Read-A-Thon Check-In (Finally!)

Yep, I am finally back for the Read. Read. Read-A-Thon!!!! I have not gotten very far at all. I'm wondering where the day has gone and am a bit disappointed in myself. All I will say at this point is thankfully, I am a night owl and I plan to be up for quite a bit longer, finally getting some reading and writing done!!

I am quite embarrassed to post these numbers, but I am going to do it just the same. **blush**

Time Spent Reading: 11 minutes (Yikes!!)
Pages Read: 6 pages (Double Yikes!!)
Posts Written: 3 (1 kick-off, 2 meme)

I've got a lot to do to get caught up, so I'm off!! I will be back again in a couple of hours with hopefully, some better news and numbers! In the meantime, don't forget to check out my meme devoted to this event!!

Remembering the Garters . . .

In honor of the Read. Read. Read-A-Thon, here is my Book Libs for my personal meme. Enjoy!!

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Remembering the Garters . . .

Once upon a time in the land of The Roman Empire, there lived Michael and Lady Marguerite happily ever after. Is that not how the story always goes?!? On the night before The Order of the Garters, Michael was sleeping peacefully when all of a sudden there was a fanfare. He jumped out of bed to awaken Lady Marguerite.

As both stood there, looking at the Spanish Queen in their front room, they felt frightened. How could it be? Was it true? To be face to face with the Spanish Queen was not possible. What were they to do?

With quick thinking, Michael and Lady Marguerite exchanged a knowing glance and knelt.

From there, we may never know what happened in this story. It could be privy. Or, it could be delicious. It truly is a mystery! However what we do know is this . . . . He lifted her up in his arms, and she let the music of the drums heal her soul.

The End

Read.Read.Read-A-Thon Meme: Book Libs

Do you remember those crazy Mad Libs when we were younger, where we would come up with random words to fit into a pre-written story? Well, in honor of the Read. Read. Read-A-Thon hosted by Dreadlock Girl, I am hosting a little meme with the same general idea . . . but with a little twist!! We are going to be using our current reads to determine our words!

Go grab your current read as well as one book that you have recently completed, a writing utensil, and a pad of paper . . . don't worry, I'll wait for you!!

You will write down 10 words using the parameters below. They are pretty self-explanatory, but comment if you have questions.

1. Location: refer to page 3 of your current read.
2. Character Name: refer to page 7 of your current read.
3. Character Name: refer to page 18 of your current read and select a different character than #2.
4. Special Occasion: noted somewhere throughout the book that you have read thus far (i.e., holiday, birthday, milestone, etc.)
5. Action Noun: selected from page 57 of your current read.
6. Noun: selected from page 63 of your current read.
7. Feeling: selected from page 42 of your current read.
8. Verb: selected from page 100 of your current read.
9. Adjective: selected from page 124 of your current read.
10. Adjective: selected from page 82 of your current read.
11. Final Sentence: use the final sentence to your past read here (but don't tell any of us which book it is!! I don't want the story ruined for you or me!!)

NO PEEKING BELOW!!!!! It will ruin the fun!!!

Once upon a time in the land of #1: Location, there lived #2: Character Name and #3: Character Name happily ever after. Is that not how the story always goes?!? On the night before #4: Special Occasion, #2: Character Name was sleeping peacefully when all of a sudden there was a #5: Action Noun. S/he jumped out of bed to awaken #3: Character Name.

As both stood there, looking at the #6: Noun in their front room, they felt #7: Feeling. How could it be? Was it true? To be face to face with #6: Noun was not possible. What were they to do?

With quick thinking, #2: Character Name and #3: Character Name exchanged a knowing glance and #8: Verb.

From there, we may never know what happened in this story. It could be #9: Adjective. Or, it could be #10: Adjective. It truly is a mystery! However what we do know is this . . . . #11: Final Sentence.

The End

Once you have completed your story, copy and paste what is written above, insert your special words, and share it with the rest of us! Insert your own title upon completion and use that as the subject of your post! And, don't forget to come back and add your link here! Have fun and enjoy a few giggles into the wee hours of the night!!

