Category: Book Stuff

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)98 Comments

Another Monday!  They just keep coming don’t they?  🙂  I would say I had a pretty fair week…. I am back to working out and making time for reading as well.  All is well once again with my world.

I am ready for this week and hope you are too!  Thank you as always to those of you who went out to visit other Monday What Are You Reading posts last week and left comments.  My wish is always that not only do you pick up on some great books, but also some great bloggers!   Last weeks winner (out of those of you who told me in the comments how many blogs you commented on – 1 entry for ever 10) using Random.org is:

L Y N N E

Congratulations!  You get to choose an item out of the Prize Box !  Let me know your pick here as well as email me at journeythroughbooks (at) gmail (dot) com with your mailing address!


Here is a brief update of this last week for me:


Waking Up In The Land Of Glitter by Kathy Cano-Murillo (book review)

The Next Thing on My List by Jill Smolinski (book review – and book club review)

Three New books for giveaways (check them out!)

Cold Streak by Lewis Aleman (book review)

Oh Snap!  Guess What I Got? (My Library Sale post and an opportunity for you to grab one of these books for yourself!)


This Week’s Plan…


Have you heard of this book?  It starts with chapter 12 and works backwards through the story.  I don’t know how to describe it well but I am flying through this read!


I am so beyond pumped about this book!  It has been on my shelf too long and this week I am going to enjoy sinking into the pages of this high adventure!


Another book I am extremely excited about.  This book is the true story of the difference one family made by making the decision to live with half of what they had.  Even typing about it now makes me want to start on this book right away.  I have a feeling it will remind me a little of the Kingdom Project ( a huge pay it forward book) that spoke volumes to me about 6 years ago.


So that’s mine – can’t wait to read about yours!  Be sure to link to the McLinky here – he has been very user-friendly.  Also – if you are out visiting fellow Monday memer’s be sure to stop back this way and let me know how many so I can count you in for the drawing for next week.  One entry per every ten and you have all week to do this.

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Have a wonderful week everyone!  May your reading choices be everything you had hoped for!

Oh Snap! Guess what I got? *Win one of these books!*

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)110 Comments


Definition of addiction:

  • being abnormally tolerant to and dependent on something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming
  • an abnormally strong craving

Uhhhhh……  yes.  My name is Sheila and I have a book addiction.

I mentioned earlier this week that our Library had its spring sale on Thursday.  I went.  I waited in line.  I saw.  I purchased.

At 50 cents a book – seriously how can I resist?  You as fellow book lovers must understand the draw….  the craving to be with books, to socialize with bookish people who understand when you lay down a bookish quote…


Anyone can speak Troll, all you have to do is point and grunt.  (Fred Weasley – Harry Potter Series)

Prejudices, it is well known, are most difficult to eradicate from the heart whose soil has never been loosened or fertilised by education: they grow there, firm as weeds among stones.  (Jane Eyre)

But it’s no use going back to yesterday, because I was a different person then.  – Alice In Wonderland
“That’s exactly the kind of topic Haymitch told me to steer clear of.” – Hunger Games

Oh – but I digress.  I am actually here to post what I picked up at the Library sale:


Some of these I already have – Barbara’ Walters Audition I do have here in my home, but would like a copy at our cabin.  This is a great pick up and read a little bit book.

Will To Murder is about the Congdon Mansion murders that took place in Duluth Minnesota. I have toured the mansion many times and have read the books surrounding this hideous crime. I have a copy of this at the cabin as I like to keep Minnesota history there – but I do not have a copy here at home.

Mirror Mirror by Gregory Maguire, I have, but like to have copies to give away.  Gregory Maguire to me, was the author who started the deeper look into background characters of the stories we grew up with and writing their own stories.  I think this was just a brilliant idea.

Ted Deckker’s Boneman’s Daughter I have on the TBR shelf – but for 50 cents I can not pass up an additional copy to give away at some point.  Perhaps when I read and review the book…

Of course the Nora Robers Dance Upon The Air and Face The Fire are part of the Three Sisters Trilogy that I am always picking up when I find them.  This is a series that I love and hold dear to my heart and grab copies whenever I can find them to pass on to those who have not experienced these books.


The rest are a mix of Minnesota authors to try, a little bit of cover love, author recognition, or just a book I would like to read.


Comment here on which book you would enjoy and why and I will have a drawing out of the comments on Friday March 19.  The winners book of choice will be read as soon as I possibly can and then I will mail it on to them.  (Please USA and Canada only for this one)

In your comment you must let me know which book you would like out of this group and why.

