Book Journey

After by Amy Efaw (audio review and giveaway)

Published on August 23, 2011August 23, 2011 by Sheila (Book Journey)38 Comments

How could this happen? Who would do such a thing? These are the questions that surround the new-born baby that was found tied in a trash bag in the dumpster.

This certainly could not be Devon Davenport, a straight A student, exceptional athlete, and girl with a plan. Yet, when the police find Devon she is bleeding heavily, and when rushed to the emergency room it is confirmed that she has just given birth. Soon Devon finds her self thrown into a Juvenal criminal facility and being charged with attempted murder. As police and lawyers talk to her, tell her she must tell the truth… Devon has to admit that she doesn’t remember what happened.

Is Devon in fact dealing with such trauma that she truly can not recall what happened… or is this just a brilliant ploy to get off the hook…

I listened to this audio because I had heard raves about the book. The subject matter interested me…. a baby left in a dumpster…. a teen so distraught, she does not even realize for most of the book that the baby is hers.

I know many people loved this book, but I have to say I was not one of them. As well written as this book was, it didn’t hold true for me. I could not believe that a girl like Devin, described as a straight “A” student, obviously intelligent, and strong-minded – had no idea she was pregnant. I know that the power of the mind can be strong, but the physical changes to her body…

And if that is worth arguing about by those who loved the book, and feel that it is possible to put yourself into such a state of denial…. then I will add this…

The fact that Devin refers to the baby throughout the whole book as “it”….. drove me nuts!

Maybe it was the audio version but Devin just was not engaged in what she had done, even as she began to remember she still did not seem to connect that the baby was a human life…. I don’t know… I am still a little frustrated about it.

I enjoyed the part with Devin in the correctional institute. I liked the correspondence between the girls, this is where the book excels. Amy Efaw really captures the things that the girls are dealing with and how they defend themselves from society. Its sad, really.

I think that in the end, no matter what Devin’s circumstances (I wont even go into my thoughts about the mother) were a major concern and the audio made me angry more than anything. The ending is all a little too neat…. and as the final words were said… I was left with a feeling of “huh?”

If you would like to give this audio a try – leave a comment here letting me know… I will have a drawing later this week … and offer it up to someone.

The 2011 Where Are You Reading Map has been updated to include After

I purchased this audio from Amazon

Morning Meanderings…. I Need Your Help

Published on August 23, 2011 by Sheila (Book Journey)24 Comments

Good Morning!

I am at camp this week…. up early for a bike ride to start my morning before every one else gets up. 😀 I figure I can get in a little exercise this week so brought my bike.

Here is where I need your help. I have made the long list in the 2011 BBAW Awards in the following niche categories:

Best Audiobook Blog

Best Eclectic Book Blog

SSSSQQQUUUEEEEE!!!! Really, thank you, that is exciting 😀

Now I can only move forward in one category. I do LOVE LOVE LOVE audio and promote it to no end here…. but know a few other blogs that are super audio blogs too…. even more so than my own. I know I am an eclectic blog and love to read diverse styles of books. So the questions lies with…. which one do I go forward with?

Please let me know your thoughts and they will be taken into consideration. Just when I think I have chosen…. my head goes the other way…. 😛

Thank you in advance for your help.

As for camp day one…. awesome. I really thought it might be a bit scary, but really….. everyone is soooooo nice. Already I have laughed and cried several times….

Also – on another note….. it is not too late to sign up for a Blogger interview swap for BBAW week. Trust me, this is a lot of fun.

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

Published on August 21, 2011August 21, 2011 by Sheila (Book Journey)94 Comments

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading is where we share what we read this past week, what we hope to read this week…. and anything in between! D 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.

Last weeks winner:

Puss Reboots

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

In case you wonder why I offer a book giveaway for those who visit others who do this meme, it is because I LOVE community. Book Blogging is all about sharing our love for books with one another. By visiting some of the other participants – you never know where you may find that next awesome read – or a blog that becomes one that you want to read more often.

Welcome to the 101st It’s Monday What Are You Reading post! Last week we celebrated the big 100 with a couple bonus giveaways…. here are the winners from that:

The $20 Amazon gift card goes to….

#16: Bluestocking

and the comment with someone you were introduced to through this meme goes to:

Joy’s Book Blog

(winners were chosen using Random.org)

Well another awesome week but really – not a lot of action here. This is what I posted over the last week:

Small Town Sinners by Melissa Walker

Pictures from this weekend bike ride in Itasca State Park

Born Round by Frank Bruni (audio review) **With giveaway!!!

