Teaser Tuesdays (Dec. 27)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. Here's how it works..

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two "teaser" sentances from somewhere on that page.
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure what you share does not give too much away! You don't want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author too so other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Here are my teasers:

"A horse and carriage, a droshky, approached and she had to stand back, to push herself against a wall to let it pass. As it disappeared into the whiteness of the storm, she looked around and realized that she had no idea where she was."

 p. 86, The Glimmer Palace by Beatrice Colin

"The Christmas Note" by Donna VanLiere

The Christmas Note
by Donna VanLiere
208 pages

Short Version: After recently moving in to a condo with her children, Gretchen offers to help her neighbor clean out her mother's apartment and a friendship starts to unfold.

Why I Read It: I won this book on BookTrib and it arrived at my house just in time to read for Christmas.

The Book: From Goodreads
Gretchen Daniels has recently moved into a condo with her two children to be closer to her mother, Miriam. As they build a life together in their new community, they notice a mysterious young woman, Melissa McCreary, who lives next door. She has few possessions, little personality, and keeps to herself. One day a local landlord who is looking for Melissa knocks on Gretchen’s door for assistance. Melissa’s mother has died and in the coming weeks the landlord needs Melissa to empty her mother’s apartment. Gretchen reaches out and offers to help Melissa, but the apartment is a gut-wrenching shamble of a home. There is little worth saving except for a few photos and a note that is discovered on the crate beside the bed. It is unfinished, but in the two scribbled lines, Melissa discovers secrets about her family that she never could have imagined. Can two very different women embark on a journey that explores a long-buried need for forgiveness, hope, and redemption?

My Thoughts: I had a little bit of trouble really getting into this book in the beginning. Each chapter has a different narrator, either Gretchen or Melissa. I like having different view points, but the way it was written seemed a bit impersonal. I was not really feeling the emotions the characters were feeling. Gretchen is dealing with her husband not being around and Melissa is coping with the death of her alcoholic mother. Those were both big parts of their lives but I could not get how they were really feeling. Once Gretchen and Melissa start interacting more I started to like the book a little better. Melissa made a transformation throughout the book. In the beginning she was very anti-social and stayed to herself all the time. As Gretchen came into her life this started to change and she came to have friends and even family. There were a few twists and surprises I was not expecting which I liked. Overall it was a good book for getting into the holiday spirit. It reminded me of family and the things that are important, not only this time of year but all the time.

3/5 Stars

"The Red Tent" by Anita Diamant

The Red Tent
by Anita Diamant
321 pages

Short Version: Dinah, daughter of Jacob, tells her story beginning with her mothers and continuing through her life, giving readers a glimpse of biblical women's lives.

Why I Read It: I was told by a few people this was a good book to get into, so I finally took the time to do just that.

The Book: From Goodreads
Her name is Dinah. In the Bible, her life is only hinted at in a brief and violent detour within the more familiar chapters of the Book of Genesis that are about her father, Jacob, and his dozen sons. Told in Dinah's voice, this novel reveals the traditions and turmoils of ancient womanhood--the world of the red tent. It begins with the story of her mothers--Leah, Rachel, Zilpah, and Bilhah--the four wives of Jacob. They love Dinah and give her gifts that sustain her through a hard-working youth, a calling to midwifery, and a new home in a foreign land. Dinah's story reaches out from a remarkable period of early history and creates an intimate connection with the past. Deeply affecting, The Red Tent combines rich storytelling with a valuable achievement in modern fiction: a new view of biblical women's society.

My Thoughts: As I mentioned above, the reason I read this was because I was told it was a good book to get into. My friends who told me that were very right. I have to admit, I put off reading this book for awhile because I assumed it would be very religious. Well I have learned my lesson again- I should not be judging books by their covers. I was worried it would be very biblical and I wouldn't fully understand everything, but Diamant does a wonderful job at making this easy to understand (I especially loved the family tree in the front of the book- this helped keep all the characters straight). Dinah lived a life with many struggles, but she was such a strong woman and dealt with what came to her. Her courage and determination made me proud to be a woman.
The book is told in three parts. First, Dinah tells the stories of her mothers- Leah, Rachel, Zilpah, and Bilhah. Between the four of them they have many sons of Jacob. The second part tells Dinah's story as she is growing up as the only daughter of Jacob. Dinah is doted on by all of her mothers and learns their stories, secrets, and skills of midwifery as she spends time with them in the red tent. The final part of The Red Tent is about Dinah's life in Egypt after tragedy has turned her against her family. (I will not go more into that- read for yourself!).
The story, the history, and the characters brought this book all together to make is a wonderful read. I recommend this to all women looking for a good book to get into!

