It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)92 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 (using Random.Org) was:

Aths  (Reading On A Rainy Day)


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

For the first time since I took over this meme in February for J Kaye, I did not get the post up the night before.  My weekend was so busy I still feel like I could just sleep another 4 or 5 hours to catch up.  Usually I prep this post Sunday afternoon and try to have it post around 8 pm Central time on Saturday night which I know really helps the Monday Meme bloggers who live in other countries.  Last night I just did not have the brain power to write this up so instead I played around a bit with the Blogfest blogs and wish I could have had more time this weekend even doing that.

I got up early this morning to get this post written and active.


So what happened this past week in the reading world for me?

To Kill A Mockingbird (book to movie comparison and review)


Men and Dogs by Katie Crouch – Audio Review:  A hard review to write, this one was not one I enjoyed

Dropping the “F” Bomb – a list of upcoming FALL bloggy and booky events


What The Yuck! Review – A book that answers the questions you may be too embarrassed to ask your doctor.

The I Hate To Cook Book by Peg Bracken review – *I loved this and used it last night to make dinner.

That was last week.  I have no great reading successes to report.  If anything my reading time has been minimal and I have to report that while ROOM was ob my list to read last week, I did not even have time to pick it up.  My week was so busy with the last days for my assistant, planning the office moving forward, prepping for the feed the children event, the Honduras kids in town, tailgate party planning and participating, set up for the homeless serving week and then last nights orientation…..GAH!

So here is what I currently have going and what I plan to start this week:

Finishing this one up today.  This is my book club read and we meet tomorrow evening!  YIPES!

I had big plans for this one last week and I never even picked it up.  Too many other commitments…. try, try again this week.  😀

What is Dekker up to now?  I am about to find out.  This one came with a t-shirt which I think is also part of a giveaway I will have to check.  😀

I am also working on The Handmaid’s Tale and Bleak House as read-a-longs.


Today is also the kick off the BBAW – Book Blogger Appreciation Week so please take time to read my sticky post at the top part of my blog about what I have planned for this week of celebration!

Here is what I have happening here to celebrate this week (yes!  Giveaways!)

I am taking today off from work as I am just so behind on everything.  My lawn needs me, my house needs me… and I just need a day to breathe and catch up.  I also want to see what you are all reading to please connect your Monday What Are You Reading post to the space below where it says “click here”.  I will be stopping by throughout the day with Coffee Cup to see what you have planned for this week.

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Have an awesome week!!! 😀

Morning Meanderings… is it Monday yet?

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)30 Comments


Morning.  I had no idea it was possible to wake up this tired.  Coffee Cup is trying to be supportive but you know…. it’s a cup.  How much can it do?

Yesterday was a whirlwind of events from the feed The Children event for Haiti which was a big success – our goal was 80,000 meals to be shipped and we reached that and went beyond it.  It was fun to see friends, family, and the community get together and make this happen.  My hubby Al, boxed up meals all day long.  So proud of him.  ♥

This is 2 of the 4 ingredients that go in each bag. The left is a soy mix, the right is rice. The other two ingredients are a dried veggie mix, and a seasoning part. All four ingredients are put in a bag and sealed. Each bag feeds 6 people.

We started set up for the Homeless who will arrive this afternoon and then went to church to hear and see the girls that were here from Honduras.  They were also at the food bagging event which was so emotional to see these kids who once lived on the streets of Honduras, now bagging food for kids in Haiti.   I tear up as I type this.

The highlight of my day: Left: Ava, me, Rita, and Sayda (three girls from Honduras who I met in 2004 and have seen every year since when I go to Honduras. They have never been to the states before)

I arrived back home around 8:30 at night.  I read – nothing.  I went through a few of the Blogfest blogs which was fun, and then talked to my college son on the phone for about an hour.  That was it – bed.

