorite "Grown-Up" Books of 2011

2011-12-30T13:42:00.000-05:00

Let's face it, publishing for YA this year was just not up to years past. I found myself putting more and more YA books down and picking up books written for adults, that ended up being absolutely delightful. For so many years it's been the other way around, but 2011 seemed to be the year of the "grown-up" book in my own reading. It was hard to limit all the books I loved this year, but these were my faves:

A Good American by Alex George (review to come in February)

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

The Flight of Gemma Hardy by Margot Livesey (review to come in January)

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

Tolstoy and the Purple Chair by Nina Sankovitch

Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson

Guest Post: Erica from The Book Cellar

2011-12-27T08:11:00.000-05:00

While I'm getting to know my sweet baby boy, several bloggers offered to guest post for me! This week, I'm sending a huge welcome to Erica from The Book Cellar! She's filling us all in on some of the books she's looking forward to in 2012. Enjoy!

Every year I feel like books I’m going to love become more and more plentiful, maybe it’s just me imagining or perhaps it’s simply that I am becoming more and more sure of what I like. Regardless, 2012 has some amazing sounding books coming out!

My most anticipated book of 2012 is definitely The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken. Brightly Woven is about my favorite book ever, high fantasy is hard to find and good high fantasy is even harder to find. Brightly Woven was just brilliant, and while The Darkest Minds is a dystopian I am super excited for another Alexandra Bracken book.

Dark Frost by Jennifer Estep - This is the 3^rd book in the Mythos Academy series, which is one of my new favorite things. The first two books blew me away and I am eager to see where the story will go. The series has mythology, action, hot boys, and so much more.

The Selection by Kiera Cass – I read her book The Siren ages ago, and since then I had been hoping another book would come out. And it did AND it was YA! The Selection sounds brilliant – princes and dystopianness.

Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa – I am in love with her Iron Fey series, so I am very intrigued by a new series from her! Immortal Rules is going to be very different from the fantasy of the Iron Fey, so I’m very excited to see how that turns out.

Point of Origin by Amanda Havard – This is book two to the series that started with The Survivors. It’s this super unique series that deals with the survivors from the Salem Witch Trials and book one was super cool. Now that that entire story is built, I am really excited to see how this series goes on.

When the Sea is Rising Red by Cat Hellisen – I love this book’s title, cover, and premise. It sound so intriguing and I can’t wait to read it.

Above by Leah Bobet – Not only does this book have one of the most gorgeous covers ever, but it also has this amazing sounding premise. I love what the premise sets up and can’t wait to read it.

There are simply so many amazing books coming out. So which ones are you most excited for?

Favorite YA Reads of 2011

2011-12-26T15:23:00.000-05:00

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas! I'll be back with regular reviews next week, but for now, wanted to share more favorites with you all!

I have to admit, I was less than thrilled with the YA offerings published this year. I had a really hard time finding really great books, unlike years past when I had long lists of fabulous reads. I read more YA than any other genre, so I'm really hoping next year brings a lot more "great" books.

The ones I really enjoyed:

The Dark and Hollow Places by Carrie Ryan

Divergent by Veronica Roth

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green (review to come in January)

Wither by Lauren DeStefano

What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith (review to come in February)

I really liked all of those books, but the only one that I really, really loved was The Fault in Our Stars. Just wait until that book comes out guys, it is FABULOUS. I am so impressed with John Green's work that I couldn't stop talking about for days. It's that good.

If you missed out on my favorite picture books or middle grade reads of the year, check them out here and here.

Favorite Middle Grade reads of 2011

2011-12-22T18:51:00.011-05:00

I didn't read nearly as many books as I had hoped I would this year, but I still read a lot! If you missed my Favorite Picture Books of 2011 post, check it out, and YA and Adult faves will be featured next week.

I really loved all of these...they're in no particular order:

Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick

Breadcrumbs by Anne Ursu

The Penderwicks at Point Mouette by Jeanne Birdsall

Lions of Little Rock by Kristin Levine (review to come in January)

Bless This Mouse by Lois Lowry

What are some of your favorite middle grade reads this year?

Guest Post: Melanie from Reclusive Bibliophile

2011-12-20T08:51:00.003-05:00

While I'm getting to know my sweet baby boy, several bloggers offered to guest post for me! This week, I'm sending a huge welcome to Melanie from Reclusive Bibliophile! She's written a fabulous post, featuring one of my favorite television characters of all time. Here are 10 Bookish Lessons from Rory Gilmore:

"I live in two worlds. One is a world of books. I've been a resident of Faulkner's Yoknapatawpha County, hunted the white whale aboard the Pequod, fought alongside Napoleon, sailed a raft with Huck and Jim, committed absurdities with Ignatius J. Reilly, rode a sad train with Anna Karenina, and strolled down Swann's Way. It's a rewarding world, but my second one is by far superior. My second one is populated with characters slightly less eccentric but supremely real, made of flesh and bone, full of love, who are my ultimate inspiration for everything."

- Rory's valedictorian speech

Cool montage of book references: http://youtu.be/QpRMjxtViHA

1. 1. It’s important to have the right book for every occasion. Some books are bus books and some books are lunch books. And sometimes on the bus you want a biography and other times you want a novel. Alternatively, you might be in the mood for essays or short stories or poetry. Be prepared.

2. 2. Just because you already own a book doesn’t mean you can’t own it again. If you really love a book, you might need two or three copies. Paperbacks. Hardcovers. Different cover art. This is especially true if another copy is a good bargain and can fit in a pocket!

3. 3. There’s always room for more books. You may have to get a little creative when you think you can’t possibly fit yet another bookshelf in your house, but there’s room. Embrace a system of organized chaos if need be.

4. 4. Date the kind of guy who will babysit your books at a book sale. Or the kind who steals your books to leave you notes in the margins (if you’re into that sort of thing). But never, ever date the guy who mocks you for reading.

5. 5. Surround yourself with people who love books. Exchange books with each other. Ask for books as gifts. Try books outside your comfort zone, even if you think you really, really won’t like them. You might be surprised.

6. 6. Nothing smells quite like an old book. I love books new and old, but old, used books have history to them, and with that history comes that magical book smell. (Note: This does not apply to books from smokers’ homes. Or the other kind of smokers. I really don’t mean that kind of magic.)

7. 7. Read a lot. And read a lot of different kinds of books. If Harvard has 13 million volumes, it’s going to take a lot of reading to be able to converse about even 1% of those books. Don’t fritter your life away. If you want to be able to understand pop culture references (and throw out plenty of your own), it’s important to be well versed in that culture.

8. 8. Keep a dictionary on hand when you read. It may not have to be that very fancy, very expensive OED. (Though I’m a little envious of Rory’s.) Take a moment to look up words you don’t know from time to time.

9. 9. Return your library books. If you forget to bring back that copy of The Iliad you’ll feel so guilty that nobody else got to read it that you just might have to ground yourself.

10. 10. Live in two worlds. They characters in the book world and the real world have a lot to offer, and both worlds let you go places you never could have imagined on your own.

Week in Review

2011-12-18T11:12:00.000-05:00

Books:

Not a lot of reading has been done this week, as we had some exciting and busy days. More on that later. I did give up on Girls in White Dresses about halfway through, just because it wasn't really holding my attention any longer. I need something a bit more exciting at this point I think, something that will help in keeping me awake while I read the words.

I have a copy of Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler to start sometime today, so I'm hoping that will kick start my reading again, as well as Chime. I'm still a bit iffy on that one...don't know if it will be my thing, but I'm looking forward to just reading something!

Elliott has had lots of fun books read to him this week, but I think my favorites were the new Christmas books I ordered with a gift card to Powells.

This is the Stable by Cynthia Cotten is easily one of my new favorites and I know we'll be reading this one every year until E. is probably 5! It has all the perfect elements of the traditional Christmas story and a lovely repetitive flow.

I also love Christmas in the Manger by Nola Buck (and E. seemed too as well ;). A short board book, this one simply introduces key players in the Christmas story. Like, the ram that guards the stall where Jesus was born, the donkey that carried Mary, and the shepherds that keep a holy watch. Everything rhymes nicely and has bright illustrations to keep little eyes on the page. A winner for the young ones!

Elliott:

Guess who came home this week?! On Monday morning when the doctors came to do rounds, they totally caught me off guard and said we could go home the next day. We were thinking we would be there at least until this weekend, possibly even tomorrow, but they saw no reason for us to stay. Hooray!

We've been home since Tuesday evening and so far everything is going great. We even had a 2 day follow-up, just to make sure he was still doing fine, and he had gained almost 3oz in just 2 days, so we were doing something right! The last couple of nights have been a bit challenging, because I think the "NICU schedule" is starting to wear off (meaning I get a lot less sleep than I did earlier in the week), but we're all adjusting.

The dogs love him, especially Shae, who hasn't left his side except to occasionally go for a walk with me. It's adorable and I'm so glad she isn't super jealous of him. Let's hope it continues!

Have a great week everyone!

Favorite Picture Books of 2011

2011-12-16T08:12:00.000-05:00

It's that time of year for "Favorites of 2011" posts and rather than combine all of mine into one giant post, I thought spreading them out over a few weeks might make more sense. These are a few picture books that I loved this year and have really enjoyed recommending and gifting to family and friends. Book titles all link to my reviews.

Stars by Mary Lyn Ray

Blackout by John Rocco

Naamah and the Ark at Night by Susan Campbell Bartoletti

If Rocks Could Sing: A Discovered Alphabet by Leslie McGuirk

Press Here by Herve Tullet

Guest post: Karen from Planet Books!

2011-12-13T09:34:00.000-05:00

While I'm getting to know my sweet baby boy, several bloggers offered to guest post for me! This week, I'm sending a huge welcome to Karen from Planet Books! She's filling you all in on some of her favorite books from 2011. Enjoy!

Where has this year gone? I have had a big-for-me reading year but have recently found myself unable to focus on anything for very long. I've picked up and quickly put back down a few books and am feeling disheartened. I have read twenty-seven books since January 1 and some of those had that extra spark that swiftly raised them to my favorites list. I need some more of that literary magic to get me through the rest of 2011.

The books I fell in love with this year were some popular titles and some books that didn't gain much momentum but in my opinion really should have. First off the book that really started me off on the right foot this year was The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. My goodness did this book hold me in its spell and make me cry. I remember the night I finished reading this story, told by Death, about a little girl who was taken in by a German couple for monetary compensation to keep hidden and safe from the Nazi movement that was taking over Germany.

I had devoured this book and as I neared the end a twist of such great severity caught me off guard so powerfully that my sobs woke my sleeping husband lying in bed next to me. This story about a girl who used her love of reading to free her spirit and unite a family is one of my all-time favorite books now!

Over the next couple of months I was really lucky to read three amazing books that became some of my favorites of the year. The run started with The Sandalwood Tree by Elle Newmark. This story transported me to India in a magical way that had me gasping for more when the final page was read. It's kind of like a story within a story in that the two main characters living in 1947 India are drawn into an earlier time in India, 1857 to be exact, through the journal pages discovered in the nooks and crannies of their rental home in northern India. What evolves between these two times in Indian history is a tale of love, friendship, betrayal and forgiveness that had me giving this book as gifts left and right. It took me longer to read than it should have only because I kept Goggling historical facts about the rise and fall of the British Rah.

The next book in this fantastic run was Sara Gruen's masterpiece Water for Elephants. I remember originally buying this book when it came out a few years ago while we were living in Okinawa and I was just starting out as a book blogger. Unfortunately I couldn't get into the story and put it down. It wasn't until the movie adaptation was due out in theaters this year that I finally picked it up again. I wanted to read the book before seeing it retold on the silver screen so I dove in. I was hooked right away the second time around and had a very hard time putting it down to do anything else. I felt that the movie represented the book well and though there were a few changes to the story's timeline I was pleased with the movie on a whole.

