2010 Books Won Final Standings
Honorable Mentions: Read 1-3 books won:
Becky-3
Julie-2
Ninefly-2
Teddy-1
Wanda- 2
Bronzes': Read 4-6 books won:
Jo-Jo-6Tina-4
Wanda-6
Silver: Read 7-9 books won:
Kathy-7
Melydia-7
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Friday, December 31, 2010
Honorable Mentions: Read 1-3 books won:
Tina-4
Wanda-6
Kathy-7
Melydia-7
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2010 ARC Reading Challenge Standings-Completed
The Final Standings:
Diane: 11 ARCs
Kool-aid Mom: 4 ARCs
Michelle: 9 ARCs
Tina: 10 ARCs
Silver Level Achieved (24 ARCs):
Gold Level Acheived (25 or more ARCs):
Alyce: 29 ARCs
Andrea:113 ARCs
Beth: 34 ARCs
Caitlin: 26ARCs
Caribousmom: 28 ARCs
Heather: 28 ARCs
Kristen (BookNAround): 80 ARCs
Nicola: 195ARCs| Teddy: 39 ARCs |
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2010, A Year in Review
Happy New Year!
Bill and I decided to celebrate the New Year at home this year. We have been so busy lately that we really needed a evening at home. We went to see True Grit this afternoon and out to dinner. Now were listing to music and here I am blogging in the New Year. Heaven!
I read the most books I have ever read in one year this year, 52. I still have four reviews to write. My top 10 favorites, in no particular order were:
Annexed by Sharon Dogar
Essex County Volume 2: Ghost Stories by Jeff Lemire
Safe from the Sea by Peter Geye
A Place for Delta by Melissa Walker
The Confessions of Catherine de Medici by C.W. Gortner
Tortilla Curtain by T.C. Boyle
American Rust by Philipp Meyer
The Postmistress by Sarah Blake
The Twentieth Wife by Indu Sundaresan
The World of the Polar Bear by Norbert Rosing
I also read more short stories this year, 44 plus one collection. My top 10 favorites, in no particular order were: were:
The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
The Headstrong Historian Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
An Honest Exit by Dinaw Mengestu
That Time a Year by Terence Young
Paul Farenbacher’s Yard Sale by Sarah Selecky
Quality Street by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Foster by Claire Keegan
Driving Lessons by Joseph Boyden
The Second Bakery Attack, by Haruki Murakami
Chicxulub by T. Coraghessan Boyle
I also did well in challenges in 2010. I completed
The Arc Reading Challenge 39/25 books
The Canadian Book Challenge 3 13/13 books
Themed Reading Challenge 2010 6/5 Books
Year of the Historical Reading Challenge 12/12 Books
Audio Books Challenge 3/3 audio books
Pub Challenge 2010 10/10 books
Chunkster Reading Challenge 4/4 books
Historical Fiction Reading Challenge 20/20 books
New Authors Challenge 25/20 books
The ABC Historical Fiction Challenge 26/26 (I still have one reaw to post, due before January 15, 2011.)
I am still working on the Canadian Book Challenge 4: 12/13 so far.
I didn't do well on the Books Won Challenge, my own challenge. LOL! I only read one book. I hope to do better in 2011.
How did you do in 2010? I would love to know.
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Thursday, December 30, 2010
Tears of the Mountain by John Addiego
It is July 4, 1876 and Jeremiah McKinley is looking forward to a day of Centennial Independence Day celebration in Sonoma, California.However, a boy shows up at his doorstep claiming to be Jeremiah's deceased father, Daniel. Then, Jeremiah receives a strange message of warning.
The story takes place on this one day however there are a lot of flashbacks that are from as far back as 1831. Jeremiah reflects on his youth and all the violence that his family and others endured moving to the West.
The part of the story taking part on the present day, July 4, 1876 was the best part of the book, IMO. I don't know how writing about the wild west could be written flatly. There was so much action and violence going on back then but somehow Mr. Addieco managed it.
