Hey You! Busy People Of Summer! YES! I Mean YOU!

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)48 Comments

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.


The Help by Kathryn Stockett (click to hear a sample)


After by Amy Efaw (Recommended by Patricia’s Particularity)  I ordered this one today!

Michael Bennett Series by James Patterson (my recommendation!!!  LOVED THESE!)

The Lions Game by Nelson Demille   (Recommended by The Brazen Bookworm)


The Passage by Justin Cronin (Recommended by me)

In Cold Blood by Truman Capote (Recommended by dog eared copy)


We Need To Talk About Kevin by  Lionel Shriver (Recommended by Book, Line, and Sinker)

Harry Potter Series by JK Rowling (Recommended by Reading Extensively but I have to second that!  :razz:)


127 Hours by Aron Ralston (Recommended by Savvy Verse & Wit)

Born Round by Frank Bruni (Recommended by Amused By Books)  *Which I ordered today because the price was right and it sounds interesting!

Bossypants by Tina Fey ( I absolutely recommend that you listen to this one rather than read it.  Tina reads this herself and it is HILARIOUS.)


Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia (Recommended by Alison’s Book Marks)

The Iron King Series by  Julie Kagawa (Recommended by Alison’s Book Marks)

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher (I have not listened to this but read it – heard the audio was fantastic!)

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society by Mary Ann Shaffer/ Ann Barrows (Recommended by A Book Lover)


The Wheel Of Time Series by Robert Jordan (Recommended by Just One More Chapter… please)

Bloody Jack Series by L A Meyer (Recommended originally by Under The Boardwalk and then again by 30+ A Lifetime of Books)

A Cedar Cove Christmas by Debbie Macomber (Recommended by Emma… a reader not a blogger)

First Rule by Robert Crais (Recommended by Home Sweet Hopkins)


The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield (Recommended by dog eared copy)


The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde (Recommended by Lil Rae Of Sunshine)

The Chaos Walking Trilogy by Patrick Ness (Recommended by There’s A Book)

Strangers AT The Feast by Jennifer Vanderbes (Recommended by Bookworm With A View)


Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkele (Recommended by 133ov)


Jesus, My Father, The CIA, and Me by Ian Morgan Cron (Recommended by Faith Hope and Cherry Tea)


I Thought You Were Dead by Pete Nelson (Recommended by Bibliophile By The Sea)


Their Eyes Were Watching God by Ruby Dee (Recommended by me)


Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr (Recommended by Under The Boardwalk)


The Painted Veil by W. Somerset Maugham (Recommended by me)


I’d Know You Anywhere by Laura Lippman (Recommended by Bookworm With A View)


Return Of The Native by Thomas Hardy (Recommended by Zenleaf – now at Mandaland)

The Host by Stephanie Meyers (Recommended by Zenleaf – now at Mandaland)


The Magicians Nephew by C S Lewis (Narnia series) (Recommended by The Fake Steph)


The Boy In The Striped Pajamas by John Boyne (Recommended by me)


Cry the Beloved Country by Alan Paton (Recommended by reader Linda, not a blogger)


Unspeakable Journey by Rinda Hahn (Recommended by me)

Still Missing by Chevy Stevens (Recommended by Jo-Jo Loves To Read and Just One More Chapter…please)

The Art Of Racing In The Rain by Garth Stein (recommended by me)

Dresden Files by Jim Butcher (Recommended by Notes Of Life)

Backseat Saints byJoshilyn Jackson (Recommended by Tina’s Book Reviews)


To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee (Recommended by dog eared copy)

Water For Elephants by Sara Gruen (Recommended by Annette’s Book Spot)

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!

Not Even A Morning Meandering… Warrior Dash was AWESOME

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)36 Comments

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: Seafood Pita

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)20 Comments

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 🙂

Morning Meanderings… Them’s The Breaks…

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)22 Comments

Good morning 😀

If you followed yesterday mornings post you would have read that I was UBER excited for my doctor’s appointment for the “6 weeks and get your cast off” appointment.  Summer has been slightly WARMER when it feels like you are constantly wearing a sweater over your left arm.

Yet – after the removal of the cast and the x-rays that followed, my doctor was not liking the lack of cartilage around the break.  Apparently, the cartilage is what protects the bones and with out that building up like it should I am overly susceptible to break my finger again. 

Not cool for this girl who wants her life back.

My doctor said he wanted to have an orthopedic surgeon (henceforth known as: O.S. as this is two long words and I am typing completely with my right hand)  look at it so that is my next step coming up on Monday afternoon.  I am told one of two things will happen:

1.  O.S. will say that I just need to keep the cast on a while longer to fully heal.

2.  O.S. says this is not working, I go in for surgery, they re-break my finger and put pins in it so it will be stronger.

