Opinions needed please

My Newest Cache of Books!

I took some of my older books to my local secondhand book store and traded for these!

Got to love trading in the books you are not fond enough of to keep on your bookshelf.

Just wondering if anyone has read any of the above books and has an opinion to share.

Not sure which one to start first. I usually see if one calls out to me or depending on my mood I will obviously pick by subject matter. Most of these are serious I think. I was in a serious mood the day I went shopping.

Do any of you do that? Buy books according to your mood?

I am also very guilty of buying because of the cover photo and title. I know I'm not suppose to do that but we all do it. That is why many books come out with different covers. It's all amazing, the physiology of selling and buying.

Maybe I should get a book about that...

Well If you haven't read any of these maybe you might want to add them to your "to read" list.

Have a great weekend!

My top 10

I was catching up on some of my favorite blogs last night and saw a few were listing their top 10 reads of 2009 so I decided to list mine. I am always looking for a good recommendation. I had a bit of a crazy year and did not get to read to many books on my own so most of these were from my book club but I did enjoy them. I have them listed 1-10 top right to left.

#1 Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Society ~ Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows

Loved this book. Very sweet and opened me up to what it was like during the war.

#2 No! I Don't Want to Join a Book Club Diary of a 60th year ~ Virginia Ironside

This was a funny and insightful read especially if you are over 45.

#3 The Help ~ Kathryn Stockett

Just finished for book club. We loved it!

#4 American Bloomsbury ~ Susan Cheever

Picked this up at my local used book store and really enjoyed it. I am planning on catching up on some classics I have not made time for in the past!

Because of this book my daughters are checking out these authors also.

#5 People of the Book ~ Geraldine Brooks

I did a lot of research while reading this book. Made me want to learn more.

#6 Plainsong ~ Kent Haruf

Book club pick. We enjoyed the characters and story in this book.

#7 Mudbound ~ Hillary Jordan

Book club pick. Good story lines, again one to make you think about life.

#8 Without a Map ~ Meredith Hall

Book club pick. Sad story. Makes me a more loving Mom and person.

#9 Viel of Roses ~ Laura Fitzgerald

Book club pick. Cute story, makes you want to keep reading.

#10 Edgar Sawtelle ~ David Wroblewski

Hated the end so hated the book at first. Made up my own ending :) and now I keep remembering snippets and have fond memories of this story.

I have lots of books on my shelf that I have picked up at sales and need to read so my goal is to focus on these this year. I may pass on the club pick if I don't think I'll like it but that is often the case and then I find a gem that would never have read. This is why I love book club. It forces me out of my comfort zone. I would never have read The Road, Ahabs Wife, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, Snow Flower and the Secret Fan and more.

On my list to read now are:

Loving Frank, next months pick

Her Fearful Symmetry, reading now and loving it.

Traveling with Pomegranates

Half Broke Horses

The Elegance of the Hedgehog

Walden

The Scarlet Letter

The Used World

Fierce

Boone

Change Me Into Zeuss Saughter

And I have been reading and will finish And The Ladies of The Club. written by a local lady about our town! Old book but I'm enjoying it.

So heres to a new year and adventures in books! Take a break from TV and start a book if you aren't reading now!

Are You A Bookaholic?

Bookworm
Hi. My name is Jenaveve, and I'm a bookaholic Books are ace - agreed? Well I found this little bit of fun via fabulous Valerie, a fellow bookworm. And here's my take on literary rituals...
This is what popped up on my blog list and I had to check it out! I'm having a difficult week this week so I'm just going to cheat and pass on this fun questionnaire. If you love books too pass it on with your answers.

Do you snack while you read? If so, favourite reading snack?I like to drink a mug of mocha but I usually do not eat and read.

Do you tend to mark your books as you read them, or does the idea of writing on your books horrify you? I write all over informative and inspiring books. Helps me retain information. I don't mark in fiction books.

How do you keep your place while reading a book? Bookmark? Dog ears? Leaving the book open flat?Bookmarks...I love pretty ones and I make beaded ones but for some reason I seem to use any piece of paper I have close.

Fiction, Non-Fiction or both? Both. Love to read lots of stuff. Just depends on the mood I'm in. Also depends on what my bookclub is reading.

Are you a person who tends to read to the end of chapters, or are you able to put a book down at any point?I like to get to the chapter end, but sometimes I'll stop at one of those little breaks within the chapter. All good books need a few of those. Don't you love books with really short chapters though? You can stop any time. I hate really long chapters.

If you come across an unfamiliar word, do you stop to look it up right away?No not very often.

What are you currently reading?Not really having much time to read right now :( but I'm in a bit of a spiritual mode right now. Reading Tramp for the Lord by Corrie Ten Boom, and Teresa of A'vila-The Book of My Life.

