Month: May 2010

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)111 Comments

What Are You Reading, is where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week.  It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list.

I love being a part of this and I hope you do too!  As part of this weekly meme I love to encourage you all to go and visit the others participating in this meme.  I offer a weekly contest for those who visit 10 or more of the Monday Meme participants and leave a comment.  You receive one entry for every 10 comments, just come back here and tell me how many in the comment area.

Last weeks winner (using Random.Org) was:

Andrea (A Chick Who Reads)

Congratulations!  Please choose an item out of the PRIZE BOX and email me your choice with your mailing address as well!   journeythroughbooks@gmail.com

With BEA (Book Expo America) last week I did not really accomplish a lot in reading or reviews.  I finished two books:

I have not written the reviews yet, but plan to do these and a few other reviews I need to catch up on this week.

What’s Coming Up This Week?

Honestly, I arrived home from New York about 2 hours ago and haven’t really had time to give a thought to what I will be reading this week.  There will be reviews and I will be doing a few BEA posts including both of my author experiences (WHICH ROCKED!!!).

I didn’t get around to all of you last week but will this week and have a lot of visits to catch up on.  Please sign the Linky below as I am excited to see what you are reading!


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Times Square
Times Square

Morning Meanderings….

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)34 Comments


In about an hour I will be heading to the airport on my way home from New York and BEA.

Ahhhh…. just saying those words makes me smile.  It has been more fun than I could have imagined.  I accomplished everything I had hoped to, including an idea for a book…. and a thought is brewing….

Now I am ready to get home.  I have had 8 pretty full days in a row and I just want to catch up with my husband, see my son and play with my dogs.  I want to blog from my kitchen table (instead of a small table in the breakfast area of our hotel) and I want to use my Coffee Cup.  🙂

This mornings post I want to give a shout out to my 4 roommates I had throughout the week.    I had such a great time getting to know them all:


Reagan from Miss Remmers Reviews:  Reagan is fun and funny.  She was a blast to get to know.  She can break a trail through any crowd in New York!  It was wonderful to just sit in Central Part with her and read.


Esme from Chocolates and Croissants: Esme is an amazingly busy all the time woman.  She was always on the go and explored the nooks and crannies of the Time Square area of New York.  She made me laugh and knows how to choose amazing Thai restaurants.


Care from Care’s Online Book Club is a hoot.  She introduced me to book titles that made me want to record everything she said.  I have to stop in to her blog more often and see what she is reading!  We had a lot of fun planning our amazing race video….  😀


Kim from Sophisticated Dorkiness is so incredible.  She reads books that are fascinating and almost primarily non fiction.  I wrote down titles she was speaking about and will have to make a stop at my library soon!

Stop in and check out their blogs if you haven’t already.

Ok – I am off to catch me a taxi!  Its Monday What Are You Reading will be on as scheduled and I cant wait to spend some time tomorrow visiting and catching up with you and seeing what you are reading!

Can you name this author?

Morning Meanderings…

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)34 Comments


You know you are super tired when:


You actually forget to make a morning meanderings post.  GAH!

So here I am later that planned – but hey, I am here!  😀  Still in New York today – last day and I am ready to come home.  BEA has been wonderful and I am so glad to experience it but the running from 7 am to 11 pm has taken its toll and I look forward to being home again with my hubby in my own chair and in my own bed.

Yesterdays BBC (Book Blogger Convention) was wonderful and I took some good notes that I will apply once I get myself organized.  I have shipped 4 boxes of books back to my house.  (I know, right???)

Then last night we went out to dinner at a wonderful restaurant with 22 other bloggers and that was a wonderful wrap up to the end of the Blogger stuff.  I made some wonderful friends this week and I look forward to reading their blogs and hopefully seeing them again next year.

Today I had an early lunch with my roommates and we said good-bye to Carrie (Care) and Kim.  Now Esme (Chocolates and Croissants) and I are going to the King Tut Exhibit and later to Mama Mia.

Another full day, but again making the most of time here in New York.

Thanks everyone for your comments this week.  When I have had time to read them they have made me smile.  For those of you who were unable to attend BEA – stay tuned… I have a surprise I will be chatting more about when I get home.