Pretty pathetic week… I was reading, just not big chunks. Of course now, I have three reviews to write and two more about finished. That said – here is what I am treating myself to this week: (Click on the cover to see descriptions)

*I have listened to this entire series by Patterson on audio and love these books – this story line of Michael Bennett (cop) and his 10 (yup 10!) adopted children …. seriously – check these audio out!

* It pained me to read a book with the word “winter” in its title this time of year…. but I heard good things about this and the audio was on sale at Amazon.

As for books….I am still (still still still…. ) catching up on books from the past couple of weeks so I am going to stick with that. This week I am at a Camp for people with AIDS. If you are curious about what in the world is Sheila doing at an AIDS camp…. check out the story here. I will be at camp from Monday morning through Friday morning. I am taking along my IPOD with books on it, my NOOK, a book or two, and of course Laptop so I will be in communication all week and I will keep you updated.

Right now though I am so excited to see what you are reading! Connect to this meme by adding your It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? where it says click here. Have an awesome week!!! 😀

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Born Round by Frank Bruni

Published on August 21, 2011September 20, 2011 by Sheila (Book Journey)36 Comments

Frank Bruni was ALWAYS hungry. He was born that way. His mother cooked amazing meals and loved having people over to enjoy them. If food was eaten in full of one of something left, Franks mom felt as though she had not made enough.

Bottom line was Frank enjoyed eating. he had an epic appetite that later would serve him well as a restaurant critic for the New York Times. Totally in love with his job, Frank had to learn how to deal with his long time love hate relationship with food. What followed was yo yo dieting, and dealing with a painful lifelong addiction to food.

I had heard this audio was pretty good…. and as a self-confessed foody (oh yes… I do love food!) I though it would be an interesting listen. The draw to this audio for me was that I found it interesting that someone like Frank who battled his weight all of his life – would take on a job as a food critic for The New York Times.

Frank, who reads this audio himself, tells an honest portrayal of diet pill abuse, over eating and then working out like a mad man…. going from one extreme ( a hiking adventure that is pretty extreme causing him to lose extreme weight) to another ( refusing dessert at a restaurant but them stopping on the way home for not only a piece of his favorite dessert – but the whole dessert!).

At times I felt the audio was getting long with tale after tale of food event, job, weight battles…. and just about then – frank would come in with a little “comic relief” and share about how many times when critiquing food he would mix up his alias names he used for reservations… or his denial about his pants being tight (certainly it was the cut of the pant… obviously the company has changed that…. or the old shrinkage in the dryer story…)

In the end – the book was satisfying – neither leaving me hungry, or full. I enjoyed learning a little about Frank Bruni.

This review is part of the Weekend Cooking meme at Beth Fish Reads

Interested in this audio? Leave a comment here telling me what your favorite food to go out for is, and I will have a drawing next week and choose one of the comments using random.org as the winner and I will mail you this audio.

The 2011 WHERE Are You Reading map has been updated to include Born Round

I purchased this audio from Amazon

Morning Meaderings… MISSING IN ACTION

Published on August 21, 2011August 21, 2011 by Sheila (Book Journey)20 Comments

Good morning! 😀

Yes I still exist!

I had two days this past week where I was actually too busy to post a Morning Meandering. I LOVE to do the Morning Meanderings, so believe me it was painful to walk out the door without so much as opening Laptop… but it had to be done.

Yesterday I left the house at 4:30 am to drive to Itasca State Park for the Tour De Pines. A hilly little ride if you ask some of my friends who went along with me for the first time. It’s a beautiful ride that spends the first hour actually riding through the park.

I did not need that much time to get there for start at 7:30 am, but last year my friend Wendy and I got lost and did not get there until 9 so I was not taking any chances. The other 6 friends I was riding with were camping in the park so they were already in the area.

Turns… out I was the first one to the ride, getting there about 6:40 am… 😛 The ride crew laughed that I drove in from Brainerd and beat my friends to the ride who were staying maybe a mile away from the start up. 😀

At the first pit stop we had an opportunity to walk down a trail and see the largest Red Pine of the park. Unfortunately it looks like the top had been hit bu lighting but still…. it was pretty big. 😀

Even back where I was taking this pictire of Rhonda and Mike, I could almost here Rhonda cussing me out about this hill ;) — Even back where I was taking this picture of Rhonda and Mike, I could almost hear Rhonda cussing me out about this hill 😉

So that is where I was yesterday. We did the 50 mile route instead of the 75 as we had a little wind to deal with. I came back home around 5 pm pretty tired and was in bed by 9:00.

