Book Journey

Morning Meanderings… A Snapshot of Australia and a Bit Of Crazy

Published on February 7, 2015February 7, 2015 by Sheila (Book Journey)30 Comments

Good morning. It is Saturday. Coffee Cup and I are on round two. It looks as though it will be a nice day here in Central Minnesota, the sun is already shining…there really is no snow… so odd.

25a — This picture was taken from my back deck this morning. This is the way Central Minnesota has looked almost all winter. I personally love it. Now a snow fan.

For today’s Saturday Snapshot I thought I would pop out a few more pictures from Australia. We did spend three days in Sydney before we boarded the cruise ship. They were not snoozy days – we were up early and exploring. Here are some random shots of that time:

I can not recall if I posted about this lady before. I know I put her on Facebook and if I did already chat about her here, sorry about that but perhaps she is worth repeating. (Honestly I am too lazy to look back through my posts this morning). In Sydney on the pier we found this lovely lady all in white paint standing as still as a statue. However, if you were say a middle grade child… she would slowly move her hand and wave you over. If the child’s parent/guardian were to take a picture of the smiling child in front of her… she would bend over the child and show her fanged teeth. Yup. It was super cool and the smiling child would not suspect until he seen the picture. Awesome.

Two things about Australia…. Tim Tam – the cookie several of you told me I had to try so I diligently purchased a bag and shared them with the group. Mmmm… they are good. The coffee. EEP. When I would order coffee in the morning at the hotel (at about $4.00 a cup!) they make it one cup at a time. I would have been happy for a good old gas station coffee but instead it was this super strong foamy brew. Don’t get me wrong… I drank it. It is coffee after all. 😉

Hmmm…. flippy bad hair. We were on a boat and it was beautiful out. Behind me, of course is the famous Sydney Opera House. From reading Bill Bryson’s book, In A Sunburned Country I learned this… Sir Eugene Goossens, the man who had started the idea of the Opera house never seen it completed. In 1956 while passing through customs he was found to be carrying a large amount of pornographic materials. Australia security pretty much said “not in our country”, and he was asked to leave… permanently. That said, Goossen never did see the Opera House completed in all of its glory.

So.. the Sydney Harbor Bridge is the world’s largest bridge – but not the longest. Once again, in Bill Bryson’s book I learned that it was meant to be the longest as well, however the bridge took longer to build than anticipated. 10 years later when the bridge was complete, it was discovered that just shortly before, the New River Gorge Bridge in Virginia had opened up and it was 10 inches longer. “Doh!”

We purchased Ferry tickets one day in Australia and tooled around on the different Ferry’s going from here to there. One of the Ferry’s went to an area where people came into the main town by Ferry. It was a very ritzy area and this is one of the homes that we passed along the way.

Another view from the ferry.

I will leave it at that for today.. more to come… more sights to share. 🙂

This afternoon my friend Amy and I will leave for the cities, putt around, and wind up at the Great Gatsby Party this evening. I am soooo excited! This is part of my birthday weekend plans (my birthday is on Monday).

On another crazy note…. yesterday I was chatting about the Polar Plunge I participated in 4 years ago. My mouth got the best of me on Facebook as I teased my cousin’s wife about her saying she would never do it again… by the end of that conversation she and I had both signed up to participate in the Plunge on February 28th in Anoka Minnesota. 😯

Ahhh well…. it is for a good cause.

If you would like to sponsor me, the proceeds go to Special Olympics

Click here

Have a super Saturday!!!

Girl Fight! Why Amy (Gone Girl), Kick A** over Rachel (Girl On The Train)

Published on February 6, 2015February 4, 2015 by Sheila (Book Journey)33 Comments

** Warning this post will contain potential spoilers to both Gone Girl and Girl On The Train

Recently I finished the book, Girl On The Train. If you have been on the blogesphere lately you may have noticed this book. It is… EVERYWHERE. An EVERYWHERE book does not necessarily constitute a need for me to read it – however, my interest was piqued. Having seen it was being compared to Gone Girl increased that interest.

Now, having read both books, I have thoughts on why Amy from Gone Girl makes for an excellent protagonist and why Rachel from Girl On The Train does not. (Yes I know I am poking the bear)

Amy

Amy Dunne is brilliant. Scary brilliant. She can be the “everything woman”. When she meets Nick she is exactly who he wants her to be. She is sweet, beautiful, vulnerable. She makes Nick feel like a man and he falls in love with her. BUT (and it is a big but.. we are talking baby got back but!) we all know that Amy is flawed… more dangerously than Rachel because Amy can cover her flaws well. It is not until later in the book that we discover how flawed Amy really is…. twisted and damaged to the core she still ends up on top even in the end. Those who know her true colors are few and too afraid of her to do anything about it.