Cold Streak by Lewis Aleman

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)20 Comments

Enter Laura’s world…

Her family is brutally murdered, and she finds herself on her knees praying for things she never could have imagined. Her dark journey of revenge takes off as she hunts her family’s killers, while being chased down by a troubled detective, his lovelorn partner, and an inner voice that grants her no peace. Her quest lures her through an explosive music scene, down unlit alleyways, to the edge of a towering church rooftop, and into the nightmarish landscape of her own mind. Will she get her justice before time runs out? Will her own lust for vengeance consume all that is left of her in the process.

°          °          °          °          °          °          °

Lewis Aleman has written a book that by looks, I thought I would breeze through this 268 page book in a few sittings.  Once inside the mind of Lewis – I discovered I was wrong and I would be here awhile basking in deep intelligent writing and a read that was a wild – frightening ride into the mind of Lewis’s created character, Laura.

I don’t read much of this genre.  It is a stretch for me but it is one I embrace as I like to try new styles of reads and see how they fit.  What drew me to this book was the fact that Laura was a mother.  She had a family – and that family was taken away.  And through this knowledge you enter the mind of a desperate woman.

Detective Anduras and his partner Irene’s arguments provided a lighter side to this read that cold easily have become heavy if not for the inner working of this duo.

A suspenseful read, I found myself caught up in the grief that was Laura – having lost her husband and children to a horrible murder she seeks revenge on those who did it.  While a bit graphic at times, I felt Lauras’ heavy grief and maybe part of that is the reason I did not fly through this book.  It took time to settle into that grief and follow Laura through a journey that only she could take.

At times the scenes were a bit gory for my taste, but other than that I found the book to be impressively engrossing and intelligently written.

Lewis Aleman is the author of the time travel thriller, Faces in Time, and the dark literary thriller, Cold Streak, which became an Amazon Bestseller, a Kindle Bestseller, and #1 in Myspace Books. He graduated from Louisiana State University with a degree in Creative Writing. He grew up and still resides just outside of New Orleans. Currently, he is fast at work on the first book in a realistic fantasy series, entitled A Brother, A Drunkard, and Something Odd.
Besides writing, Lewis Aleman also enjoys playing guitar, restoring/hot rodding cars, working out, reading, website design, and recording music.

**  You may have seen this post at Book Chick City’s Blog where I guest posted for her last week 🙂

I received my copy of this book from author Lewis Aleman

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)89 Comments

What a week!  I have been so busy all week and my reading really did suffer.  It took me through Saturday to get around to all of you and see what you are reading.  Seeing what you are reading is one of my favorite things to do each week!  Hopefully this week I will be able to dig deeper into my reading as I have some good GREAT reads waiting for me!

Thank you to those who came back and let me know that you commented on 10 or more Monday, What Are You Reading posts last week.  I love the community part of this meme!  Remember – for every 10 you comment on and then tell me in the comment area below, I put you in for our weekly drawing out of the prize box!  (10 comments = 1 entry, 20 = 2 entries, etc…)

Here is last weeks winner (using random.org):

Laurel

Congratulations!  You get to choose an item out of the Prize Box !  Let me know your pick here as well as email me at journeythroughbooks (at) gmail (dot) com with your mailing address!

Here is my last week in review:

The Beautiful Dead by Eden Maguire

A fun Post:  Where I see Myself In 10 years

The Lightning Thief Book VS Movie (and even a place to rant about either or both)

Judging a Book By It’s….. Title

Still by Greg Budig

Life Lessons From A Horse Whisperer by Dr. Lew Sterrett

I am still working my way through the Michael Sullivan trio of books and hope to be able to report on them next weekend.  Added to this weeks plan is my book club read due for tomorrows discussion:

June Parker’s life is meandering along until a freak car accident leaves Marissa, her 24-year-old passenger, dead and June wracked with guilt. June discovers a list Marissa had been keeping of 25 things she wanted to do by the time she turned 25. After a run-in with Marissa’s brother, June resolves to complete the list. Kissing a total stranger and throwing away her scale prove far easier than pitching an idea at work or changing someone’s life. But June approaches the list with aplomb, daring to speak up about being passed over for a manager position, and becoming a Big Sister to a quiet, studious Latina teen named DeeDee. But when June uncovers a secret of DeeDee’s, she realizes changing someone else’s life might involve changing her own as well.

This one will be fun to review and we have some fun ideas to do with this book.  Stay tune this week for the review and what the Bookies thought of the book!

I am excited to see what you are reading this week!  Be sure to link up to McLinky so we can stop in and see you – and don’t forget to come back and let me know how many what are you reading posts you commented if you want to be entered in next weeks contest!  🙂


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10 Years From Now…

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)31 Comments

I am hopping around this Saturday minding my own business when I hop my way over to Slighty More Than Dirt and find Alissa’s post on where we see ourselves 10 years from now.  Now I want to play too.

This is why blog hopping is dangerous.

