Crushes...

A fellow blogger, Ophelia London, reviewed the book I Think I Love You by Allison Pearson today and then asked....

"Who was your teenage crush? I told you mine. . . . ."

So, picture this... 

There you are (or I am), all 13 years and raging 'hermones'...

Standing in front of the record bin of the local Boston Woolworth's store (I kid you not), flipping through the bargain records (yes records, actual 1984 black vinyl).

And suddenly, there he is!! The man-boy of my dreams! His adorable, slightly-feminine face stares out and screams...

He's the cutie in the middle front...

"Marry me and have my babies!"  (uh, ok, maybe that was just me)...

It screams "Take me home!"

So I did... And quite a few more over the years.

My childhood crush (ok, to be fair to my family, obsession), was Roy Estephan Rosello Diaz. A member of Menudo from the mid-to late 80's. 

For those of you who don't know, Menudo was a Puerto Rican boy-band, created in the 1970's by a money-hungry mastermind with substantial backing. Menudo members joined the group as pre-teens and stayed only long enough to make the band's management team a fortune, then the second they began to look too "manly', they were tossed to the wind.  The likely best known ex-Menudo (at least in the states) would be Ricky Martin, of Livin' La Vida Loca success.

But the 80's were Menudo's hey-day, with a successful crossover into the American market.  Pretty rare and impressive for a traditionally all Spanish group, but us 1980's teens knew sexy when we saw it!

Roy was the quieter, shyer, mostly Spanish speaking one. Yes, I kissed his pictures, swooned, and listened to his music for hours each day...all that 'normal' stuff. But, I really do mean obsessed! I also made a fourth grade classroom which I was watching over lunch (I attended a small private school that year) sing Happy Birthday to him. I convinced my parents to take me to Puerto Rico junior year so I could "experience the world" and, more honestly, visit the Menudo store and buy more music and pictures (you never know, I might have run into him!).  I even broke up with my first REAL high school boyfriend because (well, honestly because I didn't really like him that much, but I said....) I was in love with someone else and though I knew "it could never be, I just couldn't change my heart"!

After Menudo, Roy went on to other things... He made a jungle-boy type movie, sadly totally in Spanish but dude was practically in the buff so honestly who cared?! He has worked with his father in real estate and has owed several businesses. 

He has stayed involved in the music scene, attempting a come back in Brazil and trying to arrange a Menudo reunion show, but to little success. 
 


But honestly, he is still pretty darn yummy... Isn't he?!

Read More

Heaven Is Here - Nielson

I

In Heaven is Here: An Incredible Story of Hope, Triumph, and Everyday Joy, Stephanie Neilson tells the story of her near-perfect life.  She has a very close family, has met the love of life, and is building what promises to be a wonderful life with him and her four children. She looks forward to having many more. She is, in fact, so happy with her life that she shares her wonderful story, and her religious views (she is a Mormon), online at nieniedialogues.com.

But life is never perfect, and just when you get the hang of it...it tends to teach you new lessons.  Sadly, Stephanie's lessons are learned through a horrific plane crash in August of 2008.

Neilson wakes, months later, bed ridden and fighting to survive burns over 80% of her body. Her husband was also severely burned, though not as badly as Stephanie, and a friend died. Though she knows deeply that God and her family love her unconditionally, Neilson struggles with the changes in her life, her inability to care for her family, and the physical changes that threaten to take away the possibility of ever having more children.

Ultimately, with the help of her amazing family, friends, and online community, Neilson finds her way through the horrible experience and learns about overcoming adversity and sharing the joy and hope of life.

An interesting book, though a bit heavy on the religious focus. This religious fervor however is understood to be truly a part of Stephanie Neilson's being, and does not come off as false or overplayed for the purposes of the memoir. 

Well worth a read for anyone who loves a great triumph story.

3/5- Good. Read it, have a good time and move on. Or not.

More opinions at:

Everread

BookBagLady

Read More

Extremely Close and Incredibly Loud - Foer

Most everyone has heard by now that Jonathan Safran Foer's Extremely Close and Incredibly Loud is the story of a boy dealing with the grief of losing his father in the horrific events of September 11, 2001.  But it is more that, it is the story of tragedy passed down through generations and of learning how to turn tragedy into an opportunity to keep loved ones alive in your hearts and memories.

