confessions of a bookaholic

2011-08-30T14:41:00.002-04:00

I have MOVED!

{review} Easy Canvas Prints

2011-08-15T09:02:00.000-04:00

When I was contacted by Easy Canvas Prints, I was a little hesitant. I haven't had the best luck with other canvas companies because I really do not like how the pictures wrap around the edges. None of my pictures ever work unless I would want to buy the biggest size. So I went to the site and started playing around, and instantly agreed to review the product.

The reason? BORDER OPTIONS, people! You can have image wrap, mirror wrap or colored border wrap! I got to work and uploaded this super precious picture of my cousin G [doodle over face not included :)], chose myself a colored border wrap and was done within 5 minutes.

Friday when I got home from work, I had a package waiting for me. I tore into that sucker so fast and was so happy when I saw the final product! I really love the way my picture looks on the canvas and the colored border is really nice as well. The canvas is very high quality and the prices are quite comparable to other sites. It looks like Easy Canvas Prints is currently offering free shipping, which is always a great thing! I will definitely be ordering some more canvases in the future. They make great gifts!

Thank you Easy Canvas Prints for providing me with this canvas for review on my blog!

Original Post.

What I'm Reading Wednesday!

2011-08-03T13:13:00.002-04:00

Thanks for the Memories by Cecelia Ahern

Original Post <-- new site

Sooo....

2011-07-20T10:46:00.000-04:00

I've been gone for quite awhile now. Anyways, I just decided that I really hate blogger and I find it to be a pain in the behind. I'm working on transferring some stuff over to tumblr. I'll keep this page, but will be posting from now on at tumblr.

If you care to join me, the site is lookatmybooks.tumblr.com. It's a work in progress right now, but I should have it up and running soon!

The Hunger Games Poster

2011-07-19T14:24:00.001-04:00

I'm so excited! I might pee my pants.

May 15, 2011: French Leave

2011-05-14T20:48:00.000-04:00

French Leave by Anna Gavalda

Simon, Garance and Lola flee a family wedding that promises to be dull to visit their younger brother, Vincent, who is working as a guide at a château in the heart of the charming Tours countryside. For a few hours, they forget about kids, spouses, work and the many demands adulthood makes upon them and lose themselves in a day of laughter, teasing, and memories. As simply and as spontaneously as the adventure began, it ends. All four return to their everyday lives, carrying with them the magic of their brief reunion. They are stronger now, and happier, for having rediscovered the ties that bind them. - from Europa

Before I get into my review, I have to apologize. I took a little bit of a break from my blog. I've been in such a reading rut, I just could not force myself to read many quality books. I was tired and cranky, then I picked up this book. This book was the perfect palette cleanser. It was short, but it was not lacking in quality. It cheered me up on this rainy day.

The biggest thing I took away from this book was the importance of a good sibling relationship. I love how these siblings were written. I only have one sister and we are very close, but I've always wondered about the family dynamics of multiple siblings. I loved how close Gary, Lola, Simon and Vincent were, even when they had a long amount of time separating them.

I found myself laughing quite a bit throughout the book. Even the last quote had me laughing. I like a book that makes you laugh. I love the part when Garance decides to skip over her conversation with Lola because it's in their shorthand. So many of my conversations with my sister are like this. We always joke that if someone stumbled into our conversations, they would think we were crazy. Anna Gavalda wrote these siblings so realistic and so loving towards each other.

I loved how quickly I read this book because I was so caught up in the scenery. I didn't even realize I was at the end. I do wish that we could have seen Carine's reaction to being left at the wedding though. That would have been hilarious!

If you are looking for quick, cozy book to read then check this one out. Gavalda creates such a comforting and joyous atmosphere, it's hard not to get hooked.

*Europa provided this book to me for review on this blog.

**Check out Europa's website, they have some excellent books coming out this fall...
I accidentally pre-ordered 4 of them.

March 2011 Books

2011-04-05T15:25:00.005-04:00

The Mortal Instruments Series, Books 1-3 by Cassandra Clare

I can't believe that I haven't read these books yet. I was working at the library, when one of the girls I work with showed me that we got them. This is big news for our library since we are super-behind on YA. She talked me into reading them and I really enjoyed them! Then I found out there would be more books - yay! I have to say that by the end of the 3rd book I was so relieved that Clary and Jace resolved their issues. Before that, I was gagging...you'd have to read it to understand.

What's Up Down There? by Rankin Lissa MD

Listen up ladies...read this book! We all have feminine questions and this book answered any possible question you ever had, and even ones you have never imagined. Not only is this book extremely educational, it's also hilarious! I laughed out loud so many times. Get this book!

Sugar and Spice by Lauren Conrad

The Mortal Instruments series is comprised of extremely thick books. After the second one, I needed something light and fun to cleanse my palette. It's been awhile since I read the other 2 books in the series, but this was easy to pick back up. This light and fun book also offered closure for the series which left me feeling a little bit sad.

Beastly by Alex Flinn
This was a fun retelling of Beauty and the Beast set in modern day NYC. It's a quick book to read (which I always enjoy). I really felt for Adrian (the "Beast") and really wanted him to get his happily ever after. I just purchased another one of Alex Flinn's books and cannot wait to read it!

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver
This book has received many rave reviews, but after I finished I was not raving. In fact, parts of this book kind of made me angry. First of all, I hated Sam's friends and even Sam herself. The amount of drinking and driving in this book is horrifying, and it was something I couldn't look past. Also, the bullying was awful and I really don't think the ending resolved that issue. The ending really annoyed me as well. What was the whole point? I guess you could say the point was that Sam owned up to her mistakes and paid the price, but it still doesn't sit right with me. Overall, I am disappointed with this book.

By The Time You Read This I'll Be Dead by Julie Ann Peters
This book was so heartbreaking. To be bullied to such a point where you don't want to live anymore is a hard thing to read about. It was made even more difficult by the fact that Daelyn couldn't communicate her thoughts and feelings with her family (not that she would). I appreciated that the ending was kind of open. We could assume that she killed herself, or she was starting her life over. In my cheery world I hope she started over, however, I don't think there was enough of a change in her life that would make her want to stay.

Fall for Anything by Courtney Summers
I knew that Culler was up to no good, but I thought his betrayal would be worse! Also, I wanted to slap Eddie for getting into a car with a virtual strange - kids these days! It was kind of hard to figure out where the plot was going - was it going to be a mystery? In the end it was a really sad book. I was annoyed with the Beth character. Could she not see that Eddie was obviously affected just as much as her mother? Hello - her father just committed suicide and you want her to act like the adult?

Hate List by Jennifer Brown
This book was part of my huge library haul, and I saved it for last because the hardcover version is ugly. I'm so shallow! I'm glad I read it though because this book was amazing. School shootings are a touchy subject, and this was beautifully written and I felt so bad for Valerie. My mind is still kind of processing this book, but I think it was my favorite this month. It was so amazing and makes me so thankful I'm not in high school anymore.

Book Review: My One and Only

2011-04-04T04:00:00.010-04:00

My One and Only by Kristan Higgins

Divorce attorney Harper James can't catch a break. Bad enough that she runs into her ex-hubby, Nick, at her sister's destination wedding, but now, by a cruel twist of fate, she's being forced to make a cross-country road trip with him. And her almost-fiancé back at home is not likely to be sympathetic.
Harper can't help that Nick has come blazing back into her life in all of his frustratingly appealing, gorgeous architect glory. But in Nick's eyes, Harper's always been the one. If they can only get it right this time, forever might be waiting—just around the bend. -- from Amazon

I've never read anything by Kristan Higgins before, but I have to say that I'm quite eager to check out some more of her work. I needed a nice romance because I had been reading some long-ish books and I needed something a little light to take the edge off. This book fit the bill.

Harper was a great character and I loved the way second chances were portrayed. It's not a typical standpoint to give a second chance, but I really appreciated it in this setting. If you love contemporary romantic fiction, then you will love this book, I can't wait to pick up some more by Miss Higgins for my summer reading!

*This book was provided by the publisher for review on this blog.

TLC Book Tours: The Map of True Places

2011-03-31T02:00:00.036-04:00

The Map of True Places by Brunonia Barry

Psychotherapist Zee Finch is dealt a blow when one of her patients, a troubled bipolar housewife named Lilly, leaps off a bridge to her death. The tragedy brings up memories of Zee’s own mother’s suicide, prompting her to go see her father, Finch, in Salem. She is startled to find Finch’s Parkinson’s disease is much more advanced than she’d been led to believe, and that he has kicked his partner, Melville, out of the house. Zee decides to take a leave of absence from her practice to care for Finch, a move that puts a strain on her engagement to Michael, one of her mentor’s closest friends. As her relationship with Michael comes to an end, Zee tries to puzzle out what caused Finch to abruptly break up with his beloved Melville. She also tries to make sense of Lilly’s death, unaware that the dangerous man Lilly was involved with now wants to exact revenge on her. Like her hit debut, The Lace Reader (2008), Barry’s second novel features an involving, intricately woven story and vivid descriptions of historic Salem. --Kristine Huntley -- from Amazon*

I read The Lace Reader quite awhile ago and at the time I remember enjoying it, but I kind of forgot about it. I was excited to get the opportunity to read her second book.

Like her previous novel, I felt that this book started out slowly for me but once it got going the twists and turns hooked me. I love how Ms. Barry always incorporates a mystical theme in her books and I enjoy the background of Salem quite a bit. I've always been intrigued by Salem, so I love to read about it. I also love the characters she creates, they are so vivid in my mind when I'm reading.

Another aspect of this book that interested me was Finch's Parkinson's disease. I find books that address different medical conditions to be really interesting and also so heartbreaking because they make you think of a disease in a different way than you normally may have.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed Ms. Barry's lovely way of writing and the intricate stories she weaves.

Brunonia Barry's website, blog, facebook, twitter.

Thanks to TLC Book Tours for allowing me to host a stop on this tour. TLC provided the book for my review. Check out this site to see the rest of the stops.

P.S. If the formatting is kind of funky, I apologize! I cannot get Blogger to cooperate lately.

February Books

2011-03-04T10:04:00.022-05:00

Hold Still by Nina LaCour (February 3, 2011)

Beautiful book. Caitlin was such a great character to read about, I felt her sadness and then I felt her happiness and guilt for being happy. I loved her tree house and really appreciated her parents. They gave her space, and in the end it worked out for them all. Great story.

Left Neglected by Lisa Genova (February 4, 2011)

This was a good book, though not as good as Still Alice. I had a hard time imagining what it would be like to live with Left Neglect. I couldn't imagine not seeing the left, but she wasn't blind her brain wasn't acknowledging left. It was so strange to me to find out that this actually existed.

North of Beautiful by Justina Chen Headley (February 15, 2011)
I loved this book, though I hated her father. Ugh, I wanted to slap him. I loved the trip to China the most because her mother was free there. Great book overall.

The Dead-Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan (February 17, 2011)
I love this series and I appreciated that this was a companion to the first book. We got into the story many years later with Mary's daughter Gabry and this book did not disappoint. I'm thinking I will be purchasing these books because there is a third one coming out next month!

Trapped by Michael Northrop (February 18, 2011)
This book was chilling. I heard about this book awhile back but didn't want to be reading about people being stranded in a blizzard when we were having our own blizzards daily. Today, the weather decided to go up to 47 degrees (yesterday 54). Even better, I could see the grass so I decided I could handle the story. I couldn't imagine those kids handling the weather - 18 feet of snow, trapped in a school. The only negative thing about this book is that it ended so quickly. What happened? We only really know about Scotty's immediate outcome, but what about everyone else. I was so mad when I turned that last page!

TLC Book Tours: Walking With Elephants

2011-02-24T01:00:00.024-05:00

Walking With Elephants by Karen S. Bell

Suze Hall is at a crossroads. Her nemesis at work, Wanda, has been promoted and is now her boss. Her husband, Bob, is leaving her and their three kids for a six-month sabbatical down under. Meanwhile, Suze has to reunite with an old boyfriend in order to save her job and her best friend, Marcia, is missing in action--playing footsie with some new boyfriend instead of lending a sympathetic ear!

Walking with Elephants, is a light-hearted slice-of-life story that explres the modern dichotomy of a workplace that is filled with homemakers who still must cook, clean, carpool, and still make time to "create" the holidays. But it is also filled with women who have the same drive as men, have no family responsibilities, and will do what ever it takes to get ahead." --Blurb from the cover

Let's just address the elephant in the room (pun intended). The cover is awful. If I were browsing through the bookstore, there is no way I would pick this book up. Even the title doesn't seem to go with the book, I understand where it came from but I spent the first 9 chapters wondering why it was given that title.

I have two other nitpicks about this book (sorry for being such a negative Nancy tonight). First of all, I felt it was unnecessary to describe every outfit that Wanda wore. It really distracted me from the story being told and was kind of pointless after the first time. Also, I really did not like the parts of the book when Suze GAVE US HER FEELINGS IN ALL CAPITAL LETTERS. That annoys me.

Shall I get to the positive now? This book was actually quite enjoyable. It was easy to read and get immersed in Suze's life. She had typical complaints of a working mother and I enjoyed reading about all of her different hats. I have to say that I didn't like her husband Bob, even though he was gone for most of the book. I think Ms. Bell did a great job of making Suze a character that women can relate to, and that is what made me like her. I found myself rooting for Suze and wanted her to keep her job. I was so upset in the end when it seemed that Wanda had won.

My favorite scene of the book was an impromptu girls night in, complete with wine, yummy food, and plenty of gossip. Also, I loved Elliott - Suze's fabulous co-worker. Ms. Bell did a great job in fleshing the characters out and they seemed like real people to me. Overall, I think this is a delightful debut novel from Karen Bell.

Thanks to TLC Book Tours for including me in this tour. Go here to see the other stops for the Walking With Elephants TLC Book Tour.

*TLC Book Tours provided me a copy of this book for review on this blog as part of their book tours program.

January 2011

2011-02-02T16:02:00.017-05:00

Saving Max by Antoinette van Heugton (January 1, 2011)
Great book to start off my year! Also a great first book to read on my new Kindle :) I like the idea of this story...how far would you go to protect your child? It was a great story and I really admired Danielle for risking it all to protect her son. However, I knew who the murderer was almost immediately.....it kind of disappointed me that I knew, but the reveal was fantastic. I never would have imagined the reasons behind the killer. Also, the ending? Did that mean what I think it meant? EEK!

Rescue by Anita Shreve (January 2, 2011)
This book was kind of a disappointment to me. The flashbacks were good, but the present was not fleshed out. I felt that we really didn't see Rowan's "downfall". All I saw was a girl who got drunk twice....that's called being 17. Yes, one of those times was horrible but I felt that Shreve could have given us a better build up to that event. Not one of my favorites.

