Teaser Tuesday: 5.11.09

Today I'm taking my teaser sentences from Randy Susan Meyers' debut novel THE MURDERER'S DAUGHTERS. This compelling novel, that came out in January, centers around two sisters, Lulu and Merry, beginning in the early 1970's, and tells the story of how their life changed after their father killed their mother. The story is poignantly told by both of the girl's prospectives.

My teaser -

Hillary's parents greeted me as though I were Anne of Green Gables. I had no plans to take the shine off their impression by telling the truth about me. ~ page 61

For more teasers visit MizB at Should Be Reading.

Musing Mondays: Reading Time

Today's musing is about reading time . . .

Do you have to carve out time for reading due to work or other obligations? Or does your reading just happen naturally? (This question is courtesy of MizB)

My answer -

Up until a year ago when I worked full time, I had to schedule my time to read. I would come home each weekday and read for an hour before I did anything. And on weekends I usually read more in the morning while waking up and drinking coffee before I started my regular chores around the house. Sometimes, I'd read during commercials while watching TV in the evenings or during football games, I'd keep the TV volume low and read and listen to the game at the same time.

When I became unemployed, I thought I was going to have all this free time and I would blaze through books like crazy. But a very wise friend of mine, Dar, told me that that may not happen. She said even when you stay at home, something always pops up that will take you away from your reading. And boy, was she right! In the first few months of not working I barely got any reading done at all. It seemed there was always some thing or another that kept me away from my books. It was hard to believe I got more reading done while working, I guess because of the schedule I set for myself.

Fortunately, I'm into more of a schedule now and I'm starting to get some real reading done. I still love reading in the early morning and I also try to set aside an hour or two each day in the afternoon to read. Although that doesn't always work out. Night reading is difficult because my eyes are more tired and I usually fall asleep on the first page. Sunday afternoons provide me with some free time as well. I know this sounds crazy, but I feel guilty when I read all afternoon because I feel like I should be doing something (other than reading). I suppose that comes from working all my life and feeling like a slacker for sitting around reading all day. I told you it was crazy!

So it seems I'm getting back to the schedule I used when working. I still also carry a book with me everywhere I go in case I can steal a few minutes here and there.

Do you schedule your reading or do you just do it when you feel like it? Visit Just One More Page for more Monday Musings.

The Sunday Salon: Happy Mothers Day!

What a beautiful day it is outside on this Mothers Day! It hasn't gotten so hot yet that I have to crank up the A/C, so I have the windows open and the breeze is blowing through the house. My sister's birthday was yesterday, so we had a joint celebration at our parents house with some family and friends. It was a wonderful day and we all had a great time and ate lots of good food. I'd like to wish all of the Mothers out there in the blogosphere a Happy Mothers Day and hope that you have a day filled with love and family.

I didn't have as productive a week in books as I'd like to have had, but I did manage to finish ON FOLLY BEACH by Karen White. The book hit shelves on May 4 and I'm sure it's going to be a big hit for her. I'll be posting my review mid-week, so please stop back by and check it out.

I picked up a book from the library yesterday that I'm anxious to start reading. It's THE MURDERER'S DAUGHTERS by Randy Susan Meyers. This is a debut novel that came out early this year and is getting fantastic reviews. I had requested it a couple months ago and it became available the day I finished ON FOLLY BEACH, which was perfect.

I'm looking forward to spending the day at home today splitting my time between reading my book and catching up on my blog reading. I have some shrimp marinating to grill later for an early dinner along with some fresh veggies I picked up at the produce market the other day. I can't think of a better way to spend the day. What are your plans this Mothers Day?

Teaser Tuesday 5.4.10

It's Tuesday once again and time for a teaser! I'm taking my teasers again from Karen White's new book ON FOLLY BEACH which is being released today! This book has sucked me in and I almost hate to see it end. I'll be finishing it today and will have my review later in the week. So here are my teasers:

Maggie had loved the beach and the ocean, and even though they'd never found her body, it gave Lulu some consolation to know that she was buried under the blanket of her beloved Atlantic. And every once in a while, she wondered if Maggie's spirit knew that the waiting was finally over. ~page 177

Be sure to visit MizB at Should Be Reading for many more teasers from great books being read this week.