After finding a key and envelop with a name written on it in his father's closet Oskar, a nine-year old child who is struggling to understand his father's death, starts a quest to figure out what the key goes to and why his father left if for him to find (his father supposedly often created such games and challenges for him). Oskar travels every weekend, using the New York City phone book, in the hopes of finding the answers that will make sense of his tragedy.  He meets a short cast of characters, who ultimately help him discover that sometimes there is no reason that things happen, they just do.

Interspersed with his story is that of his paternal grandfather and grandmother.  Through their stories we learn that Oskar's grandmother, with whom he is very close, and his grandfather, who he has never met, found each other years ago in the wake of another war. I don't want to give too much away, but this part of the story - though not as readable and fun as Oskar's (the author utilizes picture, illustrations, and even red underling to make his point) - is even richer and more deep.  

Ultimately, the two stories converge with Oskar and his grandfather taking the opportunity to utilize all possible tools at that disposal to deal with the loss of a father/son, building a relationship in the process and ultimately keeping their loved one close, while having to let go.

This book was a bit difficult to follow, with the skips between the three character's stories (especially given that no explanation is offered of such), however it's worth the effort. I enjoyed the story very much and think that others will too, if they take their time with the book.

3/5- Good. Read it, have a good time and move on. Or not.

More opinions at:
Bookwind

Read More

Teaser Tuesday - 05/29/12

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.
 
Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
-Grab your current read
-Open to a random page
-Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
-Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers! 

 

My Teaser:


"As with all things of consequence, it all began with a party." 

This Beautiful Life (Helen Schulman) - pg. 3

Read More

Sunday Salon - 05/27/12

If you are interested in other Salon posts, visit the Facebook page to get links.

Thank goodness for long weekends!

Outside my window: Beautiful, sunny warm (but not stifling hot or humid) day today. Currently, getting dark out.

I am listening to: The hubby watching reruns of Smallville, which he has recently gotten into.

I am reading: Still In Zanesville by Jo Ann Bear, though I'm just about done; Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley; and As the Beat Goes On. 

I am going to read: This Beautiful Life, and Frankenstein, seriously I mean it.

On the Blog: Slow, not much exciting.

Around the Book Blogosphere: Same stuff, new books.

I am thinking: Thank God it is a long weekend, otherwise this Sunday evening would suck royally.

I am grateful for: Long weekends and holidays!

Around the house: We bought a hedge trimmer and began the process of cutting back years of neglect. Once the hedges along the road were cut, the same hedges we've been arguing about how to handle for months, we finally agreed how nice the lawn would look if it went to the curb and the hedges were removed.  I didn't think that was possible, but we agree. Now it's just a matter of doing it.

In the kitchen: Cheese burgers for dinner.

High of the Week: Friday 5pm. It was a long time coming, given I worked last weekend for graduation activities in addition to my normal hours.

Low of the Week:  Accidentally cutting through the electric cord with the hedge trimmer...oops. Hubby saved the day with a "get back on the horse" talk, a flowering plant, and ice cream. Good man. I went on to aggressively cut back six fir trees that were taking over the side yard. Win!

Family Matters: Had a cookout with my parents yesterday and started planning our wedding reception cookout (wedding was in January, with reception coming in August)...very exciting!

The coming week: Tomorrow off, thank goodness...lots of reading after sleeping late. Short work week.

Words of Wisdom:  

"And I’m proud to be an American,
where at least I know I’m free.
And I won't forget the men who died,
who gave that right to me.

And I'd gladly stand up next to you 
and defend her still today.
‘Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land.
God bless the U.S.A.!!"

  -Lee Greenwood

Have a wonderful, save and patriotic Memorial Day everyone.

Read More

We The Animals - Torres

We The Animals, Justin Torres' debut novel is an autobiographical, coming-of-age story like no other. At a very short 145 pages, this book tells the story of three brothers who share a desperate, wild childhood.

Life is crazy, chaotic, unstable and violent. The boys share their world with Ma (a white woman who is perpetually exhausted from working the graveyard shift, raising three boys, and surviving life with an abusive husband) and Pa (a Puerto Rican with a drinking problem and a penchant for violence).

