TIF TALKS BOOKS

{RNW} Readers Weigh In

2012-01-27T10:00:00.000-06:00

Ramblings of a Night Writer continues after one week off! Last week was simply too hectic for me and life interrupted the writing in my neck of the woods. I am slowly getting back on the horse this week on multiple levels, including {RNW}! Last week, I had the opportunity to attend two very different author events, featuring Andrea Cremer and Thrity Umrigar. Both were fascinating for very different reasons. Then, earlier this week I was chatting with a friend about books, and a similar topic came up that was mentioned briefly in last week's events. It really got me thinking about writing from a reader's perspective and wondering what a potential audience loves to read in books. So today, I turn to all my fabulous readers to share your thoughts!

Tell Me: What is it that hooks you to a book? Is is well established characters? Characters that you can relate to on multiple levels? Or, is it the plot? Does the story have to have tension to be a success in the reader's eyes? Or, is it a fine balance of both?

As for me, I have come to truly love character development. I have found myself reading a horrid book simply because I want to know what happens to a character that I have discovered some sort of connection with. My case in point: Anna Karenina! I love to explore a character, his strengths and particularly, his flaws that make him that much more real to me. Sometimes I care about the plot. Sometimes tension can be important. BUT, I find myself more invested if there is a character that stirs a strong emotion in me or feels familiar.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl

2012-01-26T10:00:00.000-06:00

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is one of the most delectable underdog stories of all time. It follows the story of Charlie, a young boy that lives in poverty. Every day, he walks past Willy Wonka's factory smelling the sweetness in the air and dreaming of what could be. When he chances upon a priceless golden ticket to visit the factory that has been reclusive for years, he has the experience of a lifetime that could forever change his life.

Dahl's imagination takes the reader into scenes that leaves one hungering for more. Who wouldn't want to drink from a chocolate river fed by a chocolate waterfall? Can you imagine a diet plan that consists of full course meals ingested via one stick of gum? Any young child (and maybe a few adults like myself!) would like lick-able wall paper! Have I convinced you yet just how yummy this tale is?!?

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is one of my household's favorite reads! My son requests this book on a regular basis and I happily oblige. Every. Single. Time!

Have you sampled Dahl's classic? What would be one of your favorite treats from the tale?

Fables #2: Animal Farm by Bill Willingham

2012-01-25T22:21:00.000-06:00

Not long ago, I discovered the first in the Fables series, Legends of Exile. In Willingham's creation, the characters from our favorite fairy tales are exiled from their home lands to our's. In the second installment, Animal Farm, we follow Snow White and Rose Red to the property that houses the non-human Fables. Their routine visit turns into a fight for their lives and they must choose which side they will decide to fight for.

Willingham has once again awed me with his talent and creativity. I am hooked on this world the author has drawn to life, the interpretation of the classic characters in our modern world, and the amazing illustrations that accompany the story. I cannot wait to read the next installment!

WARNING: This is a graphic novel meant for an older audience!

Have you stepped into the land of the Fables? If so, who would you rank as your favorite character(s)?

Monday Maunder: January 23, 2012

2012-01-23T08:00:00.000-06:00

According to dictionary.com, Monday is the second day of the week, but the first work day. I have always really considered it the first day of the week. I like to end on relaxation, then start the week off with a bang; however, it often starts out with me waking up on the wrong side of the bed and grumbling that I would rather stay home reading! Even when I was a stay-at-home mom, I still had this experience on Monday mornings. What really is the issue with this day that it is so ingrained in our brains that Mondays are horrible, mundane, or simply manic? I have never understood it, but it continues over and over and over again. And for that reason, I am going to leave you with a bit of "Manic Monday" by the fabulous Bangles . . . let it play over and over and over again in your mind, since I now have it playing in mine thanks to this random maunder!

ON READING

My reading stack is the same as last week: The Count of Monte Cristo, audiobook of Wintergirls, and reading Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone with my son. This will be the week that I complete at least one of these books, if not two! I have more time for reading this week, so I'm really hoping to get through some of these amazing books, especially the one that weighs the same amount as my car!

