The following are the most popular book club books during June based on votes from readers and leaders of more than 30,000 book clubs registered at Bookmovement.com:
1. The Help by Kathryn Stockett 2. Room: A Novel by Emma Donoghue 3. Cutting for Stone: A Novel by Abraham Verghese 4. Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand 5. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot 6. Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet: A Novel by Jamie Ford 7. The Paris Wife: A Novel by Paula McLain 8. Little Bee: A Novel by Chris Cleave 9. Water for Elephants: A Novel by Sara Gruen 10. Half Broke Horses: A True-Life Novel by Jeannette Walls
Top two risers:
Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin (New at #24) Shanghai Girls by Lisa See (New at #30)
[Many thanks to Bookmovement.com!]
I have read on my own #1 and #5. With my book club I have read: #2, #3, #6, #8, and #9.
How about you? Have you or your book group read any of these books? Do you have a favorite out of this group?
Yesterday I worked, changed oil in the jeep and the Durango… oh wait, let me clarify… I didn’t do it… I went and had the oil changed. 😀 Then picked up a few supplies because…
I am road tripping to the cabin with a couple of friends today after work. SSQQUUEEEE!!!
This weekend up on the North Shore is Beaver Bay Days. It is kind of an annual event that I grab a few friends and attend. It is one of those small town things that are kind of dorky fun. Silver Bay and Beaver Bay Minnesota have street events, mining tours, street venders, food, and street dances. Oh and did I mention that Saturday Silver Bay has its Friends Of The Library books sale? Oh yeah…. I am there 😀
We are coming back Saturday afternoon and I am not taking Lap Top. (Shhh….. don’t tell him, its rare that I leave him behind…. :shh: ) A little mini break 😀
I am thinking I will try to get my friends to sing this while we drive the 3 1/2 hours….
Four year old Colton Burpo undergoes an emergency surgery that almost takes his life. As his parents Todd and Sonja pray for a miracle to save their son… a miracle happens, and Colton survives.
In the months that follow, Colton starts to talk to his parents about things he could not have possibly known, such as while he was being operated on, he was able to describe where his mom and dad both were and what they were doing, even though neither of them were int he room with him. At first skeptical, Colton’s father, who is a Pastor, lets these conversations run their course. Soon Colton is describing Jesus in ways that are beyond his years and Todd knows in not part of the Sunday School curriculum. He describes Heaven in ways that match up with the Bible, again in ways that a four-year-old would not know.
Colton Burpo, now age 11, is described as a normal kid who fights with his siblings .
Colton himself picked out the title of this book, says Todd Burpo. We were sitting around trying to decided on a title when we asked Colton what he hoped people who read this book learned. Without hesitation, Colton responded, “That Heaven Is For Real.”
I first heard of this book through the buzz of my book club. When this group of amazing readers talk books… I listen. The audio is a short 4 cd’s but in those 4 cd’s an amazing story is told of a little boy and his experience when he almost died.
Spoken in the pure and bold way of a child, Colton’s dad retells the story of his son’s time in Heaven. Todd Burpo, being a Pastor, knew that this book would bring up questions as well as its share of doubting Thomas’s. He two had questioned his son but knowing what was going on when his father was in another part of the hospital and describing seeing him was just the start of the unexplainable things that Colton knew.
In April 2011, he book was the number one best selling book on USA todays best selling book list, the fifth week dropping to number two behind Water For Elephants. People could not get enough of the story.
I enjoyed this quick audio listen. If anything I wish it would have been longer, more in detail – but I can not put my finger on what could have been added to the book. It is a book that will make you think. Colton’s story is an amazing one, and one I will not soon forget.
A few days ago, Sunday I think, I had worked on cleaning the house all day, ran a few errands, made dinner… and eventually made it downstairs to curl up in my favorite chair.
I logged on to my laptop… opened up Tweet Deck and tweeted this:
@bookjourney: Ahhhh… finally… in my favorite chair with my favorite blanky and a little down time between lap top and TV. Anything good on?
*a minute later cell phone is ringing upstairs* I sign and tweet:
@bookjourney: Things that annoy… downstairs in fav chair, cozy blanket, and lap top and cell phone is ringing upstairs….
As I am preparing to go upstairs to check it…. I see this message on twitter:
@missremmersreviews: that’s just me. Ignore it. haha
I respond…
@bookjourney: wha?
@missremmersreviews: I texted. Whoops.
