lit*chick

well rested

I should be inserting my sigh of contentment here, but I can't hear out of my right ear (waterlogged) and it's really bugging me. Truthfully, I've had a mostly relaxing week - slept alot, ate some, read a little, and traveled none. I hope you had a lovely Christmas and found some time to read. Did anyone get books as gifts?  Do tell.

My December reading has been pretty blah (much like my blogging). I did read The Hunger Games (ya novel -fantastic!), Mrs. Mike, and finally finished America, America. 

And if you haven't emerged yet from your Christmas cave, no worries. Although I will tell you that this is an excellent time to add to your kids' Christmas book library - it's all half price (and online at b&n)!  This year we added Lemony Snicket's Lump of Coal and Drummer Boy.

Plans for New Years', anyone?

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Sidetracked..

it doesn't take much, you know.

Bookclub questions are finally up. Lookie to your left. Woohoo.

We had our last soccer related event this evening. Whew.

Besides the reviews...I'm also accumulating many fun etsy links etc. Soon.

I finished The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas last night. And all I can say is Wow. I didn't see that coming at all. It only took me 90 minutes to read the whole thing...it's moves fast,  with a razor sharp ending. For those of you who like to sneak a peek at the end, I urge you to exercise self control. E tells me this is a movie - I don't think I can bear to watch. Curious yet? 

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Bulk Book Reviews Part 2

Since I'm all about shortcuts:

• Rules by Cynthia Lord (ya/teen) - Artistic Catherine takes care of her autisic little brother while experiencing the growing pains of 12 year old girls. This is lovely, nothing inappropriate (why do they do that in books for young girls?) and sweet coming of age story. Totally should have won Newbery instead of that stupid Higher Power of Lucky book. 5 stars

• Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson (ya/teen) - for slightly older readers (I'd say high school for sure, although I'd also say if you are a parent you should read it first) after calling the cops at a party,  Melinda completely ostracized and begins to withdraw into silence. What happened?  Speak perfectly captures the agony of high school, made even worse by the torment of Melinda's situation. Is Laurie Halse Anderson the Jodi Piccoult of YA? (I hope not, but the thought struck me as I looked through her other books.) 4 stars

• Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris - finally mooched this for my introduction to Sedaris. Hmmm. A little goes a long way. I still laughed out loud a few times. But he's either way overhyped or I'm coming to the party late or both.  Small doses are best but I'm glad I can see what the fuss is about and that I didn't buy it. :) 3+ stars

• If You Lived Here by Dana Sachs - an older book that has been on my list for quite a while. An international adoption, friendship story  - the first half was great, the second half I anticipated would be even better (when they travel to Vietnam to pick up the baby), but it wasn't. And I'm still not sure why. 3 stars

And I finally got reviews of Snoop, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, and The Gargoyle up on the FEED.

I have quite a few books almost finished, and a few review copies to wolf down this weekend.  And I need to hunt down my cousin Trish's book rec: Gossip of the Starlings by Nina de Gramont. Any books you are looking to get your hands on?

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Hither and Yon

I have updated the feed with reviews and will continue to add to them the rest of the day.

Look for:

• The White Mary
• No One You Know
• The Gargoyle
• The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
• Matters of Faith

• The Gifted Gabaldon Sisters

I am also working on post of short reviews, finishing the online bookclub qs for Olive Kitteridge, and catching up on my favorite blogs.

Check out:

www.nonsuchbook.typepad.com for a post on Books in Art.

and

www.booksonthenightstand.com for their posts on Most Interesting Bookstores and amazing libraries.

and

20x200 had a special edition on Friday that sold out before I had a chance to get one of these by Mickey Smith.

   URGH.

and

finally, if you are interested, here is Jane Mount's etsy store (lots of bookshelf prints).

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Free Book Friday - Favorite

Author Jayne Pupek graciously offered a copy of her latest novel Tomato Girl to be given away. I am thrilled, since this is one of the best books I've read this year.

I'll also be interviewing Jayne next week. If you have any questions for her, I'll be happy to pass them along.

Leave me a comment at this post anytime between now thru Thursday. The winner will be posted next Friday am. And an extra entry if you mention the giveaway on your blog or website. Thanks for playing along!

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Linky Loos & Reviews

My good blogging friend Tara at Books and Cooks is giving away THREE copies of The Heretic's Daughter here.

Friend to book clubs, author Joshua Henkin, has done a series of guest blogs at The Elegant Variation.

I have reviewed The Miracle Girls by Anne Dayton and May Vanderbilt on the read feed.

That's all. Enjoy.

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Happy September!

This week:

Persuade the hubs to buy mama a new car. I'm only half-kidding.

