October 2009 – Page 9

It’s Monday What Are You Reading?

Published on October 5, 2009 by Sheila (Book Journey)35 Comments

I have my nose buried deep in Kay Cassidy’s book, The Cinderella Society…. SO GOOD! I am on such a huge YA kick I feel like I should be snapping my gum, twirling my hair and listening to Bon Jovi…. oh – maybe YA don’t do that anymore…LOL Really enjoying the book!

I am pleased to say that last weeks list of Cleopatra’s Daughter (which was an AMAZING READ), Bo’s Cafe (great book and one to make you think…) and VIOLA in Reel Life (Loved this!)… I only have one that still is sticking out of my TBR shelf, partially read and part of my plan to finish the last two weeks…. that’s right, Pride and Prejudice still waits on me.

The big plan for this week…. and for some reason I feel like I am Stella and got my groove back…. (book groove that is)… so I piled them high for this weeks reading plan. They are:

Of course to finish the wonderful The Cinderella Society

I have Extraordinary by John Bevere for tour this week along with a giveaway copy!

Abbeville by Jack Fuller has also waited patiently to be reviewed and I pulled this off the shelf to do just that!

Football is For Lovers I have for a tour next week and I am trying to be more proactive on the tour reads and not waiting until the last minute and then cranking them out just under the wire.

The Financial Lives of Poets is also on tour next week

A Worthy Legacy by Tomi Akinyanmi just came in but is one off my wish list and I want to treat myself to this read.

So that’s the plan. For those of you who are looking at this and saying how can you possibly read that many books in a week?

Well, first it is only a plan and I tend to plan big – but don’t beat myself up if I don’t reach the goal. Sometimes a book I planned to read may be set aside for a different read because that is the beauty of reading… you do get to pick what you enjoy.

The Cinderella Society is sailing right along and I should complete that yet today, Extraordinary has been in the process of reading for a couple weeks now and in this type of book I find that helpful when I can break it down so I only have part of that book left to read. Football Is For Lovers (I know right… I am still not really sure what I signed on to with this one…LOL) and A Worthy Legacy are both smaller books. Which leaves me with Abbeville which I hope to roll into the weekend with, but we will see how it all goes.

Most of my evenings are spent reading. My husband goes to bed around 8:30 or 9 pm as he gets up at 5 am. That gives me on the average about 3 hours to read a night, not including that I do occasionally read early in the a.m., while I am making dinner and usually longer on weekends when we have no big commitments.

What are you reading this week? Pop Over to J Kaye’s blog and be sure to connect there to add your post to the linky so we can all see your list of wonderful books as well!

Happy reading all!

Morning Meanderings…

Published on October 5, 2009October 5, 2009 by Sheila (Book Journey)14 Comments

Where oh where has the nice weather gone?

The days of heavy overcast gray skies are already wearing on me. The current temperature is 42 degrees and I and Coffee Cup are feeling a little rough this morning with the cold and sinus bug that is going around. I really could have just stayed in bed this morning if it was not for having to deliver Chance to school by 8 am.

It is probably a good thing I did have a commitment as now I am up and have already made two appointments into my day – I love making appointments before people are int he office. That way I can give details of what I need and the right person usually calls me back with the right info and a date and time instead of being put on hold and waiting forever to get to the right person who then ponders over a schedule for 10 minutes…. LOL. Yes I even micro manage my time to make appointments. 🙂

Anyway… as I ramble on, has anyone seen this book? Novel Destinations? I think it looks wonderful. I have seen bloggers have opportunities to go to wonderfully bookish sites and I think I wouldn’t even know where to start. For all I know I could have been in areas where great books were written and land marks are just a few steps away and totally unaware…. (oblivious seems harsh right?) I wander my own way.

For the new breed of vacationer who craves meaningful trips and unusual locales, the combination of reading and travel can be a heady mix—especially if you happen to be checking into Hemingway’s favorite hotel in Sun Valley, or strolling about Bath’s Royal Crescent while entertaining fantasies of Lizzie Bennett and her Mr. Darcy! Cue National Geographic’s Novel Destinations—a guide for bibliophiles to more than 500 literary sites across the United States and Europe.

I just love book on books. I have one that lists the top 100 books that I should be reading. Uh yeah… good luck with that when all these new ones keep calling me like shiny new cars….

One I use frequently is The Book Club Companion. This one was a life saver as my book club grew large and I was struggling to figure out how to run a successful meeting. This book gives not only great reads to discuss… but fun themes for the group, recipes to try, questions to ask, what to do if there is no leader.. etc. LOVE this book.

