Throwback Thursday: May 2008

In May of 2008 I was beginning to feel more comfortable in becoming a book blogger/reviewer and I was feeling more at ease expressing my opinions. Writing my thoughts and points of view down for the world to see was a huge step in coming out of my shell and not being so reserved with my thoughts. Previously, I tended to not speak out as much and let others do it for me. I never realized until I started thinking about this post but this blog has had a big impact on me in that regard.

The books that I reviewed in May of my first blogging year were all very different from each other. There was a mix of non-fiction, historical Southern fiction and contemporary fiction.  When I was writing my review for Joan Didion's THE YEAR OF MAGICAL THINKING I remember being uneasy about it because I really didn't like the book. I know many people loved that book, but I just didn't. It was the first time that I felt such a strong negative opinion.  Nervously, I posted my thoughts and . . . the world didn't end. Everyone has an opinion and that is the beauty of these book blogs so many of us dedicate so much of ourselves to. We don't all have to have the same opinion or like the same books. There is no right answer.

I also read and reviewed Sue Monk Kidd's THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES. I immediately fell in love with that book and wondered why it took me so long to read it. But the book that really stood out was THE ART OF RACING IN THE RAIN by Garth Stein. There was a lot of hype about this book and when I read it I totally got why. This book touched my heart, made me smile and made me cry. A friend recently mentioned to me that she was thinking about reading this book over her summer break and I instantly got a warm feeling all over. That's what this book does. What made it extra special was that after posting my review I received a very sweet email from Garth Stein thanking me for sharing my thoughts. That was the first time I'd been contacted by an author directly and it was a great feeling.

This is only my second Throwback Thursday post here on the blog and I gotta tell you, I'm liking it a lot. Taking the time each month to reminisce about my first year of blogging and where it all started has been eye-opening and insightful. I hope you enjoy it as well. Thanks for stopping by. I'll be back with another Throwback Thursday post next month.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

This weekly meme is hosted each Monday by Sheila from Book Journey. This is where we discuss books we've read and reviewed in the past week and talk about what we're planning to read

in the coming week. 

Books I Finished/Reviewed Last Week:

Though I didn't get as much reading done as I would have liked, I did manage to finish SWIMMING AT NIGHT by Lucy Clarke. I'll be posting my review later this week. 

Reviews Posted Last Week:

• SHINE SHINE SHINE by Lydia Netzer
• THE GOOD HOUSE by Ann Leary
• CHING'S EVERYDAY EASY CHINESE COOKBOOK by Ching He Huang

Books I'll Be Focusing On This Week:

I'll be continuing with ORPHAN TRAIN by Christina Baker Kline for my book club and also with THE EXPATS by Chris Pavone, which I am listening to on audio. Later in the week I will be starting LOOKING FOR ME, Beth Hoffman's new novel that I am VERY excited about! 

Upcoming Reviews:

• BLOOD MONEY by Doug Richardson
• SIX YEARS by Harlen Coben
• SWIMMING AT NIGHT by Lucy Clarke     

That's what I'll be up to this week. What will you be reading? 

Teaser Tuesday: All The Lonely People by Jess Riley

Today I'm taking my teasers from Jess Riley's ALL THE LONELY PEOPLE. For those of you who read her blog, you understand how witty this talented writer from Wisconsin is. Sometimes I actually have coffee coming out my nose from the things she says! Her previous book, DRIVING SIDEWAYS had me laughing out loud. This book, while dealing with the subject of loss, still has the same humor I've grown to expect from her. I'm bending the rules a bit today and sharing more than two sentences, but this particular passage really struck a chord with me. I chose to read this book for many reasons, some of them, quite personal. This quote isn't actually a funny one but it definitely shows another side to Ms. Riley's writing, which I love.

