Book Journey

And We Stay by Jenny Hubbard

Published on August 6, 2014August 6, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)8 Comments

Emily Beam is in a Boarding School for girls in Massachusetts. It is probably due to the fact that her once boyfriend Paul came into the school with a stolen gun and threatened Emily and then took his own life. It is probably due to the pregnancy.

Now Emily, left with the guilt of ending the relationship and the anger for feeling guilty. She is not quick to make friends with her dark personality but soon finds that a couple of the girls just won’t shake off so easy. While Emily is not sharing her tragic story with anyone, it slowly comes out in her writing and her poetry. As Emily seeks for solace in the once home of Emily Dickinson that is open for tours just down the street from the boarding school… together it seems the two Emily’s – one in flesh and one in spirit heal together in this strange and uncertain world.

I chose this book initially for two reasons. One, I love that Emily Dickinson is part of the story and that they put the home that she wrote in close to where Emily Beam stays. Two, I adore this cover… a cover like this – could go many directions but I see a closed off, angry and uncertain girl who at the same time is trying hard to look like she is holding it all together.

I can not say I loved this book. The topics are heavy from teen pregnancy, to suicide, to abortion. I listened to this book on audio and at a little under 6 hours, it just felt too heavy for my liking. Emily was not a character I felt for, most of the characters fell flat, to the point that other than the main character and the boyfriend Paul, I could not name another character int he book right now if I needed to.

This book may be a better fit for young adults, but I question if even they too would find it heavy and not of the quality and engagement of much on today’s YA reads. The book had potential but never quite found it.

Narration by Erin Spenser was very good.

Listening Length: 5 hours and 53 minutes
Program Type: Audiobook
Version: Unabridged
Publisher: Listening Library
Audible.com Release Date: July 8, 2014

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

Published on August 3, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)51 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! 😉

CRAZY busy week…. which is funny… I did not anticipate it being that busy. Last weekend my son and I worked on setting up my home office – I put the finishing touches on it today:

Then I spent the week between Library commitments, Wine and Words planning, and working on the book. On Friday I left for Wisconsin with friends to do the Mud Run on Saturday for MS, and then headed to Crosslake Minnesota where I stayed overnight Saturday to Sunday for the AIDS bike Ride Fundraiser which I am on the board of. *whew*

Sunday afternoon I worked a bit on the book, cleaned up my house, and prepped for a meeting I have tomorrow with the Friends Of The Brainerd Library. Here is what I managed to post this past week:

Little Lies by Author Heather Gudenkauf

Brown Bag YA Author – Johnathon Friesen

Brown Bag Author Terri Peterson Smith

The One and Only by Emily Griffin (audio)

I Don’t Know What You Know Me From by Judy Greer (audio)

Books in the house… probably mud too… 😉

I have a few books yet to write reviews for and I think a couple more Brown Bag Authors. For this week the plan is:

For My Ears

Penobscot Indian Molly Ayer is close to “aging out” out of the foster care system. A community-service position helping an elderly woman clean out her home is the only thing keeping Molly out of juvie and worse….

As she helps Vivian sort through her possessions and memories, Molly learns that she and Vivian aren’t as different as they seem to be. A young Irish immigrant orphaned in New York City, Vivian was put on a train to the Midwest with hundreds of other children whose destinies would be determined by luck and chance. Molly discovers that she has the power to help Vivian find answers to mysteries that have haunted her for her entire life – answers that will ultimately free them both.

Not only is this our book club read for this month but the author will be speaking in town here on the day of our book club meeting so we are all going out to dinner and then to see the author speak. Yippy!

Madeline is a force to be reckoned with. She’s funny and biting, passionate, she remembers everything and forgives no one. Her ex-husband and his yogi new wife have moved into her beloved beachside community, and their daughter is in the same kindergarten class as Madeline’s youngest (how is this possible?). And to top it all off, Madeline’s teenage daughter seems to be choosing Madeline’s ex-husband over her. (How. Is. This. Possible?).

