Bloggiesta! 2nd Addition Starting Line

Published on January 8, 2010January 10, 2010 by Sheila (Book Journey)47 Comments

It has begun! Today through Sunday I will be in Bloggiesta mode. What exactly is Bloggiesta? Well it is a time to take a closer look at our blogs and do some…. well, let me let Pedro the mascot, explain it. Pedro?

“Plan. Edit. Develop. Review. Organize.“

That’s it. Through mini challenges this is a time to plan out 2010 and get a little organized. I want to share with you a few highlights from the first Bloggiesta event:

I had just started seriously book blogging about two weeks prior to this event. Somehow I heard about the Bloggiesta and thought it would be a great way to perhaps (maybe) learn more about blogging, reviewing, etc…. I created a “to do” list and I participated in everything I could. I learned so much through that event that my blog came out the other side looking sharper, more effective, and I had a new confidence of how I was going to go forward. That was over 6 months ago and I cant even believe how much I am enjoying connecting with others through this Blog. And now thanks to all those who helped me, I am able to help others. 🙂

Here is my weekend to do list: (I will probably add to this as I go)

Catch up on writing all the reviews for the books I have completed
Have back up posts ready to go
Send out invites for authors chats with a few authors
Clean up my Wish List link
Organize all my pages
Create a new Blog Badge
Love a bit on my blog roll…. it needs a facelift!
Love a little bit on my blog
Clean up my book related emails
Get out and visit other blogs! Life has been so busy lately I have not had a lot of time to do this part of blogging which I love! (and still going!)
Post the awards that I was planning to do at the end of December
Revisit last Bloggiesta’s mini challenges to see if there is anything I may have missed
Take a look at My Review Policy (written during the last Bloggiesta) is it still current?
Catch up on the giveaways that I still need to post
Stop in and see and comment on every participants blog (currently working on)

Here are the links to the wonderful mini challenges which I hope to participate in every one of them!

Rebecca from The Book Lady’s Blog – 2010 Resolutions. You know you got them! Done!
Pam from MotherReader – Blogging is about community, so check out this Comment Challenge (watch for a Mr. Linky to be up on Saturday for you to complete this challenge). Done!
Danielle from There’s a Book – Blogging takes time & I’m sure we’d all love to blog faster. Using a cheat sheet is just one idea of how to save time. Done!
Pam from Bookalicio.us – There is nothing worse than seeing your post on somebody else’s blog. Talking about blog copyright and what you need to be doing to protect yourself.
Beth from Beth Fish Reads – Using categories & labels to find what you’re looking for. Done!
Jackie from Farm Lane Books – Do not lose it all! How to back up your blog. Woo Hoo!
Karin from Karin’s Book Nook – There is nothing worse than landing on 404 error pages. It’s time to go on a dead link hunt! Done!
Chelle from Tempting Persephone – You have some great content. But can people find it? Here’s showing off the best of the best.
Kristen from Bookworming in the 21st Century – Introducing a new blogger mentoring program and forum. Done!
Jenn from Jenn’s Bookshelves – Got nothing to say (not likely – that’s why you’re blogging in the first place!) but here is an opportunity to brainstorm blogging topics. Done!

If you have time – I would suggest you go and sign up over at Maw Books and join an event that may very well make a positive difference in your blogging experience!

I will be keeping track of the invested Bloggiesta hours here: as of 1/10/2010 10:07 a.m. 17 hours

Party Time!

Here is my starting line post from the last Bloggiesta. And here is my finish line post from last time.

Monique And The Mango Rains by Kris Holloway

Published on January 7, 2010January 11, 2010 by Sheila (Book Journey)43 Comments

Monique and the Mango Rains is the compelling story of a rare friendship between a young Peace Corps volunteer and a midwife who became a legend . . .

Monique Dembele saved lives and dispensed hope in a place where childbirth is a life-and-death matter. This book tells of her unquenchable passion to better the lives of women and children in the face of poverty, unhappy marriages, and endless backbreaking work. Monique’s buoyant humor and willingness to defy tradition were uniquely hers. In the course of this deeply personal narrative, as readers immerse themselves in the rhythms of West African village life, they come to know Monique as friend, mother, and inspired woman.

From witnessing her first village birth to the night of Monique’s own tragic death, Kris Holloway draws on her first-person experiences in Mali, her graduate studies in maternal and child health, medical and clinic records, letters and journals, as well as conversations with Monique, her family, friends and colleagues, to give readers a unique view—and a friend in West Africa.