PLEASE help me pray for door #1.

I came home pretty distraught yesterday afternoon.  I actually cried for the first time during this whole accident.  But… going into late afternoon, after reading on my deck for a while, doing a little shopping, and an iced coffee…  I have come to terms with what will be… will be.

So… that said…

where does that leave me with today’s previously scheduled Warrior dash event that I have been signed up for since January?

Well…. I am back and forth.  I am going and I am at least cheering my friend on.  However, looking at the route, I think I can still do most of it, as long as I can go around the things that require me to use my hand.  I will be talking to the registration people when I get there today.  I am still undecided. 

 

Have a great Saturday – whatever I do I should have some pretty interesting pictures for tomorrow mornings post.

First Drop Of Crimson by Jeaniene Frost

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)2 Comments

Denise MacGregor knows all to well about the things that go bump in the night.  Her husband has been killed by a demon.  So have several of her other relatives as the demon is in search of one man… and he is using Denise as bait.

Denise in a frenzy wonders who she can turn too.  She makes a call to her best friend Cat who is half vampire, half human, but instead of Cat, it is Spade who answers her call for help.  Spade is a not too painful on the eyes vampire.  He is kind and generous and agrees to help Denise with hardly any questions asked. 

Yet Denise is unsure what her dept to Spade may become.  He has paid for people to get out of her way.  He has protected her… and he has discovered that her blood has been possessed by the demon making it as hard to refuse as a drug to other vampires.  As Spade works to hide the truth about Denise’s blood… he also works to control himself around this grieving girl who makes his once beating heart… feel alive again.

Ok... this really has nothing to do with anything except that this is Timothy Hutton and I think the dude in the cover shot looks like him. 🙂

O.K.

I listened to this on audio.

Note:  I am more willing to stretch my genre tastes with audio…. 1.  because I can listen to an audio that is not always captivating much longer that I can tolerate a book that does not grab me and 2.  I thirst (ha ha… vampire humor!) for good audio

So yeah, First Drop Of Crimson is more than likely a book I would have never picked up.  Just not my thing… even the cover is not to my tastes.  HOWEVER, this one of the audio offered at the Blackstone Audio booth at BEA this year and I wanted to give it a try.

I can’t say I disliked the audio.  It was interesting.  I found it to be a cross between the Sookie Stackhouse series (which annoyed me to no end) and the Twilight series, which I enjoyed.  The “Twilight” side of this audio saved it.  Denise reminded me a little too much of Sookie, mainly the narrator’s voice gave off a simpleton southern twang that had me thinking… oh no… it can’t be…. Sookie reincarnated…  BUT as the read went on, I discovered that Denise was smarter than Sookie.  Not always… but occasionally.

There are some pretty steamy and graphic sex scenes in this audio – fair warning for young readers.  It was a little too hot for me, and that’s not saying much as I do not like that in books anyway. 

I did not learn until after I finished this read that this series – while being book one, is actually a spin-off from another series of Jeaniene Frost, and the characters in this audio, have already been developed well in another series – which is great for those who have read the series, but for a newcomer like me… confusing.   Knowing this now explains a lot about the beginning of the book when cat is mentioned but does not actually show up until the middle and Spade seems to have a familiarity with Denise prior to this book.

I will not continue on with this series, it is not what I am drawn too, however I do think many YA readers will enjoy this and find it fits in well with the paranormal reads that are in huge demand today.

Goodreads review

I have updated the 2011 WHERE Are You Reading Map to include First drop Of Crimson

I picked up this audio at the Blackstone Audio booth at BEA

Morning Meanderings… Hopefully say Good Bye to my little friend… “Casty”

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)28 Comments

 

Good morning.  My sleep patterns are crazy these days… I went to bed at midnight…. up at 5:30, read a little, fell back asleep… up at 8:30 a.m.  GAH.  That has to stop.  luckily, it is not a work day so I have no commitments until…

10:40 a.m.

At 10:40 this morning is my doctor’s appointment where the doctor will check my left hand and see if I can be …. cast free.  Oh – I want to be cast free.  I have had the cast on since June 11th, so yeah basically all of SUMMER.  And I really want to be cast free for many reasons…. but one in particular that is happening on Saturday:

 

 

The Warrior Dash in Minnesota

Click here to see actual route I will be on and the obstacles

OK!  OK!  Before you hit your head on the keyboard again …. let me EXPLAIN!!!!

I signed up with this with Amy in January.  It looked like a lot of fun and it is the first time it is in Minnesota.  You have to admit… it looks cool….

