VIOLA in Reel Life by Adriana Trigiani

The voice that comes alive in Viola’s character is one that spoke to the 14 year old me.  I was carried back into a time  of awkward moments of adolescence, dances you remember forever, and breathtaking first kisses…  ~ Sheila

viola-in-reel-lifeSynopsis

I’m marooned.

Abandoned.

Left to rot in boarding school . . .

Viola doesn’t want to go to boarding school, but somehow she ends up at an all-girls school in South Bend, Indiana, far, far away from her home in Brooklyn, New York. Now Viola is stuck for a whole year in the sherbet-colored sweater capital of the world.

Ick.

There’s no way Viola’s going to survive the year—especially since she has to replace her best friend Andrew with three new roommates who, disturbingly, actually seem to like it there. She resorts to viewing the world (and hiding) behind the lens of her video camera.

Boarding school, though, and her roommates and even the Midwest are nothing like she thought they would be, and soon Viola realizes she may be in for the most incredible year of her life.

But first she has to put the camera down and let the world in.

My Thoughts:

OMG!  LOL!  Really and truly I adored this book!  I enjoyed this book from the first sentence, “YOU WOULD NOT WANT TO BE ME.”  I loved the dramatic voice of our fourteen year old Viola.  I remember those days when the world was going to end because things did not go the way you wanted.  Life was so…. intense.  So here I am deeply engrossed in a book all about Viola and her wonderful BFFAA (Best Friend Forever And Always) Andrew, her three new roommates in boarding school who seen to have already pegged her from hour one, and the possibility of a new relationship with a boy who’s love is calculated by the number of IM’s, and texts, four kisses, one hand holding, one date, one cookie and one book.

Ahhhh… first love.

Tie all that in a hip and happening Grandma (Grand) who has a back ground in acting, two adoring but at this time anyway distant parents… and you have the making of one great read.

I have to thank Jennifer at BookClubGirl who introduced me to this book and then sent me a copy to read and be part of the live chat with the author Adriana Trigiani on Wednesday of this past week.  I didn’t get to say a lot during the live chat as I had to run Chance to Youth Group in the middle of it but it was fun to participate and see the conversation roll out.

A great YA…. I applaud Adriana Trigiani for this youthful book and I plan on looking into more of what she has written.

About the Author

adriana

ADRIANA TRIGIANI is beloved by millions of readers around the world for her hilarious and heartwarming novels. Adriana was raised in a small coal mining town in southwest Virginia in a big Italian family. She chose her hometown for the setting and title of her debut novel, the critically acclaimed and bestselling Big Stone Gap, followed by the sequels Big Cherry Holler, Milk Glass Moon, and the fall 2006 release Home to Big Stone Gap. Lucia, Lucia, The Queen of the Big Time, Rococo and Very Valentine were all instant New York Times bestsellers. Adriana also teamed up with her family for Cooking With My Sisters, which was co-authored by her sister Mary, with contributions from their sisters and mom; the cookbook-memoir features recipes and stories dating back a hundred years from both sides of their Italian-American family. Adriana’s novels have been translated and sold in over 30 countries around the world.

You can listen to the Live Chat here

Banned Book Week Winners

It is time to announce the winners from The Banned Book Week Giveaway!  We had 68 comments so I have 6 winners.  Thank you everyone for sharing the banned books you have read!

The winners are:

Drum roll please… drum

Wordlilly

Barbara S

Julie H

Ebony

Hailey Miller

Zia

Congratulations!  All winners have been notified by email and have choice out of the prize box!

gift

A Royal Spotlight!

park ave

I am so excited!  I logged on this morning to discover that the Spotlight Interview I completed with Amy at Park-Avenue Princess is on her beautiful blog today!  Color me *Giddy*!

I love interviewing other book  bloggers and hearing their stories and it was fun to share mine with Amy.  If you go over and read the Spotlight post I am offering up an Amazon Gift for her to give away – and who doesn’t like gift cards?  Amy’s giveaway is open international so everyone click your way over to Park-Avenue Princess.


In honor of this great guest spot that Amy has given me, I too want to offer up a $10 Amazon gift card here as well.  To qualify here is what you can do:

1.  You must leave a comment on the Spotlight post over at Park Avenue Princess

2.  For an additional entry – come back here and comment on one thing you learned about me from the spotlight interview

That’s it!  🙂  This giveaway is open internationally as well and I will end this on the same day that Amy is, on October 30th (mine will end in the morning however as that is the day I leave for Honduras).

The Bible Salesman by Clyde Edgerton GIVEAWAY!!!

