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.

Additional Reviews:

Bookhounds
Fabula:  A Book Blog
English Major's Junk Food
One Literature Nut
There's A Book

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.

WISH LIST: Matchless by Gregory Maguire

Matchless: A Christmas Story by Gregory Maguire

Description (from Harper Collins): With Matchless, Gregory Maguire has reinvented the Hans Christian Andersen classic The Little Match Girl for a new time and new audiences. Originally asked by National Public Radio to write an original story with a Christmas theme, the New York Times bestselling author of Wicked and A Lion Among Men was once again inspired by the fairy tales we all loved in childhood - and he composed a poignant and enchanting tale of transcendence. A lovely and beautifully illustrated gift, Matchless places Andersen's pitiful waif in the august company of Maguire's previously re-imagined Snow White (Mirror, Mirror), Cinderalla (Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister), and of course, the Wicked Witch and other denizens of Oz.

Recommended by: A Bibliophile's Bookshelf

Special Notes: I LOVE Maguire's work and would not want to miss out on his latest!!

10 Books To Read Before You Die

Pam over at Bookalicious started this fun meme a while ago and I have been wanting to participate for so long. Well, now I finally have the time!!!! So, read on for the 10 books (in no particular order) that I would recommend that you read before you die . . . .

1. Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling
2. Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire
3. Blindness by Jose Saramago
4. The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
5. The Stand by Stephen King
6. The Giver by Lois Lowry
7. Life of Pi by Yann Martel
8. A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
9. Maus & Maus II by Art Spiegelman
10. The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

What books would you recommend I read before I die?

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Just wanted to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving from my house to your's!!

If you have not yet entered, do not forget to enter my Giveaway of Thanks!! It is my way of saying thank you to all of you and what better way than a family pack of *NEW* books!!!

Catchin' Up On Awards!!

Over the last month or so, I have received a few more awards that I wanted to highlight. Thanks to those who have passed these awards on to me and thank to all those who keep coming back for more!!

The next one is the Who Loves You Baby! Award awarded to me by J.T. Oldfield over at Bibliofreak. For this one, the awardee is to pass it on to bloggers who have give him/her awards in the past. I have recently passed this one on, so I am going to be lame and say if your name appears anywhere else on this post, then you can claim this award as well!! Afterall, if you are already here, you already deserve it!! :)

I received The Friendship Bear Award from J. Kaye's Book Blog. The rules say "whoever receives it must do a shout out and nominate seven other bloggers."

My seven other bloggers I shouting out to are . . .

1. Heidenkind's Hideaway
2. Laura's Reviews
3. One Literature Nut
4. Lost in Books
5. Peaceful Reader
6. Reading Adventures
7. write meg!
   

I received the Great Look Award from Laura's Reviews!!!

This award is meant to pat on the back the ones paying particular attention to their blog presentation, and god knows some of them look awesome! Of course none of them are pretty empty shells, so there’s no shame to mention how nice their blogs are!

Here are the rules:

1. Post the award on your blog, with the name of the person who has granted the award, and his or her blog link.
2. Pass the award to 5 other blogs that your particularly like. Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

And, I'm passing this award on to . . .

1. A Bibliophile's Bookshelf
2. Dreadlock Girl
3. We Be Reading
4. The Book Girl
5. Bibliofreak

Sunday Synopsis: November 22, 2009

I am a little late in posting my little weekly summary. I had such high hopes of getting caught up this weekend, but then my internet went and died on me! Even now it is only working sporadically and to be quite honest, I am going crazy!!! Who would have thought that I would be so "plugged in"?!?! Thank heavens I have a 5-day weekend coming up, starting this Wednesday, to work on getting my internet working again consistently and caught up some more reviews!! In the meantime, here is my weekly synopsis . . .

DISCUSSIONS:

• Remembering My Roots!! (and the corresponding UPDATED Review Policy)

REVIEWS:

• The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

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:

• Defenders of the Scroll by Shiraz (page 23 of 250)
• The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien (audio; disc 1 of 10)

REVIEWS TO COME:

• Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins (scheduled!!)
• 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
• Every Last Cuckoo by Kate Maloy
• 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: I still have not made it through my Google Reader, though I have finally begun to work on it. I'm hoping later this week to have a special post completely devoted to those amazing posts I want to highlight . . . say, over the past month!!!

ADDITIONAL UPDATES: I've received some awesome awards, will be signing up for some more challenges, and hope to particiapte in another read-a-thon in the weeks to come. There is a lot happening, and here's to hoping it all gets posted this week during my long weekend!!

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

There has been this mass amount of talk about this book called The Hunger Games. All I have heard is praise and without really knowing what it was about, I went out and bought the book. I was hoping to read it during Dewey's Read-A-Thon, but was simply unable to get to it. After another personal friend recommended that I read the book, I decided it was time! I set aside my few remaining review books, picked up this book, and rarely put it down!!!!

For those who do not know about the book, here is my quick summary . . . Chaos. Controlling goverment. People doing what they can to survive. Children as tributes. Fascinating, yet disturbing games. Possible resistance and maybe even a glimmer of love? Beyond those few things, I really cannot say any more!