Celeste is the kind of beautiful woman who makes the world stop and stare. While she may seem a bit flustered at times, who wouldn’t be, with those rambunctious twin boys? Now that the boys are starting school, Celeste and her husband look set to become the king and queen of the school parent body. But royalty often comes at a price, and Celeste is grappling with how much more she is willing to pay.

New to town, single mom Jane is so young that another mother mistakes her for the nanny. Jane is sad beyond her years and harbors secret doubts about her son. But why? While Madeline and Celeste soon take Jane under their wing, none of them realizes how the arrival of Jane and her inscrutable little boy will affect them all.

Listening to this currently and really enjoying it!

Lauren Elliott has waited years for her long-term boyfriend, Todd, to propose, yet he seems more focused on his career than their relationship. When Lauren learns that her younger sister is pregnant before she herself even has an engagement ring, she feels overjoyed yet disheartened. Knowing she can’t put her future on hold, Lauren prepares to make a bold choice—one that leads her to a man she never dreamed she’d meet.

Newly married to her second husband, Max, Bethanne Scranton is blissfully in love. But with Max’s job in California and Bethanne’s in Seattle, their long-distance marriage is becoming difficult to maintain. To complicate matters, Bethanne’s cunning ex will do anything to win her back.

Lydia Goetz, too, is wonderfully happy with her husband, Brad, though lately she worries about the future of A Good Yarn. As she considers how to bring in business, she discovers that someone has beaten her to the punch. Baskets of yarn are mysteriously popping up all over town, with instructions to knit a scarf for charity and bring it into Lydia’s store. Never before has her shop received so much attention, but who hatched this brilliant plan?

Started this one in the car and really am getting into it!

For My Eyes

Still finishing up California (I know… I know….)

So what are you reading this first week of August? What did you finish up July with? Please share your Its Monday What Are You Reading using the link below where it says click here. I am curious about what your choices are as head into Fall!

Powered by Linky Tools

Click here to enter your link and view this Linky Tools list…

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

Two Weeks Of Books and a LOT of Mud … Time To Tell You About Them

Published on August 3, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)27 Comments

I am home. Wiped out. Tired. Lots to do. Home.

Friday I drove with my friend Amy to a hotel in the cities to meet up with Jennifer and Jody, the other two girls that we were doing the mud run in Wisconsin with on Saturday morning. It was a lot of fun and I will have pics up later of the mud run – we use old school disposable camera’s because.. well it’s mud. And lots of water we jump in, swim in… and well, more mud.

Sheila DeChantal, Muckfest — Amy, Me, Jody, and Jennifer

Then… after the Mud Run we drove to Shakopee Minnesota to drop Amy off with friends for Canterbury Downs (horse races!) and I hurried home to shower, change, pack, and head to Crosslake Minnesota for day two of the Camp Benedict AIDS bike ride. I did not ride as I had missed day one and did not want to have my car and bike and have to figure out how to get the car back home, 40 miles away. I did go to cheer on the riders and spend time with friends. I was tired but it was good to catch up with everyone and I seen them off this morning as they started their ride.

So now I am home and need to get in my office and get some work done. I have work to do on the book and I need as much time as possible in the office this week to make the deadline coming up. Here are the books that came in the house the past two weeks:

I was out of town last weekend so did not put a post up – but lots of goodies have come in the door!

One Mountain Away by Emilie Richards (audio)

Lucky Us by Amy Bloom (audio)

Don’t Talk To Strangers by Amanda Kyle Williams (audio)

Brood X by Michael Phillips Cash

Risen by Michael Phillips Cash

JERK by Johnathon Friesen – purchased

MAYDAY by Johnathon Friesen – purchased

Aquifer by Johnathon Freisen – purchased

The Mill River Recluse by Darcie Chan

The Children’s Act by Ian McEwan

I’ve Still Got It by Jenny McCarthy

The Ghost In The Electric Blue Suit by Graham Joyce

Visions by Kelley Armstrong

Landline by Rainbow Rowell

A full house here but books make me smile 🙂 Hope the rest of your Sunday is wonderful!

