Book Journey

Moving The Needle by Joe Sweeney

Published on December 4, 2014December 4, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)11 Comments

Moving The Needle is all about putting yourself in the right frame of mind to get moving on your dreams, your goals, and your life. By setting goals and taking steps that are recommended in this book, you can start making the positive move towards your ultimate dreams.

Disclaimer: I am not a self-help book person. I have to say that because it is easy to look at a book like this and call it “self-help”, and maybe it is… but to me, and for my purposes here, I am going to call it as I see it, a book on stepping up in your dreams from someone who knows.

Moving The Needle is the type of business related book that I do enjoy as I usually find tips on furthering my own career dreams and staying motivated to do so. If you know me, you know I recently left my job of ten years to pursue a career in writing which is my life long passion. When making such a leap it is real easy to get in your head and think “What am I doing?” and “Am I taking the right steps?”

I enjoyed Moving The Needle in audio format. It worked with my schedule to listen while I accomplished other things. Christopher Price’s narration is perfect and in an upbeat tone that keeps the listener motivated to know more. I liked that the audio version of this book came with PDF’s of several worksheets that are discussed in the book. Sheets I can print out and work along with the tasks that are recommended, and I do love the visual output of such tasks.

There was much to take away from Moving The Needle. I think in any book like this there are things that we know we should be doing (or are already doing), but I also learned a few things that excited me to get working on which was exactly the point of listening to this book. I liked that many other interesting books are mentioned to look into, some sounded wonderful and I jotted them down.

My only complaint (a mere grumble really…) was that by the end of the audio I felt there were so many tasks recommended that I felt a bit overwhelmed, feeling as though implementing such habits as described in the book would leave me doing nothing but tasks all day long. I had to remind myself that not everything needs to be implemented at once (or at all).

I would recommend this book for those looking for direction in a new job or stepping out to run your own business. There is much worth reading/listening to and I know I will more than likely listen to it again.

Audible Audio Edition
Listening Length: 6 hours and 5 minutes
Program Type: Audiobook
Version: Unabridged
Publisher: Audible Studios
Audible.com Release Date: November 17, 2014

Morning Meanderings… Chatting It Up With David Baldacci

Published on December 4, 2014December 4, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)4 Comments

SO last night, myself as well as a handful of other reviewers had the awesome opportunity of chatting with David Baldacci, author of MANY books such as Wish You Well, Absolute Power (his first), The Camel Club and most recently – The Finisher (his first ya) and The Escape.

I don’t want to say too much as I will be writing up a bigger post on the details of the discussion but had to share the SSQQQUUEEEE fan girl moment. 🙂

In other news…. two challenges are up for 2015 (one more to post soon) Use the links below to read up and learn about them and please feel free to join in the fun!

First Book Of The Year 2015

Published on December 3, 2014December 31, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)75 Comments

Every year I get excited about what will be that first book I will be chatting about going into the new year. I make a big deal out of picking the book. It is usually a book I have wanted to read for a while and for whatever reason, I just have not been able to make the time to read it.

This is the second year that I would love for you to join me in this tradition of picking the book that you will be reading into the new year. It can be a coveted book that you have been waiting to read, a guilty pleasure book, a re-read of a favorite that you want to explore once again… whatever you want.

Our posts of what we are reading will go live on January 1st. You do not need to be done with the book on January 1st, just reading it on January 1st and yes, you can start on the 31st and be reading into the New Year. I would like to link up all your posts here on the 1st as well so others can visit you and cheer you on! If you are interested, please fill out the short form below.

Here are the fun collages I did with last year’s participants:

Update on December 31st: You can still send pics in today (I am Central time) and you do not need to fill out the form. 🙂 Email pics to journeythroughbooks@gmail.com

Morning Meanderings… Challenge Accepted

Published on December 3, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)19 Comments

I couldn’t sleep.

I tossed and turned… 3:20 a.m., 3:30 a.m., 3:33 a.m., 3:38 a.m…. 3:58 a.m. I got up. Cleaned my kitchen counter. Made a cup of coffee… played on line Scrabble. For now.. I am AWAKE.

Yesterday I posted a 2015 Challenge for using your local Libraries. I posted it as much for me as for anyone else who wants to join me by spending a little more time there in 2015 and walking out with good books or audio or even movies.

