Category: Book Stuff

Where Are The Winners?

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)15 Comments


It is time to have some winners.  I am just in that kind of “winning” mood.  😛

Here are the latest winners over here at Book Journey.

A Signed copy of Summer at Tiffany coming straight from the author goes to:

Julie H

Entrants were asked to share a favorite summer memory.  Here is Julie’s:

One of my favorite summers was the year we went on a trip out East, to see Boston and nearby historical attractions. We made a side trip to Concord and took the time to visit Orchard House, made famous because of Louisa May Alcott. It’s still one of the best house tours I’ve ever been on.



Entrants were asked to share a book or audio that is a must read for me yet this year

3 Copies Of The Island (audio) by Elin Hilderbrand go to:

Karen K

who suggested I read anything by Dorthea Benton Frank

Cindi

Suggested the audiobook called Dimanche and Other Storiesby Irene Nemirovsky!

Kelly B

Castaways by Elin Hilderbrand


Entrants were asked to come up with a character and story line for a James Patterson novel

3 Copies Of The Island (audio) by Elin Hilderbrand go to:

Cindi

Cindi’s answer was:  Callie went missing over 15 years ago and now she has been spotted in Paris France ~

Sarah G

Sarah’s answer was:  Sunny Disposition – lifeguard and FBI informant, married to a mob hitman who is named Stormy Disposition

Nancye Davis

My new character would be Cindy Malone, retired school-teacher turned librarian/ undercover private investigator/ bank robber extraordinaire! Cool!

Monthly Winners for September

Each month I draw two random comment winners to win a book out of my prize box and I announce my top commenter who wins a $20 gift card from Amazon.  Here are the August winners:

Helen (Helen’s Book Blog)


Vasilly (1330V)


and top commenter for the month of September is (and this is a $20 gift card to Amazon!):

Wordlily!!!

Thanks everyone – I love chatting books with all of you!  😀

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)94 Comments



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:

Kathy Martin   Inside Of A Dog


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 feel awesome!  I had a great reading week and really think I lived out Banned Books Week to the fullest.  I had a chance to read and review books that were ones I have wanted to read for a long time – but also new titles to me that I enjoyed as well.  Let’s recap shall we?



Are You There God?  It’s Me Margaret. by Judy Blume (For Banned Book Week and well… its Judy Blume… so it might have been for me too :D)


When Reality Hits You Right In The Face (Seriously – did you see this?  You have to see this!)


Harry Potter and The Order Of The Phoenix by J K Rowling (Oh yeah a BANNED BOOK review)


SPEAK by Laurie Halse Anderson (the BANNED BOOK that has recently caused quite a stir!)


The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel pie Society – book review (remember the pinky swear?)


I am going to be a part of a book panel and need your help


Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury – Banned Book Review


Reminder that the Wordshakers On line Book Club will be discussing The Wife’s Tale by Lori Lansen this week – not to late to join in!


Last week to jump on the group meet up of Minnesota and surrounding area Book Bloggers,  check this post for details 😀


I did have a good week!  *pause while I review the list again with an odd pride and a little rebellion*


This week I think will be exciting as well as this week will end with the Read-A-Thon on October 9th and if you have not signed up I have to tell you that you are going to miss out on some FUN!  Scoot on over there and get your name on the list.  I will wait here.  😛

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Ok, awesome – you are back!  Anyway, as I was saying, I think the weekend will provide some good reading time and I hope to add to what I am posting here – but the plan this week is:


Hoo Hoo!  I have been wanting to read a cozy mystery for a while now and this one has double – or triple excitement for me!  One is that of course the book looks fantastic!  Two is that the author is a Minnesota author and seriously lest give it up for the home team!  Three is that Laura Childs is so super awesome that she will be author chatting with me about this book and what’s new and whats what…. and well…. I am a little exited!



This is another one that as I read the back of this book I get a little chill as to what could be inside – I have high hopes for this one!  Oh and guess what?  I have two.  TWO!  What to do… what to do….. OH!  I think we will have a giveaway!  Watch for that this week.  😀



This one looks like it will just be a fun lite read.  I am hopeful that it is funny and that when I am done with it I can pass it on to College Son .


So that’s my plan as well as the reviews I need to post from last weeks non Banned Books read.  I have to confess… once I got into the banned books theme it was and is hard to back my way out.  I need more time!  I still have several on my kitchen table that I am hoping to read before they have to go back to the library.  I love being able to read these tiles and then being able to discuss them.  😀


I am so looking forward to stopping by and seeing what you are reading!  This is actually one of my favorite things to do each week.  Add your What Are You Reading post to the linky where it says CLICK HERE and we all can visit the posts!  :razz:

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Morning Meanderings… How does a reader decide what to read next despite the growing stack of options on their night table?

