tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33998594226677653972023-06-15T09:08:30.781-05:00Not Now...I'm ReadingYears ago I asked a good friend how she found time to read.
She replied "Ang, you find time for the things you love." It stuck with me.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07149104318536305196noreply@blogger.comBlogger256125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3399859422667765397.post-8580945265682138052017-09-01T11:56:00.001-05:002017-09-01T12:03:32.322-05:00Faith Bass Darling’s Last Garage Sale by Lynda Rutledge<div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-5e9d86c8-3b76-f312-8783-80dad495febf" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit, serif; font-size: 9pt;">We
vacationed in August and I had a very good month of reading! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit, serif; font-size: 9pt;">I always
tell people that I rarely reread books, but I've been rereading a lot recently,
and so my happiness is to be expected, since I'm rereading books that I
previously enjoyed. You'll see my reviews reflect the weight of most of these
being old favorites. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit, serif; font-size: 9pt;">I read 7
books; 4 were rereads, 3 were new to me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit, serif; font-size: 9pt;">I’ll post
my reviews separately.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 9pt;">Faith Bass Darling’s Last Garage Sale</span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 9pt;">by Lynda Rutledge</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit, serif; font-size: 9pt;">4*</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit, serif; font-size: 9pt;">A reliable friend recommended this book to me when I was seeking a humorous book to read.
I continued to wonder why for quite a long time. Stick with it; there is a
punch line. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit, serif; font-size: 9pt;">Set in Texas on New Year's Eve of 1999, this book explores the long-standing broken
relationship between a mother and daughter. Relationships are mended, and
restarted as a mysterious set of events unravels alongside the mind of the
sundowning matriarch of the Bass family. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 9pt;">I like to imagine books as movies, and I enjoy playing casting director. For this cast of</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit, serif; font-size: 9pt;">characters I would pick Diane Lane to play Claudia Darling, Dulé Hill as John
Jasper Johnson, and Dina Spybey-Waters as Bobbie Ann Blankenship. Faith Darling
would obviously be played by Cloris Leachman.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit, serif; font-size: 9pt;">A friend
just told me that this IS being made into a movie; I can't wait to see it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07149104318536305196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3399859422667765397.post-16581441131028057162017-09-01T11:46:00.003-05:002017-09-01T11:46:38.366-05:00When our oldest son was a junior in high school, he took English Literature AP. It wasn't his favorite subject, by far...in fact it may have been his least favorite. Hubs and I, however, felt he needed to gain the discipline and growth which should be the side effects of taking the class. We've since changed our mind about this particular class. Our oldest two children have supported their argument that our high school's teacher of this class elevates her status as an AP teacher and revels in making her class hell for the kids, compared to the professors at our junior college. Hubs and I have attended curriculum nights at our high school, and just this week we concluded that we would pull our current junior out of the class because this teacher directly tells parents that her class is more important than any of the kids' other classes. Enough said. If a teacher has no compassion for her students, she shouldn't be teaching.<br />
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I should let my readers know that my fascination with books and words and editing has only been alive since adulthood. I was not a reader in school. One day, in high school, I remember it vividly...I was b.o.r.e.d. Algebra 2 or Trigonometry class; I'd finished my homework already, like the good girl that I was. I looked around to see what others were doing to prevent themselves from falling alseep. I saw that a few of the smart girls were reading books. They were reading books...for pleasure.<br />
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I had to get to the bottom of that.<br />
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I decided to look at the titles of the books and do a bit of my own research. The next time I was near a bookstore I popped in and bought myself my first paperback. I read it and actually enjoyed it. (It was V C Andrews' Flowers in the Attic.)<br />
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As an adult I began homeschooling our first two children when they were ages 2 and 3. Just before that I was inspired by a dear friend I am still close to. Tami was telling us about a book or books she'd been reading. I commented in disbelief that she could find the time to read as a mom who was also busy running her husband's business from their home. (She's gone on to do even greater things and continues to inspire me.)<br />
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Her reply to me was my inspiration to begin reading as an adult and also my inspiration for this blog:<br />
"Ang...you find time for the things you love."<br />
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Since then I've been reading and loving it.<br />
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So...back to the point of this post.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i>What makes a good reader?</i></span><br />
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Our son's teacher asked them to read this:<br />
<a href="http://www.ridge414.com/files/Nabokov_Good_Readers_Good_Writers_1_.pdf">Good Readers and Good Writers by Vladimir Nabokov</a><br />
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I want to discuss Nabokov's thoughts. I approach my discussion of his wise words with the fact that for the past few months I've been developing a particular belief or thesis of my own. "<i>Why is good writing lauded and revered whereas good reading is ignored? Do not both have their virtues? Good writers can not exist without good readers."</i><br />
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I love that Nabokov sums up his response as being a sort of "Kindness to Authors". I have decided that as a reader it is easy to be negative about a person's writing. I think that writing, and no less~ reading~ are very personal endeavors. It's easy to be a critic. I try very hard to keep my blog positive. I post mostly positive reviews. I want to share what I feel are really great books. I want to discuss them at depth. I want to hear how they affected other readers.<br />
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I previously had little appreciation for fiction. I considered it fluff; twaddle, as Charlotte Mason would have labeled it. In fact, my homeschooling is what changed that impression. The curriculum we mainly used, Sonlight, is based on literature; fiction, historically-based fiction, and non fiction. Those stories drew me in and created, for me, the ability to develop an appreciation for adult fiction. I like to think of them as stories for adults, for that is what they really are. Some days I just want to be lost in a good story. I want to suspend reality and all the natural laws that go with it. Nabokov says that preconceived notions are detrimental. I agree. Of course a book is about a particular main topic but it is also about so many more little things too. Nabokov points out that all writing creates a new world. I think this is so true, especially in fiction. I found that I did that very thing when I read The Magicians and Mrs. Quent. <a href="http://boundtogetherforgood.blogspot.com/2011/03/magicians-and-mrs-quent-by-galen.html">My Review of The Magicians and Mrs. Quent by Galen Beckett</a> I feel we should respect the fact that the world created by a writer doesn't have to follow the laws of real life. This is most true in fictional writing of course.<br />
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We are asked if we can ever rely on the image painted of a time or place in a piece of writing. All I can say is that from my experience living in England I am swayed to believe that Miss Austen, in particular, knew something about her subjects. Even if it wasn't everyone's reality it was her reality. It was life the way she saw it. Even while we were living there I could still see things that were obvious outgrowth of their social system and mores in the Victorian era. While I think we must be careful of believing that everything we read represents truth, especially historical fiction, I also think that we can discern some truths from it.<br />
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I love the way he compares the differences between geniuses and minor authors! A genius writer is able to create something someone else has never imagined; able to cause you to imagine a form of it too! <i>I want to be the "happy reader" atop that mountain embracing the "master artist", together viewing the masterpiece!</i><br />