I Don’t Know What You Know Me From by Judy Greer

Published on August 1, 2014August 1, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)11 Comments

You may recognize her from being the best friend in the movie 13 Going On 30. She was also a friend in 27 Dresses. She had a supporting role in What Women Want, Carrie, Playing For Keeps, The Descendants, The Wedding Planner. She has had tv show appearances such as Modern Family, ER, House MD, My Name Is Earl, CSI Miami, Two and a Half Men, and more… so much more.

Judy Greer is always in the role of best friend, co-worker, the neighbor… the walk on part. While you may recognize her from something… Judy Greer laughs at the fact that she is often unable to place, and often, identified incorrectly.

From fun moments (or… not so fun moments) at the Oscars, wardrobe malfunctions, a famous actor giving her father a Harley Davidson, behind the scenes and more.

Many of the movies that Judy Greer has been in I have seen. While I recognize her and enjoy the parts that she plays, I admittedly, could not have told you her name.

Until now.

Judy Greer’s memoir, I Don’t Know Where You Know Me From, is like sitting with a friend you have not seen in a while and catching up on what is going on in their life. It is light and funny. I listened to this one on audio, narrated by Judy herself, which was fun, and really added to the “sitting and catching up with a friend” feeling. The audio is fairly short, but for this it works… much like hanging out with that friend – you do not want them to ramble on and on about themselves to the point that you do not want to see them for a while. 😉 That does not happen here. Judy leaves you with just enough that you are still friends once her book is over and you look forward to whatever you will see her in next, so you can say – “That, is Judy Greer. She is funny and versatile, you need to read her book.”

Audible Audio Edition
Listening Length: 5 hours and 31 minutes
Program Type: Audiobook
Version: Unabridged
Publisher: Random House Audio
Audible.com Release Date: April 8, 2014

Morning Meanderings… AUGUST???? Austen!

Published on August 1, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)20 Comments

Friday! And…. August. WHA???? Where is the summer going? I guess my first clue should have been that our County Fair opened this week. I am not a county fair fan ever since the boys were old enough to go on their own with their friends I bowed out of that hot sticky mess. 😉 However, my cousin has a daughter who performs on a horse there, and several friends win awards for their breads, and jams, and vegetables and fruits…. in that sense, it is very Gilmore Girls.

Back to August.

August is actually a FULL month. This afternoon I leave for Wisconsin with my friend for the Mud Run for MS in the morning. And then I come back, clean up tomorrow afternoon and go directly to Crosslake where the first day of the Camp Benedict Bike ride will be taking place. I am on the board for Camp and will be late due to this ride being the same weekend as the mud run. I will stay overnight and help cheer the riders in for day two on Sunday – unsure if I am going to be support team or ride day two…

Then after this weekend August explodes into the church annual picnic baptism, the Fall Book Sale for the Library, a possible Zombie run (oh how I want to but it is soooo far away!), Wine and Words, a cabin weekend with my son, and then our Annual cabin trip with friends for Labor Day weekend.

That….

is August.

It’s good… it’s full…. and drips into September but I will hold off on those details. 🙂

I imagine my reading will possibly be light this month due to the schedule, however I hope to participate in the Austen In August event. Jane Austen is one of those authors I want to spend time with. I think I am supposed to, like we are somehow kindred spirits. Her birth date December 16th, is the birth of my oldest son/first child. The date of her death, July 18th, is my Anniversary. Mmmmm hmmmmm…. I need to read Jane. 🙂 I am thinking perhaps Emma. I think I have that one on my Classic shelf.

Have you read Austen? What have you read? What did you think?

The One and Only by Emily Giffin

Published on July 31, 2014August 9, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)14 Comments

Thirty-three year old Shea Rigsby lives and breathes football in Walker Texas, and had been a super fan all of her life. She grew up in this very town alongside her best friend Lucy Carr, whose father was the Head Coach for the Walker Team, and whose mother Connie was good friends with Shea’s mom.

When tragedy hits the Carr family, Shea finds her world turning upside down. She starts to wonder about the feelings she is having for a man…. a man who just happens to be the father of her best friend.

I have read and enjoyed author Emily Giffin’s fun style of writing in the past. Her characters are usually light and fun, and you know what fun you are in for with her books.