Today I am off to finish setting up for the Homeless and then a tailgate party at noon, then groceries and home for a couple of hours I hope before I have to get moving again.  By 6:30 tonight my duties should be all done and I can just come on home and relax….

until Monday morning….. but that…. is another meandering.  😉

The I Hate To Cook Book by Peg Bracken – 50th Anniversary

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)34 Comments

This is my cook book.  I am not kidding.  This is it and I knew it as soon as I read it.  This cook book was written for me and I am that person they describe in the book, the one that has oodles of cook books big and small and still doesn’t get it or if you are like me not even sure if you want to.

With a busy lifestyle – both my husband and I, we do usually do not see each other until supper time.  By that time I have probably just walked in the door maybe 30 minutes before him, tired from work, working out, running errands and now I need to think about supper.  Honestly – I don’t want to.   I have told Al (hubby) before that if it were not for him, I probably wouldn’t cook at all.  A stove top is fine for me and I do love my microwave too.

When the kids were growing up I would bake during the holidays.  Ten types of cookies, bars, Divinity, fudge, almond bark…. I would bake like this for two days – covering my kitchen counters with sweet treats and a layer of flour.  The I would not bake again for months because I burned myself out.  Cooking and baking was never something I have enjoyed – it has always been a must do.

My mom was an incredible cook.  She could open the refrigerator and mix things together that was delicious.  I open the refrigerator and see things I need to throw out.  And soon.  My mom made her own croutons and her own cranberry stuffing.  She made a cheesy broccoli soup that I am sure could not be good for anyone as rich as it was but it did not stop us all from eating it and wanting more.

I am that person that no matter what recipe I am doing, I have to go to the store.  I have to search out spices, or buy an ingredient or two.  I never have these things at home. Shoot, sometimes I have never heard of what they are asking for.

And I would say the kitchen is the room I spend the least amount of time in.  I am not someone who can stand over anything to watch it simmer….. time and again (yesterday in fact) I will boil something over or burn a pan dry because I do not have the patience to keep an eye on things.  I will no doubt start a pot of boiling water and then decide I should go fold laundry and will forget all about the water.  My husband is a saint and always has a kind word to say  when I ask, “is that a little burnt?” or “I wasn’t sure about the spices – is it too much?”

The original cover 50 years ago

The I Hate To Cook book is filled with recipes with items I actually have.  Spices I have actually heard of and own!  And the best part is the recipes sound wonderful.  They are not recipes that you have to babysit.  You can make them and go.  AND the book is funny!  The new forward by Pegs daughter Jo is hilarious – and reading some of the recipes, you will see that Jo has inherited her mom’s sense of humor as Peg will put information in like in her recipe for Skid Road Stroganoff:

Add the flour, salt, paprika, and mushrooms, stir and let it cook five minutes while you light a cigarette and stare sullenly at the sink.

page 11, The I Hate To Cook Book

I drooled over the recipe for Sweep Steak.  I can make this and my husband will love it.  Stayabedstew?  YUM!  And I am probably making that this weekend as I have an overflowing schedule and meals haven’t even hit my radar.  Recipe after recipe I was overjoyed with the simplicity of it and the fact that it sounded so good.

I recommend this book to all people – men and women, who do not have a lot of time for the kitchen part of their home (seriously, I would rather have a three season porch there….) or the patience to create the dishes that are no doubt delicious and lovely and take hours of preparation.  I know you wonderful cooks are out there and I envy your skill, but after all these years I know I will never be there.  😀

I will be purchasing a few of these books for gifts this year.

A fun read – great recipes – so much so that I think I will be giving away a copy of this book for BBAW (starting next week!) So watch for that!  🙂

I received my copy of this book for review from Hachette Books



Morning Meanderings of dreary skies and bagging food

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)11 Comments


Its early and quiet around here.  And dark.  Another sign of Fall.  I am typing at the kitchen table Coffee Cup by my side and looking out the window I see a cloudy gloomy gray sky and very little light.  Good day to be inside that is for sure.

