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.
Congratulations! Please choose an item out of the PRIZE BOX and email me your choice with your mailing address as well! journeythroughbooks@gmail.com
What a great weekend! I had a great time being a part of the Dewey read-a-thon and I am hoping many of you participated too. If you did, you probably have a few more books read this week than usual. I do! I have yet to write reviews but I did make a small dent in the TBR! 😀 I think Lynne, from Lynne’s Book Reviews, put it best… today is like a book hang over. Little groggy…. but happy. 😛
I read several books during the read a thon and have not wrote a single review yet. GAH! Oh well…. 😛
Here’s what my plan is for this week
I loved this author’s book, Water For Elephants. I was excited to see this book come out and hope it is a wonderful story!
This book looks fantastic. Doesn’t it? Look at it. See? I told you. I seen this on another blog and thought it looked sooooo good. 😀
Pete is 13 the summer the Preacher Man comes to his small town, vulnerable with both adolescent yearning and the need to find religious fulfillment. His parents are lapsed church-goers, who neither share nor encourage their son’s deeper convictions. The Preacher Man, with mesmerizing blue eyes, is a traveling evangelist who holds revivalist meetings in Pete’s town that summer; Pete finds in him a companion who can understand his feelings about God without speaking a word. As the Preacher Man takes on Christ-like proportions in his mind, Pete decides to travel with the man when he leaves town. Pete waits for him all night, his bags packed, feeling as if he were called to this journey. But Rufus, his best friend and a confirmed atheist, is the one who tells Pete that the Preacher Man has run off with a woman. A year later, Pete understands that the Preacher Man’s fallibility was of this earth, not to be confused with a betrayal by God.
I am keeping it light this week. I have meetings Monday, Tuesday (BOOK CLUB!) and Wednesday evenings. Then Friday I leave for the cities for the Twin Cities Book Festival and Minnesota/Wisconsin meet up. Seven of us will meet there! More on that later this week. 😀
I am so looking forward to stopping by and seeing what you are reading! This is actually one of my favorite things to do each week. Add your What Are You Reading post to the linky where it says CLICK HERE and we all can visit the posts!
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I had the privilege of first hearing of Bill Walker through his book Titanic 2012. I found this beauty of a book and being a fan of all things Titanic, had to – had to read it. I really enjoyed (and recommend) the book and was curious about the author who would write a book about a future Titanic. This is how I met Bill.
Please welcome Bill Walker to Book Journey
Bill Walker
First off Bill, I need to know how you take your coffee.
Bill: I like mine sweet and white.
Bill, what books will I find on your bookshelf?
Bill: You’ll find over 500 books on my shelf. I’m literally surrounded by them in my little office/nook. As to why they are there? Well, because each one of them called out to me “Buy me!” and I couldn’t resist that literary siren call. My problem is I buy them faster than I can read them 😉
No! You are kidding me! That never happens to me! Ok, I kid… I have about that many books as well. What is the earliest book you can remember reading?
Bill: Now that’s a tough one. I don’t know if I remember the first one I read, but I do remember the first book that really inspired me to write. It was a famous children’s book called Ben and Me, which is about Ben Franklin and his pet mouse, Amos, and was told as if Amos wrote it. I loved that book so much I wrote my own pastiche called The Adventures of Mouser. I thought my book was long lost, but recently received it back in the mail after nearly forty years. One of my oldest friends had borrowed it and forgotten to return it before he and his family moved away. It’s really kind of neat and strange to see where my head was those many years ago and how much I’ve learned about the craft of writing in that time.
Bill I love that! I enjoyed reading your book Titanic 2012. I have always had a passion for the Titanic. Could you share a little about why you wrote a book about this famous ship?
Bill: Again it was a situation where I was inspired by another work, in this case James Cameron’s Titanic. Writing it was my way of extending my feelings and experiences from watching the film.
I now have in my hands your newest book, A Note From An Old Acquaintance. A little different from your Titanic story. Why this book? Why this story?