On another reading front, I attended two amazing author events this last week: Andrea Cremer, author of Nightshade and Thrity Umrigar, author of the new release The World We Found. The two events were much different, but each left me inspired in different ways and I cannot wait to dive into both of these books.

ON WRITING

Writing was once again a complete failure this week. With an event every night this last week, I did not have a lot of time for anything to be quite honest. My evenings are back to being free this week and I look forward to writing ahead on the blog as well as getting a few personal projects done as well, including coverage of the two events mentioned above.

ON LIFE

Life has really not been that interesting beyond the usual book-ish chatter. I completed the first week of my new meal plan and do believe that I can count that as a success. Where I used to drink three to four regular sodas a day, I have now moved to one Pepsi Max (0 calories) a day! I did decrease my carbs, which was very difficult, but I am overall feeling good about my current plan. The plan this week is to ease back into a regular exercise routine, even if it may be walking on my lunch breaks. As for the pounds shed ... I do not know! I have yet to step on a scale and probably will not for a couple more weeks!

That's it for me! Tell me ... What's on your mind for this Manic Monday?!?

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Interpreted by Eric Shanower and Skottie Young

2012-01-18T06:00:00.000-06:00

Many of us know the story featuring the beloved Dorothy and her companions, Toto, the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion. When L. Frank Baum created the world of Oz, he also created a classic that will last for ages. Spinoffs, including my personal favorite Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire, are not uncommon and neither are devoted fans. Eric Shanower is one of these fans, bringing out his love of the original story with the help of artist, Skottie Young in graphic novel form thanks to Marvel Classics.

When I saw this graphic novel at the library, I knew I had to bring it home and take a peek. My peek revealed a tale that was true to the original, though the visuals did not completely match my own imagination. Some character interpretations I absolutely loved; case in point was the Cowardly Lion. One in particular left me unsettled: the Scarecrow. The others grew on me and the overall illustrations kept me staring at the pages long after reading the words printed on them.

Despite the difference in views, I still enjoyed this novel and the perspective presented by a true fan of Oz. If you are one of these fans, you may enjoy getting lost in Shanower and Young's version, too!

What are some of your favorite interpretations or retellings of Baum's Oz?

Walrus Report: Quatrain by Sharon Shinn

2012-01-17T22:12:00.000-06:00

Time for another check in with the Walrus! Earlier this week, I reviewed Quatrain by Sharon Shinn over at Walrus Publishing. This short story compilation is filled with angels, alternate worlds, princesses, and mystics, and serves as a quick introduction to Shinn's novels. This first book of the year for me was a great way to start off the year. You will not want to miss clicking over to read more, including which story was one of the favorites to write by the author!

Have you ever read Shinn before? Would you recommend the next Shinn title for this new fan?

Monday Maunder: January 16, 2012

2012-01-16T22:00:00.000-06:00

For today's Monday Maunder, we go straight to business . . .

ON READING

I am still reading The Count of Monte Cristo as I type this. In fact, I am currently on page 1026 of 1462 pages. I am really enjoying this story, but I must tell you that the story is VERY detailed and I cannot wait to see how the story ends. Hopefully, by the time I maunder next week, this book will be complete!

I am also still listening to Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson. I am about half-way through this one and all I can say is this author has an amazing way of writing! She describes things in such an unique, yet beautiful way, even despite the topic.

Lastly, my son is loving Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone! We are almost at the end of Chapter 3, but he is requesting to read this book every chance we get. I love that he is asking questions, that I can give him a bit of hints of what is to come, and every conversation is accompanied by a twinkle in his eyes. I only hope that it continues!

ON WRITING

This week, writing has been horrid! I am not even going to go into further detail!

ON LIFE

Life has been busy this week, but in the little free time that I did have, I spent my time playing Words with Friends! Being a lover of words, I have become addicted to this game! It is so much fun!! BUT, I do need to find a way to spend more time writing my own words instead of just playing them!