There are only three concerns I have on the route….

1.  The rappelling.  I took classes in High School for Outdoor Adventures and have done rock climbing and rappelling.  However, currently I do not have the best grip in either hand. 

2.  The cargo nets – climbing.  Again – the wrist and grip strength.

3.  Great Wall Warrior – another climb with the help of a rope.  Wrist thing again.

 

SO before you tell me I am crazy to even attempt it. Here is the plan.  I am going to let them know at registration that I have just (hopefully) been released of a cast and may need to bypass these sections.  I will not do anything I feel I am unable to do. 

If I still have a cast – well, in that case I am cheering from the sidelines as I can not get it wet in the water part, or muddy in the mud part.  😦

 

So off to get ready for my appointment… 

Gas in vehicle?  check!

directions to clinic?  check!

dollar bills to bribe doctor?  check!  (Oops!  Just kidding!)  😛

 

News To Me Adventures Of An Accidental Journalist by Laurie Hertzel

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)18 Comments

Laurie Hertzel started out with what I would have once called my dream job.  She worked in a library.  Later, when offered a chance to work at a Duluth Minnesota newspaper, she jumped at the chance – jumped… before even realizing what the job entailed.  Laurie found herself running copy, writing obits, answering phones, and making coffee (which is something she dis not drink and had to fill the large carafe in the only sink deep enough… the ones in the men’s room). 

Despite Laurie’s start in newspaper with little previous experience, she watched and learned, moving horizontally and then eventually up the ladder to reporter, and then journalist.  The times that Laurie describes in this book of her journey… well… times… they were a changing, and Laurie was right in the middle of it. 

The story of her career was a chance to accompany a group of “Duluthians” (I know right?  This is what she refers to people of Duluth as) to the USSR in 1986 to build a relationship with a potential sister city.  The result of this trip not only leads to a great newspaper story, but also relationships between a USSR city and the city of Duluth Minnesota that stand strong even today.  This trip eventually led to a second trip where she wrote a book, They Took My Father, based on a true story. 

Laurie’s book is lighthearted and funny as she shares the happenings with co workers, and all that is shared in a newsroom. 

Laurie with her book, "News To Me"

I listened to Laurie at an event at my local Library this week.  I went in knowing chances are I was getting the book… what I wasn’t expecting was after Laurie shared with the 44 people in the room exerts from her book, how much I wanted the book.  To the point that I was eyeballing  how many books she brought with her, vs… the people in the room and concerned she would run out before I got my hands on one!  😛

Laurie in the early 1980's interviewing a llama farmer.

Laurie’s book kept me up late into the night.  I could not put it down.  Her delightful retelling of her time in newspaper when women were not really valued as anything more than wives.  The papers even still referred to women as Mrs. John Doe – using the husband’s name to identify them… or describing them in the papers as a petite blond, or other now controversial titles. 

The antics of the newsroom in the 70’s was pretty interesting.  The guys smoked at their desks… and the women were expected to just do their job.  In one instance, Laurie describes a female coworker becoming impatient when the single women’s bathroom was occupied and she marched herself into the men’s room.  Afterwards, one of the men asked if she was having her monthly since she was so crabby (yes, you read that right)…the woman along with another female offered to make a “flow chart” so the guys could document if they were truly upset…or just hormonal.  😛  Happily, it did not come to this.

There are many other great stories, both funny and amazing that Laurie discusses in her years leading up to where she

Duluth News tribune 1978

is now, the Senior books editor of the Minneapolis Star and Tribune.  Yes, that’s right… I am reviewing the book of a senior book editor. 😯

When Laurie talks about the Congdon Murders taking place while she was working for the newspapers, that blew me away.  The murders that took place in Duluth in 1977 were later on trial in my home town Brainerd Mn.  This is long before I knew anything about the Congdon’s, but in my adult life I have toured the Congdon Mansion many times.

When Laurie writes about her time in the USSR with a camera person and the other delegates from Duluth I thought maybe the book would take a turn to the less passionate for me.  Boy was I wrong… what I thought may be heavy information about the trip and Russia was still handled with Laurie Hertzel’s flare for getting to the story.  I found myself just as engrossed in this section as all the others of the book. 

I loved this read.  As a lover of words, writing, and crazy opportunities, Laurie seemed like an adventurous person after my own heart.  She inspired me.  She will inspire you.

When Laurie was speaking here is what she said when asked about the future of newspapers:  “Newspapers should always have a place in the world.  People like to hold them, they like the feel of them.  On line newspapers are great if you know what you are looking for, but difficult to maneuver when you are just reading.  Love on your newspapers.”