My Teasers:

Rumor has it, the death of a parent can bring brothers and sisters together.  It must make some people so glad to have siblings with whom to endure the ordeal.  They are your clan.  you share memories that keep that lost parent alive.  You help define one another.  You hold each other up, cry on one another's shoulders.  I know that losing  someone you love can make you a little crazy, dig up old resentments.  And we do hurt those we are closest to.  We take them for granted, screaming at them before answering the phone all sweetness and light, Hyde back to Jekyll in less than two seconds.  But what happened here?  How did my brother and sister and I fall so far away from one another?  If Clint or Gwen even noticed our distance, if they mourned but lost something even a little, I failed to see it. ~ Location 716 Kindle Edition

I hope you enjoyed my teasers today.  Thanks for stopping by! For more great teasers please visit Should Be Reading every Tuesday. 

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

This weekly meme is hosted by Sheila @ One Person's Journey Through A World of Books. it's a place where we discuss what books we've read in the last week and what we plan to read this week.

Last week was a great week! I read and posted a review of one of the most interesting books I've read recently. I didn't know at first what to expect because the book is centered in and around the world of art and I am not well versed in it at all. But THE ART FORGER by B.A. Shapiro took off immediately and I was completely drawn in. I had difficulty putting this one down. Loved the characters, the story, the writing, the locale, but most of all, I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the art and having a bit of an art history lesson along with a lesson in forgery.. The book was fascinating. You can find my review of THE ART FORGER here.  This book is the January selection for She Reads Book Club that I am honored to be a part of and you can read the reviews of our other members here. You can also find a great guest post by B.A. Shapiro discussing why she chose to write this book. 

Last week I finished reading CALLING MY HOME, a terrific debut by Julie Kibler. It's the story of two unlikely friends traveling from Texas to Ohio to attend a funeral. Isabelle is in her eighties and her friend who drives her on this trip is Dorrie, a thirty-something African-American single mom of two almost-grown kids. Dorrie doesn't have a lot of details about the trip, she doesn't even know whose funeral they are attending, but along the way, Isabelle tells the story of her life while Dorrie deals with some serious issues in her own life. The journey brings the two women close together but also shows the divide this country still has between races. 

This week, I'll be reading a new book by Jess Riley, the author of DRIVING SIDINGS that I absolutely loved! Her new book, ALL THE LONELY PEOPLE is the story of a family, broken by loss and deep-rooted tensions that grow within a family. It all comes to a head at Thanksgiving and the situation seems hopeless. I've just started reading, but in usual Jess Riley style, this potentially sad subject is tackled with her clever wit and entertaining writing. I am sure this book will be everything I expect it to be. I love Jess Riley's sense of humor and it certainly comes through strongly in this new book. If you act quickly, you can pick this gem up at the Kindle store for just 2.99. 

Reviews I'm working on for this week are THE UNLIKELY PILGRIMAGE OF HAROLD FRYE by Rachel Joyce and THE RIVER WITCH by Kimberly Brock. I hope you'll stop back by to check them out! 

Thanks for visiting and have a wonderful reading week!!

Teaser Tuesday: THE ART FORGER by B.A. Shapiro

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading, where we share the books we're reading by giving a glimpse at what's inside. Here are the guidelines if you'd like to participate:

• Open your current book and let it fall open to a random page
• Choose two teaser sentences to share, being careful not to include any spoilers
• List the title, author's name and page number (or location) of the teasers you've chosen
• Go to Should Be Reading and share your link with the other participants

It's that easy and its a fun way to get a look inside of some new-to-you books.

The teasers I'm sharing today come from a fabulous new book by B.A. (Barbara) Shapiro called THE ART FORGER. It takes place in Boston and is the story of Claire Roth, a talented artist who has been snubbed by many people in the art world because of choices she made while still an art student. A few years later she still has obstacles to overcome but she finds herself in almost the same position as before, but with much more dire consequences. Here are my teasers . . .

