Category: Book Stuff

It’s Monday, What Are You Reading?

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)21 Comments

Today I am cruising through A Tree Grows In Brooklyn.  This is our book club read that is being reviewed tomorrow Monday what are you readingnight and I have procrastinated on getting it read.  The review is taking place here at my home and we are going to potluck to the theme of the book.  One thing I have discovered about A Tree Grows in Brooklyn – there is a lot of talk about food.  It should be interesting to see what everyone brings.

Last week I finished:

  • Football is For Lovers (blog tour this week – review will be up on Wednesday)
  • The Finanical Lives Of The Poets by Jess Walters (blog tour this week, review up on Wednesday)

As for my week of reading… I have set another lofty goal but as you look at the plan know this…

  • I have finished Novel Destinations last night so that one is off the pile.

  • Receive Me Falling I started last week and had to put down to get going on A Tree Grows In Brooklyn.

  • The 13 Days of Halloween is a blog tour and that review is up yet today, read and scheduled at this time.

  • The Guernsey Literary and Potato Pie Society is going in the car with me when we road trip tot he cities for the Women of Faith Conference this coming Thursday afternoon.  I am not driving so that means I can read a bit!  🙂

  • The 39 Clues is a book I am curious about and this one as well is going in the car with me for the weekend conference

001Yes… as always a lofty plan but when I break it down,  I think doable.  Chance goes home tomorrow afternoon after being with us for a month.  I am saddened by this as I love having him around.  With this move, my reading routine should increase as I will no longer be playing video games and watching TV with him late into the evenings.


What are you reading this week?  Stop over to J Kayes Blog and be sure to add your reading post to Mr Linky so others may stop by and visit you!

Swimsuit by James Patterson (Audio Book)

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)14 Comments

Shockingly addicting…. from the very beginning I was captured with a story line that made my heart beat a little faster and I wanted to know… had to know, how it was all going to end.  ~  Sheila

a swim

THE BEACH…
A breathtakingly beautiful supermodel disappears from a swimsuit photo shoot at the most glamorous hotel in Hawaii. Only hours after she goes missing, Kim McDaniels’s parents receive a terrifying phone call. Fearing the worst, they board the first flight to Maui and begin the hunt for their daughter.

…WILL NEVER BE…
Ex-cop Ben Hawkins, now a reporter for the L.A. Times, gets the McDaniels assignment. The ineptitude of the local police force defies belief—Ben has to start his own investigation for Kim McDaniels to have a prayer. And for Ben to have the story of his life.

…THE SAME FOR YOU AGAIN.
All the while, the killer sets the stage for his next production. His audience expects the best—and they won’t be disappointed. Swimsuit is a heart-pounding story of fear and desire, transporting you to a place where beauty and murder collide and unspeakable horrors are hidden within paradise.

Buy this book

My Thoughts

I am fairly new to audio books.  Over this past year as I have had much time in the car as I went here and there across out great state of Minnesota, I discovered that I really enjoyed listening to the books.

With Swimsuit by James Patterson I was really surprised how quickly the story line swept me in.  As I was listening to the early parts of the book, at the point that I was still deciding if this was a fit for me…. I was pleasantly shocked at the fast pace of this thriller…. moving with speed through the scenes that reflected in my mind.  There were a cople moments where I caught my breath, had I heard that right?

The opening story line of this audio with the Super Model Kim and her parents is good, very good.  Yet Jame’s Patterson’s Swimsuit is so much more.  It is a close up look into a killers mind.  What makes him tick and even as the book goes on all the pieces do not fall into place until the very end – as well written novels are capable of doing.

