Year: 2010

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)22 Comments

The third and final book of the Hunger Games series, we find Katniss, the survivor of not one but two Hunger Games, homeless as her district 12  has been destroyed and many of the people she grew up with that did not escape are feared to be dead.

Katniss and her family have been moved to district 13, as well as Gale and his, a district that up until recently, was considered to not exist.  While being fed and clothed, there is not much freedom.  Katniss is still unsure if Peeta is dead or alive, tortured or well…. and this haunts her knowing whatever is fate has been because of her.

As the unrest continues to rise in Katniss, she is continuously called on to fight as a rebel – a title she is not sure she has the strength to take on….or even wants.  yet as The Capital continues to taunt her, trying to call her out she knows she and only she – can become the Mockingjay.

I have not been as excited about a book coming out since the final book of the Harry Potter Series.  On that release day, I had taken the day off of work – and waiting on my back deck for the delivery of my treasured book.  I had pre-ordered because I thought we were going to be out-of-town and did not want to miss my chance of having a book waiting for me.   Around 10 am I was cursing out the UPS man for the torture brought into my life and considering driving around to see if I could still get a copy at any of our near by books stores – when I discovered it had been delivered and was neatly tucked in between the main door and the screen door to my home.

In a word?  Bliss.

I was just as eager for Mockingjay, and maybe part of that was I remember the excitement of the Harry Potter books that to this day I have not been able to match and continuously find myself jonesing for that book or series that will take me back to where I can hardly wait to turn the page yet I am afraid to turn the page as that takes me closer tot he end….

This review will be spoiler free, as you will see below I have the spoiler button in use, all fueled up and ready to go.  That will be where you can enter to talk more deeply about this book in a safe environment – and I hope you do, as I want to talk and talk about Mockingjay.  😀

I never could make up my mind between Team Peeta and Team Gale – both had qualities I liked and I entered into this read without a strong sense of one or the other, but always the independent woman that I am – I didn’t even mind if she walked away from them both.  I know many readers would disagree with me there.  😀

The beginning of the book brings you up to speed as to where we are all at this time.  A few things have happened between books – and Katniss is torn as to what to do now.  Her family is safe, but at what cost?  She is being asked to play yet another role that she is not sure she wants any part of – at 17 she is tired and broken.

I enjoyed how Susanne Collins starts the book, while it is a bit slow and filled with details that may bother the eager reader, I didn’t mind it as I didn’t really want it to end.  And no worries, there is plenty of action, plenty of old characters and new and when the book takes off – we are all literally on the run.

There are surprises along the way and that is what I will discuss more in the spoiler section.  I highly recommend the series and encourage you if you have not already to get your hands on Hunger Games and find out for yourself the magic within this series.  I like books that are not cookie cutter copies of a story that I have already read and Suzanne Collins really takes this series out of the typical ring and makes it unique and memorable.

Want to talk more about Mockingjay?  Click the button below and lets chat!


My Amazon Rating

I purchased my copy through Amazon

Morning Meanderings… This Weeks Hit List

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)24 Comments


Good morning!  Yes this is the Morning Meandering…. yes I am still sitting here with coffee, not guns…  sleep pants, not holsters….  I just thought it would be fun to try a new pic for the Hit List.

If you remember last week I had a morning where I shared all the books I had come across that I was looking to read myself.  I liked doing that and at this time plan to continue during one morning a week to share what I have discovered while bouncing around the blogosphere.  I have fellow bloggers to thank for many of the books I read – many I had not heard of or would never have considered if not for someones raving about it or reading an amazing review.

Take the Hunger Games books for instance.  Reading the synopsis of this first book I would have never read it.  Kids in a ring – fighting to the death?  No thank you.  Yet review after review told of something more…. powerful…. and once I read the first book I couldn’t wait to read the second – and the third, well – you can see more about what I felt about that later today.  🙂

So this week Hit List is brought to you by Folger’s Coffee….  LOL (Sorry….. its early… I am still groggy)  😆

Amanda at The Zen Leaf has a read-a-long happening August 25 – October 7.  It is the Bleak House by Charles Dickens and it is a MONSTER.  900 pages….  and I am drawn to this like a moth to the flame…. I mentioned recently as fall comes in to play I start to crave larger books….

Check out Amanda’s post – she has the reading broke down to take place so much per week….