Me and Sarah Pakkennen (author of Opposite of Me)

Have an awesome day!!!

Morning Meanderings…

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)26 Comments


Good morning!  This morning In New York is warm and overcast.  I am in the hotel lobby having my COFFEE of course, oatmeal and scrambled eggs. I feel good.

Yesterday was another whirlwind day.  We were at the convention by 8 am and I spent my morning and early afternoon talking to publishers and authors.  Grabbed a few books along the way – shipped two boxes of books home and will have a third to do that same with today.

At 2:00 pm Kathy from Bermuda Onion, and I, met with author Sarah Pekkanen.  She is just a wonderful,fun, full of likfe person.  We went to her publishers office at Simon and Schuster and were toured by the assistant to her editor.  We sat in the editors office, and were each given a bag of new released or soon to be released books.  (Oh, but more on that later!)

We were back at the convention center by 4 pm where I met my two newest of the roomies – Kim from Sophisticated Dorkiness and Care from Care Online Bookclub.  Both are super fun!

Care and Kim

We were at the Blogger gathering from 4 to 6 pm and it was a nice mix between authors and bloggers and I just had a lot of fun mingling and meeting.

Afterwards we all gathered back at the hotel and Esme (Chocolates and Croissants) had an invite from an author for all of us to join them for dinner so we did.  That was a lot of fun as they asked us questions on blogging, reviews, tips for authors and marketing.  Did I mention I just the mix of authors and publishers and the conversations between us all.  It’s like we are one big team!

Then back to our room for a wonderful earlier night then we have been having.  I think we were all zonked out by 10:30 pm.


Today is the Blogger Convention and I am excited to see the panels and take notes.  I am charging up Flip Video and have my camera ready to go!  Hope you are all having fun – would love to hear what you have going for the weekend!

Morning Meanderings…

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)29 Comments


GOOD MORNING!!! 😀

You may have noticed that I am not posting reviews for the afternoons like I usually do and said I would continue as the BEA week went on.  In fact, you may notice that even my morning meandering has a little sleep in its eyes this morning.  BEA is beyond fantastic.  I am having so much fun talking with authors, picking up books, and meeting other bloggers.

I am not even sure I can put into words how much fun I am having.

My lack of review posts is that honestly, I am not around.  I have been going to BEA (yesterday Reagan and I were there at 5:30 am) to get tickets to author signings).  I run around all day seeing publishers and authors and going from event to event.

Highlight reel of yesterday:

  • In BEA from 5:30 am – 2 pm
  • Meet Adrianna Triggiani at 2 pm.  (So much to tell you about this tea I had with her but it will have to wait.  I will just give you a one word hint now:  Limo.)
  • Back to BEA at 5:30 and back to hotel to clean up by 6 pm
  • Blogger Party at 7 pm – and so much fun!!!!!

Basically – I was back in the hotel at 11:00 pm at night completely shot but had so much fun I wouldn’t have traded a second of it!

And today… I will do it again.

Coffee Cup and I are currently in the hotel lobby grabbing a quick bite to eat and a rare relaxing moment.  Next stop is the post office where I am going to sent a media mail box to my house of the books I have picked up.

Today the new room mates come in!  Reagan went home this morning, Esme is still here and Kim (Sophisticated Dorkiness) and Care (Care’s Online Book Club).

So now I am off to another day of adventures!  Enjoy your day, stop in and say and know that soon it will be business as usual and will be back with reviews and posts that I cant wait to share!  😀

I will be more detailed later about who is in this picture but for now – Adrianna is in the middle!

Morning Meanderings…

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)38 Comments


Hey all!   I am so tired.  And having so much fun.

And tired.

But fun.

But oh so tired.

I am only putting up one picture today for the honest truth that I have had such busy days that I have had no time.  Today we were up at 5:30 am and to the Javits Center by 8:30 am.   I sat in on a panel and afterward, Regan, Maltaise, and I went to a YA gathering of authors.  It was a lot of fun and not a lot of people were around this morning so we really had a chance to chat with these wonderful women.