I found myself nodding off durning the flashback scenes. Also, this book was not marketed as Christion Lit. but you could have fooled me. A good portion of the book contained quotes from the bible. I refuse to read Christian Lit. For that readon and because I could not stay awake while reading it, I did not finish.
which, I did finish. John Addiego has strong character development so he does have potential as a writer. I recommend he work on his story development.
DNF/5
If you reviewed this book, please leave a link in the comments and I will add it here.
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Wednesday, December 29, 2010
The Nobody by Jeff Lemire
After I completed Jeff Lemire's graphic trilogy,Essex County, I have been craving more by Jeff Lemire. Yes, I am a graphic novel convert. Blame Jeff Lemire and a couple fellow bloggers for that. LOL! I checked my local library website and found that The Nobody was available. So, I snatched it up.
The Nobody is quite different than the Essex County Trilogy. It is Jeff Lemire's re-telling of H. G. Well's The Invisible Man.
A man all wrapped up in bandages shows up in the small town, Large Mouth. He calls himself Griffen and he gets a motel room. There is talk about him in the town bar and the cafe. Some of the town's people are very suspicious of him.
However, a teenager, Vickie is curious about Griffen. and goes to his motel room to talk. They strike up a kind of friendship but Griffen is not the kind of man that Vickie think she is. He has a big secret and has come to Large Mouth to hide
.
I enjoyed this story but not as much as the Essex County Trilogy. Lemire didn't capture the emotions of his characters like he did in Essex County. The characters in this story were quite two-dimensional and quite stereotypical. However, the relationship between Vickie and Griffen was interesting. Where Lemire did shine is with his drawing. It was the calibre of drawing that I have come to expect from him.
3.5
See My reviews of the Essex County Trilogy:
Essex County Vol.1: Tales From the Farm by Jeff Lemire
Essex County Volume 2: Ghost Stories by Jeff Lemire
Essex County Vol. 3: The Country Nurse by Jeff Leire
Also reviewd by:
The Book Mine SetDid you review this book? Please leave a link in the comments and I will post it here.
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Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Essex County Vol. 3: The Country Nurse by Jeff Lemire
This book is the conclusion of the Essex County Trilogy. It ties the entire trilogy together and we learn about the loss and regret of some of the farming community's inhabitants
It follows the town's traveling nurse, Anne Quenneville. As she visits each patient, the story unfolds. As Anne tends to her patient's we learn more about the town's secrets and the secrets of Anne's ancestors as well.
This didn't flow as well as the other two. There were flash backs of Anne's family but you don't learn that they are her ancestors until the end. It made it confusing. I kept wonder "who are these people that keep popping up." However, it finally did make sense and I did enjoy the book as a whole.
As in the other two books, the artistry of Jeff Lemire really shined, with both his sparse writing and drawings. It is amazing how much of the story is told with just pictures and no captions. He does an amazing job.
4/5
Read my review of the first two volumes, here:
Essex County Vol.1: Tales From the Farm by Jeff Lemire
Essex County Volume 2: Ghost Stories by Jeff Lemire
Also reviewed at:
A Season to ReadThe Book Mine Set
Did you review this book? Please leave the link in the comments so I can include it here.
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Monday, December 27, 2010
Two's Company by Jonathan Franzen
Paul and Pam are a successful comedy writing couple who have won Emmys. They are known as a very loving couple and have even been profiled in magazines as such.
They are hired to write a romantic comedy movie. As they work on the movie script together, their true colors start to unfold. It turns out they aren't the romantic and loving couple everybody has pegged them as.
This story seems to be a kind of spoof on the Three Company's writers from the 70's. Remember that show? Yeah, I wish I didn't remember it either. In fact, I'm gagging right now, thinking of it. LOL! The ending of this story could of been better however, I agree with John, it's a fun story. I hope to read more Franzen soon.
If you would like to participate in Short Story Mondays, go to John of The Book Mine Set. He has a short story review every Monday and a place for you to link your short story review. Come join in the fun!
