Teaser Tuesday (Jan. 6)

Today I'm participating in one of my favorite memes. Teaser Tuesday is hosted weekly by MizB at Should Be Reading. The rules are simple:

• Open your current book to a random page
• Choose 2 teaser sentences to share
• Do NOT include any spoilers
• List the title, author and page number of the book your teasers are from

My Teasers:

I was not a lovable child, and I'd grown into a deeply unlovable adult.  Draw a picture of my soul, and it'd be a scribble with fangs. 

Dark Places by Gillian Flynn

Page One

Stop by Should Be Reading to see who else is playing along today - its a great way to get a glimpse into some really good books that other readers are enjoying! Anyone can play! 

WWW Wednesday (11.26.14)

W...W...W... Wednesdays is a weekly meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. It allows us to share what books are and have been in our lives recently.Anyone can participate -  just answer these 3 simple questions:

• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you'll be reading next?

Here's my answers:

• What am I currently reading?  I've got a few books going right now. One is A BETTER PLACE by Barbara Hall, who is also the Executive Producer of the new CBS drama Madam Secretary. I also just started Stephen King's A GOOD MARRIAGE. I saw the movie trailer and I instantly wanted to read it.  I'm also listening to Billy Crystal's STILL FOOLIN' 'EM, which is a memoir about his life. It is laugh out loud funny!
• What did you recently finish reading? I just finished listening to BIG LITTLE LIES by Liane Moriarty.  My review is here if you'd like to read it. 
• What are you planning to read next?  I want to re-read GARDEN SPELLS by Sarah Addison Allen before FIRST FROST comes out in January. I also want to read BLISS HOUSE by Laura Benedict. The next audiobook I plan to listen to is THE SILENT SISTER by Diane Chamberlain. 
• 
  

WWW Wednesday (April 2)

WWW Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. If you'd like to play along, just answer these 3 questions:

1. What are you currently reading?
2. What did you recently finish reading?
3. What do you think you'll read next?

Here are my answers -

1. What are you currently reading?  Yesterday I started reading the second book from Lucy Clarke that will be published next Tuesday from Harper Collins. A SINGLE BREATH is about Eva, a recent widow who was only married 8 months. She decides to travel to Tasmania to meet her husband, Jackson's, father and brother, but when she gets there, it becomes clear that Jackson was not being honest about his family. I'm only about 15% done but so far I am completely committed to this story and really enjoying it. If it's anything like her first book, SWIMMING AT NIGHT, I'm going to love it. 
   
2. What did you recently finish reading? I finished reading BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR by Jeffrey Archer earlier this week. This is the fourth book in The Clifton Chronicles Series and it was a completely entertaining read. You can read my review here if you like.
   
3. What do you think you'll read next?  I'm pretty sure I'm going to be reading the new novel THE MEMORY GARDEN by Mary Rickert next.  I don't know a lot about it but is sounds very mysterious and that's what I love. 
   

What books are occupying your time this week? 

1. 
   

Its Monday! What Are You Reading?

Happy Monday everyone! This weekly meme is hosted by Sheila at One Person's Journey Through A World of Books.  We discuss what books we've read and what we're planning to read during the week ahead.

Books I read and talked about last week:

Last Tuesday I celebrated the release of Julie Kibler's debut novel, CALLING ME HOME. Its a moving story and I recommend it highly.

I finished reading Sarah Jio's latest novel, BLACKBERRY WINTER. 

I posted my review of THE RIVER WITCH by Kimberly Brock. If you enjoy a little goth in your southern fiction, I'm positive you'd love this novel. You can read my review here.

Books I'll be focusing on this week:

I'll be reading, and hopefully finishing, THE SILENCE OF BONAVENTURE ARROW by Rita Leganski. I'd planned to make a big dent in it last week, but I couldn't keep my nose out of BLACKBERRY WINTER. Anyway, I've heard some really great things about this book and though I'm not far into the story, I am already in love with the locale and the premise. I'm excited to give it my undivided attention. 

In yesterday's mail I was thrilled to find Beth Hoffman's latest, LOOKING FOR ME. As a late-comer to SAVING CEECEE HONEYCUTT, I've vowed I won't make that mistake again. 

Reviews I'll be posting include THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER by Stephen Chbosky, which I am a week late in posting. I'll also have my review for BLACKBERRY WINTER. 