The third in the trifecta of fabulous literature of the spring was The Lotus Eaters by Tatjana Soli. I selected this for my book club's May assignment and as a special treat I had won copies for every member in my club from TLC Book Tours. This book was a departure from the chick lit and family based stories that the club usually picks. The Lotus Eaters, set in Vietnam during the war with the U.S. stands up to such iconic tales of the Vietnam War as Tim O’Brien’s The Things They Carried and Born on the Fourth of July, the memoir by Ron Kovic. The cover was misleadingly beautiful because the words between the covers told a story of war, devastation, love and the human condition. The Lotus Eaters ended up winning the British James Tait Black Prize this year and deservedly so. This is a very raw story and it was hard to believe that Soli had never stepped foot in Vietnam because the description was so vivid and rich.

Summer arrived and with it came a book that got tons of attention and praise. The Story of Beautiful Girl by Rachel Simon is a haunting tale of a taboo subject from our country’s not so distant past. The mentally challenged were sent away to institutions by families either pressured by society to do so or simply unable to handle the challenges of the situation. It’s a love story to the utmost degree and on all levels that love is felt. Family love, romantic love, love derived from loyalty and love manifested in a blink of an eye between strangers.

After reading Simon’s haunting tale I thought I would read a lighter book so I agreed to review Jennifer Weiner’s latest release, Then Came You. Little did I know that light was no where in the pages of this book. I was thrilled to learn that Weiner had peeled back the proverbial onion and had given her loyal readers and adoring fans a book we could sink our teeth into. Surrogacy, pregnancy, fertilization challenges and the many faces of family in our modern society are what await you in Weiner’s best book since Little Earthquakes. Wow! Wow! Wow!

This summer also brought to the shelf a book by another of my all time favorite authors and someone I now call friend, Ellen Baker. I Gave My Heart to Know This is set in one of my favorite time periods, WWII. I don’t know why I enjoy reading books set during such a tumultuous and devastating period of world history but novels that are inspired by that time are some of my favorites and this is no exception. It’s set in Wisconsin and gives us a history lesson about the women who helped keep the home fires burning in more ways than one while America’s men were overseas fighting and dying. The famous war time propaganda poster of “Rosie the Riveter” is the best way I can describe the women in Baker’s sophomore novel. The women who built ships for the war effort and some secrets in one particular family that lay hidden until they were discovered generations later. Ellen’s story telling is so wonderful and entrancing! She’s amazing!

My latest favorite, so much so that every book I’ve picked up since pales so much from the start that I have put down about four books in the last month, is Next To Love by Ellen Feldman. It’s another WWII story but the tough subjects Feldman weaves into the stories of her fantastic characters make for a rich, disturbing and realistic book. It’s about three women, childhood friends, who grow up to marry three men who go off to fight in Europe against the Nazis. One husband returns and he suffers from shell shock. His story line is so mesmerizing and heart wrenching because of the horrors he continues to face in his mind years after leaving the battlefield. The way Feldman describes his experiences makes me think this book would be a good book for family and friends of our present day troops to read to help understand what their loved ones face upon surviving war.

Wow!! What a great list of fantastic books! I hope there is something that caught your eye here and will inspire you to pick up your next favorite book. I may have just written myself out of my recent reading slump. I sure hope so at least because I need a few good books to get me through the rest of 2011.

Week in Review

2011-12-11T16:28:00.000-05:00

Just a quick Elliott update for this week's review post.

They took his feeding tube out this morning, because he's had a full day of eating all of his meals by bottle. YAY! He started off slowly this morning, bringing Aaron and my stress level up a bit, because he was just NOT interested in eating. He ate them, but took forever (he has a time limit) and we just don't want that feeding tube to go back in. We blame his disinterest/squirminess on this nasty multi-vitamin that goes in his 9am bottle...it just really seems to upset his stomach, making him very squirmy. Once that's out of the way, by 3pm he ate like a champ and even took 7 extra cc's of food. We're cheering him on, for sure. We want out of here!

We're trying so hard to be patient, but we're just so close now that I am getting more and more anxious for things to move along, so we can go home. We're incredibly blessed to have this room at the Fisher House, but it's not my home, my dogs aren't here, my BED isn't here. And Aaron had to go back to work this week, so I basically only have nurses to talk to. A bit lonely!

We are so lucky that this eating thing is the last step for us to go home...it's only been 2 weeks since he came screaming into the world, so I really can't complain about too much! He's still doing beautifully.

An after bath time picture:

Angelina's Bachelors review

2011-12-09T07:56:00.001-05:00

When Angelina's husband dies unexpectedly, she is completely heartbroken and unsure of what to do with herself. Creating delicious food has always been Angelina's comfort and so she turns to cooking to put her sorrows into, making loads of yummy Italian food as she grieves.

What is at first for her own healing eventually turns into a job for Angelina. Single men around the neighborhood, starting with her sweet, elderly neighbor, begin coming to her for meals, allowing her to work through losing her husband, make delectable dishes, and feed hungry bachelors at the same time.

I was somewhat surprised with how much I enjoyed this book! From the title, I almost expected it to be a fluffy read without a whole lot of substance, but O'Reilly was able to capture Angelina's pure love for her husband and her devastation at his loss with a grace that made me really love her as a character.

That being said, I was slightly disappointed with a rather predictable plot "twist" and found myself hoping the author wouldn't do what I thought he was going to do from the beginning. He did it, but it ended up ok. I was pleased with the overall story.

The recipes included sounded awesome, especially as I read the descriptions woven into the story, though I probably won't be attempting any of them at home. All sound incredibly challenging and for very experienced cooks, though they definitely are appealing!

Not as light a novel as one would think. Grab your tissues and don't read on an empty stomach!

Angelina's Bachelors: A Novel with Food
Brian O'Reilly
384 pages
Adult Fiction
Gallery Books
9781451620566
August 2011
Library Copy

Guest post: Michelle from Galleysmith

2011-12-06T09:11:00.000-05:00

While I'm getting to know my sweet baby boy, several bloggers offered to guest post for me! This week, I'm sending a huge welcome to Michelle from Galleysmith! She's filling you all in on some of her favorite books from 2011. Enjoy!

My Literary Dinner Party

What girl doesn't want to be surrounded by her favorite bookish friends? Me, I'm gonna go all out and serve 'em up a nice dinner, give 'em some yummy sugary treats for dessert, and then send them on their way fat and happy. Now, don't get me wrong I'm not cooking! I wouldn't threaten anyone's gastrointestinal system with that, but I do a mean take-out order so I'm sure they'll be just as happy. Let’s get to the guest list shall we?

Patrick - Fixing Delilah by Sarah Ockler

This is a boy who would build me a house! He's strong, he's sweet, and he's honest. He loves his family, has morals and when he finds the right girl he's pretty damn dedicated to her. Even when she has some serious challenges.

Peeta - The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Please, like I wasn't going to include bread with dinner! Here's a boy that would literally face certain death for the girl he loves how can you not at least give him a pizza before sending him on his way? Granted, he has a bit of a dark side too but heck, who doesn't? Loyal to a fault he's going to be a team player and stick with his friends and family through thick and thin.

Katniss - The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

I think this girl can teach me a thing or two, don't you? Strength, honor, political savvy, leadership and a whole host of other positive attributes. The stories this girl could tell would no doubt encourage the mind and spirit.

Tom - The Piper's Son by Malina Marchetta

Who doesn't want a bit of a fixer upper? Tom may be a tortured soul but he's so thoughtful and pensive about who he shares himself with that it's impossible not to just squeeze him in a great big bear hug. He's so sweet he makes a girl's teeth hurt at the thought of all the sugar. But he's got a little spice too! Those imperfections only make him more charming.

Meghan - The Iron Fey Series by Julie Kagawa

Between she and Katniss, oh man, the war stories they could tell. Cunning, shrewd, heart-felt and passionate she would definitely fight to the death for what and who she believes in.

Ash - The Iron Fey Series by Julie Kagawa

Well he's kinda cool! That icy demeanor is just a cover up though, deep down inside he's a big ol' softie. I love me a bad boy with a heart of gold. Oh and it would be fun to see he and Meghan riff off each other the whole evening.

Cole - The Wolves of Mercy Falls series by Maggie Steifvater

Duh, we need music! But besides that, he's pretty and snarky and surly. Not commonly what most look for in a friend but dang if he doesn't take one for the team when needed.

Isabel - The Wolves of Mercy Falls series by Maggie Steifvater

We need a girl who can take the pressure off the hostess with the mostess! Always wanting to be the center of attention she isn't afraid to do or say anything to garner the spotlight. But when she dedicates herself to a cause she's in it full force. Better be sure to be on the right side with her when it happens cause she'll take no prisoners.

I know, I know, you thought I'd get all serious and put in Lizzie Bennet and Mr. Darcy and the like. Me, I'm not a girl who's into the classics. Besides, do you know the food they had to eat back then? There's not much fun in that! Now tell me, who would you invite to your literary dinner party?

Week in Review

2011-12-04T13:42:00.000-05:00

Books:

I actually finished a couple of books after the crazy couple of weeks I've had. Dead to You by Lisa McMann was definitely thrilling and something you all should look out for in February. All the books I've read by her have been page turners and this was no exception.

I also finished The Always War by Margaret Peterson Haddix, an author I typically really like, but this book just did not do it for me. I didn't care for the plot or the characters, but since it was so short, I did finish it. Not her usual gripping story, but one that felt forced and strange.

I started Pandemonium this afternoon and am pretty into it after only 60 pages or so. It had been so long since I read Delirium that I had completely forgotten what the first book was even about, but I was able to get back into the plot fairly easily. Lauren Oliver really does have a nice way of writing, making the story both exciting and "pretty" if that makes any sense.

Baby:

Only two sections in this week's post, because really, besides reading and sitting next to the baby's bed, I haven't done anything! No tv/no Etsy shopping.

Elliott is doing great and behaving exactly as he's supposed to. Eating, starting to take feeds from a bottle, starting to put on a little weight after the initial drop from birth weight, being adorable and snuggly, and just making us smile all the time. We're so proud of our boy! We would LOVE to be home by Christmas, but that may just be pushing it a little. It will remain our quiet goal for now.

One of the hardest things about this whole situation is having to be away from Aaron for long stretches of time. He goes back to work on Tuesday, which will make it even worse, but for now it has just been him here for the day and then having to drive all the way back home to take care of our dogs. Though the Fisher House is wonderful and comfortable, it's still really hard to be alone all night and this coming week, all day too. Lots of reading next to Elliott, I suppose. And on the bright side, it's only for a few weeks, so I'll make it just fine.

And for your weekly photos:

Tuesdays at the Castle review

2011-12-03T08:01:00.000-05:00

At Castle Glower, Tuesdays are the best days. Tuesdays are when the castle decides to add a new room, its occupants never knowing what will come. The castle definitely has a mind of its own, making for a very exciting life for Celie, the youngest of the three royal children, who loves her life at the castle and is really the only one who truly understand how it operates.

When Celie's parents, the King and Queen of Castle Glower, go missing and are presumed dead, Celie has to use her skills with understanding the castles quirks to help save her home from invaders. Exciting and charming at the same time!

It's been awhile since I've read a really good middle grade fantasy, but this latest one by Jessica Day George was delightful! I didn't read Dragon Slippers, though I know I'm missing out, so this was a complete surprise. The pacing was great, the characters realistic and enjoyable to follow, and the story was a whimsical adventure.

I would easily hand this to kids that aren't quite ready for Shannon Hale's "Books of Bayern" series, but really enjoy a good fantasy. The idea of a castle changing to suit the needs of its occupants is totally charming and the fact that it's kids basically running the kingdom after the disappearance of their parents will have readers hooked. I really enjoyed it!

Off to put a hold on Dragon Slippers...

