Tag: Giveaway

Birthday! Fun story! Oh, and a Giveaway

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)150 Comments

Good morning! 
*yawn*  * Stretch*

COFFEE!

I am up and not quite ready to go but feel good… and am up at least 😀

Yes… it is that yearly event today.  Another birthday and I have a fun story and a giveaway for you!

Here’s the story….

Right before Christmas I made a wish list of books I was hoping to someday own…. on that list was the book Miss Peregrine’s School For Peculiar Children.  See exhibit A:

Exhibit A

 

I have liked the reviews I have read on this book, it sounds mysterious…. and I would like to read it… so  put it on the list.  THEN….

I signed up for a couple of the Secret Santa sign ups  on line and when my first one came guess what was in the package?  That’s right…. SSSQQQUUUEEEE!!!!  The book!

Book #1

 

I was so excited and added it to the To Be Read pile!  And then a package came from a publishing company….

Book #2

 

Well… that’s just funny!  So I put that on the TBR pile as well to offer a giveaway along with my reading of this book. 

 

Then a bookish friend sent me a gift for Christmas…. She is so sweet…. what could it be?

Book #3

Yup.  NO kidding…. a third copy of this beautiful hard cover book.  I couldn’t even believe it myself.  I had taken the title off my wishlist previously but somewhere somehow….. the book just kept coming!  😛

 

So when me second secret santa package arrived I was curious but I waited until Christmas to open it…. and

 

(oh you already know….)

Book #4

 

TRUE story!  4 copies of the same book in a matter of a two-week time frame.  So yea, I have 4 copies of this book that I still need to read.  😀

Today – I want to have a giveaway to celebrate my birthday!  I will choose the winner(s) Sunday morning here.  One random commenter will receive a copy of this book (I know you are surprised…. you thought it would be something else….. LOL) and one winner will win a $10 Amazon gift card. 

All you have to do is leave a comment here…  😀

 

I will have another giveaway later today.

SO what do I have going on today?  Work for one… and a birthday lunch… and then later I am going to a wine tasting with a couple of friends for charity.  That’s my day.  I leave you now with a song that I LOVE and I am going to probably dance in my house while I get ready for work.  😛

 

 

Oh and a special thank you to my BEA roomy and book pal Care from Care’s Online Book Club who sent me a sweet card in the mail.  You rock Care!  Your card made me SMILE.  😀

Morning Meanderings… Welcome to 2012 with a Giveaway!

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)116 Comments

Good morning and Happy New Year!!!

I hope everyone had a happy eve.  Hubby and I went out to dinner and then hung out with some friends for awhile.  We were home way before the clock struck midnight.  Next year maybe I will plan something here at our house, board games and movies…. 😀

I have so been looking forward to this day…. I dont remember being this excited for a new year in a long time, but I am ready to start 2012 goals, 2012 books….. 2012.  😀

I have some blog changes I plan to make in the next few weeks here, I am bringing back the commenter contest now through May (maybe longer – we will see) that was for the top commenter of each month received a $20 Amazon gift card – and two random commenters receive books.

The big announcement for today is what book is going to be the one I am reading first for 2012…. well, my review will hopefully be up today as per tradition….

the book is:

I seen this book on many best of the best lists for 2011 so here it is.  I am currently reading and enjoying it.  I am on page 81 this morning so I have a LOT of reading to do 😀  YAY for New Years Day!  Nothing in the plan today except reading and relaxing 🙂

To celebrate this first week of 2012 I am going to be reading several books I have been waiting to read… wishing to read.  I will also be having a giveaway a day to celebrate because I am in that kind of mood :)Stop in each morning to see what it will be…. 😀  You will have all week to sign up for each giveaway – On Sunday the 7th I will announce all seven days of winners.  😀

This morning the giveaway is for a copy of:

When Nina Revskaya puts her remarkable jewelry collection up for auction, the former Bolshoi Ballet star finds herself overwhelmed by memories of her homeland, and of the events, both glorious and heartbreaking, that changed her life half a century earlier. It was in Russia that she discovered the magic of dance and fell in love, and where, faced with Stalinist aggression, a terrible discovery incited a deadly act of betrayal—and an ingenious escape to the West.