Even if you are not officially participating in the Read-A-Thon, I still encourage you to join in! Whether it is to participate in the meme or to cheer on the others' creativity, you will not want to miss out on the fun!!

Image courtesy of Mad Libs Official Website.

Kickin' Off Late!!

The Read. Read. Read-a-thon is already two hours in. I am just now logging on for the first time!! This is not a great way to start!! However, I feel that if I can get my household stuff done now, then I will have the majority of the afternoon and late hours to devote strictly to reading. That's my plan anyways. Most of the morning I intend to work on housekeeping issues . . . getting caught up on my comments, cheering on my fellow read-a-thoners, and writing some reviews. I will then have to run some errands. By that time, I'm hoping to have lunch and get one kid down for a nap, so I devote a few hours to reading. I'm currently working on Royal Blood by Rona Sharon. It's a longer book and I am at the beginning, so I have some shorts by Poe handy to break up my time AND I could not resist picking up a copy of Matchless by Gregory Maguire earlier this week from the library. That should be a fun little break as well. It looks like one I can read in one small sitting.

So, until next time, I will give you my beginning numbers for the record . . .

Time Spent Reading: 0
Pages Read: 0
Posts Written: 0

Happy Reading!!

Read.Read.Read-A-Thon . . . .

I was so excited to be participating in the latest read-a-thon (hosted by Bethany over at Dreadlock Girl) not only to work on getting caught up before the end of the year, but also to just sit, relax, and read all day long . . . AND maybe make up for what I didn't get done during Dewey's Read-A-Thon! Unfortunately, things have come up and I will not be able to participate as much as I would like . . . AGAIN. My husband is working again that day . . . BUT, his shift should be much shorter this time around which is very promising to me! Well, then . . . I have waited until the last minute to get my holiday pictures scheduled and the only time available was on Saturday night. So, of course, I had to schedule them then . . . I was very reluctant though! The important thing is though . . . I am still shooting for medium participation. In fact, I am shooting for the goals as last time around . . .

7 hours

7 stories

7 posts

As for my books, I'm going to go with whatever I feel like picking up that day! I hope to focus mainly on those remaining review books that I have yet to finish and need to before the end of the year. However, I may opt into reading a few shorts as well to help break things up a bit. Only time will truly tell!!

Oh, and one final thought . . . I've decided to do a little meme. Not sure what time it will be held, but it will be a fun little bookish activity to use as a break to spice things up a bit!! Even if you are not participating in the read-a-thon, you will want to participate in this!!

And The Winner Is . . .

MJ

Congratulations!!! You have won the four pack of books for my Giving Thanks Giveaway!!! I will be emailing you shortly to receive your mailing address. Please respond ASAP so I can get your new books out to you in time for the holidays!!!

Thank You & Happy Holidays!!

All giveaway winners are chosen at random. A worksheet was created, assigning a number to each entry by the order in which it was received. The data was then input using random.org to generate the winning number.

Literary Locals: November 2009

My Literary Locals feature is quickly approaching its first anniversary!!! I have had a great time doing this little feature, but want it to be bigger and better. I want to see more talk about those authors local to you and help to spread the word about your local literary treasures. Therefore, I am asking for your help!!!

First of all, I want to change the look. I want the look to be more attractive and more exciting, something more aesthetically pleasing. I'm not that great at designing labels, so I've decide to solicit your help! I will be accepting submissions for buttons until December 15th. I will post all ideas here the following day with a little link love to each designer. I will then open up a poll for all readers to vote on until the end of the month (December 31, 2009). Submissions can be submitted by emailing me at tiftalksbooks(at)gmail(dot)com.

I am also looking to hear your opinion on what you like to see highlighted here. I encourage all those who participate to be creative in their local highlights. However, I am curious what you would like to see Tif Talks Books focus on. Here are a few ideas that I have come up with . . .