Make sure car o' my dreams fits in our garage. I am rationalizing the gas guzzlingness with the fact that I take 6 kids to school - so it's almost a bus, right? Vera help me out here.

Finish books that have been hanging out in limbo too long - The Good Earth, The Third Angel and Three Bags Full. It is difficult to finish even a good book after reading books that are great.

Finish reviews for The Heretic's Daughter and The Miracle Girls.

Help KWB with his first 4th grade project - Family Heritage. Did I hear someone say scrapbook?

Which leads to the action item - clean scrapbook space so you can walk in it.

Remember to take the boys to the Gethsemane Church Book Sale after school on Friday.

The new indie next list is up. These look especially good to me:

In Hovering Flight by Joyce Hinnefeld

and

The Good Thief by Hannah Tinti

Make appts for haircut & pedi. I always get a pedi before the beach. But not too close, I can't have the bottom of my feet so tender.

Start packing for vacation. I know it's 3+ weeks away. Mamas, back me up here - you gotta start early.

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Booking Through Suburbia

Friday - The O and I began our day in the school library, helping put things in order in the children's section. Alphabetical order. I was heartened to find I wasn't the only one singing my ABCs.

We left school to run more errands including a stop at our regular library. It didn't take long to fill our bag - for the third time this week. Yes, we are greedy.

A couple of errands later, we found ourselves in the children's section of B&N.

A book lover's trifecta.

Just wanted to mention a few books I've read lately and can strongly recommend.

Tomato Girl by Jayne Pupek - I reviewed it on the feed, but wanted to list it again. It still lingers...

Tethered by Amy McKinnon - Good, dark yet hopeful, gothic feel - extremely tight writing. Get it.

The Mysterious Benedict Society (kids) - after months of trying to read it aloud, KWB finally gave up and read it straight through. Then I read it straight through and it was awesome! We are starting the sequel this week - in our minds (what Caleb says when he reads silently).

Eating Heaven by Jennie Shortridge - this is an older book, something akin to chick-lit. It's a light read that deals with some deeper issues, although in an entertaining and moving way. If you are looking for a solid, quick read Eating Heaven is a good choice. If you were disappointed by Comfort Food, try this one.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society by Annie Barrows and  - believe the hype. This book is delightful and makes me want to return to letter writing.

Hope you are enjoying this long weekend! I'm back to the stacks.

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New Reviews

can be found on the feed.

The Commoner,Shakespeare's Kitchen, The Smart One and the Pretty One, and Child 44.

Later this week look for:

The Heretic's Daughter, The Mysterious Benedict Society, and Tomato Girl.

Thanks for your patience. As you can see, I read faster than I write.

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Book Reviews in Bulk

Like Costco, but cuter. :)

None of these warrant a full review, so here's a quick recap:

The Plague of Doves by Louise Erdrich - didn't hold up under the 50 page rule. ugh.

Puppy Chow is Better Than Prozac by Bruce Goldstein - memoir of a manic depressive who gets a dog to help quiet his soul. He doesn't get the dog until halfway through and he uses the pronoun I far too much. Cute dog, though.

Farewell, My Subaru by Doug Fine - another in a long line of "hey, look at me " memoirs. He takes a superior tone regarding his epiphany of green living that grated my nerves. But it did make me want a pet goat. :)

We'll Always Have Paris & Provence by Walter and Patricia Wells - memoir of how two NYT journalists came to live in France during the late 70s and stayed. He as the editor of the Int'l Herald Tribune, while she makes a name for herself as a food writer and expert on French cuisine. The first half was interesting, the second half reminded me of Under the Tuscan Sun, or "oh the struggles of owning a dilapidated farmhouse in Provence (Tuscany)". Spare me.

Comfort Food by Kate Jacobs - loved the storyline being centered around food and food tv shows, but couldn't stand the main character. Bummer.

Bronte's Book Club by Kristiana Gregory - cute ya about a new girl in a coastal town who starts a bookclub. They read Island of the Blue Dolphins and get to know one another. I really liked it, there's just not much else to say.

After by Francine Prose - ya lit about the effects of a school shooting in the surrounding districts - a mix of 1984 and The Wall (Pink Floyd).  Zoinks.

I Am Scout by Charles Shields - a ya bio of Harper Lee, if you are curious about her this fills in the blanks without being TMI.  Respectful and fascinating.

Nation of Wimps - Everytime I read one of these, I think "Why didn't they just put it in a long essay?" Not to mention, that the people who most need to read it won't. But it still sheds some light on why kids are growing up to be helpless.

And there are full reviews to be found on the feed...and more on the way.

Did you read anything good this weekend?

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