4/5 Stars




Teaser Tuesdays (Dec. 20)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. Here's how it works..

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two "teaser" sentances from somewhere on that page.
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure what you share does not give too much away! You don't want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author too so other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Here are my teasers:

"It was painful for her to look at him. And yet, every morning when she opened her eyes her first thought was of him."

 p.29, The Red Tent by Anita Diamant

"Sea Changes" by Gail Gibson

Sea Changes
by Gail Gibson
401 pages

Short Verson: Sarah is still grieving the loss of her husband after 2 years. She comes across a parallel world under the sea. While trying to figure out if it is real or not, others believe her to be part of a missing persons crime.

Why I Read It: This was a find at Borders when they were closing. It's been on my TBR shelf and seemed like an easy read for my trip this weekend.

The Book: From Goodreads
Newly widowed, Sarah tries to drown herself, only to discover an impossible, alternative world. Back on the beach she asks herself, Did that really happen? Or am I losing my mind? Her attempt to make sense of what happened involves her in an alleged kidnapping, and Sarah ends up being accused of murdering someone from a world that doesn't exist. Or does it?

My Thoughts: This was a good easy read I wanted for my plane ride today. The idea of this parallel world that Sarah is a vestigant to was interesting. The under water world is less physical and more "cerebral existence" as the inhabitants call it. Sarah only interacts with two of the inhabitants of the parallel world, Bantryd and Xaxanader. Bantryd decides to come back with Sarah to look for her mother. She is new to everything in Sarah's world and has trouble getting used to it. During all of this Sarah is unsure of if it is really happening or if it is a dream. While she is figuring out what is real and what is not, she becomes a suspect in the case of a missing heiress. The heiress looks just like Bantryd. Sarah knows it is not her but everyone else cannot see that and Sarah knows they won't believe her story of the parallel world under the sea. Sarah's grief psychiatrist tries to tell her this parallel world is her way of coping with things and making them better for herself. I almost thought this was the way the book would end, with Sarah realizing it was not real but a coping mechanism. However, I was clearly wrong about this. I was worried the ending would be abrubt because I was getting to the last pages but things had not been resolved. It turned out to be a good ending though. Closure, but with some left to the imagination. Overall this turned out to be a good read.

3.5/5 stars

Know Me Better - Holiday Edition

Know Me Better is a weekly blog hop hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer. Each week 5 questions are picked to answer so your readers can get to know you a little better. Click here to join! Then just grab the image and the questions and answer the questions on your blog.

Red or Green?
For Christmas I like both colors together. Red always reminds me of Christmas though, no matter what time of year it is.

Favorite Christmas Carol?
Baby It's Cold Outside or Walking in a Winter Wonderland

What do you want for Christmas?
This year I asked for new tires from my dad (he is a mechanic), a new suit from my gma (for work), and of course some Barnes & Noble gift cards.

Favorite Holiday Treats?
Cookies! I found a great recipe for thin and crispy chocolate chip cookies and they are awesome!

Favorite Holiday Tradition?
The way we open Christmas presents at my Gma's is from youngest to oldest, 3 at a time. There are 12 grandkids (I am the oldest) and we sit in the living room on little chairs and open our presents while everyone watches. We started this a few years ago once things got really crazy with everyone opening gifts at the same time.

Teaser Tuesdays (Dec. 13)

This is a day late, but better late then never!

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. Here's how it works..

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two "teaser" sentances from somewhere on that page.
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure what you share does not give too much away! You don't want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author too so other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Here are my teasers:

"There was nothing." "How did the world come out of nothing?

 p. 212, Sea Changes by Gail Graham

"How to Buy A Love of Reading" by Tanya Egan Gibson

How to Buy A Love of Reading

by Tanya Egan Gibson
389 pages

Short Version: Carley Wells does not like reading, so for her sixteenth birthday her parents buy her an author to write a book that will change her thoughts about reading.

Why I Read It: The title of this book is what got my attention. I love to read, so I wanted to see how someone would buy that love.

The Book: From Goodreads
Asked to name her favorite book, sixteen-year-old Carley Wells answers, "never met one I liked." Her parents are horrified and decide to commission a book to be written just for her. They will be the Medicis of Long Island and buy their daughter The Love of Reading. At first, Carley's sole interest in the project is to distract Hunter, the young bibliophile she adores. But as Hunter's behavior becomes increasingly erratic, Carley begins to understand the importance of stories-and how they are powerful enough to destroy a person. Or save her. 