Buy from IndieBound
Buy from Powells

Tuesdays at the Castle
Jessica Day George
240 pages
Middle Grade
Bloomsbury
9781599906447
October 2011
Review copy provided by publisher

I am an affiliate of both IndieBound and Powells and will receive a small percentage of the purchase price.

If you haven't heard...

2011-11-30T22:44:00.000-05:00

I had a baby! Elliott Aaron arrived just over 7 weeks early on November 26th. He's a peanut, weighing in at just 3lbs 4oz at birth, but he's doing fantastic! We have a bit of road to go in the NICU before we're able to take him home, so the husband and I are living at a Fisher House for the next few weeks while the little guy gains weight and works on feeding.

Posts will probably be sporadic, though I am still reading a bit and have a few guest posts set-up and ready to go. I'm sure you all understand that looking at this face:

is way more fun than blogging! See you soon!

Shatter Me review

2011-11-21T08:40:00.001-05:00

I had the "luck" last week to have to sit through a 3 hour glucose test. I sat in a freezing cold waiting room, with no television, and dozens of irritating people streaming in and out throughout the morning. What got me through this incredibly boring experience? Tahereh Mafi's Shatter Me. I was able to read it in one sitting, as I read faster than I have in a long time. I couldn't help it...it's that exciting!

The first in a new series, we're introduced to Juliette, a young girl, locked up in some sort of prison. We quickly learn that she hasn't had any physical contact with a person in almost a year. If she touches someone, they die. Uh...can we say, yikes? The new government has given her a choice: she either joins them as their weapon or she'll be killed.

Juliette has to decide whether her life is worth torturing others for the Reestablishment's pleasure or if she'll fight against the regime. All this while attempting to deal with the horror of her condition...she can KILL people with a single touch. How does someone handle that fact?

This book hits readers on several different levels. There's the emotional aspect of what Juliette is going through with herself, the slight paranormal, the bits of romance, and then just the crazy fast pace the story moves at. The ending (no spoilers, promise), definitely has me wanting the next book, pronto! It was original and new, even in the midst of dozens of dystopian books released this year. A hard task to tackle at this point, I would imagine.

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Shatter Me
Tahereh Mafi
342 pages
Young Adult
HarperCollins
9780062085481
November 2011
Review copy provided by publisher

I am an affiliate of both IndieBound and Powells and will receive a small percentage of the purchase price.

Week in Review

2011-11-20T18:34:00.001-05:00

It feels like this week has lasted forever, yet it's flown by. I'm sure that makes absolutely no sense to anyone, but that's how I feel! Lots of appointments and baby prep and almost no reading time, which makes this girl a bit unhappy. I'm hoping to catch up on some reading this coming week and really take it easy. I always say that, but I mean it this time!

Books:

I am deep in the middle of Pure by Julianna Baggott and absolutely loving it. I keep saying to Aaron that it reminds me of a mixture between The Hunger Games, Divergent, and I Am Legend (the Will Smith movie version). I can't put it down! Unfortunately, my reading time has been somewhat limited over the last few days, with driving for appointments and being so darn tired, but if I was on a normal reading pace I would have easily have finished this chunkster this weekend. It's that good!

I finished up The Death Cure by James Dashner this week, as well. Definitely exciting and will please fans of the series. I still wasn't as into this one (or book 2), as I was The Maze Runner, but overall, a good, fast-paced series.

Etsy:

Both Aaron and I have decided that our son NEEDS this:

I mean, seriously, his entire nursery is done in hippos and it's so stinkin' cute it makes me want to cry. Pregnancy hormones, I suppose. However, if someone DOES want to make this adorable hat happen for our little guy, you can buy it from the awesome Nini's Handmades. She has a super cute snail one too. Want!

Baby:

This week, we're the size of a large jicama (or a little under 4lbs). We had a lot of testing done this week, as I've started swelling more than normal and my blood pressure is much higher than anyone is comfortable with. Luckily, the baby is doing just fine, moving a lot and growing on track, so it's just me we're dealing with. I'm on modified bed rest, basically just taking it a little bit easier than I normally would, and I'm having to go in for twice-a-week monitoring. A pain in the neck, but I'll deal.

On a FUN note, we have our tentative c-section date! It looks like I'm on the schedule for an amnio 12/19 and as long as it comes back as they would like, a c-section on 12/20. One month from today, we'll have this little guy in the world! It seems so, so soon, but the best Christmas gift I could ever ask for. Let's hope things keep going alright and we keep that date!

Should have the nursery totally finished by next weekend, so pictures of that to come.

TV:

Haven't been watching a whole lot, to be honest. Good training for when the boy gets here! I'm just bored with every single show, except Modern Family and New Girl. Love those :) I'm also loving the Our America series Lisa Ling does for the OWN network. Haven't watched a single show other than that on that channel, but I love her non-biased approach to showing parts of our country we never think about. You should check it out if you haven't already. Sunday nights!

I've pretty much given up on Glee for this season and though A. and I both really like The Sing Off, the weekly two hour episodes are getting to be a bit much. There's only like 4 groups left and they drag it all out for sooooo long. We'll see if we can stick with it until the end.

Picture Book Saturday: Christmas books are arriving!

2011-11-19T09:36:00.000-05:00

Every other year I've waited until the weekend after Thanksgiving to post about holiday books, but this year I thought I might start a little early. I've had the chance to check out a lot of fabulous books and I want to make sure you have plenty of time to get your hands on them! Parents, I know you'll be at your bookstores and libraries looking for books to make the kids happy this month, so take a look at these and hopefully you'll see something intriguing.

Oh, What a Christmas! by Michael Garland

I've always really liked Michael Garland as both an author and an illustrator. His books are funny, have silly illustrations, and get the reader hooked from the first page. His "Miss Smith" books are still some of my favorite to recommend.

This one is all about Santa losing his reindeer! Just as they are set to take off for their night of gift delivering, the sleigh separates from the flying reindeer, leaving Santa stranded. Luckily, he and the sleigh crash-land right next to a barn filled with animals, all very willing to help Santa out for the night.

A sleigh led by pigs, sheep, and cows may not be conventional, but the animals do a great job and are handsomely rewarded by Santa at the end. Cute!

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Oh, What a Christmas!
Michael Garland
40 pages
Picture Book
Scholastic Press
9780545242103
September 2011
Review copy provided by publisher

Joy to the World: Christmas Stories from Around the Globe by Saviour Pirotta and illustrator Sheila Moxley

I love reading of other traditions from around the world during the holidays and this story collection would be a nice family read leading up to Christmas. It has stories from Mexico, Ghana, Malta, Syria, and Russia, definitely giving global coverage!

Some of the stories are a bit long for younger children to sit still and listen to, though the vibrant illustrations may help to hold their attention to the page. A great author's note is included, expanding on the specific country traditions and where the stories came from.

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Joy to the World: Christmas Stories from Around the Globe
Saviour Pirotta
48 pages
Picture Book
Frances Lincoln
978184782316
July 2011
Review copy provided by publisher

Mary Engelbreit's Nutcracker by Mary Engelbreit

I love the story of the Nutcracker (though I've never seen the ballet or a theatrical production) and Engelbreit's illustrations are some of my favorites. The story is not a whole lot different than other renditions I've read, except possibly being a bit more on the whimsical end, great for reading aloud as a family before the holidays!

The addition of the super-detailed illustrations Engelbreit is known for makes this a great gift to give for the holidays or to present to a young child before going to see the ballet. Some of the books I've seen have a tendency to lean towards the darker side the story, but this is bright, magical, and a lot of fun. A lovely book!

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Mary Engelbreit's Nutcracker
Mary Engelbreit
40 pages
Picture Books
HarperCollins
9780060885793
November 2011
Review copy provided by publisher

Michael Hague's Treasured Classics review

2011-11-16T11:23:00.001-05:00

Since finding out I was pregnant back in May, I've been constantly on the lookout for great books to add to my new little one's enormous bookcase. I have some favorites of course, but I wanted a collection of stories that not only had nice illustrations, but also contained specific stories I knew and loved as a child. I want to use the book as a connector between my child and myself and finding the right story collection just wasn't happening.

When this one came in my mailbox a few weeks ago, I was instantly taken by the cover. It looked old. Not old as in "dated and ugly," but old as in "from my childhood." Definitely a good thing! No bright, splashy colors, just a cool design depicting Jack from "Jack and the Beanstalk."

I was THRILLED to find a listing of some of my favorite stories, including "The Three Billy Goats Gruff," "The Story of Chicken-Licken," and "The Ugly Duckling." The stories are pretty much as I remember them, though some changes may have been made...it's been quite awhile since I've actually read a lot of them, but for the most part they were just as I wanted.

Just a quick side note. One of my favorite childhood memories is of my mom reading me "The Story of Chicken-Licken." Not sure when the silly name...which I love...turned into "Chicken Little," but I was really excited to see the original name.

The illustrations are excellent! Not too modern and fitting of some of the darker stories. I mean...the troll in "The Three Billy Goats Gruff" is supposed to be scary...not cute, as is the wolf from "The Three Little Pigs." Yes, they might be a might evil looking for sensitive children, but I think they fit in with the stories perfectly.

I can see myself giving this book as a baby shower gift, birthday gift, Baptism gift, etc. It's a book to grow with a child and be shared within a family. I'm so excited to have one in time for Baby Snow to arrive and I know his daddy and I will love reading him the stories as he gets older.

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Michael Hague's Treasured Classics
Michael Hague
133 pages
Picture Book Collection
9780911949043
October 2011
Review copy provided by publisher

I am an affiliate of both IndieBound and Powells and will receive a small percentage of the purchase price.

Happy Haul-idays from Chronicle!

2011-11-14T12:52:00.000-05:00

It's that time of year again!!

If you read this blog on a fairly regular basis, you'd realize how much I love the books from Chronicle. They're not only high quality reading material, but the actual physical books are always beautifully made, making for lovely gifts. My imaginary cart is filled up with $500 worth of fabulous books I would LOVE to win as a holiday gift for myself. And if I win? Someone from the comments will also win, as well as the charity of my choice, so make sure you leave a comment!

Choosing a charity was incredibly difficult, as there are so many different places I would love to give $500 worth of books to. The Libri Foundation has always stood out to me, as they attempt to place as many children's books in rural libraries as they possibly can. I grew up in an incredibly rural area and my library did not have an adequate children's section, especially for a voracious reader like myself. I would love to see $500.00 worth of great kid's books be given to them!

My "cart:"

Cake Simple by Christie Matheson
Treasured Classics by Michael Hague
Mrs. Mustard's Baby Face Stroller Cards by Jane Wattenberg
Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site by Sherri Duski Rinker
Press Here by Herve Tullet
Flour by Joanne Chang
Tartine Bread by Chad Robertson
One Line a Day: A Five-Year Memory Book
Gratitude: A Journal
Peek-a-Who by Nina Laden
Eric Carle Animal Flashcards
Lots of Dots by Craig Frazier
The Little Books boxed set by Amy Krause Rosenthal
In the Town All Year Round by Rotraut Susanne Berner
School Years: A Family Keepsake of School Memories
Blinky Bugs
Pretty Cupcake Kit
The Commonsense Kitchen by Tom Hudgens
Fresh from the Farmers Market by Janet Fletcher
New Vegetarian by Robin Aswell
My Quotable Kid
One Too Many by Gianna Merino
What Do You See Under the Sea? by Neil and Cassandra Lillard
Dinosaurs matching game
Hurry! Hurry! Have You Heard? by Laura Krause Melmed
The Giant Play and Learn Book by Pascale Estellon

I think it's a pretty great mix!

Remember, the contest ends on December 2nd, so make your lists, comment, and Tweet about the giveaway and enter your blog over here.

Week in Review

2011-11-13T15:52:00.000-05:00

We had a family member staying with us this week, so I spent a lot of my time shopping and eating. I'm definitely not complaining about that, but I don't have a whole lot of book/tv news to share. I didn't finish a single book and my DVR is at almost 100%, so I think Aaron I will be spending our evening on the couch with homemade chicken soup and yummy crusty bread, catching up on shows.

