Book Journey

Witches Of East End by Melissa De La Cruz

Published on June 26, 2011 by Sheila (Book Journey)10 Comments

Freya and Ingrid Beauchamp. Sisters. Freya looks between 19 and 24 years of age, and Ingrid between 28 – 33. Truth be known… the lovely Freya and the librarian Ingrid are much much older….

it really is had to keep track of the years when you are a witch.

Along with their mother Joanna, the three women live in North Hampton off the tip of Long Island. Their life is pretty hum drum day in and day out as long ago (think Salem witch trials) they were banned from using their magic.

Joanne has the power to reverse death and heal serious injuries. Ingrid can predict the future and weave knots that can solve infidelity and infertility. Freya, the wild child, can create potions that can cure any heartache.

Then one day Freya sees an opportunity to help out a friend… and really, what’s a little magic about friends? The magic done and successful and seemingly no repercussions, she does it again. Soon Ingrid and Joanne catch the fever and start using their abilities to help the locals as well and for a while, things are wonderful!

Then things start to happen…. people are becoming sick, the water has a sticky black substance to it, people are missing and some are dying…. suddenly everyone is looking and pointing the finger at the Beuchamp’s. Yet Joanne, Ingrid, and Freya know there is a darker force at hand and while trying to clear their name they are also looking closely at a dark presence that they have encountered before…

The popular Blue Blood series is also by this author

I picked this book up ay BEA and I was hooked on the book cover…. what could it mean? Who is the girl? I had not read Melissa De La Cruz before but I wanted to give her a try. I dabble a little in paranormal reads and many YA so why not?

At first I wasn’t sure I was going to enjoy it. I did not like Freya’s looseness which was almost from the beginning and I stumbled through the first 50 pages not feeling committed to the story at all. And then, it started to get interesting… the parts about Ingrid held me to the book (she was nice AND worked with books – what’s not to love?) and while Ingrid leveled the playing field, Freya grew on me (a little). Her own infidelity bothered me (especially since her own sister has powers to stop it).

This is a book I had really expected to love and, well… I didn’t. Some of the dialogue seemed choppy and story lines sprouted every which way and some were followed through and some I wondered what happened to… while I was interested enough in the story to see where it was going, and some parts of the book were awesome good, in the end it was an ok read and gave me a few hours of relaxing in the sun on my deck.

Fair warning – this is book 1, so if you dive in, know it is more than a one read story 😀

Amazon Rating

Good Reads

The 2011 WHERE Are You Reading Map now includes Witches Of East End

I received this book in May at BEA in New York

Morning …er Afternoon Meanderings… Bookstores, and Authors – these are a few of my favorite things

Published on June 26, 2011 by Sheila (Book Journey)9 Comments

Good ~~morning~~ errrr… afternoon!

I have had a pretty nice end to my week. I had a day off on Friday (woo hoo – seriously woo hoo!!!) a nice package arrived, and a successful road trip yesterday.

Last week I read and reviewed Jerusalem Maiden by Talia Carner. I had met Talia in New York this year and enjoyed talking with her. When I wrote my review I mentioned that I was interested in hearing that Talia had written two other books that I would like to read some day. Soon after, Talia contacted me saying she would be delighted to send me the other two books. (*someone pinch me – these book happenings often feel like a dream!*) Of course I said I would love that. 😀

On Friday, Talia’s package arrived:

And then yesterday I went to my closest Barnes and Noble in St Cloud, Minnesota to see the NOOK representatives and they were SO NICE! The lady (I wish I would have caught her name) was so kind to me! I know very little about the powers of my NOOK and she walked me through some of the magic of the NOOK and upgraded my NOOK and hooked me up with a free book. I left feeling very satisfied with the help I was given.

Did I leave empty-handed?

Of course not…. that has never happened. 😛

There it is…. a great weekend that really makes me appreciate the book relations in my life 😀

Literary Blog Hop June 25-29

Published on June 25, 2011July 1, 2011 by Sheila (Book Journey)146 Comments

The Literary Giveaway Blog Hop is hosted by Leeswammes’s Blog. Follow the link I provided here to sign up for many fun literary giveaways from now through Wednesday.

I am offering here an international chance to win one of 2 $10 Amazon gift cards! *I will email the gift cards to the winners so as long as you have access to an Amazon you are good to go! Simply leave me a comment here telling me what book you wish you currently had in your possession and why. That’s it! 😀 Party on fellow book lovers 😛

The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch

Published on June 25, 2011 by Sheila (Book Journey)13 Comments

Randy Pausch was young, an inspiration, hard-working, family man. He was a computer scientist at Carnegie Mellon… and he had terminal cancer.

