Saturday, January 31, 2009

Your Blog is Fabulous Award and Blog Friends Award

Thanks to Sally of Book and other Games for giving me this award!

Recipients are encouraged to write five things that they are addicted to and then pass it on to five other blogs.

My addictions:

1. I'm addicted to animals/ pets.

2. I'm addicted to reading books.

3. I'm addicted to blogging and reading other people's blogs.

4. I'm addicted to international film.

5. I'm addicted to good vegan food.


Need I mention my wonderful hubby?

Now to tag 5 other bloggers...

1. The Book Mine Set

2. A Season to Read

3. things mean a lot

4. Presenting Lenore

5. Wendi's Book Corner


Thanks to Kristi of Books and Needlepoint for giving me this award!

March 26, 2009 update:

Bobbie of Book Reviews By Bobbie just gave me this award as well. Thanks so much Bobbie! It's so nice to have so many wonderful friends!

About the Award:

"These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers. Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award."

I would like to pass this award on to:

1. Crossed Purposes

2. medieval bookworm

3. You're History !

4. FRESH INK BOOKS

5. A Novel Menagerie

6. The Sleepy Reader

7. Stone Soup

8. Redlady's Reading Room



This Week's Giveaways Galore


As usual, be sure to check back at this post throught the week for links to more book giveaways!

I
still have 5 copies each of MY LITTLE RED BOOK by Rachel Kauder Nalebuff and GETTING NAKED AGAIN by Judith Sills, Ph.D to giveaway. This giveaway ends on February 10th Midnight E.S.T. Enter here.

I also have two new giveaways:

I have 5 copies of The Terror By Dan Simmons to giveaway. This giveaway ends on Friday February 27th Midnight E.S.T. Enter
here.

I have 5 copies of The Italian Lover By Robert Hellenga to giveaway. This giveaway ends on Friday February 27th Midnight E.S.T. Enter
here.

New offerings:

Nancy of Bookfoolery and Babble is giving away The Big Box of History Rocks, a total of 8 books! This giveaway ends on February 5th. To find out what books and to enter, go here.

Confessions of a Real Librarian
is giving away 5 copies of The Laws of Harmony by Judith R. Hendricks. This giveaway ends on February 9th. Enter here.

Anna of Diary of an Eccentric is giving away 5 copies of To My Senses by Alexandrea Weis. This giveaway ends on Sunday, February 8th. Enter here.

Karen Harrington is giving away a copy of her book, JANEOLOGY. To enter, you need to write a 10 word short story. This is a fun one! This giveaway ends on February 5th. Enter here.

Dar at Peeking Between the Pages is giving away one copy of The King's Rose by Alisa M. Libby. This giveaway ends on February 8th. Enter here.

Tanabata of In the Spring it is the Dawn is having a Japanese-themed giveaway. There are two book and a calander that Tanabata mde with photos she took from Japan. The giveaway ends on February 7th. Enter here.

Dawn of She Is Too Fond Of Books … is giving away 5 copies of The Red Leather Diary by Lily Koppel. This giveaway ends on February 16th. Enter here.

Jill of The Magic Lasso is giving away one copy of Matrimony by Joshua Henkin. This is Jill's very first giveaway! This giveaway ends on February 14th. Enter here.

Katrina of Stone Soup is giving away any book readily available for $25 or less, not counting shipping, blah blah blah. This giveaway ends on February 9th. Enter here.

Below are giveaways that I announced in previous weeks. There is still time to enter:

Megan of Po(sey) Sessions is having a giveaway with multiple prizes in honor of her birthday: 1rst prize is a $30 Amazon shopping spree. You pick the books, she purchases and has them shipped directly to you.2nd and 3rd prizes are $10 gift certificates to book seller of your choice. This giveaway ends on February 15th. Enter here.

Steven of
Book Dads is giving away one copy of Savvy by Ingrid Law. The giveaway ends on February 1st. Enter here.

Kaye of J. Kaye's Book Blog is giving away one copy of CASSANDRA & JANE by Jill Pitkeathley. This giveaway ends on February 6th. Enter here. J. Kaye is also giving away ne THE CAMEL CLUB SERIES AUDIOBOOKS to one lucky winner. This givaway ends on February 20th. Enter here.

Bobbie of Book Reviews By Bobbie is giving away one copy of Hidden Truths by Brenda Youngerman. This giveaway ends on February 6th. Enter here.

Lenore of Presenting Lenore is giving away 8 YA books compliments of Penguin Books. This giveaway ends on February 8th. To find out more and to enter, go here.

Arleigh from Historical-Fiction.com is giving away the biography of your choice. This giveaway ends on February 1st. To find out more and enter, go here.

Linda of Your History is giving away one copy of Bloodprint, by Kitty Sewell. This giveaway ends on February 18th. Enter here.

