best christmas gift this year

I was going to wait until I got home and took a picture of it all set up but I just can't wait. I got the best Christmas present from the hubby. A ball winder and swift! Yay. Finally, I won't have to maneuver skeins of yarn around my knees. No more cramping hands from balling up yarn by hand. No more knots caused by the yarn slipping off of my knees and getting all tangled up. I can't wait to try it out.

Happy New Year!!!

2008 Challenge Wrap Up

This was my very first year of entering reading challenges. I enjoyed them all. I am also very excited that I was able to complete them.

Here's to next year's challenges.


The Bone Garden by Tess Gerritson
Frankenstein by Mary Shelly
Broken by Kelley Armstrong
Coraline by Neil Gaiman
Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr
Peeps by Scott Westerfeld



*July- Emma by Jane Austen
*August- The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
*September- The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton
*October- Frankenstein by Mary Shelly
*November- Dubliners by James Joyce
*December- A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens



My list of books read for 2008 can be found here. 100 books. Check. :)


One more month and one more book for this one:



Read:
Holes, Louis Sachar
Eat, Pray, Love, Elizabeth Gilbert
Into Thin Air, Jon Krakauer
Practical Magic, Alice Hoffman
Bel Canto, Anne Patchett

To Read:
The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay, Michael Chabon

2008 Books Read

December
100. Diary of a Wimpy Kid-Roderick Rules by Jeff Kinney
99. Tales of Beedle the Bard by JK Rowling
98. In the Woods by Tana French
97. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
96. Death By Latte by Linda Gerber
95. Death By Bikini by Linda Gerber
94. Bel Canto by Ann Patchett
93. Holidays on Ice by David Sedaris
92. Violet in Private by Melissa Walker
91. Violet by Design by Melissa Walker
90. Violet on the Runway by Melissa Walker
89. Sweethearts by Sara Zarr
88. Into The Wild by Jon Krakauer

November
87. 6th Target by James Patterson
86. Murder on the Down Low by Pamela Samuels Young
85. Untamed by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast (nov)
84. Shadow Kiss by Richelle Mead (nov)
83. Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer (nov)
82. Dubliners by James Joyce (nov)
81. The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly (nov)
80. The Book of Names by D Barkley Briggs (nov)
79. Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan (nov)

October
78. An Abundance of Katherines by John Green (oct)
77. Masquerade by Melissa de la Cruz (oct)
76. Blue Bloods by Melissa de la Cruz (oct)
75. Undone by Brooke Taylor (oct)
74. You Suck by Christopher Moore (oct)
73. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (oct)
72. Aura by Carlos Fuente (oct)
71. Look at Me by Jennifer Egan (oct)
70. Double Helix by Nancy Werlin (oct)
69. Doctor Who: The Stone Rose by Jacqueline Raynor (oct)
68. Peeps by Scott Westerfeld (oct)
67. Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris (oct)
66. the perks of being a wallflower by Stephen Chbosky (oct)
65. Kandide and the Secrets of the Mists (The Calabiyau Chronicles: Book One) by Diana Zimmerman (oct)

September
64. Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr (sep)
63. Any Given Doomsday by Lori Handeland (sep)
62. Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman (sep)
61. Coraline by Neil Gaiman (sep)
60. Broken by Kelley Armstrong (sep)
59. The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton (sep)
58. Wintersmith by Terry Pratchett (sep)
57. The Bone Garden by Tess Gerritson (sep)

August
56. Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert (aug)
55. Pretties by Curtis Westerfeld (aug)
54. The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong (aug)
53. The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart (aug)
52. Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer (aug)
51. Holes by Louis Sachar (aug)
50. Uglies by Curtis Westerfeld (aug)
49. Gossip Girl by Cecily von Ziegesar (aug)
48. The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield (aug)

July
47. Emma by Jane Austen (jul)
46. On the Bright Side, I'm Now the Girlfriend of a Sex God by Louise Rennison (jul)
45. Thursday Next: First Among Sequels by Jasper Fforde (jul)
44. A Hat Full of Sky by Terrt Pratchett (jul)
43. The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett (jul)
42. The 5th Horseman by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro (jul)
41. The Rossetti Letter by Christi Philips (jul)
40. Fearless Fourteen by Janet Evanovich (jul)
39. London Bridges by James Patterson (jul)
38. Frostbite by Richelle Mead (jul)