Apparently I am in a very Bookie mood this morning. I need to do some research today on how to run an online book club…. haven’t done that before, but with a group already created (Word Shakers) and a plan to review The Help. I had best get a good grasp on how to do this. Any advice? 🙂

In My Mailbox

Published on October 4, 2009October 4, 2009 by Sheila (Book Journey)20 Comments

I had a great reading week…I actually finished all the books I had hoped to this past week with the exception of what I have left to read for Pride and Prejudice – but hey, the day isn’t over yet! 🙂

My Mailbox was actually a little mellow this week and that is ok… I have plenty of reading to do – however I do have the delight of sharing with you what has now entered the reading Room this past week:

The Love Revolution by Joyce Meyer is one I will be interested in reviewing. Just this past year I have read my first Joyce Meyer books – one non fiction, one fiction audio and enjoyed them. This one interests me as I have a feeling it is going to be on the same style as the Love Dare… which, I have yet to complete the actual dare part. *Sigh* Oh and with this review – comes giveaways….. yeah baby! Giveaways!

The four books pictured are four of the five for the Hispanic Month Giveaway…. which ends Oct 15. Don’t miss that – you can win all 5 books! Dama’s, Drama’s and Ana Ruis I have already read and reviewed so that one is going in the prize box for giveaway. Zumba I am excited to read as this is about working out to dance and I am all about that! Maybe that review will have to be vlog….LOL – just kidding!!! The other two, Evenings At The Argentina Club and AMiGOLAND I do not really know about.

Take Your Best Shot by Austen Gutwein looks soooooo good! This book is about making a difference and how a God sized idea raised over a million dollars for Aids Relief in Zambia. Can’t wait to jump into this one!

Children of Dust is another one that I am looking forward to reading. This is a memoir of Pakistan. This book is about the authors coming of age in Pakistan and the cultural shock of moving to the U.S.

A worthy Legacy is a gift to me from a reader of my blog, Rebecca Cox. She seen this book on my wish tab and emailed me to say she had a copy she would gladly send me. When I emailed her back to tell her how wonderful that was and to thank her, her response was, “No problem. You blogger guys work so hard and give away so many books, the least I can do is send you one”.

Seriously – Rebecca thank you. I have met just the nicest people through this book blog enperience! 🙂

Messy Tessy is a book sent by the author. I really enjoy these childrens reads and while I do not have any young children in my home any more, I someday believe I will have grand children and I will be able to share with them these wonderful books that I was given the opportunity to review. (Shhh! Dont tell my boys – I dont want grandchildren too soon! LOL)

French Women For All Seasons I found at a book sale. The price was so good, the book looks interesting. I couldn’t pass it up. And yeah – I bought two. So one goes in the prize box. We shall see…. get it? We? That’s French….

The two Anne George Cozy Mysteries are also from that same book sale. Murder Makes Waves and Murder Shoots The Bull…. I cant explain this purchase other than I am just inthe mood for mystery. I think it is the weather….

Sins Of A Shaker Summer by Deborah Woodworth…. still in the mystery mode. This one too came from that sale. It sounds good!

Another One from the sale, Jan Karon is just a sweet author and she writes these lite little books that can be wonderful when you are in the mood for something not so heavy. A Common Life sounds like what she usually writes and again, for the great price…. I knew I could squeeze this one some space in the Reading Room.

Barabara Delinsky’s Three Wishes is an incredible read that I read many years ago. I found it at a great price and I am all about sharing great reads so this one too is for the prize box.

Once Upon A Quinceanera is a purchase mainly because 1) the price. 2) After reading Dama’s Dramas, and Ana Ruis a few months back and realizing that I had actually experienced a Quinceanera in Honduras and had not known thats what it was… I now am interested in knowing more about this tradition.

Last but not least is this gorgeous book, Dark Angels, also purchased at the book sale. This book is really a thing of beauty. Besides the cover… which I cant stop looking at… it is written by the author of Through A Glass darkly which I have not read but have heard wonderful things about. This one is mine to look at and to read.

So that’s the haul this week. I hope to have another great week of reading and keep moving steadilly through the TBR pile. Share what you have brought into your home this week by linking on to this wonderful meme over at Story Siren’s Blog. It is a lot of fun!

VIOLA in Reel Life by Adriana Trigiani

Published on October 4, 2009October 4, 2009 by Sheila (Book Journey)12 Comments

The voice that comes alive in Viola’s character is one that spoke to the 14 year old me. I was carried back into a time of awkward moments of adolescence, dances you remember forever, and breathtaking first kisses… ~ Sheila

Synopsis

I’m marooned.