I really enjoy reading about other countries and other cultures. Kris Holloway’s book was a book that fed this hunger for knowledge. Following in Kris’ footsteps this book takes you through her two years she spent in the Peace Corps working with Monique, a midwife in Mali.

The friendship that you witness develop between Kris Halloway and Monique is worth reading the book alone. Yet, there is so much more information to this book them the friendship. This is an accurate account of what life in West Africa was like for this incredible woman.

Day to day Monique wakes early and works all day in the birthing house where she helps women with pregnancies, before the birth, during, and after. Working for unheard of wages that are collected by her husband… this book is one that ripped at my heart. Kris Holloway brings a voice to this remarkable women and brings her story that otherwise would be unknown… to us, the lucky readers. What a privilege to share a part of Monique’s life.

From Kris’s words about Africa, to Monique’s time in America… you will want to experience this book. And that is just what this book is… an experience not to be missed.

Kris Holloway served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Mali, West Africa from 1989-1991, where she met her husband,

John Bidwell. She holds a MPH from the University of Michigan where she focused her research on maternal and child health. She has used her unique background in writing, public health, and development to further the mission of numerous non-profits and educational institutions including Planned Parenthood, the National Priorities Project, the University of Michigan, Springfield College, and the Greenbelt Movement International. She currently works as the Director of Institutional Relations at the Center for International Studies, a fabulous study/live/explore abroad organization. She is a confirmed Francophile, loves chocolate, and sits on a physio ball while at her computer. She lives in Northampton, MA with John and their two sons.

Mali Music Video

West African Peanut Stew — Tigadegena

(from Monique Dembele, Mali, West Africa, adapted for vegetarians)
Serves 6-8

2c. chopped onion
3 cloves garlic
1tbsp. vegetable oil
2 tsp. grated fresh ginger
4 c. vegetable stock
2 c. tomato juice
½ tsp. cayenne (or to taste)
1 -1 ½ c. smooth peanut butter
2 c. chopped cabbage
2 c. chopped sweet potato
1 c. chopped okra (if available)
salt and pepper
chopped scallions
Rice or cous-cous (this sauce can be served over either)

Heat oil in large pot/skillet and fry onions, garlic, and ginger until soft. Add veg. stock, tomato juice, and cayenne. When hot, add peanut butter and mix well. Allow to boil for 10-20 minutes to thicken, then add remaining vegetables. Cook 20 minutes or so until vegetables are soft. Add water if the sauce is too thick, peanut butter if too thin. Serve over rice or cous-cous. Top with scallions. Is even better the next day.
Traditionally this is served communal-style. A large bowl filled with rice and sauce is placed on the ground. People gather around it and, after washing their hands in a small bowl of water, dig in (each person being careful to only nosh on the rice and sauce directly in front of him/her so as not to mix spit with the folks on either side). Another bowl of water is passed to rinse hands after eating.

Blessing for after the meal:
Allah ka suma I kono. (May God cool the food in your belly.)
Amina (Amen)

My Amazon Review

This books fits in the following challenges:

2010 100+ Reading Challenge

This book was given to me by Julie from My Own Little Corner Of The World

Thanks Julie – it was wonderful!

Morning Meanderings…

Published on January 7, 2010 by Sheila (Book Journey)28 Comments

It has been three days since my last book review. The start to the new year was going so well and then I just got busy. Busy busy. Last night I finally had a chance to cozy up with Coffee Cup and finish a wonderful book that I will be sharing with you later today.

I am hopeful things will slow down a bit as tomorrow starts the Blogiesta and I am so ready to be involved in that again! Also tomorrow I am thrilled to announce that I will be having an authors chat with the wonderful author of hush hush, Becca Fitzpatrick! That’s right, Becca is going to swing on by One Persons Journey Through A World Of Books!

AND this weekend just promises to be fun…. and I really like fun! Lots to come and a hint of a few giveaways coming up in the next few days that are just fun~ Did I mention I like fun?

Gilmore Girls Mini Challenge

Published on January 7, 2010January 7, 2010 by Sheila (Book Journey)28 Comments

In honor of the wonderful Gilmore Girl Challenge – Lisa over at Lit and Life asked me if I would do a Mini Challenge and I was honored to do so. If you are familiar with the series (and I hope you are!) This mother/daughter quick whit team refers to so many books…. well so many – that there is a Gilmore Girl Challenge.