Goodbye, Friend: Healing Wisdom for Anyone Who Has Ever Lost a Pet by
Gary Kowalski (January 7, 2011)
Today was a hard day. We had to put our 15 year old puppy, a member of our family, down. Mooch Matilda was the best dog ever and it was such a heartbreaking week. I was in such a depression all week thinking about today and haven't left my bed very much. I knew I loved Mooch, she's been part of my life for more than half of it. But when I knew we were going to lose her, the grief was staggering and unexpected. It knocked me to my knees and this book really helped me to know that it isn't uncommon to feel this way. RIP Mooch Matilda, I love you very much and I'll miss you so much. "Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened." - Anatole France

I Heart You, You Haunt Me by Lisa Schroeder (January 9, 2011)
Chasing Brooklyn by Lisa Schroeder (January 9, 2011)
Far From You by Lisa Schroeder (January 9, 2011)
So clearly I've had a busy day reading Lisa Schroeder. What can I say? I was (am) depressed, and I needed to read depressing (yet somewhat uplifting stories). The quickness of each book was an added bonus. I loved these books and I have to say that Lisa Schroeder has found a new fan.

Leaving Home by Jodi Picoult (January 27, 2011)
I was so excited when Amazon started the Kindle Singles program. The first story was really good, I thought the grief that they shared was so real. The ending was strange though! The middle story was a letter to her son as he went to college and I think it was my favorite. It was all the advice that I wish I had gotten before going to college, and I actually I think I could use this advice now! The last story was about a mother who took a vacation from her family, and I thought her struggles were very real. Also, this was a nice way to tide me over until March when her new book is released.

These Things Hidden by Heather Gudenkauf (January 28, 2011)
Ms. Gudenkauf is becoming one of my favorite authors! I loved her first book, The Weight of Silence, and I loved this book. I had an idea of the three characters being connected in some way, but I was shocked at how it all turned out! I don't want to give too much away, but when the truth came out I was truly shocked and kind of scared. Gudenkauf does a great job of building suspense and then throwing you for a loop! Great book.

Morning Glory by Diana Peterfreund (January 29, 2011)
Easy book to read, fun but nothing spectacular. I haven't seen the movie, so I can't compare. I will definitely see the movie though because I love Rachel McAdams.

Faithful Place by Tana French (January 30, 2011)
This was a great mystery. Tana French always hooks me, and I had no idea what was coming. Sometimes I got a little lost in the "Dublin speak" but it didn't take away from the story.

TLC Book Tours: Lonely by Emily White

2011-02-01T02:00:00.014-05:00

Lonely: Learning to Live With Solitude by Emily White

Despite having a demanding job, good friends, and a supportive family, Emily White spent many of her evenings and weekends alone at home, trying to understand why she felt so completely disconnected from everyone. In this insightful and soul-baring memoir, White recounts her struggle to comprehend and overcome her chronic loneliness, a debilitating condition that she contends deserves the same attention as depression and other mental difficulties. Interweaving her personal story with cutting-edge scientific research—as well as incredibly moving accounts offered by numerous lonely men and women—White provides a deep and thorough portrait of this increasingly common but too often ignored affliction. -- from TLC Book Tours

I was excited to receive this book because I live my life very isolated. I'm extremely introverted and I don't socialize at all, even in my work setting. I thought reading about Ms. White's struggles would help me. As I read this book, I realized that I'm not lonely. I'm alone but not lonely and I think there is a huge difference between the two that many don't realize. This has nothing to do with the book, but I felt I should kind of elaborate on why I was drawn to this book initially.

I found the premise of loneliness versus depression to be a fascinating subject, however, I found the actual reading material a little dry. Don't get me wrong, Emily White researched the heck out of loneliness and her writing is quite good. However, much of this book read like a text-book and I was expecting more of her personal experiences with loneliness (more memoir and less text-book).

My complaints aside, I see the merit in this book as I've never really thought about chronic loneliness. It just never entered my mind. Ms. White did a great job researching, I cannot deny that. My personal reading style may be different from yours, and I don't do well with studies and research. My mind goes blank but that is a personal thing and not at all the fault of Ms. White. I would be more interested to read her personal story without the research. I think an online forum oh her site or blog would be great too. It would give others a chance to share their story, and that is something I would love to read!

Thank you to TLC Book Tours for providing this book to me as part of their program. Check out Emily's website and her blog. Here are the stops for the Lonely TLC Book Tour:

Tuesday, January 18, 2011: The House of Seven Tails
Wednesday, January 19, 2011: Sophisticated Dorkiness
Wednesday, January 26, 2011: Silver & Grace
Friday, January 28, 2011: BookNAround
Tuesday, February 1, 2011: me!
Wednesday, February 2, 2011: Lisa's Yarns
Monday, February 7, 2011: Sara's Organized Chaos
Tuesday, February 8, 2011: she reads and reads
Wednesday, February 9, 2011: 1330v
Thursday, February 10, 2011: A Certain Bent Appeal

*TLC Book Tours provided a copy of this book for review on this blog as part of their TLC Book Tours Program.

Lisa Dale's Facebook Page!

2011-01-26T16:50:00.001-05:00

Guest post from Lisa Dale

----------

Dear Readers,

I’ve started a Facebook page. And because I believe in being a good hostess, I’m giving away some great prizes to book-loving friends who come hang out with me!

Contest ends Feb 1. Win:

1. $50 Amazon Gift Card!

2. One signed copy of It Happened One Night

3. One signed copy of Simple Wishes

Here’s how to join the fun!

1. Join my Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lisa-Dale/158780257466338

2. Tell two of your friends about my new page (by posting a link to it on their walls or sending an email/message).

3. Send an email to Lee@AuthorSoundRelations.com stating the names of the two people you shared my page with. Subject Line: Lisa Dale Contest!

That’s it!

(For those of you who aren’t on Facebook, don’t fret! Even if you're not on Facebook, you can still email two friends about my regular Web site (http://lisadalebooks.com/). That counts too!)

THE PRIZE WINNERS WILL BE ANNOUNCED ON FEBRUARY 2 (so be sure to enter ASAP).

Sending you warmest wishes,

Lisa Dale

Slow Dancing on Price's Pier, Spring 2011

www.LisaDaleBooks.com

2010 Booking NY to NC Review

2011-01-26T10:38:00.000-05:00

January 2010:

Dancer by Colum McCann: At times I found this book to be difficult to read and tedious. I feel like I owe it a re-read because I had a hard time getting through it and in theory, it sounds like the perfect book for me to read.

February 2010:

Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah: I loved this book about friendships, but I wish it came with a warning. WARNING: You will cry like a crazy person at the end of this book. It would have saved me a bunch of embarrassment. I am happy that I read this book because I am now a Kristin Hannah fan, and love her work!

March 2010:

House Rules by Jodi Picoult: I loved the story, but didn't like the case studies that were placed throughout the book. I mostly skimmed them, until the final one. Am I the only one who did that? Overall, I think this was a good comeback for Jodi Picoult (I hated her last book) and I liked the topic of Asperger's syndrome. It was very enlightening. I love that her books make me think about life in different ways.

April 2010:

Push by Sapphire: This book was very difficult to read, at times I thought I was going to be sick because it was so graphic and upsetting. But what's even more upsetting is that this type of sexual abuse exists. Also, the writing style took a little bit to get used to because it was written in the way that Precious talks - that took some getting used to. I liked how after Precious started her education, the way she spoke made some subtle improvements - it was gradual and in then end, I was so proud of Precious.....and I cried like a baby! One person can make a difference in someone's life {like Miss Rain} and it may only take a simple act of kindness - I think that's really motivating.

May 2010:

The Help by Kathryn Stockett: Immediately after I allowed myself to give it a chance, I was really hooked and was not at all let down by the hype! I think this book will definitely be re-read by me at some point, because it was so well done. They were very well developed characters and they each brought a different emotion to the story. It's hard to imagine living in this time because it all seems so appalling. I'm so grateful that most of us have changed our ways.

June 2010:

The Hour I First Believed by Wally Lamb: A book does not have to be long to be good. I think he used way too many words to tell his story, and I think he should have focused mainly on the Columbine aspect. If he would have focused his attention on the nitty-gritty details of PTSD I think this book would have been a real winner. Otherwise, he just used too many words to tell this story.

July 2010:

MONTH OFF

August 2010:

Death Be Not Proud by John Gunther: I had no idea that it was an "old classic" {my mom told me that}. It was a really sad book, but really quick to read. Johnny was such an inspiration during the end of his life and it was so well written. Great book!

September 2010:

The Homecoming Party by Carmine Abate: I love Europa Editions, and I loved this book. It was a short book, but it wasn't short on content and quality. It was a story of family and what happens when circumstances force them to be apart. The effect that Marco's dad's absence had on their family was huge and it was interesting to see a family who was forced apart instead of a family who was broken. I really related to Elisa at some moments during this book and I was definitely intrigued by this man she was dating and the effect it had on their family. Great book!

October 2010:

The Art of Losing by Rebecca Connell: What a gorgeous book! It was intense and romantic (if that makes sense). There was a thriller vibe and I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see what would be revealed, and luckily I was shocked at the little twist (also grossed out). After I read the book, I felt like I should have seen the twist coming from a mile away...but I didn't. I liked how the chapters jumped between Lydia in 2007 and Nicholas in the 80s and current. Another good choice by Europa.

November 2010:

Room by Emma Donoghue: This book was so good, that I sat on my bed reading straight through and stayed up until midnight. I planned to only read the first 50 pages, but I couldn't put it down. The language between Jack and Ma in the Room was so interesting to read, as was the way they coped after getting out. I would love to read a sequel to this book in a couple of years, just so I could check in with them. Great book!

December 2011:
The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery: Couldn't get through it.

Kindle Love

2011-01-19T08:00:00.009-05:00

You know those obnoxious people who say "I love real books too much and I'll never get an e-reader"? Yeah. That was me, until suddenly I was craving a Kindle in the worst way. I talked myself into it and bought Darren, my beautiful Kindle. I've had him for about three weeks and just charged him for the first time. Out of the 9 books I've read so far, 8 of them were on Darren. Regular books look weird to me now.

I do plan on purchasing the actual books for my favorite authors to add to my collection, but other than that I think I will stick with my Kindle. I apologize to everyone who I judged for getting an e-reader. I was rude about my physical books and I'm sorry. You were all right!

January 15, 2011: Awaken

2011-01-18T10:49:00.000-05:00

Awaken by Katie Kacvinsky
Release Date: May 23, 2011

Maddie lives in a world where everything is done on the computer. Whether it’s to go to school or on a date, people don’t venture out of their home. There’s really no need. For the most part, Maddie’s okay with the solitary, digital life—until she meets Justin. Justin likes being with people. He enjoys the physical closeness of face-to-face interactions. People aren’t meant to be alone, he tells her.

Suddenly, Maddie feels something awakening inside her—a feeling that maybe there is a different, better way to live. But with society and her parents telling her otherwise, Maddie is going to have to learn to stand up for herself if she wants to change the path her life is taking. In this not-so-brave new world, two young people struggle to carve out their own space. -- description from Amazon.com

I loved this book. The idea behind the book is that in the future everything will be digital. You know what? It actually sounded great, I was beginning to wonder why we didn't already have digital schools, especially with how dangerous schools can be and how mean kids can be to each other.
Maddie and Justin had a great story. At first I was a little angry with the way he seemingly used her, but in the end he was redeemed. Also, I thought Maddie was a great protagonist. It isn't often that we have such a smart female as the lead character, and she was great.

Overall, this was a fantastic first book from Katie. The chemistry was fantastic, the suspense and imagery were great. The ending though......if it is a stand alone book I hate the ending because it's too abrupt and it seems too good to be true. If it is going to be a series, then I can't wait to see where it goes!

*NetGalley provided this copy for my review.

January 6, 2011: The Raising

2011-01-08T19:44:00.000-05:00

The Raising by Laura Kasischke

The accident was tragic, yes. Bloody and horrific and claiming the life of a beautiful young sorority girl. Nicole was a straight-A student from a small town. Sweet-tempered, all-American, a former Girl Scout, and a virgin. But it was an accident. And that was last year. It's fall again, a new semester, a fresh start.

Craig, who has not been charged with murder, is focusing on his classes, and also on avoiding Nicole's sorority sisters, who seem to blame him for her death even though the police did not.

Perry, Craig's roommate, is working through his own grief (he grew up with Nicole, after all, and had known her since kindergarten) by auditing Professor Polson's sociology class: Death, Dying, and the Undead.

Mira has been so busy with her babies -- two of them, twins, the most perfect boys you could imagine but still a nearly impossible amount of work even with Clark's help -- that she can barely keep herself together to teach (Death, Dying and the Undead), let alone write the book she'll need to publish for tenure.

And Shelly, who was the first person at the scene of the accident, has given up calling the newspapers to tell them that, despite the ''lake of blood'' in which they keep reporting the victim was found, the girl Shelly saw that night was not bloody, and not dead. -- from Amazon.com*

I had high hopes for this book and despite a slow start, I was soon intrigued by the story. However, in the end the book was kind of disjointed mess. I hate to say that because I really enjoy some of her other books but this one was kind of disappointing.

First of all, the way she jumped between points of view and different time periods was kind of confusing at times. I was willing to forgive it if the payout in the end was worth it...but it wasn't. The ending (without spoiling) seemed like it was going to be good, but she kind of left us hanging in the end. She jumped 14 years in the future and never really gave a clear idea of what happened. Overall, I was kind of disappointed and now I wanted to know what really happened!

*I received a copy of this e-galley from NetGalley for review.

2011 Reading List

2011-01-03T13:35:00.021-05:00

Here is my 2011 Reading List {2008 list; 2009 list, 2010 list}

January
1. Saving Max by Antoinette van Heugten {1/1/11}
2. The Lying Game by Sara Shepard {1/1/11} {e-galley}
3. Rescue by Anita Shreve {1/2/11} {lb}
4. The Raising by Laura Kasischke {1/6/11} {e-galley}
5. Goodbye, Friend: Healing Wisdom for Anyone Who Has Ever Lost a Pet
by Gary Kowalski {1/7/11}
6. I Heart You, You Haunt Me by Lisa Schroeder {1/9/11}
7. Chasing Brooklyn by Lisa Schroeder {1/9/11}
8. Far From You by Lisa Schroeder {1/9/11}
9. Awaken by Katie Kacvinsky {1/15/11} {e-galley}
10. The Twisted Thread by Charlotte Bacon {1/25/11} {e-galley}
11. Leaving Home by Jodi Picoult {1/26/11}
12. These Things Hidden by Heather Gudenkauf {1/28/11}
13. Morning Glory by Diana Peterfreund {1/29/11} {lb}
14. Faithful Place by Tana French {1/30/11} {lb}

February
15. Lonely by Emily White {2/1/11} {TLC Book Tour}
16. Hold Still by Nina LaCour {2/3/11}
17. Left Neglected by Lisa Genova {2/4/11}
18. North of Beautiful by Justina Chen Headley {2/15/11} {lb}
19. The Dead-Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan {2/17/22} {lb}
20. Trapped by Michael Northrop {2/18/11}
21. Walking with Elephants by Karen S. Bell {2/20/11} {TLC Book Tours}
22. The Girl in the Green Raincoat by Laura Lipmann {2/20/11} {lb}
23. City of Bones by Cassandra Clare {2/27/11} {lb}

March
24. City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare {3/5/11} {lb}

25. What's Up Down There? Questions You'd Only Ask Your Gynecologist if She was Your Best Friend by Rankin Lissa MD {3/7/11}
26. Sugar and Spice by Lauren Conrad {3/8/11} {lb}
27. City of Glass by Cassandra Claire {3/14/11} {lb}
28. Beastly by Alex Flinn {3/17/11} {lb}
29. Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver {3/17/11} {lb}
30. By The Time You Read This I'll Be Dead by Julie Ann Peters {3/19} {lb}
31. Fall for Anything by Courtney Summers {3/20/11} {lb}
32. Hate List by Jennifer Brown {3/21/11} {lb}
33. The Map of True Places by Brunonia Barry {3/24/11} {review copy}

April
34. Love You More by Lisa Gardner {4/3/11} {lb}
35. Where She Went by Gayle Forman {4/6/11}

please note that {lb} equals library book.