The one and Only is a different style for Emily Giffin. At least, I should say, from what I have read of her books. The One and Only dealt with a topic that I personally struggled with, and no, I don’t mean football. 😉

I had a hard time connecting with the book and the characters. As a protagonist, I never connected with Shea, there was not much to her beyond football. I don’t mind football books, but I never felt a connection to Shea or any of the characters for that matter.

The book is a fair read and I did finish it as I was curious about how it all would end. I listened to it on audio. The narrator, Sophia Willingham was a great voice for the story and I enjoyed her narration.

Audio CD
Publisher: Random House Audio; Unabridged edition (May 20, 2014)
Length: 15 hrs and 2 mins

Morning Meanderings… Catching Up With Brown Bag Author Terri Peterson Smith

Published on July 31, 2014July 31, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)7 Comments

Thursday! It has been a beautiful week here in Central Minnesota. It is my favorite time of year! Today I am in the office and feeling energized. Later I plan to mow the lawn and if you follow these posts… you know I love to mow the lawn! (It’s true – I really do!)

Terri Peterson Smith, Off The Beaten Path, Book Journey, Sheila DeChantal — Author Terri Peterson Smith and her book, Off The Beaten Path

Fun story. Earlier this year Author Terri Peterson Smith contacted me about our event, Wine and Words. Our event already had the authors lined up but I really liked the sound of her book and directed her to contact my Vice-Chair in The Friends Group about being a part of the Brown Bag Author Line Up. I am thrilled to say that it worked out for her to come and speak, which she did a couple of Mondays ago.

Terri’s book is about grabbing your friends and taking a literary trip. It really is a book for book lovers. I loved that Terri mentioned in her talk that book groups are now seeking out that next level to reading the book… they want to taste the food that the characters have, they want to see and touch and feel – almost making the books three-dimensional. Terri provides that in her book, Off The Beaten Page.

Inspired by “field trips” with the author’s own book club, Off The Beaten Page offers a literary look at fifteen U.S. destinations as seen through the works of famous writers. No plodding tour of dead people’s homes; award-winning journalist Terri Peterson Smith takes readers on a lively tour of some of the most fascinating places in the U.S., combining her love of literature and her quest for a good time with friends. Her inspired explorations and meticulous research combine to help readers not only extend the experience of a great book but also to gain a greater understanding of the people and culture in the places they travel.

Terri was a lot of fun to meet in person. She has a fun bubbly personality which I felt made her perfect to write about bookish adventures such as where to find the house in St Paul Minnesota that F Scott Fitzgerald finished his book “This Side Of Paradise”. Terri’s book cover 15 US locations for literary trips for you and your group.

It was a real pleasure to hang out with Terri Peterson Smith. I have been reading her book this week and love the ideas it sparks about literary trips. I am hopeful she will write a follow-up book… I am hopeful she invites me along on these trips to help her with her research. 😉 Hey, a girl can dream.

How is your Thursday shaping up? I need to get into the office soon, I already have a list of things building up in my head of the “to do’s” for today. It is funny how that happens. 🙂

Morning Meanderings… New Normal – Official Day One and Brown Bag Author

Published on July 30, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)13 Comments

Good Morning! Happy Wednesday! (Is it crazy that I had to pause there and think what day it was?) Yesterday was my first real full day of feeling like I was moving into my new role. I have home space set up, and made a commitment to be in it. I actually had time to open up a packet of papers that were given to me in mid June as research for my manuscript I am revising. They have been sitting in the library since they were handed to me and are now in the office and I spent time yesterday reviewing them and making notes. It was a good feeling.

JOhnathan Friesen, Book JOurney, Sheila DeChantal — Author Johnathan Friesen

This past Monday we had an exciting author at the Brainerd Public Library. Author Johnathan Friesen (pronounced “free-zen”) spoke at our library about his books, and read from his most recent book, Mayday (LOVE the cover!)