Kaye of J. Kaye's Book Blog is giving away one copy of The Ride by Jane Kennedy Sutton. This giveaway ends on February 6th. Enter here. She is also giving away one copy of HEART OF STONE by Diana Palmer. This giveaway ends on February 6th. Enter here.

Sandra of FRESH INK BOOKS is giving away one copy of My Father's Paradise by Ariel Sabar. This giveaway ends on February 7th. Enter here.

Dar of Peeking Between the Pages is giving away a copy of MY SPLENDID CONCUBINE BY LLOYD LOFTHOUSE. This giveaway ends on February 1st. Enter here.

Katrina of Stone Soup is giving away the Connie Willis book of your choice. This giveaway ends on February 2nd. Enter here.

Friday, January 30, 2009

Giveaway: The Terror By Dan Simmons

Thanks to Valerie Russo of Hachette Books, I have 5 copies of The Terror By Dan Simmons to giveaway!

Book Information:
The men on board HMS Terror have every expectation of finding the Northwest Passage. When the expedition's leader, Sir John Franklin, meets a terrible death, Captain Francis Crozier takes command and leads his surviving crewmen on a last, desperate attempt to flee south across the ice.

But as another winter approaches, as scurvy and starvation grow more terrible, and as the Terror on the ice stalks them southward, Crozier and his men begin to fear there is no escape.

A haunting, gripping story based on actual historical events, The Terror is a novel that will chill you to your core.

From http://www.dansimmons.com/:
"Dan's Arctic adventure-dark fantasy novel The Terror was on a variety of Top 10 lists for 2007, including Entertainment Weekly's Top 10 Books of 2007, USA Today's Top 10 Books, Stephen King's "Top 10 from My Reading in 2007" list also quoted in Entertainment Weekly, and was # 1 on Amazon.com's "2007 Top 10 SF and Horror Novels" list. The Terror was also in the Top 12 of all books rated by Book Sense, the journal of independent bookstores."

Here are the rules:

1. For one entry, leave a comment. Please be sure to include email address so that I can contact you if you win.

2. For a second entry, post about this giveaway on your blog and leave link to your blog post in the comments. You will also get an entry for each person who tells me that they learned about this giveaway from you.

3. For 5 more entries: Become a Follower of my blog or subscribe to my blog through Google Reader. If you are already a subsriber or follower you still get the five extra entries! Please do not comment that you are a follower five times! I will give you the extra entries myself. I will delete any extra entries that you make as it will just confuse me when I go to pick the winners.

The giveaway is open to Canadian and US residents only.
You must be 18 years of age or older to enter.
The winner’s mailing address: NO P.O. Boxes.Only one entry per household/IP address.

This giveaway will end on Friday February 27th Midnight E.S.T The winners will be notified by email, so remember to include your email address in the comments! Winners must respond within three days or will be disquilified.

Giveaway: The Italian Lover By Robert Hellenga

Thanks to Valerie Russo of Hachette Books, I have 5 copies of The Italian Lover By Robert Hellenga to giveaway!

Book Information:

An exhilarating novel of romance, art, and food in Florence, featuring the beloved Margot Harrington, who graced Robert Hellenga's The Sixteen Pleasures. Margot Harrington's memoir about her discovery in Florence of a priceless masterwork of Renaissance erotica - and the misguided love affair it inspired - is now, 25 years later, being made into a movie.

Margot, with the help of her lover, Woody, writes a script that she thinks will validate her life. Of course their script is not used, but never mind - happy endings are the best endings for movies, as Margot eventually comes to see.

At the former convent in Florence where "The Sixteen Pleasures" - now called "The Italian Lover," - is being filmed, Margot enters into a drama she never imagined, where her ideas of home, love, art, and aging collide with the imperatives of commerce and the unknowability of other cultures and other people.

Here are the rules:

1. For one entry, leave a comment. Please be sure to include email address so that I can contact you if you win.

2. For a second entry, post about this giveaway on your blog and leave link to your blog post in the comments. You will also get an entry for each person who tells me that they learned about this giveaway from you.

3. For 5 more entries: Become a Follower of my blog or subscribe to my blog through Google Reader. If you are already a subsriber or follower you still get the five extra entries! Please do not comment that you are a follower five times! I will give you the extra entries myself. I will delete any extra entries that you make as it will just confuse me when I go to pick the winners.

The giveaway is open to Canadian and US residents only.

You must be 18 years of age or older to enter.

The winner’s mailing address: NO P.O. Boxes.

Only one entry per household/IP address.

This giveaway will end on Friday February 27th Midnight E.S.T The winners will be notified by email, so remember to include your email address in the comments! Winners must respond within three days or will be disquilified.

Winners of the Sundays at Tiffany's by James Patterson, Gabrielle Charbonnet Giveaway

Thanks again to Valerie Russo of Hachette Books for donating the books for this giveaway!

Thanks to all of you who entered! Because of all of you, the response was overwhelming! I wish that I could send a copy of this book to each of you!

A special thanks to those of you who follow my blog or became followers! I hope you enjoy my blog!

