Morning Meanderings…

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)52 Comments


Hey all – good morning!  😀

Thank you to everyone who left me well wishes and great comments on yesterdays meandering.  I had one of those rare days that kept me so busy I did not make it back on-line until 9:30 pm last night after I had cleaned up my house from a very awesome book club meeting.  Logging on and seeing so many comments really made me smile.  Thank you for that.

I stayed up way too late last night trying to design a new business card for myself and this bloggy thing I do here.  I am still not sure if I love it – love it, but I got it done at around 1 am so we shall see.  Here is what I came up with:

Front Side

I like the creamy orange color and think it will stand out a bit.  I also was trying to stay with recognition and connection to this blog and this is the new coffee cup logo I have been using and am planning to stick with.

Back Side

I like the chocolaty back of this and like that there is information on both sides of the card – almost making it reversible.  I wanted to use a picture with more books but found my lettering then because lost in the picture.

Well it’s a start.  Now I just cant wait to get them and see them.  I had ones for this blog before that I had made myself and I like that one too, but needed to have the correct name on the ones I am taking to BEA with me.  Thoughts on this?  Advice?  Do you have a card for your blog?

I am really getting behind on reviews with my crazy life style as of late so I am putting up the book club one today and possibly even a second one later today.

Have a great day everyone – I am enjoying Coffee cup #3 this morning and listening to House Rules by Jodi Piccoult while I get ready for work.

Morning Meanderings…

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)77 Comments


Good morning!  Another rainy day here in central Minnesota but for some reason I can not stop smiling.  Why is this?

I just found out last night that I was one of the winners that will have tea with Adriana Trigiani while I am in New York on May 26th for BEA (Book Expo America).  Adriana is the author of Viola in Reel Life, Very Valentine, Brava Valentine (all which have been reviewed here) and many more best selling books.  Seriously I can’t stop grinning.  The email I received said that I would be picked up from the Jarvis Center and will ferry me to the tea in Manhattan!

So… because of this…. I leave you with this video this morning because this is a little illustration that keeps popping in my head to go with the way I am feeling right now.


So I am now skipping my way out the door to a day of work and then tonight I have book club here at my home.  We are reviewing The Girl She Used To Be by David Cristofano and we are potlucking around the food in the book.  This means…. Italian!  Yum!!!  I hope to have pictures for the meandering and for the review.  🙂

Have a super awesome day everyone!!!

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)106 Comments

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:

Michelle from The True Book Addict

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


Another whirlwind of a week.  I completed a second bike tour, have book club in two days already and can not believe BEA (Book Expo America) is in two weeks and I will be going to New York for the first time ever!!!  *Squee with excitement!

Everything seems to be happening so fast and as I sit here making this post I admit… I am a bit overwhelmed.


Here is what took place here in the last seven days


Caught by Harlan Coben (review of this one on audio and I think I may have goofed and should have read the book!)


Life In Spite Of Me by Kristen Jane Anderson – 2 copies to give away!


A Distant Melody by Sarah Sundin (Review)


I have a wee bit of Gilmore Girls attack…

Dead End Gene Pool by Wendy Burden ( a look into the lives of the Vanberbilt’s as told by a granddaughter)


The Arrival by Shaun Tan ( my first graphic read and I highly – HIGHLY recommend!)


The Girl She Used To Be by David Cristofano (Review will be posted after our Tuesday book club)


Would you believe everything I said I was finishing last week I am still working on?


Kite Runner on audio…. I thought I would finish it easy with my trip to the cities and back and I did listen to it all the way but am on cd 8 of 11……


House Rules I am listening to while cleaning house and while I get ready in the am and thought for sure I would be done… but even listening to it today for hours, it is not complete.


Columbine by Dave Cullen – I was going to finish this my night in the hotel before the bike ride and forgot to bring it!

But… they are almost complete so I do have a few things on brew for this week…

A little Minnesota mystery is in store this week and I am excited to dig into John’s book!

The next book out of the library sale treasure box.  This one will be read and then passed on to its new owner, Jackie (Ever Expanding Library)!  Looks spooky doesn’t it?

And finally – I am making my way to book three in the Michael Sullivan series and will then give my review of these amazing books as well as chat with author Michael Sullivan with what is to come.

So that’s the plan – I am excited to see what you are reading as well so please be sure to use the Linky and connect your Monday What Are You Reading post!  😀



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Click here to enter your link and view the entire list of entered links…

In My Mailbox

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)40 Comments

Another week, another mailbox.  This is where I record the books that came into my home this week.  They are books that came for review, from the library, and purchased.  Thanks to Kristi at Story Siren for hosting this weekly meme.

I had a light mailbox this week.


For review I received:

Yes I received this book for review last week and then this week two more came.  This means – GIVEAWAY!!!