Fair warning – two more challenges for 2015 are being posted this week. The one, an easy one, and a favorite of mine is not even really a challenge… it is the First Book Of The Year Meme/Challenge/ What have you. It is a one day commitment on January 1st to post about the book that is bringing you into the new year. I do love this one, it is something I have done long before I blogged – picking out the book that would kick off the New Year. Be sure to check that one out. I will post it today.

The other, is the one I have hosted for years – WHERE Are You Reading Challenge… the challenge where you capture where your books are set at and keep a running list or use Google Maps or both. It really is fun to see where you have read in a years time. This past year that one got away from me but I will try again. Watch for that one to be posted in the next few days.

SO that’s me…. I have a bit of shopping to do, you know.. when it is REAL morning, and I am into a really good read, Finding Jake, so hope to finish that today as well.

How is your Wednesday shaping up for you? Any books or fun happenings to discuss?

2015 Library Challenge

Published on December 2, 2014December 2, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)108 Comments

Hear me out.

I have to believe that most of you who read Book Journey are in fact lovers of the written word. A great percentage of you are not only readers, but reviewers and book bloggers such as myself. And quite honestly a library challenge may not be all that appealing to a book reviewer/blogger as we receive so many books for review in the mail that there is no need for a stop at your local library.

Hear me out.

HOWEVER, it would be remiss of me and perhaps you as well – if we did not acknowledge the struggle most of our libraries go through to show their worth in the modern-day of e-readers, and of course the ever-present pull of all things that take people away from reading.

I admit, I am not always the best library user. I am President of our local Friends group that supports our library, yet I have plenty of books of read at home to read and more coming weekly to my doorstep.

This challenge is also for me.

If we the readers that gush about books on blogs and social media and to our friends can not as well as promote and support our libraries than what are we doing? Not everyone who reads this blog is a reviewer or has access to the books through an e reader or in some cases have the means to purchase the books they wish to read. Our local libraries are simply a library card away and a book can be waiting to be enjoyed.

I don’t want to go on and on so basically this challenge will be for you to get to know your local library in 2015. If like our library, you have access to on-line holds, I suggest you do what I do when browsing blogs or other book sites; have the page open to your library reserve as well and borrow books as you see the awesome ones you wish to read. I will do it. Will you do this with me?

I obviously would be thrilled if you went the extra mile and found out what else your library has to offer and shared it on your websites (if you blog). For instance ours offers computer classes to teach people how to use their computers, IPADS, e-readers and more. We offer movies and book in the bag so book clubs can check out 10 books at a time. Anyone that has a start-up post for this challenge that mentions things their own library offers beyond the books will go into a drawing for a $20 Amazon gift card (I know I know… that defeats the purpose, but maybe get a book bag if you win to hold all your library books 🙂 )

And of course.. there are fun levels of commitment:

1-5 check outs in 2015 – NOVICE

6-11 check outs in 2015 – ROOKIE

12- 16 check outs in 2015 – INTERMEDIATE

17 – 22 check outs in 2015 – SEASONED

23 – 27 check outs in 2015 – EXPERIENCED

28 + check outs in 2015 – GOING PRO!

Check outs count for anything bookish – books, audio, even e-reader book check outs (yes, libraries have these now!). Go… meet your library again and fall in love. 🙂

And a shameless plug for the Friends Of The Library. If your library has this group, consider signing up. It is usually quite inexpensive to be a member and your membership supports your local library. As book lovers, we are a huge community asset and by sharing our love of books with others we are breathing life into the written word and into our libraries.

Sign up today – write a post and link it here.. I will announce a winner of the gift certificate on January 2nd. I will also post updates throughout the year to encourage further library exploration.

Write your post and use the link below to connect it. Now bloggers are welcome to join in as well, let me know of your participation and level in the comments below 😉

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The Secret Life Of CeeCee Wilkes by Diane Chamberlain

Published on December 2, 2014December 2, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)13 Comments

My new author craze continues with yet another awesome book by Diane Chamberlain – she is like crack for my eyes! ~Sheila

In 1977 Genevieve Russell was kidnapped from her home. Genevieve was very pregnant at the time of her kidnapping. She will never return home.

Twenty years later, Genevieve’s remains are found but there is no sign of the baby.

CeeCee Wilkes watches this unsolved crime unfold on the tv these twenty years later. She is all too familiar with the case because she was there when it all went down. Well, CeeCee was there, now CeeCee is known as Eve; and the beautiful daughter she raised and loved since that fateful day… is not her own.

This is my third book I have listened to on audio by this author and each time they simply amaze me. As though ripped from the headlines of a story too crazy to not be true, I start listening and do not want to stop.