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Nabokov asks readers to pick from ten attributes the ones they believe make a good reader. I chose the exact ones he wanted his readers to choose. As I made the choices I tried to envision what my answers might have been if I were a young, inexperienced student, sitting in one of his lectures. I believe my life experiences and the fact that I read for pleasure and not from a sense of coercion enabled me to decide upon those attributes with a firmness I'd have not possessed back then. Today, even if he disagreed with me I'd have been able to substantiate my choices by backing them with clear and concise reasoning. As a reader I possess imagination. I enjoy trying to catch the author's vision. As far as memory is concerned, I regularly try to improve my memory. Since I own an ereader and use it for most of my reading I don't have to dog-ear the pages of my books or take copious hand-written notes; instead, I bookmark the passages that have great meaning to me and I type my notes in so that I may return to them later. My NOOK has an inherent dictionary. In fact, I am not that impressed with it. I have found many words that are not in the dictionary used by Barnes and Noble. I have voiced my concern over this issue, asking that they align with a more comprehensive dictionary. Artistic sense? I think I possess that attribute. I am certainly very left-brained but I still attempt paintings when the mood possess me, as well as trying to pull together a household atmosphere that, I hope, evokes one of comfort for my husband, our five children, myself, and occasional guests. I think artistic sense sort of goes hand in hand with having an imagination.<br />
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We are told that the first reading of a book is a process and that the brain is the only instrument we possess which can interpret it. Having lived in Europe and at the same time taking painting classes, as well as possessing a strong attachment to the Impressionists I feel that I tend to spend more evaluating a painting than he believes most first-time viewers do. Still, the amount of time it takes to digest a painting is far less than the amount of time it takes to ingest a written work!<br />
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Nabokov firmly believes that a book can make such an impression as to change the demeanor of a reader. If one is not changed by that which he reads, what then is the point I ask? I love that he asserts that a reader should use his imagination in his efforts to read, equal to that of the effort put forth by the writer. This is how I generally read. I take, at times, copious notes. I want to be able to refer to them and know what went through my mind upon reading meaningful passages. I find it incredibly interesting if different passages speak to me upon rereadings.<br />
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It is imperative to read in a manner that is both aloof and involved all at the same time, according to Nabokov. He wises for readers to read with a slight bent toward science while also possessing the imagination that is practically diametrically opposed. I feel that I do this most of the time. I used to struggle with watching films that involved time travel. I would sit and watch the film while inwardly arguing with myself about the impossibilities of the concept. (Case in point, the Back to the Future trilogy.) Upon reading The Time Traveler's Wife, however, I was so drawn into the world created by Audrey Niffenegger that I pushed myself to forget the impossibilities and live in the moment. No...if I am honest, I actually, probably did not even have to push myself that hard. Niffenegger drew me in so deeply that I found that I actually began to wonder...<i>what if </i>there really were a genetic disorder which could cause displacement in time! Yes. I became a believer. For a moment. That's all that is really necessary; even a brief reprieve from reality.<br />
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It is implied that the art of literature occurs when something unexpected in fact occurs. Deception, according to Nabokov, is the hook that draws us in. The character in the story can even take on a life of his own and be the one who appears to grab the attention of the reader.<br />
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I agree with Nabokov that a writer must possess three abilities, those of: storyteller, teacher, and enchanter with enchanter needing to be the strongest ability for genius to show through. Truth can be beheld but one can be mesmerized at the same time if the story is woven with just the right ingredients.<br />
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The ideas expressed by Nabokov ring expressly true with me. They resonate in my innermost being. Yes, as in many readers, there is that part of me that believes there is something that is supposed to be written by me. Sometimes I believe that it is my story of how one can manage to quite happily move a large family across an ocean. I would love to share the details of that in order to help others. Conversely to that, though, I am happy to be a <i>good </i>reader; the best I can be.<br />
Colossians 3:23<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #f9fdff; color: #001320;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">And whatsoever ye do, do </span><i style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">it</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"> heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;</span></span></span><br />
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<img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=notimre-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0156027755" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07149104318536305196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3399859422667765397.post-75043767986952307792015-10-28T16:04:00.001-05:002015-10-28T16:04:25.708-05:00I'm sorry I've not been around here lately.<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Our daughter Marlo is now 19. In 2011 she was diagnosed with a rare disorder, CRPS. She went into remission the falll of 2014, and her pain was manageable for about a year. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">October 2013 her pain sky-rocketed and she began having all sorts of crazy, seemingly-unrelated symptoms. Eventually I found answers. I requested testing be done by a particular lab; no one listened to me.<br /><br />Fast-forward to last week...Marlo was diagnosed with Lyme Disease and Bartonella, a co-infection of Lyme. She is now on two antibiotics. Lyme and Bartonella often take months or years to eradicate; the longer one has had them, the longer it may take to heal.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">We do not know what our insurance may or may not cover for her treatment. So far, in treating her pain disorder (CRPS) we have spent no less than $30,000 this year. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">If you would consider donating, it would bless us. If you can't donate, your prayers for healing are very much coveted.<br /><br />https://www.gofundme.com/MarloCRPS/</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07149104318536305196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3399859422667765397.post-67565788487572800402015-03-02T05:45:00.000-06:002015-03-02T05:45:00.151-06:00<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">As Chimney Sweepers Come to Dust: a Flavia de Luce Novel by Alan Bradley 2.5 *Buy the book through Amazon Prime<a href="http://www.amazon.com/As-Chimney-Sweepers-Come-Dust/dp/0345539931/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1425246367&sr=8-1&keywords=as+chimney+sweepers+come+to+dust">(Click here to view the book through Amazon Prime)</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I have pretty much loved all of the previous six books in
Alan Bradley's Flavia De Luce book series. This seventh book fell flat, though.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Upon closing the book and going to sleep I was left
thinking, "What? What just happened?” I could not reconcile how he had
chosen to wrap up the story. I was bewildered by many points.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So, Flavia is thrown into life at a boarding school in
Canada. Relationships among the girls never develop; neither do great
antagonisms, though one would expect both. The Headmistress is never fully
fleshed out either, I suppose in an attempt to keep up the mysteries of The
Nide. But, here Flavia is to begin her training. Shouldn’t we learn something
about the mysterious society? Wait a minute…shouldn’t <i>FLAVIA</i> at least learn something about it?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> I had difficulty
understanding how three different people were involved in the dead woman’s untimely
demise in two different and separate instances (at least that’s how I am
understanding it). Are we to believe that no one smelled the body as it
decayed? There was a murder. No one was up in arms over it. Are we expected to
care about it?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Brazenose’s disappearance and her undercover return amongst
her schoolmates and sister were perplexing to say the least and I still can’t
figure out the reason for any of that. Are we to believe that her sister didn’t
recognize her voice, her features; that no one I the busy boarding school ever
happened upon her with her makeup removed? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Bradley didn't develop any of Flavia’s mother’s amazing
history though he could have. A foray into her mother’s past would have given
him the ability to weave an engaging story within a story. As it is, the torch
was never really passed to Flavia. We are left with her feeling unusually
insecure and with the thought that she will be returning to home in England. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">None
of this fits with what I’ve come to expect from Bradley’s writing. I am