Without further ado, here are the three winners:

Annie
Jason
Kitten
Linda
Becca (Becca withdrew since she already owns the book!)
Heather

Congratulations!


Please contact me within 3 days to claim your prizes.

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Stealing Athena by Karen Essex

Captivating!


Stealing Athena is about two influential and custom defying women in history. Both caught between the conventions of their time and trying to help the men they loved.

At 21, newlywed, Mary, the countess of Elgin used her charm and influence with the Ottoman Empire to gain permission for her husband Elgin to deconstruct what was left of the Greek Parthenon and bring it's amazing sculptures back to England, during the Napoleonic wars.

Two millennia earlier, Aspasia, courtesan to Perikles and philosopher, used her charm and influence to get Athens to allow the building of the Parthenon and all of its amazing monuments.

The flow of the book going from one time and place to the other was weaved in perfect synchronization by Karen Essex. Her descriptions of both the construction and deconstruction of the Parthenon made me feeling like I was there, witnessing it for myself. Essex poet pose made me race through the pages, but not wanting the book to end.

This is historical fiction at its finest! Highly recommended!

5/5

Thanks to Adrienne C. Sparks of Doubleday for a copy of this book!

Also reviewed by:


Monday, January 26, 2009

Mail Box Monday


This is what I received in my mailbox during the last week:




Thanks to Miriam Parker of Hachette Book Group












Thanks to Kaitlyn Kennedy of New American Library.











Short Story Monday: The Visitor by Marisa Silver




Dysfunctional People

Candy lost her mother Sylvie due to a drug overdose, at the young age of eleven. She lived with her grandmother, Marjorie throughout her childhood and into adulthood. Before she died Sylvie would show up every once in awhile, mostly to steal things.

Candy became a nurse's aide at a V.A. hospital but continued to live with Marjorie. It took her income and her grandmother's, from dressmaking, to survive. Also, almost every night Marjorie would wake to some noise, usually the tap running in the bathroom. She would start yelling at the ghost that she accused of doing this and wake Candy.

One day a new soldier was admitted to the hospital with a missing arm and he would not speak. Candy would spend time with him, not saying a word. She would stare at him and he would look angry but never said a word.

This was a very odd story. All of the people in it were clearly dysfunctional. The part with Candy's mother and grandmother made sense to me, but I couldn't really figure out how the solder tied in except for the anger the Candy obviously had that he also had.
That said, I did find it worthwhile.

3.5/5

You can read The Visitor for free at The New Yorker website, here. If you do, please come back and tell me how you think the soldier fits into the story.



Friday, January 23, 2009

This Week's Giveaways Galore

As usual, be sure to check back at this post throught the week for links to more book giveaways!

I
still have 5 copies of Sundays at Tiffany's by James Patterson, Gabrielle Charbonnet for 5 lucky winners. My giveaway ends on Friday January 30th 12:00 Midnight E.S.T. Enter here.

I also have 5 copies each of MY LITTLE RED BOOK by Rachel Kauder Nalebuff and GETTING NAKED AGAIN by Judith Sills, Ph.D to giveaway. This giveaway ends on February 10th Midnight E.S.T. Enter
here.

Be sure to head on over to
Historical Tapestry, where we are giving away one copy of Signora da Vinci by Robin Maxwell. This giveaway ends on January 27th. Enter here.

New offerings:

Sheri of A Novel Menagerie is giving away one copy of The Makedown by Gitty Daneshvari. This giveaway ends on January 30th. Enter here.

Linda of Your History is giving away one copy of Bloodprint, by Kitty Sewell. This giveaway ends on February 18th. Enter here.

Anna of Diary of an Eccentric is giving away one copy of FRANTIC by Katherine Howell. This giveaway ends on January 27th. Enter here.

Kaye of J. Kaye's Book Blog is giving away one copy of The Ride by Jane Kennedy Sutton. This giveaway ends on February 6th. Enter here. She is also giving away one copy of HEART OF STONE by Diana Palmer. This giveaway ends on February 6th. Enter here.

Sandra of FRESH INK BOOKS is giving away one copy of My Father's Paradise by Ariel Sabar. This giveaway ends on February 7th. Enter here.

Aarti of B O O K L U S T is giving away one copy of Jane Austen's Guide to Romance (known as Jane Austen's Guide to Love in the US). This giveaway ends on January 31st. Enter here.

Dar of Peeking Between the Pages is giving away a copy of MY SPLENDID CONCUBINE BY LLOYD LOFTHOUSE. This giveaway ends on February 1st. Enter here.

Katrina of Stone Soup is giving away the Connie Willis book of your choice. This giveaway ends on February 2nd. Enter here.

Below are giveaways that I announced in previous weeks. There is still time to enter:

Kaye of J. Kaye's Book Blog is giving away one copy of KISSED BY AN ANGEL/POWER OF LOVE/SOULAMTES by Elizabeth Chandler. This giveaway ends on January 30th. Enter here. J. Kaye is also giving away one copy of THE DARCYS & THE BINGLEYS by Marsha Altman. This giveaway ends on January 30th. Enter here.

