Archive for June, 2010

Which James Patterson Book? Survey Results

Tuesday, June 29th, 2010
James Patterson Survey Results

The results from my James Patterson Newbie Survey (on which Patterson book to read first) have been compiled.

Along Came a Spider is the winner!

Most of the responses were for the first in the series Patterson books: Along Came a Spider, 1st to Die and Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment.

Thanks all for participating! I’m off to find Along Came a Spider and 1st to Die! I’m hoping for some great summer reading!

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Sookie Stackhouse – I’ve Been Bitten!

Saturday, June 26th, 2010
Journal Entry for: June 27, 2010
Read: Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris

Remember and Recommend:
Dead Until Dark has been on my nightstand for a few weeks – softly calling to me while I’ve been reading more serious books. Do you crave reading some lighter, crazier things in summer? This summer I just want to read FUN! Normally my tastes are very different from vampire novels (although I did enjoy the Twilight series). Things have been crazy at my house for the last couple of months – and it is forcing my reading habits towards the light side. I have to thank Ms. Sookie Stackhouse for giving me a few nights of pure, unadulterated fun!

Sookie is one of the cutest series characters to be created in a long time. She is blonde and sexy (of course), but not shallow (thank you Charlaine). She has a ‘disability’ that gives the story a nonvampire little twist and she has had enough hardships in her life to give her depth. She is small town, but bright. When she meets Bill, a vampire who has ‘come out of the coffin’, her rural life takes turns that will alter her forever – and maybe change your reading habits.

There are now 10 books in the Sookie Stackhouse series – and I might not get anything more done till I read them all! I hope they stay true to this first story and are all mini vacations for my crazy life.

Even though I would much rather read a book than watch its story on t.v., I am excited to try the HBO series True Blood, created from the Sookie Stackhouse novels. In my mind Sookie was not Anna Paquin (she will always be Rogue in my mind – even with blond hair!) who plays her in the series, but it will be interesting to see how she creates the character.

Comments:
I don’t want to give too much of this book away. If you haven’t read it, and are looking for a little mini vacation, go for it!
Have you been bitten? What did you think?

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Survey – Which James Patterson Book?

Friday, June 25th, 2010
James Patterson Survey
Confession time – I have never read a book by James Patterson. How can that be? you might ask. James Patterson is one (if not THE) most prolific writer alive today and I (who reads at least 2-3 books per week) have never picked one up. I think this is mostly because Patterson is so prolific – where to start?

Help this Patterson newbie and vote for the best novel to begin my Patterson quest. Should it be a book in the Maximum Ride, Alex Cross, Women’s Murder Club, or Michael Bennett series? Or maybe a stand alone novel? Vote and let me know!

Because there are so many (66!) books to choose from, multiple answers can be given. I will post the top answers on Monday, June 28th.

[SURVEYS 1]

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Wildthorn Review – My Journal June 24, 2010

Thursday, June 24th, 2010
Journal Entry for June 24th, 2010
Read: Wildthorn by Jane Eagland
Remember, Recommend:
It’s fun to read and review a book before its release date. I feel like I get to share a secret with everyone – and this is a good one!

Wildthorn, by Jane Eagland takes place in Victorian England – a time of few liberties for women. Louisa, a smart and strong-willed seventeen year old girl wants to follow in her father’s footsteps and become a doctor. But, as everyone knows, too much reading can lead to insanity in women (this must be my problem!). Louisa’s mother would like nothing more than for Louisa to make social calls (instead of house calls) with her, find a nice husband and start out on the only fulfilling role a woman can take on – becoming a wife and mother. She despises Louisa’s love of learning and tomboy ways.

On the other hand, Louisa’s father, a doctor, openly encourages Louisa in her studies and even takes her on his medical rounds. Other family members (and their opinions) are also important in the story – especially her beloved cousin Grace, her Aunt Phyllis and her wayward brother Tom.

The crux of the story comes when Louisa finds herself locked in an insane asylum for women. How did this happen? Why is no one looking for her? With a new name, how is she ever going to explain that she isn’t Lucy Childs, but Louisa Cosgrove? Although terrible and frightening, this incarceration gives Louisa the confidence to take on her life for herself. She learns that she is strong enough to follow her dreams – be it in her career or love.

I can’t recommend this book highly enough. It is being published as a YA novel, but I think it could hold its own in mainstream fiction. The writing is excellent and the story engrossing. I found I couldn’t put it down!

