Posts Tagged ‘ Mondays ’

It’s Monday, What Are You Reading?


It’s Monday, What Are You Reading? is hosted by Sheila @ Book Journey. Want a good book to read? Stop by and see what’s new in the world of literature!

This weekend was busier than usual with me running around to see family, drop my girlfriend off before the crack of dawn at the start of her MS City to Shore bike ride, and meeting her at the finish line in Ocean City, NJ. She finished the ride with flying colors and chatted the rest of the day about how wonderful the volunteers and her experience were. Fortunately, the predicted rain held off and she finished in six hours which included stopping at every rest stop along the route. It was great to switch roles as I supported her athletic endeavors as she always does for mine. And she finally understood the glow that accompanies the aftermath of such a physical undertaking. It made me want to join her next time! 🙂

In other news – Happy Banned Books Week! I’ll be posting on Twenty Boy Summer this Wednesday in conjunction with Book Journey’s Banned Book celebration. Be sure to tune in on Wednesday as I’ll have a special giveaway to celebrate the freedom of reading! 😀

Here’s what I’ve been reading this week:

  How Starbucks Saved My Life by Michael Gates Gill – I’m listening to this memoir on CD (not read by the author) and am really enjoying it. It’s a little too happy-sunshine for me, but Gill has a great perspective on lessons he learned later in life. Fired from an affluent job he held the majority of his life, Gill finds himself floundering for a new purpose. That’s when he is found by Crystal, a Starbucks manager who takes a chance on Gill that changes his life for the better. This memoir is definitely worth reading as it provides a great illustration on how sometimes we may be distracted by things that are fleeting instead of finding happiness in the moments of life.

 

 

  In the Small Kitchen by Cara Eisenpress and Phoebe Lapine – Another fun cookbook with great illustrations. The authors provide their life experience in the form of recipes that reflect a good range of dietary options, budgets, and fanfare. Plus, the colorful anecdotes make it a fun read as well!

 

 

 

 

  Every Thing On It by Shel Silverstein – A compilation of Silverstein’s poems and illustrations published posthumusly by his family. Growing up with the whimsical books of Silverstein, I had to pick up a copy, eager to read more of his works. Perfect to read anytime. 🙂

 

 

 

 

That’s all she wrote…er, read. Tune in Wednesday for more fun, reading, and entertainment! 🙂

2011
09/26
CATEGORY
Books & Media
Food
Monday Reading Blogs
Reading
TAGS





12 comments

It’s Monday, What Are You Reading?


It’s Monday, What Are You Reading? is hosted by Sheila @ Book Journey. Want a good book to read? Stop by and see what’s new in the world of literature!

It was a beautiful weekend – fall is officially in the air! 🙂 Although I’m pretty sure next weekend is supposed to be warm again…My girlfriend is doing a bike ride to raise money for MS that weekend, so it’ll make for perfect weather to cruise 75 miles. I’ll be happily cheering along on the sidelines this time.

Update on the books I read/listened to this past week: I mentioned that I was listening to The Hypnotist this past week. I’ve been intrigued with the fascination surrounding authors such as Nesbo, Larsson, and Kepler. I’d heard they were dark and gory, but I still wanted to give them a try. I stopped listening after the fifth CD because I couldn’t stand the violence anymore. I’ve never stopped a book because it was too intense…before this one. It takes the thriller genre to a whole new level of darkness. One which I won’t be visiting again anytime soon!

Here’s what I’ll be reading this week:

  The Hunchback Assignments by Arthur Slade – This engrossing novel falls in between MG and YA with a riveting plot and literary allusions. Dr. Hyde is a recluse scientist hired to perform gruesome experiments to build living creatures into stronger, mechanized creatures. Modo is a boy hunchback discovered and taken in because of his marvelous ability to shift his features into whoever he wants to be. Filled with espionage, mystery, and unique characters, this series is definitely worth picking up!

  Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan – I’m hoping this book on CD will provide a lighter reprieve from the intensely horrific one I just stopped listening to. When Will Grayson and Will Grayson’s lives intersect they have no idea the humor and heart that will go into building new relationships all while putting together an epic production of their high school musical. This novel has gotten great reviews, so I’m looking forward to finally reading it!

