WOO HOO! Another week – and more books/audio to add to my “read 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 telling me how many you visited. You receive one entry for every 10 comments, just come back here and tell me how many in the comment area.
Shirley from My Bookshelf
Congratulations! Please choose an item out of the PRIZE BOX and email me your choice with your mailing address as well! journeythroughbooks@gmail.com
I am still kind of flying high from Saturdays Polar Plunge! It was a much-anticipated (and feared) event. That went off pretty slick and the friends I made and the memories – soooooo worth it. 😀
So let’s do a recap of what went down here this past week:
The Oracle Of Stamboul by Michael Daivd Lucas – fabulous taste of fantasy
Miss Scarlets School Of Patternless Sewing – book review and GIVEAWAY!
Rockin’ The Red Pumps (which I later fall in…. but that’s another story 😛)
Wench by Dolan Perkins-Valdez – Bookies book review for March!
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (audio with Steve Fry – oooohhhhh so good!)
39 Clues by Rick Riordin (fantatsic adventure read for middle grade – and a bit of history too!)
Pictures from the Polar Plunge event ( oh yeah….. these are good memories!)
SO that was my week. I took a couple extra audio along with me for my drive this weekend to Eden Prairie but alas, the one I am currently listening to is the one I listened to all the way there and all the way back. Its good – so it was a great ride.
This week I am keeping it low as the first one of these I need to finish by next Tuesday and it is 600 + pages….
Marion and Shiva Stone are twin brothers born of a secret union between a beautiful Indian nun and a brash British surgeon at a mission hospital in Addis Ababa. Orphaned by their mother’s death in childbirth and their father’s disappearance, bound together by a preternatural connection and a shared fascination with medicine, the twins come of age as Ethiopia hovers on the brink of revolution. Yet it will be love, not politics—their passion for the same woman—that will tear them apart and force Marion, fresh out of medical school, to flee his homeland. He makes his way to America, finding refuge in his work as an intern at an underfunded, overcrowded New York City hospital. When the past catches up to him—nearly destroying him—Marion must entrust his life to the two men he thought he trusted least in the world: the surgeon father who abandoned him and the brother who betrayed him.
An unforgettable journey into one man’s remarkable life, and an epic story about the power, intimacy, and curious beauty of the work of healing others.
This was a “bonus read” for our book club that we are doing a food review a week from this Tuesday. At 600+ pages I need to set page goals and work on completing this one this week 🙂
In a middle-class neighborhood of Iran’s sprawling capital city, 17-year-old Pasha Shahed spends the summer of 1973 on his rooftop with his best friend Ahmed, joking around one minute and asking burning questions about life the next. He also hides a secret love for his beautiful neighbor Zari, who has been betrothed since birth to another man. But the bliss of Pasha and Zari’s stolen time together is shattered when Pasha unwittingly acts as a beacon for the Shah’s secret police. The violent consequences awaken him to the reality of living under a powerful despot, and lead Zari to make a shocking choice…
This book has waited on me a LLLLOOOOOONNNNGGGGGGG time. Now, thanks to my finding a second copy this past week at the Brainerd Library sale, I offered up a contest and this is the book my winner, Sarah E chose this book. This means I will read this book, hopefully this week and then pass it on to her. 😀 Next week I will run this contest again as it will help me to get through my book piles!
Berg’s sweetly understated dramatization of the Nativity story casts Mary and Joseph as provincial teenagers who try to honor family tradition in spite of challenging circumstances. Alternating between the voices of the holy couple, Berg relates a romance that blossoms at the wedding of relatives between the 16-year-old carpenter from Nazareth and the comely 13-year-old girl originally from Sepphoris. Mary, dreamy and intractable, already entertains notions of miraculous circumstances surrounding her own birth to her barren mother, Anne. Joseph is instantly smitten and engenders the trust of both families for a betrothal, yet Mary holds back, cherishing a sense of greater destiny. Escaping a near rape by a Greek man by the river, Mary then receives the angel’s message that she will bear an extraordinary son, despite never having known a man; the sadly unwed Mary must return to Joseph, who repudiates her until he, too, is visited in a dream by an angel directing him on the honorable course. With Herod’s decree that everyone return to their hometowns to register for the census, Joseph and the near-term Mary set off on their arduous and momentous journey to Bethlehem.
On this one, lets say I am cautiously optimistic? I am reading through Berg and when I picked this one up at the library I really had no idea what it was about. When I read the back I was surprised – but interested. This is a short 4 hour audio that I hope to get to later this week when my current one ends.
That is it for goals. I am finishing up two that need to go back to the library soon so I will be working on those as well. I really am looking forward to what you are reading this week and hope to get around to visiting your posts. Please add your link below where it says “click here”
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Book Journey 
Fantastic picture! I read your post and I am so thrilled you had fun, great dress! You had another busy week. I adored The Rooftops of Tehran, I hope you do as well! Have a fantastic week. Mr. Linky is not playing nicely, so here is my link: http://www.rundpinne.com/2011/03/its-monday-what-are-you-reading-30.html
Thanks for the heads up on Linky…. good grief that thing has been impossible the past few weeks! I will look into it 😉
I have goosebumps just looking at the picture. How do you stand the cold?? You gals looked beautiful while taking the plunge!