Ambition, talent, antiestablishment vengeance, greed, and hubris run rampant through all fifty stories, and I see myself everywhere.  Plus, they all share the same outcome:  the ultimate exposure of the forger as the charlatan he is. ~ Location 3502-3506 Kindle edition

Once I began reading, I had a hard time putting this one down. I was so drawn into the story and really enjoyed the backdrop of the art world. I was completely sucked in! For more information on this great book, please stop by She Reads Facebook page. 

 

Musing Mondays: Unfinished Business

Today's musing poses the question: What was the last book you couldn't finish and why? This musing is courtesy of Iamciska.tumbler.com.

My Answer:

Very seldom do I ever not finish a book. I'm usually pretty good about sticking with a book until I am done, even if I am not loving it. However, over the summer I was prodded by a close friend to read E.L. James' FIFTY SHADES OF GREY. I put it off as long as I could, then I finally gave in after she actually put her copy in my hands and said 'Just READ it!!'. What else could I do? She absolutely loved it, told all of her friends to read it and I knew it would make her happy. So, I began reading.

Now, I'll start off by saying, I do not consider myself a book snob at all. However, I generally don't follow the masses when it comes to my reading choices. (I still have not read the Twilight Series!! Shocking, I know!)  The thing I noticed right off the bat was the constant over-use of phrases such as "Holy*hit!", "Holy *uck!", etc. The expletives didn't bother me, but the repetitiveness certainly did. I was already sick of it just a few chapters in.  Even if I could overlook that aspect, what I really disliked was the story in general. I realize my opinion may not be a popular one, given the hoards of women who read and loved this book, but as an avid reader, I feel that there are simply too many other writers out there who write fantastic literature and have spent their lives perfecting their craft and those are the types of authors I choose to support. If that makes me a snob, then so be it.

As far as the sex parts of the book goes, that didn't bother me at all. I am a women who enjoys great sex and am not afraid to try new things so I am not a prude, nor do I get offended easily. I simply just didn't feel the need or desire to read a whole book about it, especially a story I felt was lacking.

I made it almost halfway through the book, then one day I asked myself what value I would be taking away after reading this book and I couldn't come up with an answer. I saw the other books on my nightstand that were waiting for my attention and I realized I would much rather be spending my times with those instead.

For more musings, please visit MizB at Should Be Reading each Monday! Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a wonderful week in books!

Teaser Tuesday: Finding Nouf

It's Tuesday and time for another Teaser! Here's how it works:

• Grab your current book and let if all open to a random page.
• Choose two sentences as your teasers
• Include the title, author and page number you took your teasers from
• Do NOT include any spoilers

Today I'm taking my teasers from FINDING NOUF by Zoe Ferraris. I had started this book several months ago but laid it off to the side because I had several books going at the same time. I'm really glad to be getting back to it because it really is good story. Not to mention that I'm fascinated by Saudi Arabian cultures.

My Teasers:

Although the comment was spoken modestly, it prompted him to think of the other reasons she might have come.  It was, in a way, an accusation: You think dirty thoughts.  He felt a brief indignation.  ~ page 133

Thanks for stopping by today for Teaser Tuesday! Be sure to visit MizB at Should Be Reading each Tuesday for more Teasers! 

Teaser Tuesday: A Vamp Thing

Teaser Tuesday asks you to:

• Grab your current book and let it fall open to a random page
• Choose 2 teaser sentences 
• DO NOT INCLUDE ANY SPOILERS
• List the title, author and page you took your teasers from
• Go to Should Be Reading and post your answers to share with other participants

My Teaser:

I'm taking my teasers from DEAD TO THE WORLD by Charlaine Harris.  This is the fourth book in the Sookie Stackhouse series and I've been enjoying it every bit as much as Book one, DEAD UNTIL DARK. My teasers are from page 128

It didn't take much to make me happy.  A long night with a dead guy had done the trick. - Sookie on just having a very pleasurable night with the very sexy Eric.

