Book Stuff – Page 87 – Book Journey

In my Mailbox

Published on August 17, 2009August 18, 2009 by Sheila (Book Journey)12 Comments

I was hoping to have this post up Sunday evening but as many of you know I was out of town this weekend and honestly I was just too tired to work on it last night. I am stepping into another crazy week with dinner with our oldest son tonight, a funeral tomorrow, tomorrow evening and Wednesday evening I stay overnight for our churches commitment to housing the homeless one week per quarter, Thursday is the fall Library book sale (YAY!) and on Thursday we move out youngest to Mankato for college (not so yay… sad, but will get easier I know)… by Friday I suspect there will be nothing left of me…LOL and Saturday if my cousin has his way I will be biking 50 miles in Bemidji.

ANYWAY- today it is about the books and I have lots of book things going on too so dont think this blog will be quiet this week as that is not true – I will have something new up every day!

Here is what was in my mailbox this past week:

1. The Triumph of Deborah by Eva Etzioni Halevy sent to me for review

2. The Blue Star by tony earley and The Lost Dog by Michelle de Kretser are both Hachette Book Group books sent to me to review as well as current giveaways. See the giveaway for The Blue Star here and The Lost Dog here.

3. It Happened in Minnesota by Tony Bridwell is a lovely book about my home state sent to me from Singing River Publications for review. Bruce the Sugarbuggy as well as the quite large and gorgeous book, The Mesisel Family Violin Makers were also sent from Singing River Publications for review.

4. Murder on the Down Low by Pamela Samuels Young is a Blog Tour I am on tomorrow (Tuesday). This book was given to me by Tywebbin Creations for review.

5. Dreaming Anastasia by Joy Preble is a blog tour in September. This book came from Source Books.

6. Girl Naw! by Lacricia A. Angelle is a Blog Tour by Tywebbin Creations. This tour is in September.

7. Summer of Two Wishes by Julia London is a Blog Tour for Pocketbook later this month

8. The Green Pear is a review sent to me by Authorhouse

9. The Curse of The Tahiera by Wendy Gillesen was sent ot me by the author for review and Wendy also sent along a giveaway copy!

10. On The Bluffs is a book sent to me by Miss Remmer’s Reviews in a recent contest she had.

11. Harry Potter and The Deathly Hollows book with 10 year anniversary pin is from a contest I won

12. The darling “Dream Big” angel was a prize I won from You 2.0. I have hung it up in my reading room so I can see it all the time!

13. Last but not least is my truly exciting find that I purchased at the Gold Rush Oronoco Flea Market I was at this weekend. They are 7 of the original Nancy Drew books. Now that I have a start to these I need to find the rest to complete this collection in this format.

Busy week ahead thats for sure and in the middle of all of it I will be reading and posting! 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!

In My Mailbox was started by Story Siren

The Gold Rush Days Flea Market Find

Published on August 17, 2009August 17, 2009 by Sheila (Book Journey)6 Comments

I just came back from a wonderful weekend adventure with two friends, Heidi and Sara, and a new buddy – Heidi’s daughter Camryn. We traveled about 4 hours from home to Rochester, MN to spend a couple nights in a hotel eating a lot of delicious (but not healthy) food and by day hanging out walking the 1500+ vendors with antiques.

Heidi purchased a beautiful pair of antique lamps that will wonderful in her home as well as a few other items, Sara and Camryn as well made some small purchases.

Me? I found seven Nancy Drew books (the originals) that I was excited about as I have wanted to start finding all of them as well as the original Hardy Boys. Two series I had spent much of my childhood with.

So pictured here are the seven books, I know I have many to find – but this gives me a good start!

The titles are:

The Secret of the Old Clock and The Hidden Staircase
The Sign of The Twisted Candle and Password to Larkspur Lane
The Bungalow Mystery and The Mystery at Lilac Inn
The Clue in the Jewel Box and The Secret in The Old Attic
The Clue in the Diary and Nancy’s Mysterious Letter
The Mystery of The Moss Covered Mansion and The Quest of the Missing Map
The Secret of Shadow Ranch and The Secret of Red Gate Farm

My Nancy Drew hunt continues…

Morning Meanderings….

Published on August 15, 2009August 15, 2009 by Sheila (Book Journey)11 Comments

Oronoco

This morning I am in a hotel room in Rochester, MN. I am with two of my great friends, Heidi and Sara, and Heidi’s daughter Camryn. We are on our way to Oronoco Gold Rush Days. It is fun to browse the antiques and vendors, we will take in some sun (90 degrees – oh yeah!) and food that will cause me to have to up the work out routine this upcoming week.

