Henry’s Sisters by Cathy Lamb

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)28 Comments

Isabelle Bommarito is a mess.

She continuously picks up men… connects for a night and then disposes of them quickly.  As in now… as in LEAVE.

Cecilia Bommarito is depressed.  Her husband is having an affair right under her nose.  And so she eats… and eats… and eats while her anger boils over onto anyone in the way.

Janie Bommarito is a best selling author.  While shy and a loner in real life, her books are filled with heinous crimes that would make the strongest persons stomach churn.  She lives alone in a boathouse and counts everything out by fours….

The Bommarito sisters all have issues…. BIG ONES.  And if you met their mother, River Bommarito (one time stripper, dancer, child neglecter…. ) you may understand why.

Then comes Henry Bommarito.  Sweet Henry.  Sickly as a baby and later diagnosed to be mentally handicapped.

Honest to God, Henry is the only normal person in the family. 

The only one.

Did the Bookies have a fire?

The Bookies book club read this for their January book pick.  It had been nominated before… and passed on.  This time, it won the vote.

The opening line:

I would have to light my bra on fire.

Hmmmm… potential?

When the sisters Bommarito’s are all called home to help take care of Henry while their mother goes into the hospital for surgery – there is, to say the least, reluctance.  The girls do not have fond memories of growing up with a mother who neglected more than loved… who at times layed in bed for weeks under the weight of her own depression leaving the girls to fend for themselves and Henry.  And now added to the top was their grandmother who had Alzheimer’s so severely she thought she was Amelia Earhart.

Yet the girls do go back, to care for Henry the brother they love, and to work in the family bakery while their mother is away. 

The result?  A touching story – at times hilariously funny… heartwarmingly sweet, and occasionally painful.  It was a book that put you on an emotional rollercoaster and left you in the end…

breathless.

As for the Bookies…. what a great review.  We had spaghetti and lasagna (two on Henry’s favorite meals).  Garlic bread and a chicken salad, and even home made cupcakes – to die for!!!!

Angie's mouth watering cupcakes
The Bookies do know how to party....
Ok... there may have been a fire.... we may have burned some bra's... BUT - this is not the Bookies first fire. 😉

We loved the book, no one rating less than an average read – more leaving towards the higher marks.  We discussed the sisters we felt we were most like, and Henry’s unwavering kindness to all.  We could all learn a little something from Henry. 

In the end, out of the 16 of us in the room, 9 admitted to bawling like a baby at some point in the book… present company included.

Henry’s Sisters is a book I personally loved – Cathy Lamb writes with a quick whit and a way that made me feel I was in the room with these quirky characters.  I highly recommend this read – it was touching and funny. 

Amazon Rating

Goodreads Review

I purchased this book from Barnes and Noble – read on my NOOK “Snooky”

Morning Meanderings… I Fell Off The Blog Wagon

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)12 Comments

Whoa!  Where did I go? 

That was an unplanned lapse in blog time this week.  On Monday I took out little dog Bailey to the vet to have a growth looked at.  It was pretty nasty and growing rapidly.  They scheduled surgery for him for Wednesday.  Then Tuesday I had the best of intentions of putting a review post up and just never got there.  A busy work day, then cooking and cleaning for my book club and finally crashing to bed around 10 pm. 

When I woke up Wednesday morning it was already after 7 am, and I had to be to work at 8 am – and get the dog to the vet for his surgery.  I did not even open my laptop as I ran for the door. 

After a ten-hour work day, followed immediately by 3 hours of volunteer time, I came home at 8:30 pm… wiped out again.  I knew this would be a crazy week … but wowza, I didn’t know it would take such a tole on me. 

Bailey’s surgery went well and hubby brought him home around 4:30 pm.  I did not see him until I came home late, and then seen his “cone head” that he has to wear for the next two weeks while he heals. 

Tonight after work Navy son (SSSQQQUUUEEE!!!!) and his best friend Andy are joining us for dinner.  We are having what I call “Honduras hotdish” as that is where I got the recipe.  It will be nice to hang out with them both – and I sooooo look forward to it. 