I’ll be interested to know how you like Elizabeth Berg’s audio.
I don’t do well with the cold actually and this was 11 degrees… I think the adrenaline of being around all the excitement kept me out there…. but I ran back to the warming house when it was done.
I am curious about what I will think of the audio too 🙂
My teeth are chattering just from looking at the pictures!
I just finished Rooftops of Tehran today, and I really enjoyed it. Have a great week!
LOL – goof to hear about Rooftops, I thought it would be good! 😀
I have tears in my eyes with shock and laughter, holy moly Sheila, way to go.
The look on everyone’s faces omg
Awesome! First person I brought to tears! (That I know of) 😀
I didn’t get much reading done last week because I was at my mom’s. I need to finish Irish Lace by Andrew Greeley for my book club.
Your book club choice sounds good Kathy, I hope it is 🙂
I just picked up a copy of “Cutting for Stone” and can’t wait to read it. Sounds fabulous. Hope you enjoy it.
Your dress is lovely…but, wowza, you are *insane*! lol
I am going to break it down into so many pages (goals anyway) a day 😀
And yeah…. occasionally I think I am insane… my hubby thought so too. 😛
Those pictures are priceless lol 😀
Thanks – it was a lot of fun 🙂
I read The Handmaid and the Carpenter a few months ago and while it wasn’t my favorite, it was better than I expected. Hope you enjoy it!
I am not sure what to expect with this one Laurel…. 🙂
I want to read The Rooftops of Tehran. It sounds fantastic! I enjoyed your reviews this past week, especially for Wench. Have a great week and good luck with your reading goals. 600 pages by Tuesday!
Oh not this Tuesday Christina – next one… I have 8 days 🙂
Glad you enjoyed my Wench review… it really was so much more than I thought it was going to be
Every time I see Cutting For Stone, I think I really should read it…just not sure if I have the stomach for it, it sounds so sad!
I have heard different thoughts on it Crystal – one girl in my book club read it and said it was ok… nothing special….. others have bragged it up….
You’re going to love Cutting for Stone (here are my thoughts on it: http://manoflabook.com/wp/?p=54), I thought it was one of the best books I read last year.
Thanks _ I will have to check it out 🙂 I need encouragement 😀
BRrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr The Handmaid and the Carpenter sounds good
I hope it is RAnn! 😀
I still can not stop giggling when I look at the picture of Polar Plunge Event.
All of your books are not familiar. But I do hope you enjoy it 😉
Yeah…. it was definitely laugh worthy 😀
What a great list of books! Can’t wait to hear what you think about them.
Thanks Bonnie – I am hoping to get in some good reading time this week 🙂
Cutting For Stone is a book I’ve been wanting to read for a long time. I first heard about it on The Diane Rehm show back in 2009. (I think I listen to NPR too much)
Here is the link to the show if you want to listen to it:
http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2009-02-16
Oh thanks for the link Ryan – I will for sure listen to this… I need some background on this one 🙂
You have great books there! I have visited 10 blogs and left comments, I have found a few books to add to my wishlist! Thanks for doing this, it is so fun!
Oh good Joann! You are very much on the ball today 😀
Cutting For Stone is excellent but slow at first
Thanks for that advice… I am really thinking it is going to be good… even as BIG as it is 😀
I cannot believe you jumped into that water! That is just absolutely crazy, but you look like you had SO much fun! Love it!
And okay, I think I really need to try out the Harry Potter audio book. I’ve been wanting to reread the series, but don’t have the time really. The audio would easily fit into my schedule though! 🙂
Hope you have a fabulous reading week!
YAY Danielle – yes, that’s the way I felt about reading Harry Potter again , who really has time with a ll the books – but audio…. that’s another story 🙂
Oooooo I love that shot of you all. It was for a good cause so I wont lol!
I’ve visited 10 blog so far.
Nah, go ahead and laugh – she looks like she is pulling me in the water 😀
I turned in my children’s book project today. The reading I did for it last week accounts for almost a third of my list. Come see what I read.
Thirty sites visited so far.
Nice – and wow on the visits already 😀
Loved your Polar Plunge post – well done Sheila! Cutting For Stone sounds like quite the saga and I do like cover. Have a wonderful week, hope you’ve thawed out completely lol and happy reading 🙂
I am thawed out – actually I changed so quickly that I was warm within minutes…. 😀
Oh my a polar plunge in an evening gown, very cliche, but crazyyyyy!