Rachel

Rachel comes with a lot of baggage. Most prominent is her trouble with alcohol. Her inability to stop drinking puts her immediately at a disadvantage. She is a burden on those around her. She can not hold down a job. As a witness, because of her drinking she is unreliable. Those who try to like her find her to be too much work and they quickly move on. Rachel has dug herself into a deep hole. In the end, she pulls herself together and is working towards being a person who will probably trump Amy in genuine niceness and togetherness.. but for me, it was too little too late.

Unreliable narration is the hook to both of these books. Can we trust what the narrator is telling us? Narration to narration I still give Gone Girl the win as when the book turned and twisted to what was really going on I was BLOWN AWAY. When Girl On The Train twisted I was surprised, but not over the top. I think by that time I had spent so much time struggling with Rachel that I was not engaged enough to appreciate what was indeed, an excellent twist of events.

Disclaimer: This post is all in fun. Based on my thoughts, solely my opinion, on both books and their protagonists. I actually enjoyed reading both books, just had a protagonist issue with Girl On The Train (my issue.). Let’s discuss! Did you like one protagonist over the other? Is it even about the protagonist or is more about the narration that makes the books? Do you agree or disagree with what I have said here? Is it even a fair fight?

Morning Meanderings… Feeling SPUNKY. Polar Plunge Anyone?

Published on February 6, 2015 by Sheila (Book Journey)8 Comments

Good morning! Friday! Egads, it is Friday! I feel good though. I have a good work day planned, prep for tomorrows Gatsby Event and plan dinner and a workout (not in that order). Should be a nice “little bit of everything” day.

When I woke up this morning I seen on Facebook that our 2011 Polar Plunge pictures are circulating again. I love looking at crazy pictures and have to laugh as pretty much everyone I did the plunge with said they would never do it again.

LOL… why not?

It really was a good time. 🙂

Showing off my fashionable books. When in Minnesota... — Showing off my fashionable books. When in Minnesota…

Alright… that was a Facebook inspired post but it was fun. 🙂 Off to do my thing… have a super day. And… do something crazy. Really.

Years later… it will still make you smile.

Afterworlds by Scott Westerfeld

Published on February 5, 2015February 3, 2015 by Sheila (Book Journey)21 Comments

Darcy Partell’s dreams are coming true! At eighteen years old her first novel, Afterworlds has been picked up by a publisher. Darcy has received a nice advance towards this book and the sequel.

Now what?

Putting college plans aside much to the dismay of her parents, Darcy moves to New York to put herself in the heart of the publishing world. Parties and meeting other young debut authors “the debs” is what life becomes about.

In alternating chapters, the fictional protagonist of Darcy’s book, Lizzie, survives a near death experience in an airport that puts her in a place where she can travel between the real world, and the after world.

Now with the pressures of rewrites, a love interest, and deadlines (pun intended),Darcy feels the real pressures of becoming a writer at such a young age.

Afterworlds was a book I was interested in since it first came out. I had picked up the book months ago and wound up putting it down (life gets in the way….). More recently, I downloaded the book on audio and enjoyed it in that format.

Afterworlds could easily become hard to follow if you did not have the facts going into the book. Darcy’s world is real and happening in real-time. Lizzie, carries the story of the book Darcy wrote. Actually – it is a brilliant way to write a book and it is like you are getting a book within a book. (Darcy even goes to BEA!!!)

I really enjoyed Afterworlds. Author Scott Westerfield did a wonderful job pulling this one-off. This would make for an interesting movie. Awesome YA read!

Audio CD: 12 CDs
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio; Unabridged edition (September 23, 2014)

Morning Meanderings… Getting My 20’s On… Gatsby Style

Published on February 5, 2015 by Sheila (Book Journey)23 Comments

Good morning! Thursday already! I am not even sure how that happened… I went through most of yesterday thinking it was Tuesday. No idea where I lost a day.

I have been back and forth on an event in Roseville Minnesota coming up this Saturday. It is a Gatsby event for their library sponsored by their friends group. I sooooo want to do an event like this in Brainerd in 2016. Months ago I said I would attend but then coming back from our long trip, I suddenly just wanted to stay home. (I kind of still do).

Yet… as the event draws closer… I became inspired. Yesterday morning I looked at what I had in my closet of dresses and found one or two that will work… then I went to our local party store and found a wig.. yes a wig… that will also work.

I think I want to go.