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)43 Comments


Morning bookish people!  Last night was so fantastic!  Brad (Navy son) and two of his buddies, Adam and Andy hung out at the house for dinner and a lot of laughter.  I love Boot Camp stories… I never get tired of them!  Brad is such a card and I can just picture the stories he shares!

Of course Navy Son trumps almost everything else going on in my life now so my banned book a day review fell off the “banned wagon” yesterday…. but only for the day!  Instead I had to pop in a very late in the evening but made the deadline review of The Guernsey Literary Potato Peel Pie Society ( the pinky swear was to read it in September!)

But look at me ramble on about all things not about the post title…. SO… whats up with that?

I am so glad you asked!

SSQQQUUUEEEEEE!!!

I was invited to be on my first ever panel for The Twin Cities Book Festival.  I am super pumped and a little nervous…. so I am going to share with you now what they sent me and I would love to hear your thoughts on this discussion.


The Changing World Of Publishing: Getting Books To Readers

Our problem is not too few good books, but too many. How does a reader decide what to read next despite the growing stack of options on their night table? How does a new author break into a dedicated reader’s “To Be Read” queue when traditional media outlets are disappearing fast? What role will new technologies like social media play now that authors are largely responsible for promoting their books themselves?” Our panel will tackle these big questions, and invite your tips and tricks for finding great books as well! (10:30 am, Hennepin Room)


Moderated by Kevin Smokler, co-founder and CEO of BookTour.com and editor of the anthology Bookmark Now: Writing in Unreaderly Times.


Tim Brown has worked behind the scenes at the Printer’s Row Book Festival in Chicago and at the Independent Press Center in New York City. He has also published three novels and his poetry and nonfiction have appeared in hundred of publications.


Sheila DeChantal is a bibliophile who lives in northern Minnesota. Her blog, “Book Journey,” contains reviews, interviews, and all things bookish.


Andrew Ervin is the author of Extraordinary Renditions, just out from Coffee House Press. He is also a noted reviewer of books for The Believer, New York Times Book Review, Rain Taxi Review of Books, and other fabulous periodicals.


Jeff Kamin moderates the “Books & Bars” reading series in Minneapolis, which won a City Pages Best of in 2009. He’s also a freelance writer, publicist, and event coordinator at the blog “Mustache Robots,” but only after being El Jefe to his two young boys.


Steph Opitz is the membership director of the Council of Literary Magazines and Presses in New York, and the former publicist at Red Hen Press in Los Angeles.


I would really appreciate hearing your thoughts on the questions that will be discussed.

Morning Meanderings… “Banned Aid”

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)25 Comments

LOL…. oh come on, I have been saving that post name all week….

*giggles to myself*

I had to use it.


Ok, Coffee Cup and I seem to be running late today so I will move on (although it still makes me smile…).  I have been having a fun week of reading books that I have selected not only because it is banned books week, but also because many of the titles are books that I have always wanted to read.  I have a few that are too big for me to get reviewed during this week, but I still plan to read them.  One of those books would be Pillars of The Earth, another would be A Prayer For Owen Meany.  Both books I currently have checked out from the library.

Last evening I put up my review of SPEAK by Laurie Halse Anderson.  I did not plan on posting it that late, but I had an insane day and after work was home all of 15 minutes before I ran out to a much-needed dinner with friends.  Sometimes just hanging out with people and having time to laugh and enjoy what happening in their lives can be like medicine for the soul.  When I got home after 8 pm, I still had a couple of touches to put on the review so I finished it up and it went live last night.  I hope you can take a minute to read it if you have not already.  This is the book that I had just started hearing about a couple of weeks ago and the controversy surrounding a particular part of the book.  When I heard the opposite side of this argument, how many people the book was reaching… I dived in cautiously waiting for the part in the book that was causing the uproar.  Seriously, it was so tastefully handled.  I even called one of my friends and read the part to her over the phone looking for a second opinion.  She too thought it was handled quite appropriately.  Of course I get that the battle is not necessarily about the wording but about the subject matter.  Anyway – enough of that…..

Today I work.  Then I mow.  (All that rain last week put me on the mower again!)  On the bright side, I hope to finish the audio of Fahrenheit 451 as I mow.  This is so the right book to read/listen to during banned books week as it is about book burning.  AND yes, I am enjoying it and yes I had given up on it recently due to the narrator, however I found it on audible.com with a different narrator and that made all the difference.  More on that in my review.  😉

Finally – the best part of my day today is that tonight Navy Son (who surprise returned home last week) and I are hanging out tonight.  I am thinking I will make turkey burgers and maybe we will go to a movie or a bike ride.  What a great way to complete my day!  😀


Why was A Prayer For Owen Meany by John Irving banned?

Banned and censored around the United States for its stance on religion and criticism of the US government regarding  the Vietnam War and Iran-Contra.

Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret by Judy Blume (Banned Books Week)

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)64 Comments

Twelve year old Margaret has a lot of worries for her young age.  She wonders if she will ever need anything beyond her training bra.   When the time comes to kiss a boy, how will she even know how?  And she is desperately afraid that she will be the last girl in her club to get her period.  As if this wasn’t enough, she also has a new home and a new school.  And where does God fit into all of this…


Ok.  I think I became a reader through Judy Blume’s books.  Ok…. maybe I started with my collection of Nancy Drews and then on to the Hardy Boys, but in those early years of double digits, Judy Blume was my author of choice.   I fondly remember reading this book and it was a pleasure to pull it out again for this re-read.

Judy writes well with her sixth grade voice of Margaret, page by page going through Margaret’s fears and hopes for her new school and for herself.  When Margaret’s teacher asks the students to share what religion they are, Margaret starts to wonder about that too.

What I love about this book is how Margaret takes her questions to God.  Throughout the whole book God is her companion and much like a voiced diary, Margaret shares it all.  The book is funny and sweet and a wonderful book for young girls as the are starting to ask their own questions.  I think this book would be a wonderful discussion book that could be shared between mother and daughter.

Reading this book again made me laugh out loud (all I am saying is six cotton balls…. ) and reminded me of the wonderful stories and characters I had found with Judy Blume.  It brought me back to a time when I worried about such things and it was good to read a book about a girl who had concerns like me.  😀

Check out all the covers for this book… how fun are they!


Did you ever read this book?  What cover was your copy?

Why was Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret banned?

Due to its relatively frank treatment of adolescent sexuality and religion, this book is one of the top 100 most frequently challenged books at libraries (i.e., books that have been requested to be banned), according to the American Library Association.

A fun FYI: This book was seen being read by Sawyer from the hit TV show LOST, on the beach, demonstrating his indiscriminate desire for reading material. He disliked the book, calling it “predictable”, with “not nearly enough sex”.

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)91 Comments

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:

Heather  She Is Reading


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


Wow!  What an amazing week.  We are currently right in the beginning of Banned Books Week and I am having a lot of fun chatting it up with others about Banned Books….  here are the posts that landed here last week:


Book Bloggers Unite – a list of the top 100 banned books for the last two decades

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (my review and the Bookies – My Book Clubs review)

Seriously?  How do you lose the book you are currently reading?

Oh!  Oh!  Guess what I found?

Banned Books Eve and a little crazy poem

Review of ROOM by Emma Donoghue (I can not believe this book has sat in a box since May and I had not read it yet!)

Author Chat with Emma Donoghue (Author of ROOM)  (and she even answered a question for the spoiler page!)


Review of The Face On The Milk Carton for banned Books Week (uhhhh….. WHA?  I totally couldnt figure out what made this banned!)

I went to a Minnesota Author event on Saturday and uhhh…. errr…. came back with a few books.  😛

Review of Freedom Writer’s Diary for Banned Books Week (If you have not seen the movie I encourage you to do so!  Then read the book of the diary’s of these students….. powerful, powerful. stuff!

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (complete – need to post review this week!)

I Would Know You Anywhere by Laura Lippman – audio review completed, still need to post

So how is that for a smoking awesome week?  I had a lot of fun catching up with books lying around everywhere partially read thanks to Michelle’s Fall Catch Up Read-A-Thon. Granted, I could use more than one week to catch up… but I did make a dent.


This week I will continue reviewing Banned Books but I will also be reading a few other reads if all goes well.  Here are a couple I hope to get to this week:

I just purchased this book this weekend but listen to this synopsis:

Meet Laura Van Ryn and Whitney Cerak: one buried under the wrong name, one in a coma and being cared for by the wrong family.

This shocking case of mistaken identity stunned the country and made national news. Would it destroy a family? Shatter their faith? Push two families into bitterness, resentment, and guilt?

Read this unprecedented story of two traumatized families who describe their ordeal and explore the bond sustaining and uniting them as they deal with their bizarre reversal of life lost and life found.

And join Whitney Cerak, the sole surviving student, as she comes to terms with her new identity, forever altered, yet on the brink of new beginnings.

Mistaken Identity weaves a complex tale of honesty, vulnerability, loss, hope, faith, and love in the face of one of the strangest twists of circumstance imaginable.

I have to read this!

Doesn’t this look good?  I am in the mood for a little historical fiction!

I picked this one up from the library after reading about it on another blog.  I am really looking forward to this story!