In the afternoon, Reagan and I walked to Central Park and sat in the park and read.  It was fantastic!  A beautifully warm day and a great way to unwind.  I finished reading Opposite Of Me in Central Park.  I loved the book – but more on that later.  🙂

When we got back to our room we had time to change and then we walked the 30+ blocks to the YA discussion tonight and book signing.  That was really fun and we met a lot of fellow bloggers.  Afterward 12 of us went to dinner together and it was a blast.  It was really fun to hang out and meet some fun people.

Back to our room after 10 pm and that explains my tiredness.

This morning Reagan and I are heading to the Javits Center at 5 am(ish) to get in line for author ticket signing.  I know…. a bit crazy (as I am thinking how tired I am) but well.. when in New York 🙂

Later today I have the tea with Adriana Trigiani and that will be exciting!  Then I get back to the Javits center around 4:30 and we will go back to the hotel and get ready for the Blogger Get together at 7 pm.  I think I may need to nap in there somewhere.  🙂

So that’s what is happening here in New York.  Again, I have many more pictures and I will do a recap when I get back with lots detail….

Me, Reagan, Maltaise

Have a great day everyone!

Life In Spite Of Me by Kristen Jane Anderson, Tricia Goyer

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)5 Comments

She wanted to die. God had other plans.

Why does my life have to be so painful?
What’s wrong with me?
It’s not going to get better.
It could all be over soon, and then I won’t hurt anymore.

Kristen Anderson thought she had the picture-perfect life until strokes of gray dimmed her outlook: three friends and her grandmother died within two years. Still reeling from these losses, she was raped by a friend she thought she could trust. She soon spiraled into a seemingly bottomless depression.

One January night, the seventeen-year-old decided she no longer wanted to deal with the emotional pain that smothered her. She lay down on a set of cold railroad tracks and waited for a freight train to send her to heaven…and peace.

But Kristen’s story doesn’t end there.

In “Life, In Spite of Me” this remarkably joyful young woman shares the miracle of her survival, the agonizing aftermath of her failed suicide attempt, and the hope that has completely transformed her life, giving her a powerful purpose for living.

Her gripping story of finding joy against all odds provides a vivid and unforgettable reminder that life is a gift to be treasured.

♦          ♦           ♦          ♦          ♦


Kristen’s story was one that is horrifying, sad, hopeful, and triumphant, all rolled into one package.   From the early pages her sorrow and depression envelope you.  Close family losses and a devastating experience with what she thought was a friendship leaves her reeling – and what teenager wouldn’t be?

33 freight cars sever her legs during a suicide attempt, at a time she didn’t want anything more than to just die and feel nothing…. God stepped in. She didn’t lose her life as planned – but instead gained something that is sure to help others.   An inspiring story that I would encourage anyone who has doubts about what their future holds, or why they are here on this earth and this (fill in the blank ________________) situation.

I received my copy of this book from Litfuse

Morning Meanderings…

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)50 Comments

Hi everyone.  I am having a blast in New York.  As promised here is a little picture “highlight reel” of what we have done so far.  There will be a full BEA recap when I get home, but for now… here is a sampler:

Me in Strand book store - 18 miles of book shelves "Heaven in a box"

Reagan and I went to Strand Book store on Monday afternoon to check out this book.  Literally wall to wall books.

Strand Book Store

… and floor to ceiling.


Then we went to the Teen Author Carnival (SO MUCH FUN!) and…..

Me and Laren Oliver (author of Before I Fall)

Squeeeee!!!!  She was so amazing!  I can not wait to read and review her book.

Simone Elkeles (author of Perfect Chemistry)

Squueee!!!  She is so down to earth and fun!

Sarah Ockler (author of Twenty Boy Summer)

Super Squeeee!!!   Sarah was so awesome and I bought her book and I got is signed 😀

Violet Haberdasher (author of Knightley Academy)

Violet was just fun to listen to her talk….. picture a younger JK Rowling.  She is very “Londony” and I fell in love with the idea of her book while listening to her passion about telling the story.  I now have a signed copy.  SQUEEE!!!!

And finally just a fun moment at the carnival….

Amy from My Friend Amy, Me, and Natasha from Maw Books

I met Amy and Natasha in person, two bloggers I truly admire.


