Category: Book Stuff

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)108 Comments

What another Monday?  Where did my weekend go?  😀

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:

Cassandra – Words On Paper

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 had a pretty awesome weekend, even if it did go by fast!  😀  My friend Wendy started doing Group Power with me (yay!) and it is so much more fun to have someone to go with.  I went to a bridal shower, drove to a nearby town and hung out in the shops, completed a couple of books, and celebrated my 23rd anniversary.  (I know – holy smokes right?)

We had the weekend Book Extravaganza, which was so much fun and if you have a few minutes to read the responses to my question where I encouraged people who entered to share a little known fact about themselves then I really encourage you to do so.  I was amazed!   I even laughed a couple of times (sorry Ryan but that is FUNNY stuff!) (and Lynne – WOW!  Super cool!)  You can see who won this giveaway here.


Ok so here is what went down here this last week:


A little recap of my bookclubs last years Queen Event (and why we do it)

Author Chat with John Betcher, author of The Missing Element (Minnesota mystery author discusses his newest book – and it sounds GOOD!)

The Bookies 2010 Queen Event (I love my book club!  See the pics of who was crowned Queen!)

Born Under A Million Shadows by Andrea Busfield (wow – this book was really good!!)

Author Chat with Andrea Busfield (author of Born Under A Million Shadows – who a this lady has seen it all in Afghanistan!)

Blog Survey Results (thanks everyone who participated – the results were fun and interesting!)

Author Chat with Beth Solheim (what a great lady – and a great book!)

The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold (the books, the audio, the movie – what I loved, what was… not so much)

The Weekend Book Extravaganza (oh seriously – you have to HAVE to read these comments!)

The Evolution of Shadows by Jason Quinn Malott (review this week)

The Accidental Adult by Colin Sokolowski (review this week)

Between Sisters by Kristen Hannah (review this week)

Auf Wieberschen by Christa Holden Ocker ( finishing up this read)


Ok I chatted with a few authors last week but did not get a lot of my reviews posted – that’s my goal for this week!  😀

Here is what I am serving up this week for reads:

Yes this delicious looking book was on last weeks agenda and I did not get to it.  Why?  Well…. look below.

Vicki at Reading At The Beach had a wonderful review on this book.  I was kind of in a weekend slump where my books I  was reading weren’t really doing it for me.  I seen this review and called my book store and they held the last copy for me.  I am flying through this and will have a review and author Claire Cook has already confirmed she would love to come and chat with us here!  Woo Hoo!  😀

Reading this one as part of a read A Long at 30+ A Lifetime of Books.  I am excited to get going on this!

I was on Twitter the other night and a few bloggers were discussing doing this as a group and I thought it sounded like a blast!  We are not starting until August 1st but I want to read up on it this week and prepare myself 🙂

My week should be pretty good for reading and hopefully catching up on the reviews that I need to.  I am planning a trip to the cabin with some friends this next weekend which will allow for reading (at least a bit) which makes me very happy!  😀

I am so thrilled to see what all of you are reading.  Enter the link to your Monday What Are You Reading below where it says Click Here.  Thanks and have a wonderful week of awesome reads!  😀

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The Bookies 2010 Book and Queen Event

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)48 Comments

I am so proud of my book club.  If you have been reading this blog for any amount of time you probably know that.  Most of us have been together in this group for the past 7 or 8 years.  A few of us, have been there the entire time – it will be 10 years of Bookies in August.  That’s 120 book club meetings.  That’s 120 book club book choices and 120 book club books read.

The Royal "Throne"

Every July we have a free read month.  July is so busy in Minnesota, the weather is finally pretty reliable, people have weddings, and family gatherings, weekends at the lake, camping, fishing. grilling…. anyway, we do not have a mandatory read in July.  Just read what you want and share at the event.  And so, that being said, here is what The Bookies read and recommend :

Columbine by Dave Cullen – recommended by Sharon

Rise and Shine by Anna Quindlen – recommended by Kaydi

The Chesapeake Bay Series by Nora Roberts – recommended by Amy M

The House Of Dark Shadows Series by Robert Liparulo – recommended by Amy P (reading with her young teen daughter)

The Chronicles Of The Kings Series by Lynn Austin – recommended by Lori P

Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer – recommended by Angie

What To Expect When You Are Expecting – recommended by Jodi (our going to be new mama member!)