At Bookworm With A View, the review of The House On Oyster Creek and the cover (man I do like this cover!) caused me to pull this one on to my lovely library reserve list.  Stop by Bookworm with a View to read more about this book and what it is about.


Over at There’s A Book Arson has been reviewed and I remember seeing this book a while back and wondering what this one would be like.  This is a YA read and after reading the raving review, I had to add this to the hit list.

I had to add this – The Book Maven is having a great Mocking Jay Giveaway – for tweeting the Friday hash tag you can possibly win a $50 gift card tot he book store of your choice.  You will need to pop over to The Book Maven to read the post – but I for one never turn down a chance to win a gift card for books 😀  In order to do the giveaway they have requested that there are 500 tweets – so please take a moment and tweet tweet!

I think it is fair of me to say that Nicole’s reviews at Linus’s Blanket are dangerous to me.  I think I find something I want to read almost every time I visit.  😀  This book is about the lives of three couples that center around an adoption.  Stop by Linus’s Blanket and read the full review.

That’s what I have discovered this week.  I haven’t been around much as I was out-of-town until Tuesday evening, and I have had my nose in Mockingjay since then…  I was thrilled to find out that we are not going to the cabin this weekend which may seem like a bummer – but it isn’t.  I can use the break and have plenty to do around my own home.  AND next weekend we will be at the cabin from Friday until Monday so I will have plenty of time then to hang with friends and enjoy.

What books did you add to the TBR this week?

Summer at Tiffany by Marjorie Hart (Wordshaker Online Book Club) review)

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)51 Comments

Welcome to New York City in 1945.  Marjorie Jacobson and her best friend Marty Garrett arrive on scene fresh-faced from Iowa,  young, and ready for the world!   Their mission is to find jobs where they can work together and they want it to be somewhere wonderful, after all they are in New York!

The girls are turned away from many of their top selections for jobs and find themselves applying at Tiffany and Co., not only miraculously securing jobs for both of them – but on the sales floor no less, making them the first women ever to work on the sales floor.

This book is the true story of a summer of miracles and memories, written by author Marjorie (Jacobson) Hart.  Marjorie shares stories of the famous people she met, the mishaps, and triumphs, the boy, and celebrating V-Day in Times Square (exactly where her parents had warned her not to go!).  Marjorie tells a story that is filled with dreams come true…. and memories that truly last a lifetime.

Marjorie at a book signing

This book was chosen to be the Word Shaker On Line book club read and 22 people signed up to read this book together.  This review is a mixture of my thoughts as well as some of the comments that came in from the group about this read.

The appeal of this memoir is while it is a story from over 50 years ago, it is also one that holds true today – filled with the fun of first being able to go out on the town alone, dates with boys that actually picked you up at the door and you dressed up for a date in dresses even!  While the girls were naive, they did something that was unheard of at the time and that really is the heart (and the Hart) behind this story.

Throughout the book Marjorie writes letters home back to her family letting them know of what was happening in New York.  Another reminder of a time gone by, and the letter writings posted in the book are filled with young girl excitement about jobs and paychecks…. and who came through the doors of Tiffany’s….

This book is a reminder that no matter what the rules have been – gender, race, etc… you can go out and be a trend setter, you never know who will be the next person to do something to change the way the world thinks or acts, it can be as big as changing a nations way of thinking about discrimination, or as small as being the first women on a sales floor at Tiffany’s.

Within these pages Marjorie describes what it was like to be in Times Square as the war was announced over.  I can not even imagine what that had to feel like!  The oneness of all the people all the excitement!

I am taking away from this read a better knowledge of the war and what it was like during 1945, as well as a wee bit of knowledge on how to sniff brandy.  (Yup – more on that in my author chat with Marjorie!)

If  Marjorie tells us anything within these pages it is if you are going to dream – dream big.

Stay tune for more Summer At Tiffany fun!  Yet this week there will be an author chat with Marjorie with questions from those who participated in this review – also be alert for a giveaway of Marjorie’s book – signed!!!

My Amazon Rating

Book Journey 2010 reading map has been updated to include Summer At Tiffany

I am not sure if Marjorie and Marty had a favorite coffee stop but in current day when in New York near Time Square the rave is the Coffee Pot known for a fair priced cup of coffee and super comfy couches!

Cover Story:  Love it!  It has a great color to it and yet has that faded look of yester year by using the lighter blues and the scene.