Margaret of Literary Menagerie is giving away one copy of The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. This giveaway ends on January 31, 2009. Enter here.

PopinFresh of Popin's Lair is giving away one copy of Doomed Queens by Kris Waldherr. This giveaway ends on January 28th. Enter here.

Tracy of Bookroom Reviews is giving away on DVD of Brideshead Revisited. This giveaway ends on January 29th. Enter here.

Amy of Passages to the Past is giving away 2 copies of Signora da Vinci by Robin Maxwell. The giveaway ends on January 28th. Enter here.

Sarah of PussReboots is giving away one copy of The Exchange by Inga C Ellzey. This giveaway ends on January 29, 2009. Enter here.

Megan of Po(sey) Sessions is having a giveaway with multiple prizes in honor of her birthday: 1rst prize is a $30 Amazon shopping spree. You pick the books, she purchases and has them shipped directly to you.2nd and 3rd prizes are $10 gift certificates to book seller of your choice. This giveaway ends on February 15th. Enter here.

Steven of Book Dads is giving away one copy of Savvy by Ingrid Law. The giveaway ends on February 1st. Enter here.

Kaye of J. Kaye's Book Blog is giving away one copy of CASSANDRA & JANE by Jill Pitkeathley. This giveaway ends on February 6th. Enter here. J. Kaye is also giving away ne THE CAMEL CLUB SERIES AUDIOBOOKS to one lucky winner. This givaway ends on February 20th. Enter here.

Ali of worducopia is giving away one copy of Ranger's Apprentice by John Flanagan. This giveaway ends on January 26th. Enter here.

Bobbie of Book Reviews By Bobbie is giving away one copy of Hidden Truths by Brenda Youngerman. This giveaway ends on February 6th. Enter here.

Katrina of Stone Soup is giving away the book of your choice out of her collection and reviews. This giveaway ends on January 26th. Enter here.

Beth of Beth's Book Review Blog is giving away 3 Thumb Things, which is a neat little gadget to help hold your book. This giveaway ends on January 31st. Enter here.

Sheri of A Novel Menagerie is giving away one copy of Breathing Out The Ghost by Kirk Curnutt. This giveaway ends on January 28th. Enter here.

Lenore of Presenting Lenore is giving away 8 YA books compliments of Penguin Books. This giveaway ends on February 8th. To find out more and to enter, go here.

Arleigh from Historical-Fiction.com is giving away the biography of your choice. This giveaway ends on February 1st. To find out more and enter, go here.

Alyce of At Home With Books is giving away one copy of The Change Your Life Challenge by Brook Noel. There will also be a free seminar. This giveaway ends on January 28th. To find out more and to enter, go here.

Amy of The Sleepy Reader is giving away one copy of The Fireman's Wife by Jack Riggs. This giveaway ends on January 31st. Enter here.

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

The 44th President of the United States of America

Jackie Ormes The First African American Woman Cartoonist by Nancy Goldstein



Little Known Gem

Born in 1911 there wasn't many good job opportunities for women, let alone black women but that didn't stop Jackie Ormes. From 1937 to 1956 Ormes created four cartoon and comic series for African American newspapers. Then from 1945 to 1956 she created the Patty-Jo 'n' Ginger cartoon which appeared in the Pittsburgh Courier. This lead to the creation of the Patty-Jo doll which, were very popular back in those days.


Nancy Goldstein became interested in Jackie Ormes while she was researching the Patty-Jo doll. Almost forgotten, especially by non-African American's Goldstein came across old cartoons in her research and became fascinated with Jackie Ormes.

Goldstein covers Jackie's life from childhood in a easy to read format. There are photographs and Jackie's cartoons for the reader to enjoy and cherish. There is an entire chapter covering the famous Patty-Jo doll. This book is sumptuous! It is an excellent coffee table book and to read and enjoy.

Today, as we celebrate our first American African American President, let's remember all the others that helped paved the way. Get to know Jackie Ormes and you will like what you see and learn.

5/5

A big thanks to Mary Bisbee-Beek and The University of Michigan Press for this wonderful book. I will treasure it for many years to come.

Also reviewed by:

A Season to Read

Monday, January 19, 2009

Mailbox Mondays



It didn't look like I was going to receive any goodies this week. However, when I opened my mail box today, there were two books, which I won from fellow bloggers. Yippee!









I won this from Wendy of Caribousmom. Thanks so much to Wendy!











I won this book from Jessica of The Blue Stockings. Thanks a bunch Jessica!





Sunday, January 18, 2009

Short Story Monday: A Night At the Opera by Janet Frame


A Childhood Memory

The narrator starts by telling us about her little trip to the movie theatre with other children to see A Night At the Opera, starring the Marx Brothers. She said, "We acted the cliché'. We melted with laughter." She described Harpo Marx as "a dumb sad man with hair like wheat and round eyes like paddling pools." Later she wondered why they laughed so much.