Loving Frank by Nancy Horan – recommended by Jodi

We ate and laughed and talked books.  What to read, what to skip…. We talked movies and summer plans.  And we sat ina beautiful yard just enjoying the company.

Another great year and event – we crowned our new Queen Lori (see that picture in my morning post -it’s awesome!).

Bookies Queen Event July 2010

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)124 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:

Kristen – Bookworming in the 21st Century

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

It really has been quite the week around here.  I was not overly busy on the home front so was able to get a bit of reading in AND get my work outs back on track.  I already can feel my energy level going up!  😀  Here’s what bookish things  happened this past week:


Author Chat with Lauren Oliver, author of Before I Fall (SQUEEEEEE!!!)

I am Registered for BBAW – Book Blogger Appreciation Week

At Witt’s End by Beth Solheim – review of a cozy mystery written by a Minnesota author

Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler – book review – and ooh, what a review!

Step On A Crack by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge – Audio review

Deliver Us From Evil by David Baldacci, available for giveaway in Hard Cover, and in Audio format.

Word Shaker On line Book Club has been dusted off, tuned up – and is finally ready to go!  What are we reading?  Check it out!

Born Under A Million Suns by Andrea Busfield (review coming up this week)

D U F F by Kody Keplinger (review coming this week)

Between Sisters by Kristen Hannah (still reading)

I am feeling good at this pace.  I have petty much given up on Summer TV (I can never find anything on anyway) so my reading in the evenings has increased and I am really enjoying it! So whats brewing this week?  PLENTY of EXCITING STUFF!!!

A World War II story told through the eyes of a young German Girl.

A pink apron came with this review book…. I am thinking I may have to wear the apron and make some cupcakes for this review

My conversations with this author alone have been funny – I am curious to see what this book has in store…

I have to admit, this book scares me a little.  I am a huge animal lover and I just have this feeling that this one is going to be good, but also pull at my heart-strings.  This review will also have a giveaway of a copy of this book.

Oh, and watch this weekend for Bookworming in the 21st Centuries Book Extravaganza – I am participating and think it will be a lot of fun!  😀

As if the books are not going to be a fun enough week, Tuesday is also my book clubs annual Queen Event and I am so excited!  We dress up in formal wear and have speeches of why we should be Queen.  (This is out of the book Same Sweet Girls by Cassandra King).  We potluck and have a blast!  I am the reining Queen and I will be passing on my crown, scepter and throne (which is a gold spray painted port a potty because that is just how classy we are! 😀 )  I love my book club and I can not wait to see what talents we have this year!  **Watch the Wednesday post for the recap of this event!

Books I won and am giving away at our Bookies Queen Event - they each come with a Dairy Queen Gift certificate! Oh.... and whats that t shirt I am wearing? That would be my Edward from Twilight T shirt I won from I'd So Rather Be Reading Blog

Ok – enough chatter – I am ready to see what you are reading this Monday!  Please enter your link where it says “click here” and I as well as hopefully many of the other wonderful Monday memers will stop in to say hi and peek at your books!  😀

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Word Shakers : Sept. book Read – Open to Participants

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)41 Comments


Word shakers on-line book club is back on.  The plan – a book will be announced here every six weeks.  There will be a sign up form if you are interested in taking a part in the discussion that will go along with the book.  Questions will be emailed out to the participants to answer and email back.  Parts of the responses may be used in the post of the book review, as well as a Linky set up to link all your reviews too.  *You do not have to be a blogger to participate in this book club.

If you have already read the book you are still welcome to join in.  A six-week window will be given for each book to give participants enough time to secure the book and read it.  If you would like to be included in a mailing group that will be notified each time a new read is announced, leave me a comment below saying so and I will add you to the group.  (*You do not need to post your email, I receive it with every comment)

Where did word shakers come from?  I read a lovely book called The book Thief, and if you have not read it I highly recommend it.  There is a part in the book when one of the characters writes a story involving a word shaker.  The whole story is beautiful, and if you have the opportunity to read even the word shaker part of the book it is pages 445-450.  The part that touches me deeply is:

THE BEST word shakers were the ones who understood the true power of words.  They were the ones who could climb the highest .  One such word shaker was a small, skinny girl.  She was renowned as the best word shaker of her region because she knew how powerless a person could be without words.