Also – be sure to sign up for a chance to win a copy of Marjorie’s book signed and in hard cover!!!

Have you reviewed Summer At Tiffany?  If so, please feel free to link your review here.  (below)

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I purchased my copy of this book from Amazon

I first heard of this book over at my friend Barbara’s blog:

Reading Group Choices

Morning Meanderings…REAL Coffee and devouring Mockingjay!

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)28 Comments


Morning all!  I am well into my third cup of coffee and glad to be back in my own kitchen and catching up with all of you.  I love Mink Lake camp but after a few days of no electricity, solar showers, and sleeping with a group in bunk beds and sleeping bags – it’s just nice to get back to an electric coffee pot, central air, and  sleeping in my own bed.  (We boil coffee over a stove there… pretty little house on the prairie but it does the trick!)

I arrived home late Tuesday evening and after a glorious real shower and a wee bit of email reading, I was in bed by 10 pm.  On Wednesday I had taken the day off just to catch up on all the days off I missed with all the running I have done lately but also – quite honestly, to dive into Mockingjay.  All of which were nicely accomplished.  😀

Here are a few pics of camp:

Mink Lake

Some of the peeps I was in Leadership training with

My cabin

I am on page 298 of Mockingjay.  I didn’t start reading until after 3 pm yesterday and will finish it tonight after work and my bike ride.  😀

It’s great to be back and hang out with all of you again!

Morning Meanderings – Mockingjay Anticipation and an Itchy trigger Finger

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)50 Comments


Oh ….. do not mock me.  If you have followed the Suzanne Collins books at all….. Hunger Games, Catching Fire…. how could you not be anticipating the day – THIS BOOK….  on the week of the big release.  ♥


I am hoping – quite soon here…. to be completely “mocktified” in the book.  I think it will be “mockilicious”…..  and I am not using mockery, I mean it…. I really do.

AND – with this read of course you know I get to dust off The Spoiler Button.  My, how I love this button.  It is I think perhaps my favorite blog creation…. a link… a space to talk openly and freely about a book without any whistle blowing or the dreaded “blog tomatoes” that can be tossed at posts that reveal spoilers to an unsuspecting reader who has yet to experience the book….

That is why I have taken today to read – not peak at any Mockingjay blog conversations until I am done.  And then I am writing the review from my fresh untainted view (at least that’s the plan).  😛

So my friends, are you reading Mockingjay today?  This week?  Soon?  Are you a fan of the series?  Why or why not?

Go on…. push it.  You know you want to.  😛

Oh and for giggles….. feel free to link any Mockingjay type posts you may have here.  Link your reviews – and giveaways…  as soon as I have finished my book I will want to visit others to see what they thought.  **Please distinguish in the heading section your blog name and if it is a Mockingjay review, giveaway, or other.  In the link section – please link directly to your post.

Thanks all 😀

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Where is God In Your Life by Susan M. Provost

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)7 Comments


As Christians, our spiritual journey constantly brings us back to Jerusalem, to the death and resurrection of Jesus, which gives meaning to all that we do. Strengthened by God’s Spirit we join on the walk to wherever, we share meals, and we tell our stories. We remember. God, as we go along our life’s way, will help us to be aware of His presence with us. He will open our eyes, makes us expectant, eager to be met by Him. We will never complete our spiritual journey. “Your life is a sacred journey. And it is about change, growth, discovery, movement, transformation; continuously expanding your vision of what is possible, stretching your soul, learning to see clearly and deeply, listening to your intuition, taking courageous challenges at every step along the way. You are on the path… exactly where you are meant to be right now… And from here, you can only go forward, shaping your life story into a magnificent tale of triumph, of healing, of courage, of beauty, of wisdom, of power, of dignity, and of love.”



This book while broke into three sections, really is about getting closer to God and using this book to develop meaningful two-day retreats.  In past years I have participated in organizing women’s retreats for our church as well as have led some small group sessions.  This book is a wonderful study for developing ideas and/or entire programs around what Susan Provost has put in her book, Where Is God In Your Life.

I enjoyed the topics from prayer, spirituality, community, God’s presence and more.  This book read  more like a reference book and not really a book to just read through and be done with it, but come back to again and again.  I enjoyed the workshop sections and they already had my brain churning up ideas for future ways I can use this book.  I also liked the schedule samples within the retreats, this is something I could use for planning.