She goes on to describe years later, that she was in a refractory, called Park House. It was the part of a hospital set aside for people with mental health problems. She said, "disturbed". It was a locked facility. She goes on to describe how nicely decorated the hospital for regular patients was, It was so welcoming, "Like a country retreat".

Then we find out how dark and dreary the refractory was. There was not much to do there except for a walked outside for the few privileged, non-violent patients. Even then they were taken threw hidden please so that the rest of the hospital would have to see them. Bedtime was at 6:00.

One day it was announced that things were going to change. There was to be films showed in the day room, after the more violent patients went to bed. The first film was to be.. you guessed it A Night At the Opera.

When I was finished reading the story, I wasn't sure how I felt. After a few days something made me think of it. Maybe it was something a client said. For those of you who don't know, I am a social worker in the field of mental health. Whatever it was, I started re-examining the story in my head.
Park House was horrid, like most institutions of that time. Now a day's most people are living in the community with assistance as they need it or in group homes. Mental illness isn't swept under the carpet anymore. That's it, what I was feeling from the story was frustration. I think that may be in part what Frame wanted her readers to feel.

Janet Frame's writing was brilliant. Her language electrifying. With less than four pages her story was surprisingly well developed. I highly recommend it.

4/5

Janet Frame was from New Zeeland, 1924-2004. This short story was found among Janet Frame's papers after her death in 2004. It was published in The New Yorker. You can read it here.

Saturday, January 17, 2009

The Chunkster Challenge 2009

January 14, 2009- November 15th, 2009
Hosted by Dana at Feelin' Chunky

I know what your all thinking, "has Teddy lost it"? Well yes and no. LOL! I actually three chunksters that I really need to read soon because they are ARC's.

Here are the rules as outlined by Dana:

A chunkster is 450 pages or more of ADULT literature (fiction or nonfiction) Don't complain folks, I read all thousands of pages of the Twilight series and they were good, but not a challenge. A chunkster should be a challenge.

*If you read large type books your book will need to be 525 pages or more I asked around and the average LT book is 10-15% longer or more so I think that was a fair estimate.

*No Audio books in the chunkster. It just doesn't seem right. Words on paper for this one folks.

I'm going with the second option:

Do These Books Make my Butt Look Big? - this option is for the slightly heavier reader who wants to commit to 3-5 Chunksters over the next ten months.

These are the three books I plan to read (more could be added later and I am allowed to change the list):

1. Stealing Athena by Karen Essex-464 pages

2. The Kingmaking by Helen Hollick- 568 pages

3. Galway Bay by Mary Pat Kelly

4. The Help By Kathryn Stockett


This Week's Giveaways Galore

As usual, be sure to check back at this post throught the week for links to more book giveaways!

I still have 5 copies of Sundays at Tiffany's by James Patterson, Gabrielle Charbonnet for 5 lucky winners. My giveaway ends on Friday January 30th 12:00 Midnight E.S.T. Enter here.

I also have 5 copies each of MY LITTLE RED BOOK by Rachel Kauder Nalebuff and GETTING NAKED AGAIN by Judith Sills, Ph.D to giveaway. This giveaway ends on February 10th Midnight E.S.T. Enter here.

Be sure to head on over to Historical Tapestry, where we are giving away one copy of Signora da Vinci by Robin Maxwell. This giveaway ends on January 27th. Enter here.

New offerings:

Rhapsodyinbooks Weblog is giving away three copies of the audiobook The Geography of Bliss by Eric Weiner. This giveaway ends on January 24th. Enter here.

Sarah of Sarah's Random Musings is giving away three books: Nation by Terry Pratchett, Aurelia by Anne Osterlund, and Dark Dude by Oscar Hijuelos. This giveaway ends on January 25th. Enter here.

Megan of Po(sey) Sessions is having a giveaway with multiple prizes in honor of her birthday: 1rst prize is a $30 Amazon shopping spree. You pick the books, she purchases and has them shipped directly to you.2nd and 3rd prizes are $10 gift certificates to book seller of your choice. This giveaway ends on February 15th. Enter here.

Sarah of Reading the Past is giving away one copy of Brigid Knight's The Cloister and the Citadel by Brigid Knight. This giveaway ends on January 23rd. Enter here.

Steven of Book Dads is giving away one copy of Savvy by Ingrid Law. The giveaway ends on February 1st. Enter here.

The wonderful women of Royal Reviews are giving away one copy of The Dangerous Duke by Christine Wells. Hurry, this giveaway ends on Sunday! Enter here.

Kaye of J. Kaye's Book Blog is giving away one copy of CASSANDRA & JANE by Jill Pitkeathley. This giveaway ends on February 6th. Enter here. J. Kaye is also giving away ne THE CAMEL CLUB SERIES AUDIOBOOKS to one lucky winner. This givaway ends on February 20th. Enter here.

