Book Journey

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

Published on January 5, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)81 Comments

Hey there! Welcome to It’s Monday, What Are You Reading!

I love being a part of this and I hope you do too! As part of this weekly meme I love to encourage you all to go and visit the others participating in this meme. Fair warning… this meme tends to add to your reading list!

A pretty decent week – not for reading, no I have yet to finish a book in 2014, but for ringing in a New Year with friends, and running my first 5K of the year, I feel accomplished. 🙂 Here is what I did post this week:

Movie Review: JOBS

The Readers of The New Year – great pics of the bloggers you may know!

Day Two… Nine Bloggers Reading (the rest of the pictures of the bloggers reading into the New Year)

Someone Else’s Love Story by Joshilyn Jackson

1st 5k Of The Year on January 1st!!!! The Polar Dash pictures!

Where Were You When Dumbledore Died? (I am fascinated about the fictional moments we remember forever)

My One Little Word for 2014 (choosing a word for the year to own and be… awesome!)

For this week, I am still finishing up on the books I posted last week, I hope to start:

Don Tillman, professor of genetics, has never been on a second date. He is a man who can count all his friends on the fingers of one hand, whose lifelong difficulty with social rituals has convinced him that he is simply not wired for romance. So when an acquaintance informs him that he would make a “wonderful” husband, his first reaction is shock. Yet he must concede to the statistical probability that there is someone for everyone, and he embarks upon The Wife Project. In the orderly, evidence-based manner with which he approaches all things, Don sets out to find the perfect partner. She will be punctual and logical – most definitely not a barmaid, a smoker, a drinker, or a late-arriver.

Yet Rosie Jarman is all these things. She is also beguiling, fiery, intelligent – and on a quest of her own. She is looking for her biological father, a search that a certain DNA expert might be able to help her with. Don’s Wife Project takes a back burner to the Father Project and an unlikely relationship blooms, forcing the scientifically minded geneticist to confront the spontaneous whirlwind that is Rosie – and the realization that love is not always what looks good on paper.

I want to post books as well but the truth is I have three I am working on this week, the same ones I mentioned last week so I am going to leave it at that. 🙂

I would love to know what you are reading this first week of January! Please add your What Are You Reading post below where it says click her.

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For those of you that read mainly middle grade and children’s books, be sure to also link to the younger version of It’s Monday by using the link below!

My ‘One Little Word’ for 2014

Published on January 5, 2014January 5, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)62 Comments

While doing a little blog hopping yesterday I stumbled across this idea called One Little Word. I love the idea of calling a word your own for a year, a word that will be your mantra, the word that you will apply to your life for a year.

While LOVING the idea… picking the word was a bit more difficult than I had anticipated. After all… I have to live with it. I tossed around the idea of “motivated”, and “Thrive” …. and then finally after looking at the list and the definition of the words that didn’t quite fit, it came to me before I seen it…

Embrace.

¹em·brace

verb \im-ˈbrās\

: to hold someone in your arms as a way of expressing love or friendship

: to accept (something or someone) readily or gladly

: to use (an opportunity) eagerly

I prefer the verb version as to the noun. I am thinking more of this as accept (which was possibly going to be the word but I like embrace better.

And this is really what I mean:

Embrace everything. I like that. There was a time when I used to say no thank you a lot. A lot. Friends would invite me to go do things, weekend trips, movies, etc, and I would almost always say, “no thank you”. At the time I would use the excuse that I had to be home with the kids, or maybe I didn’t know some of the people going with and the introvert in me didn’t want it to be awkward…

It’s odd to think of that old me now. I am quite the “Yes” girl and if I can say yes, I usually do. I have come to terms that life is too short, too precious to live it on the sidelines watching others live it. The word EMBRACE fits right in with that mind set. I want to embrace new things, I want to challenge myself and them embrace the outcome. I want to wholeheartedly embrace LIFE.

So there it is. I think I am going to find myself a little something at an Etsy shop, or make it myself that says embrace. I love the idea of owning a word for a year. I will embrace the challenges, the goals, my job, my family, my friends, the good and the bad….

