Morning Meanderings… Minnesota Reality: Who Smells Like A Beef Stick?

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)84 Comments

Good Morning.  Current temperature…. 5 degrees.

It’s practically a heat wave from some of the 20 below days we have had of recent.

This morning…. I thought I would give you a little dose of Minnesota.

Throughout the last month as I have been reading some of the blog posts out there I have seen posts about biking, or enjoying the cooler temps of 60 and 70 degrees…. on one post I even read that the blogger went to the beach for Christmas.

The beach.

I do love to think of where you are all reading this post from… sitting in your homes or offices all over the world.  Grasp that thought for a moment.  Doesn’t that just blow you away?

Here is a little piece of my Minnesota around this time of year.  We heat our home with wood, but not a fireplace in our home.  What we have is a wood stove that sits out behind our home and in front of our business.  The wood stove heats water that runs through pipes and heats our home and our business with hot water.  For us it is cost efficient as my husband owns an excavating company and we get much of the wood for free when we clear  lots for new homes.

This time of year when it is really cold like it has been lately it is a lot of work to keep the stove temperature up.  My hubby goes to bed around 8 pm (I know – he keeps such odd hours!) and fills the stove then.  I am usually up until about midnight and before I go to bed I go and fill it again so the temperature stays nice and warm until Al (hubby) gets up at around 5 am (hey I told you he kept odd hours) and fills it and goes to work.

Here is the visual for all you readers out there of me filling the stove at midnight:

  • First I put on a heavy winter coat, gloves, and hubby’s boots (mine are too darn cute to wear to the wood stove!)
  • Next I drive down to the stove (yes, I drive!  Its cold and dark and the headlights help me see the woodpile!)
  • I then proceed to grab wood off the pile (the pieces I can lift) and toss them into the mouth of this huge wood stove
  • If I am lucky I do not singe my hair…. but usually… I do singe my hair.  (So annoying)
  • Once I am done I drive back to the house smelling like a piece of beef jerky

There you have it.  My life is not all the warm lovely pictures of me in my home with a book…. nope the reality this time of year is big coat, big man boots, red nose, singed hair….odd smoky smell that seems to be…me

(I bet now you know why I LOVE LOVE LOVE summer so much!)

SO for giggles…. if you comment on this post tell me where you are at this morning.  (State or country and actual spot you are commenting from:  IE.  Chicago:  home office)

In my case that answer would be:  Minnesota:  kitchen table

In Memory of a Book Blogger

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)44 Comments

It is with a sad and heavy heart that I share this news with you, but I feel compelled to do so.  I received an email yesterday letting me know that Anna Marie Catoir, from Anna Marie’s Corner passed away on December 25th at the age of 32.

Anna was diagnosed with lymphoma several months ago.

I did not personally know Anna other than through our conversations through the Monday What Are You Reading meme and the comments on my blog.  I knew she was a manager at Barnes and Noble.

One comment I remember was on a post I did called Book Bloggers Unite and it was during banned book week while I was selecting what books to read that Anna Marie said this:

If your dance card isn’t full and you haven’t read it already, why not try the recently banned The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie. Here is the story from Sept. 9th. http://www.semissourian.com/story/1663154.html I’ve read this tile and really enjoyed it.

 

And you know what?  I did read that book and Anna Marie was right – I loved it.

In  many ways this is  a hard post for me to write and  I really had to think about what I would, or should say.  After sitting on this news for 24 hours my heart says that  Anna Marie was part of our community and rather than seeing a blog go silent and wonder why… we can know who she was and share in this loss.

 

I will miss her comments and conversations, and popping over to see what she is reading.  To her family and friends I give my deepest sympathies.


Morning Meanderings… Do you like receiving books as gifts?

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)88 Comments

Good Morning!

Last night I had dinner with three wonderful friends.  Tired as I was from a busy day… there is nothing like getting together with good friends to catch up, share and laugh.  Seriously I could also feel the days stresses just melt away.

We exchanged Christmas presents and among the wonderful gifts I received a beautiful LARGE unabridged book on the Chronicles of Narnia.  Now, some people may groan and say “Wow Sheila, you need another book like Minnesota needs more snow!”

And to that I say “pshaw to you.”  😀


Book gifts are my favorite treasures – to me gift books are my friends sending me on an adventure.  Within the pages of books I travel to all corners of the world… and occasionally beyond.  I may walk alongside pirates, or angels, bounty hunters, or princesses…. I can travel by land, by sea…. I may even be able to fly.  I could be eating cheese cake in New York, or steamed clams in New Orleans.  And finally… when that final page is turned, I have the memories of new locations, and possibly new friends.

When I give a book as a gift I am saying, “join me in this adventure”, and I can not think of a better gift to give.