Okay, so it’s a slow reading week for me this week. I’m hoping the lighter list will propel me to write that much more of my novel! 😀

Happy reading!

2011
09/19
CATEGORY
Monday Reading Blogs
TAGS



11 comments

It’s Monday, What Are You Reading?

It’s Monday, What Are You Reading? is hosted by the lovely Sheila @ Book Journey. Stop by and see what everyone’s talking about!

Another rainy week, but was still able to get out for a couple long runs to keep up with my half marathon training. My race, the half-marathon portion of the Philadelphia Marathon, is only a couple of months away now which is crazy! I feel like I’m on track with my training though, so I feel confident with my ability to be ready by Nov. 20. Yay! 🙂

I’ve been a reading fool these past couple of weeks and since I didn’t get a chance to post my reads last week, they’ve been piling up! I’m still waiting eagerly for the highly anticipated latest release from one of my fav authors, Louise Penny called A Trick of the Light, (if you like English style mysteries, you have to read her books! Start with Still Life, the first in the series…) but since my library is being agonizingly slow, here’s what I’ve been reading in the interim…

  The Body in the Transept by Jeanne M. Dams – The first in the Dorothy Martin mystery series about a widow who lives in an English village and quite inadvertently becomes the local Miss Marple. Charming and clever with great characters, this series is perfect for those crisp days spent curled by the fire. In the traditional English mystery style of writing, readers will be delighted by the mystery without having to be faced with the violence or high suspense found in many thriller mysteries.

  The Hypnotist by Lars Kepler – Touted as the greatest crime writer to come out of Sweden, following the likes of Steig Larsson, and international best seller, I couldn’t help but pick up Kelpler’s book. In direct opposition to my beloved English-style mysteries, Kepler’s novel presents a unique element in the hiring of a hypnotist in solving a brutal crime. And while I think I know where the story is going (I’m listening to this on CD and the narrator is very good), Kepler spins such a descriptive tale in a distinctive voice that I’m thoroughly enjoying my dark car rides.

  Invincible, Vol. 1, by Robert Kirkman – Kirkman may be best known of late for inspiring the gruesome Walking Dead TV series, but Invincible didn’t disappoint either. Filled with unique characters and lots of action, it made for a fast read.

  The Wandering Son: Vol 1 by Shimura Takako – This was my first time reading any of Takako’s work and I am completely a fan now! Between the crisp illustrations and the intriguing story line, I spend through this thick mango volume in a day. The story revolves around a young boy who feels more comfortable dressed as a girl and a girl more comfortable dressed as a boy. The story touches on the beginning of their self-discovery so it hasn’t gotten into any deeper into how this affects their families and their friends, etc., so I’m already eagerly waiting on the next in the series. I don’t know of many authors willing or capable of touching on transgender topics and I appreciate it when topics I’m not familiar with are written about in kind and insightful ways.

What have you been reading this week?

2011
09/12
CATEGORY
Books & Media
Monday Reading Blogs
TAGS





5 comments

It’s Monday, What Are You Reading?

It’s Monday, What Are You Reading? is hosted by the lovely Sheila @ Book Journey. Need a good book for the beach? Stop by and check out what’s new!

It’s hard to believe it’s already Monday again! Where do these summer weeks go?? August is rolling in and I remain as busy as ever. Fortunately, a large part of my business centers around books and writing so I really can’t complain. 🙂

I’m super excited for my fellow blogger Medeia Sharif and her recent book release – yay!!! So of course I had to grab a copy of my own as well as a copy of Sirenz by local authors Charlotte Bennardo & Natalie Zaman. Very cool reading this week. Check them out!

  Bestest. Ramadan. Ever. by Medeia Sharif – With a back cover tagline of “No pizza. No boyfriend. No life.” I couldn’t resist devouring this YA novel. Almira isn’t the hottest (or the fittest) girl in school and has been dieting since she was ten. Plus she’s saddled with a parental no dating rule that’s tortuous considering her soul mate might be going to her school. Sharif’s novel is that perfect combination of everything that makes teenage years awkward, laughable, and great.