Are you ready? What’s your word? If you decide to do this, please go to the original site and say so, but also… I would love it if you would leave your word here with me too 🙂

Morning Meanderings… The Sunday “Whaz Up”

Published on January 5, 2014January 5, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)22 Comments

Good morning! Welcome to Sunday. Because we are in a cold weather warning I took care of all of my running yesterday. I went to church last night, and have left today open in case it was hard to go anywhere. The Governor of Minnesota closed the schools state-wide for this Monday, the first time that has happened since 1997. While yes it is cold, it does not seem (at least at this time) to be as cold as they were anticipating. I think they were expecting wind chills and maybe that is still to come but as of right now… its pretty mellow out there.

So here is my Sunday update:

Time: 8:51 am

Place: That awesome recliner in the living room. I ♥ the recliner.

Food or drink: I am having a mocha espresso right now, not as tasty as I had hoped. Will be having plain old coffee soon. 🙂

Reading: Flowers In The Attic (page 97), not reading as quickly as I had hoped but then again, really haven’t been home much this week to read. 😀 Also had started Reconstructing Amelia which I put down for the first book of the year (FITA) but hope to get back to that one if not today, then tomorrow.

Watching: We found the first half of Season 4 Walking Dead on tv and we (hubby and I) are super stoked as we have watched all the three previous seasons on DVD and have been hoping to find the first half of season 4 before the second half starts on February 9th.

Cooking: Not sure yet. Navy Son is coming over for dinner tonight. I want it to be tasty but not a lot of work. I think I went soup or chili the last two times he was here so I am trying to get “out of the bowl”

Whats Ahead: A pretty full week actually. Today I am invited to an open house at a friend’s home. I am hoping to make an appearance. Tomorrow morning (Monday) the Friends of the Library are meeting to take down the Christmas decorations at the library and then have our monthly meeting. Wednesday we are working with the students again after the holiday break. Thursday I have dinner plans with my cousins. Friday I am going to meet up with a group of friends for dinner. Saturday we (me and three friends) leave for Fargo where we will be seeing PINK in concert that night, staying over night and coming home on Sunday. Yup…. bust week 😀

So that is what is happening here 😀 Whats on your agenda for today and the upcoming week?

Brainerd, MN

Sunday 8:00 AM

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Where Were You When Dumbledore Died?

Published on January 4, 2014January 4, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)34 Comments

It was book 6, The Half Blood Prince; so much was going on… Sirius had died,the Order of The Phoenix was a mess, and Dumbledore had taken Harry under his protective wing, sharing secrets of Tom Riddle. This is the book where we learn of the Horcrux’s. And this is the book… when Dumbledore dies and my heart breaks a little….forever.

It would take me 8 years before I realized this was my favorite book of the series.

~Sheila

I dont know why but this question has been in my head for a few weeks now and finally has made it to the blog. It is one of those pivotal fiction moments that is embedded in me forever.

I was at the YMCA on the treadmill. I had just read through the whole chapter of Harry and Dumbledore searching for a horcrux and they had just made it back to Hogwarts, Dumbledore being in a weakened state. It is Malfoy who approaches Dumbledore first and Harry is hiding below the staircase where he can see it all as it plays out. Soon Belatrix arrives with her sister and they are shouting at Malfoy to do it, just kill him… but here is where you see that Malfoy is not as evil and dark as he wished he was. It is then that Snape comes up the stairs quietly past Harry and you think that Snape will save the day…. but he doesn’t. He instead kills Dumbledore and the pages become a massive blur of smear as I try to keep reading and understanding believing it must be a joke… it has to be really great magic …. it can’t be….

but it is.

That July day in 2005 I was at the YMCA on a treadmill with tears rolling down my face reading a big hard cover book that was hard to hold on the treadmill but it didn’t matter.

It is amazing that even as I write this I have to pause and take a deep breath because it all comes rushing back.

I write this post because much like the loss of a beloved relative or friend or famous actor, we tend to remember forever where we were when we first heard… first knew… it amazes me that in a really incredible read, that can happen as well.

For you maybe it wasn’t the death of Dumbledore… maybe there was another beloved character out there that even when you think of them today tears can come forward or your heart takes that little extra beat of sorrow.

I would love to know who that character was for you and from what book. Sure, for me there have been others, but Dumbledore was the one that really taught us all lessons (not only the students) through the years of the books leading up to book 6. I still hold his wisdom true today and occasionally quote him the way some would quote Yoda. 😉

Please add in the comments either the answer to the BIG question, where were you when Dumbledore died, or where you were when that character you loved and cherished ceased to be.

