Influenced easily by others.......

Can I just say that I love my book reading friends?? Your reviews, Mailbox Mondays, Waiting on Wednesday, It's Monday...What are you Reading, Teaser Tuesdays, and Library Loot posts have a big impact on what I've been reading the past year. Who said that memes were a waste of time??? I know that there are bloggers out there that wouldn't be caught dead participating in one, but I'm thankful that so many of us do, because my choices and knowledge of new releases and new-to-me authors  has grown exponentially!!! (sort of like a few rabbits getting busy...if you know what I mean!!!) Without this blogging community and fun memes that bring us together on a weekly basis I know that my reading experience would not be as rich. So for that I thank you all and now will proceed to blaming people for loading up my library bag this week....You've been very naughty this week!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wedding Cake - Lynne Hinton
Who is to blame? Bonnie (Redlady's Reading Room)
Why? Because a while back she reviewed 'Christmas Cake' and I loved her review so much that she generously sent me her copy. So when I was looking at books today and noticed this author, I remembered Bonnie's review and grabbed it! Don't you love how I blamed Bonnie in such a crazy roundabout way??

A Cottage by the Sea- Ciji Ware
Who is to blame? Kaye (Pudgy Penguin Perusals)
Why? I fell in love with her review of this book because it takes place in Cornwall, which is on top of my MUST visit before I die locations. After reading her review I requested it immediately from my library!

The Bride Collector- Ted Dekker
Who is to blame? Nise (Under the Boardwalk)
Why?I really enjoy Dekker but after reading Nise's review and her description of this book being like a roller coaster ride made me realize that I had to read it now instead of later!!


Books Read in 2010 to date: 95
Books read from the library: 67
Number of Books Checked out from the library:23

Library Loot-It's been a long time!!!!!!!!

It's been almost a month since I've posted about my library loot!! I can't believe that I've missed so many weeks. Just because I haven't posted though, doesn't mean that I haven't been busy checking out tons of reading materials from my library. I have been keeping my branch very busy indeed and they have, of course, been doing a wonderful job of keeping great books on the shelves to tempt me!! I've estimated that I will probably read about 200 books this year and of those, maybe 100-125 will be from my library. I figure I read around $2500-3000 worth of material. I've often asked myself what would I do without my library. Well, on August 3rd, our county library millage will be up for renewal. I'm scared. There's a very real possibility that it won't pass. Michigan has been hit hard with unemployment. The jobs are just not here any longer and more and more residents are moving out-of-state. If it doesn't pass my beloved library will close their doors in February 2011. I'm filled with anxiety and sadness....but, while it is open I will CELEBRATE each and every book that I check out and not worry about my obsession with the written word. Instead, I'm just going to focus on enjoying these beautiful works of art.

Calamity Jack- Shannon Hale
I can't wait to read this graphic novel. It's the follow-up to Rapunzel's Revenge.

Crossing Oceans- Gina Holmes
I saw an ad for this one on Goodreads and knew I just had to read it.
Jenny Lucas swore she’d never go home again. But being told you’re dying has a way of changing things. Years after she left, she and her five-year-old daughter, Isabella, must return to her sleepy North Carolina town to face the ghosts she left behind.
For Keeps- Natasha Friend
I think of Natasha Friend as the "Laurie Halse Anderson" for middle school girls. She tackles difficult subjects but she puts it into context for the younger crowd.
FOR KEEPS, Natasha Friend tells a fresh, funny, smart story about what happens when a girl gets the guy she always wanted and the dad she never knew she needed

Spells (Wings #2)- Aprilynne Pike
I really enjoyed book one of this series and I'm hoping that the second one doesn't let me down!
When it comes time to protect those she loves, will she depend on David, her human boyfriend, for help? Or will she turn to Tamani, the electrifying faerie with whom her connection is undeniable?
Still Life- Louise Penny
I have book 3 in this series and have been meaning to start at the beginning (I can NOT read out of order).
Chief Inspector Armand Gamache of the Surete du Quebec and his team of investigators are called in to the scene of a suspicious death in a rural village south of Montreal. Jane Neal, a local fixture in the tiny hamlet of Three Pines, just north of the U.S. border, has been found dead in the woods. The locals are certain it's a tragic hunting accident and nothing more, but Gamache smells something foul in these remote woods, and is soon certain that Jane Neal died at the hands of someone much more sinister than a careless bowhunter."
Scars- Cheryl Rainfield
I read a review of this one in Booklist, and unfortunately I'm all to aware of students that cut themselves. I think I read these books to try to understand them better.
Kendra, fifteen, hasn't felt safe since she began to recall devastating memories of childhood sexual abuse, especially because she still can't remember the most important detail-- her abuser's identity

