I know – I know…. MIA AGAIN. What is with me? First up – thank you to everyone who has sent my messages letting me know I am missed and valued. As if I wasn’t already missing posting here like I used to…. that was the icing on the proverbial cupcake.
*sigh*
I hope now that the craziness of summer and even the kick off to fall has slowed to a simmer that I can be more active here. SO much book stuff to share… so many good things happening.
First up… the fall book sale. Crazy with a side of crazy I think covers that. We had more books than we have ever had before. SO many in fact that 3 weeks before the sale we had to quit accepting the books at the library which hurt to say out loud… but true. We were so bottle necked with the donations that we could not sort the books. A few of us from the Friends board started moving books weeks ago to the sale sight to release the pressure. Basically, I feel as though I have been working this sale for WEEKS.
Set up started this past Monday and a group of us spent 7+hours on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, setting up. Thursday, Friday and Saturday was the sale and I was there open to close – Sunday we cleaned up. Day one… I was there at 6 am… 4 people brought me coffee. LOVE that.
I am a fume today…. merely a mist of my self 😉
BUT – what you really want to know… is what did I bring home. I know how you roll. In true book sale fashion – I will once again post my treasures here – YOU CHOOSE what I will read in the next month and if your comment is the one that wins the random drawing I will read that book first, review and then send you the book. Go nuts my friends…. go nuts.
Here they are – note the few exceptions to the giveaway under each picture.
All books in above pic available except the 2 Patrick Rothfuss on the bottom.
All books in above pic available except the CS Lewis (top) and the Writers Market (bottom)
All books available in this pic
There you have it. In a comment below tell me which book you would like me to read and then send to you. 🙂 I am hopeful that I am back. 🙂
Book Journey 
I don’t expect to win (and don’t care), but you should read The Camel Bookmobile by Masha Hamilton as soon as you can, even if not first. I had lunch with Masha when she came to Tennessee for a conference in 2008, and Masha also chatted with our face-to-face book club via speaker phone. Read about it on my blog:
http://bonniesbooks.blogspot.com/2008/04/wednesday-i-met-author.html
Interesting… thanks for the tip 🙂
Shantaram because I recommended it. But Population: 485 might lead to a Brown Bag author visit. Best humorous view of a small town that I’ve read in years. And he lives in Wisconsin.
I grew in a town of 300 in Nebraska so I will have to put this on my to-be-read list!
Nice… I would prefer the smaller of the two at this time… ha ha
Oh dear, you’ve stumped me because the one I think you should read next is one I’ve already read — the Anne Morrow Lindbergh. I read her diaries as they were published and I think they have something to say to all of us. My mother (who was approximately the same age as AML) thought so too and she bought them for my sister and me. We were captivated. What an incredible life.
So, if I’m lucky enough to win, I don’t want you to send it to me because I already have it.
If these stacks were on my table I’d start with Kitchen by Banana Yoshimoto because I love Japanese literature and this is an author I’ve been meaning to read. So, if I’m lucky enough to win…
This is a terrific haul, I always look forward to your posts, but I drool every time you post about the book sales.
I have read some of Lindbergh as well… perfectly fine choice. Kitchen too draws me in.
Shantram. I read it and couldn’t put it down, it will keep you engrossed and see things differently. One of my all time favorites.
That line “all time favorites” always gets me…..
So many great choices! I vote for The Camel Bookmobile. I’ve never seen that title before, but it’s got to be good if it involves books, right?
I have followed your blog for several years, but rarely comment. I’ve missed your posts and decided that when you came back I would be a more regular contributor so you would know you are appreciated.
Bookmobile, book club, book store…. the word “book” in titles grabs me 🙂
Great haul, I think you should choose Fixer Upper by Mary Kay Andrews. I have missed your posts. I want to thank you for all you do.
Hey Lisa. I have missed posting. Time management….. 😉
So I see you have three books by Adriana Trigiani and I looked them up before I posted. I think you should read Big Stone Gap and then quite possibly binge on the sequels. It’s like eating a potato chip. You can’t just eat one. You might follow this binge reading by continuing with Rhett Butler’s People, which I just read this summer. If you love Gone with the Wind, it’s intriguing to link up the events in Rhett’s life to the world Mitchell built for readers. It sounds quite different than the Big Stone Gap books though. (They remind me of These is My Words. Which I loved.) You still have the love story, but there is much more historical context and the previous works to use in context.
If I win I would like for you to send the book to my mom. More often than not I buy her books and then save them until I see her. And I read the books first, which is fun because if they are a little naughty I think, hmmmm, SHOULD I give this to my mother!? (My self always answers yes.) It would be nice for her to get to read the book before me!
I have read most of Trigiani except the Big Stone Gap series – which I have been wanting to 🙂 I would be happy to send to your mom if you win 🙂
I see a lot of good ones, but my vote is for The Camel Bookmobile by Masha Hamilton.
Why? Because that’s the one I’d start with. 🙂
Good reason 🙂
Two Old Women . I can relate to that title.
A friend of mine used to live in Alaska and she said this was a great book.
Have a good time with all these new books! I am glad to see a post from you. 🙂
I am glad to see a post from me too 😀
The Dive From Clausen’s Pier by Ann Packer. Why? Because I haven’t read her and I can tell I like the cover (Cover Whores unite!).
PS: this is such a great idea! I’d like to borrow it! 😀
Good reason 🙂 Take the idea… I have done this for years 🙂
Oh, my goodness! Too many choices here, Sheila! I’ve read a few of these, including Kitchen. I’m happy to see you back, happy that many good things are happening! 🙂
Thanks Suko…. I hope I am back. I keep saying I am and then….. but I hope I am.
Oh, my gosh! That is a LOT of new books to add to your stash!! And so nice to hear from you. Looks like the book sale was fun but exhausting.
You don’t have to add me to your giveaway – just wanted to comment on a few. My son LOVES Patrick Rothfuss novels! He’s a big fan. My husband and I always enjoy Erik Larson, and Thunderstruck is one we haven’t read yet (so you could count that one as my giveaway entry if you want!)
Big Stone Gap was good but not outstanding (fo rme anyway), and I have always wanted to read The Dive from Clausson’s Pier! Have been hearing good things about that one for over a decade.
And…Narnia!!!! Definitely make time for those (they each go quick) – I read the whole series in 2nd grade after our teacher read The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe aloud to us! And my husband and I read the entire series aloud to our sons – we all loved it.
Have fun with all these new books!
Sue
Book By Book
Hey Sue – I have read all the Narnia books… just don’t have these covers… (yes I just said that!) 🙂 I am new to Rothfuss… although I think I am passing one of them on to a friend. 🙂
You must read Lucia, Lucia. it’s my favorite of Trigiani’s books. If it wins, give your copy to someone else since I already have it.
Thanks Kathy, I do not believe I have read this one yet.
You can’t go wrong with Mary Kay Andrews. But I also love, love the Narnia books.
I read a lot of MKA and I have read this one as well… but I didn’t have it in hard cover (I know I know… ) 😉
Little Bitty Lies…I love Mary Kay Andrews…and haven’t read this one.
I have not read that one either… it called to me right away!
I’m choosing Adriana Trigiani Big Stone Gap. I’ve been wanting to ready anything by her and haven’t yet.
Welcome back. Sometimes life just has to take over and the blog take a back seat. I totally get that!
Oh Stacie I really do hope i am back 🙂
I vote for Camel Bookmobile as well, just because I love books, and I love stories about how people make books available to others!
Oh, definitely Guests of the Sheik!!! I could not put that down. She is a wonderful author describing a unique experience!