One day Ma gathers the boys and their belongings and runs away from their crazy life - to a local playground where she promptly, desperately, falls asleep.  The boys roam freely for hours until she awakens and, having no clue what to do or where to go next, they all return home defeated.

The book moves chronologically through the span of only a few years, in Torres' amazing prose, moving towards the narrator's adolescence and sexual awakening. He realizes that growing up and away from one's family is not only hard, but heartbreaking.

This book may not be for everyone, but it is so beautifully written it should be.

4/5- Great. Push it on your friends and family.

More opinions at:
The Book Lady's Blog
Bookslut

Read More

The Orchard - Weir

Theresa Weir is a street-smart bar tender when she first meets Adrian Curtis, the son of a prominent apple farming family. Despite both family's concerns, Adrian and Theresa fall in love and marry after only three months. Little discussion is needed, it is understood that the couple will return to Adrian's home and build their lives and family around The Orchard.

Theresa quickly finds herself isolated, cut off from her own deeply flawed family, and having to adapt to a new domestic life of cooking, cleaning and sitting around waiting for her new husband to return from the fields. She establishes a new life as best she can, writing as a way to cope, an activity that provides her with success, self worth and financial flexibility.

Despite that, adjustment is slow.  Her in-law's blatant rejection of her confuses her and she is especially hurt when discovering that Adrian continues to eat dinner with his parents before returning home to her, where she has often cooked for him as well. His excuse, that this is just how farming families work, takes time to settle in. Everyone expects the couple to part quickly, but they find that as they better understand one another better, they develop a deeper, lasting love for one another.

Adrian and Theresa eventually have two children. With their arrival, Theresa slowly begins to see the farm in a new light. She becomes aware of the extensive amount of pesticides being used to keep the orchards functioning.  Chemicals and toxins that permeate the air and cover their home, belongings and even their bodies. Toxins that not only will destroy the land, but her family as well.

I loved this memoir. I felt a real connection with Weir and think others will as well. I would suggest this books strongly.


4/5- Great. Push it on your friends and family.

More opinions at:
Lesa's Book Critiques 
BrodartVibes Blog

Read More

Teaser Tuesday - 05/22/12

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.
 
Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
-Grab your current read
-Open to a random page
-Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
-Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers! 

 
My Teaser:


"It's like a mysterious stranger I saw in a movie once, who everyone thought was a beautiful lost child in a red cape. From a distance all you could see besides the swirling cape was a head of lustrous hair. A man finally grabbed the child by the hood and turned it around and it was a leering dwarf; the man screamed, and everyone at the movie screamed too. That's why I  mostly wear my hair in breads." 

In Zanesville (Jo Ann Beard) - pg14-15

Read More

Saturday Snapshot - 05/19/12

Saturday Snapshot is hosted by:

 http://athomewithbooks.blogspot.com/

More pics from the lake near my house: 


 

Another beautiful sunset... 



 

Baby geese and a cute bunny are just some of the awesome nature to be seen during a walk around the lake!



They started walking toward me...no fear.  Mom and dad were not so thrilled!




They've grown since last week.






A cute bunny...



I love spring!

Read More

Library Loot - 05/16/12

Library Loot is a weekly event co-hosted by Claire and Marg that encourages bloggers to share the books they’ve checked out from the library. If you’d like to participate, just write up your post-feel free to steal the button-and link it using the Mr. Linky any time during the week. And of course check out what other participants are getting from their libraries.

I haven't done one of these posts in a while, because I've been reading so slowly that trips to the library have seemed wasteful.  I've had a couple really great trips though and have some great books on deck...