• More reviews of local author works
• Highlights of local authors, such as guest posts or interviews
• Features of local bookish treasures, such as libraries, reading events, indie bookstores, authors' homes/museums, etc.
• Lists of local authors (by states)

I have set up a poll on my sidebar for you to vote! Please take a few minutes to share which of these topics you would like to see more of in 2010. I have also included an "Other" category for you to share your thoughts and opinions. If this category should be selected, please share your thoughts either by posting your ideas in the comments section or by emailing me at tiftalksbooks(at)gmail(dot)com.

It's a new year, and I believe that Literary Locals is ready for a new look and focus! What would you like to see from this monthly feature?

Sunday Synopsis: November 28, 2009

DISCUSSIONS:

• 10 Books to Read Before You Die: What books would you recommend?

REVIEWS:

• Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
• Every Last Cuckoo by Kate Maloy

GIVEAWAY: Don't forget to check out Giving My Thanks!!!, featuring a giveaway of a family pack of *NEW* books for your whole family!! It's my way of showing my appreciation for all the support from my readers (despite my random presence this year)!!

CURRENTLY READING:

• The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien (audio; disc 3 of 10)

REVIEWS TO COME:

• Defenders of the Scroll by Shiraz
  
• Daniel X: Watch the Skies by James Patterson & Ned Rust
• King by Right of Blood and Might by Anna L. Walls
• Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling
• Arthur's Audio Favorites Volume 2 by Marc Brown
• A Circle of Souls by Preetham Grandhi
• Dancing with Ana by Nicole Barker
• George's Marvelous Medicine by Roald Dahl
• Mountains Beyond Mountains: The Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer, A Man Who Would Cure The World by Tracy Kidder
• Fool by Christopher Moore
• Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
• Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt
• The Little Island by Golden MacDonald and Leonard Weisgard
• Black and White by David Macauley
• Mei Li by Thomas Handforth
• Crossroads by Chris Grabenstein
• I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
• Rocky Mountain Snow Ghosts by Patti Hurst
• I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith
• Ralph S. Mouse by Beverly Cleary
• Runaway Ralph by Beverly Cleary
• The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner
• Survival of the Fittest by Jonathan Kellerman
• The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
• S is for Save the Planet by Brad Herzog
• The Ugly Duckling by Jerry Pinkney
• Mesmeric Revelation by Edgar Allan Poe (Poe Fridays)
• The Facts in the Case of in M. Valdemar by Edgar Allan Poe (Poe Fridays)
• The Sleeper by Edgar Allan Poe (Poe Fridays)
• Eldorado by Edgar Allan Poe (Poe Fridays)
• The Spectacles by Edgar Allan Poe (Poe Fridays)
• The Premature Burial by Edgar Allan Poe (Poe Fridays)
• The Haunted Palace by Edgar Allan Poe (Poe Fridays)
• Some Words With A Mummy by Edgar Allan Poe (Poe Fridays)
• Ulalume by Edgar Allan Poe (Poe Fridays)
• The Pit and the Pendulum by Edgar Allan Poe (Poe Fridays)
• The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe (Poe Fridays)
• William Wilson by Edgar Allan Poe (Poe Fridays)
• The Oblong Box by Edgar Allan Poe (Poe Fridays)
• The Bells by Edgar Allan Poe (Poe Fridays)

AROUND THE BLOGOSPHERE:

• Over at One Literature Nut, The W's of Reading: What Is It About Reading? is examined. What is it that draws us bookworms to reading anywhere, everywhere, all the time? Can we really pinpoint the reason? Probably not, but One Literature Nut does a good job of putting it into words just the same!
• The theme for Share-A-Story, Shape-A-Future 2010 has been set as well as the daily topics!!! Are you going to be joining in on It Takes a Village to Raise a Reader?!?! I will be!!
• Over at J. Kaye's Book Blog, she is a doing a Book Blog Read-a-Long in 2010. I am very excited about this new event, along with all of her other changes that are to come in the new year. If you have not yet seen her blog, I highly recommend you check it out! It's a great place for book-ish conversation!
  