June
37. Bones to Ashes by Kathy Reichs (jun)
36. Sepulcher by Kate Mosse (jun)
35. Haunted by Kelley Armstrong (jun)
34. House of Dance by Beth Kephart (jun)

May
33. The Host by Stephenie Meyer (may)
32. Forever in Blue: The Fourth Summer of the Sisterhood by Ann Brashares (may)
31. Girls in Pants: The Third Summer of the Sisterhood by Ann Brashares (may)
30. Second Summer of the Sisterhood by Ann Brashares (may)
29. Industrial Magic by Kelley Armstrong (may)
28. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares (may)
27. Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead (may)
26. Chosen by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast (may)

April
25. Mansfield Park by Jane Austen (apr)
24. Dime Store Magic by Kelley Armstrong (apr)
23. Stolen by Kelley Armstrong (apr)
22. Bitten by Kelley Armstrong (apr)
21. Brilliance of the Moon by Lian Hearn (apr)
20. Plum Lovin' by Janet Evanovich (apr)
19. Grass For His Pillow by Lian Hearn (apr)

March
18. Across the Nightingale Floor by Lian Hearn (mar)
17. 4th of July by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro (mar)
16. Angus, thongs and Full-Fontal Snogging by Louise Rennison (mar)
15. In the Forest by Edna O'Brien (mar)
14. Valiant by Holly Black (mar)
13. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (mar)
12. Betrayed by P.C Cast and Kristin Cast (mar)
11. Marked by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast (mar)
10. 3rd Degree by James Patterson (mar)

February
9. Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen (feb)
8. 2nd Chance by James Patterson (feb)
7. White Knight by Jim Butcher (feb)
6. Proven Guilty by Jim Butcher (feb)

January
5. Next by Michael Crichton (jan)
4. Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen (jan)
3. The Mephisto Club by Tess Gerritson (jan)
2. Labyrinth by Kate Mosse (jan)
1. Anne of the Island, L.M. Montgomery (jan)


Woot! 100 Books Challenge Completed!!!

Mailbox Monday-12/29/08

Christmas gifts from my mom:

The Tales of Beedle The Bard by JK Rowling
The Memory Keepers Daughter by Kim Edwards
Belong To Me by Marisa De Los Santos

and, four children's books with cd's for my classroom.

Happy Holidays!

Hope you all have a wonderful Holiday!

Happy Holidays!

Hope you all have a wonderful Holiday!

finished christmas gifts

finished christmas gifts
Originally uploaded by my_weezy

I finished them last night! Yay! All the boys are getting the green with their first initial. The girls-the pretty variegated ones. I tied them to the front of some really pretty plane Crane paper blank cards that are lined with a very faint pale green. I wrote 2008 above the stocking and Merry Christmas below. Inside each I wrote a line from a Christmas Carol and signed. The envelopes were tied with a long crochet chain in the variegated yarn. Very simple, but I am very happy with how they came out.

On The Nightstand-December

Books Read this month:

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
Death By Latte by Linda Gerber
Death by Bikini by Linda Gerber
Bel Canto by Ann Patchett (dec)
Holidays on Ice by David Sedaris (dec)
Violet in Private by Melissa Walker (dec)
Violet by Design by Melissa Walker (dec)
Violet on the Runway by Melissa Walker (dec)
Sweethearts by Sara Zarr (dec)
Into The Wild by Jon Krakauer (dec)


Now reading:

In the Woods by Tana French

On the Nightstand:

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khalid Housseini
Toxin by Robin Cook
The Eyes of Darkness by Dean Koontz
Harsh Cry of the Heron by Lian Heron
The Book of the Dead by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin
Courage in Patience by Beth Fehlbaum (prize)
The Monster of Florence by Douglas Preston and Mario Spezi (prize)
Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay (prize)
The Gifted Gabaldon Sisters by Lorraine Lopez(gift)
The Best Place to Be by Lesley Dormen(prize)
Alive in Necropolis by Doug Dorst.(prize)
Death by Latte by Linda Gerber (giveaway win)
Rain Fall, Hard Rain and Rain Storm by Barry Eisler
With Endless Sight by Allison Pittman (BBAW giveaway win)
The Strength of a Sparrow by Tim Anders(Bostick Communications)

Teaser Tuesdays-12/23/08

Grab your current read.
Let the book fall open to a random page.
Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.