  Sirenz by Charlotte Bennardo & Natalie Zaman – I first heard about Sirenz from my friend and author Alissa Grosso. She had chatted with these local ladies and talked up their book. With a recommendation like that, how could I resist? Between the glowing reviews I’ve read and the premise of the book, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on a copy. Frenemies Meg and Shar are fighting over shoes when they find themselves confronted by Hades, Lord of the Underworld. They are given the task of becoming Sirens to call a Mr. Romanov down into the Underworld to atone for their bad behavior. How is a girl supposed to balance fashion with hellfire?

Hope your reading week is as stellar as mine! 😀

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2011
08/01
CATEGORY
Monday Reading Blogs
TAGS



3 comments

It’s Monday, What Are You Reading?

 It’s Monday, What Are You Reading is hosted by Sheila @ Book Journey. A wonderful romp through the world of books.

I’ve been keeping busy with the influx of summer visitors at the library, running, reading and writing. And I try to get outside as much as possible. It’s been lovely and hot lately. Perfect for reading by the pool! 🙂

Speaking of reading, here’s what I’ve been up to:

  Split by Swati Avasthi – I listened to this novel on CD and really enjoyed it…as much as one can say they enjoy a novel on domestic violence. It was so raw and real and emotional, it made it really hard to listen to honestly. Apparently Avasthi worked in a center for women trying to get out of domestic violence situations and it shows in her writing. It made it a unique novel in that it focused less on the actual home situation and more on the repricusions that those acts of violence have on the families that endure them.

 

  The Absolutely True Story of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie – I’m listening to this book on CD as well. It’s read by the author and he does a wonderful job. The story is about Junior a boy who lives on an Indian reservation that is filled with hopelessness. In order to find hope he decides to attend the all white, rich school that is 22 miles away. What compounds his unusual decision to leave the “res,” as he refers to it, is that he was born with water on the brain that left him fragile and susceptible to further head injuries. This book is so well written and funny and interesting that I can see why it won an award.

 

  Heartless by Gail Carriger – I love Carriger’s books. They’re whimsical and fantastical, filled with vampires, werewolves, and ghosts. Not to mention the lovely and feisty protagonist Alexia who carries a parasol loaded with numbing darts, silver spikes and other goodies hidden in its folds, just one part of the steampunk creations that fill the book. Plus the book is highly sarcastic and light-hearted without the usual gore and brooding associated with vampires and werewolves. I’m already looking forward to her next in the series!

Can’t wait to see what you’ve been reading! 🙂

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2011
07/18
CATEGORY
Monday Reading Blogs
Steampunk
TAGS



5 comments

It’s Monday, What Are You Reading?

It’s Monday, What Are You Reading? is hosted by Sheila @ Book Journey. A wild literary romp filled with a wonderful array of books bound to delight all kinds of readers. Stop by and check it out!

I’m having a wonderful holiday weekend. It began with an exciting game of mini golf followed by a splendid day touring around Brooklyn and then a bbq with friends. I love a nice three-day weekend. 🙂 I hope you all had a wonderful, relaxing weekend as well.

Here’s what I’ve been reading:

  Kara Goucher’s Running for Women by Kara Goucher – Filled with anecdotes, tips, and training schedules, I’m greatly enjoying the insights that Goucher offers to her readers. She’s an inspirational runner who seems to throw her heart and soul into her training and it pays off. I’ve followed her ups and downs through the many articles that have been written about her in Runner’s World. Her passion for running and girl-next-door spirit has made her an inspiration to runners, especially women, everywhere.

 

 

  It Gets Better edited by Dan Savage and Terry Miller – Partners Savage and Miller took the initiative to post a YouTube video of themselves telling gay youth that “it gets better.” Their response to the recent spate of homophobic bullying and teens subsequently committing suicide set off a firestorm of similar posts by people everywhere recording their personal experiences as well. This noble effort to try and give kids hope while making more people aware of the bullying that has become an every day occurrence for some kids has since been edited into this insightful book.