Nina has kept her secrets for half a lifetime. But now Drew Brooks, an inquisitive associate at a Boston auction house, and Grigori Solodin, a professor who believes Nina’s jewels hold the key to unlocking his past, begin to unravel her story—setting in motion a series of revelations that will have life-altering consequences for them all.

For a chance to win this book – leave a comment here letting me know what your first book of 2012 is going to be.  😀

Have an awesome day everyone!

Snow Flower And The Secret Fan Movie Review and Giveaways!

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)31 Comments

It is present day Shanghai and Nina and Sophia are struggling to maintain their childhood friendship among the demands of career, relationships, and family.  Drawing from the lessons of the past, Nina and Sophia learn to understand their ancestral connections to Lily and Snowflower… their laotong, and the ways of 19th century China.

Like nu shu secrets within the creases of a fan…. both story lines mesh to tell one… of hope, love, and friendship.

Laotong or LaoTong (in English: old sames; written: 老同 in Mandarin) is a type of relationship within Chinese culture, which was practised in Hunan, that bonded two girls together for eternity as kindred sisters.

There were two cultural practises in Hunan in past centuries that acknowledged women’s social bonds. One was Laotong, the other was Laotang.

Chinese women commonly refer to each other as “Sisters.” This is a recognition of the importance of women’s supportive relationships, which helped them endure hardship over their lives. Preparation for marriage might involve a Laotang relationship between several young women; the sisterhood would be dissolved upon marriage. After marriage, new sisterhoods could be formed later between married or widowed women.[1]

For Chinese women, the Laotong or “Old-Sames” relationship was the most precious friendship bond. This was a more rare and formal relationship between women. A woman could only have one Laotong, and the bond was for life.

As told on wikepedia

Yesterday I reviewed the audio version of Snowflower and The Secret Fan.  This was quite the coincidence when I was offered to review the movie which released this week on DVD and Blue-Ray.  I of course, said yes to this review as I missed out on this one in the theater.

At first the movie concerned me when I heard the main characters were not the lily and Snowflower I had expected….  but have patience, soon you will see that it is just being told from a second story line that I really grew to enjoy.  Going back and forth between the modern Nina and Sophia and then to the history of Lily and Snowflower was an interesting way to present the story. 

While I appreciated the audio greatly and highly advise you read or listen to the book first, I would recommend the movie as well as a compliment to the other.  Beautifully detailed it brought tears to my eyes more than once.  I was at once very impressed. 

Along with the review of the book, I was asked to have a Laotong night with friends….  you don’t have to twist my arm to hang with friends!  A road trip was planned to our cabin with my cousin’s wife Rhonda, and two other wonderful friends, Belinda and Sheila.  It was a lot of fun as none of them had been to the cabin before.

Me, Rhonda, and Sheila at Tettegouche State Park
Belinda and Sheila

We spent the day exploring the north shore shops and had lunch at the Blue Fin Bay Grill.  We went back to the cabin where we made fajitas and chatted and laughed and wore mud masks and watched movies.  It was just what my heart needed… time with friends… time to laugh and time to share. 

Ok... they will probably have my head for posting this... but part of our Laontong night was face masks.... it was so fun!

If you read Book Journey on a regular basis you probably know that I enjoy many adventures with friends and work to make that time happen to renew and restore.  I know that it is not always easy to do when you have time commitments, family, and small children but let me tell you that your friendships are important and time with friends… makes you a better you. 

Here are a few ways you can plan time with friends:

A phone call when time is short….catch up!

A coffee date at a favorite coffee shop

Take in a movie – even a matinée

Send a card or small gift in the mail to those you can not see do to distance

Road trip… always talking about that shopping trip or sight seeing?  Make it happen!  3 of my friends and I finally made that happen after years of talking about it in June.