Bill: All my books have a romantic subplot, even the ones that remain unpublished, and it was my desire to write a novel where the love story took center stage. I also wanted to tell a story set in Boston, which is where I spent many happy years.
I love this trailer Bill, which is saying a lot as I don’t usually like book trailers! Book you are reading right now?
Bill: One Second After by William Forstchen. It is a very realistic story about what might happen if America were hit by an EMP attack. That is when a nuclear device is exploded high in the atmosphere to allow an Electromagnetic Pulse to bathe the ground beneath it. It would basically wipe out every high-tech gadget in the country, whether it was turned on or not. It would be instant middle ages and what makes it so frightening is that anyone with a nuclear device, such as North Korea, and a high altitude method of delivery, such as a missile, could do it. It is especially frightening when you think about how dependant we are on all this gadgetry and how helpless we would be without it. We would all find out very quickly how thin the veneer of civilization really is.
It is tradition for me to ask those I interview to share a little known fact about themselves. (This could be an unusual talent, embarrassing moment, an award you won, an instrument you play, funny happening…)
Bill: I don’t know how little known this fact is, but I’m an inveterate rock and roller who loves to plug in my Les Paul and wail. I find it psychologically liberating.
That is awesome Bill! Thanks for your time!
Bill: And thank you for having me over.
Readers, if you want to know more about Bill and/or his books please link to him through his website:
Mornin….. *groping to find coffee cup*. How ya’ all doin’? *said in a deep froggy voice like I had smoked a pack of cigarrettes* (Apparently when I am tired I abbreviate any word I can).
Here is my recap of the Read-A-Thon. It was a lot of fun and I really enjoyed just sitting aside a day of no big commitments other than to relax at home and read. I didn’t plan well on the snacks and by early afternoon I ran to the grocery store for a little variety of good reading snacks, however I listened to audio there and back so I was still “plugged in”.
I started out strong and was cleaning up a few partial reads I had going. By the time I got to SOLD by Patricia McCormick I was laying down and well… yeah… I fell asleep about 4 pm until about 4:30. Woke up, finished the read and then made dinner and chatted with hubby for about an hour.
I ended with The Bell Jar and read that until I crashed again on the couch and this time knew I was done. I got up and went to bed.
So over all, I completed 5 books and half of the 6th. The Bell Jar is my book club read for our Tuesday meeting so that will be my focus this afternoon. It is our classic read that we do every October so I need to also search for a classic hat to wear to this review.
During the Read-A-Thon I was able to get out and visit a few blogs, but not many as I was focusing on the reading. I participated in some of the challenges and was a winner in one! 😛
Later I hope to pop over and see some of the new people who stopped by to say hi and “you go girl”. A special thanks to Jill and her Cheerleader Squad – I think I was cheered for about 6 times throughout the event and that was pretty cool.
And since this song has been in my head every time I felt like quitting yesterday – I will pass it on to you and hopefully it will get stuck in your head and I will be set free.
Are you ready! I am and soooo looking forward to this. I have most of the day set aside to read, with the slight possibility of attending a wrap up potluck gathering for our kick ball team late afternoon – that has yet to be determined.
This post will be up all day and this is where I will post updates and any mini challenge info I participate in. (updates are at bottom of post)
Mid Event Survey Challenge:
1. What are you reading right now? finishing up Sold by Patricia McCormick
2. How many books have you read so far? 4
3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-thon? I am hoping to treat myself with City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
4. Did you have to make any special arrangements to free up your whole day? No, my day was free by design… I just made sure to avoid any commitments.
5. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those? I haven’t house has been quiet. 😀
6. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon, so far? I love the commitment of all the readers… its fun to think of us all over the world taking this day to read.
7. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year? nope… I know it takes a ton of work to pull this off and many hands. I think they do a fantastic job.
8. What would you do differently, as a Reader or a Cheerleader, if you were to do this again next year? This is my third time participating so I kind of plan to just not commit myself to too much and enjoy the day with books.