You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!
Please avoid spoilers!

"When I was found I was wearing blue denim shorts, a white cotton T-shirt, white cotton socks and white lace-up running shoes. The shoes were heavily bloodstained, the socks less heavily." page 5, In the Woods by Tana French.

YA Quick Reviews (Death By Bikini and Death By Latte)

Death by Bikini by Linda Gerber

A clever, fun and fast-paced mystery for teens. Makes for a great beach read or, in my case, a rainy day spent in front of the fireplace under a blanket wishing I was at the beach. It was a quick, one-sitting read that had me thoroughly entertained. Ready to start the next book.


Death By Latte by Linda Gerber

Another fun installment of the series. This book continues where Death By Bikini left off but instead of on a beach resort the action takes place on the streets of Seattle and the mountains of the Pacific Northwest. This one was absolutely perfect for the weather here.

I read a lot of mysteries so it is hard to keep me guessing. I was able to figure out who was who pretty early on in both books. However, this did not have any effect on my enjoyment of the books. I can't wait to read Death By Denim.

3/5

Classics Challenge 2008 Completed

*July- Emma by Jane Austen
*August- The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
*September- The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton
*October- Frankenstein by Mary Shelly
*November- Dubliners by James Joyce
*December- A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

I am finished. I have read 5 classics and 1 to-be classic. Yay! I enjoyed all my book choices and am excited to have it all finished.

A Christmas Carol- Book Review

A Christmas Carol read by Jim Dale by Charles Dickens

A true classic.

This was so thoroughly entertaining even though I knew the story and had seen it (not read it) before. I listened to most of this in one sitting while finishing up my Christmas gifts. A perfect book to listen to. A perfect way to remember what Christmas is all about and the need to keep the Christmas spirit throughout the year. This will be one I listen to every year for certain.

I must admit, though, that in reading (listening) I kept picturing Disney characters in the parts of Bob Cratchit (Mickey), Scrooge (Donald Duck) and Marley (Goofy). Mickey's Christmas Carol was where my knowledge of the story came from.

Jim Dale is the perfect narrator, using many wonderful voices for all the characters and filled every moment with emotion and drama. Wonderfully read.

4/5

Classics Challenge

Cordoroy Mansions

Alexander McCall Smith (author of No 1 Ladies Detective Agency) is writing an online novel on the Telegraph site, called 'Corduroy Mansions', with a new chapter written each day. The project started in September, and will finish in February.

He is taking a 2 week break over Christmas, so this is the perfect time to catch up. A nice way to spend the holidays. If you Twitter you can also keep up with the project here.

Mailbox Monday-12/22/08

Monday- Death by Latte by Linda Gerber ( Thanks Liv and Linda!)

Wednesday- In The Woods by Tara French. My birthday present from the hubby. Yay! He secretly bought it for me the same day I pointed it out to him the bookstore on Sunday! What a great, sneaky guy. :)

Sunday- Death by Bikini by Linda Gerber. (Kepler's) Had to go and buy so I could read before starting Death by Latte.

No more posts until I get home from the holiday travels. I will have no clue what is coming in the mail until then. However, I will be back if there are books under the tree this week. :)

Happy Holidays!

Sunday Salon (12/21/08)

Christmas is fast approaching. I still have some shopping to do, some knitting to finish and a lot of books to read. I thought I would have time to read more books. I shouldn't have started such a long book to read now. Short books, Mari. Short books. The hubby gave me Into the Woods by Tana French for my birthday on Wednesday. I brought it with me on the plane to CA Thursday and have been reading it off and on when I have time. Pretty good so far. I am enjoying it.

I think tomorrow, while getting some knitting finished I will listen to A Christmas Carol read by Jim Dale. I couldn't resist getting it. I have listened to the first bit already. I keep picturing Donald duck as Scrooge and Mickey Mouse as Bob Cratchit. :) Anybody else love Mickey's Christmas Carol? Another holiday favorite along with Twas The Night Before Christmas. Of course, A Charlie Brown's Christmas and The Grinch, too. Always a must but the other two aren't shown as much anymore. I haven't seen them in years.

Twas The Night before Christmas will be on the Family Channel today (Sunday) bright and early at 7am and at 330pm on Christmas Eve. I may have to catch one of those.

Very, very late WOW

How cool is this picture?