When asked to give a lecture about life and act like it is your last lecture… Randy did not have to pretend. He knew very well this would be his last lecture. Yet instead of lecturing about dying, he chose to talk about LIVING. Randy’s lecture included dreams from his childhood, over coming obstacles, not taking no for an answer when you really want something, enabling others to dream, and seizing each moment as none of us know which will be our last.

With humor, brutal honesty, and a sprinkle of intelligence, Randy pours his heart into a lecture he hopes will be a life lesson for his small children who would grown up without him, but not without what he stood for and believed in. Randy’s lecture, is a love letter to his family – and a message of hope and strength to the world.

What I love about my book club, response #2049. 😛 I jest, but you all know I love my book club. Smart, incredible women who gather once a month to talk on one of my favorite subjects…. books.

In May, this was the book that was chosen for our June read. What I love about this is that a few years ago… this group of

009 — Part of the Bookies Book Club (14 of us total)

women would not have touched this book. It would have never won the vote. Why? One its non fiction and we do not do a whole lot of that as a group. Two, it is a pretty serious and the potential to be a sad read and my book club – at least a few years back, would have avoided that for something lighter.

By review time – I did not have this book read. Since they picked it I had been to New York for a week for BEA, two large bike rides on the weekends, and a nasty injury that threw me off my game. I also could not find it in my library and really did not want to order it, not knowing much about it. When it did come in for me at the library it was in audio and it was also the day of the review.

There is always food at Book Club :) — There is always food at Book Club 🙂

Their discussion… made me want to read it all the more.

So finally – after a crazy trip to Chicago, I had time to tune in and catch up and here is what I thought of The Last Lecture.

My thoughts…

Randy Pausch has a gift of words. I entered into this read knowing very little about Randy, or this lecture which apparently is now quite famous. What I learned quickly is that Randy did not lack for self-esteem. He saw what he wanted and went after it. End of story. He speaks of this in The Last lecture as “brick walls”, advising that when we come up against a brick wall we are to keep on trying to get over it, be it a personal opportunity, a job deeply wanted, or, as in Randy’s case – a death sentence.

Yes, I can see where Randy may come off as arrogant, but as I ended this reading…. I didn’t think so. It’s probably a fine line between arrogance and drive and Randy rode it right down the middle. Where most of us would probably wilt under the weight of Randy’s diagnosis, Randy seemed to be energized. In the 18 months from diagnosis to passing, Randy used this time to prepare his family for life without him, including moving the family to a home closer to his wife Jai’s family so she would have help with the kids after he was gone.

This book was a firm reminder that life is what we make of it, we choose our responses in every situation… Randy lived life to the fullest as long as he was able. With a quick wit and sharp mind he reminds us to never give up on our dreams, seize the moments, overcome all obstacles.

I laughed a little, I cried a little and am glad to now know a little of who Randy was.

Pausch died from pancreatic cancer at his family’s home in Chesapeake, Virginia on July 25, 2008, at the age of 47. He is survived by his wife, Jai, and their three children, Dylan, Logan, and Chloe

Good Reads Review

I have updated the 2011 WHERE Are You Reading to include The Last Lecture

Borrowed from my local Library

Morning Meanderings…Chicago Recap and A Road Trip

Published on June 25, 2011 by Sheila (Book Journey)20 Comments

Good Morning! 😀

I fully expected to be on the road by now, sNOOKie and I are road tripping to Barnes and Noble this morning. Sadly, this really is a road trip as B & N is in St Cloud, about an hour away from me. I am hoping to get there early enough to talk with the NOOK representative and learn more about my NOOK….

then I just want to browse… 😀

Last week I went to Chicago with three of my friends for a much longer (MUCH LONGER – 10 hours) road trip. It was a lot of fun and even though the arm cast was a hindrance, I am so glad I went.

For Alyce’s Saturday Snapshot, I bring these pics from the trip: (go to the snapshot link and join in the fun!)

Pirates aboard the ship tour we took on the WINDY

Left clockwise: Cindy, me, Sara, and Heidi, Gino's Pizza - Chicago

We dared our Double Decker Tour Bus Guide to touch the stop light :) — We dared our Double Decker Tour Bus Guide to touch the stop light 🙂

On the Sears building glass protruding whatchamacallit

Wisconsin Dells stop on the way home... Ripleys believe it or not. say hello to my new creepy friend!

Ok – I am out. Have an awesome day! 😀

E Reader – YAY or NAY?

Published on June 24, 2011June 24, 2011 by Sheila (Book Journey)104 Comments

Two years ago you would not have caught me with an e reader.

No way.

No how.

Not a chance.

I am from the school of a book is a book. I want to touch it. Smell it. Feel its weight in my hand. Enjoy how it looks on my shelf…. or in a stack… or haphazardly tossed on the coffee table, the couch or the lawn chair. A book… is not only a book… it is home decor… it is art with reading glasses on top… or perhaps a coffee cup. A book tells you something about the owner…. they love adventure…. facts… fantasy…. knowing more about whatever…..