Comments:
If you have young girls, I would definitely read this first before sharing it with them as there are themes in the story that might be better for an older teenager.
I received Wildthorn from Houghton Mifflin Books for review from Netgalley. It will be released September 6, 2010.

Have you read Wildthorn? Leave your comments and a link to your review.

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Robert F. Sibert Medal – Teen Award Spotlight

Wednesday, June 23rd, 2010
Teen Award Spotlight – The Robert Sibert Medal for best informational book.
The Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award is awarded annually to the author(s) and illustrator(s) of the most distinguished informational book published in English during the preceding year. Established in 2001 by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), with support from Bound to Stay Bound Books, Inc., of Jacksonville, Illinois, the award honors Sibert, a long-serving president of Bound to Stay Bound Books.
June Teen Giveaway
Make sure to enter Bibliobabe’s June Teen Giveaway – for a chance to win An American Plague by Jim Murphy.

You can find the complete list of winners in:

The complete list of Robert Sibert Medal winners can be found on page 127 of Read, Remember, Recommend for Teens: A Reading Journal for Book Lovers.

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It’s Monday, What are You Reading? – June 21st, 2010

Monday, June 21st, 2010
It’s Monday! What are you reading this week? is hosted at One Persons Journey Through a World of Books. Its is a weekly event to celebrate what we are reading for the week as well as books completed the previous week.

What are you reading? Leave a comment with your current reads.

Happy Summer!
We just got back last night from a little vacation at my parent’s house in Mesquite, NV. I spent most of the time perfecting my handstand on the bottom of their pool – it was over 100 there almost everyday we were there! But, I did get some reading in – and my Kindle swimsuit was perfect for in-the-pool reading!

I received an email for Netgalley.com a couple of weeks ago. This great site allows you to request galleys from publishers and then read them on your Kindle or computer. I just finished the first book I requested – and loved it. What a great resource for reviewers and publishers. Check it out!

Books Finished Last Week:
The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner by Stephenie Meyer. This is a fun book to read by the pool or beach – very interesting. Make sure to check out my review.
Wildthorn by Jane Eagland. This was my first Netgalley book – and I loved it. Look for my review this week.
Currently Reading:
The Lonely Tree by Yael Politis. I didn’t read this too much on vacation – but am going to jump back in this week and finish it.
Reading Next:
A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin. I haven’t gotten to this yet – but am hoping to this week.
Let me know what you are reading!

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The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner – Review, My Journal June 15th, 2010

Tuesday, June 15th, 2010
Journal Entry for June 14th, 2010
Read: The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner by Stephenie Meyer
Remember, Recommend:
I picked this up on a shopping trip right before leaving for vacation. It’s small and having read everything else Stephenie Meyer has written, I knew it would be a good vacation read. Despite the poor sales reports from the indies for this much anticipated summer release, I wasn’t disappointed. I think the poor sales are being blamed on the fact that the complete story can be read online (no downloads to ereaders) at breetanner.com. I liked reading it in book format, but it is an interesting concept to give it to fans for free. I think the repercussions of this will be much debated in the future.
The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner is the story of a newborn vampire created by Victoria, the bitter, older vampire in Meyer’s Eclipse. Admittedly, I didn’t remember the character (well, maybe briefly), but it was engrossing to read of the week in her life leading up to her scene in Eclipse. Bree makes a few strange friends in her newly formed coven and learns quite a bit about what it is like to be a vampire in the few days before she meets the Cullens. This was a quick, fun read (a novella) – every bit as entertaining to me as Meyer’s others.

Comments: Although the Twilight saga was slated for a fairly young audience, The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner was fairly gory – much more so than I remember any of the previous four in the series being. So, if you are getting this for a younger teenager or middle reader, I would make sure to read it first.

Have you read The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner? What did you think?

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Book Blogger Hop – June 11, 2010

Friday, June 11th, 2010

Welcome to this week’s Book Blogger Hop which is hosted by Crazy-For-Books. Go over to her blog for more information and to leave your links to your post.

In the spirit of the Friday Follow, the Book Blogger Hop is a place just for book bloggers and readers to connect and find new blogs that we may be missing out on! This weekly BOOK PARTY is an awesome opportunity for book bloggers to connect with other book lovers, make new friends, support each other, and generally just share our love of books! It will also give blog readers a chance to find other book blogs that they may not know existed!

About me:
1. My little boys had Circus Days this week for the last days of school. Proud mama – I have to share!