It sucks that it is 2 hours away… but with a little luck, next year it wont be. 🙂

So that’s what I am up too.

Remember my word for this year is “emerge”… and I need to emerge out of this house. lol

Today I have a freelance project to start moving on, a mailing for the library, work out session, and the start of the flyer for the bike ride in July for Camp Benedict. I do not lack for things to do. 😉

My Father’s Wives by Mike Greenberg

Published on February 4, 2015February 3, 2015 by Sheila (Book Journey)24 Comments

Jonathon Sweetwater has a pretty wonderful life. He has a good paying job, a beautiful wife, and two children he adores. When he comes home early from work one afternoon… things suddenly look as thought they could change in ways that Jonathon never anticipated or wanted.

Now, Jonathon is holding on to a secret that is ripping him apart. As he questions how his life has gone wrong, he is brought back to the memory of his father who left when he was 9 years old and proceeded to marry again 5 more times. His father now having passed away, Jonathon knows he does not want to follow down the same path his father went when it came to women. Jonathon decides that maybe now is the time to search out each of these past wives and find out more about the man who was his father, a man he hardly knew, and maybe at the same time answer questions about himself.

I first read author Mike Greenberg in his book, All You Could Ask For. I have to say, for being a radio host for ESPN and ABC, the man can get in touch with great protagonists, both male and female.

In My Father’s Wives, I enjoyed the flow of this book about a man searching for answers to help him with his own life and his own marriage. Clearly left with issues from his father’s departure from his life at such a young age, it was an interesting take to search out each of the wives. Once again, I am impressed on how well Mike Greenberg can write female characters. Right along this story line is also Jonathan keeping up with an unusual boss, his desire to be with his family, and working out the proper steps to take in his marriage that may or may not be in jeopardy.

I really enjoyed this read. It moved well from page to page and I had no trouble finishing this read in one sitting. I was thoroughly engaged in what would happen and how it would all work out. Mike Greenberg is an author I keep an eye on. A quick and enjoyable read.

Hardcover: 240 pages
Publisher: William Morrow (January 20, 2015)

Thank you to TLC book tours for giving me the opportunity to read and review another excellent book by Mike Greenberg

Morning Meanderings… Heigh Ho Heigh Ho It’s Off To Work I Go

Published on February 4, 2015February 4, 2015 by Sheila (Book Journey)11 Comments

Good morning! Getting back in routine here. Thank goodness! I love getting up in the morning with a purpose and heading into my office. I have a few writing projects going on and more coming.

Today I write, I have a lunch date, work out, and a project to work on this afternoon. I have been trying to read in the evenings instead of TV which works out well. It is a good agenda.

Listening to today:

Reading today:

Have a great Wednesday!

Girl On The Train by Paula Hawkins (not the review you are expecting)

Published on February 3, 2015February 3, 2015 by Sheila (Book Journey)73 Comments

Rachel takes the same train every morning. While on the train she spends the time watching out the windows; the places, the people, making up stories of their lives. Often she sees a couple sitting on their deck having breakfast. Their life together looks wonderful and Rachel imagines that they live this glorious existence, she even gives then names; Jess and Jason.

Then one morning on the train Rachel sees something shocking. It is there for a moment and then the train moves on. Suddenly everything is moving too fast. Rachel feels The following days unravel into a mess as though Rachel’s life is a ball of yarn that someone threw on the floor.

Rachel has to say something. But to who? And with her reputation… who would listen?

I honestly read The Girl On The Train because I seen it EVERYWHERE. When people are talking about the next great read, you certainly do not want to be the one who passed it up, so I listened to it on audio.

I found the book to take a while to get into. Rachel is not what I would call a likable protagonist. She is heavily flawed and her constant excuses for her behavior honestly weighed on me. I know this is going to put me in the minority on this one, but I know I would have enjoyed this more if Rachel would have had it more together. I did not want to spend my time slogging through her issues every step of the way. I have heard this book compared to Gone Girl and I did not see it. I am pretty sure I have a post coming up about why that is. 🙂

Overall, Rachel’s issues aside, the book takes off and keeps you guessing. The narrators Clare Corbett (Narrator), Louise Brealey (Narrator), India Fisher (Narrator) were wonderful. I do like twists and turns and the ending was not one I had seen coming.

I believe my issues with this book are because I like strong protagonists. I do understand that some would argue that it is Rachel’s flaws that add to the book. I do not agree. This opinion on this one is all me. Do not let it discourage you from reading a book that I think will do well overall.

