It is Monday! I am currently reading my book club book that is up for review tomorrow, Home For The Holidays beRebecca Kelly. This will also make it on to my Holiday Reading Challenge! Tomorrow is our 100th book club meeting! Any suggestions for something cool to do? It is our Christmas potluck meeting and I am bringing a cake to celebrate the big 100 but have been racking my brain for months for a reasonably priced something to give each of them to commemorate this milestone! I am currently thinking book marks….
ANYWAY…. 😉
Here is the reading plan for this week:
Yup there is a theme here. Working on the Christmas spirit so have pulled out three Christmas related books that will hopefully push me in the right direction since so far I really am not there (I don’t even have my tree up yet).
A Blue and Gray Christmas by Joan Medlicott
What a Christmas! by B R Roberts
Secrets of a Christmas Box by S Hornby
and for a book tour on Wednesday…
Gringo’s In Paradise: Our Honduras Odyssey by Malana Ashlie (chosen to read becuase of my Honduras experiences)
Over the weekend I was reading two of the books that were on my list for last weeks post and suddenly just felt that I needed a break. This resulted in my pulling Harry Potter and The Sorcerer’s Stone off the shelf and curling up with the old friend I found within the pages.
**Reminder that on Dec 20th we will be reviewing and discussing The Heretic’s Daughter for the online book club, Word Shakers. All are welcome to join in! Let me know in a comment and I will be sure to include you in the email questions.
How about you? What are you reading this week? Be sure to link your post up over at J Kaye’s Blog so we can all stop over and see!
Ooh…. I am a little later than usual. I am trying to break a habit of getting up and on non office days (like today) not hanging out on the computer for the first three hours of my day and then rushing to get everything done that I have procrastinated on. One of the big things for me is my workout. I take a Group Power Class on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. It is weight lifting to great music and I love the class. On Mondays they offer is at 8:15 am, and at 12:15 pm. I am trying to breakbreaking the habit of going to the noon class and getting back on track with the 8:15 am one.
So – that was my delay this morning. Now I am back and with Coffee Cup, I wanted to share this morning what I think are great Christmas Gifts for the bookish people on that list. Here are some things that I think are super fab….
For that someone who is a game board junky this is a fun twist on Monolopy called Bookopoly! With thngs to buy and fun facts about books and authors – oh, I am excited just talking about it!
Yup – Trivial Pursuit Book Edition is another win for the book lover!
Like to have something to keep track of all those book recommendations so next time you do to the book store or library you are not fumbling with, “now what was that title again?” This great little binded book inspired by library check out cards is just what the book lover ordered!
Love this (in fact after I seen it I had to order it!) Areas to jot down notes, record meeting dates, member contact info, book rating stickers and more! Oh man… I really like this one!
Love this banned books bracelet!
A great start for the pre teen reader is your life… book suggestions, invitations, book marks and even an online component!
I have heard good things about this reference book on how to write good reviews.
For discerning bibliophiles and readers who enjoy unforgettable classic literature, 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die is a trove of reviews covering a century of memorable writing.
Any other suggestions? Sometime in the next week I will do book titles that would make great gifts so save those ideas for then….
What an extremely super fab (yes I said super fab) week for the mailbox! A few long awaited treasures made their appearance this week. I am so excited I have to share with you right now! Right now!! 🙂
Thank you to Kristi at Story Siren for this wonderful weekly meme!
Books To Review
The Magicians Book by Laura Miller: Check out that cover! This book is about Laura’s love hate relationship with the Chronicles of Narnia. I am so pro Narnia and CS Lewis, I am curious to read what this is all about. If you are curious too, I have copies of this book to giveaway – enter here!
Primal by Mark Batterson: LOVE Batterson! I have read all of his books and this is one I have waited for anxiously as well. Look for this tour here on December 15.
American Rust by Phillip Meyer: A novel on the restlessness of the Great Depression this books subject matter caught hold of my heart and hasn’t let go. A beautiful hard cover too!
Thirsty by Tracey Bateman: I have read the reviews of this book and I am found so curious I can hardly stand it! A vampire style book written by a Christian author…. cant wait to sink my teeth into it! 😉
The Wonderful Demise of Benjamin Arnold Guppy by Gina Collia-Suzuki: When Gina (the author) approached me to read her book I was unsure what this was about. However reading the brief bit on line I had to say yes so I could know about Benjamin and his wonderful demise.
A Blue and Gray Christmas by Joan Medlicott: YAY! A Christmas read thanks to Pocket books!
Conflicts With Interest by Michael Ruddy: Its a little about gambling… a little about business… a little about lawsuits… and a lot about mystery. Why oh why do I always seem to be hungry for a mystery? I don’t know but I am eager to see if this book can satisfy that hunger.
Collision of Evil by John LeBeau: Another fabulous looking mystery that leaves me with visions of conspiracy just by reading the jacket cover!
Books I won
Saffron Dreams by Shaila Abdullah: Can you hear me squeal with excitement? This book has been on my wish list and then I won it!!! It came directly from the author and it is signed!