So that’s the week!  I am so looking forward to stopping by and seeing what you are reading!  This is actually one of my favorite things to do each week.  Add your What Are You Reading post to the linky where it says CLICK HERE and we all can visit the posts!  😛

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**Update:  Linky server seems to be down so leave a comment below and I can connect to you that way.  Once up I will update the links for you.  🙂

Fall Catch Up Read-A-Thon

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)27 Comments


While catching up on some blog visits today I found Michelle over at The True Book Addict running a little fall clean up of reads.  As I looked around my home I have half read books everywhere.  I know…. I have BADD (Book Attention Deficit Disorder).  It’s not that they are bad books, it’s just that my mind goes from one read to the next…. first I want mystery and then oh look, now I want comedy, ooh but look over there a memoir….. oh but I must read that historical fiction….

you get the gist…

Michelle’s week-long clean up appeals to me because there are books I really want to get reading but also want to finish these other books I am reading as well… so I decided to sign up.  This week is a great week to sit down evenings and pick up these books and get back to the joy of reading.

It’s not too late to join in.  Pop in over at Michelle’s and she will welcome you to the group.  😀

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)129 Comments

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:

Laurel : Laurel Rain Snow Creations


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

**Remember to qualify to win you need to stop back and let me know how many of the Monday What Are You reading Meme’s you commented on.  One entry per every 10.  I do this to encourage visits to new blogs and to build community.  😀

I had an insanely busy week this past week and for the first time in a long time I did not make it around to visit all the participants blogs.  I really enjoy doing that but the days got away from me and with huge commitments almost every evening I was exhausted.

The good news is that as of this morning I am over the crazy business for now and have a pretty quiet week ahead that I am so looking forward to!

Here is my past week in the literary sense:


My Interview with Nat from In Spring It Is The Dawn (check out this amazing blogger who lives in Japan!)


Immanuel’s Veins by Ted Dekker with a giveaway (a good one from Dekker and a bonus giveaway!)


Minnesota/Wisconsin Book Blogger Meet Up Planned in October (I am working with Reagan from Miss Remmer’s Reviews to attend a book festival in the twin cities and hopefully create a meet up around this event.  Check out the details!  😀


The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo – Review coming this week!


I’d Know You Anywhere (audio) – Review coming this week!


Gave Up On

Farenheit 451 (audio):  sadly, the audio narrator was just hard to understand.  In a mumble type tone I struggled to catch what he was saying and found myself losing the point because I was picking up on every few words.  Even more sadly, the narrator of this audio copy I have is none other than the author, Ray Bradbury himself.   I still hope to read this book some day, or perhaps I need to try the audio with a different narrator.

And yeah…. that’s about it for this week.  With BBAW I really enjoyed participating and I had a giveaway a day going on and did not get a whole lot of reading done.  This week…. I am hopeful will be different.


Here’s What Is Brewing For Me This Week

You know how I love a good Patterson audio!  I really do!  This is what will replace Fahrenheit 451 in my kitchen Cd player.

Remember the pinky swear?  I know Alita from Alita Reads started this (and probably has finished!) this book last week.  Our swear was to read it in September so this is a must read for me this week.

And it is also time to start this one!  This is the Wordshaker on line Book Club choice that we are reading currently and discussing on October 6.  It’s not to late to join in and read along with us!   I received a box of signed books for giveaway from the author this week!  (WOO HOO!!!) Which will go up for giveaway as we get closer to review time.  Those who are reading along are automatically given a bonus entry in the upcoming giveaway.

That’s my week!  I even took a nap this afternoon so I am ready to come and visit you all this time around and cant wait to see what you have been reading!  Be sure to leave the link to your Monday What Are You Reading post by entering where it says “click here” below.

I hope you all have an incredible week with books and audio that take you on wonderful adventures!  😀


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Minnesota/ Wisconsin Book Blogger Meet Up

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)40 Comments

Myself and Reagan from Miss Remmer’s Reviews are planning to attend the Twin Cities Book Festival on October 16th and we thought this would be a wonderful time for any book bloggers in the area to meet up.  We are still working out the details and  Reagan (Miss Remmer’s) is looking into hotel prices today as well as area bookish happenings…. but the basics for now is this:

Rain Taxi proudly announces the TENTH annual

TWIN CITIES BOOK FESTIVAL

Saturday, October 16, 2010

10:00 am to 5:00 pm

Minneapolis Community & Technical College,
conveniently located in Downtown Minneapolis.
Click here for directions and map

Spectacular Authors   *   All-Day Exhibit   *   Used Book Sale
Children’s Pavilion   *   Great Panel Discussions   *   Lit Mag Fair

We are thinking of getting together the evening of the 15th for dinner with those who are able to join us, and then attending the Book Festival on Saturday the 16th.  We can gather together again to go and see other area bookstores and more and for those who do not wish to head back home until Sunday morning we will be staying a second night.

If you are interested in this please email me at journeythroughbooks@gmail.com and I will send you more information as it comes available.   If you know of any Book Bloggers who are in this area please let them know about this meet up.  It would be fun to meet some of you!

Here is a link to what is happening so far in the Book Festival.