Audible Audio Edition
Listening Length: 10 hours and 59 minutes
Program Type: Audiobook
Version: Unabridged
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Audible.com Release Date: January 13, 2015

Morning Meanderings… A Day Of Library Friends

Published on February 3, 2015 by Sheila (Book Journey)15 Comments

Good morning! Wow. *yawn* *stretch*

What a day.

Yesterday I went to my first Minnesota Library Association of Friends meeting in St Paul Minnesota. That involved me being ready and out of the house by 7 am and at the meeting shiny and ready to go by 10 am.

The Association supports the friends groups of Minnesota. By being a part of this board I am ale to have a voice in how we support our friends groups. I really am excited to be a part of it.

Then….

2:10 pm and I am out the door and heading for home. In the house by 4:30 pm, time to organize my notes, heat my sandwiches and out the door again for our Annual Friends Meeting. I was very excited with the turn out. We had a wonderful year. Our Spring book sale was a record-breaking sale. This year we plan on it being another awesome sale. We are actually for the first time ever moving the sale off site into a building a friend of mine owns for more space. I am super excited about the sale!

We will have our first children’s sale this year, our third Wine and Words… so much going on! 🙂

I feel energized and have much to do today to update our website, continue my author search for Wine and Words, and work on a few things for Camp Benedict too.

Yesterday I finished up two audio books (with the drive time), Girl On The Train and Afterworlds.

and as long as I am rambling here, three books that I am planning to read have release dates today. Keep an eye out for:

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

Published on February 1, 2015February 1, 2015 by Sheila (Book Journey)68 Comments

Hello! Welcome to It’s Monday What Are You Reading? The meme that we use to share what we read this past week and what our plans are for the upcoming week. It’s a great way to see what others are reading and add to your own To Be Read list. 😀 You never know where that next great read may come from!

It’s hard to believe I have only been home a little over a week. When I think of it that way I guess I have accomplished a bit since my return. Considering I have been tired and the last couple of days not feeling so awesome, I did ok. 🙂

Here is what I posted this past week:

Off The Beaten Page by Terri Peterson Smith (books and traveling – oh my!!)

In A Sunburned Country by Bill Bryson

Mr. Mercedes by Stephen King

Witches Of Echo Park by Amber Nelson

Anything That Moves by Dana Goodyear (talk about EXTREME eating!)

A little food recap of what we ate on vacation (DO NOT view if you are hungry 😉 )

Harry Potter and The Goblet Of Fire by JK Rowling (finally! I have finished the 4th book for the readalong!)

This may look like a bit, but this would also be reviews I could not post while I was away. I did not get much reading done this past week so I do not have much to add from last weeks plan however this is what is new:

For My Ears

In 1844, Missouri belle Julia Dent met dazzling horseman Lieutenant Ulysses S Grant. Four years passed before their parents permitted them to wed, and the groom’s abolitionist family refused to attend the ceremony.

Since childhood, Julia owned as a slave another Julia, known as Jule. Jule guarded her mistress’s closely held twin secrets: She had perilously poor vision but was gifted with prophetic sight. So it was that Jule became Julia’s eyes to the world.

And what a world it was, marked by gathering clouds of war. The Grants vowed never to be separated, but as Ulysses rose through the ranks—becoming general in chief of the Union Army—so did the stakes of their pact. During the war, Julia would travel, often in the company of Jule and the four Grant children, facing unreliable transportation and certain danger to be at her husband’s side.

Yet Julia and Jule saw two different wars. While Julia spoke out for women—Union and Confederate—she continued to hold Jule as a slave behind Union lines. Upon the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation, Jule claimed her freedom and rose to prominence as a businesswoman in her own right, taking the honorary title Madame. The two women’s paths continued to cross throughout the Grants’ White House years in Washington, DC, and later in New York City, the site of Grant’s Tomb.

Rachel takes the same commuter train every morning. Every day she rattles down the track, flashes past a stretch of cozy suburban homes, and stops at the signal that allows her to daily watch the same couple breakfasting on their deck. She’s even started to feel like she knows them. “Jess and Jason,” she calls them. Their life—as she sees it—is perfect. Not unlike the life she recently lost. And then she sees something shocking. It’s only a minute until the train moves on, but it’s enough. Now everything’s changed. Unable to keep it to herself, Rachel offers what she knows to the police, and becomes inextricably entwined in what happens next, as well as in the lives of everyone involved. Has she done more harm than good?

I have not started either of the books i mentioned last week so will not add any more books this week. 🙂

Now what are you reading? Please add your link to your own “Its Monday What Are You Reading” below where it says click here. Oh and talk about us on twitter using hashtag: IMWAYR

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