I am late for Alyce’s Saturday snapshot, but knew I had to post these yet this week because starting tomorrow I am at camp for the week working on Connie’s story and I should have some beautiful pics of camp. (I will explain camp in the Monday What Are You reading post that will go up tonight.)

If you noticed a drought in book reviews here lately – you are right… there was one. I seemed to be finishing nothing. 😛 Well… the drought is over. I have three audio reviews to write, by the end of the day a fourth and two book reviews – possibly a third. I just knew everything would finish at once 😀

Have a super day…. I have a crazy busy morning making sure the staff and leadership of where I work are ready for the staff retreat that they leave on tomorrow. I would normally be going with them, but The Camp Benedict board of directors invited me to attend their camp before this one was on the books…. so I am not attending my Leadership one. Later I think hubby and I are going for a motorcycle ride with friends, I may squeeze in a bike ride and I still need to finish mowing the lawn.

2011 Bike Miles: 435

Morning Meanderings: The Horrible Awful ;)

Published on August 19, 2011 by Sheila (Book Journey)16 Comments

Good morning! 😀 Looks like it will be a nice day here today and I am thrilled as it is my day off and I get to actually enjoy it a bit! 😀

I have a BIG week coming up – a 75 mile bike ride tomorrow in Itasca Minnesota and then come Monday I am at a camp through Friday morning which I am excited about – more on that on Sunday! Today thought, I am going to go work out this morning, come home and do a little house cleaning, a little reading and later shopping for camp. Maybe take a bike ride…

Why did I call this post The Horrible Awful? Well… if you have read or seen The Help, you know why… 😛 I just think that is so funny and went to the movie a second time yesterday afternoon with 4 friends. Yes, worthy of seeing twice and if you have not read this book I urge you to do so.

As for how I did on week one of My Fitness Pal…. the results are below. How about that? 4 pounds! 😀 This next week I think may be a bit harder as at camp all the meals are provided but I am going to try to take in much of my own and keep my eating on track. I am also taking my bike so I can hopefully get out and ride a bit too.

Have an awesome day! 😀

Created by MyFitnessPal – Free Calorie Counter

Morning Meanderings… Fall Reading (right around the corner!)

Published on August 18, 2011 by Sheila (Book Journey)24 Comments

Good morning! 😀

I hate to even mention Fall (I think last year in a post I referred to it as the “F” word 😯 ) but even I have to admit there is one good thing about fall….

life slows down a bit.

Spring is the fresh air, open the windows season and wait impatiently for the signs of summer…. my absolute FAVORITE time of year…. sunny days, bike rides, grilling, camp fires, beaches… by early September I am happy, and usually exhausted.

As fall enters and the nights become chilly… I turn back to the books. I love to curl up in a blanket with a hot cup of tea and a good read. Speaking of good reads… here are a few coming this fall that I have caught my attention:

THE DOVEKEEPERS
By Alice Hoffman

On sale October 4

There’s no magic here; in The Dovekeepers, Hoffman takes readers to the year 70 CE to dramatize a historical event: the storming of the fortress of Masada where 900 Jews took a stand against the Romans. She tells the story from the perspectives of three very different women. We’re thinking that this may be the novel that fans of The Red Tent have been waiting for.

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

On sale September 13

This imaginative debut, set in a magical circus, follows two rival magicians who select champions to represent them in a deadly competition.

The Taker by Alma Katsu

On sale September6

On the midnight shift at a hospital in rural Maine, Dr. Luke Findley is expecting another quiet evening of frostbite and the occasional domestic dispute. But the minute Lanore McIlvrae—Lanny—walks into his ER, she changes his life forever. A mysterious woman with a past and plenty of dark secrets, Lanny is unlike anyone Luke has ever met. He is inexplicably drawn to her . . . despite the fact that she is a murder suspect with a police escort. And as she begins to tell her story, a story of enduring love and consummate betrayal that transcends time and mortality, Luke finds himself utterly captivated.

That’s just a sample…. there are more, but falls not here yet. 😀 Any fall releases you are excited about?