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Maibox Monday
These are the books I received (all ebooks):
Though I don't celebrate Christmas, Bill and I exchange gifts with his mother , sister, and brother. They don't live in Vancouver so we receive gifts in the mail.
I received these accessories for my Kobo e-reader thanks to my dear MIL:
Kobo Holder with notebook.
Bill and I received these books from my dear SIL:
My dear BIL sent me a renewal subscription of this fab magazine:
Friday, December 24, 2010
Books Won Challenge 2011
January 1-December 31, 2011
I created this challenge last year to challenge myself and others that have won books, to read and review some of them. The reason publishing companies supply books for book bloggers to give away is to get word out about the books and create buzz. I didn't do very well with this challenge in 2010, I only read one won book. However, 2011 is a New Year and a fresh start. I feel bad that I haven't read many of the book I have won and want to make an effort to read them in 2011.
If you would like to join me, here are the levels:
Honorable Mention: Read 1-3 book you won.
Bronze: Read 4-6 books you won.
Silver: Read 7-9 Books you won.
Gold: Read 10 or more books you won.
The Rules:
2.Crossovers with other challenges are okay.
3. Audiobooks and ebooks count, as long as you won them.
4. You can change up levels but cannot go back down a level.
5. You don't have to make a list ahead of time for this challenge but you can if you want to.
To sign up, leave a direct link to your blog post about this challenge , using Mr. Linky below. Please leave a comment as well.
Let's have fun!
1. House Arrest by Ellen Meeropol
2. Deadly: How to Catch an Invisible Killer by Julie Chibbaro
3. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
4. The Road to Destiny by Frank young, Illustrated by David Lasky
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Thursday, December 23, 2010
ARC Reading Challenge 2011
January 1-December 31, 2011
I hope all of you ARC Readers will join me again in 2011 for the ARC Reading Challenge. I welcome old and new participants. I don't know about you, but my ARC pile is way too big. That is why I am making one big change to this challenge. For 2011 you don't have to list all of the ARCs that you have. That's right, no more "wall of shame." LOL! Although you can list them if you want to.
The Levels
Level Bronze: .a. All of us who have or will have less than 12 ARCS must read all of the ARCS we have. Note, that if you have 11 ARC's and then receive a 12th one you will be bumped up to catagory b.
b. All of us who have or will have 12 or more than 12 ARCS must read and review at least 12.
Level Silver: Read 24 ARCS
Level Gold: Read 25 ARCS
Level Platinum: Read 30 or more ARCS
Rules:
- To sign up, leave a direct link to your blog post about this challenge. Please leave a comment as well.
- You don't have to make a list of which ARC's you plan to read, but you can if you want.
- If you choose a lower level, you can always change it to a higher level if you like. However, you cannot go from a higher level back down to a lower level.
- Crossovers with other challenges are allowed and Audio-books and ebooks are allowed as long as they are ARC's.
- Read the books and review them on your blog. If you don't have a blog, you can post your review on sites like Powells, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, etc.
- Please subscribe to my blog, as I will be doing a monthly post with MR Linky. Please add your reviews for each month in MR Linky in the monthly post. For your Name, please use this format Name: (Your Name, Book Title and Author's Name) for example: (Teddy, Obsessive Reading by Helen Reader). Please be sure to use the direct link to your review, not just to your blog. Then please leave a comment.
- HAVE FUN!
