Bloggiesta Mini Challenge: Bring the Hits: Building a blog audience

Published on September 28, 2012September 30, 2012 by Sheila (Book Journey)42 Comments

Happy Bloggiesta!!! (If you have not connected yet with Bloggiesta hurry over to the starting line now!) This is going to be fun! I hope everyone is ready to do some fun bloggish “to do’s” this weekend! I know I am.

My name is Sheila and I created this little world you are seeing here called Book Journey. I started blogging in June of 2009 with a book review and no idea what I was doing. For my Bloggiesta mini challenge I am going to give some tips I have learned along the way to help build an audience to your posts.

1. So you have written what you believe to be an awesome post. You hit publish and you excitedly await for people to visit and comment and join in your thoughts. Everyone loves comments. They are, as my friend Amanda said once, the bread and butter of a book blogger. So knowing this, instead of waiting for people to find us, we should also be going out and finding them. Set yourself goals – maybe visit 5 or 10 new blogs a day that you have not checked out before. I find many new blogs to check out on the sidebars of the blogs I enjoy reading. Visit. Leave a real comment that would make that blogger want to see who you are and what you are about. You may be surprised how many of those bloggers will come and see what you are blogging about right back.

In the early days of my book blogging, I visited and visited and visited… by doing this people knew I was out there, and many of my readers today have come from those early days. Once you have them as regular readers, you tend to pick up some of their readers as well.

2. So….. now you have people visiting, what are you showing them? When the visitors come to your blog, you want to have your best post us front – after all, this is company! 😀 By saying the best post, I mean write posts that are informative or fun, whatever you are writing about. Think about a first timer to your blog, is what you have written here going to cause them to follow you, or come back and visit again? When I write a review that has a lot of passion for a book I really enjoyed or something crazy in my life, I want people to read it – laugh with me, share their thoughts with me – even be frustrated with me.

3. Blog layout. Take a moment and look at your blog with an objective eye. Does it have curb appeal? Are the colors easy for visitors to read. Is it easy to find where to comment? Is the sidebar(s) if you have them, neat and current?

The Mini Challenge

My Challenge for you , if you choose to accept it, is to go and visit 10 blogs today that are either new to you or you have not visited in a while. Leave a good comment that contributes to the post. Come back here and let me know in the comments that you did this and if you discovered a cool blog that you enjoyed and will probably check out again, let me know that as well. You can enter this mini challenge once each day of Bloggiesta – in other words, you can visit 10 blogs or more each day of Bloggiesta and let me know each time here and I will enter you for each f the three days you participate. Yes, up to three entries per person. After Bloggiesta I will draw a winner using random.org for a $10 gift card to Amazon that will be emailed to you. If the comments reach over 75, I will add a second winner of a $10 gift card.

Throughout this weekend by doing the mini challenges you will find all sorts of awesome tips from some amazing bloggers! Your blog can come out the other side of this weekend all shiny and new and tweaked to awesomeness! Have fun!

Morning Meanderings… A Little Bit Of JK In My Life

Published on September 27, 2012 by Sheila (Book Journey)13 Comments

Mmmmmmm morning.

It is fall so Wednesdays are back and in full force. I work on Wednesdays until 3:00 pm, run home, let dogs out grab something to eat and go back to work with students from 5 – 8 pm. It wipes me out. 😯

But this morning I got up and as I sit here with my coffee reading the morning emails I remember that today is the release of JK Rowling’s new book The Casual Vacancy.

SSQQQQUUUEEE!!!!!

As I preordered that baby should be on my doorstep at some point today (thank you UPS!) and since the book room is done! SQQQQQUUUEEEE again! They finished the shelves yesterday, it will be going in there. 😀

In Shelf Awareness today JK Rowling says that she feels she will go back to writing for children, maybe younger than the Harry Potter crowd – BUT (and I love this but!) she has not ruled out that if an idea stemmed off the original Harry Potter series and she could enter that world again in a new and refreshing way – she would.