Books:

I'm in the middle of Deb Caletti's newest (coming in April) The Story of Us. I'm really enjoying it so far! It combines a really nice contemporary story, which she seems to have become known for, and there's lots of dogs included. Perfect for me.

I also just started Angelina's Bachelors by Brian O'Reilly, which has a lot more substance to it than it sounds. And there's recipes! I'm hoping to finish these two in the next couple of days.

I do have an ARC giveaway going on until tonight and your chances are pretty great at this point! Last chance to enter, so head over here and check it out!

Baby:

This week, apparently this child is the size of four large apples. I totally laughed out loud when I read that. Really, we couldn't come up with a fruit/vegetable around 3lbs? Just four big apples? Anyways... he's growing, which is great, but I'm starting to have some of the excessive swelling and blood pressure issues that I had last time. I'm sure the doctor will have lots to say about it at my appointment on Tuesday, but I'm anticipating some bed rest in my future. Lots of reading time, which I'm totally ok with, as long as this baby can keep cooking a bit longer. I'm at 31 weeks today, so 5-6 more weeks to go. Crazy!

I need to pack up a hospital bag this week and wash a couple of outfits.

Etsy:

I have a couple of new favorites when it comes to Etsy shops this week. My Aunt had never been introduced to the wonder that is Etsy, so though I didn't read or watch tv, I did spend a crazy amount of time browsing with her!

I love the handmade nursing covers and nursing pads from Ginger Snapzz.

These earrings just made my Christmas wishlist.

Still totally in love with this bag.

The Scorpio Races review

2011-11-10T11:35:00.002-05:00

Puck is the first female to ever enter the Scorpio Races. No one believes she can stay alive amidst the famed water horses who live only to kill whatever (or whoever) comes in their path, especially after they killed both her parents and seem to be subtly driving her older brother away from their island home, as well. Determined to prove them wrong, Puck trains with Sean, a fellow rider and lover of the otherwise feared water horses, both set on winning the race in order to prove something to themselves, their town, and even to the ocean and its horses.

Wildly exciting, yet beautifully written. I was completely enthralled with both Puck's and Sean's stories, frantically flipping pages in order to learn what would happen next. The mythical aspect was woven into the story without pause and left me wanting to research more on these water horses and the myths they take place in. Maggie Stiefvater has this unique way with words in which she can write the most exciting scenes in this calm, slow way that really makes the reader sink into the story. Her writing is just luscious.

That being said, my one small criticism is the length. I felt some passages went on a bit too long, making the overall book a little too long. The descriptions of specific settings, emotions, relationships, etc. were beautiful, but at times, wordy. A small amount of editing would have cleaned it up and left me feeling better about a fantastic 350 page novel, rather than a slightly too long 400 page novel.

As much as I loved this book, I'm really happy it's not the beginning of a new series. SO many dystopian series are out there already or just beginning, and it was refreshing to just have a really good story end. Kudos to Stiefvater for that, as well.

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The Scorpio Races
Maggie Stiefvater
400 pages
Young Adult
Scholastic
9780545224901
October 2011
Review copy provided by publisher

I am an affiliate of both IndieBound and Powells and will receive a small percentage of the purchase price.

Guest Post and giveaway: Andy Marino, author of Unison Spark

2011-11-08T05:18:00.001-05:00

A huge welcome to Andy Marino, author of the action-packed thriller, Unison Spark! Today's social network-obsessed teens (and adults...ahem...) will love the fast pace and the super cool setting. Appealing to fans of Scott Westerfeld's Uglies series for sure!

I'm really excited about this post, as Andy has been kind enough to share some of his favorite books with us! I love learning about what authors like to read and where their writing style may have come from. You never know what you can lean about someone simply by asking them about their favorite books!

Read Andy's post and then see how you can win a copy of Unison Spark for yourself!

Today’s the day that UNISON SPARK hits shelves, and to celebrate I thought I’d mention a few books that have inspired me over the years. I’ve never been too picky about genre, target demographic, or intended age level (although I will own up to getting sucked in by awesome cover art). When I was a kid I read both YA and adult fiction of all kinds, and the same is true now. To honor this distinction, I’ve divided my short list into age-defying categories.

Adult novel I loved as a teen:

THE STAND by Stephen King

I had the mammoth “complete and uncut” edition, the author’s equivalent of an extended director’s cut. King restored a few pages that had ended up on his editor’s floor, bringing the word count up to approximately fifty million. At the time, the book felt BEYOND huge. I was already a Lord of the Rings fan so I was no stranger to sprawling works of fiction, but something about the “real-world” setting of an America decimated by a killer superflu made The Stand feel even bigger. And the abandoned cities and empty countryside were much creepier than Mordor. With the aid of some tape, the ragged mass-market paperback with newsprinty pages that I bought as a kid still lives on my bookshelf.

YA novel I loved as a teen:

REDWALL by Brian Jacques

I think I received this one as a present – I was into fantasy novels, so anything with anthropomorphic rodents, castles, and medieval weaponry on the cover was a pretty low-risk gift for me. This book (the first in a long series) is about an order of peaceful mice who defend their abbey against a roving horde of evil rats and other malevolent creatures. I remember it being so ridiculously exciting and unputdownable that it inspired me to write the author a fan letter (you can read his kind and encouraging reply on my blog). I was never quite sure about the size of the abbey – whether it was a mouse-sized building or an abandoned human-sized building populated by mice. I’d sort of like to think it was the latter.

Adult novel I love as an adult:

CLOUD ATLAS by David Mitchell

David Mitchell is a stone cold genius. I remember reading a review that likened the structure of this novel to “nesting dolls,” and that’s as good a description as any. Here’s how it works: the first section drops the reader onto a boat near New Zealand in the 1850s. Then the story jumps to Belgium in the 1930s at what seems like a strange place for a chapter break. These jarring time-skips continue through four more chapters, until we find ourselves in a post-apocalyptic future. This chapter is complete from beginning to end and serves as a bridge back to the second half of the fifth chapter, which transitions to the second half of the fourth chapter, and so on down the timeline until the book ends with the completion of the first chapter, back in the 1850s. Oh, and each chapter is written in a different style (my favorite is an interrogation of a genetically engineered clone-servant in dystopian future Korea).

YA novel(s) I love as an adult, 2011 edition:

I’ve read several great new YA novels this year, from the post-apocalyptic (Jeff Hirsch’s THE ELEVENTH PLAGUE) to the superheroic (Karsten Knight’s WILDEFIRE) and beyond. If adventure stories aren’t your thing or you’re just looking for a change of pace, check out IMAGINARY GIRLS by Nova Ren Suma. Maybe I’m biased because it takes place in upstate New York, where I was born and raised, but it certainly deserves a mention because of its unexpected qualities. The book is haunting in an off-kilter kind of way that evokes David Lynch, although it doesn’t rely on the brain-melting weirdness of his movies. It’s not exactly a horror novel either, although it does sustain an atmosphere of creeping dread. A plot encapsulation won’t do it justice, and I don’t want to give too much away, but I’d recommend it if you like stories about complex sibling relationships, small towns, or the disturbingly thin line between the living and the dead.

Thanks so much again for stopping by, Andy!

If you'd like to receive an ARC of Unison Spark, leave a comment on this post by Sunday night. Giveaway ends at 11:59pm on 11/13. Two are up for grabs!

Non-Fiction Monday: Balloons Over Broadway

2011-11-07T07:03:00.000-05:00

What a FABULOUS book! I cannot say enough good things about Melissa Sweet's latest book, as it's not only packed with a unique, informative story, but the illustrations are just amazing. My poor husband was getting annoyed with me as I read through it, constantly telling him little tidbits of information about Tony Sarg and his Macy's puppets. So much to learn!

Readers are able to learn about the journey that all started with a 6-year-old boy wanting to become a marionette man when he grew up. That boy ended up helping to create the puppets that make up the world famous Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade, through hard work and a fair amount of genius when it came to marionettes and puppets. I mean, really, who would think to turn a marionette puppet upside-down?? Obviously, Tony Sarg was much smarter than me.

The visuals are outstanding, allowing us fascinated readers to spend lots of time on each page, looking at the quirkiness that Melissa Sweet has created. Her mixed-media collage illustrations are bold and definitely standout.

This was a part of history that I had not been familiar with previously and I'm sure a lot of other children and adults will appreciate learning all about how the Macy's Day parade came to be. It's a whimsical book, filled with fun and wonder, making the educational experience an absolute treat. I loved it!

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Balloons Over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy's Parade
Melissa Sweet
32 pages
Non-Fiction
Houghton Mifflin
9780547199450
October 2011
Review copy provided by publisher

I am an affiliate of both IndieBound and Powells and will receive a small percentage of the purchase price.

Stumbling into Grace review

2011-11-06T07:56:00.000-05:00

Over the years that I've been using different devotionals on a daily basis, I've come to realize that those that tend to work best for me, in connecting me not only to Scripture, but to how those words work into my life, are the ones that are ultimately personal. Lisa Harper writes from her heart and interjects awesome amounts of humor into the stories of how she's stumbled in grace and learned Godly lessons along the way. That particular way of writing makes it real for me and I loved this book.

Broken up into short chapters, perfect for a daily devotional, the readers are given an often humorous story of how Harper went astray at some point, did something embarrassing, etc. and how God led her back to him. Included in the chapter is a section from the Bible on how part of Jesus' journey helps work her to work through, and ultimately learn from, her own mistakes.

There's also discussion questions at the end of each chapter, great for group discussions or simply personal reflection, as I used them for. A prayer is also included and ideas for journal entries, if you're journaling.

This has been one of my favorite devotionals to use and I'll definitely be seeking out more books by Lisa Harper. I loved the funny parts, the serious parts, and the dedication to learning that she has seamlessly blended into the book. I learned a lot AND laughed a lot, while connecting with God.

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Stumbling into Grace
Lisa Harper
224 pages
Christian Non-Fiction
Thomas Nelson
9780849946486
August 2011
Review copy provided by publisher

I am an affiliate of both IndieBound and Powells and will receive a small percentage of the purchase price.

Picture Book Saturday

2011-11-05T09:17:00.001-04:00

Very Hairy Bear by Alice Schertle and illustrator Matt Phelan

The picture book version of this was published way back in 2007, but since it's just now coming out in board book form (and it's a new-to-me book altogether), I thought it should count for a Picture Book Saturday post. And I love Matt Phelan. He's my illustrator crush (along with Kadir Nelson and John Rocco, of course).

When I read this, I couldn't believe I hadn't read it before! I fell in love with the sweet story of a very hairy bear (except for his no-hair nose) and the lovely flow Schertle created. We follow the bear through the seasons as he searches for salmon, snacks on yummy blueberries, and eventually cuddles up for a nice, long sleep.

The story is utterly charming and the illustrations are just lovely. A fantastic and unique choice for a story time, as it's quieter than most, but engrossing, and perfect for a one-on-one read with your toddler or preschooler. I loved it!

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Very Hairy Bear
Alice Schertle
30 pages
Board Book
Houghton Mifflin
9780547594071
October 2011
Review copy provided by publisher

Winter is coming...where do the animals go?

2011-11-03T09:25:00.000-04:00

I was originally going to post these books as a Non-Fiction Monday post later in November, but after the freak Northeast snowstorm this past weekend, I thought teachers and parents may want them earlier! Both are great for educating kids on what happens during the winter months of the year in the animal/insect kingdoms.

Not a Buzz to Be Found by Linda Glaser and illustrator Jaime Zollars

Where do all the insects go during the snowy, cold winter? Glaser examines 12 different insects and their habits during the winter. And cool insects too! Ladybugs, wooly bear caterpillars, dragonflys, etc. The illustrations are excellent, a bit unique, which is always nice to see when you've looked at thousands of books.