Yesterday was the last day at work for my Administrative Assistant Sandi.  She and I both knew it would be a tough day, we get along so well and have a lot of fun.  Right away when we were talking in the morning I teared up, she said stop that, and she teared up – and I laughed and said I would stay on my side of the office to avoid tears.  😛

We had a surprise going away party for her at 1:30 yesterday – that I could not mention here as she reads my blog.  😀  It went off pretty well and we did surprise her.  She will be missed in the office and it has been awesome getting to know her for the past two years.  We agreed to get together for lunch occasionally to catch up.

Sandi and I

Today, in about an hour Chance, Al, and I are heading out to help with the Feed The Children event for Haiti.  I mentioned this in yesterday mornings crazy weekend post.  We will be helping people get to bagging stations and showing them how to put together the mix of soy, seasoning, dried veggies and rice.  We will then weigh, seal, and box the bags to go to Haiti.  Its kind of exciting to be part of this.  We have done it three times before for Honduras.

And speaking of Honduras I get to see some of the kids from Honduras this afternoon.  Three of them are in the states and in my home town.  Crazy – but true!

Hopefully some reading time later tonight.  A little at least.  I tried last night and I lasted about 10 minutes.  Have a super day everyone!  😀

What The Yuck! From The Editors Of Health – (A Review For Women Only)

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)23 Comments

All women have concerns about their body that they are just too embarrassed to mention to their doctor. In “What The Yuck?!””Health Magazine” Medical Editor Dr. Roshini Rajapaksa (Dr. Raj) answers them all – ‘Could this mole be skin cancer?’ to the offbeat like ‘Can too many venti lattes (Green Tea latte made with Soy) give you a heart attack?’ and ‘Why do I get a headache when I eat chocolate cupcakes?’ Dr. Raj sheds light on even the most confusing symptoms, telling readers when not to worry, and when to see their doctor. The book also shares insider tips from Dr. Raj, fascinating factoids – such as ‘Most women have one breast that’s larger than the other’ – as well as poll results, so readers can see at a glance how many seemingly-weird body issues are actually healthy and normal. All 205 questions come from real women; they cover everyday health concerns and thoroughly modern conundrums, such as H1N1 (Swine Flu), celebrity diets, and mobile phone dangers. The book is organized by themes such as ‘That time of the month’ and ‘Between the sheets’, making it easy to navigate and irresistible to flip through. Sure to be a classic, “What The Yuck?!” is a book women of all ages will want to own.



I grabbed this book at BEA in New York earlier this year and finally just opened it up this week.  While some of the content was a bit “WHOA” for my blood… much of the book was very informative and I learned a few interesting things. I liked that the questions were answered by a woman doctor in detail.



Dr. Raj answers your questions about caffeine, spider veins, and germs on public toilets.

Q: I drink four or five cups of coffee every day, then a cappuccino at night. Is that too much caffeine?

A: Yes and no. For most people, 200 to 300 milligrams of caffeine a day—about two or three cups of coffee—is fine. But more than that may cause anxiety, sleep difficulties, or irritability, as well as stomach ulcers, esophagitis (inflammation of the esophageal lining), a temporary rise in blood pressure, and reflux—all signature signs of an overdose.


Of course I had to put the coffee one in my review.  😛  Overall this book is filled with good advice of what to bring to your doctor appointments that will save you time and money, as well as answers to questions you may have that are not always the easiest to ask.   Any woman  who read this book would take away something of use or interest to them.


Roshini Rajapaksa, MD, Health Magazine Medical Editor and Today Show contributor is an attending physician at NYU Medical Center/Tisch Hospital, and Assistant Professor of Medicine at the NYU School of Medicine. A Harvard graduate, she holds a medical degree from New York University School of Medicine and is board certified in Gastroenterology and Internal Medicine.

I received my copy of this book from BEA in New York from the author

Morning Meanderings… Off To The Races… (I need an energy drink – or a cape…)

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)28 Comments


Confession:  I do not like a lot of structure.  That may not surprise some of you who have been reading me for a while.  I like the freedom of doing something … or not.  An over committed schedule makes my skin crawl.   I am what my friends refer to as an introverted extrovert.  I LOVE hanging out with people and experiencing life, but it exhausts me – zaps my energy and the way I restore “my power” is to be alone, unwind….