The books I receive as gifts hold special places on my book shelves.  I carefully place the name of who I received it from on the inside cover and date it so I never forget.  If it came with a card, the card is tucked carefully inside.

Do you like receiving books as gifts?

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)85 Comments

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading, is where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week.  It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list.

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.  You receive one entry for every 10 comments, just come back here and tell me how many in the comment area.

Last weeks winner:

Bev from My Reader’s Block


Congratulations!  Please choose an item out of the PRIZE BOX and email me your choice with your mailing address as well!   journeythroughbooks@gmail.com

 

The two big end of the year holidays are over and my reading has been sporadic as of late.  It seems like I am either reading for hours at a time, or not picking up a book for days.  Here is what this past week looked like:

The WHERE Are You Reading Challenge

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

Best of 2010

Fallen by Lauren Kate

The 2010 Challenge Recap post

Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks (not your average Sparks at all!)

This week is a busy one.  I have a meeting every night Mon – Thurs and that puts a crimp in the reading time.  That said, I do still have goals:

Yes Torment was on last weeks list and here it is hopefully being read later this week.

 

The Kitchen Boy is a random pick up off my book shelves and I am sitting about a fourth of the way in this one now.

 

Our Bookies Book Club read for January due next Tuesday so this one hits the front line this week.

 

That’s my plan for this first week of the new year.  I am hoping to read more intentionally this year.  I cant wait to see what books you are reading to start off this new year.  Link up your What Are You Reading post below!  😀


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Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)21 Comments

____________________ is a pretty young wife.  She stays at home taking care of things for her husband Kevin, making sure she looks nice for him and that dinner is always on the table when he arrives home.  ______________ has no friends, mainly because Kevin doesn’t want her to.  And when things do not go Kevin’s way… that’s when the hitting begins.

Yet ______________ has an escape plan and after many months of taking small amounts of money from her husbands wallet, she cuts off her hair, dies it dark, and with a new name, she walks away from the home she knew – and never looks back.

Now, known as Katie, she lives in Southport North Carolina and works as a waitress.  As she dives into her new life she makes a friend in a new neighbor named Jo, and meets a wonderful store owner named Alex who is kind-hearted and warm and everything Katie has ever dreamed of finding in someone to love.

Far away, in another state, Kevin is still brooding over the disappearance of his wife.  As his drinking becomes worse, he is positive that she is somewhere laughing at him,having made a fool of him he believes his co workers are also talking and laughing behind his back and as Kevin begins to obsess over where his wife may be and who she is with… his dark moods become scarier and then – he finds a clue… a clue that will lead him right to her.

Listened to on my IPOD in the house

Realistically, Nicholas Sparks is not an author I pursue.  Mainly I have found his reads in past years to be light and fluffy and a bit too sugary sweet for my liking…. I used to tell my bookish friends that Sparks books always started out with a guy and  girl and the book was mostly about how they wind up together.

Oofta…. somebody call me a dentist.

Yet… I may have to quit saying that.  As of the past year I have tried Sparks (Dear John, for one) and found that he has changed his style to a more meatier story that I like.  I have enjoyed that the book was not as predictable as I would have thought, and neither was this one.

Safe Haven first attracted me by the cover.  Seriously, I tried to avoid it.   When I did decide to read it, I was expecting the Sparks I knew and I was pleasantly surprised to find an upgraded version.  Safe Haven is smart and witty.  The characters are likable and Kevin is downright creepy and I actually liked that too.

If you have seen the movie ‘Sleeping With The Enemy’ and enjoyed it, you will enjoy this book.  While the story lines are close to the same – Sparks brought in a different twist that sat me bolt upright in my chair with a “WHA???”  (and that was in a good way).

AMAZON RATING

Book 2 on my WHERE are you reading map


Listening Length: 11 hour(s) and 1 min.

I received my copy of this audio from audible.com

Finally.. The Challenge Recap

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)28 Comments

In 2010 I was like a kid in a candy store when it came to Challenges.  I was so excited to be a joiner and I just knew I could complete them all!

Well…. such are the dreams of a rookie book blogger….

Life happens, shoot…. books happen, and before I knew it my reading went in other directions, books recommended by other bloggers (oh yes… you awesome book reviewers – I BLAME YOU, and of course new releases, and old titles I have always wanted to read, and impulse buys, and book sales – and of course back in January of 2010 I had not even dreamed I would go to BEA and of course I had no idea that if I did the books that would follow me home…to read…

to read…

to read…

So now I humbly come before you with the results of the Challenges and I said “OH YEAH!” too, and how I did. All the Challenge pictures are linked to the actual challenge page and lists the books that qualified.

This one was fun and I knew I could do this one as this counted for anything I read… anything I listened to on audio.  I came out of this one with a total of 116 books/audio in 2010.