Always My Brother by Jean Reagan: Natasha at Maw Books reviewed this lovely book and interviewed author Jean Reagan. There was a contest to win a signed copy of this book and I was one of the winners. I am so excited to review this book and then I am going to donate it to my grade school here in Brainerd, Harrison Elementary.
7th Heaven by James Patterson: Oh yes – I am so into Patterson these days! I won this one and will get tothis after the holidays….
Book Purchases
The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown: I had to do some on line shopping this week and purchased this one off my wish list as a little treat to myself! I loved Davinchi Code and Angels and Demons and can not wait to read this one!
Home For The Holidays by Rebecca Kelly: This is my December book club read AND it will fit nicely into the holiday reading challenge. 🙂
Read, Remember, Recommend: This is for our Christmas book club Christmas gift exchange we will do this coming Tuesday. I found this at Amazon and I LOVE it. Pages of book suggestions, places for notes, books you want lists and books you have loaned. In fact I think I need one for myself!
Climbing The Stairs: This one is on my wish list but it is not for me but sent off how the holiday gift exchange as it was on their wish list too!
Shelf Discovery: Is for the other Christmas exchange I signed up for and this book is on its way to its new home as well.
Holiday Swap Gift!
And last but not least – this week I received The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton! This was sent to me by Helen of Helen’s Book Blog. She was my secret swap aprtner and I love the gift!!!! Love it!
Be sure to stop in at the Story Siren blog and share what you got in your mailbox this week!
I know, I know… like I need another challenge. But it’s Historical Fiction! I love Historical Fiction! AND I can plead again that it fits into my 100 Book Challenge and I would read these books anyway so really it is so big deal. 🙂
Care to join?
Challenge Guidelines: 1. Anyone can join. You don’t need a blog to participate.
–Non-Bloggers: Include your information in the comment section.
2. There are four levels:
— Curious – Read 3 Historical Fiction novels.
— Fascinated – Read 6 Historical Fiction novels.
— Addicted – Read 12 Historical Fiction novels.
— Obsessed – Read 20 Historical Fiction novels.
3. Any book format counts.
4. You can list your books in advance or just put them in a wrap up post. If you list them, feel free to change them as the mood takes you.
5. Challenge begins January 1st thru December, 2010. Only books started on January 1st count towards this challenge.
This is a weekly meme hosted by J Kaye’s Blog. I enjoy doing this because it allows me each Monday to browse the book shelves and set a plan of what I would like to accomplish in reading for the week. To me, it’s kind of like shopping in a book store all over again 🙂
This morning I grabbed my coffee cup…. browsed the shelves and came out with this:
It looks like a lofty goal but it really isn’t.
Say You’re One of Them is audio so that can play in the car and when I am working around the house. I probably will not get it finished this week, but I will be started on it.
Shadow of Tears I have been working on. It is about escaping Iran so it is a bit heavy and I have not been able to read it straight through. I am hoping to finish it this week.
The Smart One and The Pretty One I started on yesterday and I am flying through this delightful read.
The Readers Choice: 200 Book Club Favorites is a book I am just itching to get into…. its a book on books and what is not to love? 🙂
Children Of Dust is one I planned on reading in Honduras and did not get to it. This one will be the one that I will probably be spending the most time reading this week.
The Possibility of Everything is on tour this Wednesday and I finished this a couple weekends ago when I had some down time. This one is on tour this Wednesday.
God Gave Us Love and God Gave Us Christmas are also on tour this week. These will go up wither later today or tomorrow.
Currently I have quite a few books done that are waiting on their review. I am trying to get a review up a day, two if I can do so without crowding them…. I would love to know what you are reading this week! Stop over at J Kayes Blog and add your post to the link so I can stop by as well as others!
I am in the dining area trying to fill the emptiness in my stomach with all the great foods placed before me. Soups and chicken in orange sauce, breads that melt in your mouth, desserts you cant say no to….
I look across the table at Peeta and then to my right where Katniss sits, both of them eating their fill. Peeta’s love for Katniss seems to reflect off of him. It is so transparent. Katniss I cant read. She is so closed off.
The ache in the pit of my stomach draws me back and I take in the entire room and feel the shiver go up my spine. I am back in The Hunger Games.
If you follow this blog you are probably aware of my recent gushing review of Jantsen’s Gift by Pam Cope. The book left me at times with laughter, other times with tears. Once I finished the book, I decided to try to email Pam Cope to see if she would be willing to answer a few questions for an interview that she could email me back the answers and I could post here. Instead, she emailed me back and asked if she could call me and we could talk about the book on the phone.
Uhhh….. YEAH!
So we set up a day and time last week when she was going to give me a call and she did. We had a fantastic conversation and chatted like old friends for about an hour! I think she interviewed me as much as I did her! She kept asking about the work we have done in Honduras… and we even discussed my book club which by the picture on my sidebar here she had determined had to be quite the group! I agreed, they are! 🙂
So with no further babbling and gushing by me…. please enjoy the following conversation I had with author, Pam Cope.