One year ago I was curious… but under the radar curious.

I still teased the one girl in my book club who had a Kindle. I gave her all the reasons listed above about the love of books. BOOKS. Not electronics. Yet…. I inquired at the gym when I would see people on the tread mills or ellipticals with the e reader while I had one hand holding open my book.

Did they like it? Oh yes was the consistent answer.

I stared reading up on them on-line, on blogs… pros/cons….. and then….

which one?

Obviously there was Kindle…. and then Nook… and a Sony Reader….

I made lists of what features I liked and in the end….

I asked for a NOOK for Christmas, and received the NOOK Color (as my hubby the over achiever thought that would be better even though I still have had no use really for the color…)

My final decision on wanting an e reader was mainly for travel. For years I had packed 6 – 10 books in my carry on for a vacation, lugging them both ways and usually bringing a few more home than what I left with. Heavy, bulky….. you know….

So when the NOOK arrived prettily under the tree I was quick to set it up….but not so quick to read on it. The draw of my shelves filled with books always won out over the reader.

Until…

BEA – New York, the end of May. I was going to go E Reader or bust. I allowed myself one real book for the trip…. and sNOOKie (Wha…. you don’t name your toys?) sNOOKie was loaded with a few book choices to draw me too it. And on the plane, after starting with the old stand by book…. I put it down and read Delirium in its entirety on the NOOK.

Feedback:

On the plane I loved that I could set it on the tray table and read it without holding it open. I thought I would miss that but soon discovered once into the story I was thrilled not to have to hold the book. It saved my place without a book mark. It was light weight and east to travel with. It scored high applause from me.

Now that I am in an arm cast… I love that I do not have to fight to hold a book open. LOVE IT.

Tomorrow I am road tripping to St Cloud to chat with the NOOK representative. There is a lot I still need to learn about the NOOK that I have not tried yet. I want to know more about the online access (have hardly used that). I still don’t get the color purpose although my friend Angie said it is fantastic for kids books and the pictures move.

Will I ever go 100% E Reader? No. My books are all I stated above and I need to be surrounded by them. Some people have blankets or nicknacks…. I have books. Tomato, tomahto….

My questions to you:

1. Have you gone E Reader yet? Why or why not?

2. What E Reader would you choose (or have you chosen) and why?

3. What ways would you primarily find an E Reader useful in your lifestyle?

Morning Meanderings…. Yes it is still morning somewhere :) And I have NEWS!

Published on June 24, 2011 by Sheila (Book Journey)14 Comments

Good morning! 😀 I am late but it is still morning here in Minnesota.

Today is my first full day off, no commitment day in over two weeks. I am beyond giddy and thus the late post. I slept in… I took my time getting ready for my day… I had my coffee on the deck and cereal too (I never take time to do this!!!)

The day is gorgeous and as soon as I am done here… I will be out there, book in hand… taking in the rays that I have not yet had time for in 2011. You will find me:

Or…

Or…

021 — Sitting in a lawn chair by my hostas...

Or…

No matter what I choose I am getting some outdoor time! 😛

And as for the news, my awesome friend Alison at Alison’s Book Marks had mentioned the news on Pottermore yesterday and I about sssqqqqquuueeeedddddd with excitement. Ok…. not “about”…. I did. 😛

A Change In Altitude by Anita Shreve

Published on June 23, 2011June 23, 2011 by Sheila (Book Journey)33 Comments

Newly married Patrick and Margaret decide to make a trip to Kenya. Patrick a doctor, is busy with his practice and Margaret a photography novice, finds she has much idle time on her hands. When her car breaks down, Margaret finds herself being helped by an English couple Arthur and Diana. The couples quickly become friends and Arthur and Diana offer Patrick and Margaret a nice cottage to use on their property. In short time it is discovered that Arthur and Diana are planning a trip up Mt Kenya and invite the other couple along. Margaret is unsure, but Patrick is excited and encouraging so the trip is planned.

The trip turns out to be a big mistake in more ways than one and a tragic accident where Margaret plays a role, changes the dynamics of life for Patrick and Margaret forever.

I have read and enjoyed Anita Shreve before. Her book Testimony, blew me away. However I have to say this story eked me in so many ways and does not rate more from me than an unfortunate rant, in which I apologize for before I even begin.

First off… I listened to this on audio and it seemed to take forever for the story to get moving. I believe it was disc three before it became interesting and that was actually the highlight of the audio/ book… the actual climbing of Mt. Kenya and the moments before and after the big plot drop. I actually loved that part and thought ok…. now we are going….

but…

shortly after the big happening the story dropped off for me again. While more interesting than the beginning (as now there was the *happening* to deal with), it just overall fell flat.