On another note, I also have signed up with some friends to do a Biggest Loser Challenge. Today was my first day on my new menu plan, and it has already proven to be difficult. I don't like to go drastic, so I am just working on cutting back on the soda and carbs (less breads and pastas) and increasing the greens. I will also phase in an increased workout schedule (somewhere). I'm not sure how it is going to go, but I do know that I'm ready to get rid of this baby weight and more!

What are you reading this week? Did you have better luck in writing? How about life in general?

{RNW}: Ideas & Inspiration

2012-01-13T06:00:00.000-06:00

Welcome to another week of {RNW} ... Ramblings of a Night Writer! Today, I would like to chat ideas and inspiration; in particular, where do your ideas and inspiration come from? Are you inspired by another wizard of words? Do you clip newspapers? Do you collect pictures? Do you keep an idea journal?

When I originally began exploring writing as a hobby, I really stuck to poetry and most of it was driven from emotion. I would be angry, depressed, lonely, or moved in some way that words were my way of working through it all. When I began writing here at Tif Talks Books, I did it to connect to others that would understand my love of books and the written word, but the writing continued to be cathartic for me during some difficult years. In the past few years, story ideas, characters, and scenes began popping into my mind. I began writing these ideas down in an idea journal. These ideas would appear while playing with my children, while brushing my teeth in the morning, or on the ride to work. I found my one idea journal was not always handy in these situations, so I began placing idea journals in random places around my home and carrying one with me. I have begun sketching character traits, pasting newspaper clippings, adding pictures, and maybe even adding a few doodles here and there. My ideas continue to grow. I have begun connecting some of the ideas, but some still remain separate waiting to be built upon or connected someplace else. And now, begins the task of actually putting all those ideas into words on a page and ultimately, I finished product ... but that discussion is for another day!

Tell Me: Where do your ideas and inspiration come from? Where do you keep them all in check? Do you have any special tips or tricks behind the ideas and inspiration?

Bunnicula by Deborah and James Howe

2012-01-11T06:00:00.001-06:00

During the month of October, I had the pleasure of reading one my childhood classics with my son: Bunnicula. For those who are not familiar with the story, allow me to give you a brief synopsis:

Harold the dog and Chester the cat live comfortably with the Monroe family until a new furry member is introduced: a rabbit with peculiar habits. Chester begins suspecting that there is more than meets the eye with this quiet animal, particularly when the vegetables start showing up white and juiceless! The feline is determined to expose the rabbit's secret, while Harold debates where his loyalties lie.

Bunnicula is a charming tale, perfect for the season of spooky for the younger crowd. My son enjoyed the tale as evident by his pictures of rabbits that include fangs! We recently discovered that Bunnicula's tale continues in a number of sequels, and they have already been added to our list of books to read together.

Have you read Bunnicula? How about the sequels?

Anya's Ghost by Vera Brosgol

2012-01-10T06:00:00.001-06:00

Anya is not happy with her life. She's embarrassed of her family, would rather ignore her heritage, and feels like she does not fit in no matter how hard she tries. Then, she falls down a well, meets a new ghostly friend, and her world really gets weird.

Anya is a character reflective of many teens, worrying about how to conform but yet trying to also discover who she really is. When she meets Emily in the well, Anya's life becomes more complicated, but in the end also becomes more clear.

Brosgol's debut graphic novel delivers bold illustrations, a likable character that teens (and even adults!) can relate to, and a story with a good message for those who read it. I look forward to seeing what the author will bring us next.

Have you met Anya's ghost? What were your thoughts?

Monday Maunder: January 9, 2012

2012-01-09T22:37:00.000-06:00

It's Monday, which means time for a bit of maundering! I'm tired, so this one may be a bit more maundering than even the norm here!

ON READING

I decided to go with finishing The Count of Monte Cristo this week. I really have not yet had a lot of time to read, so it is taking me a bit to get back into it. Considering this book was started a little over a year ago, I am a bit surprised at how interested I still am in the characters, wondering just how the fates will end up for each. I have avoided the movie all these years because I didn't want to spoil this one until I read it for myself and 2012 will be the year I do it!

I did start reading Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone with my son this last weekend! I promised him a while ago that when he turned seven, we would read these books together. He has kept me to his promise!!