“That’s all I need to hear you say JK! That is all, that there is a possibility!”
So this morning I am humming Mambo #5 which makes no sense at all except that I am singing “A Little bit Of J K in my life….” in place of a little bit of Monica…. and really thats all I know of the song so I keep repeating that same line :D.

Today will be WILD. I am going to work until noon – come home and put together the book room. SSSQQQUUUEEEE! ANd Ia lso need to write up my Bloggiesta mini challenge post, my Banned Book Week blog hop giveaway post, a review, and an article for Her Voice Magazine. Tonight is the first Meryl Streep Movie Club night at my house and I will be serving wine and cheese in honor of the book room – which, you will see pics of Saturday morning. 😀

Ok – must get moving. Did you pre-order the new JK book? Put a hold on it at the library? Do you plan to read it? Skip it? Wait to see what people are saying?

Defending Jacob by William Landay

Published on September 26, 2012 by Sheila (Book Journey)30 Comments

Andy Barber has become known as someone not to go up against court rooms of Massachusetts, New England. He is well respected in his community and has been a pillar for about twenty some years. Andy’s home is a happy one where he lives with his lovely wife Laurie and their 14 year old son Jacob. If Andy were to be asked what he wished for, he would say all his wishes had come true already.

When a classmate of Jacob’s is killed, Andy is one of the first ones to investigate this unthinkable crime. When talking with other students he is lead to start watching social networking sites and what he finds there is disturbing, the trail is leading to his son Jacob. When Jacob becomes a suspect, Andy is removed from the case and even accused of interfering with the clues. When Jacob is charged with the murder, Andy and Laura are tossed into a new world of accusations every where they turn.

As Andy and Laura work at defending their son more and more information comes out including a past pattern of Jacob being cruel to animals as well as some unmentionable activity on a website Andy had never even heard of. Yet Jacob swears he is innocent and Andy believes him, now with his hands tied, all he can do is sit back and watch the trail play out, hoping that the real killer is found.

Why did I want to read this book? From the moment I heard about this one on line I was interested. Court cases have always kind of sucked me in (years ago it was John Grisham, more recently Jodi Piccoult…). A story about a young boy accused of murdering a classmate was something I wanted to know more about.

Defending Jacob was a phenomenal listen. Grover Gardner did an excellent job of Narrating, distinguishing clearly between the many male voices in this tale of crime and accusation.

Imagine if your child was accused of a murder. Yes, your child who you tuck in at night, watch him play sports, pull in decent grades, and has a nice network of friends. He is not a loaner. He is not a dark distant child. He is a typical teenage boy…. you can not fathom this accusation.

That is the feeling that grabbed me as I listened to this novel. I imagined as a parent what that would feel like and how you would hold it together. As you listen you will see two parents trying to hold it together as their world around them falls apart. Really, a story line that reads true, like anything you could read in the paper.

I thoroughly enjoyed Defending Jacob and I am so glad I finally made time to experience it. As I listened I could not decide it…. did Jacob do it? Is he innocent? If not Jacob, then who?

There’s only one way for you to find out…

READ THIS BOOK. 😀

There And Back Again by Sean Astin

Published on September 25, 2012September 25, 2012 by Sheila (Book Journey)14 Comments

When Sean Astin received the call to come in and try out for the part of Samwise Gamgee he was excited and apprehensive. The excitement stemmed from the fact that the possible job offer was good timing, his career has stalled and good movie roles were few and far between. Sean was a little apprehensive because although he had heard of the books… he had never read them.

Who really was Samwise?

Upon receiving the part, Sean packed his bags for an 18 month stay in New Zealand for the filming of the movies. While the part was exciting, it was hard work and Sean was frustrated with how little his role was, after all, his hours upon hours on the set took away from his time with his wife and child and the money wasn’t all that great.