January 1, 2011: The Lying Game

2011-01-02T15:59:00.001-05:00

The Lying Game by Sara Shepard

I had a life anyone would kill for.

Then someone did.

The worst part of being dead is that there’s nothing left to live for. No more kisses. No more secrets. No more gossip. It’s enough to kill a girl all over again. But I’m about to get something no one else does—an encore performance, thanks to Emma, the long-lost twin sister I never even got to meet.

Now Emma’s desperate to know what happened to me. And the only way to figure it out is to be me—to slip into my old life and piece it all together. But can she laugh at inside jokes with my best friends? Convince my boyfriend she’s the girl he fell in love with? Pretend to be a happy, carefree daughter when she hugs my parents good night? And can she keep up the charade, even after she realizes my murderer is watching her every move?

From Sara Shepard, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Pretty Little Liars books, comes a riveting new series about secrets, lies, and killer consequences.

Let the lying game begin. -- from Amazon*

I never had a chance to read the Pretty Little Liars series, but I love the show. I was eager to read this book by Sara Shepard although I didn't realize until the last page that it was a series! Oops. Now I have to wait for the next book to come out!

I thought this book was a great first book in a series. It left me wanting more immediately. I really felt for Emma and wanted to know what happened to Sutton. At the end of the book, I was kind of freaked out though and just wanted to yell at Emma to get the heck out of there.

I wish we could have met Sutton when she was alive. She sounded like an awful person, but I wonder if everyone else's description of her was accurate or if they were jaded by jealousy. I hope Emma's relationship with Ethan gets more time in the second book because I really liked him!

Emma is a great character. She is someone you can really root for, and my heart broke for her. All she ever wanted was a family and the one person who could give her that is gone. I hope she gets more time to grieve that loss throughout the series.

The only bad thing about this book is that I have to wait until July/August 2011 to read the follow-up!

*I received a copy of this e-galley from NetGalley for review.

CSN Store Review

2011-01-02T11:00:00.011-05:00

CSN Stores was nice enough to let me do another review on my blog! They offered me a gift card, and I chose to get this piano for my niece for Christmas. I am kicking myself for not getting a better picture, but my sister had to wrap it! Anyways, she LOVED the piano and I have to say that I wish I had one of these when I was younger. What a great toy for her to explore her musicality and there is even a color chart for when she gets a little older. I love it and once again, I loved working with CSN Stores.

A Look Back at 2010

2010-12-31T22:53:00.001-05:00

Here is my 2010 Reading List {2008 list; 2009 list}

December

129. The Mockingbirds by Daisy Whitney {12/29/10} {lb}

128. Scared to Death by Wendy Corsi Staub {12/27/10}

127. Impulse by Ellen Hopkins {12/26/10} {lb}

126. Nanny Returns by Emma McLaughlin & Nicola Kraus {12/20/10} {lb}

125. Bad Girls Don't Die by Katie Alender {12/19/10} {lb}

124. The Christmas Blessing by Donna VanLiere {12/18/10}

123. The Christmas Shoes by Donna VanLiere {12/18/10}

122. The Christmas Hope by Donna VanLiere {12/17/10}

121. The Christmas Promise by Donna VanLiere {12/17/10}

120. Christmas, Present by Jacquelyn Mitchard {12/14/10}

119. All I Have to Give by Melody Carlson {12/14/10}

118. Let it Snow by John Green, Lauren Myracle, Maureen Johnson {12/11/10}

117. Broken by Karin Slaughter {12/8/10} {lb}

116. Undone by Karin Slaughter {12/5/10} {lb}

115. Still Missing by Chevy Stevens {12/2/10} {lb}

114. Vanish by Tess Gerritsen {12/1/10} {lb}

November

113. Night Road by Kristin Hannah {11/27/10} {review copy}

112. The Christmas Journey by Donna VanLiere {11/27/10} {review copy}

111. The Death and Life of Charlie St. Cloud by Ben Sherwood {11/26/10}

110. Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks {11/25/10}

109. The Mermaid's Mirror by L.K. Madigan {11/5/10} {lb}

108. Audrey, Wait! by Robin Benway {11/13/10}

107. Promise Me by Richard Paul Evans {11/13/10} {review copy}

106. Room by Emma Donoghue {11/12/10}

105. Lucky by Alice Sebold {11/12/10}

104. My Maasai Life by Robin Wiszowaty {11/11/10} {review copy}

103. Moonlight Mile by Dennis Lehane {11/11/10} {lb}

102. Artichoke's Heart by Suzanne Supplee {11/7/10} {lb}

101. The Tapestry of Love by Rosy Thornton {11/4/10} {review copy}

100. The World Made Flesh by Justin Taylor & Eva Talmadge {11/1/10} {review copy}

99. Juliet by Anne Fortier {11/1/10} {lb}

October

98. The Husband by Dean Koontz {10/30/10} {lb}

97. The Debutante by Kathleen Tessaro {10/27/10} {review copy}

96. Single in Suburbia by Wendy Wax {10/24/10} {lb}

95. The Art of Losing by Rebecca Connell {10/17/10}

94. How Did You Get This Number by Sloane Crosley {10/10/10} {lb}

93. If I Stay by Gayle Forman {10/8/10} {lb}

92. The Financial Lives of the Poets by Jess Walter {10/6/10} {review copy}

91. I Feel Bad About My Neck by Nora Ephron {10/6/10} {lb}

90. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins {10/4/10} {lb}

89. The Homecoming Party by Carmine Abate {10/2/10}

September

88. Knowing Jesse by Marianne Leone {9/28/10} {review copy}

87. Mini Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella {9/24/10}

86. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins {9/24/10} {lb}

85. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins {9/20/10} {lb}

84. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky {9/18/10} {lb}

83. Fly Away Home by Jennifer Weiner {9/14/10} {lb}

82. Red Hook Road by Ayelet Waldman {9/10/10} {lb}

81. You'll Never Blue Ball in This Town Again by Heather McDonald {9/8/10}

80. I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore {9/6/10}

79. The Life You've Imagined by Kristina Riggle {9/5/10} {review copy}

78. Best Friends Forever by Jennifer Weiner {9/4/10} {lb}

77. Death Be Not Proud by John Gunther {9/4/10}

August

76. Sippy Cups Are Not for Chardonnay by Stefanie Wilder-Taylor {8/31/10} {lb}

75. Vanishing by Deborah Willis {8/20/10} {review copy}

74. Everything is Going to be Great by Rachel Shukert {8/17/10} {review copy}

73. The Scent of Rain and Lightning by Nancy Pickard {8/15/10} {lb}

72. In This Way I Was Saved by Brian DeLeeus {8/13/10} {review copy}

71. Never Wave Goodbye by Doug Magee {8/11/10} {lb}

70. Five Days Apart by Chris Binchy {8/8/10} {review copy}

69. Family Ties by Danielle Steel {8/6/10} {lb}

68. Todos Santos by Deborah Clearman {8/4/10} {review copy}

July

67. Natalie Wood: A Life by Gavin Lambert {7/27/10} {lb}

66. My Soviet Kitchen by Amy Spurling {7/26/10} {review copy}
65. Dune Road by Jane Green {7/25/10} {lb}
64. Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang by Chelsea Handler {7/20/10}

63. The Hour I First Believed by Wally Lamb {7/16/10}

62. Of Bees and Mist by Erick Setiawan {7/5/10} {review copy}

June61. My Name is Memory by Ann Brashares {6/25/10} {review copy}

60. Things I Wish I'd Known by Linda Green {6/23/10} {review copy}

59. I Am Hutterite by Mary-Ann Kirkby {6/17/10} {review copy}

58. The Starlet by Mary McNamara {6/15/10} {review copy}

57. Sizzle by Julie Garwood {6/5/10} {lb}

56. The Help by Kathryn Stockett {6/4/10}

May

55. The Truth About Delilah Blue by Tish Cohen {5/26/10} {review copy}

54. Spring Awakening by Frank Wedekind {5/15/10}

53. Whiter than Snow by Sandra Dallas {5/15/10} {review copy}

52. Life After Yes by Aidan Donnelley Rowley {5/9/10} {review copy}

51. Caught by Harlan Coben {5/8/10} {lb}

50. Rape: A Love Story by Joyce Carol Oates {5/3/10} {lb}49. Brava, Valentine by Adriana Trigiani {5/2/10} {lb}

April
48. The River by Mary Jane Beaufrand {4/28/10} {lb}47. Very Valentine by Adriana Trigiani {4/27/10} {lb}46. Learning to Swim by Cheryl Klam {4/23/10} {lb}45. Love, Aubrey by Suzanne LaFleur {4/21/10} {lb}

44. Push by Sapphire {4/20/10}

43. I Will Carry You by Angie Smith {4/19/10}
42. Broken Glass Park by Alina Bronsky {4/16/10} {review copy}41. One Day at a Time by Danielle Steel {4/14/10} {lb}

40. Resilience by Elizabeth Edwards {4/12/10} {lb}
39. No Time To Wave Goodbye by Jacquelyn Mitchard {4/11/10} {lb}38. 3 Willows: The Sisterhood Grows by Ann Brashares {4/6/10} {lb}37. Big Girl by Danielle Steel {4/6/10} {lb}36. After by Amy Efaw {4/4/10} {lb}35. What Difference Do It Make? by Ron Hall and Denver Moore {4/3/10} {review copy}
34. The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan {4/1/10}{lb}

March
33. Guest House by Barbara Richardson {3/29/10} {review copy}32. Tricks by Ellen Hopkins {3/28/10} {lb}
31. Still Life by Joy Fielding {3/24/10} {lb}30. Look Again by Lisa Scottoline {3/23/10} {lb}
29. Heart of Stone by Jill Marie Landis {3/19/10} {review copy}28. Dating Game by Danielle Steel {3/14/10} {lb}27. Sweet Little Lies by Lauren Conrad {3/12/10}
26. Not My Daughter by Barbara Delinksy {3/11/10} {lb}25. Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles {3/9/10}
24. The Real Rea l by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus {3/9/10}
23. House Rules by Jodi Picoult {3/5/10}
22. A Change in Altitude by Anita Shreve {3/4/10} {lb}
21. Take a Chance on Me by Jill Mansell {3/2/10} {review copy}

February
20. Long Lost by Harlan Cobeb {2/27/10} {lb}19. Live to Tell by Wendy Corsi Staub {2/26/10}
18. Killer Gorgeous by Jane Holleman {2/17/10}
17. Without You by Anthony Rapp {2/15/10}
16. Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah {2/15/10}
15. Burned by Ellen Hopkins {2/13/10}
14. Sweethearts by Sara Zarr {2/12/10} {lb}
13. Going too Far by Jennifer Echols {2/11/10}
12. Family Tree by Barbara Delinsky {2/10/10}
11. Dancer by Colum McCann {2/8/10}
10. Anne Frank: The Book, The Life, The Afterlife by Francine Prose {2/7/10} {lb}
9. Story of a Girl by Sara Zarr {2/5/10} {lb}
8. Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella {2/2/10} {lb}

January
7. Dying Scream by Mary Burton {1/30/10}
6. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland/Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll {1/24/10}
5. Same Kind of Different As Me by Ron Hall and Denver Moore {1/16/10}
4. Julie and Julia: My Year of Cooking Dangerously by Julie Powell {1/14/10}
3. The Courage Tree by Diane Chamberlain {1/9/10}
2. Are You There Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea by Chelsea Handler {1/4/10}
1. The Wrong Mother by Sophie Hannah {1/2/10}

please note that {lb} equals library book.

December Books

2010-12-31T22:48:00.000-05:00

Vanish by Tess Gerritsen (December 1, 2010)
This was my first Tess Gerritsen book, and I was pleasantly surprised. It was creepy, fast paced, and suspenseful...everything I ask for in a good mystery.

Still Missing by Chevy Stevens (December 2, 2010)
I really enjoyed this book, except for the sections in the therapist's office. Those parts seemed too forced to me, and really unnecessary. However, anytime Annie looked into the past (through her abduction and thereafter) I was so hooked. I found myself skipping the therapy sessions and going straight to the time when Annie was abducted. I could kind of see the ending coming as far as who was behind Annie's kidnapping, but I was still a little shocked when I read it. Overall, it was pretty good.

Undone by Karin Slaughter (December 5, 2010)
I forgot how much I love Karin Slaughter's books, but I also forgot how gory they are! Eeek, nightmares tonight. Even though this is part of a series, I didn't read the book before this and yet I didn't feel lost at all! I love these books and am searching the library for any books I missed.

Broken by Karin Slaughter (December 8, 2010)
I spoke too soon. I just could not get into this book.

Let it Snow by John Green, Lauren Myracle, & Maureen Johnson (December 11, 2010)
Loved it! I've seen this book around for a couple of years in the blog-o-sphere, but I finally read it. It was funny, yet touching and I loved how all the stories intertwined (especially at the end). Though I have to admit that I cringed at some of the silly choices the teenagers made (like driving to a Waffle House in the worst blizzard ever!). Makes me feel like an old woman, or perhaps I was freaking out over the mounting snow outside my window. Other than that, I really enjoyed this book a lot.

All I Have to Give: A Christmas Love Story by Melody Carlson (December 14, 2010)
Have I mentioned how much I love Christmas stories? Well I do! This one was so touching. I loved the Gift of the Magi feel, and it was sweet what Michael and Anna did for each other. My only complaint is Anna. I felt that when she suddenly thought she had ovarian cancer she should have went to the doctor to confirm. I knew that she would magically be pregnant, and I didn't mind that but I could have done without the ovarian cancer "scare".

Christmas, Present by Jacquelyn Mitchard (December 14, 2010)
This is the most depressing Christmas story ever. It did not put me in the Christmas spirit, it made me sad! I kept waiting for the Christmas miracle to make everything better, but it didn't happen. I felt so hopeless at the end. It was really well-written, just not what I wanted to read during Christmas.

