I’m a huge chick-lit fan so seeing this book by Stacey Ballis, knowing that Jen Lancaster has been talking this book up FOREVER, and the cover art- well those things all add in favor for a good book.
While I’ve never read a Stacey Ballis book- I am eager to give this one a try. And, in the spirit of sharing- I’m posting about the giveaway (even though I’m hoping to win!)
Chick Lit Central: The Blog!: Stacey Ballis’ latest ballad, plus a book giveaway.
Happy Reading!
I heart books. I just do. I love looking at them, seeing them all lined up and organized on my shelf (even though it does not last long because it never fails- just after they are all organized and pretty- the book I desperately want to read is at the back of the bookshelf. Happens every time!), I love seeing the covers- all shiny or 3-d like (I like pretty books!).
But, I also love my Kindle. The ease of storage, the ease of buying- the sheer amount of books that can be owned on a Kindle.
I don’t mind reading on my Kindle, I actually get no more enjoyment from the actual reading of the book- whether it’s on a Kindle or a book.
What I desperately miss, though, is the looking at the covers of the book. Sure, sure, I can look at the cover on the Kindle- but it’s all grey-scale and therefore not pretty.
It’s a trade off- buy them on the Kindle and save room, yet sacrifice the joy looking at the covers or buy them as books, get the joy of seeing them on my bookshelf; but knowing that I’m slowly running out of room to store my pretty books? Am I the only one that thinks things like this?
I’m putting on my smart hat- I began reading Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice last night. Amazing how much smarter I feel by exposing myself to a different style of reading than I normally choose.
The writing style is different, but I’m enjoying it. Will I become a complete Austen fan- only time will tell; but the first few chapters have been enjoyable.
So, back to my title- while I’m not saying reading Jane Austen (or any classics) will make you smarter- what I am saying is this: Break free of the books you normally choose to read. Expose yourself to a different author, style, era. If you are just a fan of classics- consider newer books- while they may not have the charm of classics in language; they are still good books. If the books that are normally read are the newest ones, give a classic book a try. Put on your smart hat and experience a different viewpoint. The only thing you have to lose is the time you spent with the book- and that’s really never a loss.
What books do you read that make you feel like you have a “smart hat” on?
As I’ve said when I finally did a blog post about meeting Erin Morgenstern (eek!), I’m slowly, but surely, working my way through author events that I was able to attend in my pre-blog days!
Today’s catch-up is about Lisa Patton. She’s the author of Whistling Dixie in a Nor’easter and Yankee Doodle Dixie. Both are great books.
Leelee (the main character) finds herself in a bit of a pickle. Leelee’s husband, Baker, wants to move to Vermont and buy a ski lodge- he’s ready for a new adventure, ready to leave Memphis, TN. So, Leelee gives in (because she loves Baker) and uproots life from Memphis, TN to Vermont- along with the 2 children they have.
Leelee pictures a good life in Vermont, once they get settled; but it never quite gets to what she pictured. The weather is different, the attitudes and customs are different- it’s the ultimate fish out of water story.
Leelee forges on,though, and through some mishaps, sad news, and other events- actually realizes that she can do this, she can run an inn in Vermont. But when the opportunity to come back South presents itself- does she run back home or stay in Vermont?
In Yankee Doodle Dixie- we find Leelee has returned to Memphis. She’s left behind Vermont and the unpleasant memories that happened. She’s also left behind a chef that makes her heart melt (something she thought would be impossible after discovering Baker was a louse). Leelee begins to put life back together in Tennessee, finding a job, hanging with her best girlfriends, and just trying to be a good mom.
Through a series of events, Leelee decides that she should and can open a bed and breakfast in Tennessee. So she does, and with help from friends, she begins the process. Also, unbeknownst to her, the best friends let a certain chef in Vermont know there is a job opportunity in Tennessee, if one was willing and able to consider moving.
There will be a 3rd book in the Leelee series-not sure when it’s being released; but hopefully 2013 will find a happy ending for Leelee.
Lisa Patton- sweet as all get out, and so appreciative of the fans.
Both books are great- they are light and easy reading. So make like Leelee, get a peach daiquiri drink, and enjoy the sweetness of the drink with some good reading.
“Waiting On” Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted here, that spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.
My Waiting on Wednesday (WoW) is The Mermaid Collector by Erika Marks.
While I could not find a synopsis of book- based on Little Gale Gumbo- I expect great things from The Mermaid Collector ( Oct 2012)
This is my first time to link to WoW- hosted be Breaking the Spine
Happy Reading!
• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you’ll read next?
My answers:
What are you currently reading?
Currently reading Hitched by Carol Higgins Clark. Light mystery- enjoyable.
What did you recently finish reading?
Recently (over the weekend) I finished Buttercream Bumpoff, Death by the Dozen, and Red Velvet Revenge (all by Jenn McKinlay). In the past week- Wrecked and Cursed by Carol Higgins Clark, The Diary of Darcy J. Rhone by Emily Giffin, Sprinkle with Murder by Jenn McKinlay, and Sweet Valley Confidential by Francine Pascal.
