lit*chick

Cover Me: So Cute I Can't Stand It - New BabyLit Titles

(images taken from illustrator Jennifer Adams website)

I present to you Little Miss Bronte and Little Master Carroll- available March 1st. I can hardly wait! Don't you wonder what other classics are going to get the BabyLit treatment?

As it happens, I just finished reading the Jane Eyre inspired tribute book (like a tribute band) The Flight of Gemma Hardy by Margot Livesay and started Alice, I Have Been by Melanie Benjamin about the real life Alice who inspired the story.

Cover Me is an irregular soon to be regular series highlighting the wonderful world of cover art.

The End.

 

Update: 24 Classics, Nashville, & Somethin' New

In true lit*chick fashion, I am running late. I blame February. It was too short this year. I need a leap year. Seriously though, if you are behind reading Sayers' The Nine Tailors don't fret. I'm giving myself through the end of March (possibly into April at this rate) to finish. Any thoughts so far?

It is my intention to post my thoughts about Steinbeck soon, the hubs is reading it. I cannot get over how a book from 1962 can be so timely, but the nature of man does not change. I have finished Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier and see how it has influenced gothic mysteries (particularly my favorite - Kate Morton). If you are waiting for a classics suggestion, this is a good one to start.  The next classic will be G K Chesterton's The Man Who Was Thursday. Technically this is the second March pick but since I'm such a slacker you can read at will...I'm just starting it.

As for April - let's go with Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe to start. I'll have to check with my advisors on what would be a good 2nd pick. ;)

Instead of being the orderly blogger who schedules posts when absence approaches, I guiltily hid from my laptop for a month while our life snowballed ahead. There was a fantastic trip to Nashville where we hung out with dear friends and enjoyed glorious weather. It was not a touristy trip (whew) but we managed a visit to the famed Pancake Pantry. I was thinking, how good can a pancake be, I mean I make good pancakes, right? Shame on me. These were hands down the best pancakes I've ever had - light & fluffy & yummy & now I'm ruined. I got to walk around downtown Franklin, drive through Music Mile and visit Carnton Plantation (Widow of the South by Robert Hicks was based on the true story of this house). Here are some of my humble efforts to capture the trip.

all 5 big boys got these chocolate chip pancakes

no we aren't in Greece - this is Centennial Park with a replica of the Parthenon that serves as an art museum

historic Franklin - I think this is a square (not a circle)

a cool mix of old and new - the newly renovated theatre on Main Street

there was a path in their neighborhood to the Harpeth River - it was hard to believe it reached flood levels last spring

Carnton Plantation - the Battle of Franklin (compared in scale to Gettysburg) was fought on this property and the house was used as a Confederate Hospital.

 
Music Mile- stuck in the middles a row of old buildings that almost looks like a movie set plopped right in the middle of a city.

I don't have any other pictures that don't have all the kids, so here is E ready for spring and some 10pin.

Finally, I will be trying something a little new around here. A series I'm calling 3 for Thursday - three short and sweet reviews each week. It'll keep things moving (for all of us) and from your feedback I suspect you'll like it better this way. I already have 3 weeks worth of reviews ready to go. Look for it to start tomorrow.

The End.

Running on Belated Time

Happy New Year Friends!

We enjoyed a quiet evening at home eating some of our favorite foods - I make a mean crab dip. :) Just ask Evie and her quadruple dipping self. The pita chip is not edible, but merely a vessel for her. yes it's gross, but we are all family, she is cute, and we are wimps.

 
See what I mean?

As usual I am running behind, but instead of getting down about it I have decided to own it. Such is my life in temporary housing with 4 kids on an extended holiday break. So during this fine month of January I will be catching up on all the posts I had planned for last year but never got around to...reviews, lists (oh, yes it is not too late for a 2011 calendar post - if anything, they will be on sale!),  2010 faves, and the 2011 reading PLAN. Yes, I have a plan and it has me all excited. And it would be superb if you decided to join in. Hint: It involves CLASSICS. And lists. I still love lists.

We have lots of "resolutions" floating around our house. One is cutting way down on refined sugar...stemming in part from a noticable increase in chaos when sugar figures prominently on the menu. Another is our discovery of another Read the Bible in a Year plan, as we remain open to ways to conquer Leviticus. Here is the one we are embracing this year- Professor Grant Horner's System- it's all about reading, not about studying, which I like. And you will never read the same combination of books twice, also a bonus.

What's new in your year?

The End.

Hello, Friends. Goodbye, Gall Bladder.

Here we are - not quite settled but progressing. It is good to be connected again. We finally have phone, internet, tv after two plus weeks without. Although I could do without the tv...and probably the phone.

The same week we said goodbye to our house I also parted ways with my gall bladder. After feeling unbelievably lousy in the wee morning hours and having chest pains, I ended up having emergency surgery. Thankfully, a wonderful group of family and friends took the kids, cleaned, unpacked, cooked meals, laundered, held Evie, shuttled children, and basically functioned as me for a whole week while I slept. What a tremendous blessing. And a humbling experience to be served in such a grand way. As soon as I locate the box that holds my stationary, I can tell you each how much I love you. But until then...thanks.