BTT: Replay

This week's Booking Through Thursday question asks:

Have you ever finished a book and loved it so much you went back and started re-reading it again? (And if so, please give us the titles!)


This is a simple one for me.  No, I've never done that. There have been books that I dearly loved and wished they'd never end, but for me, there are just too many fabulous books out there that I want to read for the first time.  I rarely ever re-read books, with only a few exceptions - the classics.  Right now, actually, I'm re-reading TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, but the first time I read it was almost 30 years ago, so does that even count?! I'm enjoying it so much and re-discovering things in the book, its like I'm reading it for the first time.

As I'm writing this, I realize though, there may be one book that I re-read right after I finished it and that was when I was a young girl and the book was CHARLOTTE'S WEB. However, I don't know if I finished it the second time around.

How about you? Have you ever loved a book so much you re-read it right after you finished it? Be sure to check out the Booking Through Thursday blog to read more thoughts on this topic.

W.W.W. Wednesdays 1.5.11

To play along, answer these three simple questions:

• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you plan to read next?

My responses:

• What are you currently reading? I'm reading BACK CREEK, a debut novel from 2008 by Leslie Goetsch and I'm also reading THE GOOD THIEF by Hannah Tinti.
• What did you recently finish reading? I finished up an audio book a few weeks ago of PRECIOUS by Sapphire. [Review Here]
• What do you plan to read next? I'm planning to read REBECCA by Daphne Du Mauier. I'm also planning to read THE GIRL WHO KICKED THE HORNETS NEST by Stieg Larsson some time this month - whenever they finally decide when to release the trade size paper back this month. Another book I'd love to start reading is WATER FOR ELEPHANTS by Sara Gruen. I've had it on my shelf forever yet I don't know why its taken me so long to read it. I hear its a wonderful book!

What books have you been reading lately? If you'd like to participate in W.W.W. Wednesdays, please visit MizB at Should Be Reading.

W.W.W. Wednesdays

This weekly meme is hosted by MizB over at Should Be Reading. To play along, simply answer the following three questions - it's that easy!

1. What are you currently reading?
2. What did you recently finish reading?
3. What are you planning to read next?

Here are my answers:

• What are you currently reading? I am reading two books right now. One was sent to me by the publisher for review and the other one I picked up from the library. The review copy I have is HUSH by Kate White. Not to be confused with Karen White (of Tradd Street fame). Some of you may know that not only is Kate White a best-selling novelist, she is also the Editor in Chief of Cosmopolitan Magazine. HUSH is a page-turning thriller about a Marketing Consultant who finds herself smack-dap in the middle of a murder investigation when she discovers her brand new lover murdered in the bed they'd just made love in. As if that weren't bad enough, her soon-to-be ex-husband has just filed for sole custody of their two young children. The other book I'm reading is an old classic that a friend suggested I read. It's Kurt Vonnegut's BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONS. I've only just started it but already I'm appreciating his unique style not to mention his humor and I'm thoroughly enjoying it.
• What did you recently finish reading? I've finished two books in the last week. One was ETRE THE COW by Sean Kenniff, a TLC Book Tour pick. You can find that review here. The other book I finished was SOUTH OF BROAD by Pat Conroy. That was also sent to me by TLC. I'll be posting my review on April 12th so please stop by.
• What are you planning to read next? I'm anxiously awaiting the arrival of ON FOLLY BEACH by Karen White. This is her latest stand alone novel set to be released May 4th. I've become quite a fan of hers and I'm really looking forward to this new book. And just for fun, I'm hoping to get back to the Sookie Stackhouse Southern Vampire Series that I've gotten away from lately. Those books are simply just plain fun for me.

What's on your list?