The flow of the rhyming is a tad awkward at times, but the inclusion of facts into the rhymes, as well as the use of insects that many of us may not automatically think of, made up for that...at least for me. I may not use this as a read aloud, but to discuss insects in winter, definitely.

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Not a Buzz to Be Found: Insects in Winter
Linda Glaser
32 pages
Non-Fiction
Millbrook
9780761356448
November 2011
Review copy provided by publisher

Over and Under the Snow by Kate Messner and illustrator Christopher Silas Neal

This was uses a sweet story of a child and her father spending time together, skiing through the woods in the winter, discussing where all the animals go during the cold season. He refers to it as a "secret kingdom" under the snow, which is a pretty fabulous description. We may not be able to see what the animals are doing, but Messner shows us that through clues, we can discover a lot.

The flow of the text is perfectly paced and the softness of the illustrations, combined with the subtly of information makes this a really nice bedtime read. Teachers, don't worry, you're kids won't fall asleep if you read it in class, however it makes a nice one-on-one read as well. I really loved it!

A small section in the back expands on each of the animals and their wintry habits.

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Over and Under the Snow
Kate Messner
44 pages
Non-Fiction
Chronicle Books
9780811867849
October 2011
Review copy provided by publisher

I am an affiliate of both IndieBound and Powells and will receive a small percentage of the purchase price.

Week in Review

2011-10-30T20:26:00.000-04:00

Books:

I finished up a couple of books this week, both with reviews to come in the next couple of weeks.

The Scorpio Trials by Maggie Stiefvater was fantastic. Her writing is just impeccable and beautiful. I liked this one much more than her "The Wolves of Mercy Falls" series and cannot wait to see what else comes from her pen (or keyboard as it probably may be).

I finished up Maine by J. Courtney Sullivan on audio and was really impressed by the narrator, Ann Marie Lee. Not the best book I've ever read (or listened to), but I enjoyed it.

I just started The Hundred-Foot Journey by Richard Morais for my book club meeting on Tuesday. It's a super slow read, only because of the amazing amount of detail put into describing the food and setting. So far, it's beautiful.

Blogging:

Have I mentioned that I'm blogging at another blog, as well as here? If you weren't already aware, I'm a bookseller at Hooray for Books! Children's Bookstore and we have a blog! I'm one of several contributors, so not every post is written by me, but you may see some similar posts between this blog and that one. Those would be mine :)

I would love it if you would check it out and spread the word. We don't have a whole lot of readers at this point, but definitely do have a lot of great books suggestions to share, covering genres from board books to adult titles. We have great choices for read alouds and storytimes, gift giving, and those special books to share one-on-one. Check it out!

Baby:

This week, Baby Snow is the size of a butternut squash (about 2.5lbs and 15inches long). Seeing that description had me almost in tears (yeah, hormones), just because I can't believe I actually have a baby that big STILL INSIDE OF ME. Despite all of my doctor's telling me I could have a "normal" pregnancy, as a woman who has gone through a whole lot of bad stuff to get to this point, I am feeling incredibly blessed to have reached 29 weeks and the butternut squash stage. Keep on growing kiddo!

Aaron and I decided on a name this week. Hooray! We really thought we would be making delivery room decisions, but our list plan worked and last week got it down to three, finally making our decision just the other day. Can't let you in on it yet, but it's one we're sticking with :)

And speaking of names, this cool contraption will be going over our little one's crib in the nursery:

No, his name is not Ethan. My mommy brain hasn't kicked in that badly yet. It will be similar to this though, with a white rack and the blue and green letters. Buy your own here, on Etsy of course!

Hope you all have a wonderful week!

Picture Book Saturday

2011-10-29T09:20:00.000-04:00

A Dog is a Dog by Stephan Shaskan

A dog is a dog right? Not if it's a cat. Or a squid. Or a moose! Imagine that! Silliness definitely plays a huge role in this new picture book, from the funny storyline to the bright (and sometimes downright devilish) illustrations, your kids will love shouting out what they think the next animal will be...and you can laugh when they're wrong. ;)

If you're looking for a great read aloud, this is definitely one to pick up next time you're at the bookstore or library. A lot of fun, with excellent rhyming and a bit of quirkiness drawn into the illustrations. A really nice choice to liven up story time and stray away from the same old reads.

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A Dog is a Dog
Stephan Shaskan
40 pages
Picture Book
Chronicle
9780811878968
October 2011
Review copy provided by publisher

Mustache! by Mac Barnett and illustrator Kevin Cornell

Arrogant King? Definitely. Duncan is more concerned with his appearance than maintaining his kingdom and keeping the citizens happy. He stars at himself in mirrors all day and even when the people protest for better roads or safer slides for children (the protest signs are quite humorous), the King's answer is to hang a giant poster of himself on the castle wall, for the kingdom to "enjoy."

A sneaky royal subject begins to gain revenge by painting mustaches all over the King's beloved billboards, enraging Duncan and creating some pretty silly results in the kingdom.

This one was a cute read for your older kids. The illustrations are definitely the standout portion of this story. Make sure you peruse the page for awhile to take in all the great details!

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Mustache!
Mac Barnett
40 pages
Picture Book
Disney Hyperion
9781423116714
October 2011
Review copy provided by publisher

A House in the Woods by Inga Moore

My quieter choice of the week comes from the amazing Inga Moore. I know her work through the gorgeous illustrations she has done for The Secret Garden and The Wind in the Willows, but this one is definitely cute, making a great gift book.

Friendship rises high, as four unlikely friends, two pigs, a bear, and a moose, decide that instead of living in separate houses, they would all be much happier in one big house! The enlist the help of a pack of beavers to build them the home of their dreams and when it's complete, the foursome couldn't be happier. They can now spend their evenings together having dinner and relaxing by the fire.

Nothing incredibly exciting happens in this story, but every once in awhile we all need a "slow it down" story. This would make a great bedtime read, especially with the soft, beautiful illustrations. I loved it!

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A House in the Woods
Inga Moore
48 pages
Picture Book
Candlewick Press
9780763652777
November 2011
Review copy provided by publisher

I am an affiliate of both IndieBound and Powells and will receive a small percentage of the purchase price.

What You Wish For: A Book for Darfur

2011-10-28T08:52:00.000-04:00

Short stories aren't always my thing, but I knew if a book was raising money for an awesome cause, I at least wanted to give it a shot. This collection has stories by some of my favorite authors in the MG/YA genres, including John Green, Francisco X. Stork, Jeanne DuPrau, among others. It has loads going for it...and I chose it as our book club read at Hooray for Books, for October. We ended up having a great discussion!

Though I wasn't totally smitten with all of the stories and poems included in the book, I did appreciate the theme of wishes. Each story had something to do with making a wish, having a wish come true, or what a wish actually meant to the characters involved. I loved Cynthia Voight's "Stepsister," a reimagined Cinderella tale (with a bit of a gruesome ending), and Nikki Giovanni's poem "I Wish I Could Live (in a Book)" was definitely appropriate and fun.

Green and Stork definitely made me happy with their stories, "Reasons" and "The Rules for Wishing," both ending up more on the YA end of the book, which is probably why I liked them a little more.

Overall, a fun book of stories for a great cause. All of the proceeds of the book go to supporting library development in Darfuri refugee camps through Book Wish Foundation. If you have a reader who is hard to buy for, I would definitely recommend picking this one up. A great introduction to some top notch authors/poets and the proceeds all go to charity. Win-win!

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What You Wish For: A Book for Darfur
Book Wish Foundation
288 pages
Middle Grade/Young Adult
G.P. Putnam's Sons
9780399254543
September 2011
Review copy provided by publisher

I am an affiliate of both IndieBound and Powells and will receive a small percentage of the purchase price.

Au Revoir, Crazy European Chick review

2011-10-26T15:52:00.000-04:00

It's been awhile since I've read a book that both captures my attention from the first couple of pages, not letting it go until the very end of the story AND makes me laugh out loud repeatedly. Author Joe Schreiber definitely scored on all levels with this one.

Perry is a pretty typical high school kid...plays in a band, does his homework, dreams about girls he can never get with, etc. After finally landing the biggest gig of his life, Perry's thoughts of stardom are dashed when his parents force him to take their incredibly geeky Lithuanian exchange student to the school's prom, the same night his band is supposed to play in NYC.

Well, Perry definitely ends up making it to NYC, but it's definitely not going as he wanted it to. His exchange student date? She's actually a trained assassin (and quite hot) out to perform a few last "jobs" before heading back to Lithuania. And Perry is now along for the ride, attempting to stay alive while Gobi kills people. Totally violent, hilariously fun, and even a bit sweet at times.

I will warn, there is definitely some language in this one (but no f-bombs that I can recall), lots of violence (like bullets, stabbings, etc.), and a whole bunch of sexual references. Most definitely a teen book and one that will appeal to both guys AND girls, which is nice.

I had a lot of fun reading this one! Would have made a great "beach book," had it been out during the summer.

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Au Revoir, Crazy European Chick

Joe Schreiber

192 pages

Young Adult

Houghton Mifflin

9780547577388

October 2011

Review copy provided by publisher

Week in Review

2011-10-24T09:13:00.000-04:00

Well, better late than never right? This post is coming to you on a Monday, rather than my usual Sunday, because I had such a fun, fabulous weekend, I was just too tired to write one up last night.

Saturday brought an awesome way to serve at our church, along with 250 others (just for our shift). We helped package a total of 142,000 meals to send to Haiti for hunger relief, via the assistance of an organization called Stop Hunger Now.

They go all around the country, hosting these volunteer events, and having people like us package these meals and then ship them to areas where people are suffering from extreme hunger and poverty. Our church has a special connection to Haiti, my husband even went on a mission trip there after the earthquake, so we loved being able to help even more.

After that, it was off to the mall with my small group ladies for a loooooong (but FUN) afternoon/evening of shopping and visiting. Left he house at 730am and didn't get home until almost 9pm! Hard day on my feet, but a joyful one.

Sunday brought a trip to the Shenandoah Valley for Aaron and I. We've been wanting to drive Skyline Drive and see the foliage each fall since we've been here, but had yet to actually do so. We figure doing it before this little man arrives is a good plan, so we packed up the dogs, drove the hour there and proceeded to take some fantastic photos and enjoy an amazing fall day.

We wish we had thought to pack up a lunch and then we could have spent even longer, but once in the Shenandoah National Park (which charges a ridiculous rate to get in btw), there really isn't any place to get food! And trust me, after a couple of hours, I'll fight someone for a sandwich ;)

We did talk about going back this spring/summer for a day trip with the baby and packing up food and books and enough stuff to really enjoy the woods and the gorgeous views. It's such a beautiful place, I highly recommend driving it if you're ever in this part of the country.

Oh...and the girls had a blast too! Shae loves anything that has to do with being outside and Zoey just wants to be with people, so they enjoyed themselves playing outside and hanging their heads out the window. So glad we decided to take them.

Alright, enough of that...onto the "normal" Week in Review stuff.

Books:

I'm in the middle of listening to Maine by Courtney J. Sullivan and have become quite invested in these characters' lives! It's one of the first times that there are actually characters I really, really don't like and I'm still enjoying the book. A great listen so far.

I had a rough week in terms of physical books, not being able to find one that fit the mood I was in. I'm finally about 1/4 of the way into The Homecoming of Samuel Lake by Jenny Wingfield, as well as an advanced copy of an upcoming middle grade novel called Storybound by Marissa Burt. Honestly, I'm ready for 2011 to be over, so I can get my hands on 2012 books...here's to hoping I won't have such a streak of reading slumps next year.

Baby:

This week, I'm being told the baby is the size of an eggplant or a Chinese cabbage. Not entirely sure what a Chinese cabbage even is, but he's around 2lbs and about 13-14inches long. I hit 28 weeks yesterday...hooray for the 3rd trimester!