This audio is Sean’s telling of the behind the scenes look at the filming of the movies, the actors and the controversy…

Why did I want to listen to this audio? I am a fan of all things Tolkien and I guess if I say that, that means Tolkien actors as well. When I first heard of this book I was intrigued as here was Sean who played Samwise, not the biggest role, and that sparked my interest too. What would he say about his role? The making of the movies? Bilbo?

There And Back Again is indeed Sean’s story. Well…. scratch that a second. I just recently picked up on the fact that The Hobbit is officially called The Hobbit, or There And Back Again. It’s true. There And Back Again was already taken by Tolkien… sort of, as we all know the book to be known as The Hobbit.

Oh how I digress….

Anyhoo… While Sean’s story is interesting and I enjoyed hearing all the backstage stuff about the costumes, and how long it takes to get ready, there was an underlining feeling of forcefulness throughout the book….

What do I mean?

On one hand Sean would be talking about how great it was to meet and work with the other actors and then he would be pulling out character flaws about them – “unfriendly, self-absorbed, made him feel unworthy, late to the set…” To me if felt like Sean was saying one thing and then someone else was telling him to “add more”, give the reader more!!!!” So he does, by throwing some under the bus… actually, almost everyone in the movie as well as some extra actors not in the movie for good measure (Sorry Johnny Depp, Brendan Fraser…)

I did find There And Back Again interesting and I did like knowing more about the movie, the budgets, the long hours, and the low pay, things I tend not to think about when I am sitting in a theater with my popcorn and diet coke as big as my head staring at the big screen thinking “This is soooo awesome!” My only regret for Sean Astin is that I think his book may have done harm to relationships and possibly even for future roles as he comes off as having low self-esteem and paranoid.

Personally, I like the guy and I like his acting. I wish him the best in all he does… but to my readers, if you want to try this one – borrow it from the library.

Morning Meanderings and two VERY Different Books I Want To Read

Published on September 25, 2012 by Sheila (Book Journey)15 Comments

Good morning. 😀
*pause for dramatic and slow sip of coffee*

How ya all doing?

I am feeling pretty good and pretty “on task” for this weekends get together at my home. Yesterday I cleaned out the garage…. so small feat, but it needed to be done and now it is so clean it looks like we were robbed. The dead vacuum is gone, the totes of spare sheets that I use for when we serve with IHN for the homeless are packed away in a spare room, the bikes not in use have been moved to the other garage, the leaves and dirt that seems to blow in and accumulate… all removed. Hopefully if the weather cooperates this space will be the hub of the get together with people drifting to the back deck and in the house and yard.

This morning I was reading Shelf Awareness (love this email – if you do not have it be sure to check it out on my right sidebar and grab it) and they had two books that caught my eye for very different reasons. The first, October Mourning, still haunts me after seeing the trailer…

Matthew Sheppard’s story has pulled at my heart for years. I have another book on the shelf about his story that I have yet to read just because I know it is going to be a book that breaks me down. I will get there, hate crimes make me so angry.

And then… on a completely different brain wave I found this book to look interesting as well:

Mmmm hmmmm, doesnt that sound good? I love books with cooking themes.

SO I have to go get ready for work and call a friend but that is my morning thoughts today. Hope your day is wonderful.

What book has you wanting to make a purchase?

We Need To Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver (book and movie thoughts)

Published on September 24, 2012September 24, 2012 by Sheila (Book Journey)24 Comments

Eva Khatchadourin is a smart, fun loving free spirit who falls for and marries the more conservative and level Franklin. When Eva finds herself pregnant she is unsure of herself for the first time in her life, never really feeling the “mom gene” like so many women do.

When Kevin is born Eve continues to struggle as she tries to master parenthood and finds herself failing time and again. Kevin cries and cries no matter how she rocks him or feeds him or takes him for long walks in the stroller. Exhausted and frustrated she shares her feelings and concerns with Franklin who feels that Kevin is just doing what babies do and she needs to lighten up.

As Kevin grows, his manipulation towards his mother does as well, ignoring her when she tries to teach him things but lights up when his dad enters the room. Years later when Eva finds herself pregnant again she fears for the safety of her baby daughter, Celia. An accident that happens when Celia is around 5 makes Eva wonder if it truly was an accident. Her feelings towards Kevin puts strains on her marriage.