I ended up being very glad that I had this opportunity to listen to this book.  A good murder mystery for me are few and far between.  this one left me waiting for the next opportunity it take a drive so I could continue on with this captivating story.

james

A storyteller like no other, James Patterson…jamesPatterson

  • Holds the New York Times bestsellers list record* with 47 New York Times bestselling titles.
  • In 2007, one out of every fifteen hardcover novels sold was a Patterson title. In 2007, an estimated 16 million James Patterson books were sold in the United States alone—more than John Grisham and Stephen King sold, combined, and more books than there are people subscribing to satellite radio.
  • Is the founder of the James Patterson PageTurner Awards which, for three years running, has given away cash prizes totaling more than $600,000 to groups and individuals who do outstanding work to spread the fun and excitement of books and reading. Patterson is also on the board of the charitable organization First Book whose mission is to get the first book in the hands of underserved youth and has donated thousands of books to troops overseas.

I received this audio book from Hachette Audio Books

I rate this audio R for graphic details and some sexual content

The Book Cover….How Important Is It?

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)47 Comments

scratchy ideaI had a little time to blog hop yesterday afternoon and I found myself over at a new blog (to me) lucy was robbed.  LOVE the name of this blog and I love the explanation of the name which you will find on the blog header.

What really caught my eye was that in one of the recent reviews there was a bit about covers having nothing to do with  the book.  I know this has been touched on a bit on blogs that I have seen and probably even ones I have not seen, so forgive me if this is just a repeat of what has already been hashed through.  I think what made me really start thinking about this was a quote that said, in this particular case, that “potential audience was lost”.

I don’t want to reopen a particular discussion on a particular book so lets not go there.  🙂   What I am thinking about is the bigger picture (no pun intended).  I have said it before and it is no secret that I love a great book cover.  In most cases when browsing through a book store it will be the cover that causes that initial pause in my travels to pull the book off the shelf.  Even if I have went into a book store with a title in mind for purchase, it is usually because I have SEEN the cover on someones blog or online and the COVER made me read more about the book.
The cover is not the reason I buy the book, but it is the initial “getting to know you” phase where I pick up the book to see what it is about and that can be what makes or breaks the connection.

It’s true and I hope that’s not shallow of me.

What I find concerning is reading how authors in many cases really do not have a lot on say on the books cover once it goes to the publisher.  Authors really can be putting their baby so to speak, in the hands of another… and really that can make or break a book.

What I am asking today is do you think covers affect sales?  Can a non appealing cover truly cause sales loss on a book?

I am interested in hearing your take on all of this… I may dive into this subject in more depth in future posts but do to time restraints today I just wanted to put this out there and see where it goes.  I would like to interview a couple authors and book cover designers as well to hear how this all works from their more experienced views.

Morning Meanderings…

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)25 Comments

Never really completed what I had hoped to yesterday.  Busy day… went to a poorly done movie last night, All About Steve.  Yikes.  A little funny…. but really not so much.

I was mentioning on Twitter last night that I am in a reading slump….the books I had prepped to read this week all feel heavy… does that make sense?  I am sure they are great reads… I think its me.  I think I have Readers Block….;)  With the business of the banquet this weekend and Chance with us and everything… I just think my mind isn’t wrapping around some of these books.

Last night I picked up a different book from my shelf…. Receive Me Falling by Erica Robuck.  I cautiously opened it and read the first few pages.  When I put it down for the night, I knew I wanted to know the what next…  “Whew!”  That’s a good thing!  Hopefully that will break up the readers block…..

Today I work, then spend the rest of the day prepping the auction baskets for our Missions Banquet that takes place this Saturday.  Hopefully the baskets wont take all night!   I have now been up for two hours… still unprepared for my day – just getting the last of the payroll in and hoping to sneak in a few minutes here to prep this post and make sure my review is ready to roll yet this morning.

“Readers Block” ever happen to you?  What did you do about it?

Morning Meanderings…

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)13 Comments

Is it just me… or is morning coming faster?  Or should I say is it morning or still Twilight?  It is still dark out but I am still due up to get ready for the daily school drop off and then the office.  Today awaits me about 4 hours of mandatory videos on a new program we are rolling our the end of this month so with joy…. I am enjoying my pre-office time with you and Coffee Cup.