Personal note – tonight 6 of my friends are going to The Help with me. Yes I went last week… but this movie is really REALLY good.

Morning Meanderings… Non Fiction Overdose

Published on August 17, 2011 by Sheila (Book Journey)30 Comments

Good morning! 😀

Did you notice there was no Morning Meandering yesterday? I just flat-out ran out of time. I got up early enough but was putting finishing touches on my Small Town Sinners review and got so into that, suddenly I had to rush to get ready to go to work.. and yup – no Morning Meanderings. EPIC FAIL. 😯

And in other epic fail news… I need a break from non fiction.

I know … that is just so out of the blue… but it is a fact. I have really noticed for about the past 6 months I have been including at least one non fiction read in each weeks Monday What Are You Reading. I do not know really when it happened, but suddenly I am really into life stories, memoirs, history, triumph stories…

Last week I reviewed The Devil In The White City and Working It Out. Both non fiction. Yesterday I finished the audio of Born Round, also non fiction. As I reached for the next book on my reading list for the week, I noticed both are non fiction and suddenly… I just wanted something fun… not too heavy, and not too real. I needed a break from feeling real horror, real sadness, real ….

well… apparently just real. 😛

SO (and don’t laugh) I picked up CUT by Patricia McCormick because it is fiction and it is small. Of course… not that I am looking at it… I am thinking that may be too serious of fiction so my search for light continues. 😀

DO you ever do that? Over dose on too much of one genre or subject matter and you have to switch it up?

2011 Miles: 385

2011 Miles: 50

Small Town Sinners by Melissa Walker

Published on August 16, 2011 by Sheila (Book Journey)8 Comments

Lacey Anne Byer is known for being a good girl. Her dad is the pastor of the Evangelical church. Having just turned 16, drivers license in check, and a possible leading role in her churches annual Hell House event, things are looking pretty sweet for Lacey’s Jr year.

Then a mysterious boy comes to school. Ty is good-looking, drives a red 80’s BMW, and has a glint of trouble in his eye that makes Lacey’s heart beat double time. After all, everyone knows that Lacey is this good girl…. but Ty is new to town. With Ty, Lacey can reinvent herself to be anyone she desires.

With Ty…

everything can change.

Hell houses are haunted attractions typically run by American, fundamentalist Christian churches or parachurch groups. These depict sin, the torments of the damned in Hell, and usually conclude with a depiction of heaven. They are most typically operated in the days preceding Halloween.

A hell house, like a conventional haunted-house attraction, is a space set aside for actors attempting to frighten patrons with gruesome exhibits and scenes, presented as a series of short vignettes with a narrated guide. Unlike haunted houses, hell houses focus on occasions and effects of sin or the fate of unrepentant sinners in the afterlife. They occur during the month of October to capitalize on the similarities between hell houses and haunted attractions.

The exhibits at a hell house often have a theme focusing on issues of concern to evangelicals in the United States. Hell houses frequently feature exhibits depicting sin and its consequences. Common examples include abortion, suicide,use of alcoholic beverage and other recreational drugs, adultery and pre-marital sex, occultism, homosexuality, and Satanic ritual abuse. Hell houses typically emphasize the belief that anyone who does not accept Christ as their personal savior is condemned to Hell.

Wikepedia

I read this book as part of the Faith in Fiction group read. I loved the look of this book… the cover… the title… honestly, both gave me the sense that we were in for a good Christian YA read that would push the boundaries, those are the books I appreciate the most in the genre of Christian Fiction.

First of all let me say that I had never heard of Hell House until I read this book. I grew up as a casual church attendee with my family, and later in life, after I was married my husband and I became more committed to a church, and now I work as the Family Life Administrator/ Special Event Coordinator for our church.

What Melissa Walker captures in this book is the innocence of small town life, and what happens when a boy, Ty, who once lived there a long time ago returns with a different look on life and faith matters than what the church is teaching. While main character Lacey has grown up surrounded by a life of church and faith… Ty gives her a different look at things… (I was slightly reminded of Footloose)

The adults of fictional small town “West River”, are RELIGIOUS. They hold their belief system high… teenage pregnancy falls mainly on the girls shoulders (after all, girls are supposed to be more mature and boys… well, they will be boys 😉 ), being gay is a choice and there is no such thing as being born “gay”, and alcohol is STRICTLY prohibited, even in moderation.