Hope you all enjoyed your week!

Picture Book Saturday

2011-10-22T21:59:00.000-04:00

How Do You Feed a Hungry Giant? by Caitlin Friedman and illustrator Shaw Nielson

Though it's not every day little boys find giants in their backyard, Oscar knows he can't turn away from this one. This poor giant is HUNGRY, or so his sign says. Oscar proceeds to do everything he can to help fill the giant's belly, from bunches of grapes to pizzas and jars of peanut butter. Nothing seems to help! Eventually, Oscar really does have to ask himself: how DO you feed a hungry giant?

The text is simple and bold on the page and the illustrations also evoke a sense of simplicity, which was really nice to see. A lot of "busy" illustrations in books today and this one was just the right match for the story. The addition of a few pull tabs, lift-the-flaps, and pop-ups keep things interesting without being over the top.

Two thumbs up!

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How Do You Feed a Hungry Giant?
Caitlin Friedman
32 pages
Picture Book
Workman
978076157526
October 2011
Review copy provided by publisher

I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen

Poor bear has lost his hat. Sad day. He goes around asking his fellow woodland dwellers whether or not they're seen the hat, all responding that they hadn't...except for one fellow, who definitely responds NO, but careful watchers will see otherwise. When the bear figures out who indeed does have his hat, he definitely gets it back...quietly, calmly, and in a very "bear-like" way.

Spoiler!!

(The bear eats the rabbit.)

Loved this one! Another simple story, but is one has a quirky twist at the end that will delight kids and probably cause some parents to put it back on the shelf. Those are always the best books I think. Add a little pizzazz to your reading pile!

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I Want My Hat Back
Jon Klassen
40 pages
Picture Book
Candlewick
9780763655983
September 2011
Review copy provided by publisher

I am an affiliate of both IndieBound and Powells and will receive a small percentage of the purchase price.

How to Save a Life review

2011-10-21T10:34:00.000-04:00

Jill, a girl grieving over the death of her father still isn't quite sure what her new "normal" is supposed to be. Mandy, raised by a single mom who never really wanted her in the first place, is pregnant and desperately in need of someone to help her. When Jill's mom decides to adopt Mandy's baby and moves the pregnant teen into their home until the baby is born, Jill's life is completely thrown out of control. What does this girl want from her family? Why doesn't her story add up? Why does her mom want a baby of all things in the first place?

Told from the perspective of both Mandy and Jill, the reader is able to gain insight into what each girl is personally dealing with on an emotional level, while also attempting to blend their lives together with a new "family member." A lesson on compassion and healing is delivered along with a beautiful story and realistic characters. Even the secondary characters were done in a way that allowed us to connect with them and see their points of view on the adoption, the entire situation with Mandy as a whole, the relationship between Jill and her mother, etc.

Sara Zarr never disappoints me :) Highly recommended for those of you that have picked up a Zarr book before, have never seen a Zarr book before, enjoy reading Sarah Dessen or other realistic, contemporary fiction, or just need a great read.

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How to Save a Life
Sara Zarr
341 pages
Young Adult
Little, Brown
9780316036061
October 2011

I am an affiliate of both IndieBound and Powells and will receive a small percentage of the purchase price.

Mini-Audio reviews

2011-10-19T10:38:00.000-04:00

Ok, I've been crazy for the audiobook for years now, but with the long commute to and from work and the fact that we only have one television in our house, plus the long walks I've been taking with the pup, I've been listening to more and more of them in recent months. And have yet to write about most of them. Blogger fail. Therefore, here are a few super-quick, thoughts-only, reviews for you on whether or not I liked the plot/narration.

The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison Allen; narrated by Karen White

I was impressed with how the tiny bit of "magic" involved in the story was woven in and fit perfectly. Not many authors could pull that off, but Allen definitely did. I really liked each character in their own way, though I did find Willa a bit stifling at times. The Southern setting was great and the book was a nice choice for reading during the summer.

Narration: White's voice was perfect for describing the sweet smells of peaches in the air and the manner in which she changed tones for Willa and Paxton was seamless. I really liked her reading.

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The Saturdays by Elizabeth Enright; narrated by Pamela Dillman

This was my first jump into an Elizabeth Enright book (I know, GASP!) and though I enjoyed it well enough, I think I'm partial to The Penderwicks for wholesome stories about siblings making their own fun. I did really like the concept of this particular story (haven't read the rest of the Melendy series yet) and the interaction between the kids was sweet, though not always believable.

Narration: I don't think I've ever experienced this narrator before, but she did a nice job distinguishing between the children. Her voice would be great for bedtime reading!

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Red Hook Road by Ayelet Waldman; narrated by Kimberly Farr

The story is so beautifully done in so many ways, though it definitely falls on the depressing side of the emotional spectrum. This is a sad novel, a heartwrenching portrayal of a family's life after tragedy, and the sadness will creep into your bones as you listen. Definitely a character-driven story and one I won't be forgetting anytime soon. Just make sure you read it when the sun is shining!

Narration: I was not impressed with the Maine accents Farr gave to the men. I think she made them sound slightly ridiculous and as if they were unintelligent, rather than simply having a thick accent. Hard to explain, but I don't think it was done well. I, personally, didn't need an accent to know anyone was from Maine...it was mentioned at least 100 times throughout the story.

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The Autobiography of Mrs. Tom Thumb by Melanie Benjamin; narrated by Kim Mai Guest

An absolutely fascinating story. I had never known much about Tom Thumb's life, let alone his wife's and though fictionalized, I really was intrigued by the entire concept of this story. I felt it rushed along in some places and I can't say I was a great fan of Vinnie's by the end, but the overall story was enjoyable.

Narration: Guest did a beautiful job at portraying the stubborn and often frustrating Vinnie, as well as the other characters in the story. I would definitely seek out another audiobook read by her.

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The Scorch Trials by James Dashner; narrated by Mark Deakins

It's taken me almost 2 years to get to the 2nd book in this series. Why, I'm not sure. I loved The Maze Runner, but feel Dashner fell into a bit of a sophomore slump with this one. It was action-packed, as the first book definitely was, but I was unable to connect with any of the characters, which could have had to do with the narrator.

Narration: Not a fan. Deakins almost reminded me of the reader of The Lightning Thief (Jesse Bernstein), which, unfortunately, is not a compliment. Bummer.

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The Borrower by Rebecca Makkai; narrated by Emily Bauer

Though the plot of this wonderful little novel is completely ridiculous, unbelievable, and completely not-plausible, I loved it. The bookish quotes and references were perfect for my personality and fit into the story perfectly. I loved the characters, the slow-moving plot, and the emotional descriptions Makkai used. Fun!

Narration: I thought Bauer's voice was perfect for the book and for what I imagined Lucy to sound like. Young enough to still be naive without sounding like a little girl.

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I am an affiliate of both IndieBound and Powells and will receive a small percentage of the purchase price.

Non-Fiction Monday: Just a Second

2011-10-17T10:52:00.000-04:00

Woohoo! A new book from Steve Jenkins! In the non-fiction world, he's one of my favorites, combining really cool, unique illustrations and facts kids love. Short, to the point, fun, and educational...the best combo for a successful non-fiction book for kids, in my opinion.

This one, as the subtitle suggests, looks at time in a different way. Listing different things that happen in one second, one minute, one hour, etc., we get little fact tidbits relating to animals, insects, population, and more. My favorite fact? "In one hour, feeding on its mother's milk, a baby blue whale gains almost ten pounds." IN ONE HOUR. Ten pounds people! Isn't that crazy?!

The page layout is readable and visually intriguing and the extras in the back, like the chart of Earth's Human Population and the timeline of different animal Life Spans add a cool factor to the informational aspects.

Steve Jenkins has yet to disappoint me! I would highly recommend checking this out for your library or homeschool shelves.

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Just A Second: A Different Way to Look at Time
Steve Jenkins
40 pages
Non-Fiction
Houghton Mifflin
978061870896
October 2011
Review copy provided by publisher

I am an affiliate of both IndieBound and Powells and will receive a small percentage of the purchase price.

Week in Review

2011-10-16T19:52:00.000-04:00

It's been two weeks since my last Week in Review post, but honestly, nothing exciting was happening around here (which is just the way I like it). This week, however, lots of fun stuff to talk about. Long post ahead, but there's pictures and a giveaway! Hooray!

Baby:

Favorite topic ever. Can you blame me? So, we had our big growth scan this week, making sure my past history with early-onset preeclampsia is not making a reappearance. Baby Snow is growing right on schedule, at about 2lbs, and has a super cute face. Definitely his daddy's nose according to the 3-D ultrasound. My blood pressure, however, is slowly starting to increase, despite new medications, so they're watching me closely. No other pre-e symptoms yet though, so I think we're still good.

He was breech this time around, which would explain the super-low stomping I continuously feel, and though we were suppose to get our "he's definitely a boy" statement, the stinker had one leg tucked right up under him the entire scan (30 minutes) and sucked on the toes of his other foot. Flexible AND sneaky. We're sticking with boy though, 90% is pretty good odds for me.

Baby is the size of an EGGPLANT this week, which is amazing. At this point in my pregnancy with Jacob (27 weeks), we were about to have an emergency delivery in 3 days. I cannot imagine having a baby at this point this time around, so I'm glad this one feels the need to continue the cooking. We have chats every day where I tell him to stay put until Christmas (and he proceeds to kick me in the bladder).

I had an amazing friend throw me a "Poky Little Puppy" baby shower on Saturday, which was amazing. I've never had one...with Jacob my shower was a week AFTER he was born, 3,000 miles away, and though I was supposed to have a big shower in NY last month, my grandmother unexpectedly passed away 2 days prior. This one was small and quiet, but perfect for me, who isn't quite the fan of being the center of attention.

We had a "country brunch" complete with food inspired from the classic Golden Book. Muffins with flavors of rice pudding, chocolate custard, and strawberry shortcake were yummy, though left me questioning again...who fed their puppies dessert back when The Poky Little Puppy was written?? Or even now??

We made a wish tree for the baby, filled with everyone's thoughts for him for the future, which I LOVED...what a great keepsake! And we had fun playing with new baby toys and clothes. It was a great day.

Books:

Moving on from baby-land....I'm in the middle of Alex George's A Good American, releasing this coming February, and it's FABULOUS people. A wonderful look at American life from an immigrant's eyes. The writing is fantastic and I can't wait to see where it goes. It keeps me company in the middle of the night, as I haven't been sleeping well lately, so I'm able to really concentrate on the beautiful words...quiet house, quiet mind!

I also started Maine by Courtney J. Sullivan on audio a few days ago and so far, I'm really enjoying it. I definitely go for more character-based novels than those filled with action or a whole lot of plot, so I think I'm going to appreciate this one a lot. I wish I had been able to get it during the summer though, perfect summer read!

I brought home A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness from the library. A coworker insisted I read it, though I'm not totally sold yet. If you've read it and loved it, sell me!

Winnings/Giveaways:

So, I never win things. Just doesn't happen. And on Saturday, the most perfect day this week already, I found out I won a giveaway! Lisa, one of my favorite bloggers, was giving away the most adorable owl coin purses to celebrate her 5th anniversary of blogging and I won this guy:

You should definitely check out her Etsy shop: Made by Lisah. She's selling the owls, along with a bunch of other great items for kids AND adults One of my favorite shops. She does custom orders too...just ask my dog :) Her bed was crafted by Lisa!

I also have a giveaway going on...details can be found here. Picture books just in time for the holidays!

Phew! Lots of stuff! Hope everyone else had a great week!

Picture Book Saturday: Giveaways!

2011-10-15T08:05:00.000-04:00

Two sets of giveaways in one month, what do you think about that?! Instead of my usual Picture Book Saturday post, I wanted to let you know about this fabulous giveaway I'm having, featuring a couple of books from Sleeping Bear Press, one of my favorite publishers of books for kids.

