Yes…. I admit it. I have been intrigued by Pottermore and what it may entail. Having been a HUGE JK Rowling fan and of course due to the Harry Potter books… I have followed much Potter activity through the years. Pottermore is no exception.
Give me a little challenge and a mystery behind it (what is Pottermore?) (Why do I want to be in it early?) and I am IN. At least I will try….
Only 7 days to enter and I come in under the wire on day 6. Every time I went on the site, day or night… registration was always closed. CLOSED.
GAH.
Then this morning I thought I would check it out and the clue was there… I had a chance!!!! And then I knew the answer and entered it like 8 times…. and…
nothing.
I thought I was doing it wrong. I re-read the clues, knowing full well that gate may close any time… ANYTIME!!! I was doing it right, but maybe due to heavy activity it would not let me in…
and then…
it did.
I am in.
Totally Harry Potter geaked out.
Life…
is grand.
😛
Your Pottermore account
Welcome and thank you for registering for Pottermore by J.K. Rowling – the magical new online experience based around the Harry Potter books.
A million registrants are going to be granted early entry into Pottermore to help give it the finishing touches, and the exciting news is that if you validate your account quickly, you could be one of the lucky few selected. Please be quick because places are going to be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis*.
This is the last day to get in on the pre- group for Pottermore. I have no idea what I am getting into… but it sounds like fun! 😀
The following are the most popular book club books during June based on votes from readers and leaders of more than 30,000 book clubs registered at Bookmovement.com:
1. The Help by Kathryn Stockett 2. Room: A Novel by Emma Donoghue 3. Cutting for Stone: A Novel by Abraham Verghese 4. Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand 5. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot 6. Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet: A Novel by Jamie Ford 7. The Paris Wife: A Novel by Paula McLain 8. Little Bee: A Novel by Chris Cleave 9. Water for Elephants: A Novel by Sara Gruen 10. Half Broke Horses: A True-Life Novel by Jeannette Walls
Top two risers:
Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin (New at #24) Shanghai Girls by Lisa See (New at #30)
[Many thanks to Bookmovement.com!]
I have read on my own #1 and #5. With my book club I have read: #2, #3, #6, #8, and #9.
How about you? Have you or your book group read any of these books? Do you have a favorite out of this group?
It is the winter of 1990 and Helen Hansen has a secret. It is one that rips her apart from the inside out to keep… but along with her husband Elliott, they decide at least for now… this is the way it will be.
Within a year the Hansens’s are celebrating their 20th wedding anniversary, and they do so a luxury hotel in New Hampshire, going all out by inviting friends and neighbors who have been there along the way. Meanwhile, 18-year-old daughter Abby has also been kept in the dark. Little does she know , she is not the only one. Abbie knows something is up and is resentful that she has not been in the know. Seeking solace, she finds it in a cute waiter named Alex, and the rest of the summer staff .
While the champagne flows, guests dance around the elephant in the room…
The hard copy cover - I personally like the paperback cover of the book I own... I think its softer and speaks to the story more
Whoa. *Deep breath here*
Emily Chenoweth comes out of the shoot with this debut novel with a whirlwind of activity, at times heart wrenching, at times sweet, but always breath-taking.
The topic of this book is a hard one. We are dealing with a family and an illness. And at times, you can even wonder if the family itself is part of the illness by not necessarily making healthy decisions. At the same time, you come to realize that the decisions that are made, are made out of love – and that really becomes the heartbeat of the book.
If I seem like I am talking in code here… I am. This is a book that is easy to give away key plots in the excitement of the review and I am walking a fine line trying not to do that, instead leaving the beauty and the mystery of this book unravel itself to each reader.
Abbie really captivates me as you can imagine how an 18-year-old girl would struggle with what is going on with her family, as well as where she stands in the midst of life. When the storyline shifts her way, I could almost feel that struggle, even in the story shift.
While this book could easily have tipped the scale by being considered heavy – it never does. Handled with a well written prose, instead it is graceful, and real… as you watch a family enjoy the last dances of life together.
On Monday, July 18th, our local library hosted author Laurie Hertzel to discuss her latest book, News To Me, Adventures Of An Accidental Journalist. *you can see more details about this event on the Morning Meandering post*
Laurie Hertzel always knew she wanted to be a writer. She grew up knowing books, and knowing they were important and valued. With nine siblings, Laurie had said, her dad would occasionally take whoever was around at the time and load them all into the van and they would go into the book store and each be able to pick out whatever book they wanted.