disappointed.</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07149104318536305196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3399859422667765397.post-68502139654217473222014-12-31T20:20:00.001-06:002014-12-31T20:20:48.676-06:00<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here we are at the end of the year 2014.<br /><br />Did you read any great books?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I may actually still finish one or two books tonight but here is my list for the year:<br /><br /><span data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$0:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;">27 books, </span><span data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$2:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;">total</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$3:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;" /><span data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$4:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;">7 - 5.0*</span><br data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$5:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;" /><span data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$6:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;">4 - 4.5*</span><br data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$7:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;" /><span data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$8:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;">9 – 4.0*</span><br data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$9:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;" /><span data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$10:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;">7 - 3.5*</span><br data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$11:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;" /><span data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$12:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;">---</span><br data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$13:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;" /><span data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$14:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;">8 Memoirs</span><br data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$15:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;" /><span data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$16:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;">4 Adult</span><br data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$17:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;" /><span data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$18:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;">Fiction</span><br data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$19:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;" /><span data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$20:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;">5 Non</span><br data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$21:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;" /><span data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$22:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;">Fiction</span><br data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$23:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;" /><span data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$24:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;">4 Young </span><span data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$26:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;">Adult Fiction</span><br data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$27:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;" /><span data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$28:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;">1 Children’s</span><br data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$29:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;" /><span data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$30:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;">4 graphic novels</span><br data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$31:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;" /><br data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$33:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;" /><span data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$34:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;">Findings: I really don’t like graphic novels. I still enjoy a well written Young Adult novel. I love memoirs.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$35:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;" /><br data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$37:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;" /><span data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$38:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;">January 2014</span><br data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$39:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;" /><br data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$41:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;" /><span data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$42:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;">Still Foolin' 'Em: Where I've Been, Where I'm Going, and Where the Hell Are My Keys?, Billy Crystal 4.5* </span><br data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$43:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;" /><br data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$45:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;" /><span data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$46:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;">What's So Funny?: My Hilarious Life, Tim Conway 4.0*</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$47:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;" /><br data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$49:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;" /><span data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$50:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;">February 2014</span><br data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$51:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;" /><br data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$53:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;" /><span data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$54:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;">Cave Paintings to Picasso: The Inside Scoop on 50 Art Masterpieces,</span><br data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$55:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;" /><span data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$56:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;">Henry M Sayre, 5.0*</span><br data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$57:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;" /><br data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$59:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;" /><span data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$60:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;">The Dead in Their Vaulted Arches: A Flavia de Luce Novel, Alan</span><br data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$61:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;" /><span data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$62:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;">Bradley, 4.5*</span><br data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$63:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;" /><br /><br data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$65:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;" /><span data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$66:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;">March 2014</span><br data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$67:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;" /><br data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$69:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;" /><span data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$70:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;">Mouseton Abbey, Nick Page, 4.0*</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$71:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;" /><br data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$73:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;" /><span data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$74:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;">April 2014</span><br data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$75:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;" /><br data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$77:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;" /><span data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$78:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;">The Life and Times of Call the Midwife: The Official Companion to Season</span><br data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$79:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;" /><br data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$81:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;" /><span data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$82:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;">One and Two, Heidi Thomas, 5.0*</span><br data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$83:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;" /><br data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$85:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;" /><span data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$86:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;">Call the Midwife: A Memoir of Birth, Joy, and Hard Times,</span><br data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$87:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;" /><span data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$88:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;">Jennifer Worth, 5.0*</span><br data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$89:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;" /><br /><br data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$91:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;" /><span data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$92:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;">May 2014</span><br data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$93:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;" /><br data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$95:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;" /><span data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$96:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;">Greetings from Nowhere, Barbara O’Connor, 4.0*</span><br data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$97:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;" /><br data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$99:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;" /><span data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$100:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;">Call the Midwife: Shadows of the Workhouse by Jennifer Worth, 5.0</span><br data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$101:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;" /><br data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$103:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;" /><span data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$104:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;">Call the Midwife: Farewell to the East End, Jennifer Worth,</span><br data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$105:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;" /><span data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$106:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;">5.0*</span><br data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$107:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;" /><br data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$109:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;" /><span data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$110:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;">Hollow City (Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children), Ransom</span><br data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$111:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;" /><span data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$112:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;">Riggs, 4.0*</span><br data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$113:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;" /><br data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$115:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;" /><span data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$116:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;">The Potty Mouth at the Table, Laurie Notaro, 3.5*</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$117:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;" /><br data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$119:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;" /><span data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$120:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;">July 2014</span><br data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$121:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;" /><br data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$123:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;" /><span data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$124:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;">Lessons from the Mountain, Mary McDonough, 4.5*</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$125:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;" /><br data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$127:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;" /><span data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$128:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;">August 2014</span><br data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$129:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;" /><br data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$131:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;" /><span data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$132:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;">The Girl Who Saved the King of Sweden: A Novel, Jonas</span><br data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$133:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;" /><span data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$134:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;">Jonasson, 4.0*</span><br data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$135:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;" /><br data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$137:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;" /><span data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$138:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;">I Kill the Mockingbird, Paul Acampora, 4.0*</span><br data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$139:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;" /><br data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$141:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;" /><span data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$142:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;">Talking Pictures: Images and Messages Rescued from the Past,</span><br data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$143:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;" /><span data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$144:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;">Ransom Riggs, 4.0*</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$145:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;" /><br data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$147:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;" /><span data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$148:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;">September 2014</span><br data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$149:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;" /><br data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$151:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;" /><span data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$152:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;">The Walking Dead, Vol. 1: Days Gone Bye, Robert Kirkman, 3.5*</span><br data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$153:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;" /><br data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$155:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;" /><span data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$156:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;">Outlander, Diana Gabaldon, 4.5*</span><br data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$157:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;" /><br data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$159:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;" /><span data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$160:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;">The Walking Dead, Vol. 2: Miles Behind Us, Robert Kirkman, 3.5*</span><br data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$161:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;" /><br data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$163:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;" /><span data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$164:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;">The Walking Dead, Vol. 3: Safety Behind Bars,Robert Kirkman, 3.5*</span><br data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$165:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;" /><br /><br data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$167:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;" /><span data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$168:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;">October 2014</span><br data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$169:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;" /><br data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$171:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;" /><span data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$172:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;">The Walking Dead, Vol. 4: The Heart's Desire, Robert Kirkman, 3.5*</span><br data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$173:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;" /><br data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$175:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;" /><span data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$176:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;">As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride, Cary Elwes, 4.0*</span><br data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$177:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;" /><br /><br data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$179:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;" /><span data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$180:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;">November 2014</span><br data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$181:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;" /><br data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$183:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;" /><span data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$184:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;">Somewhere