2.Threads West by Reid Lance Rosenthal
3.The Arrow Chest by Robert Parry
4. To Defy a King by Elizabth Chadwick
5.Messages From an Unknown Chinese Mother by Xinran
6. The Betrayal of Maggie Blair by Elizabeth Laird
7. Fresh and Fast Vegetarian: Recipes That Make a Meal by Marie Simmons
8.The Grammar Girl Devotional by Mignon Fogarty
9. Wither by Lauren DeStefano
10. Deadly: How to Catch an Invisible Killer by Julie Chibbaro
11. House Arrest by Ellen Meeropol
12. The Beauty Chorus by Kate Lord Brown
13. The Beautiful One Has Come by Suzanne Kamata
14.The Story of Beautiful Girl by Rachel Simon
15.Becoming Marie Antoinette by Juliet Grey
16.Lady of the English by Elizabeth Chadwick
17.Love At Absolute Zero by Christopher Meeks
3.The Arrow Chest by Robert Parry
4. To Defy a King by Elizabth Chadwick
5.Messages From an Unknown Chinese Mother by Xinran
6. The Betrayal of Maggie Blair by Elizabeth Laird
7. Fresh and Fast Vegetarian: Recipes That Make a Meal by Marie Simmons
8.The Grammar Girl Devotional by Mignon Fogarty
9. Wither by Lauren DeStefano
10. Deadly: How to Catch an Invisible Killer by Julie Chibbaro
11. House Arrest by Ellen Meeropol
12. The Beauty Chorus by Kate Lord Brown
13. The Beautiful One Has Come by Suzanne Kamata
14.The Story of Beautiful Girl by Rachel Simon
15.Becoming Marie Antoinette by Juliet Grey
16.Lady of the English by Elizabeth Chadwick
17.Love At Absolute Zero by Christopher Meeks
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Monday, December 20, 2010
Maibox Monday
I just received one book:
The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
First published in 1892 in the New England Magazine, The Yellow Wallpaper is said by many to be Charlotte Perkins Gilman best short story. This is the first story I have read by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. If her other shorts are only half as good as The Yellow Wallpaper, I want to read them all.
Narrated in the first person by an un-named woman, The Yellow Wallpaper delves into the woman's post-partum depression. Her husband, John takes her to a rented summer home, where she is kept in a roon with yellow wallpaper, that use to be a nursery. Her husband/doctor prescribed total rest without any stimulation what so ever. She is not even allowed to see her baby.
The woman thinks that some work, going outside, and meeting with friends would help her but her husband will not allow it. So the woman goes about stimulating herself by staring at the ugly yellow wall paper for hours at a time. She notices different patterns and shapes where the wallpaper has torn away from the wall and eventually she sees that there is a woman trapped in the wallpaper.
Total rest and no stimulation was the prescription for postpartum depression and depression for women back then. Both were viewed by men as "in the woman's head" rather than an actual disease. Luckily things have changed. Now exercise other stimulating activities are seen as very beneficial.
This is a gem of a story. It's very deep and contemplative and explores the treatment of women. Ms. Gilman had trouble getting anyone to publish it at first. I would guess that it dug a little too deeply into woman's issues. Highly recommended. You can read it here.
Also reviewed by:
Also reviewed by:
If you reviewed this story as well, please leave a link and I will post it. Also, if you have any other writing by Charlotte Perkins Gilman to recommend, please leave a comment. Of course any and all comments are always welcome.
Friday, December 17, 2010
Giveaway: Lastingness By Nicholas Delbanco
Book Description:
America grows older yet stays focused on its young. Whatever hill we try to climb, we're "over" it by fifty and should that hill involve entertainment or athletics we're finished long before. But if younger is better, it doesn't appear that youngest is best: we want our teachers, doctors, generals, and presidents to have reached a certain age. In context after context and contest after contest, we're more than a little conflicted about elders of the tribe; when is it right to honor them, and when to say "step aside"?
In LASTINGNESS, Nicholas Delbanco, one of America's most celebrated men of letters, profiles great geniuses in the fields of visual art, literature, and music-Monet, Verdi, O'Keeffe, Yeats, among others - searching for the answers to why some artists' work diminishes with age, while others' reaches its peak. Both an intellectual inquiry into the essence of aging and creativity and a personal journey of discovery, this is a brilliant exploration of what determines what one needs to do to keep the habits of creation and achievement alive.
1-10 entrants= 1
11-20 or more entrants = 2
To Enter:
Leave a comment with your email address, so I can contact you if you win.