A new one for review!

Library Loot

I have already completed this one.  So interesting to read about why people think books should be banned.  Review will be up later this week.

Last week I received Tom’s new book, The Secret Speech.  I wanted to read this one first as it was recommended by a friend last year.

Purchased

If you follow this blog on a regular basis you are probably aware that this time of year I participate n quite a few bike tours.  This morning I participated in a very cold one for MS in Maplewood Minnesota…. my treat to myself on the drive home was a stop at my Mother Ship – Barnes and Noble.

I haven’t read Mary Jane Clark in years.  Today I seen this lovely book an B & N for 6.99.

This was also at B & N on the bargain tables.  A beautiful journal that I am going to use for my book club notes.  I just love to write!  😀


Thats my mailbox!  What did you get in yours this week?

Morning Meanderings

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)32 Comments


Good morning all.  This morning Coffee Cup and I are in Maplewood Minnesota and I am up and about as prepared as I am going to be for the MS bike ride this morning.

Current temperature:  36 degrees (weather man says it feels like 27 degrees)

Chance of rain this morning with 15 to 20 MPH winds.

Percentage of  craziness I am feeling right now:  about 92% and rising.

I drove up to Maplewood last night and once I arrived I realized the book I was planning on finishing last night (Columbine) is still sitting on my kitchen counter at home.  Right where I put it when I was packing the car to go.  I never am without a book so last night was odd and I finally just went to sleep.

Current time is 6:52 am and the ride starts at 7:30.  I had better take off and see if I can find my team.  I am seriously going to need other crazy people to motivate me to ride today.  At this point I am planning on doing the 30 unless there is a real gung-ho group that encourages me to do the 60.  I think the weather is going to knock me on my butt on this one.

Anyway – I will post an update tonight when I post my In My Mailbox post…. after I am back in Brainerd…. home… and safe…. and WARM.  🙂

Have a great day everyone.  If you are planning on doing anything crazy (even tackling cleaning out a closet works), let me know so I can feel as though I am in good company.  🙂

The Arrival be Shaun Tan

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)28 Comments


My first graphic read and I have Angie at By Book or by Crook to thank for putting this one in my sight.

I have been a little leery of graphic novels.  I have wanted to try one but when I would flip through them at the book stores they had a comic book look to them, many times being a large series that I didn’t want to start with.  When I seen this one on Angie’s blog it looked…. like a story.  And that is what it was…



This novel, told completely in pictures, is the story of an immigrant family.  It opens with the father leaving and prepping a place for his family to live in a new country. Through the pictures, Shaun Tan has shown how maps, and food, and even pets can look to someone who is unfamiliar with these things.


Talk about a picture being worth a thousand words.  From page one, through the graphics, and even the neutral colors of the pages, I felt a lump in my throat as the story unfolded.  Shaun Tan created an incredible work here that gave me eyes to see how someone from another country can possibly perceive a new life.  It is so hard to describe the book and all I feel I can tell you here is that emotion welled up inside of me, much like it would if you were in an art gallery and seen a particular piece of art that spoke to you.


This book, spoke to me, and in a way, has changed me and how I look at my world. While marketed for Young Adults, I think the some of the subtle could be missed by anyone not fully absorbing and appreciating what they are seeing.  Shaun Tan has created a master piece here and I am so glad I had the opportunity to experience it.

I picked up this book from my local Library

Winner of My Next Read

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)16 Comments


Thank you to everyone who participated in my Choose The book I Read Next post.  This has turned out to be a great way to read the books I purchased at the library sale and then to pass the book on to one of you.  This is the second time I have listed the book sale books.  Ryan at Wordsmithonia won the first time around and picked Titanic 2012 which turned out to be a wonderful read!

Now…. using random.org, a new winner had been chosen:

Jackie!!!

Jackie’s comment was:  Phew! What a list…  I narrowed it down to about 10 in my head, lol. I think after your review of The Bride Collector that The Boneman’s Daughter would be a good pick :-)


So There it is.  Boneman’s Daughter comes out of the box and will be read as soon as I get a chance to and then sent to Jackie.  Once I have this book complete I will post the books again and we will go for round three!

Thanks everyone who participated and congratulations Jackie!  Please email me your shipping address  (journeythroughbooks@gmail.com) and I will prepare the envelope for the book to be shipped!  😀

Morning Meanderings

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)34 Comments


Good morning.  I had a terrible crummy day yesterday.  I had a large project due for an important meeting taking place at 6 pm and it just did not come together as quickly as I had hoped.  I get off work at 3 and was watching the sun come out in the afternoon and I was excited to get in an afternoon bike ride.  Missing all of Tuesday had put me behind and I thought I could still do it in time, but life happens, the internet went down, the printer quit working, it was a busy office day and at 6 pm, I was still finishing up the project.