The Christmas Promise by Donna VanLiere (December 17, 2010)
Well, I really read these books out of order. Oops! Anyways, I started with this book and was enthralled by Miss Glory and all of her good deeds. It was so inspirational and made me want to help out more around the holiday season.

The Christmas Hope by Donna VanLiere (December 17, 2010)
This was my favorite one! I loved Patti and Mark's story and loved how Emily brought them back together through their unthinkable tragedy. It was a beautiful story and it had a great ending.

The Christmas Shoes by Donna VanLiere (December 18, 2010)
I probably should have read this one first. I was familiar with the song, but didn't know it was a book. I cried buckets during the ending of this book though. It was neat to see Nathan as a little boy since I already "met" him when I read the Christmas Hope (I should have read them in order). Great book and I can't wait to watch the movie!

The Christmas Blessing by Donna VanLiere (December 18, 2010)
I really don't have much more I can say about these books. But it's official....I've read every Donna VanLiere Christmas book written as of 2010. Yay me! I love her books because they are inspirational and I always cry (sometimes good, sometimes sad).

Bad Girls Don't Die by Katie Alender (December 19, 2010)
I've been meaning to read this book for awhile, and I'm so happy that I could finally get it from the library! I loved the ghost story in this book - it didn't seem cheesy at all. There were times when I was freaked out by Kasey...I was yelling at Lexi to run or throw her out the window (I'm apparently psychotic and would have no problem throwing my possessed sister out a window). This is one book that I would love to see turned into a movie.

Nanny Returns by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus (December 24, 2010)
Not as good as The Nanny Diaries! It's been awhile since I read the first book, so it took awhile for me to get into this one. I have to say that I was really disinterested in Nan's job and found those sections super boring. Also, I just didn't like Nan as much this time. Kind of disappointing.

Impulse by Ellen Hopkins (December 26, 2010)
Ellen Hopkins is perfection. Her stories never disappoint me.

Scared to Death by Wendy Corsi Staub (December 27, 2010)
I love Wendy Corsi Staub. Seriously. Every time I go to her signings I am reminded of what a kind human being she is. She has not forgotten where she came from and she is truly thankful for her community. It's great. This book was the follow up to Live to Tell and, as usual, I was hooked from the first page. The killer was a complete surprise, in fact I thought it was someone else and I had convinced myself 100% that I figured it out...but I was wrong. Don't you love that? I can't wait for the third book in this trilogy!

The Mockingbirds by Daisy Whitney (December 29, 2010)
I went to a library out of town yesterday, but in the same county so my library card worked. I was so excited when I saw this book out on display because I've heard great things about it but would have to wait 6 months to get it through interlibrary loan (such a pain sometimes). But I checked it out and read it immediately. Wow. I've never read a book dealing with date rape and I thought that this was a great case. I love the idea of a student justice system that actually works and would love to see a second book dealing with it (seemed like there could be a sequel). It was a great book and an important book and there is an important lesson here. If you are drunk you cannot legally give consent and the most important lesson of all..."silence does not equal consent".

Christmas Shopping with CSN Stores

2010-12-02T11:34:00.000-05:00

You guys know how much I love CSN Stores, right?! CSN has over 200 online stores, which makes it the perfect place to finish my Christmas shopping. They have some great TV stands for flat screens, which would motivate me to buy that flat screen I have my eye on for my bedroom. I don't have a lot of room, but I definitely need a flat TV because my other TV is a monstrosity. Plus, the TV stands are much cuter for flat screens.

Would it be wrong if I purchased furniture for myself for Christmas? Anyways, I have a review coming up soon from CSN Stores. I'm sure I'll spend the next 8-10 hours browsing their site.

November Books

2010-12-01T20:31:00.000-05:00

Juliet by Anne Fortier (November 1, 2010)
While I was not crazy about the flashback chapters to the 1300s, I found this book to be very enjoyable in present time. I would have enjoyed this book more if Fortier had stuck to a modern-day retelling without the back story! I did enjoy the twists and turns throughout the book, and was eager to find out the big mystery! I thought it was a pretty solid debut novel though.

The Mermaid's Mirror by L.K. Madigan (November 5, 2010)
I loved this book! It was a nice, different story, especially when there are so many werewolves and vampires running around. I enjoyed the mermaid aspect of this story and have never read any other mermaid tales. It was definitely a great book and I hope there is a sequel!

Artichoke's Heart by Suzanne Supplee (November 7, 2010)
I really related to this book and felt like I could be Rosie. I loved when Kyle said, "when you see a person's eyes and smile, you don't see how much they weigh" (totally paraphrasing that). What a beautiful sentiment and I wish more people today could be that way. I loved Rosie's relationship with Kay Kay, she really needed a friend all along and he needed one that wouldn't judge. I also loved that Kyle loved her for who she is and not what she weighed. Also, I hated her Aunt Mary - ugh! This is a great book for teens who struggle with self-image, and even adults (raising my hand here). I highly recommend this book!

Moonlight Mile by Dennis Lehane (November 11, 2010)
This follow-up to Gone, Baby, Gone had me on the edge of my seat throughout the first 2/3 of the book, however, I was unimpressed the conclusion. I wanted more for Amanda. She had a great life ready for her to live, good grades and great work ethic got her a full scholarship to a great school and she had her choice of colleges. However, she got mixed up in something that theoretically she should not have chosen if she were so determined to succeed. So, the first part was good but I hated the ending.

Lucky by Alice Sebold (11/12/10)
I love this book, even though it's graphic. The first chapter makes me cry and cringe at the same time, every time I read it! Alice was such a strong woman and unfortunately not a lot of rape victims go through with the trial. This book is a great account of everything she went through. The best part is that the library was taking it off the shelf because it's so rough, so they gave it to me!

Room by Emma Donoghue (11/12/10)
This book was so good, that I sat on my bed reading straight through and stayed up until midnight. I planned to only read the first 50 pages, but I couldn't put it down. The language between Jack and Ma in the Room was so interesting to read, as was the way they coped after getting out. I would love to read a sequel to this book in a couple of years, just so I could check in with them. Great book!

Audrey, Wait! by Robin Benway (11/13/10)
What a fun book! I know I'm late on the bandwagon, but I just loved this book. Audrey was such a fun character, I wish I could hang out with her. This would make a great movie.

Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks (11/25/10)
Definitely not his best book. I did not cry at all, which makes me mad! I specifically read N. Sparks when I need a good cry! Maybe I'm just getting sick of people falling in love after 10 minutes and it's all so predictable.

The Death and Life of Charlie St. Cloud (11/26/10)
I really enjoyed this book. I had a sneaking suspicion of the twist that was coming, but was still satisfied with it. I was on the edge of my seat and definitely cried. However, I made the mistake of watching the movie immediately after finishing the book and I have to say that the book is a million times better than the movie.

Night Road by Kristin Hannah (11/27/10)
*Provided by LibraryThing's Early Reviewers Program: Wow! The minute I picked up this book, I was hooked. I loved Firefly Lane, so I was eager to read Night Road and Kristin Hannah did not let me down.

I was hanging on to every detail about Lexi, Zach and Mia and was so happy that Lexi's life turned out good despite having a poor role model in her mother. She had friends, family and was happy until it all changed. I knew it was coming, but I didn't know what the details would be. I thought it was a great representation of teen drinking nowadays and how even people who have just one drink think they are okay to drive. I liked how Jude talked to her kids about calling for help and they wouldn't get in trouble, but I kind of cringed when they did get in trouble.

My only complaint is that this book wasn't long enough. I wanted more details on what happened after Lexi got back. Other than that, this was an amazing book that had me in tears throughout a good majority of it!

November 27, 2010: The Christmas Journey

2010-11-27T20:34:00.000-05:00

The Christmas Journey by Donna VanLiere

"The eighty-mile journey of a common carpenter and a simple peasant girl is one of the most enduring stories in history. As books go out of print and stories fade from memory, the journey of Joseph and Mary and her delivery inside a common barn continues to bless and inspire hope in people around the world.

Accompanied by moving and beautifully rendered illustrations throughout, Donna VanLiere's retelling shows that the story of the Nativity is alive in our modern world, and a journey that began more than two thousand years ago is still the most powerful series of events ever to touch the minds and heart s of people everywhere.: -- from the inside cover

I love Christmas stories by Donna VanLiere, and when this book came in the mail I was so excited! It has a gorgeous cover and the illustrations throughout are nice. VanLiere retold the Nativity story in a way that is no glamorized - it kind of reminds me of the movie The Nativity Story (great movie).

This book will definitely be treasured by me and read every year, I cannot wait to read it to my own children one day. It's a lovely gift book and one that everyone should read to remember the true meaning of Christmas.

*I received this book from The Book Report Network for review on Confessions of a Bookaholic...

Outlive Your Life by Max Lucado

2010-11-15T10:50:00.001-05:00

Outlive Your Life by Max Lucado

These are difficult days in our world's history. 1.75 billion people are desperately poor, natural disasters are gouging entire nations, and economic uncertainty still reigns across the globe. But you and I have been given an opportunity to make a big difference. What if we did? What if we rocked the world with hope? Infiltrated all corners with God's love and life? We are created by a great God to do great works. He invites us to outlive our lives, not just in heaven, but here on earth. Let's live our lives in such a way that the world will be glad we did. -- from BookSneeze*

I've been wanting to read a Max Lucado book since Fearless. I've heard great things about Fearless, so I was excited to see this book listed on BookSneeze. However, I was a little disappointed once I sat down to read it.

I will say that this book was extremely easy to read, but at the end of it, I wasn't feeling as motivated as I thought I would. Instead I felt hopeless, and I'm sure that wasn't his intention. I felt more motivated after Same Kind of Different As Me, this book felt more like a textbook to me. Unfortunately, I felt there was nothing I could do to help the world after reading this. It's unfortunate, but I don't think I will be picking up any other books my Mr. Lucado.

*Book was received through BookSneeze for review on Confessions of a Bookaholic.... Please note that the opinions expressed here are my own and while not positive, there is plenty of positive press out there for this book.

November 13, 2010: Promise Me by Richard Paul Evans

2010-11-15T10:33:00.003-05:00

Promise Me by Richard Paul Evans
Beth has everything, a loving husband, an adorable daughter ("a joyful combination of lunacy and grace"), and a great job where she works with friends. But when her daughter becomes mysteriously ill, and she discovers that her husband is dying, her perfect life falls apart. She is soon impoverished and embittered, and still can't discern the source of her daughter's illness. Then she meets a handsome stranger, who diagnoses the illness and convinces the wary Beth to trust again, only to disappear with the home equity loan he pushed her into getting. Devastated once again, Beth's resolve is tested when he returns with a truly unbelievable story. Believing him means altering the entire course of her life. Evans combines his usual holiday themes with a bizarre twist lifted straight from science fiction. Readers will undoubtedly feel attached to Beth, even as they struggle to understand the bizarre relationship she finds herself entering into. -- from Amazon

I'm a sucker for Christmas novels. Seriously, I have a stack of them ready to go for the next month. I love all kinds of Christmas books and this one was no exception. When reading this book, and many other Christmas books, it's best to just believe anything. Of course what happened in this book is no plausible, but who cares?! I liked it!

The twist was a little creepy, and in fact up until that point I was on board with whatever would come my way. When Matthew revealed his secret, I was a little grossed out but it didn't ruin the rest of the book for me. I wish that Mr. Evans had gone a different way with the ending, perhaps one that didn't have such an ick factor. One thing about the twist - you will never see it coming! I like being surprised!

I really enjoyed reading about Bethany's life and how she coped with being a single mother to Charlotte and all the scary things that are involved. She was a stronger woman than I could ever be with regards to her husband. I liked reading a story where the mother was seriously struggling and not just floating along on fairy clouds without struggle. She was the perfect image of a single mother and I enjoyed that!

I was happy to see Matthew and Beth keep their secret in the end, I do not think they should have told their respective spouses. This book was a nice, quick book to read and definitely has me interested in some more Richard Paul Evans' books!

*This book was provided by Simon & Schuster for review on Confessions of a Bookaholic...

November 13, 2010: My Maasai Life

2010-11-13T17:26:00.000-05:00

My Maasai Life by Robin Wiszowaty

Growing up in suburban Illinois, Robin Wiszowaty leads a typical middle-class American life. Hers is a world of gleaming shopping malls, congested freeways, and neighborhood gossip. But from an early age, she has longed to break free of this existence and discover something deeper. What it is, she doesn't quite know. Yet she knows in her heart there simply has to be more. Through a fortunate twist of fate, Robin seizes an opportunity to travel to rural Kenya and join an impoverished Maasai community. Suddenly her days are spent hauling water, evading giraffes, and living in a tiny hut made of cow dung with her adoptive family. She is forced to face issues she's never considered: extreme poverty, drought, female circumcision, corruption — and discovers love in the most unexpected places. In the open wilds of the dusty savannah, this Maasai life is one she could never have imagined. -- from Amazon.com

I think that I read this book at exactly the right time in my life. Like Robin, I've been feeling kind of boxed into my life lately and I understand her need to go somewhere else. While I don't see myself traveling anywhere by plane in the near future, I do see some sort of change. That is why this book came along at a good time!

The chapters were smooth and they were easy to read. That is no small feat! Sometimes books similar to this are kind of hard to read, but I did not have this problem here. In fact, I enjoyed the glimpses into life in Africa. I was hooked from her first "shower" with her Maasai family and couldn't put the book down. At times, I felt as if I was right there with Robin.

I read a somewhat similar book in college and for the life of me cannot remember the name, however, I would have much preferred to have had this book as required reading.

I don't want to be extra gushy, or lame, but when Robin's parents finally visited and her father realized that Robin was a "giant", I sobbed like a baby! What a great, inspirational book.

*This book was provided by Little Bird Publicity for review on Confessions of a Bookaholic...

November 4, 2010: The Tapestry of Love

2010-11-11T19:31:00.000-05:00

The Tapestry of Love by Rosy Thornton

A rural idyll: that's what Catherin is seeking when she sells her house in England and moves to a tiny hamlet in the Cévennes mountains. With her divorce in the past and her children grown, she is free to make a new start, and to set up in business as a seamstress. But this is a harsh and lonely place when you're no longer here on holiday. There is French bureaucracy to contend with, not to mention the mountain weather, and the reserve of her neighbors, including the intriguing Patrick Castagnol.

The Tapestry of Love is the story of how a woman falls in love with a place and it's people: a portrait of landscape, a community and a fragile way of life. -- from Rosy Thornton's website.

If I could sum this book up in one word, that word would be cozy. This quaint book made me feel at home in Catherine's life, and I began to envy her life! As Phil Dunphy would say, this book is super-delightful.
Catherine left her life behind in England and went to the beautiful French mountains and Thornton did a good job of not making this a typical story. It very easily could have been about a spoiled rich girl being stuck in the country, but instead we had Catherine. Catherine was a great character, she was sympathetic and I really understood her. She carried herself with such grace, though I have to say that I was not too invested in the love story of this book but it didn't stop me from enjoying the rest of it!