W.W.W. Wednesdays

This is my first time participating in this weekly meme that is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. If you'd like to play along, just answer the following three questions:

1. What are you currently reading?
2. What did you recently finish reading?
3. What are you planning to read next?

Here are my answers:

• What are you currently reading? I am currently reading THE GIRL ON LEGARE STREET by Karen White. It's the second book in The House on Tradd Street Series and I am enjoying it very much. There's a little bit of everything in it which keeps it interesting. I've also discovered that I really enjoy Ms. White's writing. She plans to have a total of four books in this series, and in fact, she is in the beginning phases of writing the third book. So if you haven't read the first two, there's time to catch up. If you love books based in the South, you'll love the Charleston, South Carolina locale. I have a little over 100 pages to go, so I'll soon be patiently awaiting the next installment.

• What did you recently finish reading? A few weeks ago, I finished THE HOUSE ON TRADD STREET by Karen White and also JANEOLOGY by Karen Harrington. I've posted my review of Tradd Street (you can read it here) and will have my review of JANEOLOGY by weeks end.

• What do you plan to read next? The next book I'm going to read is Pat Conroy's SOUTH OF BROAD for a TLC Book Tour in April. I've actually already started reading, but plan to focus all of my attention on it once I finish the Legare Street book. The interesting thing is that both books take place in Charleston, and that is already a plus for me.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

Last week was a great reading week for me and I'm hoping to keep up the momentum through this week as well. I finished two books last week . . .

JANEOLOGY by Karen Harrington - I'm so glad I finally read this book. It's a very interesting subject matter in a compelling story. I'll be posting my review in a few days.

THE HOUSE ON TRADD STREET by Karen White - I've had this book on my TBR list for so long and I'm glad I've finally read it. I just love the cover of this one! You can read my review here.

I also posted my review of LIVING DEAD IN DALLAS by Charlaine Harris. This is book two of the Southern Vampire Series. You can read that review here.

For this week I'll be reading . . .

THE GIRL ON LEGARE STREET by Karen White - This is the sequel to THE HOUSE ON TRADD STREET that was released last November.

HUSH: A NOVEL by Kate White - I received this advanced copy from AuthorsOnTheWeb last week and have just begun reading it so I don't know too much about it yet.

This weekly meme is hosted by Sheila at One Persons Journey Through A World of Books and anyone is welcome to join in. What are you reading this week?

Musing Mondays: Reading Resolutions

Today's Musing Mondays post is about New Year reading. . .

With the New Year here already, do you have any reading resolutions or goals (challenges aside) for 2010? Perhaps a new author? Genre? Want to read more non-fiction? Want to write more reviews?

I do have a few reading goals for this year - I don't like to use the word 'resolution' though. That sounds too formal for me. The main goal is to spend more time reading the books from my own shelves. I have some terrific books there and I need to get busy reading them before buying any more or borrowing from the library. A couple in particular are THE POISENWOOD BIBLE, THE STORY OF EDGAR SAWTELLE and of course, THE BOOK THIEF, which I bought recently. Sounds like a good start to 2010 to me!

I'm also planning to finish the Southern Vampire Series by Charlaine Harris that I am really loving. Who knows, I may even break down and start reading the Twilight series. There are a few non-fiction books I have my eye on that sound interesting. One in particular is David Sedaris' ME TALK PRETTY ONE DAY. I've had a few friends tell me it is really funny. I think I'm going to get the audio version as I've been told it is great.

I haven't completed my 2009 wrap-up post yet (I'm a little late to the party on that one!) but I plan to have that in the coming days. Last year I read a lot of debut authors and I think this year I want to read some authors that are not new, but are new to me. For instance, Elizabeth Berg, Beth Kephart and Michelle Moran to name a few.

I have noticed that there are so many challenges out there it must be hard to keep them all straight. Luckily, I don't have to. I don't do challenges. It's simply too much pressure for me. I don't plan my reading out that far in advance to know what I'm going to read a head of time. My reading choices change with my mood and I don't want to feel obligated to read a book simply because I joined a challenge. What I mean to say is, if I'm reading a book that I'm not really in the mood for, but feel I have to, I will more than likely not have as good a reaction to the book, than if I read it simply because I was in the mood for that book. I hope you can make sense of what I am trying to say. I don't mean to be a challenge snob, they are just not for me.