At 6 pm, we also had dinner plans across town with friends.  Needless to say – we were late.  We got there at 6:40.  I would describe myself as haggard.

Ever notice how time with friends can heal anything?  Within 15 minutes I feel myself relaxing, we are laughing, catching up and although I feel like I am 50 years older and so tired I could lay my head at the restaurant table, I had a fantastic time.

So….  today I am watching the weather… it is supposed to snow today and tonight I am supposed to be heading to Maplewood Minnesota for tomorrows bike ride.  I am trying to be optimistic.  😀

Todays forcast:

Today

Rain in the morning…then rain or snow in the afternoon. Snow accumulation around an inch. Highs 40 to 45. Northeast winds 10 to 15 mph.

Tonight:  Cloudy. Snow likely in the evening…then a chance of snow after midnight. Snow accumulation of 2 to 3 inches. Total snow accumulation 3 to 4 inches. Lows 30 to 35. with winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 70 percent.

But tomorrow – here and Maplewood is supposed to be partly sunny and 50’s.  I would prefer full sun and 65… but you know…

I am off to the gym now, need to work off the rest of yesterdays stress and get on with my day.  In a few hours I will post the books choice someone chose for me on the Choose The Book I Read next post.  It’s not to late to put in your two cents if you havent already 🙂


Dead End Gene Pool by Wendy Burden

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)31 Comments

Book Journey Traveled to: New York!!!

If in the area, be sure to check out Creekside Books and Coffee

288 pages

Cover Story:  Is an A+.  The cover is relevant to the book and gives you a hint of what you are about to be in for.


For generations the Burdens were one of the wealthiest
families in New York, thanks to the inherited fortune of
Cornelius “The Commodore” Vanderbilt. By 1955, the
year of Wendy’s birth, the Burdens had become a clan
of overfunded, quirky and brainy, steadfastly chauvinistic,
and ultimately doomed bluebloods on the verge of financial
and moral decline-and were rarely seen not holding a drink.
In Dead End Gene Pool, Wendy invites readers to meet her
tragically flawed family, including an uncle with a fondness for
Hitler, a grandfather who believes you can never have enough
household staff, and a remarkably flatulent grandmother.

º         º          º         º

Author Wendy Burden's Grandparents going to a costume party

Dipping a toe into the shallow end of this book, I entered slowly, having no background information to the Vanderbilt’s or the Burdens.  The water is warm…

Cornelius Vanderbilt died in 1877 leaving behind a fortune of 167 million dollars.  All of this was left to his only son, William who after doubling this astronomical amount of money, died 8 years later.  This book, written by Wendy Burden ( the great- great -great grand daughter of Cornelious) is about growing up with a family surrounded by great wealth, and great dysfunction.

Wendy’s father had committed suicide when she was 6, and her mother who could not be burdened with children left the three children in the care of a nanny, while she traveled everywhere looking for the perfect tan.

Wendy Burden writes this memoir with a witty and humorous pen.  I get a little sense of Jeanette Walls memoir of Glass Castles, but this is not as horrifying.   An interesting look into a family that battles drugs and alcohol issues, a lifestyle that few of us would know – but after reading Wendy’s book and eye-popping realities of at times what I can only describe as “gag inducing”, it is remarkable that Wendy came out the other side as well as she did.


About The Author

Wendy Burden is a confirmed
New Yorker who, to her constant
surprise, lives in Portland, Oregon.
She is the great-great-great-great
granddaughter of Cornelius Vanderbilt,
which qualifies her to comment freely on
the downward spiral of blue blood families.
She has worked as an illustrator, a zookeeper,
and a taxidermist; and as an art director for
a pornographic magazine from which she was
fired for being too tasteful. She was also the
owner and chef of a small French restaurant,
Chez Wendy. She has yet to attend mortuary
school, but is planning on it.

This is a review copy from TLC Book Tours

Morning Meanderings…

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)26 Comments


Good morning Meandering readers!  Hope you day is off to a good start!  Yesterday I was at lunch with a group of fellow office staff and my boss said I was the Queen of conversation links.  Meaning, I can take a piece of conversation and run with it in a different direction.  Could be the multi tasker in me…. could be the coffee…  it is the way I am wired.

Words always have triggered other thoughts for me… either movie quotes, past conversations, or pictures just come to mind. I switch gears quickly – much like my fictional hero, Lorelai from Gilmore Girls.



Hope your day is super fab awesome!  I am still battling poor weather conditions here and even heard there was a chance for snow over the weekend.  Are you kidding me????  SNOW in May?  GAH!

That makes me a little annoyed. 😉

How is your week going?