Through letters Eva shares her concern through the time that Kevin is born, all the way through to the school massacre when Kevin kills seven of his fellow students in high school.

My book club and I read this book in May of 2006. At the time this book was a book in the bag from the library where we could borrow 10 books at once. My notes from that years review says,

We Need To Talk About Kevin was a different style of read for us. This book led to a deep discussion about motherhood. While some in the group questioned if Eva’s love was real or put on for her son, others felt that Eva felt her freedom was taken away with the birth of Kevin. While most of the group found the book to be hard to read due its topic and content, I enjoyed it – finding it frightening and an honest portrayal at the same time. On a scale of 1 -5, even now I am surprised to see that over all average of this read was a 4. (I remember it as most of the group not liking it and now looking back I see that while a hard read, it seems to have been appreciated.)

The thing I remember most about We Need To Talk About Kevin, is that Kevin is not likable. He is dark, manipulative, cruel, and moody. I can not even imagine what it would be like to be his mother. Honestly, I don’t know how much I could have taken if I had a child that treated me that way. If you have even read Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Piccoult, while the story line is similar, the boys in the stories are not. In Piccoult’s book (was his name Peter?) the boy is picked on by his school mates. He is a sympathetic character and in the end, honestly I felt bad for him. Not so in We Need To Talk About Kevin. In this case I feel bad for his mom.

The book all these years later still sticks with me. A hard read, but I think an important one.

Movie

Just this past week I rented the movie version that came out earlier this year of We Need To Talk About Kevin. And after renting it, it sat on the end table for about a week. I could not get myself in the mood to watch it. I knew from the book that it was a hard story and as much as I wanted to see how it compared to the book, I knew I had to be in the right frame of mind to handle it.

When I finally did watch it with my hubby, I found the beginning to be confusing. Told differently in the book it started with a series of flash backs and forwards and to current time that if I had not read the book I dont know if I would have followed. Even having read the book, I struggled as I tried to explain to my husband what was happening in the first 30 minutes of the movie.

When the movie finally does get to the story of Kevin it levels out and is much easier to see what is going on and what the past and present flashes mean. John Reilly plays the part of the dad and that threw me off a bit as I am used to him playing all these goofy roles in movies – or maybe that is just the movies I seen him in. Tilda Swinton (The Whole Witch in Narnia) however felt spot on.

I recommend read the book, and then watch the movie. Both are spectacular.

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

Published on September 23, 2012September 23, 2012 by Sheila (Book Journey)64 Comments

Welcome to It’s Monday! What Are You Reading! This is a great way to plan out your reading week and see what others are currently reading as well… you never know where that next “must read” book will come from!

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. I offer a weekly contest for those who visit 10 or more of the Monday Meme participants and leave a comment telling me how many you visited. **You do not have to have a blog to participate! You receive one entry for every 10 comments, just come back here and tell me how many in the comment area.

Since I was out of town last weekend I never got the previous winner posted so this is the two week ago winner and this past weeks winner using random.org (because that is how I roll!)

Last weeks winner: Martha E!!!

It was a fairly decent week this past week. I had no construction in the house except for early in the week, and now we are on hold waiting for a wood order to come in that has me hoping (Fingers crossed!) that it will be early this week so I can finish my book room before the family gathering on this coming Saturday.

The things I posted here on Book Journey this past week were:

The Snow Child By Eowyn Ivey – audio review

What DO You Do With All Those Books? (Early shots of the book room partially finished and discussion over the books…)

This One Is Mine by Maria Semple – Bookies Book Club read for Sept and probably the snakiest review I have written in a long long time

The Meryl Streep Movie Club is born this coming Thursday at my house – and on the blog! Stop in and check it out and maybe chat along 😀

AND it is the last week to sign up to participate in the Banned Book Week Party here!