Another thing I enjoyed about this book was the scenery. Ms. Thornton wrote such vivid images that I would pretend I was there with Catherine living this beautiful, charming, cozy life. From page one we were given the treat of beautiful imagery and I loved that about this book.

Overall this was a charming book from Rosy Thornton

*This book was provided by the author, Rosy Thornton, for review on Confessions of a Bookaholic...

CSN Giveaway Winner!

2010-11-04T14:01:00.000-04:00

The winner of the CSN Stores Giveaway is Just Floating By! Check your e-mail :)

TLC Book Tours: The Debutante by Kathleen Tessaro

2010-11-02T11:03:00.000-04:00

The Debutante by Kathleen Tessaro

A gifted artist, Cate has come to London from New York to escape her recent past. Working for her aunt’s auction house, she is sent down to Devon to value the contents of Endsleigh House, the once gracious but now crumbling estate of a former socialite. There, hidden in the back of a dusty bookshelf, Cate discovers an old shoebox. Inside is a strange assortment of objects: an exquisite pair of dancing shoes circa 1930; a diamond brooch; a photograph of a young sailor; a dance card; and a pearl and emerald Tiffanys bracelet.

Intrigued by her find, Cate sets out to solve the mystery of the box, becoming immersed in the story of its owner, Baby Blythe. Bright, beautiful, and reckless, Baby was the most famous debutante of her generation . . . and the most dangerous. As the clues begin to reveal a shocking tale of destructive, addictive love, Cate finds herself being drawn deeper into Baby’s tragic life story—a story that will force Cate to face some dark truths about her own. (Source)

Let me set the mood. It was a dark, windy night. There was a tornado watch and I was bunkered down on my couch with candles lit all around me. Sounds ~~terrifying~~ perfect for reading a good book.

I had a bit of a difficult time getting into the meat of this book, but I think I'm the only one. I was a little fooled by the cover, I have to admit. I was expecting a light read, but instead what pleasantly surprised to find a story with substance!

I will say that normally I am not a big fan of historical fiction, but I think Tessaro did a great job of combining the past and the present and actually made it enjoyable to read! In fact, I actually liked the story that was set in the past. I was eagerly flipping the pages trying to figure out what happened. Having never read anything by Kathleen Tessaro before, her language was a little unfamiliar and at times odd to read, however I quickly got over that!

Even though I had difficulty when I started this book, I read through the rest like a crazy person. It was gripping, mysterious and delicious. I will definitely be checking out some other Kathleen Tessaro books.

Thank you to TLC Book Tours for allowing me to read this book as part of their program. Here are the stops for The Debutante TLC Book Tour:

Tuesday, October 5th: Rundipinne
Thursday, October 7th: The Lost Entwife
Monday, October 11th: Reviews from the Heart
Tuesday, October 12th: Til We Read Again
Thursday, October 14th: All About {n}
Monday, October 18th: Thoughts from an Evil Overlord
Wednesday, October 20th: Books Like Breathing
Thursday, October 21st: red headed book child
Tuesday, October 26th: Write Meg!
Wednesday, October 27th: Daydream Believer
Tuesday, November 2nd: Hospitable Pursuits
Wednesday, November 3rd: Confessions of a Bookaholic
Monday, November 8th: Bookstack
Tuesday, November 9th: Life in the Thumb

*book was provided from the publisher for review on Confessions of a Bookaholic...
as part of TLC Book Tours.

The World Made Flesh: Literary Tattoos from Bookworms Worldwide

2010-11-02T10:58:00.000-04:00

The World Made Flesh: Literary Tattoos from Bookworms Wordwide by Eva Talmadge and Justin Taylor

The Word Made Flesh: Literary Tattoos from Bookworms Worldwide is a guide to the emerging subculture of literary tattoos—a collection of more than 150 full-color photographs of human epidermis indelibly adorned with quotations and illustrations from Dickinson to Pynchon, from Shakespeare to Plath. With beloved lines of verse, literary portraits, and illustrations—and statements from the bearers on their tattoos' history and the personal significance of the chosen literary work—The Word Made Flesh is part collection of photographs and part literary anthology written on skin. -- from Amazon.com

What a fun book this was. Not to be superficial, but it is a gorgeous book. I enjoyed looking at all the tattoos and reading the stories behind them. This book gave me some great ideas for a future literary tattoo!

What I love most about this book is the fact that people are so moved and touched by literature, whether it be a children's book or a classic novel, that they incorporate it onto their body in a way that can remind them of their favorite book. It's truly amazing what different people can take away from a book. Different quotations and passages mean different things to each person, and I think that is truly remarkable.

Check out the website for other fun literary tattoos! I like these two. I have a poem by Joan Walsh Anglund that I love and am strongly considering for a tattoo now. Hmmmm, the ideas are flowing!

*Book was provided by Harper Perennial for review on Confessions of a Bookaholic...

October Books

2010-11-01T10:52:00.001-04:00

The Homecoming Party by Carmine Abate (October 2, 2010)
I read this book for my book club (September's selection). I love Europa Editions, and I loved this book. It was a short book, but it wasn't short on content and quality. It was a story of family and what happens when circumstances force them to be apart. The effect that Marco's dad's absence had on their family was huge and it was interesting to see a family who was forced apart instead of a family who was broken. I really related to Elisa at some moments during this book and I was definitely intrigued by this man she was dating and the effect it had on their family. Great book!

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins (October 4, 2010)
I know there are mixed reviews on this book, but I liked it. The story was fast paced, life in District 13 was kind of neat, and Peeta was crazy. The war was intense, and I couldn't get enough of it. Also, being firmly on Team Peeta, I enjoyed the ending.

I Feel Bad About My Neck by Nora Ephron (October 4, 2010)
I enjoyed this series of essays about growing older. They were funny and at time poignant. Also, how awesome is Nora Ephron?

If I Stay by Gayle Forman (October 8, 2010)
Well, I cried during the first few pages of this one. The car accident that took Mia's family's life was horrific, as was the description. Then when she was in the hospital, my heart was breaking for her. Her whole family was gone, how could she survive that? It was beautifully written, and I devoured it in one sitting. Great book for all ages.

How Did You Get This Number by Sloane Crosley (October 10, 2010)
I love Sloane Crosley. She is hilarious and her essays never disappoint. She's funny and likable. There isn't much more I could ask for.

The Art of Losing by Rebecca Connell (October 17, 2010)
What a gorgeous book! It was intense and romantic (if that makes sense). There was a thriller vibe and I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see what would be revealed, and luckily I was shocked at the little twist (also grossed out). After I read the book, I felt like I should have seen the twist coming from a mile away...but I didn't. I liked how the chapters jumped between Lydia in 2007 and Nicholas in the 80s and current. Another good choice by Europa.

Single in Suburbia by Wendy Wax (October 24, 2010)
Perfect, light read for a lazy Sunday afternoon. It was a funny and enjoyable book. I have another Wendy Wax book sitting nearby that I'm eager to pick up now!

The Husband by Dean Koontz (October 30, 2010) -- Thriller and Suspense Challenge
I like to read a good mystery on Halloween, so I settled down Saturday night and started reading this. Eek, did I have a dramatic night. It all started at 10:00 pm when a crazy person ran up my porch and started pounding on my door and demanding that I open up. Oh my gosh, I freaked out! I'm pretty sure it was my neighbor, but it still freaked me out. She was pounding and yelling for about 5 minutes (I was hiding haha). Anyways, reading this book probably is part of the reason I was scared. FYI - my mom came over and spent the night with me. I'm quite spoiled! Anyways, this was a good book with a good mystery and a little bit of a shocking twist in the middle. Poor Mitch!

CSN Giveaway

2010-10-28T14:13:00.000-04:00

If you read my previous post, you would know that I recently did a review of CSN Stores. Well they were nice enough to let me do a giveaway!

If you aren't familiar with CSN Stores, you are in for a treat. CSN has over 200 online stores where you can find everything from shoes to barstools. Up for grabs is a $65.00 gift code, right on time for Christmas shopping.

To enter:

1.) Leave a comment on this post with a valid e-mail address.
2.) Open to US and Canadian citizens only.
3.) Winner will be chosen on November 4th at 1:00 PM EST.

Thanks to CSN for this giveaway!

CSN Stores Review

2010-10-27T14:34:00.000-04:00

I was given an opportunity by CSN Stores to review a product from their site. They sent over a $65 gift card for my review and I got the following items:

Le Creuset Stoneware Citrus Juicer in Carribean $24.95

Little Tikes Endless Adventures Easy Store Jr. Playslide $39.99

First of all, I had an extremely difficult time choosing. There is such a huge variety of items. I was on this site for 2 days before I finally picked something out.

Okay, I don't really need a juicer, but I've always wanted something from Le Creuset in Carribean. I love that color and I love Le Creuset. Baby steps. I decided to make some orange juice. No one ever told me that making orange juice does not produce great results. The recipe called for four oranges and I only got a single serving of orange juice. While the juicer really worked well, I think I will stick to buying my orange juice from now on! Maybe I will have to try a lemonade recipe.

As for the slide. I felt so guilty getting myself something, I decided that my niece needed a new toy to play with. The slide arrived very quickly, but obviously I couldn't test it out by myself so I had to wait for my niece. For reference, she is 13 months old. The slide itself is pretty steep (I think) and kind of hard to snap open, but I do appreciate that it snaps shut for easy storage. I much prefer the maroon and navy blue to the hideous orange and bright blue one that my grandma had. While my niece is a little too young to fully enjoy the slide without our help, she is surely enjoying sending her shoes, blankets and toys down the slide. We put her up and then hold her hands while she slides down...and then she promptly tries to climb up the slide. Thankfully, she hasn't mastered that yet. I cannot wait for her to fully enjoy it!

My only gripe is the shipping. The slide was not eligible for free shipping even if I had spent $69.00, so I had to shell out the $18 for shipping. I think it is quite expensive, and if I didn't have the gift card there is no way I would have paid that much for shipping.

*CSN Stores provided me with a $65 gift card to purchase products for review on this site.

Movie Review: The Way Home

2010-10-10T21:05:00.000-04:00

The Way Home

Dean Cain stars as Randy Simpkins, a husband and father torn between the demands of his job and commitment to his family. Asked by his wife Christal to watch their two-year-old son Joe for a few minutes, Randy is distracted by work and Joe disappears. Racked by guilt, Randy joins Christal in a desperate search for their missing son alongside hundreds of others from their church and community. Randy and Christal's strained marriage must now weather the ultimate test - the potential loss of a child. The Way Home is the story of Randy's powerful spiritual journey back to love, faith and a Godly understanding of what must always take first priority in a man's life - his family. -- from BookSneeze*

I had mixed feelings about this DVD. The story itself (based on a true story) is a good one, however the movie itself felt very flat to me. I felt that Christal and Randy's marriage was supposed to be rocky, but we only got a five minute glimpse into their marriage. We saw Randy at work for only a minute, but Christal told us that he is always working. I would have liked a little more back story.

Also, while I appreciate the beautiful display of community in this movie, I felt that the entire search was a little drawn out. The entire movie was searching for Joe. I wish maybe a little of the aftermath would have been shown as well. From what I understand, Randy Simpkins' life was changed forever after that day and he was a changed man. The movie showed us nothing after Joe was found.

I appreciated Dean Cain and Lori Beth Edgeman in this movie. With what they were given, their acting was incredible. But why wasn't there more interaction between them? They barely spoke during the search, I felt that in that situation they would have been more likely to cling to each other.

Overall, I enjoyed the story but I wish that how that day affected the Simpkins would have been more prominent in the movie.

*This book was provided to me through the BookSneeze program (BookSneeze.com)
for review on Confessions of a Bookaholic...

October 7, 2010: The Financial Lives of the Poets

2010-10-07T15:07:00.003-04:00

The Financial Lives of the Poets
by Jess Walter

What happens when small-time reporter Matthew Prior quits his job to gamble everything on a quixotic notion: a Web site devoted to financial journalism in the form of blank verse? Before long, he wakes up to find himself jobless, hobbled with debt, spying on his wife's online flirtation, and six days away from losing his home...Until one night on a desperate two a.m. run to 7-Eleven, he falls in with some local stoners, and they end up hatching the biggest - and most misbegotten - plan yet. -- from HarperCollins*

When I first got this book, I was a little iffy. For starters, the cover isn't that great (yes, I judge) and the title didn't grab me. Everyone kept saying that it was really funny, but I was still hesitant. They were right. I was laughing out loud quite a bit, which was kind of embarrassing because I was eating lunch by myself in the lounge on campus and I kept laughing. Oops.

While most of this book was really funny, it was also kind of heartbreaking. It seems that Matt Prior cannot catch a break and while his initial venture into the drug-dealing world is hilarious, it takes a turn. Listen, I don't condone drugs, but I really wanted this venture to work out for him! I wanted his family to keep their home, and I wanted Lisa to realize she loved him madly. The idea that someone would do something so drastic to save their home rings true in these tough times is very realistic to me. Unfortunately, it did not look like it would work out. The ending did leave me feeling hopeful though.

As for the amazing author, Jess Walter. I have to read his other books. His writing flowed smoothly and the humor did not seem forced. I loved how he included poems throughout. Some chapters were straight up poems, but it worked and it was funny! I will definitely be lending this book out.

*This book was provided by Harper Perennial

I love that feeling...

2010-10-06T13:02:00.000-04:00

Sunday was very dreary, and I liked it...until my neighbors decided to throw a rave at 11 am. Okay, maybe I'm exaggerating or maybe I'm sleep deprived from all of their late night raves, but their music is so loud that my walls literally vibrate. In fact, it doesn't sound like music at all but just some heavy beats. This all makes me sound elderly, when in fact my neighbor is 2 years older than I am but emotionally immature. Anyways, that loud music raised my blood pressure so I decided a trip to Border's was in order.

I know. I'm supposed to support local bookstores, Borders/Amazon.com is the devil, etc. Who cares? If I had a great bookstore in my area, I would gladly visit. Instead, I have a Borders and I happen to love it there.

I love Borders because it gives me a feeling. Imagine a perfect Fall day. Maybe it's raining or maybe it's just overcast. It doesn't matter because it's Fall. Those automatic doors open and the scent of books just bombards my senses. I always stop in the doorway and breathe it all in (sorry to whoever was behind me).

I love that feeling.

Once inside, I look at the table with buy one get 50% off. Then I slowly make my way around the store. The beauty of going alone is that you have all the time in the world to browse with no interruptions.

I love that feeling.

Sitting in those comfortable chairs and looking at a huge stack of books and looking through them all as I make a keep and put back pile.

I love that feeling.

Keeping a cheap thriller, romance novel or humorous memoir over the more serious literature that we should all read.

I love that feeling.