My Thoughts: Overall I enjoyed this book. It was an easier read which is what I needed after some crazy work. Carley Wells was one of those characters that I would get mad at when she wasn't making the right choices, but I was happy for her when she finally did. She is obsessed with her best friend Hunter, yet no one knows why since he is the most popular and good looking guy while she is overweight and not cool. At first I thought their friendship was great. Hunter was supportive of her and making her feel good about herself. My opinion quickly changed when Hunter started making bad decisions and just using Carley. The author hired for Carley's book is not the typical one you would think of to write a young adult book that would make Carley love to read. However, both Carley and the author learn about each other and themselves through the writing of the book. (There is a book within a book in How to Buy A Love of Reading). The ending was slightly predictable but had an element of surprise. I won't say anymore about it because I don't want to spoil anything.

3.5/5 stars

Know Me Better

Know Me Better is a weekly blog hop hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer. Each week 5 questions are picked to answer so your readers can get to know you a little better. Click here to join! Then just grab the image and the questions and answer the questions on your blog.


Pet Peeves?
I don't like when people are late. I'm almost always early so to have to wait for those who are late is not fun. That is probably my biggest one- I can't really think of any more off the top of my head.


Give us a glimpse into a typical day in your day starting when you wake up till you lie down again.
This is hard for me to do because with my job no day is ever the same. I travel for corporate groups and help execute their meetings, events, and incentive trips. One day I could be working only a few hours then out on the beach or exploring the city I'm in. Another day I could be working from sun up to sun down and never see outside. When I am home I usually wake up with the dog around 7am. Watch a little news and get ready for the day. If I have errands to do I like to get them done early. In the afternoons I catch up on emails and computer things then read until the bf gets home. We usually grab dinner together maybe watch some TV and he goes to bed early (it sucks having to go to work super early) and I stay up and read until my eyes can no longer stay open. My life definitely does not have typical days haha.


Pizza or Pasta?
This is a tough choice! I love both. I probably eat more pasta because my family makes it all the time. But I have pizza quite a bit too.


Finish the sentence- one book I wish I had written is....
The Night Circus I am in love with this book right now!


Favorite Sport?
I don't keep up with many sports but I do enjoy watching hockey and baseball. And of course I have to mention I'm from St. Louis, home of the 2011 World Series Champions!

Teaser Tuesdays (Dec. 6)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. Here's how it works..

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two "teaser" sentances from somewhere on that page.
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure what you share does not give too much away! You don't want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author too so other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Here are my Teasers...

"But what had happened to Gretchen last night had set a new benchmark for humiliation."

And...

"Like so much of life, Carley figured out last night backward, unraveling it from end to beginning." 

p. 224, "How to Buy a Love of Reading" by  Tanya Egan Gibson

"The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern

The Night Circus
by Erin Morgenstern
387 pages

Short Version: A fierce competition between two magicians is held within Le Cirque des Rêves; the mysterious circus that travels around the world and is only open at night.

Why I Read It: After reading a few reviews about The Night Circus I had to see for myself what it was about. The idea of a circus only being at night piqued my curiosity.

The Book: From Goodreads
The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amusements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night.

But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway—a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them, this is a game in which only one can be left standing, and the circus is but the stage for a remarkable battle of imagination and will. Despite themselves, however, Celia and Marco tumble headfirst into love—a deep, magical love that makes the lights flicker and the room grow warm whenever they so much as brush hands. 

True love or not, the game must play out, and the fates of everyone involved, from the cast of extraordinary circus per­formers to the patrons, hang in the balance, suspended as precariously as the daring acrobats overhead.

My Thoughts: I LOVED this book! The imagination put behind it all is amazing. I felt like I was an onlooker of this exotic circus while reading. And when the book came to an end, I was disappointed like the circus just left town. The plot took a while to really get going but Morgenstern's writing is so beautifully done that this did not bother me. There are a couple story lines going on in the book, but they all revolve around the circus. Celia and Marco, the competing magicians, are part of the main story being the center of the competition. The second storyline follows Bailey, a young circus attendee, who returns to Le Cirque des Rêves as a young adult. The third storyline has the reader as a guest of the circus in modern day. I have to admit it took me a couple chapters to get the story lines straight. I was not sure if I should be paying attention to the location an date at the beginning of each chapter. I think my favorite part of this book was going inside the circus tents and feeling like I was experiencing them first hand. I was worried how the ending would turn out but it turned out amazing. Not what I was thinking would happen, which was great (I don't like when I can predict what happens). I would recommend this book to everyone no matter what their reading preferences are!

5/5 stars

 

Know Me Better

Know Me Better is a weekly blog hop hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer. Each week 5 questions are picked to answer so your readers can get to know you a little better. Click here to join! Then just grab the image and the questions and answer the questions on your blog.