Lacey has grown in to this belief system as well.. but Ty opens her eyes to the fact that not all things are black and white… this is demonstrated well as Melissa Walkers characters all have some sort of “trial” in their own life or in their families (abuse, addiction, alcoholics, teenage pregnancy, and one friend may be gay). Even Lacey’s own family had her life cookie cutter perfect for her … actually trying to choose her friends because they were different in their eyes.

I liked that the book brought up tough faith questions, in a YA manner that allows us to question our faith and explore it. While I do wish the book would have dived in a little more to these questions, I felt the author did a nice job of leaving it open for interpretation… enough that I as a reader am still pondering over the book, days after I finished it. I wouldn’t mind seeing a second book come out of this story line… continuing on with how this story could be more fully developed as Lacey is more open to exploring her faith and her relationships.

As I mentioned, this review was a book discussed through the Faith In Fiction group. To see other reviews on this book (and some great thoughts and opinions) check out these posts:

Books and Movies

Book Addiction

My Friend Amy

Book Hooked Blog

Roving Reads

The Ignorant Historian

Wordlily

The 3 R’s Blog

Linus’s Blanket

My Random Thoughts

Tina’s Book Reviews

I received my copy of this book for review from the publisher

Bloomsbury Publishing

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? The 100th IMWAYR post with BONUS giveaway!

Published on August 14, 2011 by Sheila (Book Journey)136 Comments

Last weeks winner:

Jennifer at Rundipinne

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

In case you wonder why I offer a book giveaway for those who visit others who do this meme, it is because I LOVE community. Book Blogging is all about sharing our love for books with one another. By visiting some of the other participants – you never know where you may find that next awesome read – or a blog that becomes one that you want to read more often.

As I said in the post title this is the 100th It’s Monday What Are You Reading post that I have done since I inherited this meme from J Kaye’s book blog in February of 2009. At that time I was about 8 months into book reviewing and blogging and when J Kaye asked me if I would take over this meme I was so shocked and honored! Certainly there had to be participants who had participated longer than me! I graciously accepted feeling it was a no brainer to accept… after all, this would bring new readers to Book Journey, and allow me to meet others as well. I had no idea if it would work but I jumped in. I was actually on vacation that first Monday What Are You Reading. I have left it almost exactly the same as J Kaye had done, except I added the incentive to look at other participants posts. I wanted people… to meet people. 😀

That all said – please see below for the additions I am making to this weeks post to celebrate. There is a chance at a Gift Card as well as an extra opportunity to grab a book out of the Reading Cafe. There are a couple new secret titles I added for this week only and they will be pulled once the winners have chosen what book they want. Winners will be announced Wednesday at the Morning Meandering right here.

Ok – as far as this past week.. what a bust. I feel like I hardly made a dent in any of my reading…. here is the little that was accomplished:

Working It Out by Abby Rike (book review – a non fiction story of triumph over unthinkable tragedy… you may recognize Abby from The Biggest Loser show)

The Devil In The White City by Eric Larson (Our August book club read that may very well have taken the best Book Club read so far this year spot. FANTASTIC!)

The Help movie review…. (Grab some popcorn and get to this movie!!! :razz:)

The Bookies Book Club celebrates 10 Years!!!! (walk down memory lane with me as I explain how Bookies came to be…. )

That’s it. That’s my week. I didn’t think it would be so busy but I guess between the bookies anniversary, a surprise party for Sharon (Bookie gal!), going opening night to The Help movie, working an additional shift this week at work, a baby shower, a house-warming, watching I Am Number 4 with hubby, and College Son stopping in to visit on Sunday…. yeah…. reading went to the way side. 😯

As for this week… I am hoping to do a little late summer-house keeping and catch up on some of the books I announced I was going to be reading here and have yet to do so…. those books would be: (click on any book cover to go to Amazon for a synopsis of the book).

and…. I think I should have two audio end this week (if not three) so next up for audio will be:

That’s the start tot he plan. I like it! 😀 Now I am really excited to see what you are reading! I did not make it around last week but this week I will!

The 100th post bonuses this week are: Every person that links a Its Monday What Are You Reading post to the linky below where it says “click here” will go into a drawing for a $20 amazon gift card that will be emailed to the winner this Wednesday morning.

Also – for those in a separate comment leave the name of a blog that they were introduced to through this meme and that they frequent now beyond the meme, will go in to a drawing for a chance to choose a book or bookish item from the Reading Cafe. (Check it out – there are some fun things I have added this week. 😀

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