When it comes to where I would like to be living in 10 years that one is easy.  I will just live here:


Ok… so maybe I am dreaming just a bit but I have always wanted to live some place warm year around and on a secluded beach.  I really value my alone time and I just want to have days of reading and hopefully writing in a cozy little cottage such as this….

I would love for there to be a room in this house like this:

Or this….

(except for the dude…. I don’t know how he got in there unless he is Al in 10 years.  Al?  Is that you)?

As for the where exactly…. that is yet to be determined but the idea has been tossed around maybe in this area:


This is more my dream…. Al would like to live in Florida but I think he would like to be more towards Orlando.

There has also been some talk of possibly living here:

No joke – that’s Honduras.  I am not sure yet if I would want to live there full-time but we have talked about maybe someday spending 3 or 4 months there a year.

If we are in a warm climate year around this would be my vehicle of choice:

and hopefully I would still be fit enough to continue the bike tours that I love on this:

And I would really like to be at this point in my life:

Ok ok…. maybe that’s a bit “shoot for the moon” but I would like to realistically be here:

Yes.  I have always wanted to be a writer.  Many …many ideas.  Just need to get moving.  🙂

Oh and as much as I love alone time…. my 10 year plan still looks like this:

Yes – in my ten-year plan there is still the non fiction super hero of my life, Al.  ♥

If you would like to ponder over where you see yourself in 10 years and post about it – please link back to Slightly More Than Dirt we can all check out the ten-year plan!  🙂

What’s In A Name?

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)45 Comments


Ok….. I need your advice.

When I started book blogging I really didnt even know that was what I was doing.  I had started recording my book thought on line in a blog format – pretty much as record keeping for me.  People finding my writing was not only rare but a little spooky.  My blog traffic in those early days was maybe 2 or 3 a week.

It wasn’t until June of 2009 that I received a comment on my blog that I clicked on to see where they came from which led me down the proverbial rabbit trail to a book blog and to another and to another….. and I found my “people”.  The rest is history…

When I started blogging, or at the time, I would call it book journalism, I wasn’t thinking  about blog traffic, marketing, promotions, connecting with others,…..  so I really did not put a lot of thought into the name of this “journal”:

One Persons Journey Through A World Of Books

(holy mouthful batman!)

Now as I am preparing to go to BEA this year, and have been thinking of ways to better promote what I do here…. the name has come to grate on me. It is  sooooooo Loooooonnnnggggg.  However what I need to know is if it worth it to shorten it up or will I just create confusion?

My Twitter name is Bookjourney so I have tossed that around.  Journey Through Books is my email.  I really don’t want to lose the name recognition if and when I do decide to change.  I just want something easier to say and easier to remember as I go forward.  My blog is growing and I want it to not only be memorable but also as user-friendly as possible.

Are you picking up what I am putting down?  🙂


I am interested in your thoughts.

Is it a bad idea to change your blog name?

If its not bad, any thoughts on what it should be?

How to go about it?  (I am guessing just keep it simple…)

Advice and tips are welcome as I ponder on this ……

Judging A Book By It’s….. Title or Author

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)48 Comments


We have hashed our way through conversations of judging a book by its cover.  Been there… done that… still happening…

BUT – today my question is what about the title or cover.  Have you ever passed on a book because of its title?  Or because of the author?  OR… have you picked up a book because of the title or author?

I have two examples of skipping (or almost skipping) books because of titles.  One I talked about a week ago when I linked on to Home Girl’s Blog and her subject on book confessions.  The book I talked about there was Leave It To Cleavage by Wendy Wax.  If it were not for my book club it would have been a no to me on both accounts.  No to the title…. and the authors name just added to my resounding no.  Well – I did read the book for book club and found it to be a light, clean, chick lit read that did make me laugh.

Judgement #2 was Good In Bed By Jennifer Weiner.  This one I did not read…. because of the title.  The book club did read it and said it was a wonderful book and had a good story to it about an overweight woman struggling with body image.

As for judging a book by its author, Lori in my book club would not read Nora Roberts.  Thought she was a terrible author and had no interest in her books.  I told Lori she had to read the The Three Sisters Trilogy by Nora….  at least book one, Dance Upon The Air.  She begrudgingly did – and loved all three of the books in this series.

So how about you?  Have you judged a book by its title or author?

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)107 Comments

Sorry for the lateness of this post.  This week is our quarterly serving week with the homeless in our community and tonight I am staying overnight with them.  I just now had time to get this post up and going.  Tomorrow I will be able to catch up and visit all of you who link to this meme!  🙂

My week had started out strong but as I got to the end of it life took over with appointments and “must do’s” and those procrastination things that waited and waited until finally I gave in and did them.