Jessica of The Bluestocking Society is giving away One copy each of The Reincarnationist and The Memorist by M.J. Rose. This givaway ends on January 23rd. Enter here.

Ali of worducopia is giving away one copy of Ranger's Apprentice by John Flanagan. This giveaway ends on January 26th. Enter here.

Bobbie of Book Reviews By Bobbie is giving away one copy of Hidden Truths by Brenda Youngerman. This giveaway ends on February 6th. Enter here.

Katrina of Stone Soup is giving away the book of your choice out of her collection and reviews. This giveaway ends on January 26th. Enter here.

Beth of Beth's Book Review Blog is giving away 3 Thumb Things, which is a neat little gadget to help hold your book. This giveaway ends on January 31st. Enter here.

Sheri of A Novel Menagerie is giving away one copy of Breathing Out The Ghost by Kirk Curnutt. This giveaway ends on January 28th. Enter here.

Lenore of Presenting Lenore is giving away 8 YA books compliments of Penguin Books. This giveaway ends on February 8th. To find out more and to enter, go here.

Arleigh from Historical-Fiction.com is giving away the biography of your choice. This giveaway ends on February 1st. To find out more and enter, go here.

Alyce of At Home With Books is giving away one copy of The Change Your Life Challenge by Brook Noel. There will also be a free seminar. This giveaway ends on January 28th. To find out more and to enter, go here.

Amy of The Sleepy Reader is giving away one copy of The Fireman's Wife by Jack Riggs. This giveaway ends on January 31st. Enter here.

Below are giveaways that I announced in previous weeks. There is still time to enter:

Kaye of J. Kaye's Book Blog is giving away one copy of NEVER TELL A LIE by Hallie Ephron. this giveaway ends on January 23rd. Enter here. She is also is giving away one copy of KISSED BY AN ANGEL/POWER OF LOVE/SOULAMTES by Elizabeth Chandler. This giveaway ends on January 30th. Enter here. J. Kaye is also giving away one copy of THE DARCYS & THE BINGLEYS by Marsha Altman. This giveaway ends on January 30th. Enter here.

Margaret of Literary Menagerie is giving away one copy of The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. This giveaway ends on January 31, 2009. Enter here.

Nancy of Bookfoolery and Babble is giving away 3 YA books. Go check it out. This giveaway ends on January 20th. Enter here.

Sandra from FRESH INK BOOKS is giving away one copy of What We All Long For by Dionne Brand. This giveaway ends on January 25th. Enter here. Sandra is also giving away one copy of Letters Between Us by Linda Rader Overman. This giveaway also ends on January 25. Enter here.

Dar of Peeking Between the Pages is giving away one copy of The School of Essential Ingredients by Erica Bauermeister. The giveaway ends on January 24th. Enter here.

PopinFresh of Popin's Lair is giving away one copy of Doomed Queens by Kris Waldherr. This giveaway ends on January 28th. Enter here.

Tracy of Bookroom Reviews is giving away on DVD of Brideshead Revisited. This giveaway ends on January 29th. Enter here.

Becky of Becky's Book Reviews is hosting a giveaway of two hardback copies of The Heretic Queen and one paperback copy of Nefertiti by Michelle Moran. This giveaway end on January 23rd. Enter here.

Amy of Passages to the Past is giving away 2 copies of Signora da Vinci by Robin Maxwell. The giveaway ends on January 28th. Enter here.

Sarah of PussReboots is giving away one copy of Written on the Knee by Theodore Electris. This giveaway ends on January 18th. Enter here. She is also is giving away one copy of The Exchange by Inga C Ellzey. This giveaway ends on January 29, 2009. Enter here.

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Giveaway: MY LITTLE RED BOOK by Rachel Kauder Nalebuff and GETTING NAKED AGAIN by Judith Sills, Ph.D.

Thanks to Anna Balasi of Hachette books for letting me host this huge giveaway. Yes, I said huge! There will be Ten Lucky Winners!



5 lucky winners will receive MY LITTLE RED BOOK by Rachel Kauder Nalebuff


MY LITTLE RED BOOK is an anthology of stories about first periods, collected from women of all ages from around the world. The accounts range from light-hearted (the editor got hers while water skiing in a yellow bathing suit) to heart-stopping (a first period discovered just as one girl was about to be strip-searched by the Nazis). The contributors include well-known women writers (Meg Cabot, Erica Jong, Gloria Steinem, Cecily von Ziegesar), alongside today's teens. And while the authors differ in race, faith, or cultural background, their stories share a common bond: they are all accessible, deeply honest, and highly informative. Whatever a girl experiences or expects, she'll find stories that speak to her thoughts and feelings.