New Loot:

A coal miner's bride : the diary of Anetka Kaminska / by Susan Campbell Bartoletti.
1001 cranes / Naomi Hirahara.
Following Atticus : forty-eight high peaks, one little dog, and an extraordinary friendship / Tom Ryan
We need to talk about Kevin : a novel / Lionel Shriver.
Don't kill the birthday girl : tales from an allergic life / Sandra Beasley.
Little Bee / Chris Cleave.
Salvage the bones : a novel / Jesmyn Ward.
When Captain Flint was still a good man / Nick Dybek.
Red ruby heart in a cold blue sea / Morgan Callan Rogers.
The flame alphabet / Ben Marcus
The night circus : a novel / Erin Morgenstern.
The end of normal : a wife's anguish, a widow's new life / Stephanie Madoff Mack ; with Tamara Jones
Silver like dust : one family's story of America's Japanese internment / Kimi Cunningham Grant.
Some assembly required : a journal of my son's first son / Anne Lamott with Sam Lamott.
What teachers make : in praise of the greatest job in the world / Taylor Mali.
Ninety days : a memoir of recovery / Bill Clegg.
Running away to home : our family's journey to Croatia in search of who we are, where we came from,
The taste of salt : a novel / by Martha Southgate.
Trauma : my life as an emergency surgeon / James Cole.
This beautiful life : a novel / Helen Schulman.
In Zanesville : a novel / Jo Ann Beard.
Up : a mother and daughter's peakbagging adventure / Patricia Ellis Herr.
F in exams : the very best totally wrong test answers / Richard Benson.
Talk-funny girl : a novel / Roland Merullo.
The night strangers : a novel / Chris Bohjalian.
Gypsy boy : my life in the secret world of the Romany Gypsies / Mikey Walsh.

Read More

Wonder - Palacio

R. J. Palacio's Wonder, August Pullman, was born...different. With an extra large forehead, eyes that are lower than normal, a mouth that always hangs open and ears that are underdeveloped and cauliflower-shaped, he draws attention wherever he goes.

But August Pullman is not so different. He is just a boy, trying to make friends, trying to figure out his place in the world.

After a life of homeschooling, his parents decide that August, who is exceptionally bright, funny and engaging, would benefit from going to public school and interacting with other children his age.  As with all children starting school, August makes some friends and some enemies.  He learns some hard lessons. But it turns out that the wonder of August is that he is a even greater teacher than student.

Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass; 

it’s about learning to dance in the rain. ~Unknown

An enjoyable read and great children's book. Appropriate for many, though some may find it juvenile.

3/5- Good. Read it, have a good time and move on. Or not.

Buxton's Blog O'Books

Katie's Book Blog

Read More

The Golden Hat - Winslet

Kate Winslet is known for her acting, most notably for her role as Rose in 1997's Titanic. But few people know Kate as a mother and humanitarian.

In The Golden Hat: Talking Back to Autism, Kate tells briefly the story of meeting Margaret and Keli, a mother and son pair, who live daily with the trials of non-verbal autism. She forged a close relationship with this family and decided to make a difference.

She took an old hat, a gold pin, and a cheap toss-away camera and asked her friends and colleagues to take a picture of themselves along with the hat/pin combo and then return them to her with a quote that reflected what they would say if they could finally speak after a lifetime of living with non-verbal autism.

The result is a wonderful book of pictures with familiar names and faces. The book was published with all proceeds being donated to the aptly named Golden Hat Foundation, which Winslet started with Margaret with the hopes of providing a care facility for non-verbal autism sufferers as they reach adulthood. The hope is that such a care facility will provide them with hopes and possibilities and goals, rather than the alternative of wasting away at home until being forced into state care after parents/caregivers pass away.

Hats off Kate for making a difference in the world and leaving your mark!  Buy a copy for your coffee table, and your friend's coffee table, and a couple for holiday/birthday presents. Well worth the cost and a great cause!

4/5- Great. Push it on your friends and family.

Read More

Teaser Tuesday - 05/16/12

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.
 
Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
-Grab your current read
-Open to a random page
-Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
-Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers! 

 
My Teaser:


"The first time I put the [winter body] suit on him, we were in the store, and immediately he looked like he'd been to a taxidermist. He stood stiff as a freshly stuffed dog. He wouldn't move his head. He wouldn't even move his eyes...

Eventually, I solved the problem of Atticus's bodysuit rigor mortis, [by] putting him in the suit and driving my dead, stuffed dog to Mosely Pines, where Atticus loved to run free and chase after squirrels...

[I] put him down. Nothing. Then I called out, "Look, squirrel!" And just like that he Atticus was off and running. It was only after he treed the furry little creature that he realized he'd been found out in his effort to convince me that the suit was made of lead. The look in his eyes at that moment was priceless. It said, quite simply, Oh shit!" 