Sam

Holden
I have 2 huge Newfoundland puppies – here is my Sweet Pea:
Here is my Grace (my first baby):

2. I’ve been book blogging since January, 2010 (I’m a newbie!).

3. I read almost entirely fiction: classics, contemporary, award winners, YA – and am now getting into mysteries and thrillers (too fun for the summer!).

4. I have 2 reading journals that were released in April by Sourcebooks: Read, Remember, Recommend: A Reading Journal for Book Lovers (fiction and literature version) and Read, Remember, Recommend for Teens: A Reading Journal for Young Adults – each with over 2,400 reading suggestions.

5. I have 2 GIVEAWAYS! Make sure and enter:
The Calligrapher’s Daughter, by Eugenia Kim - Free Fiction Book Giveaway
An American Plague, by Jim Murphy – Free Teen Book Giveaway

6. I’m currently The Lost Tree by Yael Politis.

7. The last book I read was The Silver Swan by Benjamin Black.

8. Check out these posts with Reading Maps:
Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie
Half a Yellow Sun

9. You can also find me on Twitter (bibliobabeblog) and Goodreads.

Leave a comment with your info!

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Borders Original Voices Award for Fiction – Award Spotlight

Wednesday, June 9th, 2010
Award Spotlight – Borders Original Voices Award for Fiction
The annual Original Voices Awards, presented by Borders Group, Inc., recognizes “fresh, compelling, and ambitious works from… new and emerging talents.” Books chosen for the Original Voices program may be “innovative and inspiring new books from first-time authors” or “works that represent a new direction for established authors.” In a typical year, more than 100 works from contemporary authors and illustrators are spotlighted through monthly in-store features. In December, finalists for the awards are selected via an online vote of corporate and store employees. A committee of employees reads each finalist in the four categories—fiction, nonfiction, young adult, and children’s picture books—and names the winners. Each winner receives $5,000 from Borders and winning books are featured in 500 U.S. stores.

The Calligraphers’ Daughter by Eugenia Kim is the most recent Borders Original Voices winner (2009) and Bibliobabe’s June Fiction Giveaway. The complete list of Borders Original Voices winners can be on page 87 of Read, Remember, Recommend: A Reading Journal for Book Lovers.

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What’s new at Bibliobabe?

Tuesday, June 8th, 2010
Congrats to Bibliobabe’s May Giveaway Winners
Mandy from Phoenix, AZ won a copy of Reality Check by Peter Abrahams Annamaria from Silver Spring, MD won a copy of Tinkers by Paul Harding.

June Giveaways – make sure to enter!
The Calligrapher’s Daughter by Eugenia Kim – Fiction Giveaway American Plague by Jim Murphy – Teen Giveaway

2010 Reading List
Just for fun, I added my reading list to the sidebar (scroll down). It’s great to see all my reading in one place!

Reading Challenges Updated – find a great summer challenge!
The Reading Challenge page has been updated with lots of new summer reading challenges.

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It’s Monday, What are You Reading? – June 7th, 2010

Monday, June 7th, 2010
It’s Monday! What are you reading this week? is hosted at One Persons Journey Through a World of Books. Its is a weekly event to celebrate what we are reading for the week as well as books completed the previous week.

What are you reading? Leave a comment with your current reads.

Things have been crazy for me this last week – so I’m behind on not only my reading but in my Monday postings as well!
Books Finished in the Last 2 Weeks:
Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley. Loved this! Check out my reading map and review.
The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall. This was a recommend from Caroline Bookbinder and the National Book Award for Young People’s Literature. It was a fun read, a little slower than I expected, but would be perfect for a teen looking for a light summer read.
The Silver Swan by Benjamin Black. I have to admit, I was walking through the grocery store last week and they had a book big full of hardbacks – 2 for $10. I had recently seen something about Benjamin Black (this is a pseudonym for Booker Prize winner John Banville) and was curious, so I picked this up. I dived into it without realizing it’s the second in the Quirke series – but it didn’t affect the reading at all. I loved it – and am looking forward to reading more by Black. Sometimes a good deal is a good deal!
Currently Reading:
The Lonely Tree by Yael Politis. This is the first book I have accepted from a publisher for review. I received an email from Holland Park Press and the premise of a Jewish family living during Israel’s struggle for independence sounded very interesting. I don’t know much about this era/subject, so I jumped at the chance to learn more. I think this will be a great one to create a reading map for.
Reading Next:
A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin. I have wanted to read this for a while (it’s mentioned quite a few times in my teen journal), but I have been spurned on by Heather P.’s review on Books and Quilts.