LOL 😀
Wow! You are so braver than me. I got cold looking at the pictures. Great book list.
haha – great pictures….I stayed in this weekend, and in my pajamas…nice and warm – most of the weekend, anyway. 🙂
(p.s. – you’re brave and insane. haha)
Pajama weekend? AWESOME!
and LOL – I know 😛
Those Polar Plunge pics are great! 🙂 Hope you’ve recovered sufficiently! Cutting For Stone is a very popular book but I didn’t know too much about the plot until I read your summary. Sounds like a good one! Have a super week 🙂
Thanks Sami – it was quite the experience! 😀
I did not know much about the book either when I signed on for it… I really had no idea about the size! 😯
I’m curious to read your thoughts on CUtting for Stone, I put this down but will most likely finish it. I listened and thought it moved too slowly for me. I’m the ONLY person I know who didn’t love this book. Beautiful writing! WIth my Mom (cancer) and everything going on…. I’m sure I wasn’t in the right place.
Rooftops: Lisa (lit and life) is in my book club and we read/talked with Mahbod. If you ever have the chance to talk with him, do it! He’s just so delightful. He’s working on a new book… can’t wait!
Congrats on the plunge, I’m jealous!
I heard it really has a slow start so I am prepping for that 😀
I would like to talk to the author, thanks for the info – and a new book too? 🙂
Cutting for Stone is high on my TBR list. I bought a copy with a Christmas gift card but haven’t gotten to it yet.
I keep hearing good things about Rooftops of Tehran, too.
The photo from the Polar Plunge looks…interesting! I’ll have to go check out the whole story.
Enjoy your books this week –
Sue
Thanks Sue – you enjoy your books too 🙂
I’ve had so much fun participating this week, I have visited at least 10 blogs this morning (more, but I’ve lost count).
Good to hear Bonnie – that’s what I hoped for with this meme – community and fun 😀
Proud of you for taking the plunge! You looked gorgeous in your gown!
HI Sharon – I was thinking about you this weekend – hope all is well 🙂
The plunge was fun – they said it would ruin the dress – but I hung it up to dry and it seems fine – I put it back in my closet – (It has been to a book cub Queen event and now the plunge) you never know where it may wind up next 🙂
I have to start reading Cutting For Stone for my book club too. I’ve only gotten so far as to make a reading schedule. Unfortunately, I may have to redo it because I’ve fallen behind…
Yipes – it is a big one, hope you get caught up 🙂
Love the picture of you in your plunge dress!
Two of your books this week are on my tbr list – Cutting for Stone and Rooftops of Tehran…looking forward to seeing your thoughts on them!
Have a great week 🙂
I got to visit 20 blogs so far today…hope to get to more later today!
I think both books are going to be pretty awesome Kristen 😀
You had quite a week. Love the photo.
Thanks Carol 😀
I really hope you enjoy Cutting for Stone; it’s a great book. Too bad you have a firm deadline for it, but then again, that’s sometimes a good way to get through those chunksters! 😀
Right Hannah! 🙂 My weekend is teenager free too as Chance is with his family this week so Saturday should give me a nice dent in the book – and with a little luck it will be a dent towards the end of the book 😀
Sounds like a good plan.
Sv: I’m currently on book six, but book five which I finished yesterday, really entertained me:-)
OOH nice!!!
Wow…that’s some week! You weren’t kidding about the “yellow and cold” find. That must have been some experience…and now for some reason I’m instantly cold. *looks round for blanket* Happy (and warmer) reading to you this week! ^_^
LOL Gina – I thought you would get a kick out of that! 😛
What an absolutely great week you had! I’m going to visit some of your posts: The Oracle of Stamboul is on my review pile; Wench is on my to-buy list, and the 39 Clues series are some of my Bebe Boy James’ faves! The three that you’re planning to read this week are definitely books that I would just LOVE to add to my reading pile as well!
Oh good Julie – they were some pretty awesome reads – actually all three of them 🙂
You had a good/interesting week!!!! I hope you feel better soon.
I had a good week. 2 more pins in my WAYR map and will add one more tomorrow. 🙂
off to visit!!
Thanks Lori – just hit me overnight…. tingly feeling…. GAH! I have no time to be sick 🙂
10 visits so far, need to work on some emails then plan to do more visiting, so good to have a cooperating computer.
Dollycas
YAY – got to love that Lori! 😀
I love this close-up picture! You look eager to jump in! 😀
Brr! 🙂
Looks like a great week!
I cannot imagine a real Polar Plunge! Wow! I think 10 years in the south would mean I’d have a heart attack if I tried that! So I visited 10 blogs and commented today. I usually do but never seem to come back and say so. I figured I would this week. 🙂 Have a good week!
I’ve had The Handmaid and the Carpenter in my Christmas book collection for a few years now. I keep meaning to read it each Christmas, but never seem to get around to it. I think I’ll make it a priority this year!
Have you warmed up yet from your crazy plunge over the weekend? I hope so!
Including yours, I commented at 23 blogs this week!
Brrrrrrrrave you are.
Funny, I just recently streamed the movie Feed the Fish, that featured a polar plunge. A romantic comedy that had me ROTFLOL.
All three of your reads look intriguing. Cutting for Stone has a queue over 30 at our library and I’m still dithering about whether to get in line or just put this in my wishlist file.
I have just read and reviewed Exit The Actress from someone I think is going to be an author to watch Priya Parmar. Brilliant!
The books you’re reading this week look great!!! I’m cold just from looking at the plunge picture again..feel like I need to take a hot bath!! 😀