This also puts me one day closer to the end of this busy week.  😀

Be sure to come by later today for my Bookies book club review of Henry’s Sisters.  Hint:  we had a little fire and burned something in honor of this book.  Funny thing is, this is not our first fire.  😛

Morning Meanderings… Todays Post Is Brought To You By The Letter “P”

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)8 Comments

Good morning and UGH – really???  How can one person feel so behind?  I had all of last week off you think I would be a rock star in reviews and posts… but no…. what happened?

Girls weekend Thursday – Saturday.  I was home on Sunday – I posted quite a bit actually but then Monday came….

I ran all day Monday from work to the vet to the printer to the gym to pick up pizza for a group meeting to home at 8 pm.  Then I worked on year in review papers for our Book Club meeting tonight and I did that until alomst 1:00 am.

SO here I am – watching the clock…. wishing I had written the review I wanted to last night (Ugh… why did I not write that review???) and needing to get to work early today as I have a huge week there too. 

Good grief.

Today I work until 3, run to the grocery store to purchase items for Book Club tonight (my house) and to the bank.  Then home – clean, cook, prep notes…. Bookies here at 6:30 pm. 

Basically I will not be back on line until 8:30 pm or so tonight.

GAH.  Did I say that yet?

GAH.  “P” is for pathetic.

I am looking forward to tonight… just wish I wasnt suddenly so bogged down with activity.

I did my check in this morning over at Team Kickin it – stop over… and say hi to I think… a saner version of me. 

Team Kickin It - enter here

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)68 Comments

Coming in a little late today – I got caught up in the previous post tonight and well…. yeah.  😀

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.

This past weeks winner:

Lydia from The Lost Entwife


WOO HOO!!!!  Please choose an item out of the Reading Cafe Grab Shelves  and email me your choice with your mailing address as well!   journeythroughbooks@gmail.com

I did not accomplish all I had hoped I would this past week.  Even with the week off I spent a lot of time writing, not so much reading – and I was gone with friends over the weekend crafting at our cabin.  That said – here is what did happen…

Divergent by Veronica Roth (First book of the year!!!  And it is a good one!)

Introducing …. a new blog with a different focus:  Team Kickin It!  (Stop by and say hello!)

 

Folly Beach by Dorthea Benton Frank ( good beach read!)

 

Boo by Rene Gutteridge (fun audio that oddly gave me Twilight flashbacks of Bella’s dad….)

 

Cook Yourself Thin Faster by Lauren Deen  (good recipes – easy and fast to make and low cal too!)

 

My How Book Blogging Has Changed... (my thoughts on some not so positive changes to the book blogging community over the past year)

 

This week I have some catching up to do… and a busy week ahead – work, evening commitments and Navy Son is home for a couple weeks!  SSQQUUEEE!!!!

I do have a few things planned though…

Whether as New Year’s resolutions, birthday wishes, or daily promises, most everyone vows at some point to make a major life change. But change is easier said than done, especially when it comes to better managing our wellness amidst the chaos of everyday living. Fortunately, wellness coach and award-winning writer Brett Blumenthal has devised a way to inspire and motivate her readers to live healthier and make positive changes in their lives. Although Blumenthal’s method is not a quick fix, it is a surprisingly simple one: make one small change per week, for fifty-two weeks, and at the end of a year, you’ll be happier and healthier. After all, it is the small changes that are the most realistic, instead of trying to overhaul your lifestyle all at once. 52 Small Changes addresses all areas of wellbeing, including nutrition, exercise, stress management, mental wellness, and even the health of one’s home environment. By guiding readers through these changes at an easy, manageable pace, Blumenthal provides an engaging roadmap to lasting results and “a happier, healthier you.”

I haven’t looked at this one yet but I am excited to check it out!