A gym date – double duty!  🙂

Giveaway

I was sent three copies of the book Snow Flower and the Secret Fan to share with the girls who did the Laotong night with me.  They took two of the copies… and I still have one left for one of you!  I also have been offered a DVD or Blue Ray give away of the movie!

To enter for these giveaways (I will choose two winners, one book, one movie) leave a comment here telling me either of a fun night/ weekend you have done with friends – OR one you are planning to do. 

For an extra entry, subscribe to Book Journey by signing up on the right hand side bar and let me know in a separate comment.  If you are already a subscriber, let me know that in a separate comment for the extra entry.

USA and Canada only please… I will announce the winner Friday in my morning post. 

Halloween Weekend – signed Laura Childs Books Giveaway

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)46 Comments

Happy Halloween weekend all!  I am on a two-day “break” with some friends at our cabin but wanted to leave you with this fun giveaway.

My pal Laura who writes the Tea Shop Mystery cozies and the Scrapbook mystery cozies has offered me two personally signed hard copy editions of Skeleton Letters.  That my friends is sooooo SSSQQQQQQUUUEEEEE worthy 🙂

Check out the fun trailer:

To enter – simply leave a comment here with a fun Halloween tradition (past or present)

For a second (BONUS) entry…. become a follower by signing up for my email subscription on the right hand side bar and in a separate comment let me know that you did.  😀  If you are already a subscriber let me know that in a separate comment as well.

That’s it…. I will choose two random winners on Halloween and then send Laura the winners info and she will sign the books and mail to you personally.

In the meantime, enjoy your weekend!

Morning Meanderings… A CRAZY Week and let’s give away another copy of The Night Circus

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)92 Comments


I can’t believe I made it…. holy smokes what a big week…

It wasnt just work, although that was busy too… it was several days of big evening plans with little gap between work and other commitments.  Pretty much I dragged myself home after 9:00 pm three times this week and my body feels it.  Workouts went to the wayside… no time for that, laundry has been washed but not dried and put away, and books…. have not been read.

BUT…

today is Friday and I am off (off off off…. it echo’s nicely don’t you agree?) I have no plans today, no commitments… and there is a real good chance I may not leave my house.  (Probably not true… I do want to mail some books today and maybe stop at the library….)

Mostly though… I am hanging out.  I am writing a couple of reviews, I am making plans for Banned Books Week, and I am reading.  Ahhh… such a great word.  😛

In other random news…. Audible.com is having an AMAZING sale on their audio with over 200 titles now at $4.95 each.   Oh my goodness, I am so excited and found several great titles for myself and I bet if you pop in, you will too.  I picked up The Kitchen House, Outlander, Night Road… all for $4.95 each.  If you want to check out the sale the link is on this banner below.

AND – this is uber exciting!  I also seen that The NIght Circus on audible is being read by …… wait for it…. wait for it….. Jim Dale!  Yes, Jim Dale who narrated for the Harry Potter books… Jim who is totally totally totally scream worthy….. (did I say totally?)

Anyway because I am sooooooo excited about The Night Circus, and because I see so many of you are as well… I am going to offer up another hard cover copy today for the last day of #BBAW.  To enter you just need to be anywhere Amazon delivers, and answer this question:  (*when I put my BBAW post up later today you can get a second entry by commenting on that one as well)

Todays BBAW topic is about blogging.  As a book blogger yourself, or as a reader of blogs, what do you like to see the most on blogs.  Or in other words, what keeps you coming back to certain blogs (layout, memes, book topics, variety, the writing, giveaways, etc…)

 

And finally – my winners of the last two days of giveaways…

Vicki (I’d Rather Be Reading At The Beach)

 

Alexia’s Books and Such

 

Yay to both winners!!!  Now don’t forget to enter todays for The Night Circus!!!!!

Morning Meanderings… Burning the Candle at both ends (and a giveaway!)