Valerie at Hachette Book Group has graciously offered this book for me to review and do a giveaway for!

This giveaway is closed as of Oct 28

bible salesmanPreston Clearwater has been a criminal since stealing two chain saws and 1,600 pairs of aviator sunglasses from the army during the Second World War. Back on the road in postwar North Carolina, now a member of a car-theft ring, he picks up hitchhiking Henry Dampier, an innocent twenty-year-old Bible salesman. Clearwater immediately recognizes Henry as smart but gullible, just the associate he needs–one who will believe Clearwater is working undercover for the F.B.I.; one who will drive the cars Clearwater steals as Clearwater follows along in his own car at a safe distance. Henry joyfully sees a chance to lead a dual life as a Bible salesman and a G-man.

During his hilarious and scary adventures, Henry grapples with doubts about the Bible’s accuracy, and we learn of his fundamentalist upbringing, an upbringing that doesn’t prepared him for his new life. As he falls in love with the captivating Marleen Green and questions his religious training, Henry begins to see he’s being used–that he is on his own in a way he never imagined.

So… how to enter?

1 entry:  leave a comment here and let me know if you have ever sold anything door to door or over the phone… (If you have not, respond here with something you think you would be good at selling door to door or ove the phone)

2) earn a second entry by following my blog and letting me know that you do is a separate comment

3) leave a comment on any non goveaway post for a third entry

Thats it – I will give away one book per every 10 comments (not counting any of my own comments) up to 5 books.  Giveaway open to USA and Canada entrants.  Giveaway will end on October 22.

Reading Group Guide

Faith N Fiction Saturday

Faith_Fiction2

My Friend Amy has this wonderful weekly meme that just recently came back into play after a little time off due to life business.  I can so relate to that!  🙂  So today I anxiously head over to Amy’s Blog to see what question she will post for us to ponder over today and she asks this:

Today’s Question

We mostly talk about Christian fiction during Faith’n’Fiction Saturday but I’m curious if you have ever read fiction of other faiths. I am not aware of a lot of fiction of other faiths like I am about Christian fiction, so this is a good time to chime in with anything you’ve read! If you are of another faith, maybe you can chime in and tell us about some options.

Honestly… I had to think on this one… have I read a fiction read on other faiths?  I checked my book shelves and found that I had:

Kabul Beauty School (ISLAM) but it is non fiction

Reading Lolita in Tehran (ISLAM) also non fiction

I looked on line and was surprised that I did not really find any fiction reads in other faiths other than a few that were written for children.  Perhaps I was looking in the wrong areas?

GAH! I think I am coming up empty.  If any of you have read any faith and fiction reads that are not based on the Christina Faith, please stop over to My Friend Amy’s and add your link and/or your comments.

Morning Meandering…

Listen.a big improvement

Hear that?

Mmmm hmmm.  Silence.  Glorious silence.

Chance stayed at a buddies home last night, Al got up early to go to an auction.  I am in the house alone except for Coffee Cup who never has to much to say anyway.  😉

These moments lately are far too few and far between in our household.  I am usually up and running around by this time, taking Chance to school, or going into the office… but not today.  Today I am looking at the books I had wanted to read this week and I am thrilled to say that I am on the last few pages of the last one out of this group, VIOLA In Reel Life by Adriana Trigiani.  I am enjoying this read and earlier this week over at Book Club Girl’s we had a live chat with this author.

Listen to this first paragraph:

I’m marooned.  Abandoned.  Left to rot in boarding school in the dust bowl of Indiana like the potato we found in the cupboard in our Kitchen in Brooklyn after months of searching for it.  It was only when the entire kitchen began to smell like a root cellar from Pilgrim days that we figured out why – and when we finally found the poatato it was soft, rotten. and breeding itself with white barnacles with totally disgusting green tips.

Don’t you just love that?  By the time I finished those words I could clearly smell the potato that had seen better days and the description of the white barnacles… very visual.  I cant wait to review this book.

My plan today is to complete the book, clean the house a bit, maybe depending on when Chance gets home – maybe take in a movie this afternoon and tonight Al and I have a retirement party to go to for a guy he used to work with at UPS.

Current status for me?  I am up but stil in the p.j.’s…  and may stay that way for at least another hour… 🙂  Coffee Cup and I are on our 2nd cup, the weather is cool and the sky is overcast.  Perfect reading weather.

Read on my friends!  Enjoy your Saturday wherever you may be!

Bo’s Cafe by John Lynch * Bill Thrall * Bruce McNichol w/ giveaway

A fantastic Christian read with the combination of incredible food, faith, and friends… what more could you want out of Bo’s cafe?