First things first – thanks you to those who came back and let me know that you commented on 10 or more Monday, What Are You Reading posts.  I love the community part of this meme!  :) Remember – for every 10 you comment on and then tell me in the comment area below, I put you in for our weekly drawing out of the prize box!  (10 comments = 1 entry, 20 = 2 entries, etc…)

It is time to announce  last weeks winner (using random.org):

AMY

Congratulations!  You get to choose an item out of the Prize Box !  Let me know your pick here as well as email me at journeythroughbooks (at) gmail (dot) com with your mailing address!


Here is what happened here at OPJTAWOB last week:

The round table discussion of Wounded by Claudia Mair Burney (I had so much fun being a part of this!)

Author Chat with Jay Asher (Thirteen Reasons Why) (Can I just get a squeal up in here?  This was a fun interview!)

I Confess ( a fun little book confession meme where I *cough cough* share an embarrassing book related story)

Hooray for BEA! (A giddy little post on this upcoming event that has me seriously doing cartwheels!)

Penguin Luck by Kay Mupetson (hmmmm….. an unusual book but a good one)

Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane (flashback review to a book I LOVE LOVE LOVED)

Merlins Harp by Anne Eliot Crompton (Review of this fantasy read)

Undress Me In The Temple Of Heaven by Susan Jane Gillman (a review of real like happenings!)

Always My Brother by Jean Reagan (a breathtaking read for young children about loss of a sibling)

This week I have a busy week of serving with the homeless in our area.  I am a coordinator for this week so I will be assisting in some way shape or form almost every day so this will cut a bit onto my time.  Also – Al is back home as of the wee hours of this Monday morning (can I get a hollar?).  That being said here is my hopefully doable plan:

I am in this book currently….. and all I can say right now is….. whoa….

Up next….

and this is the third… but not the end…. there are three more books to follow and I am fascinated!

And this is one is up for tour this Thursday


I cant wait to see what you are reading this week!  Be sure to link up below so we can all check out your reads – and stop back with your comment counts to be entered in the weekly comment giveaway (10 = 1 entry, 2 = 20, etc…)


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Morning Meanderings…

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)24 Comments

Good morning!  I had a great time last night when two of my girlfriends came over to have chicken fajitas and watch a  movie with me.  They are so fun!  We celebrated my birthday since I was traveling during that time in February and they surprised me with a pedicure certificate!

I just love those friends that you can talk about anything with – and that’s what I have in these two.  I think we all seriously laughed until we cried.  We talked, watched funny YouTube commercials, ate great food – and lots of chocolate!  (Yikes!)  After the movie we talked and talked  until almost midnight.

This morning I am still smiling with coffee cup in hand and so thankful for friends like these.

Moving on – this morning I have a baby shower to go to and then I think I am going to leave the day commitment free.  I am extremely tired right now after having a few really busy days in a row.  Tomorrow it will start up again as I prepare for our week of serving the homeless in our area.

Tomorrow morning I will set up the rooms for the guests to stay in, and then after Church my friend Karol and I are going to go do the shopping for the staples they will need through the week.  At 4:30 I will be back there to stay overnight and then by the time I come home at 8 am on Monday – AL will be back home!  🙂  WOO HOO!

So yeah…. even as I write this I am thinking uh…. yeah….. take it easy today, the rest of the week is going to be nuts. The book that will be joining my weekend is The Crown Conspiracy by Michael Sullivan.

I want to mention really quick here that I have signed up over at Galleysmith for the Literary Road Trip.  What Michelle has going on is that you can link to her fun meme of reading authors from your state and then each week she will link your  Road Trip Posts to her blog.  I called dibs on Minnesota!  I have a few books waiting for review that are Minnesota Authors.   Anyway – go check it out, your state may still be available.  🙂

Any big weekend plans for you?  What book will be joining you?

I Confess….

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)41 Comments

This morning I seen this fun post to link to over at Home Girl’s Blog.  I had a busy day and had no time to do anything with it until now…. but I do have a funny story to share about a book.

A couple years ago my book club voted our book choice to be a book called Leave It To Cleavage by Wendy Wax.  I was horrified.  So many good books out there to read and this, this is what gets voted in. Not only did the title make me feel a little uneasy…. so did the author’s name.

I ordered my copy from our local book store and when it came in they called me and I went in to pick it up.  I made sure I was alone at the counter and told them they had a book for me under my name.  The man at the counter went and looked through a pile of books and in a loud voice said, “Oh, do you mean Leave It To Cleavage?”

In a small voice I respond, “mmmm hhhmmmm…. that’s the one.”

He brings me the books and proceeds to tell me that there was a big write-up in the Minneapolis paper about that book just that day and it was a rave review.  I pay for the book and quickly head out the door.

Turns out, the book was actually a funny lite read and not at all what I was thinking it might be.  It kind of reminds me of an early Evanovich style of read.  I confess I was guilty of not only of  judging a book by its title but also, I judged the author by her name.  To this day my book club still harasses me a little bit for my over reaction to this book.