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)48 Comments

 

Why why why did BBAW have to fall on such a  busy busy busy week?

Uhhh…. I mean….

good morning!  😛

Really though, I had to laugh last night when I finally was able to sit down with New Laptop (Asus) and do a little Twitter, and a read the comments on my post about Community.  How funny that I put the fun and importance of commenting, when I was way too tired to do it myself.

I dont even know how to explain this craziness but thought it might be fun to try…. I will start with Tuesday:

Tuesday 6:00 am up

have coffee, write a morning post

work by 7:30

work like crazy getting ready for a weekend group fair

leave work at 2:45 to return cotton candy machine from this past weekend event

at 3:15 stop in to Best Buy just to “look” at flat screen wall mount tvs as a possible gift for hubbys birthday (which was Wednesday)

3:45 leave Best Buy with (you guessed it!) flat screen tv and mount and an appointment with a dud to come out to house on Wednesday afternoon and hang it on wall for me.  (YAY!!!)  (BEST Wife ever award I am sure!  :razz:)

4:00 make stop at grocery store for a few items I need for book club

4:20 home, tv unloaded and hidden in spare bedroom, now vac house for book club

4:50 start cooking my 1940’s style food for review of Postmistress ( post will be up for this event yet this week)

5:30 downstairs setting up chairs, now looking for my review notes… which I do not find until the next day and they were in my car the whole time

6:10 first Bookie arrives and helps cut up oranges and lemon for the water.

6:20 second Bookie arrives and helps me cut rye bread into squares for finger sandwiches

6:30 – 6:45 the rest of the Bookies arrive with food and books as it is our annual book sale for charity

6:45 – 7:00 we drool over books, “shop”, grab food and head downstairs

7:00 – 9:00 have an awesome discussion about the book and WWII

9:10 pm the last Bookie leaves

9:10 – 10 Try to read posts, try to leave comments….. TIRED.

10 – BED

5:15 am – (Now it is Wednesday) I went to bed earlier than I usually do so now I am up early.  Start coffee, write morning post after checking out BBAW topic

6:30 am – pull myself away from laptop and get ready for work

7:30 am I am at work and start my day

work consisted of two meetings, creating check ins for evening event, phone calls, prepping paperwork for students, copies, more class schedules…

at 2:40 pm the tv dude calls and I hurry home to let him in and so he can put the tv on the wall (it is Al’s birthday!!!)

3:00 – 4:30 pm the dude hangs the tv, relocates the cable, while I rearrange the room by stitching out the couch for the recliner, a little table for Al to put his work magazines and relax in style.

4:45 – on my way back to work to finish up what I was working on and prep for a meeting at 6:30 the same time I am due to help the students check in, then I need to pop back upstairs to talk about an upcoming Honduras opportunity.

7:30 pm – I am still at meeting when hubby Al texts me and says he is home… GAH!  He beat me home!  Friend Wendy offers to take Chance home for me at 8 so I can go now…. thank you Wendy!!!

7:40 arrive home, thankfully he is still going through mail and has not seen said “AWESOME BIRTHDAY GIFT!”

Now I show him the living room which in my typical husband fashion, comments on how he likes how I arranged the room…. does not notice tv.  I assist in the observation.

Wala!!!!  He sees it.  Hubby happy – he watches TV until 9 and then goes to bed. 

I again try to read posts and blog.  Not happening.

Bed by 10 pm.

 

I know… right?

Today will be much the same… work (soon actually) until 3:30, grab hubby something for dinner and at 5:30 I have dinner with friends for Sandi’s birthday.  *Note to self – do not forget gift!*

Briefly – I know  have to pick a winner yet for yesterdays giveaway and I will post that tomorrow morning as I have run myself out of time… in the meantime… NEW giveaway starts right now for today in honor of BBAW.