If someone wrote a book about your life, what would the title be?

     I'm not sure exactly but it would have to do with my traveling adventures. I have acquired some pretty good stories on the road.

If you could have a signed copy of any novel what would it be and why?

     "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt. This book has been #1 on my list since I read it. I have not been able to find a book to compare yet and I recommend it to everyone!

Horror or Romance?

     Romance, but every now and then I like a little Horror

If you could choose only one time period and place to live, when and where would you live and why?

     My dream is to live in Hawaii. I love the lifestyle, the food, the beauty of the islands, all of it! As far as the time period, I would not want to go too far back but I would not mind a bit of a simpler time with less technologies to take up all of my time!

Do you prefer a bunch of small gifts or one big expensive one?

     I could go either way on this one. A bunch of small gifts are always fun to open because there are more of them! But a big expensive one is always really great too!

A Little Bit of Christmas

The 1st of every month is like a little bit of Christmas for me. Why? Because I get my schedule for the next month and find out what awesome places I may get to go next! Today's schedule was for January 2012 and I will be heading to Dallas, Washington D.C., and New Orleans. I am VERY excited for D.C., and New Orleans because those are both new destinations for me. If anyone has recommendations on places to see or especially places to eat, send them my way!

Teaser Tuesdays (Nov. 29)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. Here's how it works..

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two "teaser" sentances from somewhere on that page.
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure what you share does not give too much away! You don't want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author too so other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Here are my Teasers...

"You cannot bear to watch. You cannot look away."

 p. 105, "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern

2012 Ebook Challenge

2012 Ebook Challenge
hosted by: Workaday Reads


I'm signing up for this challenge since I usually read on my Nook. However, lately I've been working on reading everything on my bookshelf so my poor Nook has been abandoned. This challenge will get me to dust off my Nook and get back into reading ebooks.


Here's how it works...


Challenge Guidelines:

1. This challenge will run from Jan 1, 2012 - Dec 31, 2012.
2. Anyone can join, you don't need to be a blogger. If you don't have a blog, feel free to sign-up in the comments. You can post reviews to any book site (i.e. Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords, Goodreads, etc).
3. Any genre or length of book counts, as long as it is in ebook format.
4. You can list your books in advance or just put them in a wrap-up post. If you list them, feel free to change them as the mood takes you.
5. When you sign up in the linky, put the direct link to your post about joining the E-Book Reading Challenge.
6. You can move up levels, but no moving down.
7. Sign-ups will be open until Dec 15, 2012, so feel free to join at any time throughout the year.

Levels:

1. Floppy disk - 5 ebooks
2. CD - 10 ebooks
3. DVD - 25 ebooks
4. Memory stick - 50 ebooks
5. Hard drive - 75 ebooks
6. Server - 100 ebooks
7. Human brain - 150 ebooks

At the beginning of each month there will be a roundup post for you to add your reviews for that month. If you forget, feel free to add your reviews in the following month. Any reviews submitted will be entered into the draw for that month.

Yes, there will be draws every month for participants. As long as you are signed up below, every review you add to the monthly roundups will get one entry into the giveaway for that month.

There will also be a grand giveaway at the end of the year for eveyone who achieves their goal level (or  higher). There may be different prizes for different levels, but that is not decided yet. If you are an author and want to contribute to the monthly or grand prizes, please contact me.



I am pledging the DVD Level of 25 ebooks. I will most likely post my ebooks in the wrap up posts since I never know what I'm going to download from my wishlist to read on my Nook. Thanks for hosting Workaday Reads! 

"Shantaram" by Gregory David Roberts

Shantaram
by Gregory David Roberts
933 pages

Short Version: An escaped convict flees to Bombay to find refuge, love, and meaning in a city of slum dwellars, mofia dons, Bollywood stars, exiles and Indians.

Why I Read It: I was told my numerous people that it was a good book, but what really drew me in was that the story of the escaped convict is based on the author's real life.

The Book: From Goodreads

"It took me a long time and most of the world to learn what I know about love and fate and the choices we make, but the heart of it came to me in an instant, while I was chained to a wall and being tortured."

So begins this epic, mesmerizing first novel set in the underworld of contemporary Bombay. Shantaram is narrated by Lin, an escaped convict with a false passport who flees maximum security prison in Australia for the teeming streets of a city where he can disappear.

Accompanied by his guide and faithful friend, Prabaker, the two enter Bombay's hidden society of beggars and gangsters, prostitutes and holy men, soldiers and actors, and Indians and exiles from other countries, who seek in this remarkable place what they cannot find elsewhere.

As a hunted man without a home, family, or identity, Lin searches for love and meaning while running a clinic in one of the city's poorest slums, and serving his apprenticeship in the dark arts of the Bombay mafia. The search leads him to war, prison torture, murder, and a series of enigmatic and bloody betrayals. The keys to unlock the mysteries and intrigues that bind Lin are held by two people. The first is Khader Khan: mafia godfather, criminal-philosopher-saint, and mentor to Lin in the underworld of the Golden City. The second is Karla: elusive, dangerous, and beautiful, whose passions are driven by secrets that torment her and yet give her a terrible power.

Burning slums and five-star hotels, romantic love and prison agonies, criminal wars and Bollywood films, spiritual gurus and mujaheddin guerrillas---this huge novel has the world of human experience in its reach, and a passionate love for India at its heart. Based on the life of the author, it is by any measure the debut of an extraordinary voice in literature.

My Thoughts: From the first line of this book I was drawn in and immediately felt for the narrator, Lin. Although he is a convict, I wanted him to be free from the tortured prison life. The descriptions he gives upon arriving to Bombay, paint a wonderful picture that now make me want to go to India. Life in Bombay seems to never have a dull moment for Lin. He goes from life in the slum, to being a gangster,to helping out with Bollywood movies and eventually going into Afganastan during the Soviet invasion. This kept the adventure going, but I wonder what part of this is true and what parts did Roberts exaggerate to make this story. Roberts also has a tendancy to ramble on which made me just want to be done with the book. His rambles made me feel that Lin was mopey and that I should have felt sorry for him, but I was eventually annoyed with this. I wanted to tell him to get over it and deal with his consequenses. I was also disappointed with the ending. From reading about the author, I know Roberts was recaptured and served out the rest of his sentance. I kept thinking because the book was so long it was going to encompass his entire escape, but it does not. Conflicts were mostly resolved and Lin moves on with his life, but I keep wondering how did he get caught again. There was no real closure for me. Overall the book was good. The adventures and knowing this was based on Roberts life is what kept me going.

3/5 Stars

Mount TBR Reading Challenge

Mount TBR Reading Challenge
hosted by: My Reader's Block


I have joined my first reading challenge to work on my never ending TBR book shelf. Here is how it works...


Step 1: pick a level
Pike's Peak: Read 12 books from your TBR pile/s
Mt. Vancouver: Read 25 books from your TBR pile/s
Mt. Ararat: Read 40 books from your TBR piles/s
Mt. Kilimanjaro: Read 50 books from your TBR pile/s
El Toro: Read 75 books from your TBR pile/s
Mt. Everest: Read 100+ books from your TBR pile/s


Step 2: Follow the rules
*Once you choose your challenge level, you are locked in for at least that many books. If you find that you're on a mountain-climbing roll and want to tackle a taller mountain, then you are certainly welcome to upgrade.
*Challenge runs from January 1 to December 31, 2012.
*You may sign up anytime from now until November 30th, 2012.
*Books must be owned by you prior to January 1, 2012. No ARCs (none), no library books. No rereads. [To clarify--based on a question raised--the intention is to reduce the stack of books that you have bought for yourself or received as presents {birthday, Christmas, "just because," etc.}. Audiobooks may count if they are yours and they are one of your primary sources of backlogged books.]
*Books may be used to count for other challenges as well.
*Feel free to submit your list in advance (as incentive to really get those books taken care of) or to tally them as you climb.
*A blog and reviews are not necessary to participate. If you have a blog, then please post a challenge sign up and link THAT post (not your home page) into the linky below. Non-bloggers, please leave a comment declaring your challenge level.
*A progress site for reviews will go up in January and I will post the link in my sidebar for easy access.




I choose the Mt. Vancouver level of 25 books. I can always go up from there, but 25 is a good place to start. I will post my list when I get home from my current trip. Thanks for hosting My Reader's Block!

Hello Bloggers!

I can't believe I have finally done it but here I am with my very first blog! I've been thinking about creating one for awhile, I just never had the time to sit down and do it. I am VERY new to all of this and always willing to take advice.

The main reason I wanted to start a blog is because of all the reading I do. Reading is my favorite pass time and I do a lot of it! The downside of this, is not having an outlet to share my thoughts on all the books I read. I am hoping to use this blog to do that.

It won't be all about books. Occasionally I may throw in a few things about my travels. I have a pretty exciting job as a Travel Director. Basically, I travel 90% of the time, and while I'm gone I read, try new restaurants & foods, and take as many pictures as I can (along with working of course).

This is just my first post to say hello! I'm still working on (and learning) how to set up my blog how I would like it. This is definitely a work in progress but hopefully I will figure it out! Send any advice you have this way.