I also started listening to Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson today on my walk. This one seems like it is going to be one interesting read and I'm not even that far into it! Good excuse to get out and exercise for a bit to get more reading time in!

Last, but not least, I am just curious if anyone would be up for a group read of Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare or Wicked by Gregory Maguire. I'm hoping to dive into these in February and one of my fave book buddies (Hey Kristen!) mentioned reading these together. Would anyone want to possibly join us?

ON WRITING

This last week, I posted my first official post in the {RNW} or Ramblings of a Night Writer series, and received a great response! I wanted to know how people made time for writing. If they wrote every single day or if they went with a different plan. Though I did spend time writing five days last week (unfortunately, almost all for this site), I have not felt like I have discovered my own method quite yet. I really liked the idea of spending my busy weekdays of more mapping, pondering, and taking notes with the weekends where the story began taking form through words. I also appreciated this link, talking about writing for five minutes every single day. I think I am going to be doing a bit of trial and error to find the way that best suits me! I will keep you posted! In the meantime, you can check back here later this week for another topic on writing!

ON LIFE

This last week, life returned to the normal routine of work and school with a couple of highlights for the week: my son's first basketball game and his birthday party! In the former, I was the proud mama, cheering loud for my boy, especially after he scored his first basket of the season! In the latter, I was pleasantly surprised at the success a bit of bowling and a package of Pop Rocks could be with a bunch of first graders!! The simple things in life bring me great pleasure!

What are you reading this week? What have been your highlights?

{RNW} Making Time For Writing

2012-01-06T06:00:00.000-06:00

{RNW} is Ramblings of a Night Writer, the new feature that I will hopefully be posting on a regular basis addressing the topics of writing. These topics will vary each and every time and may be relevant for all sorts of writers ... fiction, feature, bloggers, readers, etc. I have made it a goal this year to really focus on my writing, both on the blog and off, and I really have a lot to learn! I want to chat with other writers. I want to discuss writing from a writer's perspective AND from a reader's perspective. Some posts may be true ramblings, others will be strongly discussion-based, and others may be actual tips and tricks that I discover along the way. I hope you enjoy and come along for the ride!

For the very first {RNW} post of the year, I really want to talk about finding the time to write. Over this past year, I have been given the advice by a multitude of people, including bestselling authors to write every single day. This writing may only be 15 minutes at a time. It may be publisher-worthy, but it also could just be free-writing, journaling, etc. As I have tried to write every single night this week, I have succeeded. However, I am not getting much sleep and am already feeling myself beginning to drag. I wonder ... Will I be able to sustain this schedule for any length of time? Or, will I completely fizzle out next week? I do work full-time, raise two very active children with heavy schedules, do a bit of freelance on the side, and am still trying to fit in a regular exercise routine. Will I fail before I even have the chance to begin?

Tell Me: Do you write every single day? Did you ease yourself into a schedule or dive straight in? What are your tips for (daily) writing?

Leaping Beauty by Gregory Maguire

2012-01-05T06:00:00.000-06:00

Many people know Gregory Maguire for his bestseller, Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West. However, he has so many more stories out there, and not just for adults. Leaping Beauty is a collection of shorts for the younger crowd, written after his above mentioned bestseller. He wrote the eight stories in eight days, all with a twisted fairy tale spin.

Maguire takes the classic tales that we grew up with, changes the characters to the most unexpected animals, and adds a bit of humor that leaves the reader entertained and eager to read more. My personal favorite tale was "Hamster and Gerbil," in honor of "Hansel and Gretel." The title characters are adopted by beaver parents, but the mother passes on. The father marries an evil skunk and immediately plans to get rid of the children. Instead of a candy-covered home, the children find . . .

"The house had walls made out of dog biscuits. Cunning little paths around it were strewn with hamster and gerbil food. The roof was made of a scrumptious fresh lettuce leaf, and the chimney was made of a big hollow steak bone. Out of the chimney came the delicious smell of hot stewing kitty friskies, in flavors of chicken, liver, and fish." (p. 50-51)

Any hamster or gerbil would be tempted by this and any reader would be entertained. Maguire explores more tales in just the same way . . . creative, amusing, and at times, a tad bit sarcastic. From a circus-dreaming chimp to a walrus that takes on the role of a wolf and three chickens that fill the shoes of bears, Maguire brings the familiar into the new tales but does not always end them in the same way.

