Category: Book Stuff

Reading Is Fundamental (RIF)

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)1 Comment

This mini challenge is at Joystory where we are asked to post about children reading or being read to.

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This picture is of my friend Julie and one of the girls we know in Honduras, Saritta.  Saritta was abandoned by her mom and left on the streets.  Julie is working with her here with reading and writing.

Honduras children have a special place in my heart.  Given the right tools, these kids are so willing to learn and incredibly bright.

Stop by the RIF website and learn more about what RIF is and what we can do.

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Eat To Read Mini Challenge

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)11 Comments

I am doing the Dewey’s 24 Hour read A Thon today (my first ever!) and one of the mini challenges put on by Beth Fish Reads is to tell about what we snack on while we read.

Well today as  I am in hour 7 I had started my day with a bowl of Fiber One Cereal (Delicious!)

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Of Course I have had lots and lots of coffee

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As noon approached (hour 4 for me) I had a Key Lime Pie Fiber One Yogurt  (Also super yummy if you have not tried them!)

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My normal snacking for reading has to be what I am about to have next – the tried and true bowl of popcorn (Salty!) with a diet Pepsi (Sweet!)

024How about you?  What do you snack on?


Book Carnival: Books About Africa

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)2 Comments

aIf you have hung around the book blogs for any amount of time you are sure to have heard us bloggers joking about our TBR (To Be Read) piles (hills, mountains, whatever…).  I often look at the books on my shelf that I are on my TBR radar and think, “ok, that’s it.  No more books until you make a dent here!”

Yeah right.

I really do mean well but unless I lose my ability to read – I will always be seeing more and more books that I want to read.  Today, I popped in to see what Natasha was reviewing over at Maw Books and found a feast of new titles in her Bookworm Carnival post that made me weak in the knees.  As I scrolled through these wonderful books I knew I had to post about this and I also needed pen and paper to start writing titles down.

Natasha has asked a few questions that I am happy to answer:

Do you read a lot of books that have an African focus?  If so, why do you enjoy them?

Loving this question as my current read is Love Has A Face by Michelle Perry.  This is an African based book about aaMichelle Perry opening up a home for orphans in war torn Sudan, a country in northeastern Africa.  Yes, these style of books I do really enjoy.  I enjoy them because I have worked with street kids in Honduras since 2004.  I have made a trip there at least once a year to assist in building homes, helping with schooling, and feeding those who have no where to go.  I read these books because I am well aware that orphaned children and street kids are not limited to Honduras.  I like to read book about people such as this author, Michelle Perry who feels called to make a difference.  Sadly, I have not read ass many as I would like to – but thanks to the post at Maw Books that has introduced me to many that look wonderful, I will be reading more.

Have you reviewed any books with an African theme?

I do not think at this time that I have.  I read The Poisonwood Bible but it was pre blogging….Looking through my titles on my shelf I have done a few with a Vietnam theme, Honduras, Pakistan, and other area.

What are you looking forward to reading next?  Anything on your radar?

I leave for Honduras next Friday and I am taking with me Jantzens Gift (Vietnam children), Children Of Dust (written about growing up in Pakistan).  I just found out yesterday that Julie from Faithfulgirl is sending me a book off my wishlist,Monique And The Mango Rains and that one is set in Africa.

If you haven’t read a lot of books with an African focus, what are some books that you’d like to read?   Are there any book titles showcased in this carnival that sounds interesting to you or that you’ve read?

Ooh – thank you for asking this one.  From the books I seen listed at Maw Books, I would be very interested in reading:


  • The View From Garden City – Carolyn Baughaaa
  • Burn my Heart by Beverly Naidoo
  • When God Says GO by Lorry Lutz
  • Half Of A Yellow Sun by Chimanamda Ngozi Adichie
  • As We Forgive by Catherine Claire Larson
  • A Long Way Gone by Ishmael beah
  • The Bite Of The Mango by Mariatu Kamara
  • Tear Of The Desert by Halima Bashir
  • The Translator by Daoud Hari
  • Slave by Mende Nazar
  • The Boy Next Doot by Irene Sabatini
  • Another Mans War by Sam Childers
  • Say You’re One Of Them by Uwen Akpan

I know… I cant help it.  I love books like this.

Deweys Read A Thon Mini Challenge!

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)4 Comments

Ok posting this quickly….   this is one of the challenges today for the Read A Thon (I LOVE CHALLENGES!!!)

At Bart’s Bookshelf there is a challenge to take 3 or 4 books off our shelves and combine them to make a new title.  If you go to Bart’s Bookshelf you can see his.  Here is mine:

While I Was Away For One More Day A Ship Possessed  A Beautiful Mind

Breathtaking isnt it?  I am sure it is the heartbreaking story of a man who while away on business, his wife loses her mind because of a haunted ship.  Yup…. I am waiting for movie producers to start knocking down my door with offers.  😉

Word Verification Balderdash – My Thursday Thing

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)20 Comments

Yes!  I am back!  I missed the last two weeks due to crazy schedules and as I have blog hopped this week I was excited balderdashto see others who do this meme kept on going!  YEAH!  Love that!

So for those of you just tuning in… here is what we do (and you can too!)  As quoted from my original post:

Ok… I admit it.  I am a comment junkie.  I love – love ♥ LOVE  ♥ to read blogs, the discussions on books, author interviews, bookshelves, great bookish stories and adventures….

but along with loving to comment comes the ever dreaded endless… (dun dun dun dun…scary music)

word verification.