They've been gracious enough to offer TWO winners each a copy of When Anju Loved Being an Elephant by Wendy Henrichs and Acoustic Rooster and His Barnyard Band by Kwame Alexander (which I reviewed here). Anju has gorgeous illustrations and a really sweet story and Acoustic Rooster is a whole lot of fun. A great gift combo for those upcoming holidays presents we all have to give, hint, hint.

Entering is simple. Leave a comment by Thursday 10/20 at 11:59pm and I'll pick two winners. Nothing complicated, no extra entries. If you want the books, just say so! Sleeping Bear Press will mail the books out to the winners shortly after they receive your snail mail addresses.

A Monster Calls review

2011-10-11T12:35:00.000-04:00

I am a huge fan of the "Chaos Walking" series by Patrick Ness and I was more than a bit apprehensive to pick up a new book by him, knowing that it was absolutely nothing like his previous novels. I was afraid it would fall short and my literary crush would be forced to dissipate. Definitely didn't want that to happen, so I almost didn't even read this one! That would have been a very bad decision.

Ness creates a character in 13-year-old Conor that leaves the reader heartbroken, yet hopeful. His mom is sick with cancer, slowly succombing to the disease, though Conor believes a monster that comes to him in his backyard can cure her. Different from the monster that has invaded Conor's nightmares since his mother became sick, this one actually communicates with him, wanting something from Conor.

The story, mixed with bold black and white illustrations, is one the reader will not soon be able to forget. Thought-provoking, humbling, and simply beautiful in structure, Conor will fill your heart with the sadness he's feeling, while finally allowing the possibility of his own healing process to come to light. It will haunt you, but in the most perfect of ways.

I loved every minute I spent with this book and highly recommend it!

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A Monsters Call
Patrick Ness
224 pages
Young Adult
Candlewick
9780763655594
October 2011
Review copy provided by publisher

I am an affiliate of both IndieBound and Powells and will receive a small percentage of the purchase price.

Picture Book Saturday

2011-10-08T15:09:00.000-04:00

Stars by Mary Lyn Ray and illustrator Marla Frazee

Combine a super sweet story with one of my favorite illustrators and you'll definitely have winner on your hands. Going down as one of my favorites of the year, Stars is incredibly simple, explaining all the wonderful places one might find stars and just what those stars can mean.

From being given a shiny star for doing something great, to blowing on a dandelion and releasing thousands of stars into the sky, this is an absolutely beautiful representation about appreciating the little things in life. One of my favorites of the year...though I think I say that about anything Marla Frazee is involved in!

I'll definitely be giving this one out as a gift this Christmas!

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Stars
Mary Lyn Ray
40 pages
Picture Book
Beach Lane
9781442422490
October 2011
Review copy provided by publisher

Grandpa Green by Lane Smith

I've never come across a Lane Smith book that I didn't like and I think this one will be going on the "love" shelf! A beautiful telling of Great-Grandpa Green's life, through the amazing topiary trees he created in the garden. It's not only an exploration of family history from a young boy's perspective, but also a whimsical look at just what can be made out of nature.

I loved the flow of the story and though the concept is rather serious, the overall feel is that of wonder and amazement. Learning about heritage is incredibly important in one's family and this book might get your younger children asking questions about their own families.

An absolutely lovely book! Pick one up for grandparents or your own grandchildren!

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Grandpa Green
Lane Smith
32 pages
Picture Book
Roaring Brook Press
978159436077
August 2011
Review copy provided by publisher

Reaching by Judy Ann Sadler and illustrator Susan Mitchell

If you have a baby shower gift to buy, keep your eyes on the lookout for this book! A new baby has arrived and his large family all has different ways of showing him love. From Oma playing peek-a-boo to puppy licking baby's face and sister tickling, the whole family loves their new addition and has wonderful ways of showing it.

A very simple concept presented with a great rhyming flow. I loved that the extended family was all included in the story and the soft illustrations make for a nice book to read before bedtime.

I think I would have liked to see this as a board book, rather than a picture book, as the age range could definitely be infant-toddler and the pages are pretty easy to tear. I'm all about durability!

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Reaching
Judy Ann Sadler
40 pages
Picture Book
Kids Can Press
9781554534562
August 2011
Review copy provided by publisher

Guest Post: Bobbie Pyron, author of A Dog's Way Home

2011-10-07T07:10:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, I posted my review of the heartwarming A Dog's Way Home (which I'm also giving away), and I'm lucky enough to have Bobbie Pyron stopping by today to tell us a few of her favorite dog books. I love dogs myself, as you all know, and some of these I've read and others I haven't. Enjoy!

(My apologies for the strange font changes. Blogger did not like the document Bobbie sent)

As a passionate dog person, dog writer and librarian, I often get asked what my favorite dog books are. Not surprisingly, I have lots! I will also admit to not reading books with characters other than dogs—at least not normally. I know there’s lots of wonderful books out there with cats, rabbits, mice, and especially horses as main characters. But I’m a true blue dog person.

With one recent exception. I was very lucky to receive from my editor of A Dog’s Way Home an amazing book called The One and Only Ivan, by Katherine Applegate. Does that name ring a bell? That’s because Ms Applegate is the author of the wildly popular “Animorphs” series. This new book of hers doesn’t come out until January of 2012, but I’ll give you a little sneak peak.

This is the story of a gorilla named Ivan who has lived most of his life in a cage as the main attraction at a roadside zoo. He has never seen another gorilla, except on TV. Despite his heritage as a proud silverback male gorilla, Ivan feels there’s really nothing he can do to change his life. Until he makes a promise to two elephants—one old, and one a baby. This is a book that made me laugh and cry and hug to my chest when I finished it. The One and Only Ivan has Newbery written all over it!

Now on to dog books!

· Because of Winn Dixie, by Kate DiCamillo

Just last night, I had a lengthy conversation with a 5^th grader at the library about how wonderful Kate DiCamillo is and, more specifically, her wonderful Because of Winn Dixie. In Because of Winn Dixie, Opal and her father, the preacher, move to Naomi, Florida, Opal goes into the Winn-Dixie supermarket — and comes out with a dog. With the help of her new pal, whom she names Winn-Dixie, Opal makes a variety of new, interesting friends and spends the summer collecting stories about them and thinking about her absent mother. But because of Winn-Dixie, or perhaps because she has grown, Opal learns to let go, just a little, and that friendship — and forgiveness — can sneak up on you like a sudden summer storm. Recalling the fiction of Harper Lee and Carson McCullers, here is a funny, poignant, and unforgettable coming-of-age novel. My young friend and I agreed the book is a million zillion times better than the movie!

· Love that Dog, by Sharon Creech

Given that my young patron loved Kate DiCamillo’s books, I recommended to her one of my other favorite authors, Sharon Creech. I added to her growing stack of books Love that Dog. Written in free verse, Love that Dog is told from the view point of Jack. Jack hates poetry. Only girls write it and every time he tries to, his brain feels empty. But his teacher, Ms. Stretchberry, won’t stop giving her class poetry assignments—and Jack can’t avoid them. But then something amazing happens. The more he writes, the more he learns he does have something to say, especially when it comes to a certain dog.

With a fresh and deceptively simple style, acclaimed author Sharon Creech tells a story with enormous heart. Love That Dog shows how one boy finds his own voice with the help of a teacher, a writer, a pencil, some yellow paper, and of course, a dog.

· A Dog’s Life: the autobiography of a stray, by Ann M. Martin

Okay, so you know this name as the author of the Babysitter’s Club series, right? But she’s also the author of some amazing, beautifully written novels for middle graders and teens, including A Dog’s Life. Normally, I don’t like “talking dog” stories: I find them too precious. But Martin tells this dog’s story in a voice that is both dignified and true. Squirrel is not like most dogs. Born a stray, she must make her own way in the world, facing busy highways, changing seasons, and humans both gentle and brutal. Her life story, in her own words, is marked by loss, but also by an inspiring instinct to survive. And when it seems she will roam the woods and country roads alone forever, Squirrel makes two friends who, in very different ways, define her fate. This is not a bouncy, easy story. I tend to recommend it to older middle graders or dog-loving teens and adults. It is a haunting and hopeful story.

Martin has since written a sequel to A Dog’s Life titled Everything for a Dog.

· Lassie Come-Home, by Eric Knight

Any discussion of favorite dog books of mine would be pointless without this classic. This is the original Lassie Come-Home, published in the 1930s and set in Scotland. There is no Timmy forever falling down wells and getting trapped in abandoned mines in this book. Just one very devoted, much-loved collie trying to make her way back home through the wilds of the Scottish highlands. It is an absolute must for any dog lover of any age.

Thanks for stopping by, Bobbie! Don't forget to enter my giveaway for a copy of A Dog's Way Home!

A Dog's Way Home review and a GIVEAWAY

2011-10-06T08:48:00.000-04:00

11-year-old Abby and her dog, Tam, are best friends that do everything together. On a trip home from a competition with Tam, a car accident results in Abby being hospitalized and Tam's crate being thrown from their vehicle, landing somewhere in the woods by the side of the road. Abby is sick with worry and even more so when no one can find Tam.

Days turn into weeks and months and Abby doesn't give up hope. Tam, as determined as his person to make his way back home, fights against all odds to find Abby again. Their amazing tale is told from each perspective, showcasing a loyalty between species that any reader could appreciate.

Pyron created a character in Abby that middle grade readers can easily relate to. She's strong, courageous, and determined, making her an excellent role model for readers. Tam, is incredibly brave, loyal, and beautifully done as his own character.

A Dog's Way Home would make an excellent family read aloud, especially for fans of The Incredible Journey, Shiloh, or other books with strong dog characters. Highly recommended!

Alright, so you know you don't get a whole lot of giveaways here at the blog anymore, but I liked this book SO MUCH that when Virtual Author Book Tours offered up a copy for you guys, I definitely wanted to offer it. And it's super simple to enter, no crazy requirements.

Leave a comment telling me you want to enter and please make sure you leave your contact email. Giveaway is open until next Thursday October 13th at 11:59pm. One winner will be chosen to receive a paperback copy of A Dog's Way Home. GREAT for a gift for the holidays or to keep on your own shelves.

U.S. and Canada only please. Good luck!

Check back tomorrow...I'll have a guest post from author Bobbie Pyron!

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Buy from Powells

A Dog's Way Home

Bobbie Pyron

336 pages

Middle Grade

Katherine Tegan Books

9780061986741

March 2011

Review copy provided by author

With a Name Like Love review

2011-10-04T10:46:00.000-04:00

13 year old Ollie is used to living on the road. Her daddy, Reverend Everlasting Love, is a preacher, leading tent revivals all across the country for a living. Ollie, along with her parents and sisters, live in the travel trailer they pull along from town to town, being homeschooled and teaching the country about God.

When the family arrives in Binder, Arkansas, Ollie expects the three days to be like every other revival time. Passing out flyers, singing, collecting the offering, and packing up. However, she meets Jimmy Koppel, a troubled boy whose mother is in jail for murdering his father. Jimmy knows his mother didn't commit the crime and Ollie wholeheartedly believes him.

Convinced her family needs to help Jimmy, Ollie must prove to her father that they have to stay in Binder for longer than their usual three days, whether they're wanted in Binder or not.

This little book was such a heartwarming example of friendship and kindness that I smiled through almost the entire thing. Ollie has such a brave and strong persona, that even cruel townspeople are no match when she puts her mind to helping Jimmy, even when everyone else has simply cast him aside as a troublemaker.

A colorful cast of characters adds to the richness of the novel and the added bit of mystery will appeal to those that like more meat to their story.

Though Ollie and her family are driven to Binder by their faith and their are moments of quoted Scripture, I would definitely not be classifying the book as religious fiction. Simply a plot point and an added character trait in Ollie, I thought it was beautifully woven into the realistic fiction nature of the overall story. No need to be wary if you typically stray away from books mentioning God.