9. Are you getting tired yet? I crashed about an hour ago for 30 minutes so uhhhh…. no I feel…. refreshed. 😀
10. Do you have any tips for other Readers or Cheerleaders, something you think is working well for you that others may not have discovered? I break it up a bit – I am not stuck in the chair. I have read from the kitchen, the couch, the reading room… I took the dogs for a short walk to get the blood pumping…
Read!
Say what? Say what?
Read!
That’s what we do!
We Read!
We Read for you!
We choose a book, and read it through,
Then pick another, to later review!!!!
I am reading Indie Books!!!
some of the books.... not all 🙂
Hour Sixteen Update
Current read: The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
Books Completed: 5
1. Mistaken Identity by Don and Susie Van Ryn and Newell, Colleen and Whitney Cerek (non-fiction)
2. 100 Banned Books Censorship Histories of World Literature by Nicholas J. Karolides (non-fiction)
3. Noah’s Castle by John Rowe Townsend (fiction)
4. The LORAX by Dr. Suess (Childrens read and banned book)
5. SOLD by Patricia McCormick (Fiction)
Total amount of time spent reading: 13 hours, 11 minutes
Total pages read so far: 621
Eats? Just oatmeal and a lot of coffee! Ummm…. and a few candy corns. And now add on a cup of salsa chicken chili and a yogurt. And some Fritos…. 😛 Later in day had diet Pepsi and pizza w/ hubby.
Crashed and had a little nap = now up and drinking water….. Rocky Theme song going on in my head 😀
Good morning! COFFEE CUP is in my hand, and have masked my face (for no other occasion than I am home and going anywhere for a while so why not?)
Yesterday I had a wonderful evening with my friends Cindy, Heidi, and Sara. We went to St. Cloud which is about an hour away and shopped a little bit and then ate at Mongo’s before we came back home. YUM!!!
Today is the Dewey Read-A-Thon if you were totally unaware of it – it’s not too late to pop over to the site and add your name to the 300+ readers today. It’s pretty exciting! I have an assortment of partially read books that I hope to work my way through today as well as a couple I have been waiting a long time to start. I know I am planning big… but I can dream right?
I will put up a post shortly here that I will update throughout the day. I will let you know what I am reading – what I have finished, pages… and maybe a few other randoms that I will change out throughout the day.
Oops! 8 minutes to go time… I need a coffee refill and to prep my starting post 🙂
Have a wonderful day everyone – I hope you get in a bit of reading time too 🙂
It has been a crazy week around here but I have had so much fun with the discussion and the giveaway surrounding our Wordshakers current read, The Wife’s Tale. Author Lori Lansens has been incredibly generous with her time and her books (I have been drooling over that large box of books since it arrived!).
Today I am thrilled to have the opportunity to chat with Lori about her books, her life, and what may be coming up next. Please give a warm welcome to Lori Lansens.
Lori Lansens
Lori, I am so glad that you are taking the time to be here and chat with me and the readers of Book Journey. My first question is always how do you take your coffee?
Lori: So nice to be here, Sheila! Hello readers! I like my coffee hot and black.
Ahhh… you drink your coffee like I do. What do you like to do for fun?
Lori: I am mother to Max 10, and Natasha (Tashi) 8, so my life revolves around my family. Both children are involved in organized sports and we’re an active bunch. It’s fun for us to kick around the soccer ball in the backyard or shoot hoops in the driveway. Sometimes we take our bikes to the path at the beach in Santa Monica. My husband of nearly thirty years, Milan Cheylov, has a great sense of humor and we still enjoy one another’s company very much. When people ask him the secret to a long marriage he answers, “She makes me laugh.” He makes me laugh too.
You are so busy! You were a screen writer before you broke out into the literary world. How does that compare to what you do now?
Lori: When I was writing screenplays producers would sometimes remark that my scripts read like novels and I knew they didn’t mean that in a good way. The primary difference is that the work of the screenwriter is not meant to be read as a singular piece of art. Instead it must be interpreted by dozens of other artists from wardrobe and set designers to actors and editors before it reaches an audience. The work can be diluted or transformed (for better or worse) from the original vision of the creator. I feel satisfied and gratified by the intense and direct connection with the reader through my novels.