Heidi and Sara did the Oronoco Gold Rush last year – I am the rookie. The book I am carrying with me today is: Dama’s Drama’s and Ana Ruiz which I am set for a blog tour with this Monday.

While doing a bit of research so I could be all hip and current like my friends… I found that there is a bloggers party today at 3 pm! If I can find this spot I may check it out… they are apparently antique and treasure hunter bloggers… but in the fine print there appears to be a book signing so that may be interesting. I’ll keep you informed!

We are off, camera, sunglasses and sun screen! Here we go!!!

Passing on Awards….

Published on August 14, 2009 by Sheila (Book Journey)6 Comments

Recently I have received several Blogger Awards from my book blogger friends and I just have not had time to pass them on. I leave town this Friday at 4 a.m. for Oronoco Flea Market with a couple friends for the weekend. I am bringing my laptop but not sure how much I will have to stop in. Of course books are going with me so hopefully I can get a couple read and new reviews up!

ANYWAY…. what I am trying to say, is that I am going to try to get these passed on and I am going to start with the one that came my way today.

Just today Reagan at Miss Remers Reviews sent me this lovely award: The Lemonade Award…

The Lemonade Award is a feel good award that shows great attitude or gratitude.

I choose to pass this award on to Between the Bookendz. This blog has become a routine stop for me and I am grateful as to how many of the books being reviewed there are ones I would love to read! A great blog with many reviews of wonderful books! Stop over and check it out!

My second blog I wish to pass this on to is Ryan at Wordsmithonia. Ryan always has a great attitude in his posts and I love his comments! I find myself dropping by to see what he is up to and what is being read! Stop ove and see Ryans blog!

Here are the rules for accepting this award:

Put the Lemonade Award logo on your blog or post.
Nominate blogs that show great attitude or gratitude.
Link your nominees within your post.
Let the nominees know they have received this award by commenting on their blog.
Share the love and link to the person from whom you received the award.

I have more awards to give away but I must enter my nominations for BBAW and get to bed! 🙂 Down to 3 1/3 hours sleep if I get to bed in the next 15 minutes!

Word Verification Balderdash (My Thursday Thing) #2

Published on August 13, 2009August 14, 2009 by Sheila (Book Journey)26 Comments

Last week I posted about a little word game I enjoy while posting comments and entering the word verification that many comments on line require. Word Verification Balderdash was born. You can check out last weeks post for more details and I am encouraging anyone who would like to play along to please do! 🙂 You are welcome to use my Balderdash button here and post your creations.

Here are my favorite 5 word verifications from this past week with my made up definitions. Yes, these are actual word verifications I had while commenting on blog posts:

Corypon: A fancy mustard created by a guy named Cory. (Say it with a snooty voice, “Please pass the Corypon.”

Anted: When ants invade… the kitchen, the garbage, picnics and beyond. You have been anted.

Ducto: Duct tape in Spanish

Unitie: A reversible tie in the event that you spill something on the one side.

Prepread: That books that is “next in line” waiting to be read, but something always seems to come before it.

There you have it. If you do this meme, please leave your link here so I (and others) may go check it out. Someday I hope I can make Mr Linky work with wordpress but as of yet have not figured that out.

(I will add you to this list if you do this meme)

Wordsmithonia

Much a ‘blog about nothing

Alexia’s Books and Such

He Followed Me Home

That’s A Novel Idea

Winners: Stand the Storm and The Moon Looked Down

Published on August 13, 2009August 13, 2009 by Sheila (Book Journey)5 Comments

I am a little late on drawing these winners and I apologize… unexpected life happenings this week put me a bit behind.

I am thrilled to announce winners to two great book giveaways!!!! Stand the Storm and The Moon Looked Down.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

I loved the comments about what freedom means and the responses to who the person was in your life who really made a difference was wonderful as well.

Winners have been notified by email and need to email me at journeythroughbooksatgmail (dot) com with their mailing information by Monday August17.

Thought: Are we in the real world?

Published on August 12, 2009August 12, 2009 by Sheila (Book Journey)22 Comments

I recently had a comment that has left me in thought…. a commenter said something to the effect that they did not have book friends in the “real world”.

Real world.

This is not about the comment, as the comment is great and I am in full agreement that there is a separation of sorts. It just got me thinking about the “real world.” If my home where I sit and tap tap tap away on my keyboard is the real world… then who are you that I tap tap tap to?

I have mentioned in recent postings that I am fairly new to all of this and I know I have a long ways to go and I actually love that I am still in the learning phase… and maybe I always will be.