 

  Tentacles by Roland Smith – I really enjoy Smith’s writing style and eagerly jumped into this second book in his Cryptid Hunters series. His characters are smart and uniquely gifted and just happen to seek out animals largely thought to be fictitious, i.e. cryptids. A fun romp through exciting locales, Smith’s readers are treated with admirable heroes, dangerous foes, and deadly monsters. 🙂

 

 

 

What have you been reading lately?

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2011
07/04
CATEGORY
Healthy Running
Monday Reading Blogs
Running
TAGS



4 comments

It’s Monday, What Are You Reading?

It’s Monday, What Are You Reading? is hosted by the fabulous Sheila @ Book Journey. Need a good book to read this summer? Swing by check it out!

I spent the weekend with my family in PA celebrating both Father’s Day and my little bro’s birthday. I love getting to spend time with my nieces and nephews. They’re at just the right age where everything they say is hilarious. Very entertaining.

Here’s what I’ve been reading:

  Beauty Queens by Libba Bray – I love Libba Bray’s work. She’s snarky and witty and I enjoy every minute of her books. Beauty Queens is no exception. It took me a few chapters to get used to the tone of the book but once I did it made it easier to read. The crux of the book, at least from what I can tell being about 3/4 of the way through, is how women of all ages are made to feel as though they should act, think, and be a certain way in our society. But when a plane filled with beauty pageant contestants crashes on a supposedly deserted island, they begin to shed their societal confines and start making decisions for themselves instead of letting others decide for them. Another Libba Bray gem. 🙂

  Boy by Roald Dahl – Dahl is one of those authors that I read a lot of as a child (as all children should) and his books have lingered in my mind since. Boy is autobiographical and filled with great stories from Dahl’s youth. I’m listening to this book on CD and the narrator does a great job as well.

  Run! by Dean Karnazes – Karnazes is an ultramarathon runner. Ultra meaning anything over a marathon, but Karnazes takes it even further by running to his breaking point. He runs 100-milers without batting an eye. Someone called him to run 360 miles through the Australian outback and he jumped at the chance. He’s run through deserts and mountains, then throws his medals in a box in the garage. For him it’s about pushing his body and mind to the ultimate limits and seeing if he can make it to the finish line. His anecdotes are funny and inspirational and make for a quick read.

Don’t forget to enter the contest to get some great Clockwork Prince loot! Happy reading! 🙂

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2011
06/20
CATEGORY
Monday Reading Blogs
TAGS



9 comments

It’s Monday, What Are You Reading?


It’s Monday, What Are You Reading? is hosted by Sheila @ Book Journey. Want a good book to read? Stop by and see what’s new in the world of literature!

This weekend was fun and busy, busy, busy. Friday night I got to go to the book launch for Popular, a new YA novel by Alissa Grosso. The event was held at the Clinton Book Shop in Clinton, NJ, a small independent bookstore that was adorable. The owners were well prepared with lots of copies of Alissa’s book, a table set up for the introduction and a table for refreshments. Fortunately the weather was nice because the store was packed with people clamoring for an autograph copy of the book. The owner of the store said, when he introduced Alissa, that they have bestselling authors there with only seven people who show up and there were easily 70 there that night! I hope that’s my biggest problem when I get to that point in my writing career! 🙂

Saturday I spent the day in NYC with my gf’s family. We went to Central Park Zoo where we saw a lot of cuteness (especially the sea lions – what showoffs!), then to lunch at Candle Cafe (a delicious vegan restaurant that even our meat-eating family raved about afterwards). We finished with a visit to the Guggenheim where we got to see interactive public art and a great exhibit on Modern Art from 1910-1918 (my fav – no sarcasm, I really do love that art era).

Then…as if that weren’t enough excitement….Sunday, I ran a half-marathon relay with my girlfriend. It was called the Superhero Half Marathon and Relay and it supported the Christopher Reeve’s Foundation. It was an absolutely beautiful course through mostly flat neighborhoods and wooded trails. The race was very well organized and the technical shirts we got were great! Many people were in costumes which made for great viewing enjoyment. Definitely one of the best races I’ve had the pleasure of running! 😀

In other news, I’ve been reading some great books too:

  2011 Social Media Directory by Jeffery A. Riley – A great compilation of more than 3,000 listings of social networking and other helpful resources. They have been divided into categories to make finding what  you’re looking for easier – Family/Parenting, Travel, Sports, Health, etc. I found a lot of sites that I hadn’t heard of before like Project Gutenberg which allows you to download more than 25,000 free ebooks, created by volunteers.