Fans of fairy tales, lovers of animal stories, and those who simply need a good laugh, I recommend picking up Leaping Beauty. Personally, I am on the hunt for an audio version narrated by the author himself in addition to my own personal copy. If you have ever seen the author in person, you would know the value of finding this personalized narration that caused him to continuously laugh out loud!

What animals can you envision in your favorite fairy tale?

Persepolis & Persepolis 2 by Marjane Satrapi

2012-01-04T06:00:00.000-06:00

I have repeatedly read positive reviews for Marjane Satrapi's Persepolis and I have repeatedly checked the two books out from the library to read them. Unfortunately, many times the due date sped towards me and I did not have the opportunity to dive into this unique memoir . . . until recently!

Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood is Satrapi's memoir of growing up in Tehran in the mid-1970's until the late 1980's. She paints her life literally on the pages in graphic novel form and opened my eyes to an evolution of a country that I have only seen portrayed through American media during a much different time. Through Satrapi's eyes, we see the lives of the Iranian people before and after the veil. We see the people on the streets and behind closed doors, both with and without the veil. We vicariously live through a child's eyes as we innocently witness revolts and tragedies . . . but, as an adult with children, the fear slowly begins to creep into the heart and for me, I realized just how brave the entire Satrapi family was in the decisions they made.

In Persepolis 2: The Story of a Return, Satrapi shares her story from the late 1980's and into the 1990's; in other words, the tumultuous teen years. During the years when a child begins to become who they will be as an adult, the author finds herself on her own in unfamiliar territory with no one to turn to or look up to. She is left to find herself alone. And, she finally discovers who she is through unimaginatively difficult ways and by eventually returning to her home in Tehran.

Satrapi shares her story with us and it becomes much more than just a graphic novel or memoir. It becomes a personalized history. It gives the reader a true peek into a country and its people, both the good and the not-so-good. It is the prime example of a book that can open our eyes to the world by a simple turn of a page.

All I can say is WOW!

Were you wow'd by Satrapi's work? What other books have that "wow" factor for you?

Monday Maunder: January 2, 2012

2012-01-02T22:00:00.000-06:00

Happy New Year!

Welcome to the new Monday Maunder feature, where I chat about the latest on my reading, writing, and life! It will have a very similar feel to the Sunday Synopsis, but the name fits my ramblings just a bit better. I hope you enjoy the change and I look forward to chatting with you in the comments!

ON READING

My first read of the year I have already completed and absolutely adored it! It was Quatrain by Sharon Shinn and the review will be coming up via the Walrus Report hopefully later this week. It was filled with lots of fantasy goodness, but I will not tell you the rest of my thoughts right now. I don't want to spoil the fun!

I can't decide what to pick up next. I still have not finished The Count of Monte Cristo that I actually picked up this time last year. I am feeling it is time to dive back into this one and finally complete this chunkster. Then again, I also have a number of other books that I have sitting on my shelves that I want to read, with a re-read of Wicked at the top of the list in order to read the entire series from Gregory Maguire's land of Oz. Decisions, decisions, decisions!

ON WRITING

It is only Day 2 of 2012, so I really do not have a lot to chat about in regards to writing this week. In future posts, I will share with you possible word counts, links to possible freelance articles that I write and do not devote a whole post to, and my ultimate challenge in exploring the world of fiction and poetry that I create.

One thing I do want to mention that I have not yet is my piece over at Walrus Publishing called The Perfect Tree. On Christmas Eve, I shared one of my favorite memories of the holidays. Even though the holiday has passed, I invite you to wander on over and venture into the mountains of Montana as I reflect on finding that perfect tree in my younger years.