~ Sheila


Bo's CafeHigh-powered executive Steven Kerner is living the dream in southern California. But when his bottled pain ignites in anger one night, his wife kicks him out. Then an eccentric mystery man named Andy Monroe befriends Steven and begins unraveling his tightly wound world. Andy leads Steven through a series of frustrating and revealing encounters to repair his life through genuine friendship and the grace and love of a God who has been waiting for him to accept it. A story to challenge and encourage, BO’S CAFE is a model for all who struggle with unresolved problems and a performance-based life. Those who desire a fuller, more authentic way of living will find this journey of healing a restorative exploration of God’s unbridled grace.


My Thoughts: Bo’s Cafe was a wonderful read.  I really enjoyed the story line between Steve and Lindsey.  In today’s world I am believing that this is all to often the circumstances and I found this book believable.  Bo’s Cafe is a captivating read… from the great cover picture of a warm inviting cafe filled to the brim with friends, even within the pages you find people like Andy – a little mysterious, but there is something more to that guy that you cant quite put your finger on… and he  drive’s an old car and live life with a sense of joy.

On page 228 I found a quote that I think may need to go on the sidebar of this blog somewhere… “Integrity is proven when you admit what you cannot do and honor what you say you can.”

I found the book refreshing.  As a Christian read, the book covers well that no one needs another list of do’s and don’ts.  I loved that in this book we are reminded that God loves us for who we are.  He created us out of His love.  Personally, I know how long it took me just to learn that it was ok to be real – it is ok to be flawed and fail and get back up again.  God is first in line to hold out a helping hand.  Andy’s character is a fine example and I enjoyed getting to know him and the rest of the gang at Bo’s Cafe.

And how fun is it that this book is written by three authors who are friends?

Meet the Authors

john_close-BCJohn Lynch
As a great communicator and writer, John Lynch is a vital staff member of the Truefaced team.  In addition to speaking nationally with the Truefaced team since 1997, John has co-authored a number of books and resources with Truefaced, including the bestseller TrueFaced and the popular TrueFaced audio-video message.

John also serves as teaching pastor at Open Door Fellowship in Phoenix, Arizona, a position that he has held since 1985. The authenticity, longevity, and playfulness of these two flawed communities, Open Door and the Truefaced group, brings real-world reality and potency to this Truefaced message of Bo’s Cafe.

John used his love for writing and performing as the co-founder and playwright for Sharkey Productions, a theater troupe focused on Gospel-anchored theater productions for those still seeking Jesus. John and his wife Stacey are passionate parents to their three children Caleb, Amy and Carly.

abBill Thrall
As a leader of leaders, and a co-author for the TrueFaced team since 1995, Bill’s genuine desire is to see relational health in those he works with, has been vital in setting the tone of the organization. His eloquence and integrity have given him opportunities to teach TrueFaced’s principles internationally. His wisdom has been penned throughout the entire series of The Ascent of a Leader, Beyond Your Best, and TrueFaced Experience books.

Prior to joining the TrueFaced group, Bill founded and pastored the influential church, Open Door Fellowship, for over 20 years.  While there, he developed an effective character development training program, which has influenced thousands.

In his spare time, Bill can be found fishing, golfing, crafting furniture for his family in his wood shop or cultivating fruits, vegetables and herbs in his beautiful backyard garden. Bill and his wife, Grace have three grown children Wende, Bill, and Joy and nine grandchildren.

abrBruce McNicol
Bruce is a master at helping people experience the freedom of grace through metaphors and stories, which fill the best-selling Truefaced resources he and his friends have co-authored. These include TrueFaced, The Ascent of a Leader, Behind The Mask, Beyond Your Best, The High Trust Cultures, and others.

Bruce’s degrees in finance law, theology, leadership, and organizational development help hone his gift to speak into the lives of others, which continues to draw international audiences.

As co-founder and president of Truefaced team, Bruce’s passion is to see tens of thousands of safe places like Bo’s Café growing around the world, whether they be families, businesses, schools, hospitals, churches, organizations, sports teams, military or governments.

Bruce enjoys the beach, sports, and observing cultures through history-makers, emerging leaders, mass media, and comedians. His constant interest is his wife Janet, who is a homemaker, nurse and mentor. Together, they absolutely enjoy their three children, Nicole, Chad and Ryan.

Mirian from Hchette Book Group has graciously offered me copies of this book to give away here.  I can have up to 5 copies – I will give away one book per every 10 entries….

How to enter?