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Father’s Day Ideas – Great Reading for Dads

Sunday, June 6th, 2010
Books for Dads
Father’s Day is only two weeks away! Looking for a great gift for a reading dad? Below are some father-related timeless classics that would make great gifts for anyone who loves to read – especially a dad.

The Road, by Cormac McCarthy
Described by the author himself as a love story between a father and his son, this is the ultimate Father’s Day gift book. A dystopian novel set in the middle of a nuclear winter, The Road is an amazing mix of imagery and haunting emotion. A true masterpiece that will leave any reader thinking over the events long after the story is finished.

Accolades:
Pulitzer Prize for Fiction
James Tait Memorial Prize for Fiction
The Oprah Winfrey Show: Oprah’s Book Club
Indies Choice Book Award for Fiction (Book Sense Book of the Year) Shortlist
Tournament of Books—Rooster Award
Best Books for Discussion from Book Club Classics
American Library Association Notable Books for Adults
National Book Critics Circle Award for Fiction Shortlists


Out Stealing Horses, by Per Petterson
The Nordic setting alone is reason enough to read this beautiful novel. A father and son spend a summer in a cabin in remote Norway. A complement to this summer story is the narration, told by the much older son, as he reflects back on that summer from his own remote cabin late in life. A story of loss and growing up, good friends and the truths of life, Out Stealing Horses is a classic to be shared.

Accolades:
International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award
New York Times Best Books of the Year for Fiction
American Library Association Notable Books for Adults


Peace Like a River, by Leif Enger
What lengths will a father go to in protecting a son – even a son accused of committing a terrible crime? Peace Like a River is an amazing debut novel, telling of the bonds of one family as they travel across the country in search of a son, brother and protector.
Accolades:

ForeWord Magazine Editor’s Choice Prize Winners for Fiction
Best Books for Discussion from Book Club Classics
Indies Choice Book Award for Fiction (Previously the Book Sense Book of the Year Award for Fiction


Shadow Country, by Peter Matthiessen

This epic story, a compilation of three books into one volume, will give any father a summer’s worth of amazing reading. E. J. Watson is a father, sugar planter and outlaw. Shadow Country is his story, told in three different narrations, including his own memoir. His life as an outlaw, failed father and farmer and his struggles to tame the wild country of the Everglades in the late 1800′s will leave a lasting impression on any reader.

Accolades:
National Book Award for Fiction
Tournament of Books—Rooster Award


Cry the Beloved Country, by Alan Paton

Perhaps the most famous novel of South Africa and its racial injustice, Cry the Beloved Country is a novel of enduring love, hardship and survival. First published in 1948, it was an immediate success. The story centers around Stephen Kumalo a Zulu pastor as he leaves his village in search of his son. Kumalo’s courage, being a black man in a while man’s land, searching for a missing son is a beautiful inspiration.

Accolades:
Madison, Wisconsin, Public Library: Readable Classics
The Oprah Winfrey Show: Oprah’s Book Club


Do you have any great suggestions for Father’s Day reads? Leave a comment!

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Book Blogger Spotlight Saturday and THANK YOU – Books and Quilts

Saturday, June 5th, 2010
Books and Quilts is the blog baby of Heather P., who has been blogging since October 12, 2007. She posts about books, food, quilting and needlework. She frequently includes pictures of her cute family and mouth watering food.

I love visiting Heather’s blog to see all the books she is reading, the wonderful food she has created for her family and the beautiful projects she creates (quilting, knitting, etc.). I get hungry every time I pop over to Books and Quilts – something I have mentioned to Heather – and have now been officially invited for dinner! Yeah! Now I have to get my Utah fanny to Canada for some good grub!

Last week, I started posting my reviews with Reading Maps. Heather liked the idea and has posted three of her own (already!). Check out these posts to see her reading maps:
A Gate at the Stairs by Lorrie Moore
Bel Canto by Ann Patchett
The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver

And….she was so sweet as to create a reading map of my reading journal, Read, Remember, Recommend. How awesome is that?!!! I was so happy to see her beautiful work (I didn’t even think of doing this!) that I wanted to give her a huge THANK YOU!!! It made my whole week to see this wonderful reading map!

Make sure to head on over to Books and Quilts daily to see what Heather is up to. It will make you hungry, want to read, or jealous of her quilting talents!