  Power Foods from the editors at Whole Living Magazine – While I don’t buy into every latest trend and craze in the food/diet world, I do believe that certain foods are healthier for you than others. This book compiles a list of some of these healthy foods and fills its pages with recipes using these foods. I know a cookbook is good when I drool over every recipe I come across. This might be one cookbook I end up buying!

  Popular by Alissa Grosso –  I’m loving this book! The story centers around the popular clique of girls at Fidelity High with each chapter written from the viewpoint of a different girl in the clique. Although I’m only about a third of the way through, there’s already intrigue and mystery that makes me eager to read more! 🙂

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2011
05/16
CATEGORY
Monday Reading Blogs
TAGS


6 comments

It’s Monday, What Are You Reading?


It’s Monday, What Are You Reading? is hosted by Sheila @ Book Journey. Want a good book to read? Stop by and see what’s new in the world of literature!

Happy Mother’s Day to all you moms! I hope you had a great day yesterday filled with family and love and lots of chocolate. 🙂

I have a lot of great books that I’m reading, here’s what’s new:

  The Faculty Club by Danny Tobey – An ivy league school, a dark secret club, a straight-edge student and a perfect love. While I do love intrigue surrounding elitist clubs with spoiled rich protagonists, this novel does seem to have promise and was recommended to me by my mystery-loving father.  Although I just started it, Tobey promises layers of suspense that will keep the pages turning well into the night.  🙂

  White Darkness by Geraldine McCaughrean – I’m listening to this book on CD and while I’m not in love with the narrator’s voice, I am thoroughly enjoying the story. I mentioned last week how much I love Printz Award winners and honorees and so far this is no exception. There is most definitely something deeper going on that the reader is not privy to in the beginning of this novel (I’m surmising, I don’t actually know yet) which the protagonist deals with by having deep chats with someone in her head. One of the commonalities that Printz recipients share is the author’s look beyond the surface and into the inner workings of the teenage mind and psyche. They tend toward the darker side of YA lit but in a way that makes me think and stays with me long after I turn the last page.

De:Tales by Fabio Moon and Gabrel Ba – This is an early graphic novel by Brazilian twins Moon and Ba. It is well illustrated and interesting, although definitely a stepping stone to their marvelous newer graphic novel Daytripper.

Exciting for the coming week and a race next Sunday. Enjoy the warm weather and good reads! 🙂

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2011
05/09
CATEGORY
Monday Reading Blogs
TAGS





8 comments

It’s Monday, What Are You Reading?

It’s Monday, What Are You Reading? is hosted by Sheila over @ Book Journey. Stop by! 🙂

I had a fabulous weekend. Went with some friends to check out a roller derby bout (more on this in a later post) on Saturday then ran a 5k (more on this later too) with my girlfriend and about three hundred other folks on Sunday. It was windy run which made it tough, but it was a lot of fun! The event supported the Matheny Medical and Educational Center which helps children and adults with severe and complex disabilities. I’ll go into more detail in a subsequent post, but it is a really cool organization and I was happy for the chance to support them.

As for reading, here’s what I’ve been up to:

  The Dark and Hollow Places by Carrie Ryan – This is the third and final novel in Ryan’s Forest of Hands and Teeth series. If you haven’t read this series, go read it! Set in a post-apocalyptic world where zombies have taken over, the protagonists fight for their survival against all odds. While this may sound similar to other zombiesque stories, Ryan’s writing is brilliant, her characters flawed and intriguing, and her twists surprising. As eager as I am to continue reading, I’m sad that the series is coming to an end.

Still listening to:

  Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly – Still an amazing story, but if I were to do it over, I’d probably read it instead of listening to it. The faux-French accents with American English undertones aren’t really working for me. 🙂

Slow week for me, but looking forward to new books this coming week! How about you? What have you been reading?

2011
04/18
CATEGORY
Monday Reading Blogs
TAGS


9 comments

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