I'm not going to apologize for going to Borders. Guess what, sometimes I shop at amazon.com because it's convenient. Judge me all you want, but I love that feeling.

Banned Books Winner!

2010-10-02T19:38:00.000-04:00

Congratulations to Carrie! You have won a copy of Living Dead Girl and Lessons from a Dead Girl. If you haven't responded to my e-mail, please e-mail me at adw7984 at gmail dot com with your mailing address.

September Books

2010-10-01T10:58:00.005-04:00

Sippy Cups are Not For Chardonnay by Stefanie Wilder-Taylor (August 31, 2010)
Hilarious! I love reading books about babies and new moms {even though I have no kids}. I laughed so much during this book and I found it to be so real! I love that she is being honest and motherhood isn't all roses and cupcakes. I will definitely check out her other book!

Death Be Not Proud by John Gunther (September 4, 2010)
I read this for my book club and had no idea that it was an "old classic" {my mom told me that}. It was a really sad book, but really quick to read. Johnny was such an inspiration during the end of his life and it was so well written. Great book!

Best Friends Forever by Jennifer Weiner (September 4, 2010)
This book started out strange with the "mystery", but overall it was a nice, fluffy read for this rainy Saturday afternoon!

You'll Never Blue Ball in This Town Again by Heather McDonald (September 8, 2010)
Not as funny as Chelsea Handler. The cover was right when it said "funny for her, painful for others". Parts of this book were just rough and not funny. Where Chelsea's humor seems effortless, Heather's seemed too forced. I would skip this one.

Red Hook Road by Ayelet Waldman (September 10, 2010)
I liked this book, but I didn't love it. I think I just had really high expectations for this book, so in the end I was a little disappointed. I think I would have liked to have read more about the bride and groom before their untimely deaths.

Fly Away Home by Jennifer Weiner (September 15, 2010)
I hated this book. It was not interesting and it really was difficult to get into.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (September 20, 2010)
I don't know why I waited so long to read this book, but I'm happy that I finally did! I was hooked from the beginning and even had nightmares that I was part of the hunger games (eek!). I cannot wait to read the second book.

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins (September 23, 2010)
I have nothing new to say, except I am loving this series! Seriously. I cannot wait to read Mockingjay (despite unfavorable reviews), but I am 7th in line at the library.

Mini Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella (September 25, 2010)
Don't you love when you finally get a book in the mail and you are able to sit down and read it on a nice, cold day?! I do. I love Sophie Kinsella. She is pretty much a rock-star. Becky is as lovable as ever, and her antics are hilarious. Is this the last book in the Shopaholic series? I thought so, but the ending seemed as if there could be another one, or is it just me? Anyways, if it is the last book I would love for the publisher to release a beautiful box set :)

September 28, 2010: Knowing Jesse

2010-10-01T10:15:00.000-04:00

Knowing Jesse: A Mother's Story of Grief, Grace, and Everyday Bliss by Marianne Leone

Jesse Cooper was an honor-roll student who loved to windsurf and write poetry. He also had sever cerebral palsy and was quadriplegic, unable to speak, and wracked by seizures. He died suddenly at age seventeen.

In fiercely honest, surprisingly funny, and sometimes heartbreaking prose, Jesse's mother, Marianne Leone, chronicles her transformation by the remarkable life and untimely death of her child. An unforgettable memoir of joy, grief, and triumph, Knowing Jesse unlocks the secret of unconditional love and speaks to all families who strive to do right by their children. -- from Amazon.com

I can never say anything bad about a true story, especially one from the mother's point of view. This is no exception. It was very clear that Marianne loved Jesse very much, not only that, I got the sense that she was a huge advocate for him and his health. I also love how she incorporated the pictures at the end of each chapter.

This is a strong family and this book is a great testament of their love for their son. Highly recommended for readers who love non-fiction.

*This book was provided by the publisher for review.

Article: 10 Banned Books That Made a Comeback

2010-09-30T13:12:00.003-04:00

Banned Books Week is coming to an end. I've really been enjoying watching my family's reactions to books that have been banned or challenged. I've also enjoyed reading different opinions on book banning during the week.

A great article, titled 10 Banned Books That Made a Comeback, was recently brought to my attention (thanks Tim!) and I hope you all will take a minute to check it out.
Here are the 10 books that are on the list:

And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell: I recently read this children's book (checked out from my local library) and thought it was so great! I plan on buying a copy for my niece.
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee: I read this book in a high school English course. I wasn't crazy about it back then, but I would be really curious to read it again.
Go Ask Alice by Anonymous: I read this book for fun when I was a teenager. I really loved it at the time. I'll have to see if I can find my copy and reread it!
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck: I read this book in high school as well, I think I was in 9th grade. So yeah, many many years ago. I don't remember much about it.
I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou: This one has been in my TBR pile for years! Maybe eventually I will read it.
Harry Potter (Series) by JK Rowling: I read this series a couple of years ago (late to the party) and loved it.
Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger: I've read this book twice, once in high school and once in college. I loved this book so much and it's sitting in my TRA (to read again) pile.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky: Just read this book a couple of weeks ago. I checked it out from my local library. It was okay.
The Color Purple by Alice Walker: Another book that I read in high school, and then I read it once again for fun later on. I've also seen the musical (just FYI).
The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier: I've never read this one.

What do you think of this list? I'm pretty impressed that I have read 8/10 of these books.

Don't forget to enter the Banned Books Giveaway!

Wicked Games by Sasha Wagstaff

2010-09-23T11:50:00.000-04:00

Wicked Games by Sasha Wagstaff

Feuding families, star-crossed lovers... let the fireworks begin!

Debonair and dynamic, millionaire Judd Harrington is back at Brockett Hall. With his socialite wife and family in tow, he’s returned from LA a glittering success. But as he stares across the valley at Lochlin Maguire’s beautiful country house, all he can think of is revenge.

Meanwhile Judd’s arch-rival has troubles of his own. Lochlin’s record label is losing major talent to an unknown competitor, his wife Tavvy is distracted and he can’t seem to see eye to eye with his son Shay. And, unbeknownst to Lochlin, his talented singer daughter Iris has fallen for irresistible racing driver Ace Harrington out in LA. Ace is under orders from Judd to break Iris’s heart. What he hadn’t bargained for was losing his own in the process. Can he go against his father's wishes? Or will Judd’s wicked games ruin love’s young dream? -- From Amazon

Can I be honest with you all? As much as I love chick lit (and I love it lots) I had a super hard time with this book. I was so confused by the end of the first few (60-ish) pages that I felt like I needed to lie down. There were so many characters to keep track of and so many story lines to remember, I felt like I couldn't keep on top of it all! After weeks and weeks of reading, I finally gave it up. I could not finish this book and it feels so good to finally get that off my chest!

On a positive note - the cover of this book is awesome! I prefer the paperback to the hardcover by a long shot. I just think the paperback is more "wicked" if you know what I mean plus it matches the Changing Grooms cover nicely. I'm going to give Changing Grooms a shot, and maybe even reread Wicked Games

Sorry for being such a Debbie Downer. For some great reviews with a different perspective check out some of these: Novelicious, Chick Lit Reviews, Scribbles.

*book was provided by Headline for review.

TLC Book Tours: The Life You've Imagined by Kristina Riggle

2010-09-23T02:00:00.097-04:00

The Life You've Imagined by Kristina Riggle
Is the life you're living all you imagined?
Have you ever asked yourself, "What if??" Here, four women face the decisions of their lifetimes in this stirring and unforgettable novel of love, loss, friendship, and family.

Anna Geneva, a Chicago attorney coping with the death of a cherished friend, returns to her "speck on the map" hometown of Haven to finally come to terms with her mother, the man she left behind and the road she did not take.

Cami Drayton, Anna's dearest friend from high school, is coming home too, forced by circumstance to move in with her alcoholic father ... and to confront a dark family secret.

Maeve, Anna's mother, never left Haven, firmly rooted there by her sadness over her abandonment by the husband she desperately loved and the hope that someday he will return to her.

And Amy Rickart - thin, beautiful, and striving for perfection - faces a future with the perfect man ... but is haunted by the memory of what she used to be.

Kristina Riggle's The Life You've Imagined takes a provocative look at the choices we make - and the courage we must have to change. (Source)

This was an interesting book for me to read at this point in my life because I am at that age where I keep thinking, "this is not what I imagined my life would be like at 26". So, I was very excited to read this!

What I found most interesting about this book is that Cami, Anna and Amy were all previously friends in high school but when they all came back, they didn't instantly become best friends again. I can tell you now - that is way more realistic than all those other books where people become instant friends immediately. Nope! It's awkward and sometimes painful and I think that the author did a great job of portraying that. Also, each woman had something different going on in her life and each story was not connected. I kind of loved that.

I found Maeve's sections to be odd. I felt that she didn't really belong in the stories and I much preferred reading about Cami, Anna and Amy. Her story of lost love was boring and kind of predictable how it ended. I was sad about her store closing, but I would have been fine without her point of view.

My favorite character was probably Cami. I thought her gambling addiction was quite different from what we usually read about. Her home life wasn't pretty either, and Ms. Riggle was not scared to get nitty gritty with it!

I liked Anna as well, although I do wish we could have had more of a back story with her. I wanted to understand her past relationships more. I did enjoy watching her evolve from cranky daughter to supportive daughter and friend though.

Amy was interesting for me. She had struggle with her weight for a long time, lost it and found the "perfect" man. Maybe it's the cynic in me, but I wanted her to leave Paul almost immediately because he seemed like a jerk to me. When Ed was introduced, I was like yes! Unfortunately that went nowhere...

I think this would be a great book to read with friends because I think each person would take something different away from this book, and isn't that a wonderful thing?!

Visit Kristina Riggles' website, twitter, and facebook.

Thank you to TLC Book Tours for allowing me to read this book as part of their program. Here are the stops for The Life You've Imagined TLC Book Tour:

Thursday, August 19th: Sara's Organized Chaos
Monday, August 23rd: Lisa's Yarns
Thursday, August 26th: The Book Faery Reviews
Thursday, August 26th: Reading at the Beach
Wednesday, September 1st: Rundpinne
Thursday, September 2nd: Helen's Book Blog
Wednesday, September 8th: Book Club Classics!
Monday, September 13th: All About {n}
Wednesday, September 15th: Thoughts from an Evil Overlord
Tuesday, September 21st: Book Addiction
Thursday, September 23rd: Confessions of a Bookaholic

*book was provided by the publisher for review at confessions of a bookaholic...as part of the TLC Book Tour

CSN Stores

2010-09-21T16:05:00.000-04:00

CSN Stores has over 200 online stores where you can find everything from luggage, to cookware, or even a new twin bed set or desk for the kids' room. I just spent over an hour on just one of their websites, and there are over 200 more to browse!

I'm very excited to have an opportunity to review something from CSN Stores. So while I am browsing, how about you all head on over and check out their amazing selection!

Banned Books + Giveaway

2010-09-20T14:36:00.002-04:00

I am a huge supporter of banned books. It is so ridiculous to me that it's 2010 and we are still challenging and banning books. How can people still be so old fashioned? Scroll to the bottom for a giveaway!

Banned Books Week is rapidly approaching and I took this opportunity to check out some books from the library:

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

I felt so sad when I was reading this book because Charlie was such a sympathetic character. He broke my heart because he was so sweet and I didn't want him to get hurt! It was a quick book to read, but I had some issues getting past the format of the letters.

And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell

I thought this book was so sweet! It was a story of two male penguins who genuinely loved each other and tried to act like all the other couples. The only thing they couldn't do was have a baby together until Mr. Gramzay found an egg and gave it to them to hatch. Tango was born into their sweet family. This is based on a true story at the Central Park Zoo, and I read that after 6 years together Roy and Silo split up. I know they are penguins, but I felt so sad when I read that.

I love Sarah Ockler's post on Censorship. She brings up a valid point. If you want to "protect" your children, why not start a conversation? Your kids probably have a lot of questions. You know what? I grew up in a very open household. All of my questions were answered truthfully (sometimes too truthfully) and I think I turned out okay. In fact, I think I turned out great because I am open-minded. If a child really wants to read a book, shouldn't we be encouraging them instead of banning books?!

Anyways, I had this post scheduled for September 25th to coincide with Banned Books Week, however, with the Wesley Scroggins situation I just had to post this now. You need to read these posts from Sarah Ockler (here) and Laurie Halse Anderson (here). For a list of links, check out Bookalicio.us (here) and check out the link. Read them. They are all so powerful and all say much more than I ever could on the subject.

I don't have children, so some may think I'm not qualified to be offended by banning books, but as a book-lover you can darn right bet that I am offended. I'm going to take the time to celebrate my freedom to read. I suggest you do the same.

P.S. Check out the Listmania! I made with all the banned and challenged books from this year. Since there were more than 40 books, I had to list some of them at the top.

Now for the good stuff! I am going to be giving away a copy of Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott and Lessons from a Dead Girl by Jo Knowles (both books were on the 2009-2010 list of challenged and banned books).

To enter, just leave a comment here with a valid e-mail address by October 2, 2010 at 12:00 pm EST. This contest will be open to US only this time.

Blog Status

2010-09-14T15:12:00.000-04:00

I've been reflecting about this blog for awhile now and I've reluctantly decided to blog less. For the few of you who read this blog, you may be thinking that I don't post all that often and it's true, but I'll get to that in a minute.

Two years ago this blog was started with the best of intentions - a place to keep my list of books I've read and my thoughts on them. Over time, I've felt pressure to read what every one else was reading and in the process have somewhat lost the joy of reading. There are a lot of fabulous book bloggers out there, and it's tough to try and keep up. In the process, I've been reading less for joy and more for "requirement". Believe me, I am thankful for the books I've been able to review as I've truly read some great ones but I need to learn to be more selective and realistic.

So here is where this blog stands. I won't be doing What's In Your Handbag? posts anymore and I won't be posting reviews of every single book I've ever read (with the exception of review copies). At the end of each month, I will probably post a slight recap of some books I read that month...if I read anything good. I will definitely keep my list updated because I do want to keep track of what I read. I believe this will be much more manageable for me and will help me enjoy the books I'm reading. As for the books that I promised to review - don't worry, I will still be reviewing those books on the dates scheduled and I'm always open to review more...I just will be more selective.

Also, I think I need to distance myself from the computer. I am on the computer between 8 and 5 every day, I don't need to be on when I'm home too! I need to start enjoying my free time a little more and to me, that involves unplugging a little more.

I will keep up with Dancing Through Life because of the 365 day project. I really want to accomplish that New Year's Resolution and so far so good. Once I finish, I will probably post there more about my everyday life.

So there it is. Bloggy break...kind of.

TLC Book Tours: Vanishing by Deborah Willis

2010-09-14T01:00:00.051-04:00

Vanishing and Other Stories by Deborah Willis

A French teacher who collects fiancés; a fortune-teller who fails to predict the heartbreak of her own daughter; an aging cowboy seduced by a city girl ... these are some of the unforgettable people who live in these pages.