Laurie who is the Senior Book Editor for the Minneapolis Star and Tribune says she receives around 1,000 books a month for review. They arrive in shopping cart loads and it is up to her to sort through them. She says on a good week she can get 6 reviews in the paper – one on Monday, occasionally one on Wednesday and four in the Sunday paper. It is not easy to choose she says but what she says this is what she looks for:
Obviously the big read – like Freedom by Johnathon Franzen (she says people expect these to be reviewed)
Regional Reads
Human Interest
Non Fiction or a poetry read
Small Presses
Her job is not sitting at a desk reading. During office hours she is writing reviews, answering calls and emails. Her reading comes after hours. She loves her job and says it is really more like a 24 hours a day job.
For anyone who has an interest in journalism this is Laurie’s advice:
Keep practicing your craft… in other words write whenever and wherever you can
Dont become political as in choosing sides, you need to stay responsible and neutral
Be nimble… learn to use pics, video, twitter, Facebook… report across platform
As far as Laurie’s book goes… she is hilarious. She read aloud the chapter about making coffee being part of her job at a newspaper office. She was told that the pot was never to be empty. Laurie doesn’t drink coffee and the only faucet that had enough space to put the coffee carafe under it to fill with water, was the one in the mens bathroom. She learned quickly that by making really bad tasting coffee, and then responding, “What? Oh does it not taste good? I don’t know what it should take like as I do not drink coffee”, soon caused that task to be removed from her list of duties.
The book itself takes us through Laurie’s careers from the library to the news room… and um… back to the library. She speaks well, she is fun and funny to listen too. She also has some amazing chapters in the book such as when in the mid 80’s she went as a reporter to Russia with a group of people from Duluth Minnesota who wanted to make one of the Russian towns their sister city, and when letters requesting such were ignored, they decided to go in person. Laurie pretty much sold out of her books at this event.
I am currently reading News To Me and I will have a review of this book up in the next couple of days.
It’s Monday! What Are You Reading is where we share what we read this past week, what we hope to read this week…. and anything in between! D This is a great way to plan out your reading week and see what others are currently reading as well… you never know where that next “must read” book will come from!
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 do not have to have a blog to participate! You receive one entry for every 10 comments, just come back here and tell me how many in the comment area.
**New books added today to the Reading Cafe giveaway!
I am really excited about this weeks meme! Mainly because as of this afternoon I completed a hard and busy two weeks of projects that had left me with minimal time to visit what you are reading, let alone read much myself. Here is what I did manage to finish this week:
Oh and I forgot to post a picture to go with my Candy Freak post… the review explains what is happening in this pic… and the result…;)
mmm hmmm.... I kind of get into my reviews. Click pick to go to story
Another strong audio week which really is a sign of summer…. I can listen to audio while grilling, cleaning, mowing the lawn, when on the go – this is a great way to still get your “reads in”. 😛
That said… here is what I have happening now and on going through this week…
Those parts of Medium Raw–more of a collection of essays than a streamlined narrative–that seemed to grow out of that celebrity, such as Bourdain’s feuds with food critics and celebrity chefs, impressed reviewers the least. But they still found much to savor, particularly Bourdain’s biting personality, his own humorous self-deprecation, his ability to bring out the unknown elements of the restaurant industry, particularly the kitchen and service staff who might otherwise be ignored, and, not least of all, the well-written (if often vulgar) and compelling stories.
I seen a couple of episodes of Bourdain’s tv show a while back and was fascinated by his travel and food experiences. Yes, he is rough around the edges and that is even more apparent in this audio that I am about an hour into, but if you can over look the roughness – there is an interesting tale underneath. At least so far.
Even on their wedding day, John and Irene sensed that they were about to make a mistake. Years later, divorced, dating other people, and living in different parts of the country, they seem to have nothing in common—nothing except the most important person in each of their lives: Sadie, their spirited eighteen-year-old daughter. Feeling smothered by Irene and distanced from John, Sadie is growing more and more attached to her new boyfriend, Ron. When tragedy strikes, Irene and John come together to support the daughter they love so dearly. What takes longer is to remember how they really feel about each other.
I had started this book a while ago… sat it down… renewed it at the library… and now have picked it up again and am sailing along. 😀
The night is not safe for mortals. Denise MacGregor knows all too well what lurks in the shadows — her best friend is half-vampire Cat Crawfield — and she has already lost more than the average human could bear. But her family’s past is wrapped in secrets and shrouded in darkness — and a demon shape-shifter has marked Denise as prey. Now her survival depends on an immortal who lusts for a taste of her.