Leave a comment here for one entry

For 2 extra entries: Go this fun Bo’s Cafe site and let me know which link you enjoyed looking at and why:  Bo’s cafe

Be a follower of this blog for another additional entry.

Open to USA and Canada addresses only.  No PO box numbers.  Contest will end Oct 20.

This giveaway is not closed as of Oct 28, 2009

Morning Meanderings….

a big improvement7 a.m. here in Minnesota and it is DARK.  Spooky dark.  The change in the seasons happened quickly and we went from a couple weeks of really beautiful 80 degree weather to the now wake up to 40 degrees and top out your day at 53 degrees.  Yup… to me, that’s the downside of where I live.

However – the cold weather does keep me inside a lot more and my reading time does increase.  Get a good major snow storm and I can have my own personal snow day and cuddle in a thick soft blanket surrounded by a couple great reads and a never ending pot of coffee, tea, or cocoa.

And fall also brings out the game board addict in me.  I love board games.  In fact we have a whole double wide closet dedicated to board games.  Balderdash and Beyond Balderdash, Scruples, Cribbage, Pictionary, puzzles, Blurt, I think currently we have about 5 different versions of monopoly (Vikings monopoly, Disney monopoly, millennium monopoly, Star Wars monopoly…) and more.

Yesterday I was reading on a bookish website (I know… how different for me!) and discovered this little gem:

bookopolyI know, right?  How super cool is that?  Bookopoly is available at Amazon.  They also had banned book bracelets and Literati Challenge for the wordies out there!

How about you… any fall favorite things?  How about a favorite board game?

2009 YA Challenge

2009 YA Challenge

Being fairly new to the whole book blogging thing I have been pretty careful on which Challenges I have signed up for.  Now that I am a bit more comfortable and have a good feel for the reading that I am currently doing and the genres that are interesting me at this time, I am a bit more open to try some of these out.

Over at J Kaye’s Blog I was looking into the challenges that she is leading and this YA caught my eye.  In the last few months I have had the opportunity to read some wonderful YA books and have discovered I really enjoy this genre!

The challenge is to read 12 YA books in 2009.


Guidelines for 2009 Young Adult Book Challenge

1. Anyone can join. You don’t need a blog to participate.

2. Read 12 Young Adult novels. No need to list your books in advance. You may select books as you go. Even if you list them now, you can change the list if needed.

3. Challenge begins January thru December, 2009.

4. You can join anytime between now and December 31, 2009.

So here we go!

1.  Twilight by Stephanie Meyer

2.  New Moon by Stephanie Meyer

3.  Eclipse by Stephanie Meyer

4.  breaking Dawn by Stephanie Meyer

5.  The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak

6.  Nothing But Ghosts by Beth Kephart

7.  North!  Or be Eaten! by Andrew Peterson

8.  Dreaming Anastasia by Joy Preble

9.  Bran Hambric by Kaleb Nation

10.  ALVOR by Laura Bingham

11.

12.

Any great ones I have missed this year?  Please leave a comment to let me know!  🙂


Word Verification Balderdash (The Thursday Thing)

GAH!  Something must be wrong with me… I keep forgetting to do this and in my head I thought I needed to post it balderdashtomorrow.  I think I am going to get more organized and actually prep this ahead of time so Thursday mornings it will be like “TA DA!” Already there.

Baderdash fans… this fun meme is for you! I love word games (not as much as commenting).  To entertain myself and maybe some of you… I decided to share with you a little thing I do while I type in the word verification.  I play Balderdash in my head.  Yup.  As I am typing in the word, I think if it was a real word… what would it mean.  Some come easy.  Others…. I really have to stretch the imagination.

The definition of Balderdash: An oft used strategy  to elect your own fake definition in an attempt to give it credibility in the minds of your fellow players.

So here is this weeks contribution:

Perminia: A perm that is all the rage in Europe!  It is hair designed to look like a flower.  Very popular is the rose and carnation.  For a bit more moola you can go all out with the begonia which is pricey – but gorgeous!

Hednesti: Italian for morning hair.  😉

Poneater: The newest game for the PS2… your kids will love it!  This great chess style game actually has an upgraded peice called the poneater that will of course, eat your pawn.  The pawn is normally considered the weakest peice in the game but the poneater adds a whole new lever of excitement.

Equatic: A person who really just flips out if they things are not fair or equal in all circumstances.  “Traci just went totally equatic on me when I said that Carol would get first choice on the theater seats.”

There you go!  What are yours?  Leave me a link here and I will gladly add you to this post!  Have fun!  🙂

The Betty and Boo Chronicles

Wordsmithonia