*Oh and just in case anyone calls “Spoiler alert” to my description of the death scene…. I am sorry but…. REALLY? I think the statute of limitations on spoilers in a book like this ran out a long time ago. If you have not read this or any of the Harry Potter books you are truly missing out on the books that changed fantasy writing forever.

Saturday Snapshot – The 1st 5k Of The Year and in MINNESOTA!

Published on January 4, 2014January 4, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)44 Comments

Happy Saturday! Is it sad that I have been looking forward to this day since last weekend? No work today, no big commitments other than lunch with a friend which will be fun…. Saturdays are my favorite day of the week. 🙂

For Saturday Snapshot today I wanted to post the pictures from the Polar Dash my friend Amy and I ran on January 1st of this year. I could not think of a better way to kick off the year than with something fun and good for me all rolled into one.

1caa — Here we are up close pre-run. We had actually just arrived and got out of the car. 🙂

1ee — This is at the start. The temp was -6 below zero.

Those that had chosen to run the longer runs – there was a 10K and a 14K option that started earlier than our 5k, were a little frosty.

1eeeee — Of course I dont think any of us were as cold as this guy had to be and he ran the 10K (6.4 miles!)

My number and medal. Since I signed up for the monster series this will by number for the 2014 year with the Ortho runs.

Now before you all say “You sooooo crazy girl!”, know that 5,000 other crazy people ran the Polar Dash with me (including my friends Belinda, Sheila W, Ryan, and April). Yup. 5,0000 crazies…. all together in the same area. 🙂 AND the money raised went to the Shriner s Children’s Hospital. We like that.

Check out what other people are taking pictures of this COLD January morning at the Saturday Snapshot host blog, West Metro Mommy Reads. In Minnesota it is about to get really cold. The wind chill starting late this afternoon and will be 40 to 55 below zero with wind chill through Tuesday. We are in a severe weather warning through the weekend and the Governor has already cancelled school for the entire state on Monday.

Someone Elses Love Story by Joshilyn Jackson

Published on January 3, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)34 Comments

Shandi Pearson has enough on her plate with college, divorced parents, and her three year old son Nathan. Nathan (Natty) is her everything and considering the way he came about, she really is not looking for a man in her life.. too much… everything.

But as well all know, life never turns out quite the way we plan and suddenly Shandi is finding herself and Natty in a gas station stick up. As if that wasn’t enough to call it a day – there’s the guy who stepped between Natty and the gunman that for some reason, Shandi can not get out of her mind. But the man who Shandi can not stop thinking about comes with his own set of ~~issues~~ opportunities and they certainly do not involve a relationship.

Of course, as I said, life never turns out quite the way we plan…

If you have not read Joshilyn Jackson you need to stop everything and pick up any of her books. Yes any of them. They are southern fun on a stick and so witty good you will be sorry you waited so long to read her. I have listened to everything Joshilyn has written on audio, except this one. This one I read. It was just as delightful as her others. Shandi makes a typical southern protagonist as Joshilyn likes to use in her books, funny and silly but whip smart when it gets right down to taking care of those she cares about.

Seriously treat yourself to Someone Else’s Love Story… you need to get on this level.

Morning Meanderings… Day 3 and back to Straight Up Hard Core Coffee

Published on January 3, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)24 Comments

Good morning! January 3 already! The first two days were a blur of activity. Yesterday I worked 12 1/2 hours for our annual meeting at work. It was a lot of fun, but yeah a LONG day. 🙂 Today will be a shorter one, I will work until about 1 or 1:30 and then I am going to the Library to assist with the author SKPE in of Lauren Oliver.

I am so excited – meeting Lauren was awesome! She is the author of Before I Fall, Deliruim, Pandemonium, Requium, and soon *SQQUUUEEEE!* – Panic! I have read them all 😀

On the bookish front…. yeah, I am a little behind but hope to make up some reading time this weekend and tonight. 😀

Morning Meanderings…. Day Two… Nine Bloggers Reading!