Safe with Somebody Good: The New Mitford Novel (A Mitford Novel), Jan Karon, 4.0*</span><br data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$185:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;" /><br data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$187:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;" /><span data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$188:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;">Popular: Vintage Wisdom for a Modern Geek (A Memoir), May Van Wagenen, 5.0*</span><br data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$189:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;" /><br data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$191:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;" /><span data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$192:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;">The Word Snoop, Ursula Dubosarsky, 3.5*</span><br data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$193:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;" /><br /><br data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$195:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;" /><span data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$196:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;">December 2014</span><br data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$197:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;" /><br data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$199:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;" /><span data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$200:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;">Lost Moon: The Perilous Voyage of Apollo 13, Jim Lovell, 5.0*</span><br data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$201:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;" /><br data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$203:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;" /><span data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$204:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;">Who is Tom Ditto?, Danny Wallace, 3.5*</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$204:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$204:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span data-reactid=".e.1:3:1:$comment949191281777347_949191468443995:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$204:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 13.9636354446411px;">This was actually my second time reading Lovell's memoir. I read it with our 13 year old son over the course of a few years. His retention is remarkable so it is fine that we read from it only a couple times a month. I highly recommend it.</span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07149104318536305196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3399859422667765397.post-40205976120145388092014-10-21T17:11:00.004-05:002014-10-21T17:14:48.723-05:00The science of comprehension as it relates to reading actual books versus ebooks...<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I just read an article about comprehension. A couple years ago I think I would have been skeptical of the findings. These days I am thinking that I agree with the article.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I do find that my vision pattern is not the same when I read an article on my iphone. I find that my reading is very "skippy". I don't track well. Why? My theory is that I am looking for "just the facts, Ma'am". I want instant gratification from online articles.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I haven't paid much attention to how I read an ebook on my Kindle or nook ereaders though. Lately, the books that I've been reading are from a favorite series or they are titles that I anticipate wanting to keep or wanting to lend and so I've been buying and reading actual printed books and not ebooks, for the most part.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've also found that my brain power has ebbed a bit the past couple of years. I do not think it is a coincidence that I have read less the last couple years. We will choose not to pay heed to the fact that time rolls on and I have a birthday tomorrow. I'm sure age has nothing to do with it. </span></span><br />
<says 29="" eternally="" is="" p="" she="" turning="" who=""><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
http://mic.com/articles/99408/science-has-great-news-for-people-who-read-actual-books<br />
<br />
What say you?</span><br />
</says>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07149104318536305196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3399859422667765397.post-56357561550375548242014-10-01T23:23:00.001-05:002014-10-21T17:28:01.444-05:00Outlander (book 1) by Diana Gabaldon<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was aware of this series of books for a long time. I don't recall why I didn't begin reading them while we were living in England. So many of my friends have read them. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Starz network just began airing a television series portraying the events of the books. That got my attention. I knew I needed to read the books before watching the series. Time to get started!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I wanted to hurry up and begin so I bought the Kindle eBook and received an offer to buy the audiobook at a reduced price. I'm so very glad I bought the audio version. It was fantastic to hear the Scottish reader's accent and pronunciation as I read along. The ability to listen along whilst driving was a boon as I had many appointments this month. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Claire is the main character of this series. The book opens by introducing us to her. She lives in England in 1943. She and her husband have spent the past five years apart, both serving in the war effort; him as a commander and her as a nurse. Finding themselves suddenly back together they head off on a getaway to get to know each other again. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On the trip, her husband plans to continue some research of his family's history. One night the two of them venture off to secretly observe a midnight ritual at the stone henge in Craigh na Dun, Scotland. The next day Claire returns to the henge to gather some unusual flowers. As she does so she touches the main stone and is inexplicably transported though time. She ends up in 1743 and the story brings along Jamie Fraser. That's where things really become interesting.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I really enjoy a good story. This one has great depth; I can already tell that some seemingly small things that have happened in the book are going to turn out to have great significance later. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I plan to continue reading this series, and watching the show. The filming of it is spectacular but the portrayal of the characters is even better. Caitriona Balfe plays Claire and Sam Heughan is Jamie. The chemistry between the two of them is spot on. (Parental Guidance recommended) <a href="http://smile.amazon.com/Outlander-20th-Anniversary-Collectors-Novel/dp/0440423201/ref=sr_1_1_title_2_har?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1412223394&sr=1-1&keywords=outlander">Outlander by Diana Gabaldon, available at Amazon</a></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07149104318536305196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3399859422667765397.post-83995955745694797972014-08-05T22:45:00.001-05:002014-08-05T22:46:24.261-05:00My Lucky Life In and Out of Show Business: A Memoir by Dick van Dyke <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Ahhhh...Dick van Dyke. He makes me swoon. Looks and laughter all packaged together. I find it interesting that Mary Tyler Moore is the celebrity crush of one of my brothers. <br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Dick manages to tell his story without really telling tales for the most part. The things he does tell seem to be common knowledge, at least of certain people, if not myself. <br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />He starts from his earliest memories. I like a memoir that does that. It gives one the sense for how a life has changed over time. He grew up in the same general area where my dad grew up. His story carries on through the date of publishing, which was 2011. <br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />There is only one facet of his life that made me sad. He had an affair while still married to his first wife. He never exactly states that it was absolutely a wrong thing to do, either. I think he realizes that it was. I think he also must realize that he'd never have had his second (happier) marriage though, if things hadn't happened the way they did. Perhaps that is why he never comes out and says he regrets his actions exactly. <br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Following the end of his book, I am aware that he has since married a makeup artist. She is many years his junior but they seem to be very happily married. I wish them many happy years together.</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AMm_CmQ-y_w/U-GkrOkBRHI/AAAAAAAAAiA/d5au4q9Iu1I/s1600/image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AMm_CmQ-y_w/U-GkrOkBRHI/AAAAAAAAAiA/d5au4q9Iu1I/s1600/image.jpg" height="320" width="210" /></a></span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07149104318536305196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3399859422667765397.post-52165143129585984952014-07-27T00:31:00.001-05:002014-07-27T23:53:42.766-05:00Lessons from the Mountain by Mary McDonough<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">When I was a child our family often gathered to watch Hee Haw and The Waltons together. I've been watching The Waltons with a couple of our kids recently, thanks to Netflix. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As for books, I love memoirs and autobiographies. After reading Confessions of a Prairie Bitch by Alison Arngrim, Mary McDonough's book Lessons from the Mountain came to my attention. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The book happens to have reached me on two very different levels. The first, of course, has to do with the part of her life during which she played Erin Walton. The second has to do with her fight against Lupus. One of our children is fighting a neurological disorder, and is struggling with some additional issues also. I was fascinated by both parts of the book. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Waltons' cast seems to have been a rare one that really got along as if they were family and loved each other. Mary grew up on the show. Fortunately, she avoided many of the typical pitfalls that many actors succumb to. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I'm glad I read her book. I'm also glad to be watching the show again. We are in season three of nine. I'd like to visit the Walton's Mountain Museum someday: </span></span><a href="http://www.waltonmuseum.org/">http://www.waltonmuseum.org/</a></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07149104318536305196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3399859422667765397.post-32568569002221066692013-12-02T13:21:00.001-06:002014-07-27T23:28:33.040-05:00Are you looking for an eReader for yourself or someone else this Christmas?<a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/u/Black-Friday-Cyber-Monday-Deals/379003308?r=1&cm_mmc=Facebook-_-NOOK-_-product_page-_-black_Friday_cyber_Monday">http://www.barnesandnoble.com/u/Black-Friday-Cyber-Monday-Deals/379003308?r=1&cm_mmc=Facebook-_-NOOK-_-product_page-_-black_Friday_cyber_Monday</a><br />
<br />
I just saw this great deal pop up on my Facebook. It is the NOOK that includes the adjustable reading light. This eReader can, therefore, be used in sunny conditions or in darkness. Sounds like a winner to me though I haven't actually seen this version in person.<br />
<br />
$49 is a great deal.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07149104318536305196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3399859422667765397.post-6376884025014682212012-12-11T19:38:00.000-06:002014-07-27T23:29:12.578-05:00My friend's giveaway!If you enjoy good wine, visit my friend and sign up for the giveaway!<br />
<br />
<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; white-space: nowrap;">http://www.notasupermom.com/california-wine-club-giveaway/</span><br />
<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; white-space: nowrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; white-space: nowrap;">Sorry, I haven't blogged about books for a long time. I'll get back to it as soon as I'm able. </span><br />
<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; white-space: nowrap;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07149104318536305196noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3399859422667765397.post-83661506059986767002012-04-16T11:24:00.000-05:002014-07-27T23:30:05.586-05:00Reading in bed?<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you're like me you read as often as you are able and wherever you are able.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So far, I use my LightWedge for reading in low-light conditions.</span><br />
<a href="http://www.lightwedge.com/Shop/Lightwedge/LightWedge-Paperback-Book-Light?gclid=CP6aovXiua8CFYe5Kgodhn_hjA"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">LightWedge</span></a><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">However, Barnes and Noble has just come out with a NOOK Simple Touch that is lighted.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.9news.com/news/article/263270/344/New-Nook-lets-you-read-in-the-dark-or-on-the-beach">Lighted NOOK Simple Touch</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When will I take that plunge?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yes, I will probably want to upgrade to this eventually. It would mean that I wouldn't have to carry my LightWedge with me or anticipate my need of it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />I am eager to see it in the store...</span><br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07149104318536305196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3399859422667765397.post-35094728954489733722012-03-18T04:00:00.000-05:002014-07-27T23:31:29.639-05:00Shopgirl by Steve Martin<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Steve Martin is a favorite of mine. He can make me laugh any day. Let him show up in one of my dreams and well, that'll make my day. In fact, he made a guest appearance in one of my dreams just the other day. I crack myself up that way.<br /><br />Anyway, this IS that Steve Martin: comedian, actor, banjo-player-extraordinaire. This novella isn't a laugh a minute. It's a thoughtful foray into the mind of 28 year old Mirabelle who works the glove counter at Neiman's in California. <br /><br />Her story is that of her meeting Jeremy who is childish and selfish and hasn't a clue about women...and also meeting Ray Porter who is a self-possessed businessman whose only selfishness is his bachelorhood and the fact that he chooses to keep Mirabelle just outside the boundaries of his heart. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There is also a film by the same title. I am eager to view it. I have to say that part of what I found so very enjoyable about this book is the fact that I could hear Martin's voice telling me the story. Music to my ears; I find his voice dreamy.<br /><br />This would be the perfect beach book, in my opinion. Too bad I wasn't on a beach this past month!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07149104318536305196noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3399859422667765397.post-8634027816723876642012-03-14T04:00:00.000-05:002014-07-27T23:34:42.779-05:00The Fairy Tale Detectives (Sisters Grimm Book 1) by Michael Buckley<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7bYcrfpMPAw/T11JJ8tn6BI/AAAAAAAAAUI/oiUUKVARLFE/s1600/Sisters+Grimm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7bYcrfpMPAw/T11JJ8tn6BI/AAAAAAAAAUI/oiUUKVARLFE/s1600/Sisters+Grimm.jpg" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I really enjoyed this book. It is a juvenile fiction selection but the action is written in a way that makes it at least a little believable. Two young sisters find themselves in foster care and not knowing what happened to their parents. Fate directs that they end up in the care of a grandmother they thought was dead. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The action continues from there. I feel it is acceptable for good readers ages 8 and up. I could have read this book to our 5 year old daughter and she'd have loved it. I believe she'll eventually read it herself or with me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I give it a solid 4 out of 5 stars.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07149104318536305196noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3399859422667765397.post-23489822723247230902012-03-13T04:00:00.000-05:002014-07-27T23:35:51.491-05:00What are you reading?<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I haven't read as much as I normally do this year.<br /><br />It's not the usual excuse of just being too busy, or of having five kids, or...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In late January I determined that I was no longer going to let circumstances control me. My health and the health of one of our children prevented me from working out very much over the last 18 months or so. I had two surgeries and, in fact, had another surgical procedure two weeks ago.<br /><br />In spite of all of that I decided to redeem the time and take control of as much as I am able. I began a diet and exercise regimen on 25 January 2012. I've not fallen off that wagon once. I've been using MyFitnessPal on our computer and on my iPhone to track my progress. I've found it very encouraging.<br /><br />With all that exercising I have read a little bit more but only when I go to the gym and workout using the elliptical. If I work out at home it is with a DVD and I can't read until I hit our treadmill as a follow-up but often give in to my baser needs and watch silly old tv shows on Netflix just for the mindlessness of it, as a reward for my hard work.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, you've not seen the last of me. I am currently reading three books for my own pleasure and am also reading a book with our ten year old son. I am reading countless books with our five year old daughter of course.<br /><br />Stay tuned in; more to come, this week.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07149104318536305196noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3399859422667765397.post-30156029095739176182012-02-23T10:36:00.000-06:002014-07-27T23:37:23.300-05:00NOOK deal, includes an ebook from The Hunger Games Trilogy<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you're still in the market for an eReader Barnes and Noble is offering a free ebook from The Hunger Games Trilogy with the purchase of any NOOK eReader.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://ebm.e.bn.com/c/tag/hBPRePzB8GcokB8gFgfNW1tQvR0/doc.html?t_params=EMAIL%3Dangie%2540aversfamily.com%26PASSWORD%3DB8GcokNW1tQvBPRePzzB7pRkl2arD1&sourceid=L000004256&cm_em=angie@aversfamily.com&cm_mmc=MISC-_-MERCH-_-120223_MI01_HUNGER_GAMES-_-hosted">NOOK Hunger Games ebook Offer</a> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I haven't yet begun reading this trilogy. Our fifteen year old daughter loves the series and wants me to read it. It seems to me that it isn't the sort of book series I can handle reading though. I think I am going to see the film and then decided whether or not I can handle reading the books...