I was skimming through my Google Reader posts (all 123 of them) and stopped at a post by Melissa Walker (author of the Violet on the Runway YA series that I reviewed not too long ago). The Poloroid like pictures caught my eye. Her new site I Heart Daily has a feature on how to make them. Go check it out!

I know, I know. I have been terrible at posting on here lately. So, here is a little Joey (late, yes. Right now she is adjusting to being in CA and a different house. We are trying to keep her from attacking the Christmas tree as well. Not easy.

Shake it like a Polaroid Picture

How cool is this picture?

I was skimming through my Google Reader posts (all 123 of them) and stopped at a post by Melissa Walker (author of the Violet on the Runway YA series that I reviewed not too long ago). The Polaroid like pictures caught my eye. Her new site I Heart Daily has a feature on how to make them. Go check it out!

So, the cute kitty in the picture is Joey. My lovely little furry friend. I realized that she hadn't had a chance to be shown off on this blog. She deserves the spotlight every now and then. :)

Bel Canto- Book Review

Bel Canto by Ann Patchett
A botched kidnapping attempt of a South American President, at a lavish birthday party for a Japanese business man, results in an unlikely hostage situation.

I really enjoyed soaking up every word of this book slowly and thoroughly. It is written so well and every part had some little detail I didn't want to miss.

I loved the relationship between the hostages and the terrorists and how it evolves over the months they are together in the grand house of the vice president. I loved how the music works as a way to communicate feelings and resolve tensions. Such a beautiful and tragic love story. How could anything good come out of a hostage situation? I imagined this as a movie directed as only Robert Altman could, in the manner of Gosford Park.

4/5

New Classics Challenge

Teaser Tuesdays-12/16/08

Grab your current read.
Let the book fall open to a random page.
Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.

You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!
Please avoid spoilers!

"Gen, in his genius for languages, was often at a loss for what to say when left with only his own words. If Mr. Hosokawa had still been sitting there he might have said to Gen, Go and see what that girl wants, and Gen would go and ask her without hesitation." page 145, Bel Canto by Ann Patchett

Holiday Shopping

Books, books and more books. That is what I have been getting everyone in the family for Christmas this year (besides the homemade knitwear). Since, none of them visit my blog I can share what I have been happily purchasing for everyone. Yay.

Two sci-fi books for the hubby.
The entire Twilight series for my younger sister.
Wicked, Son of a Witch and The Time Traveler's Wife for my mom.
My niece is getting a boxed set of Beverly Cleary's Ramona books,
and my nephew will be receiving the two Diary of a Wimpy Kid books.

Still have no clue what to get the other three non-book lovers in the family. What books do you get for those who don't like to read?

Mailbox Monday-12/14/08

Tuesday- The hubby has been getting himself the John Rain books by Barry Eisler. As he finishes them they are being placed onto my nightstand. :) The first three in the series are there now.

Thursday- With Endless Sight by Allison Pittman was in the mail today. A BBAW giveaway win. Thanks, Amy.

Holidays On Ice- Book Review

Holidays on Ice by David Sedaris

I was really expecting this book to have me laughing out loud after hearing all the praise for David Sedaris. This is the first book of his that I have picked up and was looking forward to a good laugh. I was surprised to find myself crying with some of the stories of the people who are mentally and physically disabled who visit santa in the first story, Santa Diaries. I really hope that they were not in the book as comic relief because if they are, that would just be mean and uncaring.

There were definitely parts of the book that were somewhat funny but I was never made to laugh out loud.
Perhaps David Sedaris' sense of humour is just not the same as mine.

2/5

YA quick reviews (Violet on the Runway Series)

Violet on the Runway by Melissa C. Walker
The first book in the series was lots of fun and well paced. Violet's plunge into the modeling scene seemed realistic. I liked that it wasn't overly glamorized and that we get to see the ugly side of the modeling world.

Violet and her friends seem like people I would have been friends with in high school.

Violet By Design by Melissa C. Walker
Loved this one as well, although I wanted more Roger. Love his and Violet's chemistry when they are together. I just did't want their time together to end, but she does it every time. I picked up Violet n Private right after finishing this one, just hoping...

Love interests, exotic locations, fasion. It had a perfect mix of all three.

Violet In Private by Melissa C. Walker
Another great installment. More Roger. Yay. Still frustrating up until the end. Loved reading the college parts. reminded me of my freshman year in college. 1994. Ack, I am old. Mexicali was a favorite back then too. :)


This was a really fun series to read. I enjoyed all three books, as you can tell since I read all three in the span of two days. Very addictive! Can't wait until the next book!


