Ask Kimberly McCreight author of Reconstructing Amelia (spoilers possible!)

Attention: Book Lovers Unite Online Book Club- it’s time to announce the surprise: Kimberly McCreight author of Reconstructing Amelia has agreed to answer questions for us! (I’ll pause for applause for a minute!)

The Details:

Wed June 26th, there will be a blog post here on Traveling With T. It will be titled Kimberly McCreight Answers. Kim has graciously offered 2 hours of her time to answer questions that I’ll have posted in that blog post.

Because of her schedule- and because she graciously offered to help- all questions for her will be posted ahead of time. This will not be a chat. However, do stop by sometime that day (the 26th) and offer thanks (if you don’t mind).

Kim will be answering the questions from 2-4pm EST on the 26th- I’ll be here keeping an eye on the page- and I hope you stop in and tell her how much you enjoyed the book!

Guidelines:

On this post, write the questions you wish to ask Kimberly McCreight. As this is public, let’s try to not be just too #spoilery if possible- but do ask questions you want to know.

You have from now till June 25- around 5pm EST to post your questions. I need time to get the questions posted myself.

In trying to not spoil the book for others, there will be a Spoiler Possible note attached to Wed’s blog post.

If you have any questions about how to do this- please direct a comment at me.

I hope ya’ll enjoy and I hope to see you around on the 26th 🙂

Reconstructing Amelia: Week 4 Questions/Discussion

We’re almost done! Today, you should begin reading the last section. If you’ve already finished- that’s great, too.

I Have 1 more little surprise that will be revealed today- so get ready for that!

June 28th- next Friday will be the last posting about Reconstructing Amelia in the Book Lovers Unite Online Book Club. Overall thoughts and feelings of the books will be discussed that week- I urge you to stop by and let me know how you felt about Reconstructing Amelia.

For today’s questions (Section 4 the last section of reading):

1. #nospoilers: Did anything that was revealed in the last section surprise you?

2. Amelia is accused of cheating at the first of the book. Knowing things we know- should the teacher have suspected anything? Did she suspect anything?

3. There’s a lot of guilt and blame to go around. Many people were acting with their own selfish intentions- instead of Amelia’s best intentions in mind. Is there anyone who does not need to take some blame? Amelia perhaps? Or does she even need to take blame for her part in this role- even though she def played the ultimate price?

4. What, ultimately lead to Amelia’s downfall? Loving Dylan or trying to be a good friend? #nospoilers, please.

5. What, if anything, should happen to Grace Hall? Note: I’ve always held the thought they were liable for at least some of this- But, should Kate sue them? Or should Kate concentrate on moving on & finding some peace?

6. Zadie/Dylan- we’ve talked for some time about their weird relationship. Now, when the book is closed, and you’ve had some time to think: Who actually is the worst person: Zadie because she’s upfront with her b*tchy attitude and hateful ways or Dylan, because she acts 1 way and is another (or perhaps because she really does not who she is- she only knows how to act when told how to act?)

Literary Friday, ya’ll…..

Friday. Ahhhh…..

1. Deep South Mag and their #literaryfriday: Sinning across the South, book signings and more!

2. Boston Herald reveals it’s Summer Book Club: 10 hot reads to pack in your beach bag. The Engagements by J. Courtney Sullivan made the list- which I’m super excited about because I won an ARC from the adorable Sarah McCoy, author of The Baker’s Daughter. Look for my review of The Engagements to be posted in a couple of weeks!

3. A Novel Review is giving away Sarah Jio’s newest book, The Last Camellia!

4. She Reads featured today The Blog Network Recommends– 3 great sounding books were recommended- The Last Camellia, The Third Son, and The Outcast.

5. Drey’s Library is also giving away The Last Camellia by Sarah Jio (plus she has a fabulous interview with her!)

6. Today, Traveling With T, began Book Lovers Unite Online Book Club– come join in the fun as we talk about Reconstructing Amelia by Kimberly McCreight. The questions for Week 1 discussion have been posted- so plenty of time to join in!

7. ICYMI: I reviewed Never Tell by Alafair Burke and Looking for Me by Beth Hoffman this week.

8. My #fridayreads are Reconstructing Amelia and A Place at the Table by Susan Rebecca White.

9. Traveling With T will have #giveaways next week! Come and visit 🙂 A Cookbook Conspiracy by Kate Carlisle will be given away MONDAY JUNE 3rd. Don’t miss it!

Happy Reading!