So…. today – we are at BEA in the morning and tonight at 6 pm – Class of 2010 Debut authors event.  So excited about that one too.  Really I am just like a kid in a candy store.

Hope your day is super wonderful!  I will be back with a review in the afternoon.  🙂

Its Monday! What Are You Reading?

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)81 Comments

What Are You Reading, is where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week.  It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list.

I love being a part of this and I hope you do too!  As part of this weekly meme I love to encourage you all to go and visit the others participating in this meme.  I offer a weekly contest for those who visit 10 or more of the Monday Meme participants and leave a comment.  You receive one entry for every 10 comments, just come back here and tell me how many in the comment area.

Last weeks winner (using Random.Org) was:

Jennifer (Rundpinne)

Congratulations!  Please choose an item out of the PRIZE BOX and email me your choice with your mailing address as well!   journeythroughbooks@gmail.com


This week went by so fast!  On the bright side I did finish up a few reads I had going and have a couple more on the brink of being finished too!

Normally this is where I would recap post by post what went on here last week, but I am not going to do that tonight.  Instead, as I am putting this post together from my hotel room in New York, I am going to recap my first day here:

  • Reagan (Miss Remmers Reviews) and I arrived in New York at 10:45 am after catching our 6 am flight out of  Minneapolis (up at 3 am….. GROGGY)
  • Upon arriving at our hotel we discovered we could not check in until around 3 pm, they allowed up to leave our luggage and we took the streets.
  • First lesson:  If you need to use a restroom – do not wait until the last minute.  We went into three different Star Bucks that all has a suspiciously familiar sign – “Sorry Temporarily out of order.”.  Yes three different Star Bucks!  We tried a market place, Right Aid, two Subways, Walgreens…. they were either out of order or they said they did not have one.  By this time – we are having a code orange level restroom emergency.  Finally, FINALLY – we hound a Star busks that had a working restroom.
  • Second Lesson:  When cruising by foot down the streets of New York, occasionally look up and see what street you are on.  You know… just once in a while.  After walking for many blocks we found Central Park which was AMAZING.  After exploring it a bit, we could not find the road we had came down to get to the park and wound up walking 40 blocks out of our way.  No exaggeration.  Cardio for the day?  Check.
  • Aha moment.  New York hotels are not like Minnesota hotels.  I was so excited for this hotel room and once inside and seeing the tiny lobby I became a bit nervous.  The small elevator added to my level of anxiety and once to our floor and seeing the narrow hallways, I was nervous to put my key into the door……  yep.  One double room – tiny.   Space in New York is a premium.
  • After a nap and a bit of reading I felt myself again and we walked around Times Square taking in the sights (watch for pictures popping up all week on the Morning Meanderings posts!)
  • Joining us at 8:30 this evening was Esme from Chocolates and Croissants who will be a roomy for the week. We all  went out to dinner at Ruby Tuesday – and had amazing salads, YUM!
  • Now we are all having a Norman Rockwell meets Jane Austen moment as we are all in our room jammy blogging.

What’s The Special Brew Of The Week?

So glad you asked!  I am only going to list a couple going on here this week because – well, I am at BEA and who knows how much reading (or lack there of) I will get done!  However – there will be reviews each day.  I have many to catch up on.

Currently reading:  The Opposite of Me by Sarah Pekkanen (and LOVING IT!!!)

Just finished :  Kite Runner on audio and prep yourself for an emotionally charged review!  🙂

Next Up: Annie Freeman’s Fabulous Traveling Funeral by Kris Radish This is our book club read for June.

I am excited to see what you are reading this week and plan on popping in as I can.  Please link to the Linky:

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Morning Meanderings…

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)28 Comments


Hello from the  Minneapolis airport.  I am sitting here at 5 am with fellow blogger buddy Reagan from Miss Remmers Reviews.  (And yes…. she is as cool in person!)  🙂

We fly out at 6 am…. goin’ to Milwaukee, then on to New York.  Super excited and SUPER tired.

Before I log off here this morning I have to share this funny cartoon I found on-line a couple of days ago.  Maybe it is just my humor (or wierd sense of…) but I thought this was funny:

I will be on later….  Have a great Sunday!