 

I am thankful for this challenge even if I did make my goal of 25 Library reads.  This challenge actually caused me to sign up for a library card, which I have not done for almost 20 years.  Its true… I did not use my library – but I did in 2010 and I plan to use it even more in 2011.

 

This one was exciting for me and my goal was 25 and that is what I read!  YA has been an exciting genre for me and I really do enjoy reading these books.

 

 

Ok this would be one of those embarrassing Challenge fails… GAH.  To me this was a no brainer challenge, even a little self-indulgent as I LOVE all things Potter.  Yet… as I mentioned above, other books, other commitments… and I managed to hit 3 of the 7 I thought I could do.

 

I love Historical Fiction and I aced this challenge with a goal of 6 and read 7.  I hope to read even more of this genre in 2011.

 

 

The Gilmore Girl Challenge is another one I failed miserably at and that surprises me.  I really thought I would do well on this one and obviously… did not.  GAH!  Rory would shun me in public and I would not blame her one bit.

 

 

 

The Social Justice Challenge is one I wish I really would have done more with.  I really thought this was a brilliant challenge and I had a few months I was strong in and then I tapered off.

 

 

The Christy Award Challenge I completes one read out of the 6 I meant to.  Some of these books I even had checked out from the library… sadly I did not find the time to read them.

 

I do plan to join a few hopefully well-chosen Challenges this year, knowing now how a reading plan changes drastically throughout the year I will try to stick to ones that are more user-friendly for me, or stretch me to read into genres I wish I read more in any way.

Morning Meanderings… Bookish News and A Non Bookish Challenge

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)22 Comments

Good Morning people of 2011!

LOL…

I don’t know where that came from but I pictures myself on a podium yelling into a crowd through a megaphone.

Uh huh.  Probably too much coffee….

Any hoo…

I was doing a little blog hopping and online bookish things last night and came across a couple of things I would like to mention.   The Cybils Awards  Shortlist was posted yesterday.

What’s a Cybil?

The Cybils awards are given each year by bloggers for the year’s best children’s and young adult titles. Nominations open to the public on October 1st.

I love to check out what books are on that list and see if 1) there are any I have read and 2) are there any I have been meaning to read.  I am sad to say that I have read none of the books in the YA Category, however there are a few that I have been wanting to and have now reserved at my library.  They are:

 

I have been looking at this book since early 2010 and I am a little irritated with myself that I have yet to read it.  It would have been much cooler now if I could have said, yes I read this and wow…. I am so glad it made the finals….  (I do hope to still say this soon!)

 

I read a review on this one quite a while ago and made a note to keep an eye out for it.  This is another one I have apparently dropped the ball on as it also made the cut.  Currently on the reserve list at my library and hoping it will make its way to me soon.

 

This one is new to me and I found it on the Cybils YA Non Fiction list.  Probably a little known fact about me, but I used to read a lot of true crime.  I can’t really explain it but I want to know what makes people tick and the evils that are out there in this world when it comes to prejudices, race crimes, illness, gangs…

 

So there is what I pulled from the Cybils list.  You should stop by and see if any of the books are a fit for your reading style – and of course keep a look out for the final winners on Valentines Day.

 

Finally – I did find a Challenge Yesterday that I felt was a sure fit for me for 2011.  At Books, Fitness, and Other Stuff I found this:

You can click on the picture to find out all the details but the basics are that we keep track of our miles this year of either walking, jogging, tread mill, biking, etc…   If you have followed my blog for any amount of time you know I am a big biker in the spring-fall and this year I am planning to do a 3.2 mile run – which is new to me and a little bit scary but…. why not? This will be on my side bar soon so you can follow along with how I am doing… or better yet, go on over and join up yourself!  😎

 

My goal today is to get the Challenges of 2010 cleaned up, calculated, posted… and move on.  Seriously…. who left all this 2010 stuff for me to clean up?  Oh yeah… I did.  😀


 

 

Fallen by Lauren Kate

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)27 Comments

Why is this book the first book I chose to read in 2011?  believe me – it wasn’t an easy choice.  What if I chose a book I disliked?  Who wants to start the year out that way?  I struggled choosing the read that would hold this coveted posting spot but settled on this one for reasons I feel are perfect:

This book was one I wanted so badly last year right around Christmas time.  I could not find it at any of my local book stores but hinted about it enough to actually find it under the tree for Christmas from my husband.  SSQQUUEEE!!!  He does not but me books often, as obviously if you looked around my home it would appear that a book is truly the last thing I need.  However, he does understand the book lover in me and I was thrilled to receive this treasure.  This was Christmas 2009.  That’s right, I have had this book for over a year and lovingly put it on a shelf and there it sat.

