Read Your Own Books Month

What a novel idea! Read Your Own Books Month! 
I am so doing this. You would not believe the shelves of books I have to read. Books that have not been opened since I got them years ago...contest wins, Christmas gifts, purchases and Mooches. Well, I bet a lot of you do. Anyway, September is my month to read some of them. Would any of you like to work on your TBR pile, too? Click on over to ChickLovesLit.com and sign up!
I will be (hopefully) reading at least 4-6 of my own books. _________________________________________

FTC Disclosure: Clicking on title and image links will lead you to my Amazon Affiliate page.

Readers.Imbibing.Peril 6

Carl's R.I.P Challenge is a favorite every year. A chance to read all my favorite types of books. 

I think I will try for Peril the Second (2 books) and Short Story Peril once again and if I read more. Yay. Click on button if you are interested in participating as well!

Okay, this year I am hoping that I can actually read some books. I still have my stack of books that I chose last year and never got to them! So, my own personal challenge is to read at least two of those books along with the book that gets chosen for my book group. Here is my post from last year with the books I had chosen and these are the books I plan on proposing to my book group for October:
The Weird Sisters by Eleanor BrownRoom by Emma DonoghueIt by Stephen King


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FTC Disclosure: Clicking on title and image links will lead you to my Amazon Affiliate page.

Book Review: Ghellow Road by TH Waters

Ghellow Road by TH Waters
A young girl's coming of age story in the 70's. She endures all the usual childhood growing pains and adolescent angst while also dealing with the turmoil that having a mother with mental illness can cause. It is a sad story of a mother's rages and disappearances, a father's desperation to keep his family together, and time spent in foster care. It is, however,  also a story of survival and 
I found it hard to read at times and other times, during the happy accounts, a treat. It is a very realistic look at the affects of mental illness on a family. I know the cover says this is a novel, but it felt much more like a memoir or actual pages from the author's diary.  
3.5/5Source: author for review
For more information on the book and/or author go here.



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FTC Disclosure: Clicking on title and image links will lead you to my Amazon Affiliate page.

Sunday Salon: Catching Up

I am completely engrossed in knitting a shawl for a Google + Knit Along right now that I have not had much time for reading. Sorry about the lack of reviews here. I do have a couple coming up and some reading that needs to be done. 
So, keep a look out for the following reviews coming soon:
Ghellow Road by TH WatersAda: Legend of a Healer by RA McDonald
On my to read list:
The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin(this one needs to be read by September 21st for my book group)
Hope everyone is having a great Sunday! Oh, and if anyone needs a Google + invite let me know, I have plenty to give out. :) Just give me your email address._________________________________________

FTC Disclosure: Clicking on title and image links will lead you to my Amazon Affiliate page.

Read For The Record

What are you doing on October 6? How does breaking a world reading record while raising awareness about America’s achievement gap sound?

Join us as we participate in Jumpstart’s Read for the Record® presented in partnership with Pearson Foundation. Its a national campaign that mobilizes adults and children to close the early education achievement gap by setting a reading world record.

This annual campaign allows Americans to demand that all children receive the quality early education they deserve. On October 6, 2011, more than 2 million voices will call for an end to America’s early education achievement gap by readingLlama Llama Red Pajama by Anna Dewdney – setting a world record in the process!

Get involved at www.readfortherecord.org to help Jumpstart close the early education achievement gap:

1. Pledge to Read: Submit your official pledge and help us reach more than 2.1 MILLION children.
2. Spread the Word: Use our simple tools to educate your friends and family about America’s early education achievement gap and invite them to read.

For more information visit www.readfortherecord.org

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I have participated in Jumpstart's Read for the Record the past couple years with my PreK class. This year I will be reading with the little girl. From 18 kids to 1, but still participating. Hope you all can join in, too. 

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FTC Disclosure: Clicking on title and image links will lead you to my Amazon Affiliate page.

Mailbox Monday: Borders Buys

I went to Borders with my mom and sister plus kids (4) while visiting them last weekend and didn't leave empty handed. I should have, considering I have a shelf full of unread books and no money to be spending on more books but it was so hard to resist.  

Forever by Maggie Stiefvater

Faithful Place by Tana French

   

  Tempted by P.C. Cast and Kristen Cast

   

Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman

Mailbox Monday is hosted this month by Staci of Life in the Thumb.

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FTC Disclosure: Clicking on title and image links will lead you to my Amazon Affiliate page.

Sunday Salon:

Happy Sunday!
It is a quiet morning here right now. The little girl is napping, the hubby is off learning to sail in the bay and I am sitting here enjoying a cup of coffee while perusing the web. I feel as though I should be a little more productive. Nah, happy to sit and relax. It is Sunday after all.
I could read. I still have 4 review books to read that I am so dreadfully behind in getting to. I feel really bad that I have not read and reviewed them yet. I did tell authors/publishers that it would be summer when I would get to them... August is still summer. I have a little more time. So sorry if you are waiting for my review. 
I joined a KAL (knit along) with other knitters on Google+ to knit a shawl so that is also taking up some of my free time. I hadn't knit lace in awhile and I am really enjoying knitting something other than garter or stockinette. I also have a top down raglan cardi on the needles for the little girl. I am afraid I may run out of yarn though and it will be more of a bolero/shrug type of thing. 
Anyway, that is all for now. Time to knit...or read...or maybe just sit and watch tv for a little while before the little girl wakes up. _________________________________________

FTC Disclosure: Clicking on title and image links will lead you to my Amazon Affiliate page.