As for this week, any moment now I am going to realize that I did invite over many many relatives for next Saturday and I do need to prep my home, the garage and figure out what I am going to cook. When that happens, I suspect I will be moving like a mad woman and that will requite either 80’s music (do not judge!) and/or audio books 😀

SO…. for this week… my plan is:

As I am participating in this wonderful idea – my priority book is 47 for this week:

The intense, personal slave narrative of 14-year-old Forty-seven becomes allegorical when a mysterious runaway slave shows up at the Corinthian Plantation. Tall John, who believes there are no masters and no slaves, and who carries a yellow carpet bag of magical healing potions and futuristic devices, is both an inspiration and an enigma. He claims he has crossed galaxies and centuries and arrived by Sun Ship on Earth in 1832 to find the one chosen to continue the fight against the evil Calash. The brutal white overseer and the cruel slave owner are disguised Calash who must be defeated. Tall John inserts himself into Forty-seven’s daily life and gradually cedes to him immortality and the power, confidence, and courage to confront the Calash to break the chains of slavery. With confidence, determination, and craft, Tall John becomes Forty-seven’s alter ego, challenging him and inspiring him to see beyond slavery and fight for freedom.

And in preparation for Banned Book Week I will be listening to:

Does Jerry Renault dare to disturb the universe? You wouldn’t think that his refusal to sell chocolates during his school’s fundraiser would create such a stir, but it does; it’s as if the whole school comes apart at the seams. To some, Jerry is a hero, but to others, he becomes a scapegoat–a target for their pent-up hatred. And Jerry? He’s just trying to stand up for what he believes, but perhaps there is no way for him to escape becoming a pawn in this game of control; students are pitted against other students, fighting for honor–or are they fighting for their lives?

What is most notable about this funny, touching, memorable first novel from Stephen Chbosky is the resounding accuracy with which the author captures the voice of a boy teetering on the brink of adulthood. Charlie is a freshman. And while’s he’s not the biggest geek in the school, he is by no means popular. He’s a wallflower–shy and introspective, and intelligent beyond his years, if not very savvy in the social arts. We learn about Charlie through the letters he writes to someone of undisclosed name, age, and gender, a stylistic technique that adds to the heart-wrenching earnestness saturating this teen’s story. Charlie encounters the same struggles that many kids face in high school–how to make friends, the intensity of a crush, family tensions, a first relationship, exploring sexuality, experimenting with drugs–but he must also deal with his best friend’s recent suicide. Charlie’s letters take on the intimate feel of a journal as he shares his day-to-day thoughts and feelings:

I walk around the school hallways and look at the people. I look at the teachers and wonder why they’re here. If they like their jobs. Or us. And I wonder how smart they were when they were fifteen. Not in a mean way. In a curious way. It’s like looking at all the students and wondering who’s had their heart broken that day, and how they are able to cope with having three quizzes and a book report due on top of that. Or wondering who did the heart breaking. And wondering why.With the help of a teacher who recognizes his wisdom and intuition, and his two friends, seniors Samantha and Patrick, Charlie mostly manages to avoid the depression he feels creeping up like kudzu. When it all becomes too much, after a shocking realization about his beloved late Aunt Helen, Charlie retreats from reality for awhile. But he makes it back in due time, ready to face his sophomore year and all that it may bring. Charlie, sincerely searching for that feeling of “being infinite,” is a kindred spirit to the generation that’s been slapped with the label X.

Oh and lets not forget that next weekend is also the Bloggiesta which I am going to squeeze in around the family thing because Bloggiesta is really that AMAZING and sleep is truly… overrated. 😛

It should be a pretty great week. I want to know about yours! Are you participating in Bloggiesta? Banned Book Week? And what are you reading? Be sure to use the hashtag #IMWAYR if tweeting on “The Twitter” 😀

AND be sure to link up your What Are You Reading post below!