I know…. I should be on medication…..LOL  😛


This weekend is such an epic sized overcommitment time that I have to actually think about in pieces, like one step at a time to not get over-anxious but all I must accomplish before I hit the finish line of late Sunday.  Here is what I mean:

  • Today – I work until 2 pm.  I normally do not work Fridays but it is my assistants last day and I want to work with her as she has been so wonderful and will truly be missed.  Today will be a hard day.  Also – in our own company my husband owns, our longest employee (of 9 years!) is also having his last day.  Al and I are both having sad days.

  • This late afternoon I am doing Group Power because it is good for me – and it will help me relax.

  • AT 6:30 tonight I need to be at the Armory in town to help set up the tables for the Feed The Children Event tomorrow we are bagging a rice mix to be sent to Haiti.

  • Saturday I need to be back at the Armory at 6:30 am to unload the truck that brings the bulk food, and then I help greet people and take them to stations to work until 2 pm.

  • AT 2 pm I dash from the Armory with my hubby and we cruise about 10 miles out-of-town to a potluck where some of the kids I know from Honduras will be at and get time to hang out with them a bit.

  • At 6:30 we are going to the Saturday Church service as one of the Honduras girls will be sharing her story.  I know this girl well and can not miss this incredible event.  After going to Honduras for the past 6 years to see her – she is in my home town currently.  That blows me away.

  • Sunday morning  at 8:30 am I meet the trailer to set up the cots for the Homeless Program.  It is my groups turn to serve for the week.  I need to set up bedrooms for the 3 families that are currently in the program and then go purchase food for the breakfasts and lunches for the week.  I have volunteers that provide the dinners and stay overnight with them each night from Sunday until the following Saturday.

  • I race to the church parking lot by 11:00 am as it is out annual tailgate party and my vehicle is one of the tailgate.  Note to self – I need to have a tailgate food item to share…. hmmmm…. I think meatballs are quick and easy.  Leave there by 2 pm

  • At 4:30 pick up the guests that are in the Homeless Program and take them to where they will be staying the next week and give them their orientation.  Make sure my volunteers are feeling good and then by 6:30 pm go home and probably pass out.  😛


On the bright side – this weekend is filled with wonderful happenings and it is a bummer they are hitting all at once but they will make incredible memories.  I will have pics in my morning meanderings, and actually breaking this down into bite size pieces like I just did makes it feel like a “to do” list that I can conquer one step at a time.  😀

Enter here to see more details about this program

Hope your weekend provides some fun and down time!!!

Morning Meanderings…The “F” word is being dropped like a bomb over here!

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)49 Comments

GAH!  (Probably not the best first word of the day… but, ehhhhh).  The “GAH” is because I did it again.  I said the “F” word.  ANd for some reason I keep on saying it like I have a problem or something.  Seriously what is wrong with me?

Fall.

(you knew that was where I was going right?)


Being a summer… I have to admit I am not a bit fan of the cooler mornings, the 50 and 60 degree temperatures, the longer leaved shirts and digging out the pants instead of Capri’s for work.  HOWEVER…. thanks to book lovers, there are some awesome happenings that kind of sort of make up a wee bit of ground with me.

Such as…


This weekend is the Blogfest.  I know right?  I must have just continuously been at the wrong place at the wrong time because I seriously missed out on all of this until the last couple days.  This takes place September 10-12.  I have linked to a list of participating blogs here so if you so choose you can stop on by.



AND then, of course there is Book Blogger Appreciation Week which is sooooo much fun!   And check out the super cool theme this year, A Treasure Chest of Infinite Books and Infinite Blogs.  SO COOL!  I love participating and saying “Hey!” to all my bloggy friends old and new by offering giveaways and fun posts right here during the very productive week on the blog, September13-17.