Tender Morsels- Margo Lanagan
Nymeth is the reason why I'm reading this one.
A young woman who has endured unspeakable cruelties is magically granted a safe haven apart from the real world and allowed to raise her two daughters in this alternate reality, until the barrier between her world and the real one begins to break down.
Women, Food, and God- Geneen Roth
I watched the author on Oprah and was a bit intrigued so I wanted to read this one from the library before I invested in my own copy.



Books Read in 2010 to date: 89
Books read from the library: 64
Number of Books Checked out from the library:19

Library Loot

I've been MIA on my loot posts for a few weeks now. It's actually a good thing because it was totally out of control...I'm DEAD SERIOUS!! At times it felt like I would never make a dent in the pile. And to matters worse, all of my new book requests came in at the same time!! How does that happen??? Anyway, I had to take a really hard look at my library books and decide what I could "realistically" read. It was painful but I returned over 12 books. Don't fear though people, because I've already re-requested them, but I've suspended the dates until later this year!! Do you know how difficult it is to try to show control in regards to how many books I check out? I feel like a junkie!

Here's my current loot:

A Complicated Kindness- Miriam Toews
I have no one to blame for this one, nor do I remember why I requested it! I hope it's good!


A Constant Heart and Love's Pursuit- Siri Mitchell
Both of these books can be blamed on Amy's (My Friend Amy) awesome reviews!! Read them here and here.

Get Lucky - Katherine Center
Thanks to Dar (Peeking Between the Pages) I've brought home another book!

Just Jane: A novel of Jane Austen's Life - Nancy Moser
This one is being blamed on Nise (Under The Boardwalk)! Don't you love the cover???????

Noah's Compass- Anne Tyler
Passing the blame ticket on to Diane (Bibliophile by the Sea) and her excellent review as the reason why this one came home with me.


Pretty in Ink (Tattoo Shop Mystery #2)- Karen E. Olson
In a roundabout way this one can be blamed on Wendy (Literary Feline) because it was her review of  this one which made me pick up book 1 and got me addicted to this series.








I love how I've been able to justify and blame all of today's books, except for that pesky first one....maybe I should've left that one off!!!!
Books Read in 2010 to date: 79
Books read from the library: 57
Number of Books Checked out from the library:20

Library Loot- Goodbye March!

Hosted by Eva at A Striped Armchair and Marg at Reading Adventures.
We share what we each picked up at the library during the week.

I'm just a tad embarrassed to list all of the books that I picked up this past week so I'm going to spare you half of it and save it for next time!!!

At the Kings Command- Susan Wiggs
Not sure if I ever heard of this book from any blogger, but I do know that I've read about this author. This is the first in a trilogy and after reading the back, I thought this could be a good read.

Frustrated by his own failures at matrimony, King Henry VIII punishes an insolent nobleman by commanding him to marry the vagabond woman caught stealing his horse. Stephen de Lacey is a cold and bitter widower, long accustomed to the sovereign's capricious and malicious whims. He regards his new bride as utterly inconvenient…though undeniably fetching.But Juliana Romanov is no ordinary thief—she is a Russian princess forced into hiding by the traitorous cabal who slaughtered her family. One day she hopes to return to Muscovy to seek vengeance.

Every Secret Thing - Ann Tatlock
Somehow I came across an ad, which I think was on Goodreads about Tatlock's newest book, 
The Returning. I checked and my library had that one, so the plan was to get that one. Plans changed once I got to the library and I thought that I would like to start with one of her earlier books and that's how this one came home with me.

When Elizabeth Gunnar accepts a teaching position at the preparatory school she attended as a girl, she is returning to more than a place--to memories, mysteries, and an old love. Once there she meets unexpected challenges--and challenging new people. She revisits ghosts of the past and old self-doubts. And through it all, God somehow takes four broken people and forms a new, complete family

Quaker Summer - Lisa Samson
Sometimes I just get in the mood for books based on faith. This one won the 2007 Women of Faith Novel of the Year. I loved the premise so I brought it home.