ON LIFE

I have yet to share our exciting news about the latest addition to our family! Lily Harper joined our family on Friday, December 23rd at the ripe young age of 10 weeks. She is a Boston Terrier/Beagle mix, or what is fondly referred to as a Boggle. Can you imagine a better little puppy for a lover of words?!? Her name has literary significance as well. Can you guess where my inspiration came from?

In other life news, I received wonderful book-ish gifts for Christmas! Here are the two that I am most excited for, though I did a bit of shopping to add to my stash as well!

Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare

Inheritance by Christopher Paolini

I cannot wait to dive into these two books!

My maundering must now come to a close! How is 2012 treating you thus far? What is on your reading agenda this week?

Looking Forward to 2012

2011-12-31T06:00:00.001-06:00

As the end of the year approaches, we all begin thinking about what our goals and aspirations will be for the upcoming year. Some people make resolutions. Some people simply set goals. Others do neither and just go with the flow. I am one of those that likes to set some goals, though a bit loosely to allow for some spontaneity throughout the year. As I have been thinking about what to do with Tif Talks Books in 2012, I have come up with a few changes, but much will remain the same. Let's take a look at just a few of the things on my mind for 2012 . . .

THE GOALS

Just like last year, I am going to keep things simple. In fact, I am going to stick with the exact same goals: increase my reading, writing, and exercising. I want to read more and continue to add more diversity to my reading. I plan to be writing more, not just here on the blog, but in general. I will continue with my freelance writing via the Walrus Report, but also plan to finally expand on the many ideas in my story journals. Last, but not least, I will continue to increase my exercise routine, to get in better shape, and lose this weight I've been wanting to get rid of for far too long!

THE CHALLENGES

I have decided to decrease my challenges this year even further than I did last year. At this time, I have only signed up for five with the intent of adding one more later in the year for the RIP Challenge. If there are any others that grab my attention, then I may add it to the list; however, I am content with my current challenges listed below:

I have decided not to participate in challenges of books that I am already reading, but rather books that I want to really focus on for the upcoming year. I want to read more books on my TBR pile. I want to get back into listening to audio books. I want to increase my reading, particularly in regards to fairy tales and their retellings. It's a bit different focus from previous years, but I am looking forward to the true challenge that this will provide me!

THE CHANGES

The changes that are coming are nothing you have not seen before. I will be doing away with my Sunday Synopsis posts, but replacing them with Monday Maunder ones instead. These will include thoughts on reading, writing, and on life in general. I will be continuing and trying to increase my Literary Locals feature, highlighting all my local literary loves, from events to authors to bookstores and so much more. Finally, I had mentioned a feature called Ramblings of a Night Writer a while back, focusing on conversations focused on writing and the process around it. I am looking forward to increasing these posts for both readers and writers to be involved in, hopefully on a weekly basis.

There are a few changes, but overall, you can expect very similar posts and articles here at Tif Talks Books . . . chatter about books and the love for all things literary! I look forward to being with you all for another year and look forward to our conversations together. Best of luck to you in 2012!

Your turn! What are you planning for 2012? Any challenges, changes, or goals that you would like to share?

What's in a Name 5 Challenge

2011-12-30T21:00:00.000-06:00

Every year I like to try a little something random in regards to challenges. This year, I have decided to go with the popular What's in a Name 5 Challenge hosted by Beth Fish Reads. When I read the categories that she has this year, I knew that I could have some fun with this one in conjunction with my other challenges and goals this year.

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Between January 1 and December 31, 2012, read one book in each of the following categories:

A book with a topographical feature (land formation) in the title: Black Hills, Purgatory Ridge, Emily of Deep Valley
A book with something you'd see in the sky in the title: Moon Called, Seeing Stars, Cloud Atlas
A book with a creepy crawly in the title: Little Bee, Spider Bones, The Witches of Worm
A book with a type of house in the title: The Glass Castle, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest, Ape House
A book with something you'd carry in your pocket, purse, or backpack in the title: Sarah's Key, The Scarlet Letter, Devlin Diary
A book with a something you'd find on a calendar in the title: Day of the Jackal, Elegy for April, Freaky Friday, Year of Magical Thinking

The book titles are just suggestions, you can read whatever book you want to fit the category.

