lit*chick

The Paper Pear Update: Gaithersburg Book Festival

Lots going on around here as usual,I'm sure its no different at  your house. Currently preparing for the Gaithersburg Book Festival which will take place tomorrow from 10am-6pm. But I'm not going as a book blogger, rather I will have a table for my other passion.... The Paper Pear.  I am picking up prints of my collage pieces today and am giddy with excitement to have taken this next step. You can see the new designs and prints at my etsy shop. Here is a preview:

Jane Austen silhouette mounted on a P&P page...

 

Nancy Drew silhouette mounted on page from The Bungalow mystery...

cupcake

flip flops

handbag print sales to benefit  my friends at Change Purse

So much to do before tomorrow all while chasing Evie, picking up kids, errands - the stuff of real life. Thankful to see the weather looks promising since this is an outdoor event - hooray sunshine!

If you are in the area, I'd love to see you. Check out the GBF website for more details, schedules, parking, etc. Planning to be back post-festival with tons of book reviews, including the new Ann Patchett.

The End.

 

Happy 75th Birthday Penguin Books!

  "It is quite clear that the time has come to wake up to the fact that people want books, that they want good books, and that they are willing, even anxious, to buy them if they are presented to them in a straightforward, intelligent manner at a cheap price."

— Allen Lane, founder 

What a visionary! Since 1935, Penguin Books has not only revolutionized paperback publishing - they have done it in style.

Known for their exquisite cover art and graphic design as well as award winning titles like Death of a Salesman, Gravity's Rainbow, Angle of Repose, and Disgrace, Penguin is around to stay. Quite a feat in the crazy world of publishing. Join me in wishing them a sincere Happy Birthday and a wish for continued success.

Most recently, I have begun to stock Evie's library with a Penguin hardcover classic  -  Jane Eyre. And I plan to add to her library with one of these beautifully bound titles each year on her birthday.  Some daughters have hope chests, mine has a bookshelf.

Now it is my pleasure, through the kindness of Penguin, to offer you one of two titles in celebration! You may choose:

Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks - one of my absolute favorites

OR

  The Short Novels of John Steinbeck - I chose this for the gorgeous cover and because I have a fondness for Steinbeck carrying over from a college course where I read all his novels (except that King Arthur one that I didn't know existed until a couple years ago)

Leave me a comment by midnight this Sunday, August 1st with your preference. And don't forget to visit the Penguin 75th Anniversary site. If you get a  chance- go visit that cute little Mini Cooper!

The End.

Happy New Year...Let's Look Ahead

The dudes are finally back at school and the hubs started a new job today. I'm planning to put away the Christmas decorations and Evie is planning to continue in cuteness.  I have a lot of plans for you and me too, but here is the month ahead on lit*chick...

• A new feature - see the Tidying Up the Stacks sidebar?  Those are books I am giving away...just request one (or all) and I'll be happy to send them to you. Some I've read, some I haven't but they are taking up valuable shelf space and need a new home.

• Blog Talk Radio - Nicole from Linus's Blanket will be interviewing me on February 2nd for That's How I Blog. Besides q&a, we'll be discussing The Unit - if you get a chance to read it, we can have a little audio bookclub. More details to follow...I'm really excited to participate in this fun book blogger interview series. 

• Reviews:

            When She Flew by Jennie Shortridge (and an interview, fingers crossed)

            Nanny Returns by Nicola Kraus & Emma McLaughlin

            The Glass Room by Simon Mawer

            They Found Him Dead by Georgette Heyer

• I plan to regularly participate in 10 on Tuesdays - I'm a listmaker at heart.

And a few other updates:

Congratulations to annechovie, friend to this blog and gifted artist - one of her fabulous chair prints can be seen (i saw it and shrieked in recognition)in the movie It's Complicated. Read more about it here.

My December Daily project totally bit the dust. I had no printer ink and lost steam after the first week...I don't think I'm capable of doing anything daily, except reading and drinking coffee.

I've started taking Elizabeth's Inspiration Defined class at Big Picture Scrapbooking - I think you can still sign up until midnight TONIGHT. And I am enjoying having a no pressure creative outlet. So what are you waiting for?

I am still thinking through my reading goals for this year...I read 110 books last year. Some great, most okay. So I'm definitely looking to improve the quality (my constant struggle). I'm also looking to streamline the review process so I can talk about everything I read, quickly. Because really, don't you just want to know if you should bother or not?

If you haven't already noticed, I am trying to respond to most of your comments in the comments section, in case you wondered why you haven't gotten emails lately....

Thanks to all who read and check in here - especially you regulars. I know it's easy to get lost online, and I always appreciate those who stop here.

The End.

Update Shmupdate

Lots going on in spite of the clutter in my head. I'll recap:

• Reading Round Robin - up and running.  If you are involved you can chat, leave questions, check in...click the linky along the top.
• My In Real Life bookclub met and selected books this week...they were kind enough to conference me in. The list is in the Lit Chick Bookstore.
• Putting the spit & polish on 3 reviews - all very different. Look for them on Monday. Really.
• Getting Baby Gs room ready...still. Does anyone know a good wallpaperer? If not, I'm going to have to learn quick. Any advice?
• Still no baby name, or lots of names, depending on your perspective.
• I saw a book today that looks very cool.. and I wish I'd bought it. But I was exercising restraint.

Lost Crafts: Rediscovering Traditional Skills by Una McGovern

• Next week, I'm planning to go to Borders in DC to see Molly from Orangette and have her sign her new book:             I'll pick one up for you too or you can come along...Tuesday 12:30. Be there.

That's all for now. Enjoy your weekend. Especially if your having a baby shower - you know who you are. :)

The End.

Fall Field Trip: National Book Festival

Without fail, the National Book Festival falls on the weekend we leave for our beach vacay. But I'm hopeful I'll be packed early, and we can leave in the evening so I can go to this.  Calling all you local lit*chicks to meet up! What do you think? Check out the author list - fun, huh? Email me if you are interested in the fall field trip.

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This calls for a new bookcase..

 

...to house my collection of autographed copies. Yes, I'm getting ahead of myself, because I only have three. But I did buy the new paperback version of Run and stood in line for a little over an hour to have Ann Patchett write me this note.  If you are wondering what "Never swim with an alligator" means...she was telling me about a book she read called Bitten about all the things that might bite you and apparently there is a story of a man getting attacked by an alligator who stuck his arm down its throat and stimmed the gag reflex. Too which I replied, I would never have the presence of mind to do anything like that. I don't have the presence of mind to do sensible things in the course of daily living, much less a survival situation. Miji calls me self-preservation girl. And I am. So, long story...that's my signed copy for you.

Ann Patchett, besides having one of those names that when you speak it must be said first and last together annpatchett, also recommends the book she is currently reading..My First American by Lore Segal. Adding to the ever-growing tbr (to be read) list. It just won't shrink, dern it.

Okay, as for the book reading/ q&a part.  Ann Patchett is clearly brilliant. As in, I don't do any research on what I write about, I just imagine well, kind of brilliant. Huh? I'm not kidding, amazing. She has a reserve (New England-esque) that doesn't match with her L.A./Nashville upbringing. She spoke of the options on Bel Canto - movie/Broadway show. The latest is perhaps a Broadway show which in my opinion seems the most fitting. For some reason, perhaps pandering to her big city anti-establishment audience, she was overly apologetic about being Catholic and living in a small city (Nashville). For the most part, she gave interesting answers to questions about how she writes, where she gets ideas, and my favorite - because I share this theory, sort of - that everyone has one story and they just retell it with different setting and characters. Her "story" is always about loving families, people coming together to form one, related or not.

That store was oh-so crowded. Not anything like the Leif Enger event. I must say I preferred the laid back vibe at his event, to the packed standing room only let me ask you a question so I can impress you with how smart I am vibe at this one. (There's one -or some- of those people everywhere, no?) I can only attribute it to AnnPatchett having arrived. Note to self: visit author events before they get too famous. Although if Jhumpa Lahiri comes anywhere in the tri-state area, I'm there.

We will hosting our very own author event in September when Joshua Henkin stops in to visit. So read his book, Matrimony, won't you?

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Breaking Dawn is Here

B&N was madness. Not as much goth as I expected, but a lot of tweeners SCREAMING like the Beatles invasion. It was the essence of awkward nerdom - and I was right in the middle of it. We made it out of there by 12:30. Here's the happy crew with their brand new books:

 

lit*chick's reading relatives: Ryann, Colleen, and Tricia

I promptly began reading when I got home and made it about 450 pages and then fell asleep. This morning, I finished it, all 758 pages. Don't worry, no spoilers here. I'll set up a discussion in online bookclub so we can talk freely. But I will say this, Stephenie Meyer managed to finish it up in such a way that every fan should be pleased. I don't know how she did it. A fitting and satisfying end-of-series book. And how often can you say that?

Anyone out there reading today?

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online housekeeping

You all have given me lots to think about with book ratings, I have enjoyed reading your responses. I think the plus/minus system is good and I also think I will start to catalogue my not-gonna-finish books. After seeing your thoughts, I realized that depending on the book I sometimes make instant decisions, but if something seems a little off - I'll read reviews to see if anyone has put into words what I am feeling. Anyhow, thanks for sharing.

On a sidenote, if you would like goodreads to add half stars, I emailed them last week to ask. I received a reply that noted my vote for half stars. They apparently have an ongoing office discussion about it - so if you feel strongly, send them a note. I for one am strongly in favor.

Lots going on this week - look for reviews for: Undiscovered Country, The Legend of Colton H. Bryant, Persepolis, and The Wednesday Sisters.

Tomorrow is the lit*chick field trip to Politics & Prose for the Ann Patchett visit. It's not too late to meet us there, or ride along if you're interested and in the dc metro area of course. The bus leaves Columbia at 6pm...so let me know.

And Friday is the big Breaking Dawn party. I'll be taking pictures, so if you're with me be prepared. Terri - we are going to B&N. The books were cheaper, and your sister voted for b&n too. I reserved 4 copies. :)

Somewhere in between all these happenings I will unveil yet another incarnation of the online bookclub. I think you're going to like it better.  And it should make everyone's participation (including mine) easier.  I refuse to let that dream die - I think it can work. The next book is They Did It With Love in 2 weeks.

What's your book week look like?

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Breaking Dawn at Midnight

I'm going to a party.

The early release party for Breaking Dawn at my local B&N.

It is meant for teenagers.

Or nerdy adults like me.

Some would say, ahem, that I act like a teenager.

I am bringing my niece.

She is a teenager.

She is my cover.

So now I'm a cool aunt.

Instead of an aging book nerd.

Works for me.

The End.

*check your local stores for a similar party, er event. but you didn't hear it from me. maybe you know a teenager you can borrow.

EDITED:   Parties are scheduled for August 1st....so don't panic.