Published on January 2, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)45 Comments

Good morning and Happy January 2! We made it to 2014 and mental high fives all the way around! 🙂

Yesterday I posted the book lovers who sent me pictures of what they were reading on January 1st. If you have not checked that out, please do… its kind of awesome to see all these book bloggers and book lovers reading that first book – AND you can see what that first book was. I had a few that came in after I put the post up so please let me add them now:

Isn’t that so fun? LOVE it! On yesterdays post they were able to link up their first book of the year posts so if you have time, grab a second (third?) cup of coffee and go check them out. It was really fun to read them last night and I still have more to get to.

Today is a LONG DAY. It is our annual meeting at work today and I am in charge of the details details details… I will probably be there from 8 this morning until about 8:30 or 9 tonight. *sigh* But it is ok, it fun – good fun 🙂

Have an awesome day everyone! Yes I ran my first 5k of the year yesterday in -6 degree weather… pictures will be up on Saturday for that fun event to kick off 2014.

Happy New Year! 1st Book Of The Year!

Published on January 1, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)113 Comments

Happy New Year everyone! 2014!!! AWESOME!!!

This is the first book of the year post and I have to say how excited I was to see that over 80 other book lovers signed on to either write a post about their first book of the year, send a picture of the first book they will be reading, or both! As pictures came in from all over the world I loved seeing the first book choices! The enthusiasm of readers in contagious!

The following are the pictures sent in from bloggers and book lovers you may very well know. Later when I get home from that first run of the year (WOO WOO!) I will add the blog names below, unfortunately I just ran out of time this morning after hanging out with friends last night and getting home after midnight. 😉

In the meantime, check their posts out by seeing who linked up their First Book Of The Year post – and if it was you who wrote one, please add yours to the linky below the pics where it says click here. When I get home I will be happy to check out your posts!

*Please note, if I missed your picture let me know – the collages auto fill and I hope everyone was captured. I know I had one picture sent to me I could not open so if a few more trickle in today I will add then later. 😀

Thanks everyone for participating and LOVE the book choices. You can now (if you can find me in the collage 😉 ) see that I am starting the year with V C Andrews, Flowers In The Attic. I read this as probably a “tween”. It was a great read then, and now it has been re-released with a sweet new cover. Right now, I am leaving to do my first 5K of the year, The Polar Dash in St Paul Minnesota. Late this afternoon though, I will be curled up with this book. 🙂

Happy New Year everyone!!!!! Share what your first book of the year is going to be either by creating a post and linking it here or by telling me in the comments 🙂

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Morning Meanderings.. Books coming into the New Year

Published on December 31, 2013 by Sheila (Book Journey)15 Comments

Good morning! I am drinking COFFEE! Yes, COFFEE. Why the big deal? I After being sick I didn’t touch coffee for 5 days. Finally (Finally!) my tummy is ready to handle it again… so yeah! YAY!

This is the post I wanted to put up Sunday morning and then didn’t so instead… here are some items that came in the mail this past week that are book room worthy:

10 copies of Labor Day by Joyce Maynard came for my book club! We won a contest along with other book clubs to read the book, and then they are sending us movie tickets to see the movie and a $100 gift card to buy some goodies for our get together. How super fun is that? Way cool Harper Collins!!!

I won this fun pack of swag and this awesome looking read!

…and a couple other fun reads and Evertrue is a win from Me, My Shelf, and I

Oh yes, and books came my way as well. Ahhhh…. just looking at them brings up visions of blankets and reading in this cool Minnesota weather.

And as this in New Years Eve (I know right??? How did that happen?) I have to share the Challenge I am joining that I thought would be fun (its one I need to do anyway as some EPIC last in the series reads are coming out this year! Now I am not so organized that I can name the ones for sure other than the last book in the Mortal Instrument Series *sigh*and…well you get the point.

And it is the last to sign up and get in on the fun that the First Book Of The Year is going to bring. I am soooo excited about this! We now have over 80 book lovers signed up to participate in showing off the book they will be reading to kick off the New Year! It’s easy, there are no trap doors or hoops to jump through, I just think it is super cool to see up reading all over the world! I will announce my first book of the year in the morning. 🙂

You may still sign up here:

and then a final plug for The WHERE Are You Reading Challenge... always a good time… and seriously, who doesn’t like to travel? And if not in a plane, then from the comfort of your chair?

That is all. 🙂 I work today, and not sure what we are doing tonight yet but I think laying low may be the plan. I leave early in the morning for the first run of the year in the cities. 🙂