After her boss is caught in a political scandal, fledgling Washington lobbyist Dempsey Jo Killebrew is left broke, unemployed, and homeless. out of options, she reluctantly accepts her father’s offer to help turn birdsong—the fading Victorian mansion he recently inherited in Guthrie, Georgia—into a real estate cash cow. but birdsong turns out to be a moldering Pepto-bismol-pink dump with duct-taped windows, a driveway full of junk, and a grumpy distant relation who’s claiming squatter’s rights. Stuck in a tiny town where everyone seems to know her business, Dempsey grits her teeth and rolls up her sleeves, and begins her journey back to the last place she ever expected: home.

Mary Kay Andrews is a hoot – I look forward to listening to this one!

In the midseventies, Steve Martin exploded onto the comedy scene. By 1978 he was the biggest concert draw in the history of stand-up. In 1981 he quit forever. This book is, in his own words, the story of “why I did stand-up and why I walked away.”

Emmy and Grammy Award winner, author of the acclaimed New York Times bestsellers Shopgirl and The Pleasure of My Company, and a regular contributor to The New Yorker, Martin has always been awriter. His memoir of his years in stand-up is candid, spectacularly amusing, and beautifully written.

At age ten Martin started his career at Disneyland, selling guidebooks in the newly opened theme park. In the decade that followed, he worked in the Disney magic shop and the Bird Cage Theatre at Knott’s Berry Farm, performing his first magic/comedy act a dozen times a week. The story of these years, during which he practiced and honed his craft, is moving and revelatory. The dedication to excellence and innovation is formed at an astonishingly early age and never wavers or wanes.

Martin illuminates the sacrifice, discipline, and originality that made him an icon and informs his work to this day. To be this good, to perform so frequently, was isolating and lonely. It took Martin decades to reconnect with his parents and sister, and he tells that story with great tenderness. Martin also paints a portrait of his times — the era of free love and protests against the war in Vietnam, the heady irreverence of The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour in the late sixties, and the transformative new voice of Saturday Night Live in the seventies.

I loved Steve Martin as a kid!  Had to give this one a try 🙂

 

 

 

I’ve experienced a lot the last few years and I have a lot to share. So I hope that you’ll take a moment to sit back, relax and enjoy the words I’ve put together for you in this book. I think you’ll find I’ve left no stone unturned, no door unopened, no window unbroken, no rug unvacuumed, no ivories untickled. What I’m saying is, let us begin, shall we?

A Christmas gift!  Cant wait to read!

 

 

Thats the week!  What does your week look like?  I would love to see what you are reading!  Add your link below to where it says click here! 

Powered by Linky Tools

Click here to enter your link and view this Linky Tools list…

 

For those who enjoy reading Childrens, Middle Grade and YA – check in at this link as well:

My how book blogging has changed… and I am sad

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)182 Comments

This past year – especially the latter part, I have felt a difference in the book blogosphere…. blow ups on twitter, and sadly some of the bloggers that I swear are the ones that helped me in the early days, that made me ♥LOVE♥ book blogging have drifted away – posting rarely or not at all… and that… makes me sad.  I know lives change, priorities change, but there was a time I could list the blogging gurus of the community – and now… I just don’t know.

At BEA (Book Expo of America)  this past year I seen some book bloggers throw fits about not getting a book they wanted, running and grabbing every book they could, and loudly speaking their displeasure if they waited in a line for a book that ran out of stock before they got one.   I was ashamed at the fact that they did not realize that they were a part of something bigger… they represented a great whole…  and were giving us as Book Bloggers a bad name.  Honestly… it reminded me a bit of the snotty selfish girl in Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory….

"I got a golden ticket to BEA and now I want ALL THE BOOKS NOW!!!!! GIMMY!"


(It made me think that maybe BEA going forward should have a criteria for book bloggers that attend…

  1. You must be an established book blogger (4+ months) – showing consistency in posts and book reviews…

(just thinking out loud…)

And ok… I kid a bit above so this does not seem like a downer post because really – it’s not a downer post.  It’s more about changes and accepting them and knowing that we still are a community of women and men who enjoy reading and talking about books. 