Other Things to Know

Books may be any form (audio, print, e-book).
Books may overlap other challenges.
Books may not overlap categories; you need a different book for each category.
Creativity for matching the categories is not only allowed but encouraged.
You do not have to make a list of books before hand.
You do not have to read through the categories in any particular order.

On January 1, I'll publish 7 posts, each with a Mr. Linky (one for each category and one for your wrap-up post), on this blog so you'll have a place post links to your reviews (bloggers) or leave comments (non-bloggers) as you finish up each category. You'll be able to find these posts during the year by clicking on the button in the sidebar. (I'll create those links on January 1.)

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My list of reads meeting the following categories:

A book with a topographical feature (land formation) in the title:
A book with something you'd see in the sky in the title:
A book with a creepy crawly in the title:
A book with a type of house in the title:
A book with something you'd carry in your pocket, purse, or backpack in the title:
A book with a something you'd find on a calendar in the title:

2012 Audio Book Challenge

2011-12-30T20:35:00.001-06:00

I participated in the Audio Book Challenge a couple of years ago with poor results, but have decided to try it again this year. I have noticed over the past year and a half, my audios have decreased substantially. I want to remedy that! Hence, the reason for joining this challenge. I want to get back into listening to books, the original form of storytelling. My hope is for one audio a month, meaning the Going Steady level of listening to 12 books.

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Welcome to the Original Audio Book Challenge formerly hosted by Alaine at Queen of Happy Endings. This challenge is for Audio Book lovers as well as those who are brand new to them.

I’ve been listening to your feedback and I’m convinced that the 2012 challenge is going to be better than ever. There will still be targets for achievement, but I’m raising them a bit since many of our participants are avid audio book listeners.

Once again, there are four levels to the challenge

Flirting-Listen to 6 Audio Books
Going Steady- Listen to 12 Audio Books
Lover- Listen to 25 Audio Books
Married-Listen to +++ Audio Books

*A big Thank You to fellow blogger and twitter buddy @dogearedcopy for her suggestions on the level names.

There will be a monthly link up so that we can share what we’ve listened to and make suggestions to each other. Along with that monthly link up there will be a special monthly challenge so make sure you stop by each month!

Inspired by Beth Fish Reads and There’s A Book I’m going to be adding a feature (still unnamed) in which we get to know Audio Book Publishers. I’ll be asking them about what they’ve got coming up as well as about their back list titles and of course, the chance to win an Audio Book or two!

I’ll also be adding a feature in which we can get to know our fellow participants. If you are interested in appearing in this feature, please fill out the attached google form.

I hope I’ve enticed you to join in the 2012 Audio Book Challenge. I’m really looking forward to reading your reviews and experiences over the next year.

Official Challenge dates: 1/1/2012-12/31/2012

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The list of audios listened to this year is below:

2012 Off The Shelf Challenge

2011-12-30T18:02:00.000-06:00

I am once again joining the Off The Shelf Challenge this year, hopefully with better results than last year. My TBR shelves have gotten terribly out of hand and it is about time that I do something about it! I am going to go with the same level as last year -- Making a Dint of 30 books -- with the hopes that I go above and beyond it (keeping my fingers crossed!).

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This is the second year running for Off The Shelf!, with last year being an overwhelming success (over 300 participants), and we hope this year it does just as well! There are some differences this time, thanks to a new year, new place, and some experience. Have a read below, if you have any questions ask away, and the most important part of it is to have fun!

What It’s All About

Do you love books? Do you love them so much your to be read list seems to keep growing, and growing, and growing? Is space on your bookshelf taken up with unread books? Is your eBook library burgeoning with unread stories? We’ve been there at BA and we still are!

This challenge is to read those books you own a copy of, print, digital, and audio, you have been meaning to read, but never gotten to. If you don’t own enough books for the challenge you can read your TBR list instead. And no, you do not need to get rid of your books afterwards, that’s completely your choice, this challenge is only to read them.

