Literary Friday ya’ll…

Hey ya’ll- it’s Friday. The first day of the new month. It’s also just a few more days till Valentine’s Day- which is a day that some people love, some dislike and some just don’t care. I, for the most part, love it. I like hearts and glitter personally. And no matter the status of my love life- I always make sure to treat myself- this year it’s all about culture- I have tickets to Cirque de la Symphonie and plans for dinner with a friend.  On to #literaryfriday news:

1. Deep South Magazine– Amelia Bedelia, The Following, literary events, and much more. Check out this week’s edition and if you do the Pinterest thing, check out Deep South Mag’s board- quite fun!

2. She Reads is discussing The Art Forger today, all day long! Get your book loving selves over there- let’s discuss art, love, lust, double-crossing and more!

Here’s the link to my review of The Art Forger– a book that still thrills me and I’m basically just telling everyone to read. I mean, seriously, everyone. Strangers on the street are hearing “Read The Art Forger”.

3. Not to toot my horn, but I have some good news: I’m the new She Reads Discussion Leader! The first book discussion I’ll lead is Calling Me Home by Julie Kibler. So grab some copies (book comes out Feb 12!) and read- then come by She Reads at the end of the month and let’s discuss!

4. My #fridayreads is Gods of Mischief by George Rowe and The Next Time You See Me by Holly Goddard Jones. Look for both books in February from Touchstone Books.

5. Speaking of Valentine’s Day- why don’t you give the book lover in your life a new book? A fellow #srblog member has ideas! Check out Bookmagnet’s Blog for suggestions of books to give and reviews!

Happy Reading!

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Eudora Welty’s House and Camellias…

379229_10100580810672616_1453878116_nTwo weekends ago, while enjoying a weekend with some book loving friends- we stopped by Eudora Welty’s house. The camellias were blooming- oh they looked beautiful. I could have spent hours there, walking around, looking at flowers. Then there was this bench- right in a perfect little place. Not too much sun, not too shady either- just perfect for a book lover to sit down, read, and soak up some of the niceness about Eudora Welty’s place.

When Sarah Jio’s new book, The Last Camellia, hits the bookstores- I will be taking her book to Eudora’s to read. Reading The Last Camellia in a place were camellias bloom so prettily- oh, such a perfect afternoon.

Oh and Sarah Jio is giving away 2 copies- follow the link for more info!

Me Before You by JoJo Moyes

Me Before You by JoJo Moyes is a book that is touching- it’s heartfelt and quite an enjoyable read. However, Me Before You does have sadness- sadness that makes the readers hearts hurt; but the reader will not regret the book. This book is a love story- a beautiful love story. It’s not a typical love story- it’s so much more.

Louisa Clark, a young woman, has just been let go from her menial job- however, it’s a job that she loves. Louisa is proud of her tiny existence-steady boyfriend, lives with her family, has never been further than the area she lives in. She’s fine with that. She lives a small life and cannot see it any other way. Will Traynor, though, has been used to living a big life- traveling extensively, mountain climbing, having his pick of women, a job that he not only loves- but that he is successful at- which defines his personality. Will Traynor knows that life is for the living- and he intends to make the most of it; until the accident. Paralyzed and depressed- Will is not sure that life is worth living- if he can’t live like he did.

When Louisa takes a job being Will’s caregiver, she is put off by his attitude and ways. Will apparently feels the same way for some time. Though, with time, they get to know one another and see the good in each other. Each day, the two grow closer to one another- Louisa tries to get Will to see that life is worth living and Will tries to get to Louisa to see that being complacent about life is no way to live. Will wants Louisa to be out experiencing life- traveling, experiencing, going to events.As their time together continues, each makes an impact on the other one. Louisa thinks she has found a way to make Will see that life can be good in the chair- that life does not have to be over because he is paralyzed. Will, though, does have some hard lessons for Louisa about life and love.

Me Before You– a tale that is meant to be read and enjoyed. The reader will laugh and cry- experience a rush of emotions. When the last page is turned and the book is closed, the story of Will and Louisa- the journey they take the reader on, the lessons they teach, the feelings they share- will stick with the reader. And, for a writer, I think that’s the best thing.

Literary Friday ya’ll…

Friday. YES!

My brother is in Washington DC today- a little road trip planned with a friend. He reports that it’s quite cold in our nations capitol.

Other #literaryfriday news:

1. Deep South Mag has their weekly #literaryfriday- as always it’s quite good. Talk of Kevin Bacon’s new show The Following and it’s Edgar Allan Poe connection, Gone Girl (the movie) may have found a director, and much more!

Today was also the day of the Amy Hill Hearth chat on Twitter (sorry I did not post blog before it happened!) If you want to know more about her, please read the interview that Deep South Magazine posted. Also, look for #southernlit on Twitter to see some of the talk!

2. My #fridayreads is Me Before You by JoJo Moyes and Gods of Mischief:My Undercover Vendetta to Take Down the Vagos Outlaw Motorcycle Gang by George Rowe. Both are good- and at opposite ends of the book world! Me Before You has already made several books lists and is creating quite a buzz. Look for Gods of Mischief (Touchstone Publishing) in February!

3. Had a lovely book weekend last weekend. Met with some ladies- spent the entire weekend discussing books and things (look for a blog post ASAP). While on my book weekend, I bought 2 books from Lemuria Bookstore- Deep South by Nevada Barr and Heartsick by Chelsea Cain. Any thoughts on these?

4. I should have my chick lit fan club card revoked for this: I saw a Madeline Wickham book on the bargain book table at Barnes and Noble- and upon first glance I thought it said “by Sophie Kinsella and Madeline Wickham”, but it turns out- they are the same person, which I did not know. Silly me. #pleasedonttakemychicklitfancardaway

5. Oh and my copy of Kinsey and Me by Sue Grafton arrived this week. Guess who’s tap dancing around the house? This girl, that’s who!