Ollie and her story carved a little place in my heart and I would love to get this in the hands of kids, as it has a great message of compassion. Though Ollie is 13, I would recommend this for the middle grade age range of 9-12ish. Nothing objectionable, easy to read, etc. Would make a nice family read too.

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Buy from IndieBound

With a Name Like Love
Tess Hilmo
256 pages
Middle Grade
FSG
9780374384654
September 2011
Review copy provided by publisher

Picture Book Saturday

2011-10-01T17:35:00.001-04:00

The Splendid Spotted Snake by Betty Ann Schwartz and illustrator Alexander Wilensky

What a fun book! Telling the simple story of a snake with different colored spots could not possibly be more exciting than with this magic ribbon technique. I've never seen anything else with an interactive element quite like this before, each page pulling a different portion of ribbon through slots in the pages, and kids are going to get the biggest kick out of it!

The snake grows bigger and more colorful with each page turn and the book is made of heavy duty pages and ribbon, ensuring its ability to last for more than a few reads (which all of you librarians and booksellers will appreciate). The ending is quite clever and a bit of a surprise, making for a nice read aloud as well.

Buy from Powells

The Splendid Spotted Snake: A Magic Ribbon Book
Betty Ann Schwartz
9 pages
Picture Book
Workman
978076163602
October 2011
Review copy provided by publisher

Colors of Me by Brynne Barnes and illustrator Annika M. Nelson

I always appreciate finding new books that speak about differences between children in a thought-provoking, yet age-appropriate way. The beautiful collage illustrations in this one, paired with verse that offers questions surrounding color.

"If flowers had no colors, would they smell as sweet?" and "What color am I to the moon? What color am I to the sea?" are great examples of how the book not only questions what skin color means, but also what color in general means, in a manner that even toddlers can understand.

The illustrations are fabulous and though I'm not familiar with other work by Nelson, I'll definitely be seeking her illustrated books out.

Buy from Powells

Colors of Me
Brynne Barnes
28 pages
Picture Book
Sleeping Bear Press
9781585365418
September 2011
Review copy provided by publisher

Fall Mixed Up by Bob Raczka and illustrator Chad Cameron

This is my storytime read of the week! Better than any "Opposite Day" trick, all of the fun experiences of fall have been mixed up into a super silly rhyming story. Pumpkins are red and apples are orange, squirrels are flying south, bonfires are cool...literally...and kids are eating caramel covering pumpkins and warm apple syrup. Everything you know about fall is flipped upside down!

Kids will love picking out the mistakes and laughing over silly bears gathering nuts and neighbors handing out stuffing and drumsticks at Halloween. It's all very silly and the rhyme flows perfectly. Great for reading aloud to a lively group of kids!

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Fall Mixed Up
Bob Raczka
40 pages
Picture Book
Carolrhoda Books
9780761346067
September 2011
Review copy provided by publisher

Bigger Than a Bread Box review

2011-09-30T17:37:00.001-04:00

Rebecca's parents have just separated and she is having an incredibly difficult time dealing with the changes. Her mom takes her to live with her Gran, far away from her father and her home, mixing up her entire world and confusing her even more.

When she discovers a bread box in her Gran's attic, one that just happens to be magical, delivering whatever Rebecca asks for, she believes she's found the answers to all of her troubles. Not only can she use the breadbox to fit in with the kids at her new school, asking for cool clothes and such, but she can also use the breadbox to help get her parents back together. Or so she thinks...

A very eloquent and intelligent child, Rebecca explains her emotions regarding the separation of her parents in a thought-provoking, yet age-appropriate way. It definitely has a touch of fantasy, but the bread box portion of the story is blended so seamlessly into the different changes in Rebecca's life that it felt like complete realistic fiction. I would imagine it would be quite difficult to accomplish that, so kudos to Snyder!

Bigger Than a Bread Box is a smart story with great elements of humor and hope. I could definitely see this being helpful to children going through significant changes in their lives, as well as being simply an enjoyable leisure read. Super cute cover too!

Buy from Powells

Bigger Than a Bread Box
Laurel Snyder
240 pages
Middle Grade
Random House
9780375869167
September 2011
Review copy provided by publisher

Non-Fiction Monday: Swirl by Swirl

2011-09-26T08:00:00.001-04:00

Swirl by Swirl is not only a great resource for teaching about different kinds of spirals found in nature, it is SO gorgeous and visually stimulating. I suppose that's what happens when you take Joyce Sidman, winner of the Caldecott Honor for two books and pair her up with Beth Krommes, Caldecott Medalist for a book as well.

Told in beautiful verse, the reader can go through each page reading and imagining all types of different spirals that are out in the world, while also seeing all sorts of different animals, insects, and plants all of which are identified with small text.

My favorite page is easily the spread featuring a tornado and thunderstorm. Just so pretty and a nice lesson, as most of us wouldn't even think to place a tornado in line with other spirals and swirls.

The last page spread expands on the non-fiction portion of the book, explaining the purpose of certain spirals, their use in nature, and even goes into the concept of the Fibonacci spiral, though just a little. Enough to get kids interested!

This is going down as one of my favorite NF books of the year. Great for reading aloud, as the text flows perfectly and the illustrations will definitely grab the attention of young listeners. I highly recommend ordering it for your library or bookstore.

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Swirl by Swirl: Spirals in Nature
Joyce Sidman
40 pages
Non-Fiction
Houghton Mifflin
9780547315836
October 2011
Review copy provided by publisher

Week in Review

2011-09-25T17:58:00.000-04:00

Since getting back from NY last week, I feel like we haven't stopped moving. I worked this week, which is totally normal for most people, but I've cut back on hours since September 1st (to supposedly relax and help this baby cook), so the work definitely was exhausting. Long commutes = extra long days. It was really nice to be back in the store though and catch-up on all that's been going on.

The highlight of my week was definitely meeting up with Jackie and her husband and having lunch and gelato! She lives in Seattle and I'm all the way over here on the East Coast, so even after "knowing" each other for something like 5 years, we'd never met up in person. YAY for finally doing so!

Here's what else I've been up to:

Books:

I've finally kicked the reading slump, hopefully for good. Finished a bunch of good books this week, including Everybody Sees the Ants by A.S. King and With a Name Like Love by Tess Hilmo, as well as the audio of The Autobiography of Mrs. Tom Thumb. Look for reviews of those in the coming weeks. All were really good!

I'm in the middle of Domestic Violets by Matthew Norman for my book club and though it's not a book I would automatically pick up and I'm not even sure I like it, I'm enjoying the reading experience, if that makes any sense. Plus, it's a quick read, so even if the amount of language and sex talk really start to get to me, at least it's going by quickly ;)

I'm also listening to The Borrower by Rebecca Makkai and really, really liking it. The narrator is perfect and the story is great for librarians (or even booksellers).

TV:

It was finally premiere week! LOVED The New Girl and hated Whitney. The Office was hilarious, though how I didn't hear anything leaked about Jim and Pam having a 2nd baby, I don't know. We also watched The X Factor (even the husband wanted to see it) and both agreed that it's already way better than Idol. We'll see if that lasts.

I'm still very much loving Project Runway, though I really can't decide who my favorite is. I think Laura makes clothes that I would buy, but I love Anya's style and personality. My admiration for Bert ended after week 2, I promise...now he just bugs the heck out of me.

Still not sold on Up All Night. Has it's chuckle-worthy moments, but nothing I wouldn't be ok with missing out on. Same with Season 3 of Glee. Uhhh...boring premiere. And we still have Grey's on the DVR. I love having too much to watch!

Baby:

This week our munchkin is the length of an ear of corn and I'm definitely enjoying the interaction he gives me alllll day long. Seriously, this kid already never sleeps, I'm in for it in a few months. During church today, especially during worship, he had his own little dance party...it was quite adorable :)

We made a few nursery purchases this week too, which was a lot of fun. Just window treatments, but we're doing a white blackout shade with this cute valance:

It goes with our super simple, but cute bedding set:

When we had Jacob we did the whole "register for a $300.00 bedding set" thing and yes, it was ADORABLE. But, we won't even use the bumper and if this baby uses the quilt at all it will be to puke and poop on, so we definitely went the more frugal route this time. Plus, we really didn't want to do a room theme (just splashes of hippos around it), so the blue and green will go nicely with the yellow and white walls, rather than having the theme decided by our bedding choice.

Blog:

Just a quick note on some brief changes to the blog. Up until last year, I was an Amazon Associate and made a tiny bit of money on any books purchased via this blog and Amazon.com. Working at an indie, I could no longer justify supporting Amazon, especially while making like .35 cents a purchase. Now that the work I'm doing for real money has become almost non-existant, I'm back to looking for other ways to bring in even the tiniest bit of income. Therefore, I've become affiliates with both IndieBound and Powells. You'll see links to each site after each review I do. Just wanted to give a heads up!

Picture Book Saturday: New books from favorite authors

2011-09-24T16:04:00.001-04:00

Three of my favorite picture book authors have new books popping up right about now and I know you all are fans of some of these too. Enjoy!

The Sniffles for Bear by Bonny Becker and illustrator Kady MacDonald Denton

This is the third installment in this adorable series featuring Bear and Mouse. Bear is his usual grumpy self, though he also happens to have a very bad cold, making him even grumpier. Mouse, always overeager in his willingness to help, makes Bear snippier and grouchier, until of course, Mouse starts to feel yucky and the roles are reversed.

These books are always cute and sweet with soft illustrations that make them perfect for bedtime reading. The silly relationship between Bear and Mouse is definitely giggle-worthy, great for storytimes with toddlers.

Other books in the series include A Visitor for Bear, A Bedtime for Bear, and the early reader A Birthday for Bear.

Buy from Powells

The Sniffles for Bear
Bonny Becker
32 pages
Picture Book
Candlewick Press
9780763647568
September 2011
Review copy provided by publisher

Bear's Loose Tooth by Karma Wilson and illustrator Jane Chapman

Karma Wilson's "Bear" books are some of my favorite to read aloud. The rhymes are always done really well in terms of flow and the silliness of the story comes through perfectly.

In this latest Bear installment, poor Bear has a loose tooth! He's worried about what it means to have a loose tooth, until his faithful friends come to his rescue, as they always do. If you've read the other stories, you'll know Bear is a big worrywart and his friends are always there to comfort him and make him feel better.

Just enough silliness for some giggles and a touch of that sweetness I love in picture books. These books are great to read aloud with your family or for a storytime. I highly encourage checking out the others in the series, as well as Karma Wilson's other titles. She has a lot!

Bear Snores On, Bear Wants More, Bear Stays Up, Bear Feels Scared, Bear Feels Sick, and Bear's New Friend.

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Bear's Loose Tooth
Karma Wilson
40 pages
Picture Book
McElderry Books
9781416958550
August 2011
Review copy provided by publisher

Is Everyone Ready for Fun? by Jan Thomas

Poor chicken has some very excited (and slightly hyper) friends visiting, all of whom insist on jumping on his couch! Well, first they jump, then they dance, then they wiggle, etc. Each time Chicken scolds them for messing around on the couch, they happily stop...but begin again with an equally raucous manner of play.

Very silly with bold, fun illustrations and great text. Books by Jan Thomas are awesome to read to a group of 3-4 year olds, as they are still enthralled with the illustrations and love the hilarity of the words. This one isn't my favorite (that would go to Can You Make a Scary Face?), but it's still a lot of fun.

Others by Thomas include: Can You Make a Scary Face?, Rhyming Dust Bunnies, and A Birthday for Cow, along with a whole bunch of other fun ones!

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Is Everyone Ready for Fun?
Jan Thomas
40 pages
Picture Book
Beach Lane
9781442423640
September 2011
Review copy provided by publisher