First Book Group

Wednesday night was the first time my friends and I got together to discuss our first chosen book, Austenland by Shannon Hale. It was a lot of fun. We had a great time talking about the book and the upcoming movie. We enjoyed some yummy food and wine and a very decadent dessert. Yum.
Thoughts about the book: So, the overall consensus was that we were not too fond of the ending and we were a little weirded out by the "romance" part of the purchased visit to Pembrook Place. We decided we would not be interested in paying for actors to be interested in us. We also thought that Jane should have left on her own, cured of her Darcy obsession and ready to find love, romance in real life, not with actors at a fantasy camp.
I enjoyed my second read of the book, perhaps not as much as the first time reading it, and loved hearing the single girls' take on Jane's life and boyfriend issues. Here is my review from 2009 when I first read it.
Popular Question:So, if you could spend three weeks living your ideal fantasy what would it be? I like the idea of experiencing an Austenland type of place. Regency England and Jane Austen definitely peeks my interest. I also think three weeks living in Bram Stoker's Dracula would be kind of fun. Dark, Gothic fun.
Next months book: The Happiness Project  by  Gretchen Rubin

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FTC Disclosure: Clicking on title and image links will lead you to my Amazon Affiliate page.

Tantalize by Cynthia Leitich Smith.
Giveaway: August 19, 2011

Facebook Friday Freebies

Facebook Friday Freebies (2)

Today's Freebie:

Tantalize by Cynthia Leitich Smith

Leave a comment on Facebook Friday Freebies post here to be entered to win a copy of Tantalize by Cynthia Leitich Smith. You have until midnight PST to enter. Winner will be chosen randomly and announced on Saturday.

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FTC Disclosure: Clicking on title and image links will lead you to my Amazon Affiliate page.

Facebook Friday Freebies

Facebook Friday Freebies. (A day early-You get extra time to enter)

Leave a comment here to be entered to win a copy of Gone With a Handsomer Man by Michael Lee West. You have until midnight PST on Friday to enter. Winner will be chosen randomly and announced on Saturday.

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FTC Disclosure: Clicking on title and image links will lead you to my Amazon Affiliate page.

Book Review: The Fall by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan

The Fall by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan
I love evil, scary vampires. There are no sparkly, vegetarian vamps here.
A band of humans came together to stop the vampires and their master in the previous book. These humans are a survivor of the Holocaust, an exterminator and a couple of CDC docs.  In The Fall we discover they are not alone in their fight and that they just may have some unexpected allies.

del Toro has brought his creepy, strange monsters from his movies onto the pages of these books and now that they are up front and center in this sequel to The Strain, I am loving it. I was a little disappointed with the slow start of the first book in the trilogy but The Fall starts off strong and keeps the action, scares and entertainment going to the end.

Ready to read the final book.
4/5
Source: publisher for reviewBook now available in paperback.
For more info on the books and authors visit TheStrainTrilogy.com._________________________________________

FTC Disclosure: Clicking on title and image links will lead you to my Amazon Affiliate page.

Facebook Friday Freebie (1)

I have never been one for promoting my site, but I feel my Facebook page needs a little help seeing it only has five likes. So, I thought I would have a little fun with it. Every Friday I will be hosting a giveaway on my MariReads Facebook page. All you have to do is Like the page and comment on my post for the book.  I will announce the winner on Saturday. 
This week's book: Gone With A Handsomer Man by Michael Lee West

The giveaway will be open for only 24 hrs. Open internationally.

Don't worry, I will post a reminder on Friday as well. _________________________________________

FTC Disclosure: Clicking on title and image links will lead you to my Amazon Affiliate page.

Monday Memes

Mailbox Monday is hosted this month by Staci of Life in the Thumb.

This week I received only one book in the mail. Thankfully it came this week when I am in town! I got Austenland by Shannon Hale for my book group I just started with a group of friends. This will be our first book. We are meeting a week from Wednesday for the first time! Considering how slow I have been lately in finishing my books, I really need to get busy reading.

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading This Week?

 Hosted by Sheila from One Person’s Journey Through a World of  Books so stop by and join in!

Books Finished Last Week:

Ten Good Reasons to Lie About Your Age by Stephanie Zia (review)

This weeks Reading List:

The Fall by Guillermo del toro and Chuck Hogan
Ghellow Road by T.H. WatersAustenland by Shannon Hale

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FTC Disclosure: Clicking on title and image links will lead you to my Amazon Affiliate page.

Book Review: Ten Good Reasons to Lie About Your Age by Stephanie Zia

Ten Good Reasons to Lie About Your Age by Stephanie Zia

A newly widowed former back up singer must now figure out what to do with her life. With two grown up children with their own lives and problems, Sally must go about it on her own with a little help from old friends and new acquaintances.

Fun adventure in the islands of Greece and in the new sex toy shop in her hometown. English sensibility and humour abounds. The characters are engaging and the plot entertaining, I just don't know where the title came in to it besides the chapter intros. Doesn't matter, though. It didn't lessen my late night readings and enjoyment.

3.5/5

Source: ebook for review from author

For more information on the book and/or author visit her page at blackbirdebooks.com.

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FTC Disclosure: Clicking on title and image links will lead you to my Amazon Affiliate page.