Lori Lansens Books
Lori, what is your earliest bookish memory?
Lori: My earliest ‘books are magical’ memory involves Hans Christian Andersen. I loved crawling into my mother’s lap (even if I did have to share her with two brothers) to hear her read The Little Mermaid and The Emperor’s New Clothes. We would discuss the messages contained in the stories and how they made us feel. My mother liked to ask, “What does it mean?”
I also remember the Chatham Public Library and how important it was to me when I was young. My friends and I would ride our bikes there and spend weekend afternoons reading and trading books then cart a half dozen borrowed books home in our bike carriages. In my second novel, The Girls, the conjoined twins have a job in their small town library – an homage to the Chatham Public Library. I love to hear from Librarians who loved The Girls and appreciated the character’s affection for the library.
Do you have an all time favorite book?
Lori: The Grapes of Wrath is my favorite book. Steinbeck’s writing mesmerizes me and the social conscience of the book is pure but not righteous. The characters are flawed heroes, and the final line is spare and stunning. I developed an even greater appreciation for the book when I read the journal (Writing Days) that chronicles his journey from Oklahoma to the Salinas Valley.
Would you believe I have never read that book? I must do that! In The Wife’s Tale, we read about an overweight woman named Mary who has lost all ambition beyond the walk to the refrigerator. How did “Mary” come to be this main character in your mind?
Lori: Writing is a mysterious process and the appearance of character part of the mystery. Mary is a character that in some way or other I’ve known all my life. She is culled from stories I’ve heard and people I know and things that I’ve read about but at her core she is me – or I am her – that gets confusing. My frail humanity may not manifest as a weight problem but I understand her deeply and feel her pain and maybe I wrote about her because I knew she needed to move on – from Gooch, the fridge, her stasis.
As the 24 people who signed on to read this with Wordshakers On Line book club shared their thoughts, many really struggled with Mary in the beginning of the book, finding themselves irritated with her lack of self-worth and inability to make good choices. Is that something you wrote intentionally that way to bring that out of the readers? Do you feel that made the readers appreciate Mary all the more in the end?
Lori: Some readers write to tell me that they were rooting for Mary from the first page on and understood her from the very beginning. Others are frustrated and don’t care for Mary until she ‘finds her fight.’ I suppose our understanding of, and affection for, characters comes out of our own experiences. Mary starts the story at rock bottom – people who’ve been there share her pain. The review post from a reader named Joy left me breathless. It’s a gorgeous and brave bit of writing, as much about her own journey as Mary Gooch’s. I’ve had many such responses from readers but none quite so detailed and poignant. Read it at http://joystory.blogspot.com/2010/10/wifes-tale-by-lori-lansens.html
Lori, I read Joy’s review yesterday morning and I agree with you, it was an amazing and deeply honest review. What do you hope people take away from this read?
Lori: See link above
When I was online I seen a variety of cover for The Wife’s Tale. Is there one that you prefer over the others and why?
Lori: So many different covers! I know! It’s fascinating to see how different publishers in different markets interpret the book for readers. My favorite is the American cover with the legs and the blue dress. The artwork really speaks to the story – a woman poised at the brink – ready to leap.
That is my favorite cover too! I think it shows that she is ready to conquer whatever comes next. Even though it is only her legs that we see, I felt it gave off a vibe of confidence. You currently have three books that you have written. Is there any character more than the others that you are drawn to out of these books? I guess I am asking who would you like to be friends with if you were popped into their world?
Lori: My husband recently reread The Girls and remarked that Rose and Ruby Darlen, the conjoined twin characters who narrate their ‘memoirs’ are equal parts of me. That would explain why my feelings are hurt when readers tell me they liked one twin more than the other. My husband also commented that Mary Gooch and I share similarities that few people (except those closest to me) would understand. I know Addy Shadd and Sharla Cody from Rush Home Road grew out of my personality too. For most authors, I think, characters are horrible and gorgeous little spawn and because I know and love them and understand them so well that there are none I would not befriend, and no one I’d chose over another.