Heather Curridge is coming unhinged. And people are starting to notice. What's wrong with a woman who has everything--a mansion on a lake, a loving son, a heart-surgeon husband, and soapstone countertops--yet still feels miserable inside? Yet when Heather spends the summer with two ancient Quaker sisters and a crusty nun in a downtown homeless shelter, she suddenly finds herself at a crossroads. Sometimes you have to go a little bit crazy to find the life you were meant to live.

House Rules - Jodi Picoult
Because I've read every single one of her books there was really no way that I wouldn't be bringing this one home!! Diane (Bibliophile by the Sea) gave this one 5 stars so I'm hoping that I will love it just as much. I was very disappointed in her last book so I will have to put that experience behind me and really read this one with an open mind!

HOUSE RULES looks at what it means to be different in our society, how autism affects a family, and how our legal system works well for people who communicate a certain way – but lousy for those who don’t.

If the Church were Christian - Phillip Gulley
Finally, I get to blame someone for a book!! This one is all Margot's (Joyfully Retired) fault...loved her wonderful review and pair that with the fact that I love Gulley's writing, I'm sure that this one will be a great read!

In If the Church Were Christian, Quaker pastor and author Philip Gulley explores how the church has lost its way. This eye-opening examination of the values of Jesus reveals the extent to which the church has drifted from the teachings of the man who inspired its creation. Many Christians might be surprised to discover how little Jesus had to say about the church, and that he might never have intended to start a new religion.

Books Read in 2010 to date: 57
Number of Books Checked out from the library:24

Library Loot

Hosted by Eva at A Striped Armchair and Marg at Reading Adventures.
We share what we each picked up at the library during the week.

The Pull of the Moon- Elizabeth Berg
Blaming this one on JoAnn (Every Day Matters)- When JoAnn tells me to read a book....I do it!!!
From Goodreads:"Turning 50 seems to turn women crazy. When Nan hits this mark, she hits the road, leaving behind her home and husband. Driving west from Boston, she consults only her own pleasure. And while this sounds easy, it is often arduous for Nan, who can hardly remember what her own pleasure is...[The Pull of the Moon] is upbeat from beginning to end.

Out of My Mind- Sharon Draper
Blaming myself for this one! I've read other books by Draper and loved them, plus the premise is so intriguing that I couldn't resist this one!
Goodreads: From award-winning author Sharon Draper comes Out of My Mind, the story of a brilliant girl that no one knows about because she cannot speak or write.

Masque of the Black Tulip (Pink Carnation #2)- Lauren Willig
Blaming my co-worker for this one because if she hadn't recommended Pink Carnation, then I wouldn't have felt compelled to get the next in the series!!
From Goodreads:The Masque of the Black Tulip opens with the murder of a courier from the London War Office, his confidential dispatch for the Pink Carnation stolen. Meanwhile, the Black Tulip, France's deadliest spy, is in England with instructions to track down and kill the Pink Carnation. Only Henrietta Uppington and Miles Dorrington know where the Pink Carnation is stationed. Using a secret code book, Henrietta has deciphered a message detailing the threat of the Black Tulip. Meanwhile, the War Office has enlisted Miles to track down the notorious French spy before he (or she) can finish the deadly mission. But what Henrietta and Miles don't know is that while they are trying to find the Black Tulip (and possibly falling in love), the Black Tulip is watching them.

Love is the Best Medicine- Nicholas Trout
Can't figure out who to blame for this one....
From Goodreads: Love is the Best Medicine immerses readers in the true life drama of beloved pets whose lives hang in the balance.  Every page underscores the profound bond we have with the animals in our lives and the incredible responsibility Nick carries as their healer.

I, Alex Cross- James Patterson
Blaming myself for this one. I love Alex Cross and when I saw this book in a playaway version I had to grab it up. I'm listening to this one when I walk after work.

Books Read in 2010 to date: 53
Number of Books Checked out from the library:19

Library Loot- March 18th

Hosted by Eva at A Striped Armchair and Marg at Reading Adventures.
We share what we each picked up at the library during the week.