I think this one touches me so because I am a word lover, much like many of you, and therefore – we are all word shakers.

Join me for this months read:  The Wife’s Tale by Lori Lansens

Use the  form here to sign up for this read:

Fill Out Form

Reviews will be posted by:  October 6,2010

Other On line book clubs I am aware of:  (if you know of others, let me know and  I will gladly add the link here)

Care’s OnLine Book Club: TBA

With A Good Book:  TBA

Morning Meanderings…

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)44 Comments


College son Justin is home for the summer from College.  This is my first year experiencing this but it’s not like he is “home” like he used to be home when he lived here under our care and parent guidanceship (yes, my word – a ship… sometimes like a cruise ship, other times like the titanic).   He has a job and his friends and a lot of times we see each other in passing – one or the other of us coming or going, but that’s about it.

So that is why – I share with you my witty journalist sons text conversation we had earlier yesterday:

J:  Miss chatting with you.  May I take you out to lunch Friday?

Me:  Wow!  Yes!

J:  I’ll have my people call your people with the details.

Me:  Excellent.  My people will be thrilled.


Yup, that’s the way we role.  texting, Facebook, email….. when it comes to my kids I communicate any way I can 😀

Yesterday I rollerbladed with my friend Wendy 24 miles.  Not a typo.  24 miles.  I have never gone that far on blades before and as we “rolled” back into town I decided it was about 4 miles to many!  😀  A little sore, but ehhh…. it was fun to hang out on a beautiful evening.

Have a great day everyone – I have more to chat about, but it will have to wait until tomorrows meanderings…  (hint – I came across a few book related read a longs that sound fun, and have a couple of book recommendations as well).

Mine are a little cooler than this 🙂

Book Blogger Appreciation Week (BBAW)

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)17 Comments

Ok – I bit the bullet…. or perhaps the book binding in this case, and registered for BBAW.  I love the book blogging ♥ community ♥and I am so thrilled that this event takes place each year.

This year, as the team that makes BBAW possible is working to always improve, they have set it up  that if you want to be considered for a category – you must nominate yourself.

*Gulp*  (this is where the biting of the book binding comes in…)

BBAW is a wonderful way to appreciate all the wonderful bloggers out there.  I had so much fun last year just joining in on all the happenings.  So now as we near the deadline to enter, I am officially in.  The categories I entered are:

Niche Category:  Best Eclectic Book Blog—This blog doesn’t specialize in any one book genre. It is known for consistently excellent reviews, recommendations, analysis, and other content in a variety of genres

Here are the 5 posts I entered for consideration of this category:

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

Columbine by Dave Cullen

Hotel On The Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford

The Mercy Seller by Brenda Ruchman Vantrease

Morning Meanderings… Bookaholic


Best Written Book Blog—This blog is consistently well-written, clear, and engaging, no matter what the subject. [Note that nominated bloggers for this award are required to submit 3 reviews, recommendations, or analyses of a specific title; 2 are up to the nominated blogger.


The Carpet Boys Gift byPegi Deitz Shea

Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

It’s My Blogiversary!

Vampires, Werewolves, Seamonsters…. and me


Best Author Interviews—This blogger does his or her research and asks the questions no one else does. These interviews are top-notch. Note that this award reflects the quality of the interviews, not the popularity of the person being interviewed. [Note that nominated bloggers for this award are required to submit 4 interviews; 1 post is left to their discretion.]


Donna Woolfork Cross – Author Of Pope Joan

Jay Asher – Author of Thirteen Reasons Why

Sarah Pekkanen – Author of Opposite Of Me

Kay Cassidy – Author of The Cinderella Society

Lauren Oliver – Author of Before I Fall

Tomorrow, July 7th is the deadline to register your blog.  Even if you are not interested in putting your blog in the ring for an award, you can still register to have your blog added to the Directory of Book Blogs.  You can link to the information here.