Yet, I think – or maybe I hope – I have made genuine friendships in the blogging community. In the past two months that I have seriously book blogged, I have talked books with great bloggers who I know by name. Who in many cases I know by face. If I had a chance to meet them in person, I believe I could pick them out of a line up. And maybe that’s just the way I am wired…. I enjoy meeting people and I enjoy talking books…. face to face and computer to computer.

I have emailed back and forth with bloggers who have answered my questions, and in turn, thanks to those who have helped me…. I have been able to help others. Maybe I am not sitting in a cafe with a delicious mocha latte (uhh…no whip) in one hand and discussing the latest and greatest read with you across the table with the scent of coffee beans in the air…. but sometimes I feel that I am.

I am rambling. 🙂

The question I want to put out there is – what do you think? Are the book blogging relationships, relationships at all? Are they real to you? How would you describe this world?

Morning Meanderings….

Published on August 12, 2009August 12, 2009 by Sheila (Book Journey)4 Comments

This morning I was over at Vicki’s this morning reading her blog Reading At The Beach (a soothing blog that sometimes I just like to leave her page open so I can pretend I am at the beach – LOL). She is starting a new meme today that really makes you take a look at your bookshelf and well, I will let Vicki explain it:

I’ve decided to start a book meme called A-Z Wednesday

I hope you will join me and share what’s on your bookshelf.

Here’s how it will work:

Each Wednesday I’ll post the meme with that weeks letter (A-Z).

Grab the A-Z Wednesday button on my sidebar to add to your post, to link back here.

Go to your stack of books and find one whose title starts with that weeks letter.

Post
1~ a photo of the book
2~ title and synopsis
3~ link(amazon, barnes and noble etc.)
4~ Come back here and post your link in the comments
Be sure to visit other participants to see what book they have posted and leave them a comment.
(We all love comments, don’t we?)
Who knows? You may find your next “favorite” book.

So this morning I was going to go to my bookshelves and choose a book when I realized the book sitting right beside me works!

Alvor by Laura Bingham:

Erin and her twin brother, Bain, never expected to find that the cabin in the woods near their home is actually a secret entrance to a magical world. Surrounded by pegasi, dragons, and fairies, they discover new powers within themselves and a secret they have unknowingly been preparing for: they are training to become elves. Now they are faced with the decision to stay in this dream world or return home to the life they knew. A spellbinding tale of fantasy and fairy tale, Ã„lvor draws you into an enchanting world of all things magical.

I have not read this yet but it is so close to the top and I am so excited! This gives off a mystical vibe that I am so looking forward to seeing what is underneath this delicious cover!

Pop on over to Reading At The Beach and check out her new meme A to Z. For those of you looking for a fun way to add a little something to your blog, this is a fairly easy one and as Vicki says, you may just find your next favorite book.” ; )

On a much lighter note… please notice my new sidebar link (upper left) on praying for Benny. I dont want to go into details here however if you want to know more click on the picture of Benny.

Morning Meanderings…

Published on August 11, 2009August 11, 2009 by Sheila (Book Journey)6 Comments

Two days in a row…. looks like we have sunshine! YEAH!!! Today I have office work in the morning until mid afternoon, payroll, mow the lawn hopefully and the Bookies meet tonight for book club.

I did a little traveling this morning with Coffee Cup. My find today brought me to a new and great blogger, Ryan at Wordsmithonia. Ryan has a book reviewed called Under This Broken Sky by Shandi Mitchell. The book sounds wonderful! I would love to tell you all about it, but instead I am going to encourage you to stop over and welcome Ryan and read this incredible review for yourself.

How is the BBAW voting coming along? I am still working on mine! 😉

Have a great day!

Morning Meanderings…

Published on August 10, 2009August 10, 2009 by Sheila (Book Journey)4 Comments

It looks like we may have a sunny day here in Minnesota! I almost hate to type that for fear of the big “jinx, jinx, double jinx” (or maybe that’s just a grade school flashback). According to the computer it is suppose to be stormy. *SIGH*

ANYWAY…. I certainly do not want to talk about the weather. I was of course, cruising through the blogesphere this morning with Coffee Cup. Not at warp speed or anything as after all – it is Monday, but at a fair pace. I stopped in at The Book Lady’s Blog and found a book review on a book called How To Buy A Love of Reading by Tanya Egan Gibson. The review is WONDERFUL – the books sounds INCREDIBLE. I just love books about books.

Don’t take my word for it, go over and visit The Book Lady’s Blog and see it for yourself.

BBAW nominations due in by August 15!