Laura Hertzel, July 2011

Me and Laurie Hertzel - July 2011

Amazon Rating

Goodreads Review

The 2011 WHERE Are You reading map has been updated to include News To Me, University Of Minnesota Press

I purchased this book from Laurie Hertzel when she was speaking at out library

Morning Meandering… Good Bye Harry Potter – A Musical Tribute (yes… I am still trying to let go)

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)28 Comments

Good Morning!

I am giving you something today that I wrote… wasn’t sure I would post… saved it… thought about it (song now stuck in my head) AND today I overslept leaving little time for anything new so here it is:

*whew – run on sentence!*

You will need the words to the real song to follow the beat to the one I made up as I tried the instrumental and it is really a hard one to follow….

Goodbye Harry Potter
Though your parents died too early
You had to hold your head up high
While living with the Dursley’s
They locked you in a cupboard
And they whispered into your brain
They set you up for failure
And they told you nothing of your fame

chorus

And it seems to me you lived your life
Like a wand without a spell
Never knowing who to cling to
When Voldermort crawled out of ****
And I would have liked to have known you
but I was just a muggle
Your scar burned brightly long before
Your life became a struggle

Loneliness was tough
The toughest role you ever played
Hogwarts created a superstar
And pain was the price you paid
Even when you followed rules
Oh Snape still hounded you
All the students had to say
Was that Gryffindor deserved you

[repeat chorus]

Goodbye Harry Potter
Though I loved your movies and books
You fought the battle until the end
While Ron and Hermione exchanged looks
Goodbye Harry Potter
From the young mom who read with her kids
Who sees you as something more than magical
More than just our Harry Potter

[repeat chorus]

Ok…hee hee.  That’s me getting my crazy on a little early today 😀  I need to go see the movie again.

Update to this post:  Since my lovely friend Reagan at Miss Remmers Reviews mentioned a VLOG for this song, and then Shirley from My Book Shelf seconded that motion…. an idea grew.  😛   If anyone would care to do a VLOG of this song I created here – yup…. sing it… use the music, create a skit….  whatever, I will put up a $25 Amazon Gift Card.  If there is more than one entry – I will use Random.org to choose the winner.  Anyone who has access to Amazon may enter as I will email the gift card.  We will keep this short and sweet.  Create your VLOG, email me a link at journeythroughbooks@gmail.com by Saturday July 23 at midnight central time and a winner will be announced on Sunday.  I will link all VLOGS as well.  *The only mandatory criteria is that you must use the song I wrote here.  The rest – is up to you 😀

UPDATE 7/24:  We have A WINNER!!!  Winner will be announced and video shown on Tuesday morning the 26th!

There you go… if I have to pay up…. is really up to you.  😛

hello goodbye by Emily Chenoweth

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)21 Comments

It is the winter of 1990 and Helen Hansen has a secret.  It is one that rips her apart from the inside out to keep… but along with her husband Elliott, they decide at least for now… this is the way it will be. 

Within a year the Hansens’s are celebrating their 20th wedding anniversary, and they do so a luxury hotel in New Hampshire, going all out by inviting friends and neighbors who have been there along the way.  Meanwhile, 18-year-old daughter Abby has also been kept in the dark.  Little does she know , she is not the only one.  Abbie knows something is up and is resentful that she has not been in the know.  Seeking solace, she finds it in a cute waiter named Alex, and the rest of the summer staff .

While the champagne flows,  guests dance around the elephant in the room…

The hard copy cover - I personally like the paperback cover of the book I own... I think its softer and speaks to the story more

Whoa.  *Deep breath here*

Emily Chenoweth comes out of the shoot with this debut novel with a whirlwind of activity, at times heart wrenching, at times sweet, but always breath-taking.

The topic of this book is a hard one.  We are dealing with a family and an illness.  And at times, you can even wonder if the family itself is part of the illness by not necessarily making healthy decisions.  At the same time, you come to realize that the decisions that are made, are made out of love – and that really becomes the heartbeat of the book. 

If I seem like I am talking in code here… I am.  This is a book that is easy to give away key plots in the excitement of the review and I am walking a fine line trying not to do that, instead leaving the beauty and the mystery of this book unravel itself to each reader. 

Abbie really captivates me as you can imagine how an 18-year-old girl would struggle with what is going on with her family, as well as where she stands in the midst of life.  When the storyline shifts her way, I could almost feel that struggle, even in the story shift.  

While this book could easily have tipped the scale by being considered heavy – it never does.  Handled with a well written prose, instead it is graceful, and real… as you watch a family enjoy the last dances of life together. 

I read this book as part of a TLC Book Tour