For a year.

That is why this book seemed very appropriate to start off the 2011 year with.  I hope this will remind me to not only pursue books I really want to read, but to also take the time to read them.

Happy New year fellow book lovers!

Sheila

 

FALLEN

Seventeen year old Lucinda (Luce) Price has just arrived at the Sword and Cross Boarding School in Savannah.  It’s not that she is a bad girl really… yes she was present during a recent fire that left one of her friends dead, and yes… she see’s shadows that seem to make her skin crawl and bad things seem to happen when they are present…

and of course her parents are worried for her own safety..

but boarding school seems a little extreme doesn’t it?

And then there is Daniel.  She sees this dark, mysterious, weight of the world boy on her first day at school and he promptly…

flips her off.

This action would probably make most girls decide a gut like that was not worth any attention at all, but Luce finds herself fascinated with this boy who makes her heart race and scowls whenever he sees her.  Something in those eyes seems hauntingly familiar.

Then there is Cam, gorgeous popular and totally swoon worthy and the big difference between Cam and Daniel is that Cam is charming, friendly and likes Luce a lot.  Often surprising her with gifts and attention that warms her insides in this new environment.

Yet why can she not shake this need to be with Daniel?

Why do we girls so often go for the bad guys?

 

Read in my Reading Room

Fallen is…. a love story, definitely YA, with a sprinkle of paranormal.  Seriously – whats not to love?

I found Luce’s storyline bringing me right into the setting.  Fallen was very visually described and I had no problem at all envisioning the school, the colorful characters (Arriane – both a little spooky and fun at the same time), Penn ( the girl with a heart of gold who usually does not get the credit she deserves) and doesn’t every school have a Molly (ie.  mean girl usually just for the sake of being mean?.  Of course I feel that I too would probably feel a little ga ga for Daniel as well, in fact he reminded me of a boy I knew in High School…

enough said.

There are parts I wish had been a bit more detailed – for instance the fire before Luce comes to the school seems to be vague on what exactly happened and why Luce is blamed.  I wish that would have been a bit more detailed as it does play out to be an important part of this read.

The ending came to a powerful conclusion that actually did take me by surprise how it all played out.

As far as the love (well… read the book, not sure if it is all love) triangle… I enjoyed it being the big sap that I am (I also enjoyed the Bella, Edward, and Jacob triangle).  I mean,even though I can not stand romance reads, a YA powerful love triangle where the guy will do anything to get the girl admittedly tugs at my heart.

I have read over the past year mixed thoughts on this book, anywhere from it being slow, or underdeveloped but I find I do not agree.  I enjoyed the pace of the book and getting to know the characters and the mysteries behind who they all are.  I am looking forward to reading the second book TORMENT which is on my kitchen table currently, and if FALLEN became a movie I for one would check it out.

Reviewer note:  When you are done reading this book, go back and read the first chapter again called, “In The Beginning” it will have a much richer meaning.

Amazon Rating

 

Book 1 on my WHERE Are You Reading Challenge map


This book was a gift from my husband – Christmas 2009

Thank you Al!

Morning Meanderings… What Is It About New Beginnings?

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)27 Comments

Happy New Year!!! COFFEE CUP and I have been deep into reading since about 8 am this morning.  I have this thing about the first read of the year being very important (crazy small town girl thing I think… probably shouldn’t stand too close…) and therefore I am still working my way through the final pages of said book… that I will be announcing yet today.

Normally, I spend New Years Eve with a nice dinner with Al or playing board games at a friend’s home.  If we just do dinner, like we did last night, we are usually home by 9 pm and I ring in the New Year by reading through midnight.  It’s true…. and I was home by 9 pm but this time I did not read.

*pause for fellow readers to shudder at that thought*

Ahem.  Instead… Chance and I loaded up on junk food and watched the rest of season three of LOST.  It’s true…. and it was fun.

Now though… I have to make up for my lack of reading because I am really excited to get the first review up of the year.  There is something about starting my WHERE Are You Reading Challenge on a fresh 2011 Google map and placing that first bookish peg…. it’s like being the first to walk on freshly fallen snow.

I have some bookish plans for 2011… Book Resolutions I guess I could call them…. they are:

More Author Interviews

Consistent Book Giveaways including the monthly comment Love that will continue this year

Book Reviews are always linked to my WHERE Are You Reading Map and whenever possible have a picture included of where I read the book.

Word Shakers On Line Book Club runs more consistently this year with a Goal of 6 reads – better set up of how this will play out in the next couple weeks here.

That’s it for now… I am sure there are more but I really have this book calling me and I am so excited to review and start the map.  If you wish to join this 2011 Challenge there is still time!  😀


In the next few days I will be posting personal goals as well as my 2010 challenge wrap up post