I would recommend this read to be a part of any church library and a handy tool to be used for retreat and small group leaders and organizers.

Amazon Rating

392 pages

I received my review copy from Pump Up Your Book Promotion

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading!

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)96 Comments

Hi everyone – it’s that time again when we all get to share what books are making our current reads…. what’s coming up, and what maybe we wish we would have passed on….:D

It’s Monday! 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:

Dollycas

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


Here’s what graced my life this past week in bookish ways:

Review:  The Passage by Justin Cronin (I listened to all 35 hours of this audio and came out the other side with a “WOW”!


Review:   auf Weidersehen by Christa Holder Ocker (a memoir of a young girl during WWII)

Attack Of The Library Sale with theme music! (Seriously… there is a theme song…. don’t you have one?)

Author Chat with Colin Sokolowski – author if The Accidental Adult (Colin is a laugh a minute!)

Sleeping At The Library (see what first in line looks like at the annual fall library sale in my town)  😛

Review:  The Evolution Of Shadows (A fiction book that read and felt like non – fiction)

That was my past week!  Now moving forward to this week – I am playing it a bit safe as I will not be back in town until Tuesday night (more about that below) So here’s the plan:

This one I have read some good reviews on  and picked it up from my library.  I am not that far into it but have liked it so far.

I am going to have a mocking week – (you will see more of this on Wednesday) but part of that is going to be that I am finally going to take the time to read To Kill A Mockingbird – and yes, it will be my first time.


AND….. Finally I will be reading and reviewing Mockingjay – the long anticipated finale to Suzanne Collins Hunger Games Trilogy.  I CAN NOT WAIT!!!!  It is being released on Wednesday and I am taking the day off from work and reading it.  Yes I am.  😛

So, that’s my plan!  By the time this post goes up I will be In Grand Marais Minnesota at a Leadership training camp until Tuesday evening.  I am 98% sure I will have no internet even though I brought my security Laptop.  🙂  I will catch up on checking out all your Monday posts on Wednesday.

Please enter the link to your Monday What Are You Reading below where it says “Click Here”.  I cant wait to see what you are reading this week!


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Morning Meanderings… and not a book mentioned in this post

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)32 Comments

Good morning all!  What a day yesterday.  Wendy and I left my house at 6 am and drove to Itaska State Park.  We went on the 2nd Annual  bike ride that they had.  Last year they offered a 50 mile ride which my cousin and I did.  This year they had a 25, 50, and 75 mile option.  We opted to do the 75.   Wendy id such a trooper – it was first long ride and she did fantastic!

Me and Wendy - Itaska State Park

It was a great ride – beautiful day but close to 90 degrees out.  AND – I have to say it, probably the most hills I have ever experienced on any bike ride I have been on.  This picture here is one that we went up last year too and it is right around 55 miles into the ride.

Oof.  I think I need a minute after seeing this hill again in the picture.  😉

Then last night Al and I met friends at an annual street dance that happens in Brainerd.  It was a good band called The District and it is made up of teachers.  Two of my good friends who I used to work with were there and we had a fun time listening to the music.

How crazy is that tan line on my arm?

That was why you did not see me around here yesterday.  Today I pack for camp retreat and I leave at 1:00 pm for the North Shore and will not return until Tuesday afternoon.  I am prepping a review for later and the Monday, What Are You Reading meme so go forward as always.

Life is a  bit too busy right now and I am hoping to take Wednesday off from work upon my return to home so I can catch up on some things here and relax before I start running full speed ahead again.

How is everyone’s weekend going?

The Passage by Justin Cronin

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)39 Comments

Where Will You Be
When The Lights Go Out?

First, the unthinkable: a security breach at a secret U.S. government facility unleashes the monstrous product of a chilling military experiment. Then, the unspeakable: a night of chaos and carnage gives way to sunrise on a nation, and ultimately a world, forever altered. All that remains for the stunned survivors is the long fight ahead and a future ruled by fear—of darkness, of death, of a fate far worse.

As civilization swiftly crumbles into a primal landscape of predators and prey, two people flee in search of sanctuary. FBI agent Brad Wolgast is a good man haunted by what he’s done in the line of duty. Six-year-old orphan Amy Harper Bellafonte is a refugee from the doomed scientific project that has triggered apocalypse. He is determined to protect her from the horror set loose by her captors. But for Amy, escaping the bloody fallout is only the beginning of a much longer odyssey—spanning miles and decades—towards the time and place where she must finish what should never have begun.