Reconstructing Amelia- Week 1 Questions/Thoughts

It’s here! It’s here! The day we thought would never arrive! Throwing confetti in the air, pouring glasses of champagne kind of day- Book Lovers Unite Online Book Club begins!

Reminder: We’ll only be discussing the assigned reading for the week- and this post (Week 1) is the place to discuss. I look forward to hearing your thoughts!

I began reading last night on the Kindle- and I’m enjoying so far!

Questions and Thoughts:

1. From the first page- I’m getting the feeling that RECONSTRUCTING AMELIA has a Gossip Girl/The Skulls/possibly a Mean Girls feel- is anyone else picking up on those movie/TV shows feelings?

2. Let’s talk about first thoughts of this cover: It’s dramatic. It’s interesting. It’s fitting for the book (at least my first impressions). Sometimes a cover does not match up with the book- did the cover art folks for Reconstructing Amelia nail it or not? (It’s ok if you change your mind later on- we’re going on first impressions here!)

3. The title- Reconstructing Amelia- a simple, yet poignant title. Reconstructing means to put something back together in the simplest terms- so the title is telling. However, is there a possibility that there is going to be more to this title?

4. We’ll discuss this as the month goes on; but what are your thoughts on teenagers, social media, and their parents? Is the teenagers just having normal “teenage rebellion”? Or is social media adding an extra layer to the normal “teenage rebellion” and making interactions between teenagers and parents harder?

5. What do you think of how the school environment is portrayed? Is this an accurate look? Or is this more of an East Coast prep school type portrayal that we see in books and movies? Is it a stereotype or is it accurate?

I can’t wait to see everyone’s thoughts and opinions!

Reconstructing Amelia- Sign Up for June Read-Along w/ Book Lovers Unite

Looking for a new book to read for June? Join in and read Reconstructing Amelia (beginning May 31st!)

Do you have to sign up and let people know you are going to read? No, but since being in a book club is supposed to be fun (and you wouldn’t go to a book club in real life without introducing yourself 😉 So, in the comments section, just say something like “I’m In!” or “Can’t Wait to Read!” Are on Twitter? Let us know (if you want to connect with book loving folks!)

Here are some links that will provide answers, guidelines and more about Book Lovers Unite Online Book Club (and the reading schedule for Reconstructing Amelia!)

Book Lovers Unite Online Book Club

Reading Schedule for Reconstructing Amelia

Reconstructing Amelia (Book Lovers Unite Online Book Club June 2013 pick)

Hope to see you around!

Happy Reading,

Traveling With T

Thursday Mashup

It’s a lot of reading lists popping up, some e-books on sale, and some reviews…. It’s Mashup style!

Summer Reading Lists

3, count them 3, reading lists have popped up the last few days- and have mercy- they all have some great sounding books (and none of them are mentioning the same books! So no belly-aching saying “I don’t know what to read this summer” because book lovers- you are in for some treats!

Great Thoughts has posted their reading list with 20 books- The Best Books to Read on Memorial Day Weekend– and it’s got some great ones!

I’ve read and reviewed 2 that made the list: The Affair and The Other Typist.

And Reconstructing Amelia, the book we are reading at Traveling With T for the inaugural Book Lovers Unite Online Book Club also made Great Thoughts list! So pick the book up, join in on the fun at Traveling With T and let’s read! HERE is the reading schedule for Reconstructing Amelia!

Jen Lancaster has posted her (Early) Summer Reading List– and Calling Me Home by Julie Kibler made that list!

Deep South Magazine has posted a teaser of their Summer Reading List (the rest will be revealed in June). Of the 5 books, I own 3 and have read 2- so I must have good taste, right? 😉

My review of Topped Chef has been posted, I’ve read; but currently working on my review for Looking for Me (get the Kleenex folks!) and I have The Cherry Cola Book Club– but have not read (YET). I did meet Ashton Lee and HERE is my post about that memorable experience!

E-books on Sale:

Meg Waite Clayton’s The Wednesday Sisters is currently on sale for .99! 99 cents! That’s cheap! If you haven’t bought it, get it! If you have it in paperback, but have a Kindle or Nook- buy it for that just in case you get the hankering to read it again and you are on vacation or something. Got a book club? Consider being generous and buying everyone a copy so they can see what the fuss is about. Got a family member graduating? Give them the gift of reading by getting them this e-book (bonus points for generous spirit if you buy them the e-reader device as well.)

Assignment today: Go check out the reading lists, grab that 99 cent e-book and report back what book you are excited to see make a reading list!