Another thing they refer to almost as much as books, is movies. Since Lisa has the book part of this Challenge well covered, I am going to take the movie part. I think many of us who love books, also love good movies! So here is my Challenge to you. Over these winter months we tend to watch more tv…. SO – your task, my fellow Gilmore Girl addicts….. is to watch and review some of these wonderful choice movies!

This Challenge will start today and go through March 8, 2010. To do this challenge you need to watch and review any of the movies on the list below. As you do your reviews, use Mr Linky to link directly to your movie review for this mini challenge. Be sure to link DIRECTLY to the review so I can count it. For each review you do on the movies from the Gilmore Girls, you will receive one entry for a change to win choice – either The Gilmore Girls Soundtrack or the Coffee AT Luke’s book.

One more thing… You must be signed on for the Gilmore Girl Challenge in order to participate in this one. What! You are not signed up? Well it is not too late! Pop over and look at the challenge – the books are a wonderful selection and it is going to be a ton of fun!

The Movie List

2000 Year old man
2001
3 Days
8 mile
9 1/2 weeks
AI
Alive
All About Eve
All the President’s Men
American Gigolo
American in Paris
Amistad
An Affair to Remember
Animal House
Annie Hall
Apocaplypse Now
Arthur
Attica
Autumn in New York
Babe
Babe II
Bambi
Banger Sisters
Basic Instinct
Batman
Battlestar Galactica
Beautiful Mind
Ben Hur
Benji
Bewitched
Billy Jack
Blades of Glory
Blood on the Highway
Blue Crush
Blue Lagoon
Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice
Bonnie & Clyde
Boogie Nights                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Boxing Helena
Breakfast Club, The
Breaking Away
Bride of Chucky
Bridge On The River Kwai
Brigadoon
Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia
Bringing up Baby
Brokeback Mountain
Bugsy Malone
Bull Durham
Bye Bye Birdie
Byron
Cabaret
Cabin Boy
California Suite
Captain Corelli’s Mandolin
Casablanca
Champ, The
Charlemagne: Holy Barbarian
Charlie’s Angel’s Full Throttle
Chico & the Man
Chinatown                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Christmas Carol (Also on the book list!)
Cinderella
Citizen Kane
Cocktail
Cocoon
Coming Home
Cool Hand Luke
Courtship of Eddie’s Father, The
Crimes & Misdemeanos                                                                                                                                                                                                               Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon
Crucible, The
Damned, The
Dances with Wolves
Dangerous Liasons
Das Boot
Dead Calm
Dean Martin Roast Don Rickles
Deerhunters, The
Delovely
Desperately Seeking Susan
Detective, The
Dick Tracy
Dig
Diner
Dirty Dancing
Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood
Dog Day Afternoon
Dollhouse,The
Dr. Dolittle                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Dream A Little Dream
Driving Miss Daisy
Duece Bigalow
Dumbo
Easter Parade
Ed Wood
Edward Scissorhands
Electric Boogaloo
Endless Love
Endless Summer
Enter the Dragon
Erin Brockovich                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind
Everest
Exorcist, The
Fair Pentitent, The
Fame
Farenheit
Fast & the Furious, The
Fatal Attraction
Fatso
Ferris Bueller’s Day off
Fiddler on the Roof                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Field Of Dreams
Final Destination (1,2,3)
Flashdance
Fletch,
Fly, The
Footloose
For Keeps
Forty-Year-Old Virgin
Freaky Friday
Fried Green Tomatoes From Here to Eternity                                                                                                                                                          Funny Face
Funny Girl
G.I. Jane
Gaslight Ghost                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Ghostbusters, The
GI Jane
Gigi
Girl, Interrupted
Glitter
Godfather, The
Gone with the Wind
Good Morning Vietnam
Good Night & Good Luck
Good Ship Lollipop
Goonies, The                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Graduate, The
Gray Gardens
Grease
Great Santini
Grease
Grinch Who Stole Christmas
Hairspray
Hamlet
Hannibal Lector Movies
Hardbodies
Harold & Maude
Harvey
Heathers, The
Heidi
High Noon
His Girl Friday
Hitch
Hoosiers                                                           Hotel Rwanda
Hudson Hawk
Ice Castles
Inconvenient Truth, An
Inherit the wind
Into the Woods
Invasion of the Bodysnatchers
Ironweed (ALSO ON THE BOOK LIST!)
Ishtar
It Happened One Night
James Bond Movies
Jarhead
Jerk, The                                                                            Jerry McGuire
Joe vs. the Volcano
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat
Julia
Karate Kid
Ken Burns Boring Sod Documentary that I couldn’t find
Kill Bill
Kiss My Grits
Kujo
La boheme
Lady & the Tramp
Lake House, The
Last Tango in Paris
Legend of Bagger Vance, The
Les Miserables                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         License To Drive
Little House on the Prairie
Little Man Tate
Little Rascals, The
Lord of the Rings
Love in the Afternoon
Love Story
M. Night Shyamalan movies
Mad About Ballroom                                                                       Mad Max
Magnolia
Marathon Man
March of the Penguins, The
Mary Poppins
Mask
Master & Commander
Matrix, The
Midnight Express
Midsummer Night’s Dream
Milton, John
Misery
Mission Impossible
Moment by Moment
Mommie Dearest
Money Pit, The                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Monty Python and The Holy Grail
Monster
Moose Murders
Mr. & Mrs. Bridge
Mr. Baseball
Music Man, The
Mystic Pizza
National Velvet
Nell
Network
Norma Rae
Not Without my Daughter
Officer & a Gentleman
Old Yeller
Open Water
Othello
Out of Africa                                           Oxford Blues
Paper Moon
Parent Trap, The
Passion of the Christ
Philadelphia Story                                                                                                                                                                           Pippi Longstocking
Pleasantville
Poseidon Adventure, The
Postman, The
Power of Myth, The                                                                                                                                                Pretty In Pink
Primary Colors
Princess Bride, The
Producers
Psycho                                                                                                                                                     Pulp Fiction
Purple Rain
Pursuit of Happyness, The
Rainman
Rent
Reversal of Fortune
Richard III
Riding the Bus with my Sister
Risky Business
River Wild The
Rocky Horror Picture Show The
Room with a View
Rosemary’s Baby
Sabrina
Saint Elmo’s Fire
Sandra Oh
Saturday Night Fever
Saw II                                                                                                                                                                                           Say Anything
Schindler’s List
Seventh Samurai
Shaft
Shakespeare in Love
Shallow Hal
Shane
Shanghai Express
Shoah
Showgirls
Silent Movie
Silkwood
Singing in the Rain
Sixteen Candles
Sleeping Beauty
Snakes on a Plane
Snow Dogs
Sophie’s Choice
Sound of Music, The
Space Odyssey
Speed                                                                                                                                   St Elmos Fire                                                                               Star Is Born
Star Wars
Sting, The
Streetcar Named Desire, A
Taboo Broadway Show
Taxi Driver
Terms of Endearment                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Thelma and Louise
Them
This is Spinal Tap
Thomas Crown Affair, The
Titanic                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   To Kill A Mockingbird (Also on the book list!)
Treasure of the Sierra Madre
Turning Point
Untouchables, The
Urban Cowboy
Valley of the Dolls
View from the Top
Waiting for Godot
Waiting for Guthman
Wall Street
Way We Were, The
Welcome to the Dollhouse
West Side Story
Whatever Happened to Baby Jane
Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory                                                                                                                                                Witches Of Eastwick, The
Wizard of Oz
Working Girl
Xanadu
Yearling, The
Young Frankenstein
You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown

*Remember to link each movie review here – the more reviews the more chances you have to win! Now grab your popcorn and lets get started!

Lorelai: So, apparently, I’m now the Reigning Lorelai.

Rory: Huh. I guess you are.

Lorelai: It’s a lot of responsibility.

Rory: Well, sure.

Lorelai: I mean, it’s mostly ceremonial stuff nowadays. Declaring knighthoods, opening supermarkets. But now and then, you get to banish someone or pose for a stamp.

Rory: Neat. And coins.

Lorelai: Yeah, and coins. You know, someday you’ll be the Reigning Lorelai.

Rory: I don’t like that idea!

Lorelai: Why not? You get a cape.

Rory: Because if I’m the Reigning Lorelai, then that means you’ll be gone.

Lorelai: Gone? No, not me. I’ll step down way before that. I’m not going to pull a Queen Elizabeth on you, make you wait around forever, force you to develop interests in polo and architecture.

Rory: I am scared of horses.

Lorelai: I know that.

Rory: So there’s a cape, huh?

Blogiesta : 2nd Edition

Published on January 6, 2010 by Sheila (Book Journey)25 Comments

I am foregoing the Morning Meandering today to instead, let everyone know about the upcoming Blogiesta this Jan 8,9, and 10th. The 1st Blogiesta that was held in June 2009 was right when I started blogging and it was not only timely for me – but so helpful. (I will go more into detail on that this Friday at the kick off.)