Ultimately,
MY LITTLE RED BOOK is more than a collection of stories. It is a call for a change in attitude, for a new way of seeing periods. In a time when the taboo around menstruation seems to be one of the few left standing, it makes a difficult subject easier to talk about, and helps girls feel proud instead of embarrassed or ashamed. By revealing what it feels like to undergo this experience first hand, and giving women the chance to explain their feelings in their own words, it aims to provide support, entertainment, and a starting point for discussion for mothers and daughters everywhere. It is a book every girl should have. Period.
5 Lucky winners will receive GETTING NAKED AGAIN by Judith Sills, Ph.D.

Book Description:

You are divorced, you're widowed, or maybe you've just been busy with other things. Lately though you might be ready (are you?) to meet (but where, and how?) another romantic partner. In GETTING NAKED AGAIN, clinical psychologist and New York Times bestselling author Judith Sills, PhD, leads readers through each stage of the process, offering sophisticated advice and sharing insightful stories about women like you, who have experienced relationship loss and are successfully pursuing new romance. In this book, Sills offers a frank, funny, and unusually savvy look at midlife dating- including smart sexual strategies, predictable new relationship patterns, financial manuvering, and interpersonal finesse. Be prepared: This is not your daughter's dating guide.

Judith Sills is a regular contributor and relationship expert on the Today show and in other national media outlets. She is the author of many bestselling books, including Excess Baggage, A Fine Romance, and The Comfort Trap.

Here are the rules:

1. For one entry, leave a comment. Be sure to tell me which book you would like to win. Please be sure to include email address so that I can contact you if you win.

2. For a second entry, post about this giveaway on your blog and leave link to your blog post in the comments. You will also get an entry for each person who tells me that they learned about this giveaway from you.

3. For 5 more entries: Become a Follower of my blog or subscribe to my blog through Google Reader. If you are already a subsriber or follower you still get the five extra entries!

The giveaway is open to Canadian and US residents only.

You must be 18 years of age or older to enter.

The winner’s mailing address: NO P.O. Boxes.

Only one entry per household/IP address.

This giveaway will end on Friday February 10th at 12:00 Midnight E.S.T The winners will be notified by email, so remember to include your email address in the comments! Winners must respond within three days or will be disquilified.












Monday, January 12, 2009



These are the books that I received within the last week:













Thanks to Julie Harabedian of FSB Associates.















I won this from Shana of Literarily . Thanks to Shana and Jennie Shortridge.














Thanks to Valerie Russo of Hachette Books.
















Thanks to Paula Krapf and Penny Sansevieri of Author Marketing
Experts, Inc.







Thanks to Paula Krapf and Penny Sansevieri of Author MarketingExperts, Inc.















Thanks to Deanna McFadden of Harper Collins Canada

If I could only get one book in 2009, this would have been it! However, I had to promise Deanna that I wouldn't post a review until the publication date, May 15th.

If you haven't read Kate Grenville's The Secret River, your really missing out on an excellent book. It's one of my all time favorites!

Short Story Monday: Found Objects by Jennifer Egan


Well written

Sasha seems like fairly normal woman on the surface but she has a secret. She has been see Coz, her psychologist for a long time now. You see, she steals random things from people.

She doesn't do it for the money. She has an entire collection of items that she has lifted over the years, two tables full to be precise. For instance, she took a plumber's screw driver, entice by the "orange translucent handle gleaming like a lollipop". She knows that she has a problem but can't seem to help herself.

This story is about Sasha and her problem but also about her relationship with Cuz. During their sessions she seems to string him along.

At only six pages long, Egan wrote a surprisingly well developed story. She draws us in right away with this taught examination of a kleptomaniac. Well written and enjoyable!

4/5

To read this story go here.

Short Story Monday is a weekly event hosted by John at The Book Mine Set. For more information about this event and to participate, go here
.

Saturday, January 10, 2009

Dewey's Knit-a-long

Properly practiced, knitting soothes the troubled spirit, and it doesn’t hurt the untroubled spirit, either. ~Elizabeth Zimmerman

I just joined Dewey's Knit-a-long as part of the Dewey Reading Challenge. I'm not actually doing the reading challenge and was looking for another way to honour Dewey.

I am going to be knitting a shawl for a friend of a friend. We met for coffee a couple of times and I, as always, took out my knitting. She fell in love with the stuff I was working on. I offered to teach her to knit and she declined. I know that she can't afford the yarn and I love to knitt for others.

I will give updates on my progress.

Do you knit or crochet or do some other craft. Come join in the fun! Sign up here.

This Week's Giveaways Galore

As usual, be sure to check back at this post throught the week for links to more book giveaways!


I still have 5 copies of Sundays at Tiffany's by James Patterson, Gabrielle Charbonnet for 5 lucky winners. My giveaway ends on Friday January 30th 12:00 Midnight E.S.T. Enter
here.

New offerings:

Michelle over a 1morechapter is holding a giveaway in honour of her two year blog anniversary. Happy Anniversary Michelle! She is giving away one copy of The Little Giant of Aberdeen County by Tiffany Baker. Hurry this giveaway end on Sunday. Enter here.