My library loot today has made me extremely giddy!! I put a bunch of new releases on request and somehow it always works out that I receive almost all of them at the same time. Today was no exception. As I look at all of the books I have checked out, I wonder if I will get them all read??? Good thing the forecast for the weekend is rain!!! I need a good excuse not to leave the house!!

Now for the blame game!!

Before I Fall- Lauren Oliver
Michelle - Michelle's Bookshelf   gets the honors for this one. She has an awesome YA blog and I get a lot of great recommendations from her!
** What if you had only one day to live? What would you do? Who would you kiss? And how far would you go to save your own life? 

The Girl Who Chased the Moon- Sarah Addison Allen
** I've been coveting this book for months. Ever since I saw it featured on Girls Just Reading back in 2009, I've wanted to get my hands on it!!
Sarah Addison Allen invites you to a quirky little Southern town with more magic than a full Carolina moon. Here two very different women discover how to find their place in the world…no matter how out of place they feel. 

The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag - Alan Bradley
** Loved this first book in this series and I'm anxious to meet up again with Flavia de Luce again!! Really can't blame anyone for this one....darn!
Flavia de Luce, a dangerously brilliant eleven-year-old with a passion for chemistry and a genius for solving murders. This time, Flavia finds herself untangling two deaths—separated by time but linked by the unlikeliest of threads.

Mornings in Jenin - Susan Abulhawa
** I first read about this one on Wendy's blog- Caribou's Mom. I thought it sounded like a fantastic read so I had to request it.
Forcibly removed from the ancient village of Ein Hod by the newly formed state of Israel in 1948, the Abulhejas are moved into the Jenin refugee camp. There, exiled from his beloved olive groves, the family patriarch languishes of a broken heart, his eldest son fathers a family and falls victim to an Israeli bullet, and his grandchildren struggle against tragedy toward freedom, peace, and home. This is the Palestinian story, told as never before, through four generations of a single family.

So Much For That - Lionel Shriver
** I've searched everywhere to figure out where I read about this one and I'm coming up empty!! Oh well, I'll blame it on my CRS syndrome that I experience every once in a while!!
After his wife is diagnosed with cancer, Shep Knacker sees his dream of retiring to a developing country slip away, along with all the money in his once-plentiful bank account, as he tries to navigate America's labyrinthine health-care system. (sounds like a fitting read right about now!!)

Books Read in 2010 to date: 47
Number of Books Checked out from the library:24

Library Loot- An Addict in Recovery

A few days ago I made little stacks of books that I wanted to read for the upcoming weeks and into April. I get such a rush when I gaze upon them....definitely a strange person!! Anyway, here is what I've added to those stacks this past week. I'm struggling with finding a happy medium with the amount of books that I bring in and how many I can actually read before they're due!

Marriage and Other Acts of Charity - Kate Braestrup
I read her first book, a memoir of sorts, Here If You Need Me, and loved her honest voice. I'm really looking forward to reading this one as she shares her life with us. I'm also partly blaming Kathy (Bermudaonion) for her awesome review which nudged me into requesting this one from the library!

The Last Song- Nicholas Sparks
I saw the trailer for the movie based on this book and honestly, it made me want to read it!! I need a Sparks book every now and again!
Nicholas Sparks's new novel is at once a compelling family drama and a heartrending tale of young love.

Anthropology - Dan Rhodes
Blame for this book goes to JoAnn (Lakeside Musing). Her review of this book immediately had me putting a request in for it!! I so can't wait to read these short 101 word stories.

Faceless Killers  (Wallander #1) - Henning Mankell
Nan (Letters From a Hill Farm) raves about this writer and his books, so I felt the urgent need to experience it for myself!! With her help she has guided me to this book...thanks Nan!!
From Goodreads: At once a gripping mystery in the classic detective tradition and an incisive commentary on contemporary society, Faceless Killers introduces Swedish Inspector Kurt Wallander, a cop whose personal life is in shambles. Tenacious and levelheaded in his sleuthing, Wallander has to deal with an eruption of antiforeign sentiment as he searches for brutal killers.

Books Read in 2010 to date: 42
Number of Books Checked out from the library:22

Library Loot- I'm out of control!