Fantastic answer! I would never ask you to choose a favorite of your books. I mean really, they have to be like children! However, as I am a new reader of your writing which of your other two books would you suggest I read next and why?
Lori: Both (she laughs!) because oddly I see the books as a trilogy that represent something of a whole. The first book Rush Home Road is about going home, The Girls is about being home and The Wife’s Tale is about leaving home. They’re all set in the landscape of Baldoon County and there are recurring references and some recurring characters.
Oooh! Now I am ever more fascinated! I guess I will start at the beginning then. I am on the edge of my seat wondering if there is anything new in the works book wise. Please let us know what could be happening in the future for you as a writer.
Lori: I’m currently working on my fourth book – a family story – but I’ll say no more.
It is tradition that I ask each author I chat with to share one little known fact about themselves.
Lori: I can’t write unless I’m wearing shoes. I used to be an actor. My hands are my favorite physical characteristic even though, or because, they look ancient and always have.
Ahhh! You used to be an actor! You left me with another question! LOL Lori it has been a pleasure to have you here and share so deeply about your books and your writing! You have been incredibly generous to my readers and to me. I wish you all the best and I look forward into reading your other two books.
Lori: Sheila, it’s been my pleasure. Happy reading all!
Readers, please take time to read the Wordshaker group review of The Wife’s Tale as well as sign up to win one of Lori’s books that she so generously signed and sent my way.
You can read more about Lori Lansens at her website
Good morning! I had an awesome evening with my College Son and hubby. We had dinner and watched Survivor together. Then later last night I was doing a little reading and a little putting around on Twitter and seen that Sarah Ockler (author of Twenty Boy Summer) was asking what was that love ballad that we could pull out of our head from years ago and along with it the memories.
Oh my gosh! I instantly went to You Tube and punched up Chicago’s “You’re The Inspiration” and it was like I pulled a cork that released all of these memories of High School.
Basically did anyone order up a blubbering baby? Because that’s what you got.
So – as I leave you this morning for the gym that’s calling me…. then work… then a wonderful get together with some friends for a road trip to St Cloud and dinner…. I offer you up the song that still pulls me into the era of big hair, pants that zipped at the ankle, leg warmers, and words like, “He is sooooooo totally awesome!”
AND if that song doesn’t mess you up – or at least bring up memories of your own “song” that melted you into a pile of hearts, flowers and tears, stop over at Sarah Ockler’s Blog where she posted last night her songs and asks you to share yours as well.
Have a great day everyone! Later Lori Lansens is going to be here to chat books, and well…. I LOVE to chat books. 😀
Arnold Spirit (known as Junior at home) is a 14-year-old Spokane Indian. He was born with water on the brain, is regularly picked on by his peers, and loves to draw pictures. He refers to the world as a series of broken dams and floods and his pictures are tiny lifeboats. He loves basketball, and is fairly good on the Spokane Team. He decided if he stays in the reservation all his life he is never going to go anywhere just like his parents. They too had dreams once of being something more. He requests that they let him go to the rich white school in Reardan which is 20 minutes away. His parents agree. This destroys his friendship with his best friend Rowdy, who has always been this crazy Native American kid who will beat up anyone who looks at him twice. This once meant Rowdy was a source of protection to Junior, and now includes Junior in the beating category.
What happens when Arnold (known as Arnold when he switches schools) is that he once again finds himself the blunt of jokes and discrimination. He stays at his new school, determined to make it work, even sometimes having to walk the twenty minutes to and from when his dad does not have enough money for gas in the car. Eventually he makes a few friends along the way, and is able to find a happy medium between his life on the reservation and his school that is not.