Margaret was extremely unlikable. And no I do not have to love all my main characters, but they do need to have something behind the unsuitableness and Margaret was just… bland. She had no fire or spunk. Se also had no sense of right and wrong, and no conscience (ok… maybe that’s the same thing…). I also felt I really never knew Patrick. Margaret mainly takes the center stage and Patrick pops in and out of the picture. I never felt the urge to cheer him on or yell at him to wake up. he was kind of “ehhh”.

With all that said, in the end it felt like the story line just stopped. No big triumphant “ah ha” moment… just kind of end of the journey. Period. The End. Roll Credits. Thank the academy.

It was really a “meh” read. Errr…. listen (audio).

I will certainly venture my way back to Anita Shreve as she touches on some powerful subjects ands gives me the feeling of a stronger personalitied Jodi Piccoult. And of course, check out other opinions on this one. I could certainly be in the minority here. But my two cents are that Shreve has done better and I think if you were new to this author this would not be the one I suggest you start with.

In recap this book was an “ehhh”, “meh, “errrrr” read.

Amazon Rating

Good Reads Review

The 2011 WHERE Are You Reading map has been updated to include A Change In Altitude

I picked this one up at my local library

Morning Meanderings…Pathetic with a capital P!

Published on June 23, 2011 by Sheila (Book Journey)13 Comments

Good Morning.

*GAH*

I have been sitting here thinking about the last month and my lack there of my regular scheduled work outs. I can not even really blame the bike injury as it started weeks before then… actually mid May.

Prior to BEA (New York) I was too busy with regular work stuff and meetings to do my kick boxing and group power lifting… back from New York I was recovering from New York (does this happen to anyone else? Where you need to recover from the vacation? Just wondering…)… that weekend I had a 40 mile bike ride…. woo hoo…. bit of exercise….

then nothing until the MS 150 the following weekend where I crashed at mile 71 and have done nothing since…. 😯

So – pity party aside…

here is my game plan of what I CAN DO…

I CAN still roller blade. I have a deep gash on my right ankle but I think if I cover it I will be ok.

I CAN walk and jog on the tread mill

I CAN use the elliptical

I CAN take my dogs for walks in the nearby park… something I always plan to do… but never do…

I CAN bike…. (yes, I can!) and today I get my bike back – woo hoo!!!

So there is the “plan B” in my life… I do not have to be inactive, and I need to get moving in a stronger more positive direction. 😀

LAPTOP made it home yesterday and is working fine! My bike (which I call Opportunity Drive) will be home this afternoon. I WILL make a full recovery from this injury and move forward starting today.

Ok… no idea where all that came from other than I am tired of sitting around with the TV on. Back to the books and the fun. 😀

Work out with me this weekend…. share your ideas for getting a little exercise while having fun doing it. I would love to know!

Bossypants by Tina Fey (audio is the way to go with this one!)

Published on June 22, 2011August 27, 2011 by Sheila (Book Journey)37 Comments

Tina Fey’s book Bossypants is her own story of how she grew up in Pennsylvania (with an over protective dad who will do anything to save a buck), to the early days of saturday Night Live (when women could not have a leading role), her honeymoon cruise because her husband does not like to fly (very Poseidon Adventure and includes a fire on the ship), to her Sarah Palin impression that she did not have time nor want to do, to deciding if one child is enough…

All in all Tina Fey is as funny sharing her own life triumphs and tragedies as she is on TV in her many roles.

Tina Fey and Amy Polter - Improv is their gifting!

I knew when I seen this book was coming out I had to read it. When I seen the audio was going to be narrated by Tina herself, I decided scratch the book, I now wanted to hear Tina tell her story. I am so glad I did.

Call it a guilty pleasure but I do really like good funny quick-witted humor. I love my “funny” to have intelligence with it and Tina Fey delivers all that in an audio that I will cherish as good laugh at yourself moments because what else are you going to do – and that is kind of the way I like to live my life too. 😛

I have enjoyed Tina Fey not so much on Saturday Night Live (mainly because I never really watched Saturday Night Live), but more for her movie roles. I enjoyed her in both Date Night and Baby Mama. Not only is Tina funny but she is also an advocate for women’s rights and strongly supports a program Autism Speaks.

So…. here is the visual of my listening to this audio book. I had it downloaded on my IPOD. I am mowing our 5 acres of yard on the riding mower… where once I would listen to music and frighten the neighbors with my singing… now instead I listen to audio. For me that is three hours of non interrupted “book” time. This particular audio however had me at times laughing out loud to the point I am sure the neighbors were ready to call the “crazies hot line”.

Yes, at times she can be a bit raunchy – and thankfully that is few and far between on this audio. Over all it was a pleasurable audio that I would recommend over the book just for the reason that it is Tina Fey herself narrating and she has that matter of fact tone that just makes me smile.