I had never read or listened to Johnathan Friesen before and I for one was excited to have him at the library as a YA author. He started out with sharing a very powerful story about his childhood and Tourette’s syndrome. I think most of the room was in tears – and then he turned it around into his passion for writing. At this stage in my life, what he said really resonated with me. He spoke with intelligence and I found myself scribbling on a napkin (I know, I know, you would think I would be more prepared!) to capture some of the things he said…

…and when she left my room, she took something with her. Almost like a magnet it stuck to the back of her shirt…. when she left, the hate I had felt for myself left with her. ~ Johnathan Friesen

Johnathan was a delightful speaker! He was animated and funny and can really channel his inner child! While he spoke about each of his books I found myself trying to choose which I wanted to read, they all in one way or another spoke to me. His book Jerk California is about a boy with Tourette’s. This Schneider Family Book Award winner changed the face of Tourette’s Syndrome for modern teens.

When the event was over, the crowd of 44 people gathered around to but his books. I always wait to be last to make sure everyone has the opportunity to pick up the books that they want. I left this event with:

If you ever have the chance to hear Johnathan speak, I highly recommend you do. I was very impressed with his style and look forward to digging into his books!

Little Lies by Heather Gudenkauf

Published on July 29, 2014July 29, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)13 Comments

Social Worker Ellen Moore is awaken from her warm deep sleep to take a call that brought her full attention to the true cold dark world that surrounded her. A woman’s body was found in the park next to the statue of Leto, the Goddess of Motherhood. More disturbing, the woman’s 4-year-old son was next to his dead mother, cold and alone. Much like a case that took place thirteen years earlier with another mother, and another child in the same spot. Ellen leaves the warmth of her husband’s side and quietly walks by each of her three children’s rooms to go to the scene of the crime.

Ellen’s job is to take care of the child, but she can not help but wonder what the connections are to the past. You never know when you are playing it safe, or when you may find yourself confronted by a killer who knows you are getting a little too close to the truth for comfort.

I recently read and reviewed Heather Gudenkauf’s book Little Mercies which also is about protagonist Ellen Moore and a case involving child endangerment. I enjoyed that book very much and was interested in this novella prequel with the main characters that I had enjoyed so much previously.

While I enjoyed the case and the story line, I was reminded once again why I do not usually engage in these prequels. They place too much in the pages too fast, which I understand is the way it needs to be in a 400 page novella. I think this would have made a wonderful full size book, there was plenty of good content to make it so.

If you enjoy Heather Gudenkauf’s writing and do not mind the occasional short story with great characters, this would be a book I would recommend. Powerful storyline, just a little quick on the wrap up for me.

Publisher: Harlequin
Publication date: 5/1/2014
Format: eBook
Edition description: Original
Pages: 400

Morning Meanderings… A New Normal

Published on July 29, 2014July 29, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)20 Comments

Good Morning and happy Tuesday!

Another beautiful day is appearing here in Central Minnesota. I love sitting at my table and looking out the window while I write in the mornings, catch up on emails, and prep for my day.

This week kicks off new rhythms to my day and I am working on setting new habits and treating my now “stay at home” job, as a “get up, get ready, and go” job. In other words – I have a set time to get to work which is now in a downstairs office, and takes me about 30 seconds to get to. I know as time goes on I will probably loosen the reigns as I figure out what works best for me and still allowing me to put in the time I need to so the deadlines are met; but for now.. this is the training period and I enjoy the discipline of the consistency.

Yesterday, Justin was in town, that College boy who is now my Graduated boy. We had lunch together, caught up and then came back to the house where he helped me set up the desk in my office. I bought a desk last fall from a friend and have left it set in pieces for the last 8 months. The pieces were too large to put together on my own and Al and I never committed to putting it together. It was in the spare room and out of sight… out of mind. 🙂

Here are pics of what it looked like put together:

There is the basic shell of the office. I need some pictures on the wall and some personal effects, but it is enough of an office to get me excited about going out and buying pretty pens, yellow note pads and files for the filing cabinet. (It doesn’t take much to make me happy! 😀 )

Reading and even listening to audio have taken a back burner lately but I listened to audio last night as I set up the office and I have it on this morning so hopefully I am around the corner on that dry spell.

Hope your Tuesday is wonderful! Any new adventures out there you are starting? Any advice from those of you who write at home or have jobs that allow you to work from home?