Admittedly, The Secret Life Of CeeCee Wilkes did not grab me right away. In the beginning, the very young and naive 15-year-year old CeeCee and her relationship with an older man bothered me. I am glad however I stuck with this one as once you get into the heart of the story you understand why this relationship is in the book.

I was thoroughly roped in once again to a story of deception but with good reason… in the end, you really do not know who you should be cheering on as there is so much at stake for all involved.

Narrator Cris Dukehart is an excellent choice for this book. With a bit of a southern twang she is a great fit. I think this is the first time I have heard her narrate.

Audible Audio Edition
Listening Length: 13 hours and 10 minutes
Program Type: Audiobook
Version: Unabridged
Publisher: Tantor Audio
Audible.com Release Date: March 25, 2013

Morning Meanderings: I Remember When Our Coffee Pot Was Just For Company.

Published on December 2, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)17 Comments

Coffee.

This morning as I was getting my brew on I had a recollection of when I was first married. Al and I had a coffee pot (probably was a gift…) but we never used it. I remember it would sit on the counter and I would make coffee only if my parents were coming over or some other form of adult. That was it, we were too young and too hip for coffee.

It makes me wonder…. did we drink anything in the morning?

I don’t recall when I crossed over. Perhaps some chilly day when I was out of cocoa… who knows… but now, it gets me out of bed just thinking about it. I will be lying there wondering if I should get up and then recall that getting up means coffee so I pop right up. Al is the same way.

It’s funny to think that today’s generation will more than likely not have this coffee recollection as I am. For them, growing up with coffee is a staple. Some have probably started their coffee habits before they could drive. With coffee shops and drinks that represent shakes more than coffee, they are all lining up to get their caffeine on.

Ok… so no idea where that all came from other than the fact I am up. It is Tuesday. I have my coffee and I am about to go write.

Caffeine on people. Carpe cup.

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

Published on November 30, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)54 Comments

Hey there! Welcome to It’s Monday, What Are You Reading!

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. Fair warning… this meme tends to add to your reading list! 😉

It is hard to believe I have now been home over a week. I guess with Thanksgiving and the hustle with that life really did not slow down until Friday afternoon after everyone was gone and I had the house to myself. Then Saturday afternoon I started to get sick and that has hung on through today. Gah… go figure. On a happier note… here is what I posted this week:

The Wild Truth by Carine McCandless

Food by Jim Gaffigan

Meritropolis by Joel Ohman – YA Dystopian 99 cents on Kindle today!

Mockingjay Book vs. Movie

Harry Potter Readalong – House Points and Giveaways and YOU still can join in!

That’s the week. Today I listened to audio while resting and finished the Diane Chamberlain I was listening to. So Good! Cant wait to review it!

Here is the plan for this week:

For My Ears

Moving the Needle provides both the “kick in the pants” and the game plan many of us need to break out of the rut and get moving to achieve our goals. CEOs, vice presidents, professionals, military personnel, and even college students frequently express frustration at the entrenched status quo, in which initiating progress feels like moving mountains.

Born during a Christmas blizzard, Jane Williams receives a rare gift: the ability to literally see true love. Jane has emerged from an ailing childhood a lonely, hopeless romantic when, on her 29th birthday, she receives a card from the midwife who delivered her. Jane must identify the six types of love before the full moon following her 30th birthday – or face grave consequences. When Jane falls for a science writer who doesn’t believe in love, she fears that her fate is sealed.

Following his blockbuster biography of Steve Jobs, The Innovators is Walter Isaacson’s revealing story of the people who created the computer and the Internet. It is destined to be the standard history of the digital revolution and an indispensable guide to how innovation really happens. What were the talents that allowed certain inventors and entrepreneurs to turn their visionary ideas into disruptive realities? What led to their creative leaps? Why did some succeed and others fail?

For My Eyes

While his successful wife goes off to her law office each day, Simon Connolly takes care of their kids, Jake and Laney. Now that they are in high school, the angst-ridden father should feel more relaxed, but he doesn’t. He’s seen the statistics, read the headlines. And now, his darkest fear is coming true. There has been a shooting at school.

Simon races to the rendezvous point, where he’s forced to wait. Do they know who did it? How many victims were there? Why did this happen? One by one, parents are led out of the room to reunite with their children. Their numbers dwindle, until Simon is alone.