This one is a book yet to be released – but it is one that is creating BUZZ:

Serious…. cover crush here… this book is released on September 27th and II will have this shipped to you directly from Amazon.  SO – anyone who access to an Amazon delivery is welcome to enter for this one.

Here is how…

Respond in a few sentences an answer to todays BBAW topic…

Book bloggers blog because we love reading. Has book blogging changed the way you read? Have you discovered books you never would have apart from book blogging? How has book blogging affected your book acquisition habits? Have you made new connections with other readers because of book blogging? Choose any one of these and share your thoughts today!

Winner will be announced tomorrow along with the winner from yesterdays giveaway as well.  😀 

Morning Meanderings… BBAW – Time For A Giveaway

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)71 Comments

Oh I am so excited it is BBAW (Book Blogger Appreciation Week).  I look forward to this each year as a time to celebrate those of us who blog about our love for books.  I have to tell you, three years ago, I did not know Book Bloggers existed.  When I blindly stumbled into this world… I have never looked back.  My life changed that day for the better.

I wish I could put into words how much I enjoy my time chatting books with all of you.  Each of you who stop in and visit, I enjoy your comments so much.  As we carry on conversations and for those who have blogs that I read too, I get to know a bit of you and that is pretty cool. 

This week I hope to celebrate with all of you our love for books.  So this morning I am giving away one of the books I have been hanging on to for a while for just such an occasion….

a new (still in the gift wrap) copy of The Night Circus!!!  SSQQUUUEEE!!!

I have not read this one yet but from the hype I have heard this is one not to miss!  I hope to read my copy  yet this week and I am excited to be able to share it with one of you!

To enter, please leave a comment on this post about what you enjoy most about book blogs.  Also note – you can receive a second (and possibly a third) by commenting on my Blog swap interview also posted today.  **Giveaway is open as well to international.  😀

**This is a one day giveaway…. tomorrow morning I will announce the winner.  😀

Morning Meanderings… Fun things in my mail box and a couple winners too

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)20 Comments

Good morning!  😀

Yes I am still a bag full of sniffly sneazy coughy “GAH” over here…. BUT – not on antibiotics so hopefully this too will pass.  😛

We leave for the cabin today which is a big “woo hoo” for me… I don’t know why I feel I need a weekend away from it all… but for some reason I just want to get out of dodge and not deal with people, or phones, or commitments… 

That said, my recent mailbox arrivals are timely and beyond appreciated:

 

Thank you so much for the necklace for pre-ordering Ashes by Ilsa Bick and for the two audio books that recently came in the mail from me from fellwo book lovers – SSQQQUUUEEEE!!!!  Thank you Nise (Under The Boardwalk) for Blink and Kathy(Bermuda Onion) for The Knitting Circle.  😀

 

I also need to mention winners for the two audio books I recently offered up to a reader that would like to give them a go… and here are the two winners:

MarthaE! 

Beth S

**Please email me your addresses at journey throughbookks@gmail.com and I will mail these audio books next week.  😀

On a completely random note… in September of 2010 I wrote my review for ROOM by Emma Donoghue.  Along with that review I also wrote a Spoiler Page (I LOVE using the spoiler page button!).  The Spoiler Page is something I use when I find I want to discuss the book more deeply with those who have read it, so I create a safe area where we can chat freely about the book with no fear of saying anything that would be considered spoilers to those who have not read the book.  I bring this up becuase recently that page has drawn a little attention again and I can not figure out why.  I am getting Spoiler Page comments – which I love…. just curious why suddenly it is being dug out of the Book Journey basement.  😛

Have a super awesome (and safe!) weekend.  I am hoping to be able to get a little internet access here and there as I do have reviews ready to roll out…. plus, honestly…. I really like to start my morning chatting it up with all of you.  😀

After by Amy Efaw (audio review and giveaway)

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)38 Comments

How could this happen?  Who would do such a thing?  These are the questions that surround the new-born baby that was found tied in a trash bag in the dumpster. 