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The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie Reading Map and Review – My Journal June 4th, 2010

Friday, June 4th, 2010

Journal entry for 6/4/2010
The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, by Alan Bradley
Started 5/21/2010 finished 5/27/2010
Website for Alan Bradley
Read and Remember:
Mysteries are hard to review -I don’t want to give too much away! Flavia de Luce, the heroine of The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie is one of the smartest young detectives in any fiction. She is funny, cute and not afraid of anything. She takes on the task of solving a murder after she stumbles upon a body in her backyard. What follows is a fun, fast paced adventure through her quiet English village of Bishop’s Lacey, her laboratory and the amazing house of Buchshaw.
Definitions (from dictionary.com):
  • sobriquet – a nickname
  • cogitate – to think hard; ponder
  • curare – a blackish, resinlike substance derived from tropical plants of the genus Strychnos, esp. S. toxifera, and from the root of pareira, used by certain South American Indians for poisoning arrows and employed in physiological experiments, medicine, etc., for arresting the action of motor nerves
  • arum – Any of several Old World plants, such as the cuckoopint, of the genus Arum, having basal, arrowhead-shaped leaves
Accolades:
2010 Arthur Ellis Award for Best First Novel
2009 Agatha Award for Best First Novel
2010 Spotted Owl Award
2009 Dilys Award
2010 Amelia Bloomer Project
Comments:
I really enjoyed this fun mystery. In the past, I haven’t dabbled much in this genre, but am now hooked. What a fun escape. I found myself wishing I was Flavia in a former life!

Explanation of my The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie Reading Map (for more on Reading Maps, see this post):
Stamps - I learned more than I ever knew (not much) about stamp collecting and some very famous stamps. It was fascinating!
Table of Elements and poison – Flavia is a genius – and her knowledge of science (including poisons) is staggering.
Jack Snipe – A species of bird, the jack snipe, played an important role in the book. Although it is pictured on the cover as a black bird, and described in the story as black, this is what a jack snipe looks like (according to Google).
Further reading – One of the main purposes of a reading map is to find ‘roads’ to other books through the process of reading one book. I definitely want to read the next installment of the Flavia de Luce books (there are six planned for the series), The Weed that Strings the Hangman’s Bag.

I am ashamed to admit that I’ve never read any Sherlock Holmes. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s main guy was mentioned quite a few times in connection with The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie. I already have The Complete Sherlock Holmes on my Kindle – I just need to get moving!

Maisie Dobbs is another amazing and sweet English sleuth. I have read the first in Jacqueline Winspear’s series (there are currently 7), Maisie Dobbs, but now want to continue with Birds of a Feather. Let my reading map encourage you to try Maisie Dobbs!

Suitcase – Hmmmm. Have to read the book for this one!

The fourth book in the Great Summer Fiction Reads from Bibliobabe!
With all of the thousands of reading suggestions in Read, Remember, Recommend, there are sure to be tons of books you will want to read this summer. Bibliobabe will highlight some great choices over the next few weeks – books that are sure to appeal to anyone looking for something fun to read on a trip or in your backyard. Keep checking back for more Bibliobabe picks worthy of some sunny weather, summer reading.


Have you read The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie? Send me your review link and I’ll post it.

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Read, Remember, Recommend Reading Challenge Updates

Wednesday, June 2nd, 2010
Reading Challenge Updates!
If you haven’t joined either of the challenges, there is still plenty of time! They both end April 1st, 2011. Check out the details (GREAT PRIZES!):
Read, Remember, Recommend Fiction Reading Challenge
Read, Remember, Recommend Teen Reading Challenge
Below are the standings so far.

Read, Remember, Recommend Fiction Challenge Tally

Name Total

Rachelle (Bibliobabe) 3

Heather @ Books and Quilts 8

Kara Sjoblom- Bay

Tea

Jonita (The Book Chick) 1

Nari @ The Novel World 2

Kathy/ Bermudaonion’s Weblog 3

kim in ohio

Jayme (Beachreader) 4

M (Agent 99) 7

Tenia 8

Julie/ Booking Mama 1

Cerebral Girl in a Redneck World

Cass

Sue

Melissa 2

Josette 1

Carrie 2

Beth (Bookaholicmom) 2

Read, Remember, Recommend Teen Challenge Tally

Name Total

Rachelle (Bibliobabe) 3

Becky

Kara

Shannon 2

Wdebo 2

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