Book Journey

Morning Meanderings… Sunday Books and Lyrics… Oh YEAH!

Published on December 28, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)14 Comments

Good morning! Happy Sunday! I am looking forward to a day of some projects, perhaps some reading, and even a little dancing.

First lets talk about the books that came to my home this week. Hello books!

The Housemaid’s Daughter by Barbabra Mutch

Salt and Stone by Victoria Scott

Walking On Trampolines by Frances Whiting

Cold COLD Heart by Tami Hoag

13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do by Amy Morin

AND I received a set of books for Christmas from my son:

Yes! The boxed set of The Harry Potter books with the new covers. LOVE IT! Smelled them all!

On another note, I posted a while back a post called Sweet Books Are Made Of This and Jill from Rhapsody In Books commented that I had put that song in her head. And I thought… I can do better than that. SO here is the music…. hit play and then sing/dance along to the new words below. You are welcome Jill. 😀

Sweet Books

Sweet books are made of this
Who am I to disagree
I travel the world and the seven seas
Everybody’s reading for something

Some books just want to use you
Some books just want to get used by you
Some books just want to abuse you
Some books just want to be abused
Sweet books are made of this

Who am I to disagree
I travel the world and the seven seas
Everybody’s reading for something

Hold your head up, readin on, keep your head up, readin’ on
Hold your head up, readin’ on, keep your head up,readin’ on
Hold your head up, readin’ on, keep your head up, readin’ on
Hold your head up, readin’ on, keep your head up

Some books just want to use you
Some books just want to get used by you
Some books just want to abuse you
Some books just want to be abused

Refrain

LOL. So that’s the extent of my limited talent for today. Off I go! Have an AWESOME Sunday!

Oh, and are you ready for the first book of the year?

The Kindness Of Strangers by Mike McIntyre

Published on December 27, 2014December 27, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)10 Comments

When Mike McIntyre found his job and life so far to be unfulfilled, he decided to make a move. He steps away from his job, his home, and his girlfriend. As an experiment in human kindness, Mike decided to hitchhike from San Fransisco to Cape Fear North Carolina with only his back pack. He would take no money and accept no money along the way, only food and shelter.

The result was unpredictable. Along the way Mike found his way on to a talk show. He stays in homes of those who have nothing and those who have plenty, he spends time with drug addicts, abused and used people, families, and loners. Many times he finds shelter in homes or in a tent. A few times he battles the elements of weather.

Mike comes out of this experience as a changed man, one who knows more about the society we live in, the generous and the not, probably more than most of us do.

I didn’t love it.

When I picked up this audio I had visions of WILD and struggling through the elements trying to find yourself and that was not this listen. AND maybe, that is my issue that I did not find it to be the hardship I was expecting, the life changing experiment… and that is on me.

What I did find was that for the most part people are still caring and generous. Mike rarely goes hungry. Often he is taken to homes for meals as well as out to restaurants. Many times he accepts a meal just so not to be rude although he is not really hungry. There are times he turns down food to take with him as he does not have the ability to carry it.

It was interesting to hear about the different people he stayed with, but I was turned off by some of the dialogue he included in the book. I did not need to know about sexual escapades of those he stayed with. I did not need to know about those who were hoping for a little more from Mike or his attraction to one of the women he stayed with. I felt that took away form the main story.

I did find it interesting how the faith community reacted to him, where often he was not allowed to stay in the churches themselves, they usually offered him a place to stay including a few times, hotels.

Overall, I did not walk away from this one with any “AHA” moment. I was also surprised to learn that this journey took place almost 20 years ago where I thought I was hearing about a recent journey.

Audible Audio Edition
Listening Length: 8 hours and 54 minutes
Program Type: Audiobook
Version: Unabridged
Publisher: Mike McIntyre
Audible.com Release Date: December 9, 2014

Morning Meanderings… Christmas, Weather, and A New Year Is Coming

Published on December 27, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)20 Comments

Good morning! We made it to Saturday! My house is quiet, the boys are gone, Al is out working, and the day is all mine. LOVE days like this. No agenda. Nada. I thought for Saturday Snapshot today we would take a peek at Christmas, but first… look at this shot out my front window this morning…

Central Minnesota - 12/27/14 — Central Minnesota – 12/27/14

Yup. Central Minnesota has no snow. Some are complaining. I get that there is no tubing, skiing, snowmobiling… but to me it means there is no super cold, super wet, slippery roads, driveways to plow, sidewalks to shovel…. I’m good with this. 🙂

Christmas as I mentioned yesterday was lovely. We had a great day of food and games and movies. We opened gifts and hung out together.

Good times! Now this week is fairly quiet but I have a big trip coming up soon so need to prep for that. (More details to come!)

For those of you participating in the First Book Of The Year (and I hope you all are!) please send in your pic of you and the book by December 31s so I can prep the collage to go up on January 1st. Details about first book are here.