Hosted by Eva at A Striped Armchair and Marg at Reading Adventures.
We share what we each picked up at the library during the week.

Courting Trouble- Deeanne Gist
I'm so blaming Nise (Under the Boardwalk) for this one!
Synopsis: Essie Sprekcelmeyer loves her hats, her snakes and her bicycle--Peg, for short. But the one thing she wants to love, but can't, is a husband. The year of her thirtieth birthday, Essie creates a list of potential husbands to catch...but the catching, and the unintended consequences thereof, might cause her more trouble than it's worth.

A Bride Most Begruding - Deeane Gist
I was going to get A Bride in the Bargain because I love Nise's review of that one, but then I came across A Bride Most Begruding and thought that maybe this was a series. I realize that it doesn't have to be read in order but because I'm a tad "anal" about reading the first book of anything, I grabbed this one instead.
Synopsis: Any ship arriving from England means good news for Virginia colony farmers. The "tobacco brides" would be on board--eligible women seeking a better life in America, bartered for with barrels of tobacco from the fields.

 

I spent last weekend glued to the Hallmark channel watching each one of these books in the Love Comes Softly series come to life on the screen! I feel in love with the characters and knew that I had to read the books. 

Love Comes Softly (Love Comes Softly #1)- Janette Oke

Nineteen-year-old Marty Claridge starts west with her adventurous, boyish husband, Clem, seeking to claim land and hoping for good fortune. But when the venture turns suddenly to tragedy, Marty is left alone with her great loss. And coupled with her grief and heartache is the grim reality that there is no way to return home.
Clark Davis and his little girl, Missie, are also in great need. Clark's wife has died, leaving him to care to Missie and the farm at the same time. His offer to Marty comes with good intention, but will courage and faith be enough to bring them to true love?

Love's Enduring Promise (Love Comes Softly #2)
Clark and Marty Davis now preside over a growing family in their little prairie house. But as they reach out to those in their frontier community, they discover that love is not limited by the size of a dwelling.

 

Britten and Brulightly - Hannah Berry

Blame is going to Margot (Joyfully Retired)....this was her first foray into graphics novels and she truly enjoyed this one. I really like the drawings in this one and the dark feel to it!! Thanks Margot!!!

Books Read in 2010 to date: 39
Number of Books Checked out from the library:20

By the Time You Read This, I'll Be Dead- Julie Anne Peters

Blaming this one on Shawnee (Icedream) for this one!! Plus, I've read other books by this author and loved them.

About this book: National Book Award finalist Julie Anne Peters shines a light on how bullying can push young people to the very edge.

Cherries in Winter: My Family's Recipes for Hope in Hard Times - Suzan Colan
Bonnie is being blamed for this one!! I love her reviews and this one was no exception. As soon as I saw the book on the library shelf I knew I had to get it!
Cherries in Winter is an irresistible gem of a book. It makes you want to cook, it makes you want to know your own family’s stories, and, above all, it makes you feel rich no matter what.

Library Loot- February 24

Hosted by Eva at A Striped Armchair and Marg at Reading Adventures.
We share what we each picked up at the library during the week.

I know that when I list how many books that I've read, people are like wow! that's a lot of reading. Here is the insanity behind it....I have a problem. I feel like I MUST get these books down before they're due back to the library. When I renew one and still don't get it finished I feel bad. Weird huh? So I'm working really hard on getting through my loot and then I need to rethink how many books I check out at one time. I'm going to TRY to limit myself to 4 books per week. If I keep with this then I should be able to get those ARCs read, and start reading books from my own shelves! I have NOT read one book from my own shelves yet this year!!! Sad, very sad!!! 

Here's what followed me home last week:

 

The Choice (Lancaster County Secrets #1) - Suzanne Woods Fisher

Blaming this book on - Sheila of One Person's Journey Through a World of Books. She wrote a fantastic review and I love reading about the Amish culture.

The Secret History of the Pink Carnation - Lauren Willig

Blaming this book on - a co-worker. She raved and raved about this series last week, so while she was standing there gushing about this book, my excitement level kept getting higher and higher. Next thing I know...I'm requesting it from the library!!!

City of Refuge - Tom Piazza

Blaming this book on - Wendy of Caribou's Mom. I absolutely LOVED her review and I knew that this was a MUST read book for me!