Armchair BEA Day 5: Wrap-Up

Armchair BEA has come and gone. Always fun visiting new blogs and reading everyone's posts. 

In case you missed my posts this week, here they are, all in one place for you to peruse if you like. If not, at least go enter the giveaway. It's a good one, I promise. :)

Day 1: Introductions

Day 2: Books and Blogs Aesthetics

Day 3: Beyond the Books and Blogs

Day 4: Surviving Fictional Worlds and a GIVEAWAY

Thanks for another great year. I love participating in BEA from my armchair at home.

Happy Reading! _________________________________________

Armchair BEA Day 4: Surviving Fictional Worlds and a GIVEAWAY!

My book group just read Paolo Bacigalupi's The Water Knife. 

Have any of you read this?

It takes place in a not so distant future where climate change has really taken a toll on the US. Hurricanes and rising ocean levels on the coasts, unending drought in the southern states. States are fighting for water rights. Nevada is a dustbowl. Cities with water (heavily controlled and rationed water) are inundated with refugees from areas with no water. Northern states have closed off their borders to keep the people out.  

It is a very sad and scary look at what could happen if something is not done now to prevent it. It is so believable that this fictionalized look at our future is somewhere I would not want to find myself. 

Conserve water! Lower your carbon emissions! 

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GIVEAWAY

Would you like to read this book? 

Leave a comment below and let me know what you are doing to save the Earth for future generations.  A winner will be randomly selected to receive a copy of The Water Knife by Paolo Bacigalupi. You have until Friday, May 20th to enter. US only.

Happy Reading! _________________________________________

Armchair BEA Day 2: Books and Blog Aesthetics

Books: Do you judge a book by its cover? Tell the truth. :) I know I do.  

I am a sucker for a beautifully designed cover. I have to say that my favorites are children's books that use an illustrator, because they have read the book and the covers reflect that. Think Harry Potter. The US Scholastic versions. Those covers are the absolute best in my opinion.

Blog: Well, I have to admit to being lazy when it comes to "branding" my blog.

I started this site for me really not expecting others to read it. I just wanted a place to keep track of the books I read and share my thoughts on them. I like to think that my reviews are still short, simple and conversational accounts of what I liked and disliked. I never wanted them to be too wordy or long.

The blog itself has changed looks a little bit over the years. I have kept the same banner photo, though and my same generic title of MariReads, but I think changing them at this point, 9 years later, would be silly and unnecessary.

Content has changed a little over the years. I used to have a separate knitting blog, but decided to merge them into one since I stopped blogging as much about what I was knitting. I also became a mom and started sharing more about that part of my life. And lately I have been trying to live a more healthy lifestyle so some of those changes have made it on to here, as well.

So, somethings changes, somethings don't. But I am still here sharing for those who would like to follow along with me. 

Happy Reading! _________________________________________

Armchair BEA 2016

Only a day late. I can still join in on the festivities, right?

Well then, lets backtrack a bit to Day 1 Introductions.

Hi, I'm Mari here at MariReads. Mostly books and book related stuff here, but I do throw in other things I am interested in- Knitting, music, exercise and nutrition and the occasional product review. I am a stay at home mom, former PK teacher so that sometimes sneaks onto the blog, as well.

The books I most enjoy are fiction- mysteries, historical and thrillers are my faves. My IRL book group has me reading and enjoying more Sci Fi books than I ever thought I would. NonFiction is still a struggle for me.

Looking forward to meeting new bloggers and catching up with those I have been following for awhile. 

Happy Reading! _________________________________________

Armchair BEA: Giveaway winner!

I hope everyone had a wonderful time participating in this year's Armchair BEA. I sure did. So many great blogger's to visit and learn from. Now that it is over, it is time to announce the winner of my Giveaway:

Our lucky winner of a shiny brand new copy of The Lavender Garden by Lucinda Riley is: Jennifer
Congratulations!!! Email me (marireadsATyahooDOTcom) your address and I will send the book out to you ASAP.
If you did not win but would still like a copy of your own, the book was published today in paperback. Look for my review later this week!
Happy Reading! _________________________________________
 FTC Disclosure: Clicking on book title and/or image links will lead you to my Amazon Affiliate page.

Armchair BEA: Children's Books and YA

Having been a PreKindergarten teacher for nine years and now a mother of a two year old, I have a very large children's picture book library. I started off the year very diligently sharing some of the little girl's favorites here on the blog but haven't in quite awhile. (I really should start those posts up again. Her reading choices have definitely changed since the last.) I have also gone through many YA books in recent years.
I love children's books. The stories that range from simple to complex, the way one book can be used in so many different ways to teach, the beautifully illustrated pages. How a book meant for children can enthrall and resonate with adults is just amazing to me and it happens so often. The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein, The Harry Potter Series by JK Rowling, and The Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyers are just a few examples.
Here are some of mine and the little girl's favorite books:
Board Books

Picture Books

Middle Grade

YA

Children's Classics

Happy Reading! _________________________________________
 FTC Disclosure: Clicking on book title and/or image links will lead you to my Amazon Affiliate page.