Morning Meanderings… Christmas Wrap Up

Published on December 26, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)29 Comments

Good Morning! How was your Christmas? We had a wonderful time here at the house with the boys and board games, movies, and cooking. We opened gifts in the morning and I received:

All my gifts were amazing and I was able to use them all right away:

The candle and scents I found a home for and put to use. Mmmmmmm

The bowl set (I always need bowls) was used for our dinner.

I received pull tabs in a card and won $100!

The Harry Potter book set the ones with the NEW COVERS, I smelled the new book smell 🙂

We ended the night or perhaps early this morning (about 2 a.m.) with Harry Potter 5 and 6. I love picking out things I had not noticed before (for instance, the Umbridge gag gift at the Weasley’s Joke Shop in the 6th movie). This morning Justin and I are going to watch the8th movie which is the second half of book 7. Our goal was to get through the movies 3 – 8 over the last couple of days but it just didn’t happen so we have to pick and choose. 😀

I hope everyone has had a lovely holiday! I am looking forward to a little reading this afternoon, the house is pretty much cleaned up and Justin has plans with friends this afternoon so I will have the house to myself. Book time for sure 🙂

Morning Meanderings… Sumo Potter

Published on December 24, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)22 Comments

Every once in a while I see something on Pinterest and I think, “I can totally do that!” This would be one of those times…

I seen this Harry Potter ornament and thought of Justin right away (My Harry Potter geek and accomplice son). I went out and bought the paint, brushes, clear ornament… seriously how hard could it be?

I covered my table with newspaper and supplies.

I spent one day alone putting on coats of the beige and letting it dry overnight.

Then I spent the next day working on hair, glasses, and the scar… letting it dry.

And then I tackled the scarf.

The results?

Yup. I call him “Sumo Harry”. His face is too wide, glasses too thick… he looks like a sumo wrestler. LOL….

So…

project put away… I have another plan… an easier one… 😉

Have a SUPER Christmas Eve everyone! My son will be over in a few hours and I am happy to spend the day with him. We may take in a movie, and tonight we are having pizza… keeping it low key for the plans for tomorrow. 🙂

Maze Runner – Movie

Published on December 23, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)2 Comments

James Dashner’s book, The Maze Runner became a movie this year. Way to go James!

All Thomas knows is that he wakes up in a world he is unfamiliar with. He is surrounded by other male teens and is welcomed to the Glade.

The Glade?

The Glade, as he learns is a walled in community that protects the group from the Maze. The Maze is a world of walls and changing routes and creatures that come after anyone who dares to go into the Maze. Thomas learns that a box appears every 30 days with a male teen in it, Thomas is the latest arrival. A few, called runners, go into the Maze during the daylight hours (safer than nightfall), looking for a way out of wherever they are.

As Thomas becomes familiar with the surroundings and engages with the other boys, things in the Maze start to change. Some blame Thomas, saying he is not like them … and Thomas has no idea what that means, he knows as much as they do about The Glade and that is not much.

Then… another person arrives in The Glade. The box is early… it has not been 30 days and this time it is not a male teen…

it is a girl.

And with her is a note, “This is the last one”.

I read The Maze Runner a couple of years ago after I met James Dashner in New York and found him to be delightfully funny. I enjoyed the book very much, yet for some reason I never continued on with the series. Now, after watching this movie, I will be pursuing the rest of the books… I am hungry to know more.

Author James Dashner and I - New York 2012 — Author James Dashner and I – New York 2012

The Maze Runner movie is done very well. I was actually surprised how much I enjoyed it. Definitely recommend the book, the movie… and the author. 😉

Morning Meanderings…Christmas Eve Eve

Published on December 23, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)9 Comments

Happy Christmas Eve Eve for all of you who do Christmas. Things are wrapping up (*pun intended) nicely here. I have most of the shopping done, the tree is set and tomorrow Justin will roll in about noon to start our two days of awesome Christmas time fun! I am not sure what will be on our agenda yet other than board games, movies, snacks, and hanging out. In other words… it is perfect. 🙂

This morning I have a small list of last-minute items from the grocery store, one last gift stop, and then I should be done. I am heading out early (now!) to hopefully beat the hordes of last minuters such as myself. Once home I think I will pop into a book for a while… it has been a lot of audio lately and I could use a little book time. 🙂

How is your holiday weekend coming together? Big plans? Staying at home or venturing out? Any fun traditions or happenings? 🙂

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

Published on December 22, 2014December 22, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)51 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!

Finally feel like I am getting ready for Christmas. Wrapped gifts this afternoon, finishing touches on shopping, and even turned on the Christmas tree lights! So excited that in a few days the boys will be here hanging out at the house… good food, good games, movies and just being together. These are my absolute favorite times! 😀

*Quick note on the late posting…. uhh… yeah, sorry about that. We were out with friends last night and when I got home I was just too tired to put this post together.

Here is what I posted this past week:

Brutal Youth by Anthony Breznican

My Living Room Facelift (Color makes a difference!)