ADDITIONAL UPDATES:

• I've received some new awards!! I posted about them here or you can just do a quick scan under my Awards page!
• I've also added a few more books to my Wish List!
• And, most importantly, I am so excited to share with you that I will be attending an event with Elie Wiesel (author of Night, Holocaust survivor, and Nobel Peace Prize recipient) this upcoming week!!! I'm hoping to blog all about it before the week ends!!

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Catching Fire is the sequel to Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games, and has been a topic of many bookworms these past few months. The Hunger Games intrigued many and Catching Fire seemed to set off fireworks all over the book blogging community. I finally succumbed to the pressure, went out and purchased my own copy of the first in the series, and recently sat down to read the book. In my review of The Hunger Games, I mentioned that I felt that it was good. It was an intriguing story line. I could relate well to the characters. It was a quick read and one that kept me interested from beginning to end. However, I did not feel that it was outstanding. BUT, it was good enough for me to head out to buy the second, Catching Fire and immediately start reading it.

For those few left out there that have not yet read these books, I do not want to give the details away and spoil the first one for you. I won't even use the names of those characters still around in the series. So, I will leave the brief description to this . . . Catching Fire starts shortly after The Hunger Games left off. The characters are living with the decisions made during these gruesome games and many twists may be added to make life even more interesting!

Interesting is definitely what the book became!! I continued to enjoy the characters, the writing, and the flow of the book, BUT this time around I got completely hooked!! This sequel brought in more action, more emotion, more connections to the characters. I became more invested in the story, the players in the game, and the purpose of their actions. I found myself cheering, urging, and growling to the new twists and turns the author took. And, the last page left me with my heart beating rapidly . . . thinking when in this next book going to come out?!?!

I love when I can become so wrapped up in a story and created world that I think about the book for days. The characters stay with me. They even almost feel like my friends (or enemies)! When I had to put the book down after reading that final word and know that I could not run out to buy the next book right now to find out what happens next, I even began to feel a bit of anxiety . . . but what about ______? Even as I re-live portions of the book as I write this, I can feel my heart beating faster and faster!!!!

I am hooked!! I cannot wait for the final book to be released! I would even venture to say that I will be re-reading these books again right before that release date! In fact, I would even go so far to say that these books will be added to my regular re-read pile!

A couple of years ago, Twilight became all the rage. Harry Potter started the madness with midnight book release parties many years ago. By adding Collins' books to my regular re-read pile, she will be joining an elite group of authors in my home. This pile does not include Meyer. It does include Rowling! That alone should say a LOT for this author and series!!

For more information on Suzanne Collins, visit her website.

Every Last Cuckoo by Kate Maloy

A while ago, I was passed on a book from Kristen over at We Be Reading. I finished reading it months ago, but as you all know, I am a little behind on my reviews. However, I have to be honest with you . . . I have been avoiding this review. I have been avoiding it for the reason that it is going to be one that is not glowing. It was a book that did not kept me interested. It took me longer than usual to read. I simply could not get into the story and one particular portion turned me off completely. But, before I move on, let me give you the brief synopsis from the back cover . . .

Sarah Lucas imagined the rest of her days would be spent living peacefully in her rural Vermont home in the steadfast company of her husband. But after Charles dies suddenly, seventy-five-year-old Sarah is left inconsolably alone - until a variety of wayward souls come seeking shelter in her big, empty house. As Sarah and this unruly flock form a family of sorts, they nurture and protect one another, discovering unsuspected strength and courage.

All in all, I really enjoyed the concept behind this book. I loved the possibility of "wayward souls" coming together to discover "unsuspected strength and courage." I was thinking it would be an uplifting book, one to inspire. However, I felt that I only received a choppy story . . . one that had so much promise, but one that I felt just left me hanging and not wanting more. Maybe I had set my expectations too high. Maybe I just could not relate to the main character who came generations before me. I really cannot pinpoint the exact reasoning behind my dislike for this book . . . BUT, I can pinpoint the exact moment it became a hopeless case for me . . . page 219. The author used a word that I absolutely detest and I still cannot figure out the reason for the usage. Typically, language in books does not bother me . . . but when it is this particular word and there is really no need for it, I do not have much tolerance for it.

From what I have read, many do like this book. At this time, it was simply not for me.