I know it is a necessity…  I get that.  You leave a comment, chances are you going to be word verified.  Yet being a comment junkie… it slows me down.  So to make this a bit more enjoyable… I came up with a plan.

I love word games (not as much as commenting).  To entertain myself and maybe some of you… I decided to share with you a little thing I do while I type in the verification.  I play Balderdash in my head.  Yup.  As I am typing in the word, I think if it was a real word… what would it mean.  Some come easy.  Others…. I really have to stretch the imagination.

The definition of Balderdash: An oft used strategy  to elect your own fake definition in an attempt to give it credibility in the minds of your fellow players. …

And here is my list for this week:

CLOOBDINE: A social network originated in Peru.  People gather around their computers and “virtual dine” together… sharing what they are eating and using abbreviations for food related events.  IE.  “B”  for burp.  “EM” for excuse me.

LAGAZES:  A new drug just becoming FDA approved to assist people who suffer from chronic lagging.  These people are always a bit behind and have no motivation or desire to catch up.

CARCHIC: Finally a word for her!  She is that girl that can do just about anything from her car – apply makeup, eat breakfast, style her hair, talk on her phone and make all her appointments for the day, mix no bake cookies for the school bake sale, and is packing two changes of clothes for emergency events (such as a sporty outfit to cheer the kids on and a dress up outfit for emergency meetings)  All of this while looking smoking hot.

KIJACK:  The unfortunate new theft ring for off shore criminals.  The act of stealing kyaks.  People who are victims on kijacking are usually knocked out of the kyak and left to swim to shore where if their cell phone survived the water bath, they call for help.


Feel free to play along at home, here or on your own blog.  You can even take the little picture meme I made if you like and use it.  Link your words here in a comment and I will add you to this post so other readers may go and check out your list as well!  🙂

See the fun word definitions at:

My Ever Expanding Library

My World

Wordsmithonia

Alexias Books and Such


It’s Tuesday Where Are You?

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)17 Comments

tuesdaywhereareyou

This is hosted by An Adventure in Reading

I am on the Caribbean Island of Nevis with Meg Owen looking over her newly inherited property of an old plantation house.  I am getting a sense that there is something more here… piano music playing at odd hours of the night, a diary, and the rumors of ghosts….

I have to wonder what could have happened here on this property so many, many years ago?  Does it lie with the secrets of the Dall family who used to live on the property?  What has caused the restlessness of the spirits and what can I help Meg do to put them to rest?

Receive Me Falling by Erika Robuck

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)15 Comments

Monday what are you readingThis is a weekly Meme from J Kayes Blog.  Today I am actually into two books.  I am reading Receive Me Falling by Erika Robuck and just getting into the rhythm of the book.  I am also casually reading What To Do When The Roof Caves In by Marilyn Meberg.  While Catch Me Falling is a historical fiction read… What To Do When The Roof Caves In is a humorous look into the issues that rain down on us in our life times and how to handle these “opportunities” with grace.  I just seen Marilyn Meberg speak over this past weekend and she continuously cracks me up with her candid way of telling her story.

If you have not had the pleasure of ever hearing Marilyn speak – here is a clip to get a little sample:

For this week I am finishing up the two books I just mentioned above and Family Plot is a book tour today and I h002ave that one almost ready to go.  My main reading this week is going to be focussed on The Help by Kathryn Stockett as this is going to be our first book review for and discussion for the Word Shakers online book club.  I am nervously excited as we have quite a group reading this book and then we are going to have a group post here next Monday as well as links to the other reviews.  I have never done anything like this before so I am hoping I can do it well and hold the interest of the group and of course the readers.

What are you reading?

Be sure to stop by J Kaye’s Blog and link in so others may check out what you are reading as well!  🙂

It’s Tuesday, Where Are You?

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)10 Comments

tuesdaywhereareyouThis is hosted by An Adventure in Reading

I am in Brooklyn with Francie Nolan.  We are in school and Francie is telling a lie – a BIG lie to her teacher about taking a small pumpkin pie to a poor family, instead of admitting she ate it herself.  Pride is a terrible thing and I wish I could reach out and comfort Francie.  I wish I could give Francie several whole pies instead of watching her bony shoulders hunch as she bows her head and tears fill her eyes.

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith – page 198

The Heretic’s Daughter by Kathleen Kent – Giveaway

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)94 Comments

I am excited to be able to offer this book, The Heretic’s Daughter for giveaway thanks to Valerie at Hachette Book Group

This giveaway is now closed 11/15/2009

hereticMartha Carrier was one of the first women to be accused, tried and hanged as a witch in Salem, Massachusetts. Like her mother, young Sarah Carrier is bright and willful, openly challenging the small, brutal world in which they live.

Often at odds with one another, mother and daughter are forced to stand together against the escalating hysteria of the trials and the superstitious tyranny that led to the torture and imprisonment of more than 200 people accused of witchcraft.

This is the story of Martha’s courageous defiance and ultimate death, as told by the daughter who survived.

Reading Group Guide for book clubs and group discussions!

So how to enter?  I will give one book away for every 10 comments up to 5 books…

1)  Leave a comment here

2) for an additional chance follow this blog and or me on twitter (leave a separate comment here saying you do so)

3) for a third chance – blog about this on Facebook and let me know here on another comment

**This giveaway is open to USA and Canada residents only… Giveaway will end on November 12