I'm really looking forward to a great week in books and I hope your week is filled with great books as well. Thanks for stopping by!

Booking Through Thursday: Public

This week's Booking Through Thursday asks:

Do you carry books with you when you're out and about in the world?  And, do you ever try to hide the covers?


My Answer:

Yes, I always have a book with me when I'm away from home. When I worked I would read on my lunch hour but even now that I'm unable to work, I still have a book with me at all times. Because I'm unable to drive, I depend on others to help me get around and sometimes that mean having to wait for someone to pick me up. I get a lot of reading done during those times.

No, I've never been ashamed of having people see what I'm reading. I think reading is very under rated and more times than not, people are curious as to what I'm reading. I've even had people say to me that seeing me with a book, encourages them to try to make more time to read. I think that is wonderful. I realize many people don't have as much free time to read as I do, but if the want is there, they'll make time to read even if its for just a few minutes a day.

Now that I have a Kindle, it is even easier for me to take a book along. It fits in my purse easily and I can whip it out anywhere! I believe the more people see other people reading, it can only be a positive influence, so I'm proud to show I'm a Reader!

Musing Mondays: 4.4.11

This week's musing asks:

When you were little did other children tease you about your reading habits?

No, I was never teased about reading as a child. Although I do remember reading a lot at home, especially in the winter months, I was involved in a lot of outdoor activities both in school and away from school. I was also in band and our school took a lot of pride in and put a lot of hard work in our performances, which required many hours of practice. At home, my sister and I had our quarter horses that we showed on weekends that also required a lot of practice. Our parents never had to tell us to go outside because we were out there from sun up to sun down voluntarily every day.

I didn't become what I consider an avid reader until my early 20's and still it was hot and cold. I'd read many books in a row, then wouldn't pick one up for months. After I was married at age 25, and life settled down a bit, I developed an interest in legal dramas and was completely captivated by a newcomer by the name of John Grisham. Since then I have become a bookworm and reading has been a constant in my life. I've also broadened my horizons by reading many genres that I never thought I would enjoy.

As a kid, I always loved carrying any book I was reading around school. And I never felt the slightest bit intimidated by other kids because of it.

Thanks for stopping by for Musing Mondays. For more interesting answers to today's question, please visit Should Be Reading.

Teaser Tuesday: 3.22.11

Hello and thanks for stopping by today for Teaser Tuesday! Its a great way to sneak a peak into some really great books. By now I'm sure you know the rules, so let's get right to the fun. . .

My teasers today are taken from THE LITTLE STRANGER by Sarah Waters. I've had this book on my radar and finally couldn't stand it anymore, so I added it to my Kindle just last week. I love Gothic novels and this one is proving to be just what I wanted it to be. I'm not very far into it yet (only 16%) but already I'm drawn to the characters and mystique of Hundreds Hall. Here are my teasers:

He blinked, mistaking my tone, taking me seriously for a second. Then he met my gaze-met it properly for the first time that day, perhaps for the first time ever; finally 'seeing' me - and he smiled. ~ Location 859-65 Kindle Version

For more teasers or to play along, stop by Should Be Reading every Tuesday.

W.W.W. Wednesdays: 1.12.11

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?

The other day, while browsing the Kindle Store, I came across Joanne Fluke, a writer I've heard so much about yet never read. She writes The Hannah Swensen Mystery Series. Readers have enjoyed her fun bakery murder tales for years and Kindle was offering the first book, THE CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE MURDER for a steal at $2.99, so I grabbed it. It's a fun, light read that I enjoy between books with heaver content. I'm also starting WATER FOR ELEPHANTS this week. This is a book I simply must not put off reading any longer. I have such high expectations and am really looking forward to it.

• What did you recently finish reading?

I finished two books this week. One was BACK CREEK by Leslie Goetsch [Review] and last night I finished THE GOOD THIEF by Hannah Tinti. I'll be posting that review later in the week.

• What do you plan to read next?

Although it isn't set in stone, I'd really like to read THE QUEEN OF PALMYRA by Minrose Gwin.

Be sure to stop by Should Be Reading for more W.W.W. Wednesdays or to play along.