Michelle of Edgy Inspirational Author blog is giving away one copy of The Almost Moon by Alice Sebold. The giveaway ends sometime next weekend. Enter here.

J. Kaye of J. Kaye's Book Blog is giving away one copy of KISSED BY AN ANGEL/POWER OF LOVE/SOULAMTES by Elizabeth Chandler. This giveaway ends on January 30th. Enter here.
J. Kaye is also giving away one copy of THE DARCYS & THE BINGLEYS by Marsha Altman. This giveaway ends on January 30th. Enter here.

Serena of Savvy Verse & Wit is giving away 3 copies of Breathing Out the Ghost by Kirk Curnutt. This giveaway ends on January 17th. Enter here.

Nancy of Bookfoolery and Babble is giving away 3 YA books. Go check it out. This giveaway ends on January 20th. Enter here.

Sandra from FRESH INK BOOKS is giving away one copy of What We All Long For by Dionne Brand. This giveaway ends on January 25th. Enter here. Sandra is also giving away one copy of Letters Between Us by Linda Rader Overman. This giveaway also ends on January 25. Enter here.

Dar of Peeking Between the Pages is giving away one copy of The School of Essential Ingredients by Erica Bauermeister. The giveaway ends on January 24th. Enter here.

PopinFresh of Popin's Lair is giving away one copy of Doomed Queens by Kris Waldherr. This giveaway ends on January 28th. Enter here.

Tracy of Bookroom Reviews is giving away on DVD of Brideshead Revisited. This giveaway ends on January 29th. Enter here.

Becky of Becky's Book Reviews is hosting a giveaway of two hardback copies of The Heretic Queen and one paperback copy of Nefertiti by Michelle Moran. This giveaway end on January 23rd. Enter here.

Amy of Passages to the Past is giving away 2 copies of Signora da Vinci by Robin Maxwell. The giveaway ends on January 28th. Enter here.
Below are giveaways that I announced in previous weeks. There is still time to enter:

Kaye of J. Kaye's Book Blog is giving away one copy of NEVER TELL A LIE by Hallie Ephron. this giveaway ends on January 23rd. Enter here. Kaye is also giving away one copy of PURE SOAPBOX by Kimberlie Dykeman. The giveaway ends on January 16th. Enter here. Another giveaway Kaye is hosting is for one copy of WALKING THROUGH WALLS by Philip Smith. This giveaway ends on January 16th. Enter here. She is also hosting a giveaway for one copy of OBEDIENCE by Will Lavender. This giveaway ends on January 16th. Enter here.

Wonders and Marvels
is giving away one copy of Doomed Queens by Kris Waldherr. This giveaway ends on Sunday January 11th. Enter here.

Katrina at Stone Soup is giving away a book of your choice that costs $25 or less. This giveaway ends on Monday January 12th. Enter here.

Anna of Diary of an Eccentric is giving away 3 copies of BREATHING OUT THE GHOST by Kirk Curnutt. This giveaway ends on Monday January 12th. Enter here.

Jessica of The Bluestocking Society is giving away a signed hardback copy of the wonderful book The Art of Racing In the Rain by Garth Stein. This giveaway ends on January 15th. Enter here.

Kate of What Kate's Reading is giving away one new copy of Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi. The giveaway ends on Monday January 11th. Enter here.

Sandra of FRESH INK BOOKS is giving away one copy of The Mighty Queens of Freeville by Amy Dickinson. This giveaway ends on Sunday January 18th. Enter here.

Arleigh from Historical-fiction.com is giving away one audio book, The Scandal of the Season by Sophie Gee. This giveaway ends on January 17th. Enter here.

Sarah of PussReboots is giving away one copy of Written on the Knee by Theodore Electris. This giveaway ends on January 18th. Enter here.

Alyce of At Home With Books is giving away the following books: Dark Pursuit by Brandilyn Collins, Queen of Oblivion book 3 of The Heartstone Trilogy by Giles Carwyn & Todd Fahnestock, Where am I Wearing by Kelsey Timmerman, and Dating da Vinci by Malena Lott. This giveaway ends on January 11th. Enter here. Alyce is also having a Eon: Dragoneye Reborn Giveaway. It's an entire price package which includes: Eon: Dragoneye Reborn by Alison Goodman, Paper Towns by John Green, Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher, An Eon: Dragoneye Reborn poster, and An Eon: Dragoneye Reborn pin. This giveaway ends on January 12, 2009. Enter here.

Margaret of Literary Menagerie is giving away one copy of The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. This giveaway ends on January 31, 2009. Enter here.

Bobbie of Book Reviews By Bobbie is giving away one copy of The Other Queen by Philippa Gregory. This giveaway ends on January 16th. Enter here.

Debbie of Debbie's World is givingaway one copy of The Book Thief by Mark Zusak. This giveaway ends on January 15th. Enter here.

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