In lit*chick news - we have a new reviewer for teen/ya lit. Here is her story:

Colleen is Melanie’s favorite (and only) niece who works as a barista at the Little French Market Café , and is guilty of reading at dull times during her long shifts, singing along to the radio, and baking anything with chocolate. Her favorite genre is teen dystopian, but she also enjoys a good historical fiction novel, and the occasional autobiography/memoir.

Look for her work on My Name is Memory by Ann Brashares  and The Disreputable History of Frankie Laundau Banks by E. Lockhart coming very soon. 

We also have Trish's review of On Folly Beach by Karen White ready to go.

And my reviews for 

Admission by Jean Hanff Korelitz

The Stormchasers by Jenna Blum

Commuters by Emily Gray Tedrowe

The Blind Contessa's New Machine by Carey Wallace

Simply from Scratch by Alicia Bessette

The Doctor and the Diva by Adrienne McDonnell

The Tapestry of Love by Rosy Thornton

Indiana by NC Weyl

And tomorrow - a birthday party for Penguin Books  (Happy 75th!). What better way to celebrate than with a giveaway? Stay tuned.

Finally, I have to tell you all I LOVED Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson. I already know one of you didn't like it :), but I have to say it was the perfect read  while I convalesced. Major Pettrigrew is one of the most charming gentlemen characters I"ve read in some time. His dry wit and propriety had me alternately laughing (painful) and nodding my head. 

Sorry for the info dump. What's new with you? Do tell.

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.

Excuses, excuses

I would have written reviews this weekend except I became captivated by the blog Orangette. And then I had to read all 4 years of archives. And bookmark some of her recipes. And look up her brother who owns several well-known restaurants in the DC area (DC Coast, TenPenh,Acadiana, Ceiba).  And that's my story. Oh, and it all started while I was looking up titles for the Coming Soon section. And I found her book. And then the blog. And then, well, you know.

On a high note, since there was a lot of football on tv, no one really noticed.

The End.

Online Bookclub & a Giveaway

I'm not making much progress in my December stacks. I've been stuck in the same 4 books for over a week. And I like them all, so putting them aside doesn't feel right.  Having so many family birthdays (5) right before Christmas is no joke.

Back to business:

• Guernsey questions are up.  And if you look to the right - I made a widget. It's not fancy, but you are welcome to add it to your blog. And I think you can resize it :)

• Online bookclub has a new home, (to the left), and I'm keeping up the older posts until I can transition them to the new site. Look for some small changes to the blog to make navigating a bit easier. It's getting crowded and cleaning it up should be easier than cleaning my closet. Ouch.

• If you have any suggestions for 2009 Online Bookclub selections, I'd be interested in doing some reader's choice months. Please email me this week if you are interested.

• I got a lovely email from Andrew Davidson, author of The Gargoyle, on goodreads. If you haven't joined yet, don't be intimidated by the daunting task of adding all your books right away. But perhaps for 2009 we can be goodreads friends?

AND

• a QUICK giveaway. I completely forgot I had this book to giveaway - I realize it would have been nice to have earlier in the holiday season, but it will still  be a nice addition to your library.

Let the Merrymaking Begin - Christmas with Mary Engelbreit Volume 1. (note: my cover is a little different - much more Maryish)

Leave a comment by midnight tonight. Winner on Friday am.

The End.

This Week In Lit*Chick Land

On the blog:

• My interview with Joshua Henkin.
• Q&A
• An Etsy list.

• Details on the Reading Round Robin

On the homefront:

• Making this for a teacher luncheon. Our house smells like a tiki bar.
• Must finish 39 Clues: Maze of Bones. KWB flew through it this weekend. It is the next big thing for pre-tweeners - series of 10 books, including cards, and online clues. I think I'm on board.
• New car inspection. Yes, you read that right. We got a new-to-us car. Woohoo.
• 1/2 day of school on Friday.
• Make plans for the O's extensive dental work.  Operation Improve Oral Hygiene is go.

• Soccer. Lots of practice.

During our weekend visit to the Cricket Bookshop, I picked up a new cookbook. 

 The Good-to-Go Cookbook

The layout is simple, it is easy to reference - so even though there are no new or original recipes I am comforted that I can throw something easy together for a snack, lunch, or dinner. Nothing requires strange ingredients or pureeing. And it isn't about trickery - just fast food from my own kitchen.  I'll let you know if we stop eating cereal for dinner...

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A Little Bit of This, A Little Bit of That

Questions are posted here for They Did It With Love.

And I'm still waiting to hear what you thought of Breaking Dawn here.

Finally, if there are any other books you wanna talk about, just let me know.

Coming up:

• Lots of reviews - A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, In the Woods, In the Land of Invisible Women, Live a Little, The Smart One and the Pretty One & more
• Basement pics (ooh, ahh)
• The unveiling of the new & improved Chick List by rating.
• A Back to School booklist. We go back on the 28th :)
• My new calling cards - if I have your address, you're getting one.
• Introducting a Circle BookClub - like a circle journal but with books - you'll see it will be fun!

From Allison (my honorary research asst) this: Creature Comforts freebies - this website rocks. Thanks, girlfriend!

All this, and everyday life too, where does the time go?  I need some extra hours - got any to spare?

The End.

Edited: fixed the links - sorry.