On My Wishlist #1

I came across this fun Saturday Meme while visiting Missy's Book Nook and it is hosted each week by Book Chick City. This is where you list the books that you want badly but haven't bought for one reason or another. They can be new releases, classics or any other type of book you'd like.

Here are a few that I have been wishing for but just haven't gotten them:

• REBECCA by Daphne Du Maurier - Am I the ONLY person left of the planet who hasn't read this classic gothic tale? I certainly feel like it! I'm sure book snobs everywhere are gasping right now. Well, I plan to stop procrastinating and finally add this book to my personal library very soon - in fact, probably this weekend. I just can't take it anymore!

My next Wishlist pick is one that simply has me intrigued. So many people have just loved this series starting with this book and besides, I love a great series!

• THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO by Steig Larsson

Thanks to Missy for introducing me to this new meme! I'm sure I'll have more books to share from my Wishlist in the coming weeks. If you'd like to play along, visit Book Chick City.

Friday Finds: A Thriller

This week my find is what some call a 'Creepy Thriller'. It's called SKIN AND BONES and it's written by D.C. Corso, an author I know nothing about. I ran across this book on a few different blogs this week and it intrigued me. Lately, I've had the urge to read more mysteries and this one sounds great. Here's a little about the book from Amazon -

There are plenty of ways to die in a place like Carver Isle, Washington. There is blood, there is sweat and there is soil, and there are the leaves that wither and fall from the trees, crunching underfoot as they're raked into orderly piles. Fall is never anything more than a season in the small Washington town of Carver Isle - until the first child vanishes. None of them could have known what lay in wait for them, crouched at the end of that darkened hallway of a year. It began just two days after the Twin Towers fell, first with one missing child, and then another. When Parker Kelly returns to Carver Isle, she wonders if her disturbed cousin is involved. After confiding in FBI Special Agent Ash, she realizes that the truth lies buried deep in her past. Together, Parker and Ash must solve a puzzle of deceit and manipulation, exhuming secrets both would rather leave undisturbed.

This book came out last October and most of the reviews I read were favorable. Another thing I like about this book is that it's just 162 pages. That is appealing to me because if it turns out the book wasn't what I thought it would be, I didn't have to read 400+ pages to find out. Are you familiar with this book?

If you have a find you'd like to share, visit MizB at Should Be Reading. She hosts this meme each Friday and anyone is welcome to participate. But I'll warn you, your TBR list is going to grow quickly!

One last thing, I'd like to apologize for the havoc that Blogger is wreaking today with my spacing, fonts etc. The more I try to correct it, the crazier it gets! Anyway, thanks for visiting and have a great weekend!

Teaser Tuesday: Hush by Kate White

To play along each week follow these simple rules -

• Grab your current read and let it fall open to a random page
• Choose 2 sentences to use as teasers
• Do not include any spoilers that may give away the plot
• List the name of the book and page your teasers are taken from

My teasers are coming from HUSH by Kate White. This is a thriller about a marketing consultant whose first lover since her split from her husband has just been murdered. Lake Warren is scared of not only being named a suspect but even more terrified of losing her two young children in a custody dispute. Here's my teasers...

Finally there was someone who could help her dig for the truth. There was no guarantee of Rory coming across anything, but this was a start. It felt like that moment when a nightmare begins to disintegrate from feeling utterly terrifying and you sense for the first time that you've been dreaming. ~ page 273

Teaser Tuesday is hosted graciously each week by MizB at Should Be Reading. Be sure to stop by and catch more interesting and intriguing teasers!

Fifteen Books That Have Stayed With Me

You may have seen this fun book meme floating around the blogs, facebook and other social networking sites. It's my understanding that you're not supposed to take a long time to come up with your list. Off the top of my head, here's the fifteen books that, for one reason or another made an impression on me and stuck with me. it doesn't mean they all are my favorites, just that they are memorable to me. Here they are, obviously, in no particular order.

Start time - 2:59 PM

• The Lord of the Flies by William Golding
• Charlotte's Web by E.B. White
• The Little House on the Prairie series by Laura Engalls Wilder
• To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
• The Bible
• Where Is Joe Merchant? by Jimmy Buffet (?? Don't know why, but this book was a great escape!!)
• In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
• The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
• Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali (Non-Fiction)
• Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry
• Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
• Tomato Girl by Jayne Pupek
• The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
• While Europe Slept: How Radical Islam Is Destroying The West From Within by Bruce Bawer (Non-Fiction)
• The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield

Finish Time - 3:09 PM

If you'd like to participate, or have participated in this meme, leave a comment with the link and I'll include it in mine. It's interesting to see the different answers eveyone has. What books have stayed with you?