Morning Meanderings… (tweek tweek tweeking)

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)25 Comments


Bear (bare?) with me….. I am tweaking again.  Tweak, tweak, tweak…. I should have never taken yesterday off from work because that gave me time to chill…. and blog, and visit… and think.  Thinking…can be dangerous.  So I came up with a couple of ideas (tweak, tweak)… ways to perk up the reviews (tweak), ways to do vamp up my author chats (tweak), and ways to announce the books I would love to read (TWEAK TWEAK TWEAK) It’s like a geiger counter.  😀

So one those notes (or tweaks) please hang in there with me the next few days.  I have a lot of posts I am working on implementing and  I am trying to pace them so my lovely (and appreciated –did I mention you are all appreciated?) readers do not go on blog overdose – leaving me here holding the smoking keyboard…..

Monday was awesome – I took the day off of work – unplugged my business mind but fully engaged (see tweak conversation above) my creative bloggy side.  E gads!  I got my hair cut, roller bladed, relaxed on my deck with lap top, then book, then lap top, then book, and a diet root beer.

I hope to post over the next few days: reviews (always), author chat (at least one this week but hoping to increase the amount of these I do – tweak tweak), BBAW post (must have up today – tomorrow at the latest!), WordShakers Book Club Reactivated (goal for this week peeps – bare (bear?) with me. )

Ok – I must go to work….   Thanks everyone for taking time to chat with this occasionally crazy (tweak tweak) Minnesota girl!  😀

Oh and P.S…. just kidding about the bears 😉

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)101 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:

Sherrie – Just Books

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

We had a wonderfully full weekend hanging out with friends, riding motorcycle, picnic, parade and hanging with friends again.  The weather was sunny and clear and I had a blast.  In “bookish” type news – here is what went down here this past week:

The Secrets Of Newberry Giveaway – 3 books!!!

Guest House by Barbara Richardson (A read of life changes and possibilities)

Remember Your First Time? (The books you wish you could read again like the first time…)

The Missing Element by John Betcher (A Minnesota mystery!)

Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler (review coming soon)

DUFF by Kody Keplinger (review coming soon)

Evolution Of Shadow by Jason Quinn Malot (review coming soon)

Step On A Crack by James Patterson (review coming soon)

I had a pretty good reading week and spent most evenings readings instead of blogging, twittering, or tv time.  It was actually really nice to just – read.  This week I am working on a few reads I need to finish up but I am also starting:

This was the “Choose The Next Book I Read” Giveaway, so once I am done with this one I will pass it on.

Born Under a Million Shadows is a library read that I am eager to get into!

I am taking today off from work this week – a little breather from the heavier load we have been carrying in the office lately and I plan on spending my morning seeing what you are all reading on Monday!  Please add your link to your Monday Reading post below where it says “click here”.

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Oh and one more thing – the deadline is approaching fast to register for BBAW (Book Blogger Appreciation Week).  You wont want to miss out on this fun event that will take place in September – however registration closes July 7th! Link to it here:

Morning Meanderings…

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)48 Comments

Happy Fourth of July Everyone!  I hope you are all having a wonderful weekend.  We had a gorgeous Saturday here and we went biking (motor – biking) with friends.  It was a great stress reliever and nice time for Al and I just to get away for an afternoon.

I came home Saturday happy and extremely warm.  I finished up two books I have been reading and wrapped up an audio as well.  Reviews will be coming up over the next few days.  Not a lot to say this morning as I have an early commitment today – but have a safe and happy 4th everyone!  😀

Al and I, July 3, 2010

Remember Your First Time?

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)50 Comments


I was recently reading a review on a book that I have ♥ LOVED  ♥ and I was actually envious of the reader.  I wanted to be them, opening that treasured book, innocently going in to the pages having no idea….

you are about to change forever.

Do you remember your first time?  What was “that book” for you?  The one that gripped you and hung on tight, and kept you up at night, trying to sleep but not being able to because you couldn’t wait to have that book in your hands again… almost not wanting to share the characters with anyone as you become this jealous reader type version of who you used to be…

Ok… maybe it’s not that bad.  😉

The question is – what book do you wish you could go back and read again like it was the first time?