He is Spade, a powerful, mysterious vampire who has walked the earth for centuries and is now duty-bound to protect this endangered, alluring human — even if it means destroying his own kind. Denise may arouse his deepest hungers, but Spade knows he must fight his urge to have her as they face the nightmare together, because once the first crimson drop falls, they will both be lost.
Yes…. my reading and audio is all over the grid this week. 😛 This audio was one I picked up through Blackstone audio at BEA and thought I could give it a try. So far…. hmmm…. it is… a love story… and really, not so bad. Does anyone else think this dude on the audio cover looks like a young Timothy Hutton? Anyone? Anyone?
When Madeline Stone walks away from Chicago and moves five hundred miles north to the coast of Lake Superior, in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, she isn’t prepared for how much her life will change.
Charged with caring for an aging family friend, Madeline finds herself in the middle of beautiful nowhere with Gladys and Arbutus, two octogenarian sisters-one sharp and stubborn, the other sweeter than sunshine. As Madeline begins to experience the ways of the small, tight-knit town, she is drawn into the lives and dramas of its residents. It’s a place where times are tough and debts run deep, but friendship, community, and compassion run deeper. As the story hurdles along-featuring a lost child, a dashed love, a car accident, a wedding, a fire, and a romantic reunion-Gladys, Arbutus, and the rest of the town teach Madeline more about life, love, and goodwill than she’s learned in a lifetime.
Late! Late tour review. Last weeks CRAZINESS caused me a miss on this one and gah… catching up 😀
That’s whats on the barbie.. I am still finishing the Harry Potter Books, and listening to the second in the series Bloody Jack audio too.
I have requested and received all the Mondays in July off from work! WOO HOO!!! This is a much-needed break from life happenings and with busy weekends, Monday is a great recoup day. It also means I will have more time to explore what all of you are reading and for the first time in weeks I am going to get around and see you and what is trending through the book blogs! 😀
Be sure to add your What Are You Reading post link below where it says click here, so I as well as others can find their way to you! 😀
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I slept in my own bed for the first time in three days last night and it was NICE. It was actually good just to be home, and for the most part I was home most of yesterday.
Catching up on my e mail reading I noticed that Diana Galbaldon’s Outlander was re-released in hard cover yesterday. This is a series that I have heard so much good about and have yet to read. As I am looking at this lovely book I am thinking now may be the time to do so.
I think I am having book envy. 😛
Have you read this series? Do you want to?
On a fun note – both boys were home last night for dinner. We had Honduras Lasagna, and strawberry shortcake for dessert and sat on the deck and talked for hours. It was a good time. I made sure we captured a couple of pics of Brad and I before he heads back to the Navy next week.
Two years ago you would not have caught me with an e reader.
No way.
No how.
Not a chance.
I am from the school of a book is a book. I want to touch it. Smell it. Feel its weight in my hand. Enjoy how it looks on my shelf…. or in a stack… or haphazardly tossed on the coffee table, the couch or the lawn chair. A book… is not only a book… it is home decor… it is art with reading glasses on top… or perhaps a coffee cup. A book tells you something about the owner…. they love adventure…. facts… fantasy…. knowing more about whatever…..
One year ago I was curious… but under the radar curious.
I still teased the one girl in my book club who had a Kindle. I gave her all the reasons listed above about the love of books. BOOKS. Not electronics. Yet…. I inquired at the gym when I would see people on the tread mills or ellipticals with the e reader while I had one hand holding open my book.
Did they like it? Oh yes was the consistent answer.
I stared reading up on them on-line, on blogs… pros/cons….. and then….
which one?
Obviously there was Kindle…. and then Nook… and a Sony Reader….
I made lists of what features I liked and in the end….
I asked for a NOOK for Christmas, and received the NOOK Color (as my hubby the over achiever thought that would be better even though I still have had no use really for the color…)
My final decision on wanting an e reader was mainly for travel. For years I had packed 6 – 10 books in my carry on for a vacation, lugging them both ways and usually bringing a few more home than what I left with. Heavy, bulky….. you know….
So when the NOOK arrived prettily under the tree I was quick to set it up….but not so quick to read on it. The draw of my shelves filled with books always won out over the reader.
Until…
BEA – New York, the end of May. I was going to go E Reader or bust. I allowed myself one real book for the trip…. and sNOOKie (Wha…. you don’t name your toys?) sNOOKie was loaded with a few book choices to draw me too it. And on the plane, after starting with the old stand by book…. I put it down and read Delirium in its entirety on the NOOK.
Feedback:
On the plane I loved that I could set it on the tray table and read it without holding it open. I thought I would miss that but soon discovered once into the story I was thrilled not to have to hold the book. It saved my place without a book mark. It was light weight and east to travel with. It scored high applause from me.