Mailbox Monday

Mailbox Monday is hosted each week by Marcia at The Printed Page. This is where we share what books we found in our mailboxes in the past week.

I received an advanced copy of THE ETERNAL ONES by Kirstin Miller last week from Nicole at AuthorsOnTheWeb. This is a Young Adult novel about past lives and reincarnation. Here's the blurb from Amazon -

Haven Moore can't control her visions of a past with a boy called Ethan, and a life in New York that ended in fiery tragedy. In our present, she designs beautiful dresses for her classmates with her best friend Beau. Dressmaking keeps her sane, since she lives with her widowed and heartbroken mother in her tyrannical grandmothers house in Snope City, a tiny town in Tennessee. Then an impossible group of coincidences conspire to force her to flee to New York, to discover who she is, and who she was.

In New York, Haven meets Iain Morrow and is swept into an epic love affair that feels both deeply fated and dangerous. Iain is suspected of murdering a rock star and Haven wonders, could he have murdered her in a past life? She visits the Ouroboros Society and discovers a murky world of reincarnation that stretches across millennia. Haven must discover the secrets hidden in her past lives, and loves before all is lost and the cycle begins again.

Wow! Sounds like an interesting premise to me! What did you find in your mailbox last week?

The Sunday Salon:

Happy May everyone! It's hard to believe we're in the fifth month of the year already. Last week was a blur to me, but it was a wonderful week. I had visits from two special people in my life. One was my cousin I hadn't seen in over a year. We spent the whole day together, starting with breakfast at our favorite coffeehouse then we hit the stores, including the new DSW store where I got the coolest wedged-heeled sandals! On Thursday I spent some time with my high school best friend who I hadn't seen in fifteen years! She lives in Texas and was in Orlando on business. Luckily, she was able to sneak away and drive to Ocala for a few hours to see me. We had a wonderful time catching up with each other. This past week was one of the best I've had in a while.

Although i had a lot going on, I was still able to have a good book week too. I started off on Monday with my review of HUSH by Kate White. I also participated in Teaser Tuesday, with a sneak peek at my current read ON FOLLY BEACH by Karen White. And on Wednesday I spotlighted a yet-to-be-released book I'm really anxious to read on 'Waiting On' Wednesday. This new book has magical realism elements that I love that reminds me of Sarah Addison Allen's books.

I also received an interesting ARC in the mail this week. It's called THE ETERNAL ONES by Kirstin Miller. This book involves reincarnation and past lives. I'm anxious to see what it's all about.

I'm looking forward to a much calmer week ahead and I plan to finish ON FOLLY BEACH. What a great book to read in the Spring! I'm noticing some differences in her writing from her Tradd Street books, which I really love. But I'll talk more about that once I finish the book.

For now, I'm off to go make an iced coffee and grab my book. The warm weather has definitely arrived so I may have to break down and turn the A/C on today. It is supposed to be in the 90's again. I hope you have a relaxing Sunday and that you get a chance to spend some quality time with your current book.

On My Wishlist - A Russian Classic

This week I'm only featuring one book 'On My Wishlist'. I think it warrants a space all it's own. This is a book that some believe is the 'single greatest novel ever written'. It is Tolstoy's ANNA KARENINA. I can't say whether I think it is because first of all, I haven't read it and secondly, I'm totally unqualified to make that judgement, but I am dying to get myself a copy and read it for myself. Maybe this will be the year I finally tackle that goal.

There are so many printings and versions of this classic love story and that is another reason I think I have put it off along with the fact that it completely intimidates me. But I've decided on the one used in Oprah's Book Club. If it's good enough for Oprah . . . Have you read this classic Russian novel? If so, what did you think of it?

What book is topping your Wishlist today? On My Wishlist is hosted each Saturday by Book Chick City.