Sunday Synopsis: February 27, 2011

I am so excited to share with all of you that I am hoping to be back in full force this week!  My many multitude of projects are either done or wrapping up this week and I will be back to spending a bit of me-time . . . reading and writing . . . something that I have dearly missed these past few weeks.

Here's what you can expect to come this week . . .

My review of Room by Emma Donoghue for February's Tales to Tomes Online Book Club, probably late tomorrow evening.

A special guest post for our monthly link-up for the Fairy Tale Challenge.

I'm also hoping to post a review or two, a giveaway, an author event, and/or highlights on upcoming book-ish events.  I truly have so many things to share with you that I need work on getting it all scheduled!

Until next time, don't forget to check out the announcement of March's read for Tales to Tomes.  And, as always . . .

HAPPY READING!

Tales to Tomes: Announcing the March Book!

The decision that you all have been waiting for is here!  The vote for our next Tales to Tomes Book Club selection is in!  Before the official announcement, take a peak at the votes received . . .

As you can see from the beautiful bar graph, there was a lot of different books selected, but there was one that stood out a bit ...

Dogsbody by Diana Wynne Jones!

I have heard so many wonderful things about this author and am excited to be reading this selection during the month of March.  I hope that you will join me for discussion on the book via Facebook, Twitter (using the hashtag #tales2tomes), and right here at the blog on March 31st.

In the meantime, I will be posting my review of Room by Emma Donaghue (our February selection) on Monday, February 28th.  I look forward to hearing what everyone thought about our first selection!

My Book Addiction: It Grows!

I've been at it again . . . buying more books, that is! A couple of weeks ago, I hit a local high school book fair and then of course, I had to finally use up some gift cards that were burning a hole in my pocket! Add to that, a book that I won in a giveaway, and you get a box of books to add to my collection! Let's take a look at my growing addiction . . .

Here's the stack of books I gathered at the book fair! Sadly, I got home and realized I already had one of these books. Guess I will need to see what I can do with the extra!

And then, we have the special books I received after using some giftcards.

Lastly, the book that I won from a giveaway hosted on Carol's Notebook. I told myself that I would not enter anymore giveaways until I read at least a few books off of my shelves, but I had a hard time passing up entering this one!

What books have you been excited to receive lately?

Vote For Our Next Book Selection!

It is time to vote for our next book selection for Tales to Tomes Book Club!  I have compiled all of your selections and added a few of my own to create a list for us to choose our next book from.  You will find the list of books below with a link to the description using Google Books.  You can then use the form below to vote for your selection.  The book with the most votes will be the one we read and will be announced late on Saturday, February 26th.  Without further ado, your choices . . . 

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

Matched by Ally Condie

Incarceron by Catherine Fisher

Leviathan by Scott Westerfield

Everything is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer

The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay by Michael Chabon

The Children's Book by A.S. Byatt

Dogsbody by Diana Wynne Jones

Little Bee by Chris Cleave

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

And, your vote . . .

Sunday Synopsis: February 20, 2011

Just popping in really quick to say a quick hello and let everyone know that I am still alive and well!  I'm still working on some projects, but hope to get back to blogging this week sometime.  The time away from blogging has been both good and bad for me . . . Good because I've been able to get some projects done that have really been needing to get done! . . . Bad because I love to write and I simply am missing it!  That is why I will be back in the near future with lots of things to read and discuss, including the vote on next month's book selection for Tales to Tomes Book Club!

In the meantime, I also happen to be struggling with my reading.  I think it is because I have been reading the same books for so long!  I am still in the midst of The Count of Monte Cristo.  I am really enjoying the story, but find myself needing a break from Dantes' adventures for a bit.  I also have not picked up Room since I finished the first chapter a couple of weeks ago.  I'm thinking this is because of the content . . . it's a bit heavy and I'm in need of something a bit lighter at the moment.  I will still have it read by the end of the month though!  To ease my mind a bit, I decided to pick up a couple of graphic novels in the meantime and that has really seemed to be working!  Yesterday alone, I read Ghostopolis by Doug TenNapel and started The Good Neighbors series by Holly Black.  The latter is particularly good so far!