So what does this have to do with me and my role as a Book Blogger?  I still love book blogging.  There are so many wonderful things about this community that I love.  I did not know three years ago when I started that I would someday meet many of you. (*waves!*) That is still like a dream to me… and that just made me love it more.

I wish I would have found book blogging years ago so I could have been more a part of the evolution of it all.  As it is, I am still glad we had such good years together and hope that the community will build strong once again.

I do try to do my part by helping bloggers who email me with questions, connecting bloggers to one another through the Monday meme, and making it a point to comment when I can…

I don’t think what we have is over.  I think it is changing yes, and change can hurt a bit.  I want to hang with people who want to talk books… who get excited about new authors, new releases, and the next great read coming around the corner.  I will continue to do that as long as I have a passion to do so and for me… that passion still burns strong. 

Note:  I wrote this post a couple of weeks ago when I noticed another book blogger friend went off the grid.  I wasn’t sure I would publish it, it was more just to words to my thoughts.  Then I seen a post at My Friend Amy’s that said a bit of what I had been thinking too.  She encouraged me to post my thoughts and here they are. 

If you are a book blogger – or if you are a person who just likes to talk about books as well as other things… what do you think of all of this?  Have you noticed any changes since you started blogging?  If you are a reader – have you noticed changes in the blogs you like to read – for better?  For worse? 

Cook Yourself Thin Faster by Lauren Deen (and giveaway!)

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)31 Comments

I love food.  It’s true.  I absolutely admit to loving a good buffet, I hardly have anything I will not eat or try.  There was a time in my youth… that did not matter.  No matter what I ate, I did not gain.  I was not a work out queen either… in fact I can not recall any exercise in those years beyond the required gym class.

Well times… they do change…

As I became older, married, with children… the pounds did not just melt away any more.  I came to a point where if I wanted to look the way I well…. wanted to look, then I needed to work for it.  In those years, I worked hard at the gym, tried hard to watch what I ate and did maintain the look I wanted for myself. 

Now…. (*fast forward to present time), I have actually found things that I enjoy doing that also qualify as “working out and exercise”.  Who knew… it could also be fun?  😀

I still fall off track.  I get good at it, and then lose my mojo…. and then, like now, work on putting myself back on the track again.  Of course…. I still have that “love of food” that has never left me.

When I found this book recently at one of my local book stores I was excited about it.  Flipping through it I seen the pictures of the food were mouth-watering and something I would definitely be all for giving a try.  I mean, look at some of these:

  • Dessert Pizza
  • Mini Blueberry Muffins
  • Seven-Layer Dip
  • Pineapple Mojitos
  • Shrimp and Grits
  • Cheese “Fries”
  • Carrot Soup with a Kick
  • Flank Steak with Indian Salsa
  • White Pizza with Roasted Mushrooms

And it also is broke into wonderful categories:

  • Breakfast
  • Starters
  • Mains
  • Sides/Soups/Salads
  • Dessert

AND – if you know me, you know that I do not like to spend a lot of time in the kitchen doing prep work and searching for a long list of ingredients.  I was thrilled to see that the recipes were fairly simple to make, took few ingredients, and not a ton of “kitchen duty”.  YAY to all of that!  😀

I also like recipes that I can serve to guests or take to potlucks that do not look like they are “healthy foods”  (enter the vegie tray….)

I plan to spend some more time in this book yet this afternoon.  Many (but not all) recipes have a mouth-watering picture.  They all have nutrition information, and a list of ingredients that are pretty easy to find.  (I may make the spaghetti squash for dinner)  These are recipes my hubby would even enjoy and not feel deprived of flavors (just calories 😉 )

On page 29 I found this little gem which looks tasty and something I could easily prep ahead of time for work:

Asparagus and Goat Cheese Quiche

Recipe:
Cooking spray
4 asparagus stalks, cut into 1 inch pieces
2 large eggs
1 large egg white
3/4 cup low-fat milk- (I use 1%)
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
2 oz. goat cheese- (I would use a low fat cheese)

1.) Preheat the oven to 425F. Spray four 5 oz. ramekins (I would use my muffin tin) with cooking spray. Fill a large bowl with ice and cold water and set aside. 
2.) Place the asparagus in a shallow dish with 2 Tbsp water. Cover with vented plastic wrap, and microwave on high until bright green and just tender…about 3 1/2 minutes. Carefully uncover and place in ice bath to cool, and drain. 
3.) Whisk together the eggs, egg white, milk, salt, and pepper until well blended. Divide the cheese and asparagus among the 4 dishes, and pour the egg mixture on top.
4.) Bake until just set, about 15 minutes. Serve warm or cool.