I entered into this audio cautiously.  I was not really sure I had a full grasp on what The Passage was going to be about – or if I would like the direction it took.  Yet, it had such a  mysterious buzz about it when I was at BEA in New York and U knew whatever it was – I wanted to know more.

A futuristic read which is normally not a genre I would choose for myself, I started this audio and was introduced to Amy.  This little girl who’s mother tried – but made poor choices, and eventually – all there is… is Amy.  I quickly grew attached to this little girl and at times in the beginning when the audio stretched into so many different directions, and I was lost in the government testing, and the odd inhabitants of the facility…. I clung to the fact that eventually it would get back to Amy.

And while I waited…. the story began to mesh and an audio that first made me wonder how I felt about it, suddenly I couldn’t wait to hear more.  Soon as the story brought Amy into each scene, and I learned how she fit into this, I began to really enjoy this.  The audio started following me to the bathroom when I fixed my hair, to the kitchen while I cooked or cleaned…. to the lawn mower…. to the  reading room.

It is hard to put The Passage into words…. it is not so much a vampire story, but a story about a virus.  A virus that takes out the world as we know it and the few that survive, live solely for that purpose – survival.   Justin Cronin has woven such a detailed story here – so deep entwined in each person, in each event – that I listen in amazement in the world he has created from his mind to these words.

The “virals” as Cronin calls these blood thirsty creatures, are “spooktacular.”  They keep you on your toes and seriously even on the audio I think I actually got goosebumps a few times as I worried for our small group of non effected survivors…. and they really were survivors – minus Jeff Probst.

And you really do not know when your fire will be snuffed out.

Suddenly you realize – this ain’t your grandma’s version of vampire….

Over all – the hype surrounding the book was right on and I am so glad I gave this one a try.  I enjoyed this very much and highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys a good book adventure with qualities you found in books like Harry Potter, the originality of

With awesome words like flyers, virals, slims, jumps, smokes… and Cronin says himself , the vampire story will never go away, because it asks an essential question: “What part of your humanity would you be trading away if you got to live forever? It’s ultimately a fable to reassure us that it’s better to be mortal.”

This is the book of the summer for me. It blew me away!

My Amazon Rating

 

Book Journey’s 2010 Reading Map has been updated to include The Passage

While passing through Colorado (if you are not a viral) you may be hankering for a bit of coffee… I would recommend The Laughing Goat Coffee House for the name and the ambiance.  AND – as far as I know…. it’s a no “smoking” zone.  (A little Passage humor….)

Cover Story:  Oh it is fantastic!  And perfect because you must always, always watch the trees….  😉

I purchased my copy of this audio through audible.com

Morning Meanderings: Bookcloseouts Sale and a 75 Mile Bike Ride

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)23 Comments


Good morning!  Yes, another early morning post and if I could wrap my head around it, I would love all the meanderings to be this early so those who subscribe to this blog would have them when they check their morning emails.  😀

Today I am up early to head to Itaska which is a bout an hour and a half away for a 75 mile bike ride.  Today is supposed to be beautiful so I am excited for this ride – and it is my friend Wendy’s first BIG RIDE!  I am excited for her and hoping that she will find a love for the rides and the people as much as I do.

I will be gone most of today, Al and I are meeting some friends tonight at an annual street dance and tomorrow, oh that’s a whole other story.

I am guest posting (again) at Trisha’s lovely blog Eclectic Eccentric – and this time it is about Minnesota Festivals.  My only hint… is this picture.  You will have to read the post at Trisha’s for more about that.  😉

Click a pig to go to the Guest Post 😉

In bookish news – and this is DANGEROUS NEWS for book lovers…..  Bookcloseouts is having a summer sale and if you know anything about Bookcloseouts you know the books are gorgeous and the prices are right.  The sale is $1.99 for paperbacks, and the hard covers are $2.99.  AND they have some good titles…  so if you are looking for gifts, or for yourself – this is worth checking out.

Oh – and for those of you who are thinking, “SHE’S GETTING MORE BOOKS??????”  I am not – I am just letting you know about the sale.  😀

Have an awesome Saturday!