What is the last book you bought? Oh My! Well I have had to stop going to book stores right now because of finances and the fact I have tons of books I own and have yet to read. But I did buy a .25 book at my library "The Gilded Chamber" by Rebecca Kohn. It looked interesting. Haven't read it yet.

Are you the type of person who can only read one book at a time or can you read more than one at a time? I can only read one book for enjoyment at a time but I usually have an inspirational or helpful book going on at all times too.

Do you prefer series or stand alone books?Stand-alone; I like to many books to get tied down. I'm also a slow reader so I'd never get any where. I do read some series books though but not one after the other.

Is there a specific book or author that you find yourself recommending over and over?I do have several books and authors that I love and recommend. They are on my Library Thing here.

How do you organize your books? (By genre, title, author’s last name, etc.?) The only organizing I really do is, 2 bookcases full of (to be read books) and 1 of (already read keepers). I Lie, just looked and I do have some stacked together. Some by genre and some by author. The rest are just lined up waiting...
Let me know if you've played too so I can swing by and check out your reading habits. Have a great week! Read a book or 2!

Book Addict...Who Me?

I Want to share with you a problem I have. After you read this you may take me off you favorites list but I will risk it!





I have an addiction







An obsession really





I neglect my family, cleaning, tv watching even social gatherings for this obsession. (unless it involves this problem, Then I'm all over it!) It has caused me to spend money needlessly and and spend hours in stores I should not even go into EVER again. At least for a few years!





What is this horrible addiction you ask?

BOOKS and READING!



This is the Awesome old pie safe I just had to have for my blue living room! It was just perfect for the growing stack of books that were overflowing from my Grandfathers smallish bookcase in the next photo. I put all the books I want to read right away in here so I could figure out where to go next. As you can see, I think there are enough books here for at least a couple of years and these are just the ones I want to read RIGHT NOW, Like I want to finish these by the end of 2009. Ha, right.



Did I mention I am in a book club? We read a different book each month and then get together and have a theme party if possible around the books subject! We have great fun and have been meeting for over 12 years now. I remember when I was asked to join the group. I said I didn't think I could finish a book in a month. Wow, I wasn't sure if I could keep up or was smart enough to be in a book club. for a few years I was actually in 2 different clubs. So when am I going to fit in my own books? Why do I keep buying more books? I do buy from library sales and used book stores. That is the problem I can't turn down a good deal.

Well this is bookcase #2 where I used to keep the books I needed to read. It belonged to my Grandfathers Mom and was passed down to me from my Mom.
This is what I call The still to be read bookcase!



I have to brag here...The painting above the chair was painted by my aspiring fashion designer daughter that lives in Chicago right now going to school. Isn't she talented? Thanks.

Also, notice our lovely, cute and oh so loving kitty, Arah. He is sleeping coz he had a late night catting around last night. lol.

And this is the 1st book case I actually bought at an auction (I was so proud I won it!) to hold the few books I had in our home at the time, just for looks. Ha ha ha. They were antique books and such. Nothing I would possibly take time from my darling babies and my cross stitching and tv watching, to actually read! Why, I couldn't read. My teachers in grade school told me that. I was always in with the slower readers. I hated to read! I do remember liking Dick and Jane. I can still remember the smell of those books at school. And don't tell my teachers but I can remember chewing on the top of the book binding edge. Oh, I was suppose to be reading the book? Not eating it? Well when there is no food at home you got to do what you got to do. lol.

Just kidding, Glad my Mom can't read this.

Anyway, Thank goodness I had a wonderful teacher in 5th grade who didn't believe we should be separated and made us all read out loud taking turns. She encouraged all of us that we could all read well. Believe me I really stepped up my game when I knew I was going to have to read OUT LOUD! Then we had the opportunity to buy book from the Scholastic book flyer. As I look back now I am so thankful that my Mom let me buy those books. We really didn't have a lot of money but she let me get a book every time those papers were sent home.

I was never a book worm or really dedicated to reading in school like other kids but I did enjoy many books throughout my high school years but gave it up after that for crafts, photography and tv.

I want to thank my friend Betsy who encouraged me 12 years ago to give the club a try. I have read a lot of wonderful book since then and grown as a person because of it. I started this blog entry because I wanted to post an interview done at Borders Books on line about one of the books I so enjoyed. After listening to Sara's interview the book became even more special to me. If you have not read "Water For Elephants" by Sara Gruen please do and here is the link to the interview she did quite awhile ago http://www.bordersmedia.com/bookclub/gruen

I hope you enjoy reading as I do and I have the book selector thing here so you can see what I am enjoying. Support your local libraries and book stores!