Following Atticus (Tom Ryan) - pg.69-70

Read More

Salon Sunday - 05/13/12

It's been quite a while since I've done a Sunday post, but now is as good a time as any! 

After completing the A to Z Challenge in April, I was all psyched to blog...but life (read that WORK) got so busy, with graduation coming up this weekend and all the business of the end of the budget year, etc. I've just been too exhausted to blog, but I am determined to become more reliable and a new Sunday Salon post is about the perfect way to start! 

Here goes: 

Outside my window: Sunny, beautiful, 80's. Life is good. Tomorrow, Monday, its supposed to rain YET AGAIN. Is it April or May?! 

I am listening to: The television, as I get showered and dressed before I run out for a performance this afternoon. 

I am reading: Following Atticus, by Tom Ryan; Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley (trying at least); and an old textbook from college called As the Beat Goes On, which is about the growth of contemporary music. And about a hundred blogs, of course. 

I am going to read: I had a great, GREAT library trip this week (watch for my post later this week) and I think my next read will be Inzanesville by Jo Ann Beard, maybe... 

On the Blog: As noted, not much going on... 

Around the Book Blogosphere: Even when I'm busy, I'm able to keep up with blogs pretty well (though my regular reading suffers) because I read them via my smarphone and Google Reader. Lots going on...just wish I could keep up! 

I am thinking: That we really, really need to remove this horrendous, poisonous 50 year old shag rug this summer...and paint all the rooms...and paint the outside...oh crap, I'm gonna be late for my show! 

I am grateful for: Many things, but especially the mothers in my life. And my husband and kitty-baby. Always. 

Around the house: Too much... Just too much. Floors, painting, flower beds outside, new area rugs, bug yard sale this summer to *hopefully* clean out our cute, little porch (current storage shed)... The list is endless in a newly bought, neglected home. 

In the kitchen: Paint, flooring, new appliances... Oh, you meant cooking?! Uh, that's the hubby's job, not mine. So...microwaveable. 

High of the Week: My birthday (and a brand-new, fluffy, terrycloth robe...I was using one that was given to me by my best friend from high school, who got it from her mom, who...appropriated...it from a Hilton Hotel! Need I say more?!). 

Low of the Week:  

Family Matters: Hubby kindly tread lightly around my PMS and provided me with a quiet Cinco de Mayo dinner on my birthday at home and then we just watched TV and chilled. Good man! 

The coming week: Yikes...crazy work days! Graduation at Tufts this weekend, but first a luncheon for grads and their parents Saturday, all of my own planning, prep and clean up. Yet another marathon Board meeting at the theater, yes I'm dreading it (I love the theater, I hate the three hours meetings). 

Words of Wisdom:  

"The highest reward for a person’s toil is not what they get for it, but what they become by it." -John Ruskin  

Have a great week, everyone!

Read More

Teaser Tuesday - 05/08/12

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.
 
Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
-Grab your current read
-Open to a random page
-Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
-Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers! 

 
My Teaser:


"There are some days that are perfect, not so much for what is accomplished as for what is felt and will always be remembered. Yesterday was one of those perfect days, when two friends finished one chapter and went off in search of another." 

Following Atticus (Tom Ryan) - pg. xi

Read More

A journey through the top 100 books ever written - 05/1/12

Reading the top 100 Novels Together!

 
I'm joining in... What can I say, I'm a "joiner".

Jacob over at Reading The Best has started a blog/journey/book club/challenge-of-sorts to read all 100 of the Best Novels of All Time. Turns out many of those books are already on my TBR list, but I always conveniently put them aside for other reading opportunities. But if I have reading partners to hold me to reading these classics, I may actually feel guilty picking up that Cosmopolitan or cereal box and buckle down to reading the good stuff?! 

"Starting on May 1, 2012 I am going to start reading the 100 greatest novels. I am going to start with #100 and work my way down to #1 reading one book a month. No matter how busy life gets and how full my schedule is adding one more book during the course of a month shouldn’t be too bad." 

So I am going to do my best to join in and keep up.

Now, truthfully, I have already read some of these books (though not many) and I am not going to force myself to re-read anything. Maybe that is cheating, since its supposed to be a book club and all, but I'm giving myself a break. This may also help me stay caught up...
Everyone else got started May 1, I am three days behind!