This certainly could not be Devon Davenport, a straight A student, exceptional athlete, and girl with a plan.  Yet, when the police find Devon she is bleeding heavily, and when rushed to the emergency room it is confirmed that she has just given birth.  Soon Devon finds her self thrown into a Juvenal criminal facility and being charged with attempted murder.  As police and lawyers talk to her, tell her she must tell the truth… Devon has to admit that she doesn’t remember what happened.

Is Devon in fact dealing with such trauma that she truly can not recall what happened… or is this just a brilliant ploy to get off the hook…

I listened to this audio because I had heard raves about the book.  The subject matter interested me…. a baby left in a dumpster…. a teen so distraught, she does not even realize for most of the book that the baby is hers.

I know many people loved this book, but I have to say I was not one of them.  As well written as this book was, it didn’t hold true for me.  I could not believe that a girl like Devin, described as a straight “A” student, obviously intelligent, and strong-minded – had no idea she was pregnant.  I know that the power of the mind can be strong, but the physical changes to her body…

And if that is worth arguing about by those who loved the book, and feel that it is possible to put yourself into such a state of denial…. then I will add this…

The fact that Devin refers to the baby throughout the whole book as “it”….. drove me nuts! 

Maybe it was the audio version but Devin just was not engaged in what she had done, even as she began to remember she still did not seem to connect that the baby was a human life…. I don’t know… I am still a little frustrated about it.

I enjoyed the part with Devin in the correctional institute.  I liked the correspondence between the girls, this is where the book excels.  Amy Efaw really captures the things that the girls are dealing with and how they defend themselves from society.  Its sad, really.

I think that in the end, no matter what Devin’s circumstances (I wont even go into my thoughts about the mother) were a major concern and the audio made me angry more than anything.  The ending is all a little too neat…. and as the final words were said… I was left with a feeling of “huh?”

If you would like to give this audio a try – leave a comment here letting me know… I will have a drawing later this week … and offer it up to someone.

 

The 2011 Where Are You Reading Map has been updated to include After

I purchased this audio from Amazon

Born Round by Frank Bruni

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)36 Comments

Frank Bruni was ALWAYS hungry.  He was born that way.  His mother cooked amazing meals and loved having people  over to enjoy them.  If food was eaten in full of one of something left, Franks mom felt as though she had not made enough.

Bottom line was Frank enjoyed eating.  he had an epic appetite that later would serve him well as a restaurant critic for the New York Times.  Totally in love with his job, Frank had to learn how to deal with his long time love hate relationship with food.  What followed was yo yo dieting, and dealing with a painful lifelong addiction to food.

Frank Bruni

I had heard this audio was pretty good…. and as a self-confessed foody (oh yes… I do love food!) I though it would be an interesting listen.  The draw to this audio for me was that I found it interesting that someone like Frank who battled his weight all of his life – would take on a job as a food critic for The New York Times. 

Frank, who reads this audio himself, tells an honest portrayal of diet pill abuse, over eating and then working out like a mad man…. going from one extreme ( a hiking adventure that is pretty extreme causing him to lose extreme weight) to another ( refusing dessert at a restaurant but them stopping on the way home for not only a piece of his favorite dessert – but the whole dessert!).

At times I felt the audio was getting long with tale after tale of food event, job, weight battles…. and just about then – frank would come in with a little “comic relief” and share about how many times when critiquing food he would mix up his alias names he used for reservations… or his denial about his pants being tight (certainly it was the cut of the pant… obviously the company has changed that…. or the old shrinkage in the dryer story…)

In the end – the book was satisfying – neither leaving me hungry, or full.  I enjoyed learning a little about Frank Bruni.

This review is part of the Weekend Cooking meme at Beth Fish Reads

Interested in this audio?  Leave a comment here telling me what your favorite food to go out for is, and I will have a drawing next week and choose one of the comments using random.org as the winner and I will mail you this audio. 

 

The 2011 WHERE Are You Reading map has been updated to include Born Round

I purchased this audio from Amazon