Now that I am in an arm cast… I love that I do not have to fight to hold a book open. LOVE IT.
Tomorrow I am road tripping to St Cloud to chat with the NOOK representative. There is a lot I still need to learn about the NOOK that I have not tried yet. I want to know more about the online access (have hardly used that). I still don’t get the color purpose although my friend Angie said it is fantastic for kids books and the pictures move.
Will I ever go 100% E Reader? No. My books are all I stated above and I need to be surrounded by them. Some people have blankets or nicknacks…. I have books. Tomato, tomahto….
My questions to you:
1. Have you gone E Reader yet? Why or why not?
2. What E Reader would you choose (or have you chosen) and why?
3. What ways would you primarily find an E Reader useful in your lifestyle?
So…. I have been M.I.A. since Saturday morning…. let me fill you in (and bear with me as I type with one hand). I was on the MS 150 bike ride this weekend in the cities. We drove Friday night to White Bear Lake, left our cars and then went to Duluth Minnesota. The ride is Duluth to Hinkley 75 miles) and then Hinkley to White bear Lake (75 miles).
On Saturday morning I got up and was on the road with my team and 4,000+ other riders for this great cause. The idea was wonderful, good weather, lots of stops every 10 – 15 miles, awesome company.
We were making awesome time and it was coming up on noon and I was about 4 miles from the finish for the day. I was following a group of guys that were averaging over 18 MPH and I was hanging with them. About that time another group was passing us on the left and I glanced up to make sure they were all past, when I looked back I was right on the guy in
shoes have clips that lock into pedals for more pedal power
front of me’s tire. It was too late to do anything… my shoes lock into my pedals and as I tried to swerve I hit and went flying…not a whole lot I remember except my arm went up to protect my head, and next thing I know I am being lifted off the road by the team that was in front of me and carried to the grass.
They helped clean me up, my face was bleeding pretty bad, a lot of cuts and my pinky would not uncurl. An ambulance was called and came to get me right on the trail. I then went to Sandstone emergency room where they ran a few x-rays… cleaned me up and came up with a broken pinky, a dislocated finger and wrist.
I asked how do you fix a broken pinky and the doctor said that he would pull it. “That gives a whole new meaning to pull my finger,” I said. He either did not get it, or did not want too… 😛
Part of my team came to the hospital to pick me up and while I waited for the doctor the nurse let them in with me. They were awesome and cheered me up. 😀
Now thats what I call support!
Belinda.... cracking me up
After my ex-ray and confirmed break, the doctor did actually pull my finger to put it back in place and turns out… that is not funny at all.
I was put in a cast to keep my fingers and wrist straight. I have a cut very close to my eye and a small lump on my head. All in all, I was very lucky.
I did not go home. I spent day two of the ride going around with the wife of one of our riders and cheering the team in from the pit stops.
So that is where I have been this weekend. Monday What Are You Reading is coming up in the morning. It is just too late tonight due to this happening. I am tired.
Oh I am just giddy with excitement!!! Today officially marks my two-year anniversary of my step into the book blogging world. Whoever thought that this day would come? I sure didn’t! When I first discovered book blogging I would never have dreamed what a life changing experience it would be… I did not know that by chatting books I would:
start having conversations with authors
be part of a Minnesota book event panel
Go to New York – not once, but twice for BEA
meet many awesome book bloggers throughout this wonderful and crazy hobby
and of course, get to chat with all of you
Life is really not as it was before I book blogged. 😀
This party is to really celebrate you, because honestly…. if I was talking to myself every day…. I know I would not do this blog, at least not to the extent and to the love that I do now. SO please, come on in!
You may drop your coat at the coat check (be sure to get a claim number), and help yourself to the beverages and snacks. Excuse me a minute while I get the music going…
*runs into other room*
*runs back*
There. Nothing like a little cheesy 80’s background music. 😛
At this party – the gifts are for you! It’s easy to participate – simply leave a comment on this post about how you arrived at the party (have fun with this) and what virtual gift or food item you brought with you, such as you rode your scooter and brought flaming shish kabobs. (I did this last year and the sheer imaginative comments had me laughing for days after…. :D)
This giveaway is open for today only – tomorrow morning I will announce the winners using random.org on my Morning Meandering post. If you have a preference (package 1,2,3, or 4) you can say that in your comment and if your name is drawn that will be yours if not already won by someone else – otherwise no need to say which as you will be eligible for all.