</span><br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07149104318536305196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3399859422667765397.post-36699511318305818842012-02-07T14:33:00.001-06:002014-07-27T23:38:09.603-05:00Kindle Fire deal this week at Walmart<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you're in the market for an ereader check out this deal: <a href="http://www.couponingtodisney.com/2012/02/05/walmart-kindle-fire-199-50-gift-card/">CouponingToDisney</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've read that the NOOK products may have a slight advantage for those with vision issues; other than that, I feel that one can't go wrong with either brand.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Happy reading!</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07149104318536305196noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3399859422667765397.post-75964936536577769722012-02-06T04:00:00.000-06:002014-07-27T23:39:52.277-05:00Olivia Joules and the Overactive Imagination by Helen Fielding<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Did you love Bridget Jones' Diary?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Helen Fielding has hit the pages again; this time with a new character but just as many funny circumstances.</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Mb8krU7Gdec/TywykuyiVRI/AAAAAAAAATg/mZLHGhcDMQk/s1600/Olivia+Joules.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Mb8krU7Gdec/TywykuyiVRI/AAAAAAAAATg/mZLHGhcDMQk/s1600/Olivia+Joules.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Olivia Joules is a young British woman who has had to fight to make her way, alone, in the world. She has that fiesty British determination to rise above her circumstances. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Orphaned at the age of fourteen, she changed her name from Rachel Pixley to the much more romantic Olivia Joules.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She has a list of "Rules for Living" that helps her to remain grounded in reality...most of the time. And yet...sometimes...sometimes she gets in over her head. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Olivia Joules is a writer for the Sunday Times. She yearns for the chance to writesomething a bit less "fluffy". If only her editor would assign her to somethingmore important.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Grab this book and join Olivia on the adventure that lies ahead. You won't believe what she gets herself into.</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U4m64_XoQQs/TXUM_1-wYsI/AAAAAAAAAEc/cGMsYK3VDLc/s1600/5+Stars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U4m64_XoQQs/TXUM_1-wYsI/AAAAAAAAAEc/cGMsYK3VDLc/s320/5+Stars.jpg" height="70" width="320" /></span></a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07149104318536305196noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3399859422667765397.post-30633538582710007312012-02-04T04:00:00.000-06:002014-07-27T23:41:24.989-05:00January's over. Did you read any great books?<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2012 began as a great year of reading for me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I read these titles:</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gMXrkkRWpFM/TywyLOFvc9I/AAAAAAAAATY/FeThLZ5Ulg4/s1600/Mr+Monk+is+Miserable.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gMXrkkRWpFM/TywyLOFvc9I/AAAAAAAAATY/FeThLZ5Ulg4/s200/Mr+Monk+is+Miserable.jpg" height="200" width="122" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mr. Monk is Miserable by Lee Goldberg </span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Mb8krU7Gdec/TywykuyiVRI/AAAAAAAAATg/mZLHGhcDMQk/s1600/Olivia+Joules.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Mb8krU7Gdec/TywykuyiVRI/AAAAAAAAATg/mZLHGhcDMQk/s1600/Olivia+Joules.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Olivia Joules and the Overactive Imagination by Helen Fielding</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sleepwalk with Me and Other Painfully True Stories by Mike Birbiglia</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) Explained: For </span><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fKKNY7RIryY/TywznG6LJ9I/AAAAAAAAATw/s-NuMg2L2B0/s1600/CRPS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fKKNY7RIryY/TywznG6LJ9I/AAAAAAAAATw/s-NuMg2L2B0/s200/CRPS.jpg" height="200" width="131" /></span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Teenagers, by Teenagers by G.R. Lauder</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XyMbIUyjpns/Tyw0Xqt421I/AAAAAAAAAT4/T7UpV9zFv0U/s1600/Sabotaged.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XyMbIUyjpns/Tyw0Xqt421I/AAAAAAAAAT4/T7UpV9zFv0U/s1600/Sabotaged.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sabotaged (The Missing, Book 3) by Margaret Peterson </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Haddix</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LfHnQBLhDZA/Tyw0uD4dGlI/AAAAAAAAAUA/ZTeORYZ2O2g/s1600/The+Mailbox.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LfHnQBLhDZA/Tyw0uD4dGlI/AAAAAAAAAUA/ZTeORYZ2O2g/s1600/The+Mailbox.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Mailbox by Audrey Shafer</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Any of them that I havent already reviewed will be reviewed here in the future. Tune in to read my reviews!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07149104318536305196noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3399859422667765397.post-47967236988368634282012-01-30T04:00:00.000-06:002014-07-27T23:42:10.359-05:002011 Superlatives ~ What were your favorite books in 2011?<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong>I've finally compiled my reading list for all of 2011.</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong>Out of a total of 42 books I read:</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong>3 books I rated as 5*</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong>7 books I rated as 4.5*</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong>12 books I rates as 4*</strong></span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Verdana;"><em><strong>What were your top reads?</strong></em></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong>Here's a surprise for me; 9 of the books that I read were books I had previously read. I am not a big rereader of books. I generally figure there are so many books out there that I haven't read that I shouldn't spend the time on rereading books.</strong></span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Verdana;"><em><strong>Did you reread any books last year?</strong></em></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong>Here are the titles of the books I read in 2011, to which I gave the top ratings.</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><u><strong>5* titles</strong></u></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong>The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster (a reread)</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong>Arctic Homestead by Norma Cobb (a reread)</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong>A Fraction of the Whole by Steve Toltz (a reread)</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><u><strong>4.5* titles</strong></u></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong>Looking for Alaska by John Green </strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong>The Postmistress bySarah Blake</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong>The Thirteenth Tale: A Novel by Diane Setterfield</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong>A HeartbreakingWork of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong>I Am the Messenger by Marcus Zusak</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong>A Lotus Grows in the Mud by Goldie Hawn</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong>Dark Tide: The Great Boston Molasses Flood of 1919 by Stephen Puleo</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><u><strong>4* titles</strong></u></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong>Shakespeare in an Hour by Christopher Baker</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong>Louisa: The Life of Louisa May Alcott by Yona Zeldis McDonough</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong>A Red Herring Without Mustard: A Flavia de Luce Novel</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong>Emma by Jane Austen</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong>The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place by Maryrose Wood</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong>Spooky Little Girl: A Novel by Laurie Notaro</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong>At Home: A Short History of Private Life by Bill Bryson</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong>There's a (Slight) Chance I Might be Goingto Hell by Laurie Notaro</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong>A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong>Little Women Illustrated Classic Editions by Louisa May Alcott </strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong>The Search for Delicious by Natalie Babbitt</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong>Entombed in Alcatraz by Robert Victor Luke </strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong>Authors from the above list who are ones thatI return tofor fresh titles, timeand again, are: Natalie Babbitt, Bill Bryson, Laurie Notaro </strong></span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Verdana;"><em><strong>Who are your favorite go-to authors?</strong></em></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong>I also broke my reading down into genres. I have listed only one genre for each title even though many could fall into more than one genre. I chose the genres based only on my own feelings and not by the publishers' designations.