I hope to make that this week… maybe even later today as this ends my official week off of work and I am back to it tomorrow morning 😀

I posted this review today as part of Beth Fish Reads Weekend Cooking.  Stop over and see what else is cooking this weekend!  😀

In a typical me fashion, after bringing this book home… I seen I already had it on my “To Be Read” Shelves…. so….. my “Doh!” is your “Woo Hoo!” as I am giving my second copy away to one commenter – who shares with me…. what they are having for dinner tonight….  (I will announce the winner of the book Tuesday morning)

Amazon Rating

Goodreads Review

Morning Meanderings… Home! and Winners! Oh and more Giveaways!

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)22 Comments

Good morning!!! 😀

I am home from a crafting weekend with girlfriends up North… yes, farther North than I live.  It was a wonderful time!  We left Thursday afternoon, ate out Thursday night, then planted ourselves at the cabin and had wonderful food, watched movies, and worked with the Cricut.

While I did not make as many things as I did the last time we did this, I did have fun experimenting with etching cream.  You use the outline of the vinyl pieces, put it on glass… put the cream over it and it etched the glass… kind of cool.  I made these 4 glasses:

We celebrated Thanksgiving together as friends – so the wine was a perfect companion to our dinner.

I also made this:

We really had a great time.  😀

Now that I am home… I have a lot to catch up on!  I have reviews to write and hope to get caught up today.  I need to finish our year in review for book club on Tuesday.  AND last week I promised a week of giveaways and missed several days!  SO more giveaways coming up… AND winners to announce!

 

My winner of this book goes to #53:  Cindi!  Congrats Cindi  – I am sending you an email this morning to get your address to mail this book to you.  😀

 

My winner of this book goes to #7  Shannon of Extreme Reading And Writing! Shannon, I have emailed you for your address. Congrats!
Thanks everyone for entering and expect more giveaways this week – including one I think that will go up today with my review. 😀

How was everyones weekend?

 

 

 

 

Morning Meanderings… AND…. I’m Off!!!

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)30 Comments

Good Morning! 

I am sitting here this morning surrounded by “to do’s”.  I took Bailey in already this morning to get a hair cut.  I pick him up about noon.

I have some groceries to get, a stop at the local craft store, phone calls to make, dinner to prep, movies to pick out, packing to do….

Why?

Girl’s weekend at our cabin!

We leave this afternoon… me +4 more.  We had such a great time in October with our Cricut weekend that we planned another one and now here it is.  Yes, I probably could have got some of this done earlier this week…. no, I did not really prep at all until this moment.  😛

And that’s all ok… it will come together fast… I don’t mess around when I am shopping.  It is not something I really enjoy so I am more of this in and out girl. 

Asus (laptop) will not be joining me. 

We have no internet there, and the girls tend to frown on me when I bring it…. so….. here it will stay.  I am however bringing along The Future Of Us by Jay Asher, and possibly Snookie (Nook) and for sure Milton Podricker (IPOD).  A girl cant leave everything behind…. 😀

 

Click to go to website

 

 

I worked out twice yesterday, once with my friend Wendy for Group Power (weight lifting) and later with my friend Heidi (elliptical).  I had double work outs the last two days – but now I will not have any until Sunday. 