And (oh yes, there is more!!!!) Banned Books Week is coming up again and before you say I would never, could never read a banned book…. uhhh…. yeah, check out the list.  More than likely – you already have.  have you ever read a classic?  Chances are it was a banned book.  Have you ever read a Harry Potter book?  Banned! Banned! Banned!  Judy Blume?  Yup… her too.  Here is a list of banned books, but you can find lists and lists everywhere.   Check out the Banned Books site that is taking reviews of banned books.  I was invited to add my recent review of To Kill A Mockingbird to the blog.  Mark your calendars for September 25 – October 2 and maybe plan to read one or two during banned books week….bring out the rebel in you!



Then on October 9, the wonderful Dewey’s Read-A-Thon rolls out again for another fantastic 24 hour read a thon that includes great games and giveaways as well as a time to set aside and read and read and read…  check out the site.


For all you anti “F” word people such as myself, looking at these great events kind of eases the pain of fall right?  And even if you love fall… oh I know you are out there….  this is just a little icing on the cake then.  😀


Ok – for the record – I do not hate Fall.  BUT, in Minnesota, Fall is a prequel of what’s to come…. and if you think Fall causes me to sigh… wait until we get to Winter.  BRRRRRR!!!!!  😛

If I missed any events please let me know!  😀

Men and Dogs by Katie Crouch (audio review)

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)29 Comments


Hannah Legare finds herself back in her home town of Chareleston Harbor, South Carolina.  Her marriage is in a shambles and her business that once thrived is now looking at failing in the economy.  Taking time at home she starts to puzzle over the disappearance of her father that took place 20 years earlier.  She feels that there never was closure to this man who was her dad, and Hannah starts asking questions around town digging up old hurts and old relationships. As she searches for answers, she slowly begins to find herself.

Not this kind of men....

Not this kind of dog...

I had not read anything by Katie Crouch before but recall first becoming interested in her writing when I seen the book Girls In Trucks.  Another snappy title, and a fun cover but one I have yet to read.

I know going into this review I am going to struggle.  I listened to this on audio and I just found Hannah to be extremely unlikable.  Her problems in her marriage were brought on by her and her habit of falling in bed with other men.  She wined, she struggled with life, she was not a strong woman – and perhaps that is what bothered me most.  (I like strong women characters – I always have).

I thought we would find some sort of closure as I listened to this read but honestly I never felt it.  Hannah and her relationships with her family felt immature and I have to admit that for most of this audio I was just annoyed with this character.  I took a lot of time to write this review but my opinion has not changed, I just didn’t like it.

I have not read other reviews but they must be out there and I will gladly connect to your review if you have written one and I would love to hear if you had a better experience with this read.  The narrator was wonderful, and enjoyable, and I would still be interested in reading Girls In Trucks by this author.


I received this audio for review from Hachette Audio

Morning Meanderings… So chatty this morning… must be the coffee…

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)27 Comments

Morning all!   Yesterday I was going to post the books I discovered while checking out the Monday meme.  However with the Holiday weekend and scraping back  into town mid day on Monday, it did not happen.  Today, this morning, with Coffee Cup at the ready, I am reading to chat books with you.


Jill at Fizzy Thoughts was chatting about this book and I realized I have never read anything by Ray Bradbury.  Nada.  Nothing.   I think I would like to try this in audio and have already reserved it at the library.  I found some wonderful articles online about Ray Bradbury readings at coffee houses….  they had me at coffee.


Everything Distils Into Reading posted a review on this book recently.  I have heard so many good things about this book and I want to read it!  They are talking movie rights on this one and it looks like it is going to happen!


Cem’s Book Hideout has this little gem reviewed.  Now this one I actually have but have not read yet.  Yet.  And I heard the book has coffee quotes! 😀


This book that I discovered over at Amy Reads is probably the hit of the week.  I mean – look at this cover.  AND then after you are done cover admiring, go over and read the review.  I am looking for this one right away!


I received this award from Cheryl over at CMash Loves To Read and I am really terrible at doing awards and passing them on but the question that goes with this one was a bit too good to pass on so here goes.

If you had the chance to go back and change one thing in your life, would you and what would it be?