Abandoned.

Left to rot in boarding school . . .

Viola doesn’t want to go to boarding school, but somehow she ends up at an all-girls school in South Bend, Indiana, far, far away from her home in Brooklyn, New York. Now Viola is stuck for a whole year in the sherbet-colored sweater capital of the world.

Ick.

There’s no way Viola’s going to survive the year—especially since she has to replace her best friend Andrew with three new roommates who, disturbingly, actually seem to like it there. She resorts to viewing the world (and hiding) behind the lens of her video camera.

Boarding school, though, and her roommates and even the Midwest are nothing like she thought they would be, and soon Viola realizes she may be in for the most incredible year of her life.

But first she has to put the camera down and let the world in.

My Thoughts:

OMG! LOL! Really and truly I adored this book! I enjoyed this book from the first sentence, “YOU WOULD NOT WANT TO BE ME.” I loved the dramatic voice of our fourteen year old Viola. I remember those days when the world was going to end because things did not go the way you wanted. Life was so…. intense. So here I am deeply engrossed in a book all about Viola and her wonderful BFFAA (Best Friend Forever And Always) Andrew, her three new roommates in boarding school who seen to have already pegged her from hour one, and the possibility of a new relationship with a boy who’s love is calculated by the number of IM’s, and texts, four kisses, one hand holding, one date, one cookie and one book.

Ahhhh… first love. ♥

Tie all that in a hip and happening Grandma (Grand) who has a back ground in acting, two adoring but at this time anyway distant parents… and you have the making of one great read.

I have to thank Jennifer at BookClubGirl who introduced me to this book and then sent me a copy to read and be part of the live chat with the author Adriana Trigiani on Wednesday of this past week. I didn’t get to say a lot during the live chat as I had to run Chance to Youth Group in the middle of it but it was fun to participate and see the conversation roll out.

A great YA…. I applaud Adriana Trigiani for this youthful book and I plan on looking into more of what she has written.

ADRIANA TRIGIANI is beloved by millions of readers around the world for her hilarious and heartwarming novels. Adriana was raised in a small coal mining town in southwest Virginia in a big Italian family. She chose her hometown for the setting and title of her debut novel, the critically acclaimed and bestselling Big Stone Gap, followed by the sequels Big Cherry Holler, Milk Glass Moon, and the fall 2006 release Home to Big Stone Gap. Lucia, Lucia, The Queen of the Big Time, Rococo and Very Valentine were all instant New York Times bestsellers. Adriana also teamed up with her family for Cooking With My Sisters, which was co-authored by her sister Mary, with contributions from their sisters and mom; the cookbook-memoir features recipes and stories dating back a hundred years from both sides of their Italian-American family. Adriana’s novels have been translated and sold in over 30 countries around the world.

You can listen to the Live Chat here

Banned Book Week Winners

Published on October 4, 2009October 21, 2009 by Sheila (Book Journey)3 Comments

It is time to announce the winners from The Banned Book Week Giveaway! We had 68 comments so I have 6 winners. Thank you everyone for sharing the banned books you have read!

The winners are:

Drum roll please…

Wordlilly

Barbara S

Julie H

Ebony

Hailey Miller

Zia

Congratulations! All winners have been notified by email and have choice out of the prize box!

A Royal Spotlight!

Published on October 4, 2009October 4, 2009 by Sheila (Book Journey)21 Comments

I am so excited! I logged on this morning to discover that the Spotlight Interview I completed with Amy at Park-Avenue Princess is on her beautiful blog today! Color me *Giddy*!

I love interviewing other book bloggers and hearing their stories and it was fun to share mine with Amy. If you go over and read the Spotlight post I am offering up an Amazon Gift for her to give away – and who doesn’t like gift cards? Amy’s giveaway is open international so everyone click your way over to Park-Avenue Princess.

In honor of this great guest spot that Amy has given me, I too want to offer up a $10 Amazon gift card here as well. To qualify here is what you can do:

1. You must leave a comment on the Spotlight post over at Park Avenue Princess

2. For an additional entry – come back here and comment on one thing you learned about me from the spotlight interview

That’s it! 🙂 This giveaway is open internationally as well and I will end this on the same day that Amy is, on October 30th (mine will end in the morning however as that is the day I leave for Honduras).

The Bible Salesman by Clyde Edgerton GIVEAWAY!!!

Published on October 3, 2009October 29, 2009 by Sheila (Book Journey)62 Comments

Valerie at Hachette Book Group has graciously offered this book for me to review and do a giveaway for!