</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong>Classics - 5</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong>Non Fiction or Biography - 8</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong>Fiction - 4</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong>Juvenile Fiction - 9</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong>Historical Fiction -2</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong>Memoir or Auto-Biography - 8</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong>Mystery - 2</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong>Humor - 1</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong>Young Adult Fiction - 3</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong>My favorites, sorted by genre are:</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong>Classic - Emma </strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong>or Little Women (because I read it to our five year old daughter)</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong>Non Fiction or Biography - Dark Tide, then At Home</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong>Fiction - Spooky Little Girl (I loved Notaro's jump into fiction)</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong>Juvenile Fiction - Phantom Tollbooth, with Search for Delicious a worthy second</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong>Memoir or Auto-Biography - Arctic Homestead, followed by Heartbreaking Work</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong>Mystery - 13th Tale, followed by Red Herring (I love Flavia de Luce)</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong>Young Adult Fiction - I Am the Messenger rates just above Looking for Alaska</strong></span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Verdana;"><em><strong>Have you determined your favorites in each genre for 2011?</strong></em></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07149104318536305196noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3399859422667765397.post-54753632760167752382012-01-21T04:00:00.001-06:002012-01-21T04:00:01.482-06:00Sabotaged by Margaret Peterson Haddix (3rd in the Missing Series)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IO57dsUGQVk/TxmL95BT1UI/AAAAAAAAATI/Npw-0p4v1dc/s1600/Sabotaged.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IO57dsUGQVk/TxmL95BT1UI/AAAAAAAAATI/Npw-0p4v1dc/s200/Sabotaged.jpg" width="132" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;">The focus of this final book of the Found trilogy is Virginia Dare who was the first white child born on American soil. I've got to tell you I was very intrigued to see where this story would go.</span><br style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;" /><br style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;">The author held my attention well and then, I felt, abruptly ended the story, leaving me unsatisfied. I found the story-line confusing too. I think a lot of kids could read this book and just see it as an exciting story. For adults, I think the author created unanswered questions and scenarios. I was left wanting more from it.</span></span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><a href="http://boundtogetherforgood.blogspot.com/2011/09/found-missing-book-1-by-margaret.html">My Review of: Found (Book 1)</a></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://boundtogetherforgood.blogspot.com/2011/10/sent-by-margaret-peterson-haddix-2nd-in.html">My Review of: Sent (Book 2)</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07149104318536305196noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3399859422667765397.post-39377504516059921852012-01-18T09:29:00.003-06:002012-01-18T09:43:55.449-06:00Why are websites going black on January 18th?<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>If you need the scoop, here are some vital links explaining what is going on.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span><br />
<a href="http://wikipedia%27s%20explanation/"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Click here>Wikipedia's Explanation</b></span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://reddit%20%7E%20stopped%20they%20must%20be.../">Click Here>Reddit ~ Stopped they must be...</a>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Here it is:<br /><br /><a href="http://google%20%7E%20end%20piracy%2C%20not%20liberty/">Click Here>Google ~ End Piracy, Not Liberty</a>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>On the right side of the page is where you sign.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>I'm signing off now for the rest of the day.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07149104318536305196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3399859422667765397.post-77925396214629174412012-01-16T04:00:00.001-06:002012-01-16T04:00:08.915-06:00The Devil's Storybook by Natalie Babbitt<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I read this book because I loved Natalie Babbit's Tuck Everlasting. This was nothing like that.</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1nfxWrcHilM/TwypijE9b6I/AAAAAAAAAS4/c2RrzxTpnxI/s1600/Devil%2527s+Storybook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1nfxWrcHilM/TwypijE9b6I/AAAAAAAAAS4/c2RrzxTpnxI/s200/Devil%2527s+Storybook.jpg" width="132" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This selection felt very juvenile in its writing style. Many of the stories felt very similar to each other. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Each selection is meant to have the reader walk away with the sense of a moral. The end product just really didn't suit me though. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you haven't read Tuck Everlasting, I highly recommend that. If you have, rest in that. The prose of Tuck Everlasting was pure joy.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07149104318536305196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3399859422667765397.post-57204481961368188402012-01-15T04:00:00.000-06:002012-01-15T04:00:01.796-06:00The Mailbox by Audrey Shafer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uDq2eGdeZfQ/TwxYIVJ0PvI/AAAAAAAAASw/4lFzCIGEHx4/s1600/Mailbox.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uDq2eGdeZfQ/TwxYIVJ0PvI/AAAAAAAAASw/4lFzCIGEHx4/s200/Mailbox.jpg" width="136" /></span></a></div>
<span class="lt-comments" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">If you dont mind crying...<br /><br />I read this book because I was intrigued by the mystery it seemed to hold. It holds more than that. It was on one of our sons' Christmas lists last year because he'd seen it on the Caudill Award Nominee list in 20100 for 2011.<br /><br />This is a book about: fostering, adoption, pet fostering, death and life, trust, and facing your fears. <br /><br />Gabe is used to being shuttled from foster home to foster home when a caring caseworker is finally able to locate his uncle who agrees to take him in. Death strikes unexpectedly and Gabe finds himself alone and unsure of what to do. When this happens he also finds a curious correspondence has begun between him and a stranger, via Uncle Vernon's mailbox.<br /><br />This is a book written for juveniles but it explores some very mature themes. There is some discussion about a Vietnam vet who mistakenly fired upon a Vietnamese child who was firing on him. This tragedy haunted the vet who eventually fired upon himself due to the guilt for which he couldn't forgive himself...<br /><br />This same veteran, though mentally unstable, reaches out to Gabe, via the mailbox, and the two become friends from afar. Each helps the other in his own way, to face a world without Vernon. <br /><br />This story also portrays teachers, caseworkers, and law officials as being human beings with feelings and with the ability and need to reach out to others. In the end, the story line is nicely tidied up with everyone moving appropriately forward.<br /><br />I strongly caution a pre-read by parents and teachers prior to allowing or encouraging children to read this book. While it is well-written and thought-provoking, in my opinion, it should probably only be read by kids ages 12 or 13 or older. And then only if they will not be tormented by a man shooting half his head off in an attempt to expunge himself of guilt... This story has its place but it isn't for everyone. It certainly isn't something I'd have chosen to read if I'd known the subject matter more fully. If our boys choose to read it I'll be glad I've already read it.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07149104318536305196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3399859422667765397.post-30946734686863518012012-01-12T04:00:00.000-06:002014-07-27T23:43:07.619-05:00Sleepwalk With Me: and Other Painfully True Stories by Mike Birbiglia<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Mike Birbiglia is one of my favorite comedians. If you aren't familiar with him you can find snippets of his routines on Pandora Radio.</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hGdo6LeiMrk/TwxVnADnBdI/AAAAAAAAASo/S3A-8wPYjV8/s1600/Sleepwalk+With+Me.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hGdo6LeiMrk/TwxVnADnBdI/AAAAAAAAASo/S3A-8wPYjV8/s200/Sleepwalk+With+Me.JPG" height="200" width="128" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This book will feel familiar to anyone who has listened to his stand-up routines. He expounds on those bits, giving us the bigger picture.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Prior to reading this book I knew nothing about his sleepwalking. Sleepwalking can be triggered by stress in one's life. Mike's sleepwalking was definitely triggered by stress. He chronicles his need to be honest with himself and the people in his life. His sleepwalking became quite dangerous.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Though I was familiar with his comedy, I still enjoyed reading this book. I enjoy Mike's conversational tone. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This book has adult themes and adult language.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07149104318536305196noreply@blogger.com0