This morning I opened an email that kind of made me smile.  Ok… really made me smile.  I just love how movies come up with all the little extras you can purchase.  The great ones have t shirts, notebook covers, board games, pens, pencils… and yes.  Even dolls.

EdwardOk… seriously… this cracked me up a bit.  I don’t know why, obviously it is a good likeness so kudos to Mattel.  yes, there is a Bella too but not as close a resemblance I didn’t think.  Without the Edward doll next to her I am not sure I would know she was Bella.

I just wanted to share this today as I like to share the ones that remember folks – they were books before they were movies!  🙂  HIgh five to Stephanie Meyer.  I am off for now but will be back later for a book review.

I would love to hear if anyone has purchased any other movie related paraphernalia.  We have Harry Potter Scene It

New Moon Board Game
New Moon Board Game

here and Star Wars Monopoly.  Oh yes…. I am so proud.  LOL  🙂

Have a great day everyone!

It’s Tuesday, Where Are You?

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)8 Comments

tuesdaywhereareyou

This is hosted by An Adventure in Reading

I am in Abbeville with George Bailey.  Don’t laugh… that really is his name.  His mother had a weakness for It’s A Wonderful Life.  We are at George’s grandpa’s home… a home that George never thought as an adult that he would spend another night in – or want to.  Yet here we are, looking at the old bookcase that used to hold such treasures as Zane Grey’s Stories For Boys, sea tales, a copy of Dale Carnegie and The Robe, a number of Bibles, including one inscribed in German in 1851 by one of Grandpa’s forebears, and more.  Now, the old books were gone.

Abbeville by Jack Fuller

Morning Meanderings…

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)3 Comments

Mornin’a big improvement. Little groggy… I was up until 12:45 a.m finishing up The Cinderella Society.  I kept thinking after the next chapter I would stop… but then no…. and then the next one… and then it came to the point that really – I didn’t have all that more to read and why would I leave such a little bit?

At 12:45 am. I closed the back cover…  completely satisfied with the book and my choice to complete it.

Of course now… I am in the office with Coffee Cup and just a wee bit fuzzy. I am going to write the review and it should be up in a couple hours.  It is not the longest I stayed up to finish a book.  I think a few years back I finished After Anne at about 2 am…. could not – would not put it down until the bitter, heartbreaking end.  (That’s another story)  🙂

So readers – whats the longest you have stayed up to complete a book?

100 Mile Challenge

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)18 Comments

Fitness ChallengeOk… this is a not so bookish moment…. but hey just like a book girl has to eat, she also has to take care of herself.  So when Trish posted about this 100 Mile Challenge Between October 1 and December 31 I felt this was a great incentive to keep me on track going into these colder months.

Here’s the challenge:

Here’s how it works:
In order to complete this Challenge, you will need to “travel” 100 miles from October 1st through December 31st.

Here’s how you calculate your mileage:
*Running or walking 1 mile outside or on a treadmill equals 1 mile.

*15 minutes of other workouts equals 1 mile (elliptical, swimming, weight lifting, workout video, workout classes, etc.).

Click on the button above to go to the page to sign up. Hope you join us!

It’s Monday What Are You Reading?

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)35 Comments

I have my nose buried deep in Kay Cassidy’s book, The Cinderella Society….  SO GOOD!  I am on such a huge YA kick I Monday what are you readingfeel like I should be snapping my gum, twirling my hair and listening to Bon Jovi….  oh – maybe YA don’t do that anymore…LOL  Really enjoying the book!

I am pleased to say that last weeks list of Cleopatra’s Daughter (which was an AMAZING READ), Bo’s Cafe (great book and one to make you think…) and VIOLA in Reel Life (Loved this!)… I only have one that still is sticking out of my TBR shelf, partially read and part of my plan to finish the last two weeks…. that’s right, Pride and Prejudice still waits on me.