This giveaway is closed as of Oct 28

Preston Clearwater has been a criminal since stealing two chain saws and 1,600 pairs of aviator sunglasses from the army during the Second World War. Back on the road in postwar North Carolina, now a member of a car-theft ring, he picks up hitchhiking Henry Dampier, an innocent twenty-year-old Bible salesman. Clearwater immediately recognizes Henry as smart but gullible, just the associate he needs–one who will believe Clearwater is working undercover for the F.B.I.; one who will drive the cars Clearwater steals as Clearwater follows along in his own car at a safe distance. Henry joyfully sees a chance to lead a dual life as a Bible salesman and a G-man.

During his hilarious and scary adventures, Henry grapples with doubts about the Bible’s accuracy, and we learn of his fundamentalist upbringing, an upbringing that doesn’t prepared him for his new life. As he falls in love with the captivating Marleen Green and questions his religious training, Henry begins to see he’s being used–that he is on his own in a way he never imagined.

So… how to enter?

1 entry: leave a comment here and let me know if you have ever sold anything door to door or over the phone… (If you have not, respond here with something you think you would be good at selling door to door or ove the phone)

2) earn a second entry by following my blog and letting me know that you do is a separate comment

3) leave a comment on any non goveaway post for a third entry

Thats it – I will give away one book per every 10 comments (not counting any of my own comments) up to 5 books. Giveaway open to USA and Canada entrants. Giveaway will end on October 22.

Reading Group Guide

Faith N Fiction Saturday

Published on October 3, 2009October 3, 2009 by Sheila (Book Journey)4 Comments

My Friend Amy has this wonderful weekly meme that just recently came back into play after a little time off due to life business. I can so relate to that! 🙂 So today I anxiously head over to Amy’s Blog to see what question she will post for us to ponder over today and she asks this:

Today’s Question

We mostly talk about Christian fiction during Faith’n’Fiction Saturday but I’m curious if you have ever read fiction of other faiths. I am not aware of a lot of fiction of other faiths like I am about Christian fiction, so this is a good time to chime in with anything you’ve read! If you are of another faith, maybe you can chime in and tell us about some options.

Honestly… I had to think on this one… have I read a fiction read on other faiths? I checked my book shelves and found that I had:

Kabul Beauty School (ISLAM) but it is non fiction

Reading Lolita in Tehran (ISLAM) also non fiction

I looked on line and was surprised that I did not really find any fiction reads in other faiths other than a few that were written for children. Perhaps I was looking in the wrong areas?

GAH! I think I am coming up empty. If any of you have read any faith and fiction reads that are not based on the Christina Faith, please stop over to My Friend Amy’s and add your link and/or your comments.

Morning Meandering…

Published on October 3, 2009October 3, 2009 by Sheila (Book Journey)17 Comments

Listen.

Hear that?

Mmmm hmmm. Silence. Glorious silence.

Chance stayed at a buddies home last night, Al got up early to go to an auction. I am in the house alone except for Coffee Cup who never has to much to say anyway. 😉

These moments lately are far too few and far between in our household. I am usually up and running around by this time, taking Chance to school, or going into the office… but not today. Today I am looking at the books I had wanted to read this week and I am thrilled to say that I am on the last few pages of the last one out of this group, VIOLA In Reel Life by Adriana Trigiani. I am enjoying this read and earlier this week over at Book Club Girl’s we had a live chat with this author.

Listen to this first paragraph:

I’m marooned. Abandoned. Left to rot in boarding school in the dust bowl of Indiana like the potato we found in the cupboard in our Kitchen in Brooklyn after months of searching for it. It was only when the entire kitchen began to smell like a root cellar from Pilgrim days that we figured out why – and when we finally found the poatato it was soft, rotten. and breeding itself with white barnacles with totally disgusting green tips.

Don’t you just love that? By the time I finished those words I could clearly smell the potato that had seen better days and the description of the white barnacles… very visual. I cant wait to review this book.

My plan today is to complete the book, clean the house a bit, maybe depending on when Chance gets home – maybe take in a movie this afternoon and tonight Al and I have a retirement party to go to for a guy he used to work with at UPS.

Current status for me? I am up but stil in the p.j.’s… and may stay that way for at least another hour… 🙂 Coffee Cup and I are on our 2nd cup, the weather is cool and the sky is overcast. Perfect reading weather.

Read on my friends! Enjoy your Saturday wherever you may be!