Extra Entries: (please leave a separate comment for each, for instance you you are a follower, leave 3 comments that you are a follower).
+3 Old or new follower of this blog.
+3 Old or new follower on Twitter (@teddyrose1).
+3 Be my friend on Facebook (Teddy Rose).
+3 "Like" the post about this giveaway on Facebook
+3 Be my friend on Goodreads (Teddy).
+1 for each comment on a book review I have done. (Be sure to tell me which ones).
+1 for clicking to give free food at The Animal Rescue Site (tell me you did it).( Up to 1 time per day)
+1 for clicking to give free books at The Literacy Site (tell me you did it). ( Up to 1 time per day)
That's 18 or more possible entries!
Sorry, the giveaway is only open US and Canadian residents only.
The winner’s mailing address: NO P.O.Boxes.
Only one entry per household/IP address
The winner’s mailing address: NO P.O.Boxes.
Only one entry per household/IP address
Winners will be subject to the one copy per household rule, which means that if you win the same title in two or more contests, you will receive only one copy of the book.
This giveaway will end on Friday, January 7th,11:59 P.M. E.S.T. The winners will be notified by email. Winners must respond within TWO days or will be disqualified.
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Giveaway:The Science of Kissing- What Our Lips Are Telling Us By Sheril Kirshenbaum
Thanks to Brianne Beers of Hachette Book Group, I am giving away up to 3 copies of this book.
Book Description:
When did humans begin to kiss? Why is kissing integral to some cultures and alien to others? Do good kissers make the best lovers? And is that expensive lip-plumping gloss worth it? Sheril Kirshenbaum, a biologist and science journalist, tackles these questions and more in THE SCIENCE OF KISSING. It's everything you always wanted to know about kissing but either haven't asked, couldn't find out, or didn't realize you should understand. The book is informed by the latest studies and theories, but Kirshenbaum's engaging voice gives the information a light touch. Topics range from the kind of kissing men like to do (as distinct from women) to what animals can teach us about the kiss to whether or not the true art of kissing was lost sometime in the Dark Ages. Drawing upon classical history, evolutionary biology, psychology, popular culture, and more, Kirshenbaum's winning book will appeal to romantics and armchair scientists alike.
The number of entrants to this giveaway will determine how many copies of this book I will giveaway:
1-10 entrants= 1
11-20 entrants= 2
21 or more entrants= 3
To Enter:
Leave a comment with your email address, so I can contact you if you win.
Extra Entries: (please leave a separate comment for each, for instance you you are a follower, leave 3 comments that you are a follower).
+3 Old or new follower of this blog.
+3 Old or new follower on Twitter (@teddyrose1).
+3 Be my friend on Facebook (Teddy Rose).
+3 "Like" the post about this giveaway on Facebook
+3 Be my friend on Goodreads (Teddy).
+1 for each comment on a book review I have done. (Be sure to tell me which ones).
+1 for clicking to give free food at The Animal Rescue Site (tell me you did it).( Up to 1 time per day)
+1 for clicking to give free books at The Literacy Site (tell me you did it). ( Up to 1 time per day)
That's 18 or more possible entries!
Sorry, the giveaway is only open US and Canadian residents only.
The winner’s mailing address: NO P.O.Boxes.
Only one entry per household/IP address
The winner’s mailing address: NO P.O.Boxes.
Only one entry per household/IP address
Winners will be subject to the one copy per household rule, which means that if you win the same title in two or more contests, you will receive only one copy of the book.
This giveaway will end on Friday, January 7th,11:59 P.M. E.S.T. The winners will be notified by email. Winners must respond within TWO days or will be disqualified.
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Thursday, December 16, 2010
Winner: Sundays at Tiffany’s by James Patterson
Thanks again to Valerie Russo of Hachette Books for making this giveaway possible.
The Winner is:
skkorman
Congratulations! I emailed you. Please respond with your shipping address within 2 days to claim your prize.
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