It’s funny as I was recently just thinking about this.  I would love to go back and spend more time with my kids when they were in their younger years.  We had our kids so young and we were both working full-time trying to get .  I wish I could go back and use daycare less and spend more times with my kids.  They are grown now and I feel I missed a lot of opportunities with them when they were younger.


Anyone who reads this is welcome to the Cherry On Top Award.  I could not possibly choose  just as so many of you have such wonderful book blogs that I enjoy reading.

Final thought, Wordshakers is up and running with its online book club read  for Sept – October 6.  Click here for details on the book and the fun we have lined up with the author including an author chat and a great giveaway!  😀

Have a super day!  I have a busy one – full day at work and then Group Power this late afternoon.  I am also prepping my volunteer list as our serving week with the homeless begins this Sunday.

Off and running!  😛

To Kill A Mockingbird – Movie review and book comparisons

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)40 Comments

Last week I read and reviewed To Kill A Mockingbird, easily naming this as one of my now all time favorite reads.  The book was so well written, so smart, so engaging…. I just fell in love with it and I am so impressed with Harper Lee’s writing style and the story that she tells.

After finishing the book, I knew I wanted to see the movie and was lucky enough to find it at one of our few remaining video rental stores (uhhh yeah… whats with all the Red Boxes anyway?).  I brought the movie with us camping this weekend and watched it with my husband as well as with our company which included two young girls ages 9 and 12.  It is fair to say that i was actually a little jealous that they were able to experience this show at the ages they are where I am currently in my 40’s and seeing it for the first time.


The movie was… well, wonderful.  Gregory Peck made an incredible Aticus and listening to him was just as I had pictured he would be, evenly tempered, wise in his speech, and gentle in his manner.  It was wonderful to watch the book come alive before my eyes, and having just finished the book I enjoyed watching how it all played out on the screen.

As in all movies, parts of the book are lost.  One of my favorite parts in the book was the end when Scout is walking home in the turkey costume and while that is in the movie, they cut out a lot of the story behind that part of the book, which I missed.

Over all I would highly recommend that everyone first read the book – you will not be sorry, and secondly, watch the movie, both are worth your time and you will forever have this wonderful piece of culture known as To Kill A Mockingbird.


Did you know that To Kill A Mockingbird was a banned book?

Fact:   Challenged in Eden Valley, Minn. (1977) and temporarily banned due to words “damn” and “whore lady” used in the novel. Challenged in the Vernon Verona Sherill, N.Y School District (1980) as a “filthy, trashy novel:” Challenged at the Warren, Ind.Township schools (1981) because the book does “psychological damage to the positive integration process ” and “represents institutionalized racism under the guise of good literature:” After unsuccessfully banning Lee’s novel, three black parents resigned from the township human relations advisory council. Challenged in the Waukegan, III. School District (1984) because the novel uses the word “nigger.” Challenged in the Kansas City, Mo. junior high schools (1985). Challenged at the Park Hill, Mo. Junior High School (1985) because the novel “contains profanity and racial slurs:” Retained on a supplemental eighth grade reading list in the Casa Grande, Ariz. Elementary School District (1985), despite the protests by black parents and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People who charged the book was unfit for junior high use. Challenged at the Santa Cruz, Calif. Schools (1995) because of its racial themes. Removed from the Southwood High School Library in Caddo Parish, La. (1995) because the book’s language and content were objectionable. Challenged at the Moss Point, Miss. School District (1996) because the novel contains a racial epithet. Banned from the Lindale,Tex. advanced placement English reading list (1996) because the book “conflicted with the values of the community.” Challenged by a Glynn County, Ga. (2001) school board member because of profanity. The novel was retained. Returned to the freshman reading list at Muskogee, Okla. High School (2001) despite complaints over the years from black students and parents about racial slurs in the text. Challenged in the Normal, ILL Community High Schools sophomore literature class (2003) as being degrading to African Americans. Challenged at the Stanford Middle School in Durham, N.C. (2004) because the 1961 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel uses the word “nigger.”