@missremmersreviews: Bad timing. LOL
(So if you are following this craziness… I am complaining that I am all cozy downstairs in my chair with my blanket when the cell phone rings upstairs, only to find out that reagan (Miss Remmers Reviews) – who is also on twitter at this same time is the one who is calling me. 😛
Then another voice chips in:
@bonjourcass: @MissRemmers @bookjourney hahahaha
😛
Ok.. that was pretty funny. Turns out Reagan was texting me to complain that my post with all the audio book suggestions had added greatly to her TBR. 😀
Ahhhhh…. my work as a book blogger is now complete. 😀
Have an awesome day…. I have no workout to report as instead I came home yesterday, wrote a bit, and mowed my lawn which is a three-hour audio fest. (The audio? One Tuesday Morning – SO GOOD!)
On June 21, 2008 lighting struck a very drought-dry California and ignited over two thousand wild fires in what became the lightening siege. One of the blazes turned towards Tassajara Zen Mountain Center. The monks within this area prepared for the fire to arrive, though told to leave the area, a small group of five would not consider leaving.
If you lived on the west coast, you knew of the fires. If you lived in California, you smelled the smoke. What was happening was news worthy, and the news was focused on Tassajara.
The center was famous for its hot springs, food, and peaceful environment. What would happen to this place? Could it be saved by a few? And what if those few were merely monks, who practiced sitting cross-legged and staring at a wall – what were they really trained to do?
I am not a history buff. Almost embarrassingly so. I do not follow the news, and due to this, there are things in this world I think I should know about… but sadly – do not.
Unless of course, I find my way to a book, as I did in this case… a book about the fires of summer 2008. From Minnesota, I am sure I heard about the fires, but did not follow the story. I did not smell the smoke. After reading this book I can no longer say that I have not heard the story. I am not even sure if I can say that during this read, I did not smell the smoke. As one can read about blueberry pie and their mouth begins to water vividly knowing the flavor, the same can be said for reading about a fire.
I went into this read knowing nothing of the Tassajara Zen Mountain Center. I learned it was not only know for the practice of meditation, but also for bread baking and vegetarian dishes (see? another word association to the taste buds – bread baking! Mmmmm!) I also learned that there is one road into Tassajara, a 14 mile unpaved one.
The book itself moves at a zen like pace. You spend the first 150+ pages learning the background of Tassajara, when it was purchased in the 1960’s, what it was, what it became and how. You also are following the people and the decisions made prior to the fire. All fascinating really, but a book about a massive fire… I wanted to see smoke.
And then we get there, where is evacuation… and fire… and it is exciting. I read these pages quickly wanting to know after all this build up how it was all going to go. And as I write this I think – this is where the book really comes alive. People fighting for what they believe in – against all odds… Now that I know the story, I will not forget it. I would recommend this book to others who enjoy amazing non fiction.
Reading this book reminded me of the devastating fire on the Gunflint Trail in Grand Marias Minnesota. The Gunflint Trail is a fascinating road that goes up up up and is famous with history and books written about it. It is known for moose sighting, bear, and other wild life. We have friends from Brainerd who run a camp on the Gunflint every summer. In May of 2007 the fire that they believe started from a campsite quickly found its way to an area of downed trees from an earlier storm and took off and our of control. It consumed 40 buildings including a large camping resort, causing evacuation of many of the homes and businesses along the trail as the fire made its may closer. Our friends camp was not harmed, the fire finally under control just a mere 13 miles away from it.
In early June I went to visit our friends and we drove the Gunflint looking at the damage. It was heart breaking to see the normally lush and full forests gone – replaced only with black soot. The only soothing to my soul were the green buds peeking out here and there reminding me that nature will conquer and replace in time.
Good morning. I have some awesome news – I Am Cast Free! The Orthopedic Surgeon taped my fingers and thinks they will strengthen on their own. I have a follow-up next week to see how it is healing so not completely out of the woods…. but I feel close 😀
Today I am excited to announce the winner of the Harry Potter VLOG contest I announced last week. I wrote a song for Harry Potter and having no musical talent whatsoever, offered anyone who wanted to create a VLOG and sing my song I would enter them for a gift card … Danielle did just that and did it fantastic. Don’t take my word for it – check out Danielle here:
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.