If you are not familiar with the Blogiesta, pop over to Maw Books Blog and see what it is all about. Basically it is a great way to learn more about blogging, meet new people, and make some blog improvements that you may have been putting off or did not know how to do. There are mini challenges as well as prizes. It is not to late to hop on board and seriously – if you can participate, you wont be sorry. This is like a blog makeover weekend!

Head over to Maw Books and see all the details on this wonderful event – I would love to do this with all of you!

Curse Of The Tahiera Winner!

Published on January 6, 2010 by Sheila (Book Journey)5 Comments

Its time to announce the winner of the Curse Of The Tahiera book by Wendy Gillissen. Thanks to everyone who signed up for this one… your answers to my question were awesome!

The winner is (using random.org):

wendy wallach!!!

My questions was: If you were a fictitious character dropped into an adventure book, what would your adventure (story plot) be. add an extra chance by also telling me what your character name would be!

Wendy’s answer was:

My adventure would be about finding my way to a magical universe and my name would be Kyra

Thriller and Suspense Challenge 2010

Published on January 6, 2010January 6, 2010 by Sheila (Book Journey)15 Comments

Oh come on! I had to! Look at this great challenge picture! Plus I read Thrillers and Suspense…. so I am in! Book City Chick is hosting this challenge this year and you can peek over there for full details and signing up. Here is the basics:

Timeline: 01 Jan 2010 – 31 Dec 2010

Rules: To read TWELVE (12) thrillers in 2010

Details:

• You don’t have to select your books ahead of time, you can just add them as you go. Also if you do list them upfront then you can change them, nothing is set in stone! The books you choose can crossover into other challenges you have on the go.

10.

11.

12.

James Patterson Reading Challenge

Published on January 6, 2010 by Sheila (Book Journey)14 Comments

Yes it is another Challenge. But wait! Let me explain! While blog hopping the other day I found my way to Socrate’s Book Reviews and this Challenge is August 15 2009 – August 15 2010. I have actually read and listened on audio to several James Patterson lately so this is a no brainer! It’s not to late! Anyone care to join me?

The challenge is to read at least 10 James Patterson books in a year. You do not need to make a list of what you will read now or, if you want, you can. However, nothing is written in stone and the books you list can be changed at any time. Overlapping books with other challenges is allowed. Stop over at Socrate’s Book Reviews for the challenge link and more details.

Game on:
1. Run For Your Life by James Patterson (audio)

2. The Murder Of King Tut by James Patterson (audio)

3. Swimsuit by James Patterson (audio)

10.

Bookies Year In Review Coming Soon

Published on January 5, 2010January 5, 2010 by Sheila (Book Journey)21 Comments

It is that time of year again! Today I will be tallying up the results of our 2009 reads for next weeks Bookies In Review book club meeting. Each year I like to put together a booklet highlighting each book we read, where we met, and put in any pictures or funny happenings. These books have become keepsakes to me and I have for every year since we began in 2001.

Last month, each member was given the sheet that askes them (using the books we read ass a book club):

what their favorite book club read was in 2009
What was their least favorite book club read in 2009
Best male character in a book club book
Best female character in a book club book
Best new author we were introduced to in 2009
Best author overall in 2009
Favorite place to do a review
Favorite Bookie memory of all time

Our Books for 2009 were:

Sarah’s Key by Tatiana De Rosnay

Such a pretty Fat by Jen Lancaster

Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah

The Book Thief By Marcus Zusak

Water For Elephants by Sara Gruen

Walking In Circles Before Lying Down by Merill Markoe

Wednesday Sisters by Meg Waite Clayton

Pope Joan by Donna Woolfork Cross

A Tree Grows In Brooklyn by Betty White

Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls

Home For The Holidays by Rebecca Kelly

The results will be in next Wednesday when I will feature a post of the Good, The Bad, and the moments not to be forgotten!

Morning Meanderings

Published on January 5, 2010January 5, 2010 by Sheila (Book Journey)70 Comments

Good Morning! I finally did it! yesterday I went into our Library and I picked up a Library Card! It was on my list of things to do this week and I needed one if I was going to do the Support your Library Challenge! I was looking for a few other books for one of the challenges and they had to pull them in from other libraries. I couldn’t leave empty handed so I did pick out one book: