lit*chick

2011 Favorite Reads

  

 

1. Caleb's Crossing by Geraldine Brooks - I can't think of anyone who does historical fiction better. She inhabits the time and the people and I am left thinking I read a non-fiction book. I would fall on my sword that what she wrote actually happened. And maybe it did....
   
2. Girl's Like Us by Rachel Lloyd - difficult subject matter, but a must read. Promise you will think about reading it.
   
3. The Kitchen Counter Cooking School by Kathleen Flinn - one of the best foodie books I've read. My friend Rachel mentioned it today as a potential bookclub choice and I am all for it. She thought it would be interesting to examine our own attitudes about convenience & health & food. I agree. 
   
4. You Know When the Men Are Gone by Siobhan Fallon
   
5. The Bird Sisters by Rebecca Rasmussen - I am ashamed my review of this book sat in my blog drafts all year. I loved this book.
   
6. Rules of Civility by Amor Towles - wonderful, coming of age set in Gatsby era NYC. Jules at Pancakes & French Fries has chosen this as her February online book club pick. Perfect timing for you to finally read it, I say.
   
7.  Attachments by Rainbow Rowell - this one took me by surprise with it's simple sweetness. And it's nice to read something set in the 90s that uses email to tell the story. Oh the early days of interoffice correspondence. Delightful.
   
8.  The Winter of our Discontent by John Steinbeck - the hubs enjoyed this one too and i'm sure part of my fondness comes from being able to talk about it.  In person. Very timely - although perhaps discontent is a constant state of man, versus a sign of the times. Takes a while to get into though, just a warning.
   
9.  The Distant Hours by Kate Morton  - yes, I am a member of the Kate Morton fan club. I happend to know some of you are also members and this was your favorite of hers. Dependably awesome.
   
10.  One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp - lots to chew on, some to savor, and maybe ignore the end, my least favorite part. I don't like lovey dovey language about God. I do like honest reflection that  penetrates my soul (sometimes painfully) and is rooted in a love of Christ. And that is most of the book. So, a keeper.
    

I also liked these:

The Anti Romantic Child by Priscilla Gilman, Let's Take the Long Way Home by Gail Caldwell, The Wave by Susan Casey, The Lost Wife by Alyson Richmann, State of Wonder by Ann Patchett

Please share your favorites from last year. I think we could cobble together quite a reading list...

The End.

 

 

We Could Win! Happy Haul-idays from Chronicle Books

It's our chance to win $500 worth of books and such from Chronicle Books. And it gives me a chance to make a list, hooray! This year not only will a blogger and a reader win, but the blogger will get to choose a charity to receive $500 of goodies too.

If I win, I will choose my kids' school library - we are a very small Christian school. The economy has contributed to a shrinking enrollment and many budget cuts, particularly in extra places like the library where the librarian regularly purchases new books using her own money. 

So let's begin....just leave me a comment to enter (and look around for other Happy Haul-idays bloggers and enter there...you can also follow along the twitter hashtag #happyhaulidays). This year my list includes more drawing & doodle books (for the O), a few for the girlie, and as always - home decor, design, and food books.

 

Press Here by Herve Tullet, $14.95

I love his books - our home library includes Night & Day and Pink Lemon.

Boo: The Life of the World's Cutest Dog by JR Lee, photographs by Gretchen LeMaistre, $12.95
I don't usually go for cutesy dog books, but how can you not look at the cover and giggle. I can only imagine how fun the whole book would be - and Evie would LOVE it.

 

Taro Gomi Board Book Box Set - Spring is Here, My Friends, Bus Stops, $19.95

Over and Under the Snow by Kate Messn
er, illus by Christopher Silas Neal, $16.99

 

The Story of Snow: The Science of Winter's Wonder by Mark Cassino with Jon Nelson, PhD., $16.99

The Glorious Christmas Songbook compiled by Cooper Edens and Benjamin Darling, $18.95

642 Things to Draw, $16.95

a neat idea book for the boy who always asks, what should i draw?

Holiday Crafting & Baking with Kids by Jessica Strand, photographs by Aimee Herring, $19.95

 

Practice Makes Perfect: Sketching and Drawing by Matt Pagett, $24.95

This may be too old for the O, but I wouldn't mind brushing up on some skills.

Repro Depot Pattern Book: Flora by Djerba Goldfinger, $24.95

 

Graphic Design for Non-Designers by Tony Seddon & Jane Waterhouse, $22.95

I could use some help in this area, especially in regards to the etsy shop and a potential blog for it.

 

Silhouette Art by Vana Chupp, $18.95

 

The Art of Instruction: Vintage Educational Charts from the 19th and 20th Centuries, text by Katrien Van der Schueren, $35.00

I haven't met a vintage educational chart I didn't like. How cool is this?

 

Decorate by Holly Becker & Joanna Copestick, $35.00

Do you have this book yet?  Me neither.  And I'd really like it.

 

Kokeshi Kimonos by Annelore Parot, $17.99

 

Girl in the Kitchen by Stephanie Izard, $29.95

As a big fan of Top Chef, and of the "girl", I can't wait to have a looksie.

Time for Dinner by Pilar Guzman, Jenny Rosentrach & Alana Stang, $24.95.

Before her wonderful blog, Dinner: A Love Story, Jenny R. was an editor at Cookie magazine. Her philosophy on meal preparation and the family table is spot on.

 

Sunday Roasts by Betty Rosbottom, photographs by Susie Cushner, $24.95

We are big advocates of a proper Sunday dinner -but in order to enjoy the Sabbath it is also important for the meals to be simple and without much fuss. I think this would help.

 

Ruhlman's Twenty by Michael Ruhlman, $40.00

Ever since his first book The Making of a Chef, I've been a fan - he is able to communicate all things cooking in a highly readable way.

 

Ghost Wave by Chris Dixon, $24.95

I recently finished The Wave by Susan Casey and I am hooked - totally fascinated by the science and mystery of HUGE monster waves and the people who dare ride them.

 

Old School Ledger by Paper & Cup, $10.95.

What can I say, I love journals. Particularly when they look like school supplies.

Pantone: 100 Postcards, $19.95

The End.

Favorite Reads of 2010

While I have you all thinking about books and lists and what not I thought I'd insert my best of 2010.

Even though we are all aflutter with newness I'd like to slip in this quick look back. In the midst of compiling I noticed I didn't review most of these titles. This is a tendency I discovered with many of my favorite reads from years past. I find it difficult to put into words all the emotions I have about certain books. Also, I don't want to give anthing away, however small - much of the time the magic of a treasured story comes from how it unfolds before you. And sometimes it's nice just to say I really liked this, you should read it.

   

1. The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Steig Larsson - third and final book in the series. Not a series that can be read out of order. The best series finale I've read - satisfying without being predictable. Action and intrigue without being or frivolous. Good stuff. And maybe the least violent of the three?

2. Bloodrootby Amy Greene - after seeing friend on Goodreads rave about it, read right away. It has that gothic southern darkness I so enjoy.  The other thing I find appealing is while the characters are usually suffering though intense hardship, they are not to be pitied. Rather, there is room for redemption. This just came out in paperback so you are without excuse.

3. Saving CeeCee Honeycutt  by Beth Hoffman - another southern fiction, not quite as dark. More on the quirky, eccentric side since the heroine is a young girl. She is abandoned by a crazy mother sent south to live with her aunt.  All kinds of tensions swirl around while CeeCee tries to find her place in the world. It helps too that author Beth Hoffman is kind and gracious with talent aplenty. Hooray.

4. Indiana by N.C. Weyl - I rarely if ever read self-published novels. But this story of Sam, a minister's daughter growing up in the 30s admidst issues of class and race, drew me from the first page. Told from multiple viewpoints it was beyond nice to finally see a pastor portrayed as wise and heroic ala Atticus Finch. A solid story well done.

5. Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonsen - This is one title that comes to mind immediately as a universal recommendation. Major Pettigrew likes things a certain way and tries to uphold tradition wherever possible. But his friendship with neighborhood grocer Mrs. Ali opens his eyes and his heart to letting a little bit of new into his life.

6. A Novel Bookstore by Laurence Cosse trans by Alison Anderson - My late addition to the list. Two book lovers open a specialty bookstore that only has "good novels". There is a secret group of people selecting these titles and a few of them have come under attack.  A fascinating look at what makes good books good, who should choose what other people read, and what happens when you try to sell good taste. It isn't a perfect story, but I think it is wonderful for all the questions it stirs up.

7. Every Last One by Anna Quindlen -  Quindlen's talent is in lulling you gently into a suburban stupor and then socking you in the gut. I bought what she was selling hook, line, and sinker. But it isn't great only because it surprised me, it is great because she writes real life with nod your head believability and painful truth.

8. Starting from Scratch by Susan Gilbert Collins - a sleeper title, a sweet story. When her mother dies, Olivia, fresh from defending her thesis, returns home. She grieves and cooks and uncovers some secrets. I thought it was gentle and lovely.

9. The Summer Guest by Justin Cronin - While everyone was oohing and aahing over The Passage, I was getting lost in this earlier work. It was a great summer read - an intricate drama set around a Maine fishing camp, the owners and their wealthy client over the course of several decades.  It reminded me of Wallace Stegner who tells stories of quiet yet murky living so well.

OR skipping all the above:

I really liked these, you should read them. ;)

What were your favorites last year?

The End.

P.S. The My Antonia discussion remains open below. :)

2011 Reading Plan: Back to the Basics - 24 Classics

  (photo from Amazon, Penguin Hardcover Collection)

 How did I arrive here?  Well, the number of classics on my To-Be-Read (TBR) list is not in danger of shrinking if I allow them to linger there another year. Toward the middle of 2010 , I experienced some burnout - my review schedule was entirely too full. I over committed and agreed to review books I wouldn't ordinarily read, much less want to write about. The lack of freedom to post off topic left me frustrated. I imagine most book bloggers at some point have to deal with how to balance the books so to speak - but my answer is go Back to Basics. Reading what I want, when I want, and getting sidetracked looking at pretty non bookish things. One trend from last year was incorporating authors into novels: The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott , What Alice Knew (Henry James and family), and Alice I Have Been(Alice Liddell and Lewis Carroll) . My super challenging, yet oh so rewarding experience with Anna Karenina last fall gave me some needed confidence in tackling hard books. And sealing the deal - The Novel Bookstore by Laurence Cosse was my finale read of 2010. It was a marvelous tale of two serious book lovers and their journey to open a shop that only carries "good novels". The whole concept brings up so many questions that it begs for a discussion for another time, but I found the notion intriguing, especially considering what was already bouncing around in my head.

The order remains pretty loose because I don't thrive in a heavily structured reading environment. Also if you, dear reader, are determined to read Lonesome Dove while vacationing in out West this summer- I'll pick it up then too. The pace is set at 2 per month to leave room for other deliberate reading choices or to allow for a month when tackling an 800 pager.  Compare this to your list and see if any match up - I would love to coordinate if possible.  Many of these titles I either already have, are free or $1 on Kindle, or super easy to acquire via library or used book store. We can even trade them...

The Back to Basics list:

• My Antonia - Willa Cather
• The Woman in White - Wilkie Collins
• Middlemarch, Silas Marner, Daniel  Deronda - George Eliot (3 books)
• Around the World in 80 Days - Jules Verne
• The Nine Tailors - Dorothy Sayers
• Rebecca - Daphne du Maurier
• Villette - Charlotte Bronte
• Faulkner - I'm open to suggestions here
• Our Mutual Friend OR Dombey & Son OR Little Dorrit  - Charles Dickens
• The Power and the Glory - Graham Greene
• Brideshead Revisited OR A Handful of Dust - Evelyn Waugh
• My Man Jeeves - PG Wodehouse
• The Sun Also Rises - Ernest Hemingway
• Crime & Punishment - Fyodor Dostoyevsky
• Winesburg, Ohio - Sherwood Anderson
• The Minister's Wooing - Harriet Beecher Stowe
• Madame Bovary - Gustave Flaubert (newly trans. by Lydia Davis)
• Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass - Frederick Douglass
• The Man Who Was Thursday - GK Chesterton
• The Winter of Our Discontent - John Steinbeck
• The Leavenworth Case - Anne Katherine Green
• The Scarlet Pimpernel - Baroness Emmuska Orczy
  
• Far from the Madding Crowd - Thomas Hardy
• The Beautiful and Damned - F Scott Fitzgerald
• Kristin Lavransdatter - Sigrid Unset (1000+ pages yikes!)
  
• Lonesome Dove - Larry McMurtry
• Night - Elie Wiesel
• Things Fall Apart - Chinua Achebe
  
• also considering Henry James and Anthony Trollope titles
  

Bravo to you if counted and see the list has more than 24 titles. Three reasons - 1. I love making lists   2. I already read one (My Antonia) , and began two others last year (i'll probably have to reread a bit, but still I don't want you to call me cheater cheater pumpkin eater as Owen likes to say) and 3. I worry I may not be able to finish a couple (due to timing or boredom or both) so I padded it. And yes, some of these titles may seem a bit obscure, but I have read a few classics in my day - mostly the obvious ones (Austens, Jane Eyre, To Kill a Mockingbird, Gatsby, etc.) And if I get really desperate, I can always watch the movies, wink wink.

As a heads up, I'm planning to read Madame Bovary next.  If anyone wants my copy of My Antonia, I'll be happy to give it to you, just leave your request in the comments section.

If you'd like to see a comprehensive list of classics lookie here - Penguin Classics Backlist.

I'd love to see your classics list or your self-made reading plan for 2011. And if you are considering playing along (because this is supposed to be enjoyable) please share your thoughts! There is no hurry, feel free to let it simmer for a few days. I have had the benefit of thinking about it for a few months. Just check in from time to time and maybe you'll catch a spark.

The End.

Lit*Chick Christmas List: Cookbooks & Crockery

 

 

As Always, Julia: The Letters of Julia Child and Avis De Voto edited by Joan Reardon - i think collections of letters are fascinating and find written correspondence inspiring

One Big Table: 600 Recipes from the Nation's Best Cooks, Farmers, Fishermen, Pit-Masters and Chefs by Molly O'Neill - this is my pick for big reference/preservation of regional recipes book

Chewy Gooey Crispy Crunch melt in your mouth cookies by Alice Medrich - i'm attracted to this to liven up my cookie baking repetoire...how can you resist such a great title?

From Seed to Skillet: A Guide to Growing, Tending, Harvesting, and Cooking Up Fresh Healthy Food to Share with People you Love by Jimmy Williams and Susan Heeger - this appeals to me ever since we began investing in a farmer's market bag that is delivered biweekly to our door. There is always a mystery root vegetable lately and I'd love to have a reference for preparing some of the more unique offerings.

Urban Pantry: Tips and Recipes for a Thrifty, Sustainable and Seasonal Kitchen by Amy Pennington and Della Chen - after the cookie book, this is next highest on the list. I am drawn to helpful tips, particularly where cooking is concerned.

New England Soup Factory Cookbook: More than 100 Recipes from the Nation's Best Purveyor of Fine Soup  by Marjorie Druker and Clara Silverstein - since receiving my immersion blender a few years ago, i am becoming increasingly fearless when it comes to making soup. I'd love to serve soup out of my bookmobile. :)

The New Brooklyn Cookbook: Recipes and Stories from 31 Restaurants that Put Brooklyn on the Culinary Map by Melissa Vaughn - I don't know anyone in Brooklyn, I"ve never been to Brooklyn, but I think this looks cool. And it would be neat to have more regional cookbooks like it.

The Dirty Life: On Farming Food and Love by Kristen Kimball - this is my pick for foodie memoir. Are you sensing a farm theme in my picks this year? Moo to you.

In the Kitchen with an Appetite : 150 Recipes and Stories about the food you love by Melissa Clark - this one just looks good and comforting.And really when you put some kind of oozy cheese on the cover, I'm going to want to read.

now onto the crockery.. some i admire from afar, some i think look fun, and some i'll be waiting for the after christmas sale

Rice Bowls $3.95 ea. from Crate and Barrel i like the size of these for kid portions of ice cream, cereal, pasta etc. or if you want to be adult about it you can combine with a rice cooker & some chopsticks

the Darth Vader Spatula from Williams Sonoma - I admit I got sucked in and bought the Star Wars shaped pancake molds (they require a certain amount of finesse - i know i need the pancake pen - darn those gadgets) but this is way more useful and the boys would be fighting over it.

Coffee mugs from Crate and Barrel $4.95-5.95 - you know how i love a new mug and these are mix & matchy.

Besides gravitating towards plaid, i also have a thing for melamine trays.  They are affordable and I don't worry about breaking them...although they are surprisingly sturdy. And awfully cute to hang, set up a tablescape or just stick behind things on your counter. guess where mine are.

          


Target $4.50        Crate and Barrel $12.95

 

Recipe Bookmarks - Anthropologie, set of 100 bookmarks $10.00 okay this doesn't qualify as crockery, but i thought i'd sneak it in.

MoMA spoons - set of 5 $24.00 - lil china spoons perfect for girly or coffee or tea...

 

Speaking of tea, I've had my eye on this & now it's on sale :)

Spots of Teapot from Anthropologie $29.95 - patterned polka dot on fine china,  a sweet mix of fancy and not.

It doesn't take much to make me happy:

plus a pretty dishtowel would make a nice hostess gift. Method holiday handsoap $3.99

    I'm a big fan of these upcycled pedestals from Burlap and Blue on etsy.

Practically speaking, this covered 12 cup muffin pan would make transporting muffins/cupcakes much easier. i'm still using my grocery store 6 cup muffin pans and they work great...i won't give them up mind you, but this would be a welcome addition to the baking cupboard. from Williams Sonoma $19.00

And filed under new cake
pans i have no need for but look awesome, voila the new Gingerbread Bundt Pan $34.00 WSonoma

Enjoy!

The End.

 

Chronicle Books Happy Haul-idays Giveaway

 

Chronicle Books is sponsoring a book giveaway worth $500. Here's the deal - book bloggers list their $500 worth of Chronicle picks and you can win their bag of goodes by entering on various blogs (including lit*chick)! 

Here is what I would buy with $500 at Chronicle...consider this the first of my holiday lists (caution, it's craft and littles heavy)

Crafting:

MoMa Art Make Mistakes  $16.95

Everyday's a Holiday: Year Round Crafting with Kids by Heidi Kenney $22.50

 

Paper + Craft   by Minhee and Truman Cho $19.95

Silhouette Art: Papers Instructions and Patterns by Vana Chupp $18.95

Lotta Jansdotter's Handmade Living: Scandanavian Style by Lotta Jansdotter $28.95

Reprodepot Pattern Book: Flora by Djerba Goldfinger $24.95

Paper Cutting: Contemporary Artists, Timeless Craft by Laura Heyinga $27.50 (preorder)

Cooking:

The Big Book of Soups and Stews by Maryana Vollstedt $19.95

From Our House to Yours: Comfort Food to Give and Share by Joyce Goldstein $19.95

Flour: Spectacular Recipes from Boston's Flour Bakery & Cafe by Joanne Chang and Christie Matheson $35.00

Cake Pops by Bakerella by Angie Dudley $19.95

Quick and Easy Korean Cooking by Cecilia Hae-Jin Lee $22.95

For the Littles (and their parents):

My Favorite Things Flashcards by Lorena Simenovich $14.95

Home Sweet Home Decorative Prints by Suzy Ultman $24.95

Walk the Dog: A Parade of Pooches from A to Z by Bob Barner $9.99

The Kid Who Named Pluto: And the Stories of Other Extraordinary Young People in Science by Marc McCutcheon $15.95

How the Sphinx Got to the Museum by Jessie Hartland $17.99

MoMa Modern Play House and Play Family... $19.99 and $12.99

Charlotte in London by Joan McPhail Knight Illus. by Melissa Sweet $16.99

Pirate's Log: A Handbook for Aspiring Swashbucklers by Jory John and Avery Monsen $15.95

 

Other Stuff I Like:

America's Doll House: The Miniature World of Faith Bradford by William L. Bird Jr. $24.95

Writer's Workshop in a Book: The Squaw Valley Community of Writers on the Art of Fiction edited by Alan Cheuse and Lisa Alvarez $14.95

School Years: A Family Keepsake of School Memories by Stephen Britt $16.95 (this one has been on my list forever, now I need 4!)

Haikubes $24.95

 Old School Letter Set by Paper & Cup Designs $15.95

This pretend shopping is exhausting! There is plenty of good stuff to choose from and it's too easy to fill up a $500 bag. All this to say that when it comes to books the list is endless.

Enjoy and enter the giveaway below!

The End.

 

10 on Tuesday: Lit*Chick Weekly Reader

Didn't you used to love getting your newsprint copy of the Weekly Reader? This is my version...a sprinkling of bookish news and some quick thoughts on what I've read this week.

1.   Mockingjay (Book 3 in Hunger Games series) by Suzanne Collins - the spoiler free version: first thought, it was kind of slow. Definitely not as much action as we've seen in the first two books. I'm also on the fence about some big plot bummers and what I perceive as a lackluster finale from Katniss the heroine.  It was a satisfying although frustrating end and I know I'm going to be thinking about it for a while.

2. Loved this list at Publishers Weekly with 20 indie sellers - I added many to my list.

3. Dangerous Neighbors by Beth Kephart - did not disappoint. An excerpt:

"That night Katherine gave up trying to talk sense into Anna. That night she did not try to argue her twin sister out of her garantuan joy; she did not try to save her. It was then that Katherine decided to begin to look the other way on purpose, but this time without anger, without the intent to prove a point. She decided to stop protecting Anna, so that she might love her more truly.

It was a decision she had made. She didn't forsee the consequences." (p.94)

4. Slogging through Anna Karenina for bookclub. I know it will be worthwhile and I'm determined to finish, please tell me it gets better...I'm only on page 150. Help.

5. Read and LOVED   Starting from Scratch by Susan Gilbert Collins - Hope this one doesn't get lost in the shadow of the more heavily marketed Simply from Scratch. Both about cooking and grief...this one gets it just right.

6. As usual I'm reading more than one book...besides AK... The Imperfectionists by Tom Rachman - don't know if I'll finish. Also Lorrie Moore's A Gate at the Stairs. I already know from trusted reading friends that it's a bit spotty, but her writing can be impeccable and worth it for those little nuggets of goodness. 

7. Same goes for Anne Tyler - finished Noah's Compass. Even though I wasn't pro-Liam (the main character) her writing made it worthwhile.

8. Grabbed the new Ivan Doig - Work Song - at the library and didn't realize it's continuing the story of Morrie Morgan, the teacher from The Whistling Season (so good). I love those kind of surprises.

9. Headed to Cricket afterschool so KWB could pick up  39 Clues Book 10: Into the Gauntlet by Margaret Peterson Haddix.

10. Started Atlas of Love by Laurie Frankel on Kindle. I'm getting the hang of e-books and the balance between those and good old fashioned paper. Paper is still winning, but only because I like to share them.

10a.I have joined Twitter. Still holding out on FB. And digging in on that one. Follow along @litchickcafe.

10b.There will be a giveaway here tomorrow, sponsored by our friends at Penguin Group.

The End.

Ten on Tuesday: Summer Reading List

This list includes both my to-read list and recommendations (books I've read are in bold). I'd love if you share what's on your list too! Anything I should add?

1.  Red Hook Road by Ayelet Waldman -  This one isn't available until July 13th, but I've read her writing and seen enough to know I want to read it.  Pat Conroy has written a lovely review here.

2.      Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins - the final installment in this teen trilogy following heroine Katniss in a futuristic game of a survival, I can hardly wait too see how it ends. You have time to catch up and read the first two before this hits in August.

3. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Played with Fire, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Steig Larsson - the trilogy is complete and if you can handle the brutality it's quite a ride.

4.    The 100 Foot Journey by Richard C. Morais -reading and reviewing for July - a culinary novel

5. Saving Ceecee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman - I absolutely loved it, read more about it here.

6. The Hand that First Held Mine by Maggie O'Farrell - bringing this one to the beach

7. Maisie Dobbs series by Jacqueline Winspear - there are now seven books in the series following clever investigator Maisie in post World War I England. The new one, The Mapping of Love and Death, is on my summer list, but I can recommend the whole series...that should keep you busy.

8. True Prep by Lisa Birnbach & Chip Kidd- I can't helpmyself. I credit the 1980 Official Preppy Handbook with my love for all things pink & green and madras.

9. Into the Gauntlet, (39 Clues Book 10) by Margaret Peterson Haddix, and The Lost Hero (Heroes of Olympus No.1) by Rick Riordan - had to include a couple from KWB's list. He is eager for summer and endless amounts of time to read....those were the days!

10.The winners:

April & Oliver - Aud

Saving Ceecee Honeycutt  - J.J.

Thanks to all who played along - it's fun to see everyone excited to read! Don't fret - there will be another giveaway tomorrow...

The End.

10 on Tuesday: Blizzard Booklist

Looks like we're in for an entire week of togetherness - school is officially closed! The revised game plan around here is shoveling, eating, laundry, dishes, and reading.   Here are some of the books in my stack:

1.  Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann - I'm about halfway through this and really like it. I have no idea where it's going and it is wonderful. It's slow going only because it's on my Kindle which lives in my purse, so I only read it while waiting in the car line or for an appointment.

2.   The Believers by Zoe Heller - started this one for a TLC Book Tour review next week. It's next to my bed, so I should finish pretty quickly.

3.  Knives at Dawn: America's Quest for Culinary Glory at the Legendary Bocuse d'Or Competition by Andrew Friedman - picked it up at the library, many weeks ago. My current foodie book - I've read the intro, it looks to be a good one.

4.  Flygirl by Sherri Smith - Had this in the stacks for a while now, have seen good things about it and it's short :)

5.  City of Refuge by Tom Piazza - Will hopefully finish before next week's That's How I Blog radio show.  It looks really good - again this is on the Kindle. I'd better recharge it in case we  lose electricity.

6. The Wonder House by Justine Hardy - about halfway through this one too. About a Muslim family living in Indian ruled Kashmir

7.  Corked by Kathryn Borel - a memoir about a father/daughter wine tasting trip to France

8.    The Yellow Lighted Bookshop by Lewis Buzbee - I have wanted to read this memoir of a bookstore owner forever it seems and I got it for my birthday. As soon as I clear out a couple of others, this is next.

9.  Poem in Your Pocket: 200 Poems to Read and Carry - a lovely package came this week and contained this book. Poetry is such a nice gift and it's so hard to buy for yourself. I can't wait to dig in.

10.  The ESV Bible  - I'm doing a read the Bible in a year plan. I like this one because it moves around a bit and I won't get stuck in Leviticus (here's hoping). Here's the link: http://www.bible-reading.com/bible-plan.pdf

What are you reading?

The End.

I am an Amazon affiliate. If you purchase anything through the links on this post, I receive a few pennies to buy more books.

Ten on Tuesday: Haiti booklist

1.  I don't have anything new to add to the Help for Haiti online movement. It goes without saying these are desperate and heartbreaking times for the Haitian people who faced daily struggles before the quake. I would like to encourage readers to learn more about the country and it's people. And books are always a way to bring some of Haiti into your heart and home.

2.  Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder - Highlighting the work of Dr. Paul Farmer, cofounder of Partners in Health, who has been working in and for Haiti for the last 20 plus years.  Tracy Kidder has the ability to succinctly capture not just the man, but his surroundings. And for timeliness and relevance it is my spot on pick. My bookclub read this last fall and it was a wonderful discussion. An example of reading out of my regular comfort zone for which I am thankful. I urge you to grab a copy soon.

3. On That Day, Everybody Ate: One Woman's Story of Hope and Possibility in Haiti by Margaret Trost - this is the next one on my list. Written by the woman who began the What If Foundation, focused on feeding the hungry in Haiti.

4.    The Magic Orange Tree and other Haitian Folktales by Diana Wolkstein - A carryover from my homeschooling days - whenever we learned about a new culture or country we'd get the accompanying folktales. They are always helpful to compare about

5.     Circles of Hope by Karen Lynn Williams -  Facile plants a mango tree for his new baby sister, carrying on a Haitian tradition. See also her book Tap-Tap about market day.

6.  Selavi, That is Life: A Haitian Story of Hope by Youme Landowne  - A book noted for it's realism about a homeless boy and other street children. The first sentence "People with guns could take a family, burn a house, and disappear, leaving a small child alone in the world."

7.   Bel Peyi Mwen: A Children's Coloring Book of Haiti by Kristopher Battles - We are big on coloring books around here. I'd like to get this one for Owen's class.

8.   Taste of Salt: A Story of Modern Haiti by Frances Temple - for older readers, about 17 year old Djo during the rule of Aristide.

9.  Running the Road to ABC by Denise Lauture  ilus. Reynold Ruffins- I have a particular fondness for ABC books - this one follows Haitian children on their way to school. These illustrations are fabulous and remind me of Faith Ringgold's folksy books.

10.  Toussaint L'Ouverture: The Fight for Haiti's Freedom by Walter Dean Myers illus. Jacob Lawrence -1791 rebellion accompanied by Lawrence's paintings from the 1930s. Middle grades suggested.

The End.