Musing Mondays: Gift Certificates

Today's Monday Musing is . . .

Do you give gift certificates as gifts, and if so, are they for a specific store or do you use online stores?  And, do you enjoy receiving gift certificates as a gift? 

My response - 

Let me start by saying it's been three weeks since I've participated in MM and I have missed it! These last three weeks have been crazy for me.  First, my boss had to close his business, so I lost my job, (that's been tough to get through). Then I did some repainting in my house, and last week my washing machine broke and flooded my home office. I finally got things dried out and put back yesterday! What a mess! Anyway, it feels good to get back on track today! 

Now for my answer - I do give (book) gift certificates to some as gifts, but unfortunately, not many of the people in my life are big readers.  Oh, how I wish they were!  Sometimes, though, if I know there is a particular book someone wants, I'll go ahead and get it for them.  I've never given an online gift certificate before.  I usually go to the bookstore and get the gift certificate to stick inside of a card.  And yes, I do receive gift cards as gifts and I LOVE THAT! There is always a book i'm anxious to read, so the card never lasts long!  I've also received online gift certificates and that is very convenient, considering my non-driver status.  Usually they are from Amazon, which I love anyway and I don't have to ask anyone to drive me to the store.  I can take all the time I need to make up my mind right here at my computer.  

I do wish more of the people in my life enjoyed reading as much as I do. It would be great to share all of the wonderful books there are to choose from.  How do you feel about gift certificates?  For more musings, stop by Rebecca's at Just One More Page every Monday!

Facts About My Books

I decided to take a break from my usual Thursday book meme and do something a little different today.  I found this short meme from 2005 on a website called Making Light and thought it was interesting and fun.  I'm not going to tag anyone, but if you'd like to play along, leave me a comment to your post with answers about your books.  OK, here goes . . . 

Number of books I own -

At last count it was 147.  I've recently gone through some older books and traded them at the local used book store, so I'm confident that's an accurate number. 

Last book I bought - 

I bought two books yesterday. They are both by the same author, Kaye Gibbons.  One is  ELLEN FOSTER and the other is the sequel, THE LIFE ALL AROUND ME BY ELLEN FOSTER.  These books may not appeal to everyone as the subject matter, especially in ELLEN FOSTER, is kind of dark, but I enjoy reading edgy, intense stories that make a bold impression.  

Last book I read - 

THE LAST BRIDGE by debut author Teri Coyne.  I read this book in two days, which is unusual for me, but I couldn't put this one down.  It's not a big book, only 225 pages, but again, the content is intense and at times disturbing. (Am I sensing a pattern here?) This book grabs your gut and doesn't let go. At least that's how it was for me. 

Five books that mean a lot to me - (not counting the Bible, which is the most important!)

LONESOME DOVE - I'm a sucker for a great western novel and this is one of the best.  I was completely captivated by the story and group of unforgettable characters. Larry McMurtry is an amazing storyteller.

THE FIRM - When this book came out in 1992 I devoured it. No one had ever heard of John Grisham.  This was his first published novel. (A TIME TO KILL was actually his first novel, but was considered too racial) I told anyone who would listen about this amazing book and that it should be made into a movie.  The rest is history! lol

LORD OF THE FLIES - This was required reading for me in high school and even though I found it to be strange, it opened my eyes to a whole world of literature I hadn't explored at that young age. 

THE THIRTEENTH TALE - I just read this book earlier this year and fell in love with Diane Setterfield's amazing talent.  Her storytelling and prose made a huge impression on me. i just loved it. It is one of my all-time favorite books. 

INFIDEL - This memoir by Ayaan Hirsi Ali had such an impact on me.  I'm close to her age and reading about her life as a young Somali girl in Africa made me so thankful to be an American. Her candor of how she feels about Islam and the Muslim religion opened my eyes and my heart to a culture I previously had been ignorant about.  It's possibly the most astounding book I've ever read and she is undoubtedly a strong and couragous woman.

Ok, now it's your turn!  Don't forget to leave me a comment with a link to your answers.