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and those of you who read mainly children’s through YA reads – please ALSO link your post here:

Meryl Streep Movie Club – Online (and off)

Published on September 23, 2012September 23, 2012 by Sheila (Book Journey)6 Comments

I have been meaning to post about this for a while now and life and shiny things apparently got in the way… BUT I am posting now and maybe a few of you would like to join along ans we gather speed (and people) as we go. 😀

Earlier this year I had the opportunity to read The Meryl Streep Movie Club book by Mia March and I really enjoyed it. Actually, I was surprised and interested in the many movies Meryl has been in and found out that in fact, I had seen very few of them – most of them in the last ten years, and then mainly her comedy ones. In fact, as I started to look into this more, I discovered that Meryl has been in over 50 movies in her career… and she is still going.

Then I won a chance to host a Hope Springs party ay my house (starring, you guessed it, Meryl Streep). The party was a lot of fun and as I sat and chatted with my friends over a glass of wine (or two) and delicious hor duerves, this idea began to form…

what if we watched all her movies – one month at a time.

SO…. some of the wonderful Bookies Book Club (YAY!) and some of my friends (YEAH!) will be gathering ay my home on 4th Thursdays to watch whatever movie we have randomly drawn of Meryl Streep’s. A asked that each person bring a little movie snacky item and we hang out and watch a movie.

This first movie, randomly chosen is going to be The Deer Hunter. We watch it this Thursday and if any of you wish to join in online that would be super cool! We will discuss on the Friday following the movie night here at Book Journey – and we can also use the hashtag #MSMC on Twitter on Thursday and on Friday.

Oue random pick for September 27th is….

The Deer Hunter

–

Ok, so this late in sharing this news I will just say if you are interested feel free to rent the movie or watch it on line and hope to see you at the Movie Club!

Morning Meanderings! SUNDAY and MUD SNOBS!

Published on September 23, 2012 by Sheila (Book Journey)21 Comments

Good morning! I totally skipped out on posting yesterday. Friday I had a three hour bike ride and then came home and hubby wanted to go out to eat and by the time I was home from that I was exhausted. 😯

Saturday morning I was up at 5:45 to get ready and meet at my friend Amy’s with Paula and Courtney so we could drive the two hours to Brooklyn Part and take part in the 5K Mud Factor… which was….

a bust.

After participating in the AWESOME Muckruckus in August which was from start to finish mud mud and more mud, sticky mud, watery mud, thick mud, stinky mud, you name it – it was mud…. this was pretty much not what we thought it would be.

The Mud Factor took place in a corn maze which for the first three miles of the 3.2 run was just dirt trails and the occasional obstacle. Some of the obstacles were small piles of dirt to go over… some were where they had dug a little hole for you to either jump in or over, but mud free. There was some of the cool rope climbing and tough girl stuff like that – but not enough to make this a win. At the very end there was a small slide down a hill into a little mud… very little, and at the very end you crawled through some thick mud under plastic ropes.

All in all we agreed it was too much money ($70 to register, $10 for a t shirt, $10 for parking and $5 for them to hold your bag of clothes to change into in a place that was watched). The Mud Ruckus was $100 registration but it was for MS and it included parking, a t shirt, your bag keeping, and food at the end.

Anyhoo – live and learn and it was still a good time hanging out with friends.

Pics were taken on a disposable camera which I have not turned in yet so watch for them to show up later this week. 😛

BOOKS.

A few books did come in the door this week, as my reading has slowed so has my review requesting.

The bottom three are review books, the top is an audio version of The Knife of Never Letting Go which I purchased.

This morning I have church and later tonight I have a get together. I hope to work on the book room a bit this afternoon and if it warms up perhaps cleaning out the garage for next weekends family get together.. I think it will be an audio day. 😀

What are you doing today?

This One Is Mine by Maria Semple (Bookies Book Club Review)

Published on September 21, 2012September 21, 2012 by Sheila (Book Journey)24 Comments

Violet Parry is bored. She is bored with what her life has become. Once vibrant and full of life (her rock and roll manager husband David used to call her “Ultra Violet”) Violet is now a stay at home mom. Sure, life is good, she hand-picked the house they live in and money is certainly not an issue, but Violet has lost her zip. Their toddler Dot has become an anchor holding her back from living, and she still has not lost the baby weight around her middle… and possibly her thighs… and for sure her rump… and David? Well David is busy being David. Closing deals, running around the country…..