In Vanishing and Other Stories, secrets are both kept and unearthed, and lives are shaped by missing lovers, parents, and children. With wisdom and dexterity, moments of dark humor, and a remarkable economy of words, Deborah Willis captures an incredible array of characters that linger in the imagination and prove that nothing is ever truly forgotten. -- from the back cover

I love collections of stories (fiction and non-fiction) and essays. The reason? If there is one story you do not like, the next chapter is a fresh start and doesn't effect the overall book. Genius, right?

Deborah Willis wrote some great stories, but my favorite was This Other Us. I don't know why this one spoke to me so much, but I personally found it super heartbreaking. I really felt for Lise (was that her real name?) when she was dressing up in Karen's outfits just so that her boyfriend would "like her" even when it was clear he didn't really love her. When Karen came back in the end and it was like nothing even happened, my heart broke. I wish that story was longer though!

Overall, I cannot think of one story that I did not enjoy in some way. The title of the book is Vanishing and I like that Deborah Willis doesn't give us all sunshine and rainbows. There is a lot of heartbreak and tragedy in this book, and it worked in these stories. I personally find it amazing she was able to fully develop these stories of heartbreak and loss in approximately 20 pages at a time, what a gift!

Be sure to check out Deborah Willis' website.

Thank you to TLC Book Tours for allowing me to read this book as part of their program. Here are the stops for the Vanishing TLC Book Tour:

Tuesday, August 17th: Booksie’s Blog
Wednesday, August 18th: Eleanor’s Trousers
Tuesday, August 24th: The Lost Entwife
Thursday, August 26th: Raging Bibliomania
Monday, August 30th: All About {n}
Wednesday, September 1st: In the Next Room
Tuesday, September 7th: she reads and reads
Wednesday, September 8th: Cozy Little House
Monday, September 13th: Rundpinne
Tuesday, September 14th: Confessions of a Bookaholic
Thursday, September 16th: Life in the Thumb

*book was provided by the publisher for review at confessions of a bookaholic...
as part of the TLC Book Tour.

What's In Your Handbag?

2010-09-10T08:00:00.011-04:00

Welcome to my weekly meme, "What's In Your Handbag"? Do you always have a book in your handbag? If you can't leave home without something to read, then "What's In Your Handbag?" is the post for you! Every Friday, I will be posting what book is currently in my purse.

Do you smell that? It's the smell of fall! I'll be curling up this weekend with a pumpkin spice latte (heaven) and Red Hook Road by Ayelet Waldman. I saw this book in People magazine a couple of months ago and it sounded so good! I was so shocked when it ended up at our library because we never get books that I would like. I can't wait to read it!

Leave the link to your "What's in Your Handbag" post in the comments! Also, feel free to grab the button, the HTML is posted on the right sidebar.

September 6, 2010: I Am Number Four

2010-09-07T13:30:00.000-04:00

I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore

John Smith has just arrived in Paradise, Ohio, just another stop in a string of small towns where the 15-year-old has been hiding out from the Mogadorians. Those terrifying aliens are hellbent on destroying him and the other nine Loric children who have sought refuge on Earth. The Mogadorians are picking off the surviving kids in numerical order. The first three are dead and John's number is up. Will his Legacies, his defining super powers, develop in time for him to fight against the enemy? I Am Number Four is a breathless page-turner of a sci-fi novel that will have readers rooting for the teen alien who must unleash his fire power to save himself, his human friends, and the planet. This is the first of a slated multi-book series that, judging by this first book, will help reinvigorate a traditional YA genre that's grown a bit light on strong character development. So gear up sci-fi fans, the battle for Earth is on and there's a new kid in town! (Source)

Wow. I loved this book. No lie. I normally don't read a series until all the books are out already, but for some reason I picked this book up at the book store and then promptly read it. This is a sci-fi book, which means it sounds weird...but I think I kind of like sci-fi sometimes.

I loved John Smith so much, and I can't wait to see the movie (February 2011), especially to see how that fight scene plays out on screen. It was intense. In fact, I'm planning on reading it again very soon (like tomorrow).

Okay. Pittacus Lore. I kind of didn't pay attention to the author, I just assumed it was some new author. In fact, Pittacus Lore is from Lorien (he's from the book!), so yeah it's a pseudonym. Who might the author be? Well, unfortunately I found out that it is James Frey. If I had known that before, I probably wouldn't have read the book...but I am hooked. Now I have to wait until Spring 2011 for the next one!

What's In Your Handbag

2010-09-03T08:00:00.002-04:00

Happy Weekend everyone! Labor day = long weekend = one happy lady over here! Saturday I am sleeping in, but after I do that I plan on reading Best Friends Forever by Jennifer Weiner and hopefully I can read all day and work on the nice big library pile I have going on right now!

Leave the link to your "What's in Your Handbag" post in the comments! Also, feel free to grab the button, the HTML is posted on the right sidebar.

Life After Yes Giveaway Winner!

2010-08-31T13:50:00.000-04:00

The winner of Life After Yes is comment # 15.....Laura from My Pillow Book!

Thank you everyone for entering this contest, I really appreciate it! Laura, check your e-mail.

August 29, 2010: A Novel Bookstore

2010-08-30T16:17:00.000-04:00

A Novel Bookstore by Laurence Cossé

Ivan, a one-time world traveler, and Francesca, a ravishing Italian heiress, are the owners of a bookstore that is anything but ordinary. Rebelling against the business of bestsellers and in search of an ideal place where their literary dreams can come true, Ivan and Francesca open a store where the passion for literature is given free reign. Tucked away in a corner of Paris, the store offers its clientele a selection of literary masterpieces chosen by a top-secret committee of likeminded literary connoisseurs. To their amazement, after only a few months, the little dream store proves a success. And that is precisely when their troubles begin. At first, both owners shrug off the anonymous threats that come their way and the venomous comments concerning their store circulating on the Internet, but when three members of the supposedly secret committee are attacked, they decide to call the police. One by one, the pieces of this puzzle fall ominously into place, as it becomes increasingly evident that Ivan and Francesca’s dreams will be answered with pettiness, envy and violence. --from Europa editions

Wow. I seriously loved this book. It's hard for me to explain what I loved about this book, but I had a feeling when I was reading it that it was classic. It was just good writing and a good story, you can't go wrong with that.

I loved Van and Francesca's passion for good literature. Each time they spoke of an author I had this urge to find an awesome bookstore like this one and find some great novels to read. I didn't read this book in one sitting or even one day. Instead, I took this book with me and only read it when I knew I would be able to cherish several chapters at once. Each moment I had with this book was special (I'm so lame, right?). I just felt that I couldn't get deep enough into the book.

Can I take a moment hear to rave about Europa editions? I've read two EE books so far, this one and Broken Glass Park and I've thoroughly enjoyed each one. Better yet, I felt compelled to share both of these books with others because to me, they were special stories. I've looked through their catalog and have found about 10 other books I want, and I even bought one (darn my New Year's book-ban!) January 1 cannot get here fast enough so I can start buying books again! Also the covers are to die for. I cannot even handle the gorgeousness of each cover. Okay - enough gushing! Read this book, it's fabulous!

*this book was provided by Europa editions for review on confessions of a bookaholic...

Emmy Awards 2010

2010-08-30T09:07:00.002-04:00

I love award shoes and I treat them like an event. The Emmy Awards are my own personal Superbowl, which is why I can't believe I forgot they were on last night! I blame Lily....it was her first birthday and I was distracted. So regardless of my lack of preparation, I enjoyed them all the same!

The opening number was awesome, and it would have been 100% perfect if Kate Gosselin was not present. If you stop give that woman attention, she will go away! Ugh, she's so disgusting - but yay Joel McHale! I thought Jimmy Fallon did a great job, and he even ended on time. I love Jimmy! The Modern Family skit was hilarious with George Clooney, Mitch and Cameron being butch and Gloria in 3D haha.

Here are some thought on some of the awards:

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series: Eric Stonestreet (Modern Family)
I was really rooting for Chris Colfer in this category, but I do love Modern Family too. I was surprised that the 3 guys didn't split the vote. Also, how precious was Jesse Tyler Ferguson crying because he was so happy. Yay Cameron!
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series: Jane Lynch (Glee)
Duh! If this award had went to anyone else I would have been shocked. Sue Sylvester is hilarious and I loved her speech!
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series: Jim Parsons (The Big Bang Theory)
It's about time! He is so hilarious as Sheldon Cooper, and I love him. I cried like a baby when he won.
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series: Edie Falco (Nurse Jackie)
I don't watch Nurse Jackie so maybe she is hilarious. To me, this award was Amy Poehler's all the way! Parks and Recreation was hilarious last season, and she deserved to win!
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series: Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad)
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series: Kyra Sedgwick (The Closer)
I was really hoping for Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton to take these two awards home. Friday Night Lights has been ignored by the Emmy's for the past 3 years and I was so hopeful they would finally get the awards they deserved. I guess I should just be happy that they were finally nominated. By the way, if you don't watch Friday Night Lights you need to go to Netflix and see what you've been missing!
I always skip the miniseries part because I never watch them!
Outstanding Drama Series: Mad Men
I don't watch it, but I expected this show to win. I don't even remember what other shows were against them.
Outstanding Comedy Series: Modern Family
Is this an upset? If I remember correctly, 30 Rock has won for many years. I wanted Glee to win so badly, but I love Modern Family a whole lot!

Fashion:
Best Dressed
Kelly Osbourne
She looked amazingly stunning. The black looked gorgeous, and her hair was beautiful. Thank goodness she got rid of the purple hair.
Dianna Agron
I can't even deny my huge woman crush on her, so I think she looks great in anything! I love the detail on this dress, and I love that it's not a typical Emmy dress - it's different and she pulls it off. Work it girl!
Jayma Mays
She looked unrecognizable, but gorgeous! She is stunning. Her hair looked great, the blue was lovely. I just loved it all!
Emily Blunt
She looked stunning in that lavender dress! One shoulder dresses were all over the red carpet this year, but I loved hers!

Worst Dressed
Anna Paquin
Ick, I hated this. She looked like a bull fighter.
Christina Hendricks
This woman has a banging body, but I hated this dress. The color didn't work for me and the dress was just ugly!
January Jones
She is so pretty, but I just could not get into this dress. It was a little bizarre.

One Lovely Blog Award

2010-08-27T14:43:00.000-04:00

Thank you Melissa for this lovely award! Everyone needs to head over to Chick Lit Central and check it out because it's great!

What's In Your Handbag

2010-08-27T08:00:00.007-04:00

Tomorrow my niece turns 1. I am kind of denial about it because I remember that Friday a year ago when I was sitting in the hospital with my sister, and then when Lily was born...I'll probably never forget it. Especially when she sneezed, it was the cutest and it was so fun to watch her personality develop this past year! Man that girl is hilarious!

Anyways, I will be baking cake and cupcakes for the little cupcake this weekend. But in my spare time, I am hoping to read Death be Not Proud by John Gunther.

Leave the link to your "What's in Your Handbag" post in the comments! Also, feel free to grab the button, the HTML is posted on the right sidebar.

What's In Your Handbag?

2010-08-20T00:01:00.007-04:00

I can almost taste fall in the air and I have to say....I'm excited! I'm ready for this disgusting heat to vanish, and for the nice windy days that are perfect for reading and hot chocolate. Anyways...this weekend I will be checking out The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. A lot of people have been checking this out from the library recently, and I was intrigued. Has anyone read it?

Leave the link to your "What's in Your Handbag" post in the comments! Also, feel free to grab the button, the HTML is posted on the right sidebar.

College Life

2010-08-18T11:50:00.000-04:00

I took this idea from Amber's blog!

1. Where did you go to college?

SUNY Fredonia

2. What did you study?

English was my major and Psychology was my minor. I barely remember any of my Psychology classes, and have no idea what I was thinking with the English major.

3. Was college really all that it was cracked up to be?

I love going to school, so I was really bummed when the routine was gone. So yes! I loved college.

4. How far were you from home?

About 20 minutes.

5. Did you have the same roommate all four years?

I commuted all 4 years! Sometimes I feel that I didn't have a typical college experience, and I regret that now.

6. Where did you order food from at 2am?

Nowhere! I was sleeping at 2 am :)

7. Did you date in college or were you tied down?

I was tied down. Bummer.

8. Funniest drunk college moment?

I was a very good girl during college. I didn't get wasted every night, therefore, I have no funny drunk college moments. My first job was more of a college experience than college as far as meeting new people and making new friends.

9. Did you make it to class on time?

Always! I am a rule follower :)

10. What was your favorite class in college?

That is hard! I liked almost all of my English classes, my favorites were Novels and Tales, because we studied different versions of fairy tales, and a Women's Studies class. My least favorite class was Oceanography because I failed.

This was a fun look back at college, especially since classes are starting up again (I work on a college campus). I always feel very nostalgic during this time and I wish I could go back!

August 17, 2010: Everything Is Going To Be Great

2010-08-17T22:00:00.000-04:00

Everything Is Going To Be Great by Rachel Shukert

When she lands a coveted nonpaying, nonspeaking role in a play going on a European tour, Rachel Shukert—with a brand-new degree in acting from NYU and no money—finally scores her big break. And, after a fluke at customs in Vienna, she gets her golden ticket: an unstamped passport, giving her free rein to “find herself” on a grand tour of Europe. Traveling from Vienna to Zurich to Amsterdam, Rachel bounces through complicated relationships, drunken mishaps, miscommunication, and the reality-adjusting culture shock that every twentysomething faces when sent off to negotiate "the real world"—whatever that may be. -- from HarperCollins

You know what's awesome? This book. I'm a fan of Sloane Crosley (well her first book anyways) and I love humorous collections of essays/stories/memoirs in general. Rachel Shukert did not disappoint me, I was laughing throughout the book.

I found her journey fascinating and quite ballsy. I wish I was brave enough to live in a foreign country without a job, but I'm sure my time there would not be nearly as funny as Rachel's. I think I might be kind of boring in general, but wouldn't it be a blast to hang out with Rachel? Something good is bound to happen!

If you love to laugh and you love laughing at other people's problems, then you will love this book. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to track down a copy of Have You No Shame? because I might be obsessed. Seriously. I devoured this book in one sitting!

*Harper Perennial provided this book for review on confessions of a bookaholic...

August 15, 2010: The Scent of Rain and Lightning

2010-08-16T11:48:00.001-04:00

The Scent of Rain and Lightning by Nancy Pickard

One beautiful summer afternoon, from her bedroom window on the second floor, Jody Linder is unnerved to see her three uncles parking their pickups in front of her parents’ house—or what she calls her parents’ house, even though Jay and Laurie Jo Linder have been gone almost all of Jody’s life. “What is this fearsome thing I see?” the young high school English teacher whispers, mimicking Shakespeare. Polished boots, pressed jeans, fresh white shirts, Stetsons—her uncles’ suspiciously clean visiting clothes are a disturbing sign.