4/5

Christmas knitting photos

I come bearing pictures:

First, the gloves.



So far from being finished with these. Also, I am trying to ignore the mistake in the cable. I know my SIL will probably not even notice it, but it is really bugging me.

A hat.



Not finished in the picture but is finished. I crocheted the edge and added the braids last night. Very cute, but looks awful on me. It is destined to be a gift for someone just don't know who.

And last, mini stockings.



These little guys will be ornaments that I give to my family with a "1 knitted gift" coupon inside. This year we are exchanging handmade gifts and this is about as much as I can do right now.

Okay. Back to my knitting.

Booking Through Thursday-12/11/08

1. Do you get to read as much as you WANT to read?
(I’m guessing #1 is an easy question for everyone?)

Of course not! There is way too much other stuff that needs to be done in a day. Work. Sleep. That is valuable reading time.

2. If you had (magically) more time to read–what would you read? Something educational? Classic? Comfort Reading? Escapism? Magazines?

Escapism! I love getting lost in a book that is the complete opposite of my life. It's why I love fantasy books so much.

Murder on the Down Low- Book Review

Murder on the Down Low by Pamela Samuels Young

Young, handsome, successful African-American men are being gunned down in Los Angeles. At first, the murders look random and unrelated to the police investigating. There is a common link between them, however, all the men were on the down low. All were living their lives as heterosexual males but secretly having sexual relationships with other men.

Attorney Vernetta Henderson and her friends must prove to the police and the public that their friend, Special, had nothing to do with their murders even though all the evidence points to her. The recent death of their friend to AIDS, that she acquired from her husband who was on the down low, fueled some revenge getting actions by Special that doesn't help her case.

This book is filled with great suspense and legal drama. I loved the plot, definitely not one I had read before. I remember watching the episode of Oprah, about men on the DL, that inspired the author to write this novel. I was surpirsed/shocked, as I believe most people were when they watched, to learn about the secret lives of these men. I also liked, that despite the premise of the book and the fact that it is fiction and a legal-thriller, Pamela Samuels Young presents valuable information about AIDS/HIV and about the treatment of gay men/women in both Black and Hispanic communities and how it contributes to men living double lives.

This was my first book read by Pamela Samuels Young. I really enjoyed it and will definitely read more of her books.

3.5/5

Thanks go to Tracee from Pump Up Your Book Promotions for providing the book for me to read and review. Come back on Monday, December 15th when Pamela Samuels Young stops by on her blog tour for a guest post.

Mailbox Monday-12/08/08

All my books this week came to me on Saturday. Three bought and one review copy in the mail.

First, the bought ones:

Holidays on Ice by Davis Sedaris (Barnes & Noble)

Violet on the Runway and Violet By Design by Melissa Walker (BookPeople) I have been searching for these two books for awhile now. Finally, they are in my hands (and read).

Review Copy:

The Strength of a Sparrow by Tim Anders(Bostick Communications)

Sunday Salon (12/07/08)

This week has been hectic. It has been spent getting the house ready for my school's faculty Holiday party. It was on Friday night. Lots of food, drink and fun was had. Today and yesterday has been spent relaxing, reading in bed until noon, getting some Christmas knitting done. I am still really far behind.

Soon I will be participating in my very first blog tour. Pamela Samuels Young, the author of Murder on the Down Low will be stopping by on Monday, December 15th to guest blog. My review of the book will be up this Wednesday, December 10th. Be sure to stop by.

Two books were reviewed this week:

Sweethearts by Sara Zarr

Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer

10 more books to read to reach 100 for the year! I think I am going to make it. :)

Sweethearts- Book Review

Sweethearts by Sara Zarr

This was a wonderfully sweet and sad book. I loved the relationship between Cameron and Jennifer, best friends in elementary school until Cameron mysteriously moves away. They were each others only friends. Jennifer is led to believe, by her peers and a bit by her mother, that Cameron is dead. She goes about reinventing herself into Jenna Vaughn in high school; a thin, popular girl with friends and a boyfriend. The complete opposite to her former self. When Cameron comes back, she must deal with the past and present colliding.


4/5

running out of time

I am knitting. Really. Just no pics yet.
Soon. I promise.
I am attempting some very late Christmas knitting.