I became completely absorbed in the main characters. Katniss is your main female character who demonstrates great strength (and I'm not talking physical!) and who is willing to step up and hold her own and protect her family. Yet, she is one that this very strength can hinder the most obvious of situations. Then, there is Peeta, an eloquent young gentlemen with a different kind of strength . . . physical, but yet one that is sweet and sincere. Now put them in an arena filled with their peers to fight to their death!! Who will win these Hunger Games?!?

After finishing this book, I was very intrigued! I wanted to know more of the characters. I wanted to know what happened after the completion of the games. Would I say that this book was great? No! Good? Yes! Afterall, I did find it interesting enough to read the sequel right away. I really connected with the characters. I thought the symbolism and topics raised would be great conversation. And, I simply don't like NOT KNOWING!! So, I moved on to Catching Fire the very next day . . .

I have now completed the second book in this series!! The review is next to come. Stay tuned to find out if I felt the series got better or worse. In the meantime, I want to hear your predictions . . .

Do you think I enjoyed the second more or less? Would I be so bold to put it up in line with my other favorite young adult books, such as Harry Potter?!?!?

Want another opinion?

The Eclectic Reader

Books Gardens & Dogs
Mindful Musings
Reading in Color
English Major's Junk Food
One Literature Nut
Laura's Reviews
There's A Book

UPDATED Review Policy

Effective December 1, 2009, I will no longer be accepting books for review from publishers or authors. Though I will be continuing with reviews, all books hereafter will be those that I receive as gifts from family and friends, win in giveaways, or ones that I purchase myself (all of which will be noted within my Sunday Synopsis report).

For more information on my change in policy, please refer to Remembering My Roots!

As always, my reviews will be honest feelings expressed as my love for reading!!

If you wish to contact me with further questions, please send me an email at tiftalksbooks (at) gmail (dot) com.

Remembering My Roots!!

Approximately two and a half years ago, I started this blog as a way to keep track of the books I read and to chat about them with those who were interested. Before I discovered this whole wide book blogging world out there (about a year ago), I often felt that I was talking to myself!! BUT, I continued to write because I enjoyed it! My motivation was simply the joy of book talk and the relaxation I felt writing.

After discovering this online book community, I also began accepting books for review from publishers and authors. I have discovered some authors that I would never have discovered otherwise. I have explored some new avenues. And, I have enjoyed it!

However, I feel that it is time to remember my roots, of where and why this blog began. This past year has been an exciting ride . . . BUT, it has come time to re-evaluate as the new year comes to a close. This is what I have come to realize . . .

With my Type A Personality, I feel that I need to be able to provide those who have requested reviews a quick turnaround time in regards to my thoughts.

When I do not follow through on this quick turnaround time because life simply gets in the way, then I feel bad . . . horribly bad.

And, this has not been motivating me to get through them faster!!! Normally, it would actually . . . but this year has been a very chaotic one for me!! My normal has simply turned to abnormal!!

Maybe it has been all this chaos . . . maybe not!! BUT, whatever the case may be, I have decided to return to my roots! I am going back to reviewing those books that I acquire through personal purchases or as gifts (I include giveaways in this category). I will no longer be accepting copies for review from publishers or authors.

The weight that has been lifted off my shoulders has been amazing! I feel that I can now sit back and enjoy the ride instead of screaming at the top of my lungs through all the dips and dives, just trying to hang on to all the craziness and fulfill all the roles and duties in my life.

Blogging has been my release. It has been my way to de-stress after a long day. It has been my constant through a multitude of moves, a place I can turn to relax and release, and share my joy with others.

Many may also be asking if this has something to do with the new changes being implemented by the FTC. Honestly, it was not a huge factor, but it may have been what has pushed me over the edge.

Now for just a couple of final thoughts . . .

For my readers . . . I will be sticking around for quite some time! I will be posting on a more regular basis again! And, I will be here to talk books, my favorite topic next to my family!! And, I have some new changes coming in the new year that you will not want to miss, including a meme, monthly giveaways, and maybe even a little surprise!

For authors or publishers . . . Please do not consider this an end to our personal communication! I encourage you to still send me information on your books! I may not know of you otherwise!! If your book intrigues me, I will be adding it to my Wish List (my list of books that I wish to read). I will be revising my review policy in the next week, and all of this will be listed in my permalink in the menu above. This is a positive change! Afterall, I am one of those who likes to own the books I read . . . this could lead to my support by actually purchasing your books instead of you sending me free ones!! All in all . . . money in your pocket, NOT out!! If you have already sent me a book, ALL books will be reviewed by the end of the year.

Well, now that I have rambled enough, it is now time for me to sign off for the evening. I will be heading up to my favorite reading spot, curling up with a good book, and getting lost in the world of Panem! Until next time . . .

HAPPY READING!!!