Boo by Rene Gutteridge

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)4 Comments

Wolfe Boone, known as “Boo”, is why Skary Indiana is even on the map.  A horror novelist who keeps pumping out the best sellers and drawing in the tourists.  The town, adores him and does everything they can to draw in the additional revenue of the tourists by playing up to the “scary” theme…. the local restaurant is called the Haunted Mansion Restaurant, famous for it’s bloody fingers (fires splattered with ketchup) and bookstore is Spooky’s Books (where employees dress like the walking dead).

There is one person in Skary however that does not adore the famous Wolfe Boone.  Ainsley Parker, daughter of the local Sheriff, is not a fan.  Ainsley works at the Haunted Mansion Restaurant and has to put up with the gory menu and the vampire teeth when she works.  Ainsley feels her town is ridiculous, all catering to one man’s awful novels.

But, when Wolfe suddenly finds faith and decided to quit writing horror novels, Ainsley finds a side to the man she never knew before.  Genuinely funny, and honest, she may even be falling for them. 

Yet the residents of Skary can have none of that!  If Wolfe stops writing the horror novels, what will happen to the tourism?  Their town?  Soon, a scheme is plotted to put the fright back into Skary–and get their most famous resident out of love and back into the thrill business.

Ok.. ok… this book (audio) was a bit funny.  But last year when Hannah at Wordlily ran a feature on the author, Rene Gutteridge.  I proceeded to read Snitch and Listen last March, and really enjoyed it and meant to get back to the author before this – but as you know… life happens… books happen…

Last week in my library as I browsed the audio section, I came across the Boo series.  Remembering my experience with Rene Gutteridge in the past, I quickly grabbed this first audio.

Listening to Boo, was a great choice.  A funny story, great narration, and all around a great break from heavier, deeper reads. 

Ok… and a confession.  When I would picture the Ainsley dating discussions with her over protective father the sheriff… I could not help but picture Bella and Charlie from the Twilight series over there discussion about Edward… errr, in this case…. Wolfe. 

This could just as easily be a picture of Wolfe, Sheriff Parker, and Ainlsley instead of Edward, Charlie, and Bella.

If you are looking for a light hearted fun audio, I recommend Rene Gutteridge’s Boo series… great characters and a narration that will have you smiling… all through the audio.

Amazon Rating

Goodreads Review

Loaned from my local library

Morning Meanderings… Book Cravings

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)16 Comments

 

Good morning!

*Takes a big drink of COFFEE*

Day three of my vacation is here and it feels like it is going so FAST!  I guess it is, considering tomorrow afternoon I leave for the cabin with 4 of my friends for a Cricut weekend and will be back Saturday evening and then Sunday Navy son will be home for a couple weeks! 

Each week as I travel the blogesphere I am bound to stumble across some books and reviews that really speak to me and put a book on my radar. This week has certainly been no exception.

Have you seen this book around?  I have a couple of times and it draws me in and then I lose track of it, but Shan from Curled Up With A Good Book and Cup Of Tea wrote a review that made me pop this one on to the wish list! 

 

Lauren Oliver is an incredible writer and this is another book I hear low and positive murmurs about – yet this week I read a review of Liesl and Po at April Good Books and Wine and knew I had to get my hands on a copy!

 

I can always count on Nise at Under The Boardwalk to give out good audio recommendations.  She does that here with Iron House.  This is a book I have considered for a while now but never really committed one way or the other.  Nise’s description of the narration of Scott Sowers becoming a favorite of hers sealed this deal!  😀

 

Yesterday I had a wonderful day of writing, a great work out (see below) and ended my day finishing up our book club book for next week, Henry’s Sisters by Cathy Lamb.  This is going to be an incredible review! 

 

Work out update… Monday I had went into the YMCA and used the treadmill and elliptical for 661 calories.  Yesterday I went in again and as I was finishing up, a friend came in and I stayed while she worked out too..another 1,500 calories. 2161 now for the week/year!

Also – Mari, at Bookwork with a View challenged me to a push up challenge… 100 a day.  I agreed and managed 40 yesterday.  LOL… I meant to finish them, but honestly forgot… 😛  Stop over to the new Team Kickin It blog to see todays post… Wednesdays are going to be healthy recipe days and I have a yummy one for you!  😀