Pam, I am so excited that you have taken the time out of your busy schedule to chat here with me. As you share in the book, this is about a total change of lifestyle for you. Share with me a bit what creating the book, Jantsen’s Gift was like.
Pam: Aimee was a great help with the book, she took so much of it having written other books before. I really learned a lot from her. On some of your travels Aimee and I were not together so we just kept journals of all that we were doing and seeing. At one point I had seven journals that I turned over to Aimee… unedited logs that she was able to pick through.
Has this book been everything you had hoped it would be?
Pam: It is hard being a first time author. You really work hard to get your name out there. I am so thankful tot he bloggers who have reviewed my book and talked about it. These promotions have been so helpful! It is fun to see the reviews coming through on sites like Amazon and Barnes and Noble. It takes a lot of time, but this is what I do to get the word out.
What was the last trip you were on?
Pam: All of us went to Ghana, west Africa in August. This to us is family time. We have a family camp sort of setting. We go to see an orphanage we have partnered with there. This orphanage has 21 kids that have been taken off of the lake. I will be going in back in January and March of 2010.
Pam, that is so amazing. When I think about all those kids. Well, you and I have already talked about this… I tear up. It rips me up inside to think about those kids. In your book, I keep going back to when you describe the boy you had to leave behind on the lake. That one statement haunts me. I know he is one of many. What is that like Pam, saying yes to one, but leaving another?
Pam: It is so hard. You have to remind yourself that you can only save so many. You keep moving forward. You keep being positive and doing what you can. There are 7,000 kids on the lake right now.
How are the two children you did adopt, Van and Tatum?
Pam: They are wonderful. They have adjusted well. We have had Van since he was 16 months old and Tatum since she was 2 1/2. They are both in fifth grade right now. They are so much fun to be around.
If there another book in the planning?
Pam: We have talked about it. Right now it is just a vision but I feel there is another book. I am thinking it may be a book about people who are empowered to live out their dreams – like advocates for something, people who get to do what they really love to do. I think it would be short stories about these people. Something to the effect of what is that moment when we are launched into our passion… that dream that causes you to dig deeper.
Pam that sounds amazing! Please keep me informed about that vision! Before I close here I was wondering if there is anything you want to say about the Touch A Life Foundation.
Pam: Of course! We are currently very excited about a building project. There are so many needs always. I hope everyone will take a moment to check out the Touch a Life Foundation website. Every donation, helps a child.
Johannes, who was rescued off Lake Volta by Touch A Life in August 2009.
Pam thank you so much for talking with me and sharing more about your book Jantsen’s Gift and what you do to help children in extreme impoverish conditions. Your book really spoke to me and I believe it will do the same for others as well.
I love this idea that Bibliophile By The Sea is hosting and I think it will fit nicely into the other challenges I have signed up for 2010. Yes, you can combine challenges – meaning that if you are signed up for a Suspense Mystery Challenge for 2010 and 5 of those books are off your personal book shelves, those books can be used for both challenges. I have shelves full of books i have purchased and found at Library sales. Books that are wonderful, but sit waiting patiently on me. This will intentionally give me purpose to pull some of these treasures off the shelf throughout the year.
Here is the info:
So with 2010 just around the corner, we are encouraged to lesson the weight on our bookshelves, by reading books from our shelves, and then passing the books on to someone else: a friend, relative, the library, used book store, swap them, just as long as the book leaves our homes once it has been read.
My personal goal is going to be the minimum of 20. I will try to read the book and set it free if I can…. I really hang on to a lot of my books, especially the ones I love.
Does this sound like something you’d like to do as well? If so, head over to Bibliophile By The Sea and get the instructions to sign up from there! 🙂
This is the weekly meme hosted by J Kayes Blog. I love this because it gives me a chance to walk to the shelves and choose what is up for this week. I am more successful than not when I plan my reading this way. 🙂 So here is what is on my reading plan for this week:
Yes! I am currently reading Catching Fire and will be done very soon with it. After finishing Hunger Games over the weekend there really was no choice, I had to pick this one up next.
Loss Of Carrier is on tour this week and I am almost done with this one as well.
Tirissa and The Necklace of Nulidor is on tour for tomorrow. This one I have completed.
Thanksgiving at The Inn in is my Thursday read. I figured this was the perfect week to be reading this book!
Healthy Bread in Five Minutes a Day is hopefully going to be on the Thanksgiving menu here at the DeChantal’s. I want to review it and bake out of it for Thursday.
Welcome! For the next couple of days I will be partaking in this wonderful ball being held by Mr. Darcey himself! Why it makes me blush just to think about it! This is an open invitation if you would care to join me. The invite did say I could bring along a few acquaintances and of course I thought of you.
I am so pleased with the gown I was able to just finish the lace on this afternoon. I certainly hope their will be lots of dancing as I have my dance card ready to go!
Book Journey 