Bo’s Cafe by John Lynch * Bill Thrall * Bruce McNichol w/ giveaway

Published on October 2, 2009October 29, 2009 by Sheila (Book Journey)38 Comments

A fantastic Christian read with the combination of incredible food, faith, and friends… what more could you want out of Bo’s cafe?

~ Sheila

High-powered executive Steven Kerner is living the dream in southern California. But when his bottled pain ignites in anger one night, his wife kicks him out. Then an eccentric mystery man named Andy Monroe befriends Steven and begins unraveling his tightly wound world. Andy leads Steven through a series of frustrating and revealing encounters to repair his life through genuine friendship and the grace and love of a God who has been waiting for him to accept it. A story to challenge and encourage, BO’S CAFE is a model for all who struggle with unresolved problems and a performance-based life. Those who desire a fuller, more authentic way of living will find this journey of healing a restorative exploration of God’s unbridled grace.

My Thoughts: Bo’s Cafe was a wonderful read. I really enjoyed the story line between Steve and Lindsey. In today’s world I am believing that this is all to often the circumstances and I found this book believable. Bo’s Cafe is a captivating read… from the great cover picture of a warm inviting cafe filled to the brim with friends, even within the pages you find people like Andy – a little mysterious, but there is something more to that guy that you cant quite put your finger on… and he drive’s an old car and live life with a sense of joy.

On page 228 I found a quote that I think may need to go on the sidebar of this blog somewhere… “Integrity is proven when you admit what you cannot do and honor what you say you can.”

I found the book refreshing. As a Christian read, the book covers well that no one needs another list of do’s and don’ts. I loved that in this book we are reminded that God loves us for who we are. He created us out of His love. Personally, I know how long it took me just to learn that it was ok to be real – it is ok to be flawed and fail and get back up again. God is first in line to hold out a helping hand. Andy’s character is a fine example and I enjoyed getting to know him and the rest of the gang at Bo’s Cafe.

And how fun is it that this book is written by three authors who are friends?

Meet the Authors

John Lynch
As a great communicator and writer, John Lynch is a vital staff member of the Truefaced team. In addition to speaking nationally with the Truefaced team since 1997, John has co-authored a number of books and resources with Truefaced, including the bestseller TrueFaced and the popular TrueFaced audio-video message.

John also serves as teaching pastor at Open Door Fellowship in Phoenix, Arizona, a position that he has held since 1985. The authenticity, longevity, and playfulness of these two flawed communities, Open Door and the Truefaced group, brings real-world reality and potency to this Truefaced message of Bo’s Cafe.

John used his love for writing and performing as the co-founder and playwright for Sharkey Productions, a theater troupe focused on Gospel-anchored theater productions for those still seeking Jesus. John and his wife Stacey are passionate parents to their three children Caleb, Amy and Carly.

Bill Thrall
As a leader of leaders, and a co-author for the TrueFaced team since 1995, Bill’s genuine desire is to see relational health in those he works with, has been vital in setting the tone of the organization. His eloquence and integrity have given him opportunities to teach TrueFaced’s principles internationally. His wisdom has been penned throughout the entire series of The Ascent of a Leader, Beyond Your Best, and TrueFaced Experience books.

Prior to joining the TrueFaced group, Bill founded and pastored the influential church, Open Door Fellowship, for over 20 years. While there, he developed an effective character development training program, which has influenced thousands.

In his spare time, Bill can be found fishing, golfing, crafting furniture for his family in his wood shop or cultivating fruits, vegetables and herbs in his beautiful backyard garden. Bill and his wife, Grace have three grown children Wende, Bill, and Joy and nine grandchildren.

Bruce McNicol
Bruce is a master at helping people experience the freedom of grace through metaphors and stories, which fill the best-selling Truefaced resources he and his friends have co-authored. These include TrueFaced, The Ascent of a Leader, Behind The Mask, Beyond Your Best, The High Trust Cultures, and others.

Bruce’s degrees in finance law, theology, leadership, and organizational development help hone his gift to speak into the lives of others, which continues to draw international audiences.

As co-founder and president of Truefaced team, Bruce’s passion is to see tens of thousands of safe places like Bo’s Café growing around the world, whether they be families, businesses, schools, hospitals, churches, organizations, sports teams, military or governments.

Bruce enjoys the beach, sports, and observing cultures through history-makers, emerging leaders, mass media, and comedians. His constant interest is his wife Janet, who is a homemaker, nurse and mentor. Together, they absolutely enjoy their three children, Nicole, Chad and Ryan.

Mirian from Hchette Book Group has graciously offered me copies of this book to give away here. I can have up to 5 copies – I will give away one book per every 10 entries….

Month: October 2009