001The big plan for this week…. and for some reason I feel like I am Stella and got my groove back…. (book groove that is)… so I piled them high for this weeks reading plan.  They are:

Of course to finish the wonderful The Cinderella Society

I have Extraordinary by John Bevere for tour this week along with a giveaway copy!

Abbeville by Jack Fuller has also waited patiently to be reviewed and I pulled this off the shelf to do just that!

Football is For Lovers I have for a tour next week and I am trying to be more proactive on the tour reads and not waiting until the last minute and then cranking them out just under the wire.

The Financial Lives of Poets is also on tour next week

A Worthy Legacy by Tomi Akinyanmi just came in but is one off my wish list and I want to treat myself to this read.

So that’s the plan.  For those of you who are looking at this and saying how can you possibly read that many books in a week?

Well, first it is only a plan and I tend to plan big – but don’t beat myself up if I don’t reach the goal.  Sometimes a book I planned to read may be set aside for a different read because that is the beauty of reading…  you do get to pick what you enjoy.

The Cinderella Society is sailing right along and I should complete that yet today, Extraordinary has been in the process of reading for a couple weeks now and in this type of book I find that helpful when I can break it down so I only have part of that book left to read.  Football Is For Lovers (I know right… I am still not really sure what I signed on to with this one…LOL) and A Worthy Legacy are both smaller books.  Which leaves me with Abbeville which I hope to roll into the weekend with, but we will see how it all goes.

Most of my evenings are spent reading.  My husband goes to bed around 8:30 or 9 pm as he gets up at 5 am.  That gives me on the average about 3 hours to read a night, not including that I do occasionally read early in the a.m., while I am making dinner and usually longer on weekends when we have no big commitments.

What are you reading this week?  Pop Over to J Kaye’s blog and be sure to connect there to add your post to the linky so we can all see your list of wonderful books as well!

Happy reading all!

Morning Meanderings…

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)14 Comments

a big improvementWhere oh where has the nice weather gone?

The days of heavy overcast gray skies are already wearing on me.  The current temperature is 42 degrees and I and Coffee Cup are feeling a little rough this morning with the cold and sinus bug that is going around.  I really could have just stayed in bed this morning if it was not for having to deliver Chance to school by 8 am.

It is probably a good thing I did have a commitment as now I am up and have already made two appointments into my day – I love making appointments before people are int he office.  That way I can give details of what I need and the right person usually calls me back with the right info and a date and time instead of being put on hold and waiting forever to get to the right person who then ponders over a schedule for 10 minutes….  LOL.  Yes I even micro manage my time to make appointments.  🙂

Anyway… as I ramble on, has anyone seen this book?  Novel Destinations?  I think it looks wonderful.  I have seen bloggers have novel destinationsopportunities to go to wonderfully bookish sites and I think I wouldn’t even know where to start.  For all I know I could have been in areas where great books were written and land marks are just a few steps away and totally unaware…. (oblivious seems harsh right?) I wander my own way.

For the new breed of vacationer who craves meaningful trips and unusual locales, the combination of reading and travel can be a heady mix—especially if you happen to be checking into Hemingway’s favorite hotel in Sun Valley, or strolling about Bath’s Royal Crescent while entertaining fantasies of Lizzie Bennett and her Mr. Darcy! Cue National Geographic’s Novel Destinations—a guide for bibliophiles to more than 500 literary sites across the United States and Europe.

I just love book on books.  I have one that lists the top 100 books that I should be reading.  Uh yeah… good luck with that when all these new ones keep calling me like shiny new cars….

One I use frequently is The Book book clubClub Companion.  This one was a life saver as my book club grew large and I was struggling to figure out how to run a successful meeting.  This book gives not only great reads to discuss… but fun themes for the group, recipes to try, questions to ask, what to do if there is no leader.. etc.  LOVE this book.

Apparently I am in a very Bookie mood this morning.  I need to do some research today on how to run an online book club…. haven’t done that before, but with a group already created (Word Shakers) and a plan to review The Help.  I had best get a good grasp on how to do this.  Any advice?  🙂