Confession time. I picked this book up as part of Banned Books Week. It came to my library late but I still wanted to read it. After I brought it home with several others I looked up why it was banned. On line it said that is was banned for talk of masturbation, racism, and vulgar language. I almost returned it to the library unread. It was honestly, the first of all the banned books that I read this past couple of weeks that I can say I questioned if I wanted to read it or not. I don’t condone banning, not in the least, but I do believe in our rights to choose to read a book or not.
However, I listed this book on a post about the books I had received at my library and I started receiving comments from people who had read this book saying what an amazing read it was, some even calling it a favorite. A few others who hadn’t read it said that they had been wanting too. To all of these people, I say thank you. If not for you, I may have missed out on an incredible reading experience.
So I was cautiously optimistic when I opened up the book, still reserving the right to put it down at any time. (Oh the conversations I have with myself sometimes… :razz:)
I didn’t put it down.
The parts that I felt may have been unnecessary were so small. They did not take away from the book. I read this story told from a 14-year-old boys perspective and I have to say I really enjoyed the incredible insight he brought into race, stereo types, and color.
The pictures throughout the book are so important to the story line and really give Arnold’s story a life. The pictures add to what he is feeling, be it happiness, confusion, anger, or pain. You can see it all, and for me, I could feel it as well.
As Arnold shares his story I was reminded again how strong prejudices can be when people see through eyes of judgment. What I also seen was that the power of friendship and acceptance has a much stronger presence and hold.
While I would not say hand this book to your young child, I do think it is an important read for older YA and holds within its pages an amazing read that I will not soon forget.
Good morning fellow book worms, bookish types, and random dude who just wandered over thinking this was a site that talked about cheese puffs. I see you over there dude in the corner… just back away from the keyboard with your powdery cheesy fingers….
Ok… I am in an odd mood…. a good one… but I have no idea what the first paragraph is about.
So I am up and in need to take off soon here for work and beyond (voice echo’s “beyond, beyond, beyoooonnnnddddd”)
Has anyone seen any good movies coming up? I am interested in seeing that Facebook one. I think that looks interesting. The other one that I would really like to see that is out right now is You Again. It looks really funny and I like many of the actresses in it. (Are they actresses anymore? Or do we call them all actors?)
Anyway – I posted the trailer here for your viewing enjoyment and so you say see why I called today’s post what I did. Seriously Betty White cracks me up.
I need to find time to see that one!
College Son popped in the door yesterday afternoon as a surprise (I have kids popping up all over the place lately!) He had a couple of days off from work and school so headed into town from Mankato. He is only here for a little bit but it was cool to see him and tonight we are going to hang out a bit.
Ok… times a moving so I had better run…. run like the wind (good grief what is with me today?).
Lori Lansens is my feature Word Shakers On Line Book Club Author of the month. The Wordshakers read her book, The Wife’s Tale, over the past 5 weeks and discussed it through an online format. Now Lori has generously offered three copies of each of these books for a give away to Book Journey readers!
How To Enter
To enter please leave a comment here letting me know if you would prefer a chance to win #1) The Wife’s Tale, #2) The Girls, or #3) Rush Home Road. You may choose more than one in your comment, and if have no preference say so, and you will be eligible to win any one of the books. **You must answer this question to be eligible for any other entries.
Bonus Entries
If you subscribe to Book Journey (upper right hand side bar) please let me know in a separate comment here and I will add another entry for you.
If you link to this giveaway on twitter, on your blog, or on Facebook, let me know here and I will add another entry for you.
If you left a comment on The Wife’s Tale Review and let me know in a separate comment here I will add another entry.
** For those of you who linked your review of the book The Wife’s Tale to the review post I have here, or if you were a part of the WordShaker book group and discussed the book using the discussion form, let me know here in a separate comment and you will be given another entry.
USA entrants only this time (sorry but all the books were sent to me and the shipping costs are all mine) If you live outside the USA but have a USA address you could send the book to if you win that would be fine.
This giveaway will end October 20th
Good luck everyone!!!
A special thank you to the generosity of Lori Lansens who provided three signed copies of each of her books for a giveaway.
Book Journey 