The three bring shocking news: The man convicted of murdering Jody’s father is being released from prison and returning to the small town of Rose, Kansas. It has been twenty-six years since that stormy night when, as baby Jody lay asleep in her crib, her father was shot and killed and her mother disappeared, presumed dead. Neither the protective embrace of Jody’s uncles nor the safe haven of her grandparents’ ranch could erase the pain caused by Billy Crosby on that catastrophic night.

Now Billy Crosby has been granted a new trial, thanks in large part to the efforts of his son, Collin, a lawyer who has spent most of his life trying to prove his father’s innocence. As Jody lives only a few doors down from the Crosbys, she knows that sooner or later she’ll come face-to-face with the man who she believes destroyed her family.

What she doesn’t expect are the heated exchanges with Collin. Having grown up practically side by side in this very small town, Jody and Collin have had a long history of carefully avoiding each other’s eyes. Now Jody discovers that underneath their antagonism is a shared sense of loss that no one else could possibly understand. As she revisits old wounds, startling revelations compel her to uncover the dangerous truth about her family’s tragic past.

Engrossing, lyrical, and suspenseful, The Scent of Rain and Lightning captures the essence of small-town America—its heartfelt intimacy and its darkest secrets—where through struggle and hardship people still dare to hope for a better future. For Jody Linder, maybe even love. -- from Amazon.com

Nancy Pickard shocked me with this book! I enjoyed the first chapter and when the book flashed back, I expected to hate it. Instead, I was hooked on every word and wanted to know what happened that fateful night. Let me tell you, I was shocked by the twist (in a good way). I believed Bill Crosby may be innocent, and I had several theories of my own but the twist was one I never expected, so kudos to Ms. Pickard! I love when that happens. '

I only had one problem with this book and it was the ***SPOILER*** random romance between Collin and Jody. They had very few interactions throughout the book, however at one of the more meaningful (and the most they may have ever spoken to each other) Collin confesses his love for Jody - um, okay? I would have liked more of a build-up on that one. Overall, it was a fabulous book and I will definitely be checking out her other two books.

August 13, 2010: In This Way I Was Saved

2010-08-16T11:17:00.012-04:00

In This Way I Was Saved by Brian DeLeeuw

On a chilly November afternoon, six-year-old Luke Nightingale's life changes forever. On the playground across from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, he encounters Daniel. Soon the boys are hiding from dinosaurs and shooting sniper rifles. Within hours, Luke and his mother, Claire, are welcoming Daniel into their Upper East Side apartment -- and their lives.

Daniel and Luke are soon inseparable. With his parents divorcing, Luke takes comfort in having a near-constant playmate. But there's something strange about Daniel, who is more than happy to bind himself to the Nightingales. The divorce has cut Luke's father out of the picture, and as his increasingly fragile mother struggles with the insidious family depression, Daniel -- shrewd, adventurous, and insightful -- provides Luke both recreation and refuge.

As Luke grows from a child to an adolescent to a young man, he realizes that as much as his mother needs him, Daniel needs him more. Jealous of Luke's other attachments, Daniel moves from gestures of friendship into increasingly sinister manipulations. In the end, Luke finds himself in a daily battle for control of his own life -- wondering whether he or Daniel will emerge victorious.

Brian DeLeeuw's debut is a haunting and provocative story of a family's love and madness that you will not be able to put down. -- from Amazon.com

This turned out to be a great book! I have to admit that I was kind of behind when it came to this book. The cover is brilliant, but it took me about 2 weeks to realize that it was a boy swinging and that his shadow was below him - I thought it was someone walking with his middle missing and chains from his shoulders because that is totally normal, right? Goodness, I need help! Also, after several chapters of Daniel and Luke's antics I finally realized that Daniel was not a real person - yep, the clues were there but I was a little slow on the pick-up. I just thought Daniel had horrible parents!

Anywho - here is my main question regarding this book (please note that it may have been stated in the book, but as you can see I don't read clues very well): is Daniel a ghost? imaginary friend? multiple personality? Here's the thing - I read this book as Daniel being Luke's other personality and that his medicine kind of kicked Daniel to the back-burner but at other times he seemed so real! I think that is the beauty of this book, it's been several days and I still not quite sure and I can't stop thinking about it!

As far as the writing goes, I think that Brian DeLeeuw did a fabulous job here. He hooked me in from the first page and left me wanting more after the last page. I was so confused throughout the book, and I mean that in the best way possible because it kept me interested. I don't know what else to say because I feel like I already gave too much of the book away. I would highly recommend this book and I cannot wait to see what Brian DeLeeuw has up his sleeve for future novels.

P.S. The hardcover image really frightens me and makes me nauseous. I know it is smoke coming out of those shoes, but everytime I see that picture, I see bloody feet exploding and I get queasy.

P.P.S. - Sorry that this is a rambling mess. I have so many thoughts on this book, but I don't want to give anything away. Also this book made my brain kick into overdrive (which is probably a good thing since I've given it a vacation during the summer).

P.P.P.S. - Sorry about the wonky editing. Blogger hates me today and is making my post look ridiculous right now. Sorry!

*This book was provided by Simon & Schuster for review.

What's In Your Handbag?

2010-08-13T08:00:00.008-04:00

Man, this month is just flying by isn't it? This weekend I will be reading In This Way I Was Saved by Brian DeLeeuw. I actually have no big plans this weekend, which I find super-exciting (I'm a dork that way) so I am planning on having my own personal read-a-thon.....hopefully.

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August 11, 2010: Never Wave Goodbye

2010-08-12T10:03:00.001-04:00

Never Wave Goodbye* by Dough Magee

An innocent rite of passage turns into a nightmare for four couples, exposing their secrets and risking the lives of their children.

After passing the bittersweet parental milestone of putting her daughter, Sarah on the bus to sleep-away camp for the first time, Lena Trainor plans to spend the next two weeks fixing all the problems in her marriage. But when a second bus arrives to pick up Sarah for camp, no one seems to know anything about the first bus or its driver.

Sarah and three other children have been kidnapped, and within hours of the crime the parents receive an email demanding $1,000,000. When the specifics of the delivery terms throw suspicion on the parents of two of the abducted children, some of the parents begin to turn on each other, exposing fault lines in already strained marriages and forging new alliances. While the kidnapped children are living their parents' worst nightmare, the police are trying to sort the lies from the truth in conflicting stories and alibis that seem to be constantly changing.

Deftly weaving the emotional story that pits the parents of the missing campers against the police—and each other—with the fate of the kidnapped children hanging in the balance, Never Wave Goodbye will keep readers holding their breath until the last page. -- from Amazon.com*

I thought that the plot of this story had huge potential to be very good, however I think Magee failed to make it work here. There wasn't much suspense, I figured out the dramatic twist very soon after I started reading. I am a huge fan of red herrings in thrillers because they keep me on my toes and I rarely guess, however, Magee was not successful in providing red herrings. In fact, I felt it was so obvious who was involved because he kind of kept pointing it out. Regarding the twist without giving it away - I feel that it was never resolved and never really explored to the fullest.

I found the story of Lena's dad to be irrelevant. Who cares if he couldn't come back into the country, but he did it anyway. Did it add anything at all to the story? Nope. If Magee was going to write about the risk Lena's dad was taking and he could go to jail, he should have written her father as someone who had something to do with the kidnapping or when he crossed the border was immediately arrested and the affect that may have had. Instead it was just filler.

The epilogue was lame to me. I wish it would have been a reunion of sorts between the four grown children. Heck, just an update would have been better than what we were given.

So I give points to Magee for the basic plot summary, it's the execution I have a problem with.

*affiliate links used

Life After Yes + Giveaway

2010-08-09T15:24:00.001-04:00

In a recent blog post by Aidan Donnelley Rowley, she asked for help promoting her book Life After Yes (which I loved). First of all go read her blog at Ivy League Insecurities because it is a must! I read daily because all of her blog posts are so well thought out and she seems amazing. Since I loved this book, I decided to beome a LAY Ambassador and get the word out about this awesome book!

My box of books came in the mail.......

And I got busy........

My books went to a couple of family members and friends who love to read, two local libraries, a local Starbucks table, a table near the English department on campus, a table in the student lounge and across the ocean to Bookalicious. I left three on tables mentioned above, and I have to say that they went quickly! I'm not sure about the Starbucks one, but the English dept. and the student lounge one were gone by the afternoon. Don't worry, I saved one book for you guys though!

To enter, just leave me a comment with a valid e-mail address. And since I like this book so much, this contest will be open worldwide! Please enter by Tuesday, August 31st at 12:00 pm EST.

There will be no extra entries for this contest, but I would greatly appreciate any tweets, sidebar postings, anything really to help me promote this! Thank you.

August 8, 2010: Five Days Apart by Chris Binchy

2010-08-09T15:08:00.000-04:00

Five Days Apart: A Novel by Chris Binchy

Breaking up is hard to do, especially when it's a split between close male friends in their 20s. In Binchy's astutely observed American debut, the pair in question is David and Alex, Dubliners whose long bond is tested by romantic rivalry and the strains of encroaching adult responsibilities. At a college party, the sight of Camille sends the introverted David to seek help from his charming, more socially adept pal. The contrast between the two men is perceptively drawn by Binchy, a nephew of Maeve, who proves himself a lucid chronicler of the buddy relationship, which starts to fall apart when Alex moves in on Camille himself. Meanwhile, David scores a good job in an established bank while Alex flounders at school and seems unable to make the transition to grownup. David, now more confident and assertive, acts on his attraction to Camille, and the men's friendship's bittersweet, evocatively described dissolution completes a phase of David's life in a way neither the protagonist nor the reader might have expected at the novel's start. -- from Amazon.com

I'm not sure how to classify this book, but I would kind of say it is the male version of women's fiction...men's fiction, maybe? I normally don't read books from a male perspective but I really enjoyed David. I kind of relate to David, I am a very shy person and I often find myself tongue tied or saying random, bizarre things just to make conversation. It can be really awkward, so I just keep to myself much like David did after his friend Alex betrayed him.

I found David to be quite charming and Alex to be quite a tool, so I was shocked that Camille couldn't see past Alex's "charming" ways and see that David was the good guy here. I definitely think Alex broke man code because he knew how David felt, however, as the story progressed they repaired their friendship and kind of became a tight-knit group of three (triple? threesome? triangle?).

I found the Brazil section to be misplaced and I felt that it didn't add anything to the overall story. It wasn't a long enough passage to leave an impact, I was kind of expecting the Brazil trip to be half of the story. Since it wasn't that long, I would have preferred Binchy to leave it out.

Though it was a bit sudden, I was quite pleased with the ending and I was happy for David in the end. It was a nice quick book to read and I would definitely enjoy more "men's fiction" like this in the future!

*book provided by HarperCollins for review.

August 6, 2010: Family Ties by Danielle Steel

2010-08-09T14:50:00.000-04:00

Family Ties by Danielle Steel

Annie Ferguson was a bright young Manhattan architect. Talented, beautiful, just starting out with her first job, new apartment and boyfriend, she had the world in the palm of her hand—until a single phone call altered the course of her life forever. Overnight, she became the mother to her sister’s three orphaned children, keeping a promise she never regretted making, even if it meant putting her own life indefinitely on hold.

Now, at forty-two, as independent as ever, with a satisfying career and a family that means everything to her, Annie is comfortable being single and staying that way. She appears to have no time for anything else. With her nephew and nieces now young adults and confronting major challenges of their own, Annie is navigating a parent’s difficult passage between lending them a hand and letting go, and suddenly facing an empty nest. The eldest, twenty-eight-year-old Liz, an overworked, struggling editor in a high-powered job at Vogue, has never allowed any man to come close enough to hurt her. Ted, at twenty-four a serious and hardworking law student, is captivated by a much older, much more experienced woman with children, who is leading him much further than he wants to go. And the youngest, twenty-one-year-old Katie—impulsive, artistic, rebellious—is an art student about to make a choice that will lead her to an entirely different world she is in no way prepared for but determined to embrace.

Then, just when least expected, a chance encounter changes Annie’s life yet again in the most unexpected direction of all.

From Manhattan to Paris and all the way to Tehran, Family Ties is a novel that reminds us how challenging and unpredictable life can be, and that the powerful bonds of family are the strongest of all. -- from Amazon.com

Eh. Danielle Steel books are good for a nice quick read, but maybe because I've read quite a few so close together I am getting a little bored by it. I kind of wish the story would have been about Annie immediately after the plane crash that changed her life. How did she adapt right after inheriting an instant family? How hard did she work to get her business off the ground? How did she do both? That story would have been more interesting to me than the one that was told here.

What's In Your Handbag?

2010-08-05T20:34:00.000-04:00

This weekend I have Family Ties by Danielle Steel. I took it out from the library and decided to completely ignore my massive pile of books in favor of this one. It should be a pretty quick read....I'm kind of hoping for rain this weekend so I can curl up in my bed all weekend. Is it fall yet?

Leave the link to your "What's in Your Handbag" post in the comments! Also, feel free to grab the button, the HTML is posted on the right sidebar.

August 4, 2010: Todos Santos

2010-08-05T11:11:00.000-04:00

Todos Santos by Deborah Clearman

Humiliated by her husband's recent infidelities, Iowan artist Catherine Barnes journeys to exotic, politically tumultuous Guatemala to get some space and begin work on a new picture book, accompanied by her troubled teenage son, Isaac, who recently flunked out of eighth grade. The plan is for Isaac to work at his aunt's handicrafts store--a kind of "tough-love boot camp"--while Catherine explores the mountainous Mayan village of Todos Santos for painting subjects; the plan hits a snag after Isaac makes a series of bad decisions that lead to his abduction. As Isaac tries to get himself out of trouble, Catherine finds herself the target of local superstitions regarding foreigners and baby snatching. With the help of a handsome, warmhearted tour guide, Catherine draws on forgotten reserves of strength and independence to cope with the town's animosity and her son's disappearance. -- from Amazon.com

I was not expecting to enjoy this book as much as I did. Sure it sounded like a great book, but after the first page I was hooked and intrigued by this story. Guatemala sounds like an interesting place and Clearman sure painted a vivid picture of the people and the culture. It was so amazing to read.

Isaac's story was intense. Every time I was reading an Isaac scene I was on the edge of my seat. I just knew that bad things were happening, and my heart broke for him when he realized he was truly in trouble. After all, he was only 14 years old and that is so young! I just wanted to give him a big hug and protect him.

Catherine's story was great too. Trying to find herself after she found her husband cheating and then trying to deal with her son's disappearance. I felt for her character, and I just wanted her to have a great ending. I personally loved the ending, and I was happy that Clearman didn't go with the "typical" happy ending. I love that Catherine's trip opened her eyes to what she wanted, and while the ending was a happy one it was not typical and I so appreciated that. My only complaint about this book is that it was too short (yes, too short!) I wanted to read more! Great book!

*This book was provided by Little Bird for review.