I better get a move on it!!

Read More

The Help - Stockett

 

"Do not make the mistake of thinking that a worker is a slave and that he holds his job by his employer's permission. He does not hold it by permission - but by contract, that is, by a voluntary mutual agreement. A worker can quit his job; a slave cannot." ~Ayn Rand 

Set in civil-rights-era 1960's Jackson, Mississippi, Kathryn Stockett's The Help is an engaging and enlightening look at race relations. Written from the viewpoint of two black maids, Aibileen and Minny, and a young, white woman, Eugenia "Skeeter" Phelan.

Skeeter, an idealistic Junior Leaguer, is hired for her first journalist job, a home-care series in the local newspaper. But with limited knowledge of such things, she is the only daughter in a privileged family, she turns to a friend's maid for help.

Aibileen, who has been caring for white people's homes and raising their children for many years, is uncomfortable with the arrangement at first. A black woman talking with a white woman is never to be taken lightly in 1960's Mississippi. Skeeter quickly realizes however that Aibileen's worth is not in their cleaning skills, but in their experiences. 

Skeeter develops an idea to write a book.  A look at the life of Jackson's "help" and the way they are treated by the town's "leaders", many of whom count themselves among Skeeters friends.  With the help of Aibileen, Minny and their peers Skeeter hopes to shed some light on the truth about Jackson.

Despite the danger to all involved, which is evident in the killings of black leaders, the book evolves and the stories are shared when the book is eventually published. The town is rocked and the lives of Aibileen, Minny and Skeeter are changed forever. But so, too, might the town be.

This book is a wonderful and touching look at American history, in a fictional sense, and should be shared with all!

4/5- Great. Push it on your friends and family. 

Fyrefly's Book Blog

Blog 4 Book Lovers

Read More

April is over, now what...

The A to Z Challenge is over...

It was literally a challenge, but it was fun too! I found a bunch of new sites to follow. I gathered a few new followers myself, welcome! And I got some great ideas for my blog moving forward.

One great idea that came about was from my Q post, quotes.

I have long been a quote collector, but my lists are just sitting unused in Word. So I have decided to use some of those quotes in my blog. I will try to include a new quote in posts often, though I'm not going to overdo it. Some days the quotes will connect with the posts, over days I will use the quote just because its cool and I love it!

Should be interesting, no?!

"I love quotes... I love reading them. One day I imagine other people putting up quotes by me on their blogs. Maybe...." ~Angeline Trevena 

You're on baby!

Read More

April 2012 ReCap...

Source: http://www.chaoticcompendiums.com/

April 2012 Update

April was a better month for reading. Not sure why exactly, but I was more productive. I had some really great reads this month and am looking forward to the summer when things are a bit calmer and I can perhaps enjoy some time outside reading!

This month I read:

Total Read: 5
Adult: 4
YA/children's:  1
Abandoned: 0

YTD - 15

Including:

We The Animals  - Justin Torres

The Golden Hat: Talking Back to Autism - Kate Winslet  Review Coming...

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close - Jonathon Safran Foer
The Orchard - Theresa Weir
The Spiderwick Chronicles: The Field Guide (Book 1) -Tony DiTerlizzi/Holly Black Review Coming...


Favorite Book(s) of the Month:
The Orchard

Challenges:

Memorable Memoirs = 3 of 10+

Support Your Local Library Challenge = 7 of 37+

Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge = 0 of 50 (2011) + 15

E-Book Reading Challenge = 1 of 5

A-Z Book Challenge 2012 = 8 of 26

What's in a Name Challenge = 3 of 6

Read More

Teaser Tuesday - 05/01/12

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.
 
Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
-Grab your current read
-Open to a random page
-Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
-Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers! 

 
My Teaser:


"I was afraid of catching a glimpse of myself int he reflection of my computer screen. I remembered a silly e-mail prank I'd received once, with a link that directed me to a beautiful picture of a field, where I was told to look closely for some detail in the picture, and then the image flashed to a screaming monster, and I'd practically jumped out of my chair. I was afraid I would be the scary monster on the computer screen." 

Heaven Is Here - pg. 180

Read More