I'm looking forward to 2010 and all the wonderful stories that await me. Do you make reading resolutions? What plans do you have for this year? Musing Mondays is hosted weekly by Rebecca at Just One More Page. You can click here to find out what reading resolutions other book lovers have made.

Booking Through Thursday: Posterity

Today's question was suggested by Barbara

Do you think any current author is of the same caliber as Dickens, Austen, Bronte, or any of the classic authors? If so, who and why do you think so? If not, why not? What books from this era might be read 100 years from now?

This is a tough one! I'll do my best to answer, however, I don't think I'm the best person to ask as there are many classics (Dickens, for example) that I have not read myself. But here is my opinion on this interesting question.

The first thought that comes to mind is that the world is such a different place than it used to be during the time of Dickens et al. It's kind of like comparing apples to oranges. The number of books published during Bronte's era was minuscule compared to today's world. That said, I'm sure there will be authors from this era who will be remembered with the highest regard, but I don't think that necessarily makes their book(s) a classic.

That brings another question - does a book's popularity constitute its classification as a classic? I think not. There are many books out there written by non-formally trained authors that have soared to the top of the bestseller lists solely based on book sales, not content or literal ability. I'm not saying there is anything wrong with that or that they shouldn't have their accolades, but lets not confuse them with a classic author.

On the other hand, I've read books by current authors who have been formally trained and are considered to be great authors of literature, and I couldn't get through the book for one reason or another. I think the labeling of books in our era is a very difficult thing to do. I think a book's classification is relative to the time in which the book was written. By that I mean, there are labels such as a 'new classic' and to me, that's just another way of saying a book is popular. IN MY OPINION. As for the question, Are there any books I would consider to be classics from our era? I would say if there are any, there are very few. I understand people may not agree with that, so let me just say in closing that there are many current authors who have written great books that have made their mark on the world and they do deserve to be remembered, but for me, the classic authors are etched in stone.

I hope I made sense of what I was thinking in my head and answered the question clearly. This is a topic that could go on and on! What's your take on this question? I'm quite sure there are many differing opinions of this one, so be sure to visit Booking Through Thursday to find out what other readers think.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

The past few weeks have not provided me much reading time, but this week is going to be different! Here are my plans for the week . . .

I plan to finish LOOT THE MOON by Mark Arsenault in the next day or two with a review following shortly thereafter. This book has really captured my attention and I am enjoying it very much. The plot is interesting as well as the characters. I love a good crime novel with twists and turns and this definitely fits the bill!

I'm also looking forward to starting an audiobook this week. It is THE TIME OF MY LIFE by Patrick Swayze. I've always been a fan of his and was so saddened by his passing. This book is also narrated by Patrick, which will make it even better, I presume. I'm thinking I may need the Kleenex box close by for that one.

So, that is what I have planned for the week. Not a whole lot, but an enjoyable one for sure. To see what other bloggers are reading this week or to participate, visit J. Kaye's Book Blog.

Booking Through Thursday: Liar, Liar!

Suggested by Monibo -

Saw this article (from March) and thought it would make a good BTT confessional question:

Two-thirds of Brits have lied about reading books they haven't. Have you? Why? What book(s)?

In a word, NO. Although I have started some books that I never finished, I don't count those as books I've read. The main reason is that I'm a terrible liar and what if someone asks you something specific about a book that you've lied about reading? I'd rather focus on books I've actually read. I enjoy discussions with people who've read the same book as I have and lying about it wouldn't serve any purpose and in the end, it would become obvious that I hadn't actually read the book. There are many 'popular' books that the masses are reading that I do not, but I wouldn't lie just to fit in. Besides, the conversation could take a more interesting turn if asked why I'm not reading such a popular book (i.e. Harry Potter series or the Twilight series).