Armchair BEA: Non-Fiction

I was so sure that I wasn't going to write anything today because I have such a block when it comes to most non-fiction books. It isn't something I usually want to read. However, I was just reading Trish's post and realized that there have been books I have enjoyed that were not Fiction. 
What made them books that I actually enjoyed was the narrative used. When the book isn't just a collection of facts, when there is a story, and people to follow and relate to or sympathize with I do enjoy it. Who knew?
So, if you are like me, and have a difficult time finding non-fiction books to read here are some that I truly enjoyed:
 

True Crime is Non-Fiction, right?

Happy Reading! _________________________________________
 FTC Disclosure: Clicking on book title and/or image links will lead you to my Amazon Affiliate page.

Armchair BEA: Giveaway time!

Time for a Giveaway!!!  Lucinda Riley is the author of The Orchid House and The Girl on the Cliff. Her third book, The Lavender Garden, will be released June 11th in paperback.  I have absolutely enjoyed all her books since recently getting introduced to them. I am currently reading The Lavender Garden to review and so far it is just as good as the previous two. 

 I would like to offer you a chance to win your very own brand new copy of The Lavender Garden. Just leave me a comment and your email address and you are entered. You have until midnight (PST) on Monday, June 10th to enter. I will announce the winner on June 11th. Giveaway is open internationally. 

Good Luck and Happy Reading! _________________________________________
 FTC Disclosure: Clicking on book title and/or image links will lead you to my Amazon Affiliate page.

Armchair BEA: Instagram Challenge

Today's pic: My armchair.

#armchairBEA

Armchair BEA: Fiction Love

 I love the sweeping epic stories of historical fiction, especially if set in Tudor England. I can't get enough of the supernatural creatures- werewolves, vampires, zombies, etc.  I really enjoy a great crime novel, a mystery to keep me guessing all night about who did it. I like the easy to read, fast to finish, and so addictive popular fiction but also the slow, beautiful prose of literary fiction. 
This is what I read. This is what sits on my shelves (both real and electronic), on my bedside table, my floor and window sills. Perhaps a few non-fiction books make there way in but it is those books of fiction that fuel my reading habit. 
They make me dream of being the Inspector that solves the unsolvable case, of flying on broomsticks after Snitches and eating chocolate frogs on the Hogwart's Express, of meeting my own Gilbert Blythe (well, that one did come true), and of surviving the zombie apocalypse.
How could you even want to read anything else? ;)
(So, I realize I included non- Genre Fiction here. Oops. Just shows you I really don't know all the new genres- NA, Genre Fiction? What happened to just Fiction? Anyway, I guess my point is- I like it all. But, yeah, Genre Fiction does seem to be my go to reads. )

Happy Reading! _________________________________________
 FTC Disclosure: Clicking on book title and/or image links will lead you to my Amazon Affiliate page.

Armchair BEA: Introduction

Hello Armchair BEA-ers! Welcome to MariReads.
I am Mari and I have been blogging for quite awhile now. I started with my knitting blog, MariKnits back in 2007. I used to share and review books I was reading once a week on there, but soon I was posting more about books than knitting so I decided to start MariReads. Most books reviewed back then were for challenges- Classics, New-Classics, 100 books in a year. I loved the community amongst Book Bloggers and was soon exclusively blogging about Books. 
The last couple years have been a little slow for me around here. Lots of life changes- including having a child, moving from Austin, TX back to CA and adjusting to life at home after nine years of teaching. I am very happy to be back near our families, and being able to spend these first years at home with my little girl (who is almost 3) but it did limit how much reading, reviewing and posting I have been able to do. I am starting to get my groove back a bit. I am even hosting my very own reading challenge. Never done that before. :)
So, before I go, here is what I am currently reading:
I am so close to finishing Patient Zero by Jonathan Maberry.  Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn for book group. and The Lavender Garden by Lucinda Riley for review.
I am really looking forward to this event and meeting some new bloggers. Thanks for visiting!

Happy Reading! _________________________________________  
FTC Disclosure: Clicking on book title and/or image links will lead you to my Amazon Affiliate page.

Armchair BEA: Building Relationships

As in real life, I am not all that great when it comes to making new friends online. I can be a little shy, so it takes me awhile to comment on other's blogs and I definitely don't approach publishers for books. Despite this, I have been able to make some blogging friends and have developed a good relationship  with a couple publicists who have approached me for reviews. 
I think it is important that once you make a connection with someone you need to foster that relationship just as you would in real life. Keep in touch, be respectful and give as much as you receive. _________________________________________

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

Armchair BEA: Best of 2011

I haven't read all that many books this year due to the new babe, but here are my faves so far :

And these are the ones I am really excited to get my hands on:



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