The Snow Queen by Michael Cunningham

2014 The Books That Made My Year!

The Innovators by Walter Isaacson

What I Know For Sure by Oprah WInfrey

As for this week…

For My Ears

Stuck in a job he no longer found fulfilling, journalist Mike McIntyre felt his life was quickly passing him by. So one day he hit the road to trek from one end of the country to the other with little more than the clothes on his back and without a single penny in his pocket. Through his travels, he found varying degrees of kindness in strangers from all walks of life-and discovered more about people and values and life on the road in America than he’d ever thought possible. The gifts of food and shelter he received along the way were outweighed only by the touching gifts of the heart-the willingness of many he met to welcome a lonely stranger into their homes…and the discovery that sometimes those who give the most are the ones with the least to spare.

Goodnight Moon is an adored childhood classic, but its real origins are lost to history. In Goodnight June, Sarah Jio offers a suspenseful and heartfelt take on how the “great green room” might have come to be.

June Andersen is professionally successful, but her personal life is marred by unhappiness. Unexpectedly, she is called to settle her great-aunt Ruby’s estate and determine the fate of Bluebird Books, the children’s bookstore Ruby founded in the 1940s. Amid the store’s papers, June stumbles upon letters between her great-aunt and the late Margaret Wise Brown – and steps into the pages of American literature.

For My Eyes

Everyone who lives at 23 Beulah Grove has a secret. If they didn’t, they wouldn’t be renting rooms in a dodgy old building for cash—no credit check, no lease. It’s the kind of place you end up when you you’ve run out of other options. The six residents mostly keep to themselves, but one unbearably hot summer night, a terrible accident pushes them into an uneasy alliance. What they don’t know is that one of them is a killer. He’s already chosen his next victim, and he’ll do anything to protect his secret.

Also.. do not forget the First Book Of The Year! This is going to be a lot of fun! If you are signed up remember to send me your pic this week of what you will be reading and if you are not signed up, it is not too late and this is a pretty cool thing to do to kick off the New Year! Check it out here.

I think that is the plan. What are you reading/listening to this week? Is this a good reading week for you with the holidays or is it a hard week to read with everything going on? I will have a mix of quiet days and crazy days… but all should work out to a good week to read 🙂

Please add your What Are You Reading link below where it says click here:

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For those who read mainly children and middle grade books please add your link here as well:

Morning Meanderings… Sweet Books Are Made Of This!

Published on December 21, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)35 Comments

Good morning! Sunday and I feel like I need to wrap gifts, light the tree, and put on a little Christmas music. Finally…

I am in the mood for Christmas.

A few books came my way this week:

The top 5 books are a sweet win from Julie at Booking Mama, they are Christmas stories, a beautiful set from Penguin! (Better pic of them below)

The Year Of Reading Dangerously by Andy Miller

Men, Women, and Children by Chad Kuttgen

PSYQ by Ben Ambridge (LOVE stuff like this!)

The Magician’s Daughter by Judith Janeway

Station Eleven by Emily St John Mandel

One of these above books is set up for my First Book Of The Year project. Can you guess which one it will be? 😀 YOU should join in for the first book too! It is fun!

That is the books! Have to run, I have a full morning and working on a little craft project this afternoon. Have a SUPER Sunday!!!

What I Know For Sure by Oprah Winfrey

Published on December 20, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)13 Comments

When once asked “What do you know for sure?” Oprah realized she really had no answer to that question. She then set out to know that answer. In short snippets of her life and lessons she has learned, Oprah now shares what she knows for sure. Themes under such topics as: joy, resilience, connection, gratitude, possibility, awe, clarity, and power, Oprah shares her years from growing up as a poor young girl in Mississippi and the challenges of that time, to where she is now, in a completely different place and the challenges of this time.

I am not a big “Oprah” person. I do not believe I have ever watched her show, although I obviously know of it. I have seen a few movies she has been in, and of course have heard of her good doings for others. That is probably where my interest lies. I knew of Oprah’s history of generosity, and I was curious what sort of things she would say in a book titles as this one is. So I dug in.

As mentioned in the synopsis, the book is in little snippets of wisdom. Wisdom she picked up as a child and dealing with sexual abuse, wisdom she learned as a teen and allowing men to treat her poorly – not physically, but learning about mental abuse as well. And so on through her life to now, and how to know your own self-worth is not found in the eyes of others – but in yourself.

The book is short and in audio, just a little over 3 hours and Oprah narrates the audio herself. While it was a sweet listen on one women’s wisdom through the years, I have to say that listening to this I found some of Oprah’s narration to be a bit over enthusiastic – and yes, I hate that I just wrote that. It is hard to explain, and someone else may listen to the audio and find it delightful how she changed her voice for different situations, or takes on a thick southern drawl when she talks about the foods she loves but to me it broke the flow of the listen.

Again… just me.

Over all, I did find the book enjoyable. She offered up facts that I know in my heart, but sometimes it is just nice to be reminded. I think Oprah fans will really enjoy this insight into her life.