Since I've got graphic novels in the brain, do you have any you would like to recommend?

Here's to a productive week!  Wishing you all the best in reading and beyond!

Sunday Synopsis: February 13, 2011

First and foremost, let's get the holiday greeting out of the way!

Happy Valentine's Day!!

We celebrated the love a little early this year, and yes, my kids got books in honor of the occasion!  My daughter received Dora's Valentine Adventure and my son received Fly High, Fly Guy!

Now, let's move on to a bit of business . . . I have not been around much this past week and I have a feeling this next week is going to be the same.  I simply have not had much time to write or read with some projects that have been on my plate.  I'm hoping to devote a few evenings to these tasks this week and get back on track by next week.  And, to be honest, I am in the middle of some really good books and I want to spend some more time reading them!  Nothing is a better stress relief to me than getting lost in a good book!

Which books am I getting lost in the middle of?

• The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
• Room by Emma Donaghue

What are you getting lost in this week?  

2011 Fairy Tale Challenge: February Selections

We are already into our second month of the Fairy Tale Challenge!  Can you believe how fast time flies?!?  If you remember, the challenge can include both books and movies.  And 2011 has a number of fairy tale flicks heading our way!  Here are a couple that I am personally looking forward to . . .

Beastly:  Released March 4th

Red Riding Hood:  Released March 11th

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2:  Released July 15th

Okay this last one isn't really a fairy tale or based on one, but if you count the importance of Tales of Beedle the Bard to the plot, which is wizarding tales very similar to fairy tales, then I've got a good argument here that is really plenty good enough for me to add it here!!

Curious what was read in January?  

And, don't forget to post your selections for this month in the Mr. Linky below:

Sunday Synopsis: February 6, 2011

Happy Sunday!  This week threw me a couple of curve balls with two days off thanks to anticipated snow (which really did not come which I might add).  You would think that with two days at home with my kids, I would have gotten something done.  Alas, I did not!  In fact, I didn't even really get much reading done!  I thought I would remedy that this weekend, but then my husband was actually home all weekend, so other projects that we have been needing to get done took over.  There went more reading and writing time!  Oh well!  There is some good that has come from all of this . . . I got to spend some extra time with my family AND I did get some household projects done!  I will take it!


The two things I did get done this last week on the blog . . . 

• Cyber Series . . . the post that I started many months ago and finally got posted!! 
• Tales to Tomes:  Room by Emma Donaghue . . . my new online book club was launched!!  Woohoo!!  Are you joining us?  Have you submitted your choices for next month yet?

I'm hoping for a better reading and writing week, but as usual, only time will tell.  I really have soooooo many things to post about.  I can't even remember the days that I struggled for content.  Now, I struggle for time to post it all!

Let's close this post with a little challenge check-in.  So far, only mediocre in my opinion!

1. The Stephen King/Richard Bachman Challenge (Perpetual)
2. 2011 Graphic Novels Challenge (0 of 3-10 Books)
3. Off The Shelf Challenge (4 of 30 Books)
4. Young Readers Challenge (4 of 12 Books)
5. Take A Chance Challenge 3 (0 of 3 Books)
6. 2011 Young Adult Reading Challenge (0 of 50 Books)
7. The Dewey Decimal Challenge (0 of 4 Books)
8. 100+ Reading Challenge of 2011 (4 of 100 Books)
9. Fairy Tale Challenge  (0 of 12 Books/Movies)

How are you doing with your reading so far in 2011?

Tales to Tomes: Room by Emma Donaghue (February 2011)

Are you ready to start reading and chatting?!?  Today marks the kick-off of my new online book club known as Tales to Tomes.  This month our selection is Room by Emma Donaghue.  We will be discussing on Facebook, Twitter (via #tales2tomes), and right here on the blog at the end of the month!

Don't forget to get your submissions to me for next month's selection by Thursday, February 10th.  Votes will be launched by Saturday, February 12th and will run for approximately one week.

Until then, happy reading and chat with you later!