Ok… let’s get to the good stuff:
An advanced reader copy of Forever by Maggie Stiefvater, Between by Monica Warman, Camerons Coffee (Caramel Brownie), Ghiradelli Chocolate, and a Mysterious Benedict Society puzzle
Nazareth Child by Darrell James, Ghiradelli Chocolate, Cameron’s French Vanilla coffee, The Soldiers Wife by Margaret Leroy, and Crooked Letter Crooked Letter by Tom Franklin.
The Art Of Choosing (AUDIO!), Dark Legacy and Secret Legacy by Anna DeStefano, Lethal by Sandra Brown, Lindt Truffles, Cameron’s Cinnamon Sugar Cookie coffee
The Little Women Letters by Gabrielle Donnelly, The Taker by Alma Katsu, The Sandalwood tree by Elle Newmark, Ghiradelli Chocolate, and Java delight Hazelnut Creme Coffee
*Personal thank you to publishers who gave me copies of these books to give away for this event.
Thank you readers of Book Journey – You make me smile with your comments, nod in understanding, and occasionally I laugh out loud. I am so appreciative of all of you!!!
Let’s get this party started!!!! I am opening the door….
Ok I know I know…. I have been trying to get through sharing with you the BEA experience with the posts I have put up this week. Honestly – I could do a few more, however, I need to wrap this up.
Next week is a HUGE week here at Book Journey. Starting tomorrow, it is AUDIO WEEK and I have many fun things lined up for that including audio reviews, discussions, an interview with a narrator that you audio lovers will most likely recognize, and a giveaway. On Thursday it is also my Blogiversary and I like to party it up big time over here. For a hint of what to expect, check out last years post. We had so much fun and the giveaways were awesome. Your comments cracked me up and really made my day – I plan to run it very similar this year as well :). I have great things lined up for this year too so please mark your calendars to be sure to stop in on Thursday.
So let’s get back to BEA.
Here is the final run down of what I have not yet chatted about….
On Monday when Reagan and I arrived in New York we hurried to Simon and Schuster as we were already late for that, and then walked what we thought would be an easy walk to the YA Teen Author Carnival. We walked a LONG time, and later in the week found out that this area of New York is quite difficult to navigate so mental high-five to us who eventually found our way 😀
While I have chatted about Tuesday at BEA (and running the info booth which was awesome!), and I chatted about Wednesday at BEA too – but did not share with you Wednesday evening. Wednesday evening was the Harper Collins Book Blogger Reception which was AWESOME! This was for me the first chance for this year to get to hang out and catch up with some of the other bloggers I chat with on-line and off. The reception was wonderful and crowded with authors, Harper Collins peeps (Hi Jennifer!!!) and bloggers. It was really fun to chat and connect.
Me and Alison (Alison's Book Marks) - I adore Alison. I met her last year at this same event and we just started chatting like old friends. It was awesoem to connect with her again.M L Malcolm and me. You always know this lovely lady by the hat. M L wrote Heart of Lies and Heart of DeceptionTalia Carner and me. Talia wrote Jerusalem Maiden, a book I am on tour for this week...The Harper Collins reception - (R) Reagan from Miss Remmers Reviews,Theresa from Shelf Love, me, and Ash from English Major's Junk Food
I really wish I would have taken more pictures – but next year I will work on that. I swear I had moments where I just…. forgot.
After the reception, Heather from 3o+ A Lifetime Of Books had gathered a group of us to go out to dinner. It was just a few doors down from the reception so we all walked to Bice.
Me and Florinda from the 3 R'sHere we all are at dinner.... it was so much fun!I had a shrimp and mushroom past that was delicious!
I think I shared with you all of Thursday and Friday…. so I will end this last of the BEA 2011 posts with a few random pictures I have not had the chance to post:
Reagan and I commented how some of the streets of new York look like the Stay Puff Marshallow Man from the movie Ghostbusters could show up arnound the corner anytime...Me and Jill from Rhapsody of Books - I ran into her more than anyone else all throughout BEA - it was funny! We never said good-bye, we said see you later. 🙂Sarah Pekkanen (Author of Skipping A Beat) and I met last year and had a chance to reconnect again this year.
I think that about covers it… for touristy type things we did this year, Reagan and I went to the Happy Potter Exhibition (I posted about this earlier today), The top of the empire state building, and to Mary Poppins on Broadway (also posted about earlier this week.)
It has been a lot of fun sharing BEA 2011 with you. If you are an attendee – that is so awesome and I hope I get to see you next year! If you are considering attending, I have to tell you if you can do this one time – DO IT. I have a hard time putting into words what a great experience this is but I hoping the oodles of posts this week gives you a hint. 😀
Book Journey 