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. 😀
So a pretty crazy week here. I received some news that bummed me out… and I participated in an event that made me feel better. 😛 You can find out about both here within the happenings of this past week:
So that’s the week. For some reason I did not get everything read that I had hoped to last week. I can’t really put my finger on why as I was reading… but just could not do everything I had hoped to. That said – I am going to keep it a bit lighter over here this week so I can work on the ones from last week as well. This weeks hot list is:
“Do you remember the hospital, Colton?” Sonja said. “Yes, mommy, I remember,” he said. “That’s where the angels sang to me.” When Colton Burpo made it through an emergency appendectomy, his family was overjoyed at his miraculous survival. What they weren’t expecting, though, was the story that emerged in the months that followed—a story as beautiful as it was extraordinary, detailing their little boy’s trip to heaven and back. Colton, not yet four years old, told his parents he left his body during the surgery–and authenticated that claim by describing exactly what his parents were doing in another part of the hospital while he was being operated on. He talked of visiting heaven and relayed stories told to him by people he met there whom he had never met in life, sharing events that happened even before he was born. He also astonished his parents with descriptions and obscure details about heaven that matched the Bible exactly, though he had not yet learned to read. With disarming innocence and the plainspoken boldness of a child, Colton tells of meeting long-departed family members. He describes Jesus, the angels, how “really, really big” God is, and how much God loves us. Retold by his father, but using Colton’s uniquely simple words, Heaven is for Real offers a glimpse of the world that awaits us, where as Colton says, “Nobody is old and nobody wears glasses.”
My book club has been talking about this one for the last couple months. On audio – it is 4 cds and I am already starting the third CD.
Selfish but beautiful Darcy is reeling from the betrayal of her best friend, Rachel, and her fiance, Dex, even though she cheated on Dex with his friend Marcus. Darcy is carrying Marcus’ child, so she assumes he’ll take care of her. After all, she’s always gotten everything she’s ever wanted. But when Marcus dumps her, she finds herself pregnant and alone. Always the opportunist, Darcy contacts her childhood friend Ethan, now a writer living in London, and gets him to agree to let her visit for a while. She jets off to the UK envisioning a charmed life where a handsome, rich Englishman will sweep her off her feet.
Probably a little light and a little cheesy but hey…. it’s summer… and it was on sale. 😛
When a massive wildfire surrounded Tassajara Zen Mountain Center, five monks risked their lives to save it. A gripping narrative as well as a portrait of the Zen path and the ways of wildfire, Fire Monks reveals what it means to meet a crisis with full presence of mind.
Zen master and author of the classic Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind, Shunryu Suzuki Roshi established a monastery at Tassajara Hot Springs in 1967, drawn to the location’s beauty, peace, and seclusion. Deep in the wilderness east of Big Sur, the center is connected to the outside world by a single unpaved road. The remoteness that makes it an oasis also makes it particularly vulnerable when disaster strikes. If fire entered the canyon, there would be no escape.
More than two thousand wildfires, all started by a single lightning storm, blazed across the state of California in June 2008. With resources stretched thin, firefighters advised residents at Tassajara to evacuate early. Most did. A small crew stayed behind, preparing to protect the monastery when the fire arrived.
But nothing could have prepared them for what came next. A treacherous shift in weather conditions prompted a final order to evacuate everyone, including all firefighters. As they caravanned up the road, five senior monks made the risky decision to turn back. Relying on their Zen training, they were able to remain in the moment and do the seemingly impossible-to greet the fire not as an enemy to defeat, but as a friend to guide.
An upcoming book tour that kind of fascinates me…. I hope it is awesome.
And that’s it – the other two audio’s I have going, Bloody Jack book 2, and One Tuesday Morning I think are going to take me the better part of the week as they are both longer audio.
So – that leaves you. What did you read last week? What are you planning to read this week? Please add your link to your post below where it says “click here” .
Happy reading 😀
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I have been wanting to, meaning to, write this post for a long LONG time.
Winter is a great time to snuggle up with a blanket, grab a cup of hot cocoa, and of course a book or two. No guilt goes along with winter reading as we all know… it is cold outside! 😛 Not to dis on summer, which can present wonderful reading opportunities like: beach reading, lawn chair reading, reading on the boat, on the deck, while tanning…
yet summer can also present a busier outdoor life style where reading is not possible (or in some cases like at family get togethers… frowned upon :razz:)
Summer seems to bring in with it things that are hard to hold a book to:
gardening
mowing
taking walks
grilling and cooking either indoor or out
driving to and from events – weddings, grad parties, gatherings of all types
biking/roller blading
washing windows
What I am leading to is….
audio books.
Ok wait you non audio book people – before you decide to leave, hear me out. If you think audio is cheesy, well guess what? I did at one time too. Both my aunts have listened to it for years and I have all but eye rolled in the past.
BUT…
two years ago I discovered there is such a thing as good audio and audio – when done well, can enhance your reading and help you get to books you never thought you would have time for. I have had books on the shelves for years (no exaggeration) that I have waited to read but never found the time for them. I started picking them up on audio (I currently use audible.com, Blackstone, Hatchette, just to name a few) and find I get to them much faster and listen to them while I am doing other things.