I find it interesting that the article lists George Orwell's 1984 as the most lied about book! I've never read that book and now I'm curious as to why so many have lied about it!

Have you ever lied about what books you've read? For more answers to this BTT question or to participate click here.

Mailbox Monday

Mailbox Monday is a weekly meme hosted by Marcia at The Printed Page where we share what books we received (or bought) the previous week.

Here's what I found in my mailbox last week . . .

STAINED GLASS (Father Dowling Mystery) byRalph McInerny. Sent to me from St. Martins Press. This is the latest in this very well established series. Although I haven't read any of the previous books, they sound very good and I will probablyback track and read some of the others as well. This book will be released on October 13th.

LOOT THE MOON by Mark Arsenault. This was also sent from St. Martins Press. Here's what Amazon says about this very promising thriller.

In this next electifying thriller from up-and-coming author Mark Arsenault, former journalist and beaten-down gambler Billy Povich returns to aid Martin Smothers, the Patron Lawyer of Hopeless Causes. Martin’s old law partner, the well-respected superior court judge Gilbert Harmony, has been shot by a thief who dies in a car crash. The cops close the case, but Martin doesn’t believe a two-bit shoplifter would suddenly kill a judge---somebody must have paid him to do it. The suspects range from a vengeful mobster to a jealous brother to the judge's widow, and---oops---his mistress and her son. And as Billy comes closer to the truth, it isn't long before the killer takes aim at him.

That sounds to me like a great story! This book will also be released October 13th.

JULIE AND JULIA by Julie Powell. I won this book in a giveaway hosted by Bonnie at Redlady's Reading Room! Thanks again Bonnie! I've read mixed reviews on this one so I'm anxious to see where it falls with me. I also want to read it before I see the movie.

What great books did you find in your mailbox last week?

BTT: Recent Sad

Continuing on with the 'most recent' theme, this week's Booking Through Thursday question is . . .

What's the saddest book you've read recently?

Well, a few come to mind, but the most sad book was TOMATO GIRL by Jayne Pupek that I read last year. I was literally in tears by the end. Even though it was a sad story about a little girl being forced to grow up way too fast because her parents were not able to take proper care of her for differing reasons, it is one of my all-time favorite books. It sounds strange that such a sad book could be a 'favorite', but this book really moved me, mainly because of Jayne Pupek's extraordinary writing. [Review here]

More recently I read THE LAST BRIDGE by Teri Coyne, another debut novel that blew my socks off! That book grabbed a hold of me and didn't let go. [Review here]

Lastly, DIRTY LITTLE ANGELS by Chris Tusa is a book I just read a few weeks ago. The circumstances of this story about a teenager living in the slums of New Orleans was very sad and shocking at times. This is a great example of contemporary fiction that doesn't hold back. [Review here]

For more BTT responses or to participate in this weekly meme, click here.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

This week I'm planning to finish THE SUMMER KITCHEN by Karen Weinreb, a book I'm beginning to really get in to. It's the perfect book for end of summer. The author and protagonist both love baking and cooking which comes out in the story and as the summer winds into fall, the seasonal baking begins. I also love that time of year, so I'm thoroughly enjoying the backdrop of this novel. I plan to be finished by week's end, with my review coming thereafter.

The other book I've just started and hope to make a good dent in is Charlaine Harris' DEAD UNTIL DARK. As so many of you know, it's the first book in the Sookie Stackhouse Mystery Series. There was a two month wait at my local library for this book, so I'm more than anxious to finally be able to get started. Vampires aren't typically something I read about, but I'm willing to try something new!

Last week I finished and reviewed Chris Tusa's DIRTY LITTLE ANGELS. This was an incredible story and one that I won't soon forget. You can read my review here. Definitely a book to read should you have the opportunity.

To see what other bloggers are reading this week or to participate in this weekly meme, visit J. Kaye's Blog.