What do you think you’ll read next?
Have way too many options- A Teeny Bit of Trouble by Michael Lee West, The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern, or The Meryl Streep Movie Club by Mia March are the top 3 I’m considering.
If you read my blog at all, it’s pretty documented that I adore Judy Blume. Simply adore her. While I have many favorite characters, Vix and Caitlin from Summer Sisters are the ones we’ll discuss today.
On the surface, they don’t really have many things in common. Different types of families, different up-bringings- but yet they became summer sisters. And for the most part- the bond remained un-broken.
On the other hand, 2 other characters I like from Emily Giffin’s Something Borrowed are interesting characters in the best friend category- Rachel and Darcy.
Rachel and Vix and Caitlin and Darcy have more in common with each other than the best friend pairings. Vix and Rachel basically do what’s expected of them, both are smart, and both let the brighter part of the duo take center stage.
Caitlin and Darcy- both of them are “takers”, center-stage characters, selfish (but still have some loveable qualities).
Best friends are great characters to write about- usually so much history to explore- the book can be taken in a million different ways. I also think these type of books are great for book-club discussions. The allure of “best friends” s that usually you can see yourself in one of the characters- which makes for a more personal experience.
If you’ve read Something Borrowed and Summer Sisters, can you see the correlation between Caitlin and Darcy? Vix and Rachel? Which set of characters would you rather be in real life? Speaking of the betrayals in both books- which would be the one that is more real? If you could pick which betrayal to experience, which one would it be? And lastly, the endings in both books- which one was more satisfying? Believable?
If you haven’t read either of these books, both are highly recommended by me. Great summer reads!
I live in a itsy-bitsy town- basically a one-horse town. For years, I bought books- but due to space problems, I was having to slow down my buying. Then my brother gave me a Kindle- which helps. However, I decided to go really old-school and just borrow some books from the library.
Anyway, back in April my friend Keetha began talking about this book Ready Player One by Ernest Cline and telling me I needed to read it. So a couple of weeks later, I put in a request at the library since they did not have it to borrow from inter-library loan. Was told the book should arrive in a couple of weeks, and I’d get a call when it did. Weeks go by, I continue to check; but to no avail. Finally, the beginning of June and still no book. Come to find out the book was never requested officially. So with great restraint (and because I’m thinking mistakes happen) I simply request the book again AND add the book The Rook by Daniel O’Malley (another Keetha recommendation). Again, I’m told a couple of weeks and the books will be here.
Today is July 10. The books are still not here. At this point, I’m going to be stubborn and not buy the books; because I should be able to request books and have them arrive in a timely-fashion.
I’m not against libraries- I understand wait-lists, etc. I get that if I really wanted these books- I could go and buy them. I’m standing firm on this issue, though. I’m getting these books through the inter-library loan OR some kind soul is going to drop them off for me in a fit of kindness.
So, my title is a bit cheeky- you see people waving protest signs over many other things (well I don’t because I live in a one-horse town; but I see it on TV). So while I’m not really the protest-type person, I’m waving my invisible sign that says “Free The Books! Free The Books!”
I’m a huge fan of reading, but I have a confession: I’ve never read Jane Austen (or really any classics). I remember reading Tom Sawyer for school, which I enjoyed; but it was not an easy read at first. I also remember going home and telling my mom that the other kids in my class was getting the Cliff’s notes versions and why couldn’t I just do that because I had other books that were far more interesting to read than Tom Sawyer- which my mother told me that I’d do better on the test if I would just read the book (she was right- the questions were about more than the Cliff’s Notes version).
Back to the classics, though- I guess for me I’ve always equated the classics with a reader who is quite intellectual (think Ivy League- intellectual) and I felt not quite to that level of reading-skill. I still have that view-point (to an extent), but I’m now more willing to explore some classics. I’m thinking Jane Austen will be a good place to start.
Now that I have about knocked the wind out of you from that confession- here’s another: I’ve never read The Great Gatsby (although seeing the previews for the movie has intrigued me). So I believe that I’ll be adding that to my list as well.
As you can tell from my 2 confessions, a book snob I am not. I don’t throw around the names of literary greats, I read what intrigues me because I want to read; not because of anything else. While I won’t call the books I read the equivalent of “reality- tv”, I’ll more liken them to great sitcoms, feel-good movies, and the like.
For me- reading is about good times and just letting the story go. I don’t usually try to figure out the bad person, I may make guesses as to where the story will head; but I’m not really trying- I just want to wrap myself in a cozy blanket and enjoy the characters.
Any literary confessions? Has everyone else read The Great Gatsby? Feel free to stop by with literary confessions- no judging on my blog!
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 Teasers:
I knew I liked her then, really liked her, this girl with an explanation for everything.
There’s something disturbing about recalling a warm memory and feeling utterly cold.
Gone Girl- maybe page 10- (I’m unsure as I read on my Kindle)