This post today is not only to plug audio to those who have not tried it or had a bad experience, but to also assist you with choosing amazing audio books that I can personally recommend, and other audio lovers have recommended as well. Audio is linked to places you can hear a sample.
Thank you to all the bloggers and book lovers mentioned here who through earlier posts this year have brought these suggestions as awesome audio. I hope audio book lovers find a few titles here, and those of you new to audio may feel encouraged by these trusted sources to dip a toe in…
and stop trying to sneak your nose into books at those family gatherings. 😛
Have you listened to any of these and want to add your two cents? Do you have other awesome listens that were not mentioned? Please let me know, as I am always (ALWAYS) looking for great audio!
As I finally type this, (a minute before noon) you can see above that I did participate in the Warrior Dash in Hastings Minnesota yesterday and I am so glad I did.
When we got there we seen a mom and daughter who had just finished and I asked how it was. The mom said the worst was the 3/4 mile hill you go up in the beginning – the rest was easy. That was encouraging. I asked at Information if I could skip over the obstacles I could not do because of my hand and ram cast and she said all of them were possible by just walking around them. Awesome – I was fully in.
Crawling through the tunnel obstacle
My cast is a “C: cast, meaning it is in the shape of a “c” and does not go all around my hand and arm. It is removable. For the Warrior dash I put on the old one that the doctor was going to toss on Friday, wrapped it in plastic and then put the medical wrap over that. Hand protected from mud and water. After the Dash, I threw it away and put on the new one.
After the water part of the event which was like a rain storm
The hill was the worst. Amy and I did not run the event, but fast walked it – we jokingly called it the “Warrior Hike”. many others were doing that too. The obstacles that called for climbing I skipped over and took pics of Amy doing them. There were about 3,000 people there… food and a band and it was fun to people watch as many dress up in costumes.
Random shot of the crowd
In the end – I was so glad I did it. I posted all my pics on Facebook this morning so if you are a Facebook friend go and check them out – HILARIOUS. If you are not a Facebook friend you can be at: Sheila McKinney DeChantal.
Weekend Cooking is hosted by Beth Fish Reads. It is a fun way to share food related books, events, or recipes.
Last weekend my friend Amy and I went to St Joseph Minnesota for the Tour Of Saints. It’s a beautiful town and a great ride. After the ride we stopped at a little restaurant called Bo Diddley’s. This is pretty much a tiny small town stop, nothing exciting but we were a mess from riding in the heat for 50 miles and were not looking to impress anyone with our sweaty bike gear, so it worked for us. 😛
Once inside the menu was sparse. After riding in the humidity that had heat advisories out across the state, a burger and fries sounded way too heavy. I wanted nothing fried. Finally we both settled on the seafood pita.
When our food arrived I was pleasantly surprised. It was served in a little square wicker basket that held the pita upright and wide-mouthed. Inside the pita was chunks of imitation crab in a light mayo coating, shredded iceberg lettuce, thinly sliced tomato and onion. That’s it. Simple and refreshing. My friend Amy, who is a whiz at cooking identified the spice in the seafood mix as dill.
I liked this so much I made it as a mid-week supper, and packed it twice for my lunch as well. It’s funny, I could not remember the last time I bought iceberg lettuce being pretty much a Romaine or Spinach leaf salad person. Yet, Iceberg lettuce is exactly what makes this salad awesome.
Here is how I made mine:
head of iceberg lettuce
two tomatoes
a package of imitation crab (I bought the sticks as I thought the chunks were too big)
one onion
fresh cilantro
light mayo
salt and pepper
whole wheat pita (optional)
Using a sharp knife, slice the lettuce into this strips, as much as you need for your salad(s). I used about half the head to make salads for Al and I for dinner. Arrange the lettuce in the individual salad bowls. Slice tomato thinly as well and put desired amount of tomato over the lettuce in the bowls. Take the onion slicing thin strips, enough to put on top of the tomatoes in the salad bowls.
Take the imitation crab and cut into small bite size pieces and place in a small serving bowl. chop the cilantro (to taste) into small pieces and add to seafood. Generously sprinkle dill into the crab, cilantro bowl as well. Put enough light mayo in the bowl to coat the seafood and mix well. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Take the seafood combo and put generous amounts on top of each salad. Serve!
*You can also make the seafood combination ahead of time and keep cold in refrigerator until time to serve.
I did not use the pita in my recipe, but if you wanted to just replace the salad bowl with a pita 🙂
Book Journey 