As his worst nightmare unfolds, and Jake is the only child missing, Simon begins to obsess over the past, searching for answers, for hope, for the memory of the boy he raised, for mistakes he must have made, for the reason everything came to this. Where is Jake? What happened in those final moments? Is it possible he doesn’t really know his son? Or he knows him better than he thought?

What are you reading this coming week? Please add your link to It’s Monday What Are You Reading where it says click here below:

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For those of you who read mainly children and middle grade books, please also feel free to add your link here:

Harry Potter Readalong House Point Update, Info, and Winners!

Published on November 30, 2014November 30, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)7 Comments

*Its not too late to sign up!

So… basically after I kicked off the Harry Potter Readalong that started November 1st, I disappeared for three weeks between a fun trip with my son and a work trip. For the most part I kept up with all the happenings, including our first book read and discussed, but about the time I was due home on November 20th I was exhausted and lost steam.

Today, home feeling under the weather, I decided it may be a good time to add up the House Points… after all year one is over and I need a House Winner before we start talking about book 2 on December 6th. (Yes we have House Points – optional to participate in that part but fun for those who wish to do so!)

House points are given for writing posts on the books we are reading (3 points per linked post) and for commenting on any HP linked post *2 points per relevant comment and yes you can comment more than once on a post). They also come into play for giveaways and occasional games or participation posts that can earn you points.

Looking at all the posts so far today was fun – there are many great posts out there as I added from the start-up posts to the first discussion posts as well as all who commented on them. They were fun to read. You do not win as a House but as an individual representing a house. And before I share with you who our Year One House Point winner is, I feel as though I represent Dumbledore in this readalong and at the end of book 1, he offered up some additional House Points as will I…

I would like to award Donna from Writers Side Up an additional 4 points for her offering up the Book Mark giveaway for our first book.

I would also like to award Jennifer from Literate Housewife an additional 4 points for her snitch giveaway for book one, the book that introduces the snitch.

And finally, 5 points awarded to Tanya from Dogeared Copy for organizing and executing the Twitter movie group for The Sorcerer’s Stone. (Note – The next movie Live Tweet/Tweet Chat will be on Saturday, December 6, 2014 at 8:00 p.m.! I hope you can make it!)

All that said, our winner for the House Points for book one and the winner of the Golden Snitch is:

Donna from Writers Side Up

*note you can see all House Points here. All points are now cleared and we start again for book 2… points will come from posts and comments on linked posts centered around The Chamber Of Secrets.

On to other prizes! The bookmarks will go to…

Jackie from Forget Me Nots

And finally the copy of The Sorcerer’s Stone with the new book cover using random.org for all #hpreadalong commenters on the start up posts and the book discussion posts….

Brooke from Brooke Blogs

There are more giveaways planned for book two which will start to be discussed on December 6th. It is not to late to join in on the readalong! All participants are eligible for the prizes and the occasional fun quizzes we will be setting up. *You must be signed up for the readalong to be eligible for the giveaways.

Mockingjay Book VS Movie

Published on November 30, 2014December 2, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)21 Comments

Mockingjay, the third and final book in the Hunger Games series came out published by Scholastic in 2010. As I looked back on my review of this book I had to laugh as I reviewed it three days after it was released…. hmmmm…. anxious to see how it all was going to end?

The Book…

As I mentioned I read the book over 4 years ago. I did enjoy the book but openly admit it was my least favorite of the three books, mainly due to all the politics that were involved in this final installment. I am not a fan of politics.That said, I did still enjoy the book very much – author Suzanne Collins does not take mercy on any character and all are dispensable… it was truly a powerful read that left me thinking about it well beyond that final page.

The Movie…

I was very excited to watch the movie. My son had warned me that it wasn’t the most exciting of movies as it is a lot of information that is necessary to prepare us for the part 2 of this movie that will come out in 2015. I have to say I disagree with my son (sorry Justin). I did find the movie engaging and perhaps even came to feel more real and explained better to me than the book came through. I think Jennifer Lawrence plays the part of Katniss perfectly. On screen she shows such emotion she brings me to tears for the cause. If you are a fan of the series, definitely take time to see the movie – all the movies.

Bonus note – in the movie Katniss sings a song that is haunting. Jennifer Lawrence sings the song and I looked it up when I came home and found out Susanne Collins wrote the song. (WOW!) I have now heard the song by another artist but prefer Lawrence’s. Here it is:

Book vs, movie… the winner of this dynamic duel is….

The Movie.

While this is a close battle, I think because of my personal struggle with the politics of Mockingjay the visual of the movie worked better for me. I will definitely be owning this one.