Happy Reading- wherever you are!

 

Literary Friday ya’ll…

Friday! I’m off for a weekend of books and foods and friends- don’t be jealous!

1. Deep South Mag is back with their Twitter chats today- Attica Locke, author of The Cutting Season (it made the Deep South Mag Fall/Winter Reading List!) Come chat. NOW. 2-3pm EST. Use #southernlit to join in.

Deep South Mag and their #literaryfriday is also posted- Edgar Allan Poe’s birthday and talk of the Pulpwood Queen’s Girlfriend Weekend among other things!

2. My #fridayreads is Calling Me Home by Julie Kibler. Really enjoying it so far!

3. I’ve been hearing such great things about Me Before You by JoJo Moyes that I’m putting that on my “To Read” list!

 

Sorry to cut it short- I’m chatting in the Attica Locke Twitter chat, preparing to leave for my weekend away- and basically trying to do too many things at once! I need about 5 more hands to accomplish all!

List-style Thursday

A round-up of different things on blogs or upcoming events that I have been meaning to post about:

1. The Making of a Writer by B.A Shapiro

2.A Life-Long Love Affair With Books by Karen White

3. Tell Me Something True: A Visit With Lisa O’Donnell

4. Literary First Love by B.A. Shapiro

5. Have You Ever Stood at the Barre?

All the above post can be found at She Reads

To prepare for #literaryfriday, don’t forget that Deep South Mag will be hosting a Twitter chat Friday, Jan 18 2-3 pm EST. Deep South Mag has posted an interview with Attica Locke- but please join in the chat if at all possible. Use hashtag #southernlit to join in.

 

What goes better together than books and chocolate? Wine & Books!

Picture this: You’re sitting at home and have plans for a reading night. Maybe you have a cozy warm blanket nearby or candles lit (if you are like me- I have a pillow to lay my head on, blankets nearby to stay warm and cozy, and usually a mug of hot chocolate to drink). But there are nights when the hot chocolate is not enough- sometimes I want a glass of wine to sip and savor as my mind enjoys a literary treat. For me, this means wishing and hoping I still have a bottle of wine somewhere; anywhere or can make it to the store to buy one.

But what if you picked a bottle of wine based on the book you were reading- and not on just whatever you had in the house or the cheapest bottle you find at the store? This is what today’s post at She Reads is all about: pairing bottles of wine with books!

Be sure and check back at She Reads often- as Caitlin will be picking the perfect bottle of wine to make the She Reads monthly book pick even more enjoyable- Think along the lines of “C’est Magnifique”- which I hope is all you say “it’s magnificient” (side note: it’s times like this that I really wish I had the foresight to master at least 2 other languages- besides the New Orleans style langauge that I wished I spoke!)

 

Fiber and Brimstone by Laura Childs

Fiber and Brimstone by Laura Childs is the 4th book I’ve read in the Cruisin Thru the Cozies Reading Challenge 2013. It is my first Laura Childs book, however.

New Orleans. Halloween. What could be better? When Carmela and Ava discover the body of Brett Fowler- minutes after they overheard an argument between Jeykll Hardy and Fowler, the ladies are distressed. But Carmela puts on her sleuthing hat- all the while running her scrapbook store and vows to make sure the police don’t focus on Jekyll- after all there are many more suspects to consider. Especially when Fowlers’s business practices come to light.

Carmela’s also having to deal with her ex- Shamus and her current lover, Edgar Babcock. It’s a lot for her to deal with, but nothing that Carmela can’t handle. Coupled with her friend, Ava, the two make plans to find the killer, find Ava a boyfriend and figure out the clues for the treasure hunt. While having a spookily good time!

 

Writers- and the peace they bring to lives…(plus escargot)

I’ve talked at length before in previous posts about how growing up, I always thought of an author as “really high up” in the world- walking around NYC, with shiny shoes, meeting interesting people, and cranking out best seller after best seller. I felt envious in the way of their life- pictured them going to fancy restaurants where the drinks and conversations would be free-flowing. I would see them in my mind, walking in a room- every eye on them and sitting down to dinner- perhaps eating escargot (Note: I was not envious of the escargot- I thought it sounded gross. But something an author would eat, no?)

As I’ve grown-up,  my view of an author has changed- while I still think they are “pretty high up”, I realize that not all authors are cranking out best seller after best seller, walking around NYC or eating escargot. There are some that probably are, but just as many who are not.

No matter,though, whether they are super-famous or just a teensy bit famous- reading the works, and finding some peace in my day makes me appreciative of the work. It makes me want to meet as many authors as I can- to hear the “behind the scenes” information on the characters- the inspirations. However, you can keep the escargot.

 

Random thoughts….

It’s Tuesday- and I’ve got a few things to say, but nothing that fits under one cute title- hence the random thoughts!

Giveaways:

Cozy Mystery Book Reviews is still doing the 31 days of giveaways for January. If you are a cozy reader- check it out!

Hallie Sawyer is giving away a copy of The Art Forger by B.A. Shapiro- just read the post to find out how to enter- and take some time to look at Hallie’s blog (it’s great!) and check out Great New Books (another great website to help readers find books and book chatter!)

Other news:

MVB Club is celebrating their 1 year Anniversary as bloggers! Join me in extending them congratulations to a great first year- and to many more!

Am I the only one who does not watch Downton Abbey? You’ll be happy to know that I’m downloading the first season 🙂

I’m reading A Good Hard Look by Ann Napolitano. Really enjoying it. However, I’m also reading The End Of Your Life Book Club– and honestly, I’m not enjoying it that much. Perhaps, my expectations were too high as everyone I know was raving about book. Thoughts?