Sunday Synopsis: November 15, 2009

For my little Sunday Synopsis this week, I am going to give you a very shortened version . . . simply because I have not gotten a lot done!! I did do a little bit of reading, adding to my ever-growing list of reviews that need to be done. I have started the arduous process of working through my Reader. After two hours of reading through posts this afternoon, it still stands at 1000+ though. I guess you could say that I have officially dug myself a hole that is going to take a while to get out of!! But, I am now feeling a bit more rejuvenated!!! My busy time of year at working is waining down and I can see the light at the end of the tunnel!! And, my reading is getting back up to par thanks to Suzanne Collins!! If only there was a way that I could personally thank her for giving me a little more motivation and letting me successfully escape from my stressful world for a while. And, to think that I will be starting Catching Fire as soon as I post this only puts my heart at ease even more . . . not to forget the big ol' smile on my face!!! Thank you Suzanne!!! :)

So, I am going to leave you with two things . . . my one post from this last week and my disgustingly LONG list of books I need to review. Wish me luck this week!! :)

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)!!

REVIEWS TO COME:

• The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
• 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
• Every Last Cuckoo by Kate Maloy
• 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)

Giving My Thanks!!!

I know I have not been very good about posting lately!! However, I am still alive and kicking!! In fact, I have been reading quite a bit, causing me to be even more behind in reviews . . . BUT, am determined to get back to writing very, very soon!! In fact, I have a goal to get a few written this weekend in fact!!

In the meantime, I want to say thanks to all my readers during this season of giving; therefore, I am having this wonderful GIVEAWAY from my family to your's!!! I will be giving away a four pack of brand spankin' NEW books!!! The other day, my family went book shopping and we each picked out one of our favorite books. I have listed each of our faves below . . .

Daughter J chose Hug by Jez Alborough

A very adorable board book of Bobo and his Mom . . . and of course, hugs!!

Son C chose Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs by Judi and Ron Barrett

A paperback copy of a favorite childhood classic. Townspeople of Chewandswallow are one lucky folk . . . They never have to cook, prepare meals, etc. because their meals rain down on them! But, what happens when the "weather" takes a turn for the worse?

Husband C chose The Authoritative Calvin & Hobbes by Bill Watterson

Another classic, but in a much different sense!!! Enjoy the great adventures with the fun-loving Calvin and his ever-present friend, Hobbes. A book that is guaranteed to bring a smile to your face!!

Tif chose Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire

One of my personal top five favorite books of all times, Wicked introduces you to Elphaba, or better known as the Wicked Witch of the West, the girl that we always grew up hating because of her pure evil. BUT, looking at life from the green side may just give us a whole other perspective on her life (and maybe our own)!!

Now for the GIVEAWAY details . . .

To enter . . . You must leave a comment with a valid email address along with something you are thankful for. BOTH the email and your item of thanks must be in the comment in order to qualify for this giveaway!

Deadline . . . Entries will be accepted through Monday, November 30, 2009. One winner of all four *NEW* books will be notified and announced on Tuesday, December 1, 2009.

Extra entries . . . You can earn extra entries by any of the following (please include these in your comment):

• +1 . . . If you follow, subscribe via a reader, or subscribe via email, you can earn one extra entry.
• +1 . . . If you are a follower of Tif Talks Books on Twitter (@tiftalksbooks), you can earn another additional entry.
• +1 . . . If you help to spread the news by tweeting or posting on your blog, you can get one more. Please note that you can receive only one additional entry for spreading the word, NOT one for each way of spreading.

UPDATE: This giveaway is open to US & Canada residents ONLY!! If you commented before 5:00 pm Central Time on November 13, 2009 and do not meet the resident requirements, you will still be entered due to my lack of notification. All others past this date must have US & Canada mailing addresses!! Sorry for the confusion and thank you for your understanding!!

And, last but not least . . . .

THANK YOU!!!!!

Sunday Synopsis: November 8, 2009

Yet again, it has been a while since I posted, so my little synopsis is for another couple of weeks! I have had family in town and I also took my first ever trip to New Orleans!! This has been a much needed break and I have had the opportunity to think long and hard about this site and my purpose behind it. And, after all this thinking, I have come to a decision . . . I will be making more changes to this site! I like to think that I am constantly making changes to improve. I have loved maintaining this particular site, but with some recently nagging feelings combined with a new role in my life, I've decided to take a step back and go back to my roots. I don't want to give away too many details here . . . afterall, I am still working on ironing out the creases . . . but I will be posting my changes in the very near future. Be watching for it as well as a GREAT, BIG GIVEAWAY in the next week or so!!!! Now, moving on to my synopsis . . .

DISCUSSIONS:

• Literary Locals: October 2009

AUTHOR HIGHLIGHTS:

• You're Only As Young As You Feel by Cayla Kluver

REVIEWS: None

BOOKS RECEIVED: None

CURRENTLY READING:

• Daniel X: Watch the Skies by James Patterson & Ned Rust (Disc 3 of 4)

REVIEWS TO COME:

• 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
• Every Last Cuckoo by Kate Maloy
• 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)

AROUND THE BLOGOSPHERE: I really have nothing to post here this time around! I'm a little behind in my Google Reader these days . . . okay, not a little . . . a lot . . . like 1000+ lot!!! I'll be working on getting caught up there this week and hopefully, share many great links with you next week!!

ADDITIONAL UPDATES: I've included all my additional updates above, so I will leave you with this . . . .

Have a wonderful week!!!!