So when Violet meets Teddy, small time rock and roller with a bad boy image who seems to take an interest in Violet, she suddenly recalls a bit of her old spark…

Then there is Sally, David’s sister who is determined to land the perfect husband on her schedule. When her eyes land on Jeremy who she foresees hitting the big time soon, she sets her plan in motion. FAST motion… as in she has given herself a few weeks to meet (yeah, did I mention they had not met yet?), fall in love and ~~get the ring~~… er, I mean get married.

Both women throw caution to the wind and disaster awaits around every corner.

Why did I want to read this book? When it was nominated for book club I knew I had this one on the review shelf. This was an opportunity to not only read it, but read it with a group which is always fun. I was also in charge of dessert for this meeting and I wanted to try to make this cover so badly…

So… This One Is Mine. It has been a long long time since I have disliked a book so fully. From the very beginning I found Violet to be spoiled and selfish… yes, I agree her marriage needed work – but she never gave it the opportunity to work. Poor poor Violet *laced with sarcasm. and peas, because I really do not like peas either*

And then there was Sally. Almost more unlikable then Violet. Almost. Depends on the chapter. Selfish and determined to have her way no matter who was in her path. Sally’s actions time and again throughout the book were not funny to me, but despicable, horrifying, and just down right gross. There was nothing – NOTHING redeeming about her…. each page made me groan a little more.

Now I don’t have to like characters to enjoy a book…. but this one left so little to even hope for I just turned page after page hoping there would be something… but in the end, I found nothing. I was reading this at our cabin recently and another girl from our book club was with me… I was about 50 pages in front of her and she kept asking, “does it get better”…. it did not.

My only silver lining in the book was 3/4 of the way through when an event went terribly wrong and by this time my mind was so filled with the sick that was Violet and Sally that I evilly wanted to rejoice…. but then… even that poofed out before I was satisfied.

Now I get that this is a harsh review, but it is an honest one. I loathed this book. Now, if you look at Amazon reviews… I am in the minority, others loved this and found it hilarious. I do not get these people. 🙂 Perhaps they were thinking of a different book…

Bookies Book Club Thoughts…

This was our book club read for September. Prior to the group meeting a few that could not join us that night sent in their thoughts by email. The emails were scathing. Words used to describe the book were … well, I am not going to say here.

The review itself was interesting as I thought it would be. We are such a diverse group of readers and I was curious where we would land on this one. In our eleven years of this book club, this book rated the lowest rating we have ever given as a whole (and there are 18 of us!) On a scale of 1 – 5 the highest rating for this book was a 1. Many of the ratings fell below zero, I myself gave it a goose egg because I could not rate such a book.

We marveled at the Amazon reviews. We wondered if our thoughts on the book had to do with that we were from the mid west and perhaps we were more conservative readers (but please note many in this book club have read books in all sorts of genres and situations and enjoyed them so that can’t be it…). Plus, I added to the group, through our years we have read other books in that environment and did not come out the last page with this much…. this much…. BLAH.

We did of course have food to go with our book: (HAZAH!)

**I did make the cupcakes, with help from a friend with the flowers. They were delicious! They are called high top cupcakes, recipe is on the Martha Stewart site.**

**Crackers and hummus and a couple hot dishes…**

20120911_185637 — **It was our first skyped in member meeting…. “Hey Suzanne!”**

Not pictured (my bad – I thought I did take this pic) was the Ultra Violet Vodka (UV) which was funny because that was Violet’s nickname.

Now all that said… this author has a new book out called Where’s You Go Bernadette that I have been hearing good things about. I have this one on my shelf and plan to read it soon. A few in the book club have started this one on their own and have said it was good.

Book Journey