Tuesday Thingers-12/2/08

Tuesday Thingers question: What’s the most popular book in your library? Have you read it? What did you think? How many users have it?

I know, I know. I am late. It’s not Tuesday anymore, but I have a good excuse. My computer was busy all night slowly uploading pictures to Kodak Gallery. A very slow operation. The program crashed a couple times. Ugh.

Anyway, most popular book I have is Harry Potter and The Sorceror’s Stone by JK Rowling with 37,410 users. I actually have all the Harry Potter Books which make up most of the top ten books on popularity. I loved every one of them.

Into The Wild-Book Review

Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer

I picked up this book after reading and loving Into Thin Air. I was hoping for another hard to put down adventure story. Unfortunately, It was hard for me to get interested in the life of Chris McCandless or understand why a well-to-do, highly educated young man would head out into the Alaskan wilderness unprepared. Even less interesting to me was the information on other men who have given up their lives to roam alone into the wilderness before him and the couple chapters about Krakauer's own experiences and similarities to McCandless.

The writing, however, was once again very easy to read and the background on McCandless and the people he meets on his travels was presented well. I did enjoy reading about the people he met. They all seemed like good people. Sometimes the kindness of strangers just amazes me.

3/5

Mailbox Monday-12/01/08

Well, no books were in the mail this week, but I did buy one at the airport giftshop on the way home yesterday. I picked up a copy of Into The Wild by Jon Krakauer.

WOW- Meme

Copied from Robin of The Knittin Coup.





Happy Thanksgiving!

On the Nightstand- November

Books Read this month:

Murder on the Down Low by Pamela Samuels Young (review will be posted on Dec 10th)
Untamed by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast (nov)
Shadow Kiss by Richelle Mead (nov)
Into thin Air by Jon Krakauer (nov)
Dubliners by James Joyce (nov)
The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly (nov)
The Book of Names by D Barkley Briggs (nov)
Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan (nov)
An Adundance of Katherines by John Green (oct)

Now reading:

6th Target by James Patterson
Sweethearts by Sara Zarr (prize)

On the Nightstand:

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khalid Housseini
Toxin by Robin Cook
The Eyes of Darkness by Dean Koontz
Harsh Cry of the Heron by Lian Heron
The Book of the Dead by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin
Violet In Private by Melissa Walker
Courage in Patience by Beth Fehlbaum (prize)
The Monster of Florence by Douglas Preston and Mario Spezi (prize)
Bel Canto by Ann Pratchet (Book Mooched)
Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay (prize)
The Gifted Gabaldon Sisters by Lorraine Lopez(gift)
The Best Place to Be by Lesley Dormen(prize)
Alive in Necropolis by Doug Dorst.(prize)

Teaser Tuesdays-11/25/08

Grab your current read.
Let the book fall open to a random page.
Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.

You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!
Please avoid spoilers!

"When she opened the study door, a scream loud enough to wake the entire neighborhood pierced the air. It took a second for Marcia to realize the sound was coming from her mouth." pg 119, Murder on the Down Low by Pamela Samuels Young.

Pamela Samuels Young's blog tour is stopping here in December promoting her book, Murder on the Down Low. Be sure to mark it on your calendars!
Sponsered by Pump Up Your Book Promotions.

YA quick reviews (Untamed and Shadow Kiss)

Untamed by P.C. Cast
Another fun, fast paced story about Zoey Redbird and her fledgling vampire friends at the House of Night. This book takes place just a few days after the end of Chosen, and this book covers only 2-3 days. What a great way to make this series go on and on. It definitely ended with a bit of a cliffhanger.

When does the next one come out?

Overall, a very enjoyable, hard to put down read. There were just a few things that bugged me...the characters kept saying "ugh". "Ugh" this, "ugh" that. Ugh. It got a bit annoying after awhile. Also, I still can't get used to "brown pop". Is this a regional thing? Why not soda or cola? Anyway, that's it. I am ready for the next book.

3/5


Shadow Kiss (Vampire Academy, Book 3) by Richelle Mead
I am not going to say too much about this one since I would hate to give anything away. This has to be my favorite of the three books. So much going on. Lots of action and suspense and romance. A perfect mixture of all three. I really wasn't expecting the ending. Such a surprise that, I must say, made me a bit angry. Still, I like that I wasn't expecting that. Can't wait to see what happens in the next book.

4/5