The Deets

The Main Rule: Do not include books acquired during 2012, it defeats the purpose, read those books from before 2012 started!
Running Dates: 1st of January – 31st of December 2012
When Can I Sign Up: All the way up to the last two weeks of December!
Crossover Genres: Anything! The name of the game is to turn those unread books into read ones.
Mr Linky: To use the Mr Linky you’ll need to click on the graphic then enter your link. These will be updated and posted into this page every couple of weeks or so.
Further Details: Crossover challenges are fine, you can change levels at any time, this is eBook, short story, and graphic novel friendly, and you don’t need a blog to join in (read further for details).

The How To

Choose Your Level:These are listed further down and you can change levels at any time.
Grab The Badge: Place it somewhere on your blog, profile, or in a signature where possible and link back (main page or this page, it’s up to you).
Sign Up Post: Create a post on your blog, in a group, or on a forum (only if allowed) to let others see what you’re aiming for (a predefined list of books is optional).
Link Up: Grab the direct URL to your sign up post, not your blog, click the Mr Linky graphic and enter your link!
Blogless? Don’t worry, you can sign up with your social network profile (YouTube, Twitter, GoodReads, Shelfari included), just make sure you link to your review list, shelf, tweet, or category. If you don’t have any of those feel free to comment!

Afterwards

Your Reviews: Reviewing is optional! But if you do review we’d love for you to share them by submitting them on the Review Page (including social networks).
Finished: When you’re done it’s completion post time and you can share these on the Completion Post page!

Challenge Levels

Tempted– Choose 5 books to read
Trying – Choose 15 books to read
Making A Dint – Choose 30 books to read
On A Roll – Choose 50 books to read
Flying Off – Choose 75 books to read
Hoarder – Choose between 76-135 books to read
Buried – Choose between 136-200 books to read

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Here is the list of books coming off the overflowing TBR shelves:

2012 Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge

2011-12-30T17:40:00.001-06:00

After failing at the 100+ Reading Challenge multiple times, I have decided that it is time to rethink my goals for 2012. When I saw the 2012 Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge, I knew that this was exactly what I was looking for and I am so excited to join in! In 2011, I read 58 books. I would like to reach 70 in 2012, so I am shooting for Breaking a Sweat Level of 11-15 more books.

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What’s your reading goal for 2012? If it’s to read more books, then this is the reading challenge for you There were 227 readers who wanted to outdo themselves in 2011. Are you up for the challenge?

Details:

Runs January 1, 2012 – December 31, 2012 (books read prior to 1/1/12 do not count towards the challenge). You can join at anytime. Sign up on The Book Vixen’s blog.
The goal is to outdo yourself by reading more books in 2012 than you did in 2011. See the different levels below and pick the one that works best for you. Nothing is set in stone; you can change levels at any time during the challenge.
Books can be any format (bound, eBook, audio).
Re-reads and crossovers from other reading challenges are allowed.
Grab the reading challenge button and post this reading challenge on your blog to track your progress. Please include a link back to this sign-up post so others can join the reading challenge too. You do not have to be a book blogger to participate; you could track your progress on Goodreads or LibraryThing.

Levels:

Getting my heart rate up – Read 1–5 more books
Out of breath – Read 6–10 more books
Breaking a sweat – Read 11–15 more books
I’m on fire! – Read 16+ more books

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The following is the total list of books read in 2012:

2012 Fairy Tale Challenge

2011-12-30T17:28:00.001-06:00

I will be participating in my own challenge, the 2012 Fairy Tale Challenge once again this year with the hopes of actually successfully completing it at the Happily Ever After Level of 12 selections! The details are below with a list of books at the bottom of the post.

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I am so excited to announce that the Fairy Tale Challenge is returning for 2012! For all those who love fairy tales, both in writing and on the screen, this is your opportunity to share your love with other fans. Just as last year, we will have four different levels:

Fairy (Level 1): Read 1 original tale. Read 1 modern tale. Watch 1 film. (Total of 3 selections.)
Dwarf (Level 2): Read/watch any combination of original tales, modern tales, or films, resulting in a total of 6 selections.
Royal Prince or Princess (Level 3): Read/watch any combination of original tales, modern tales, or films, resulting in 9 total selections.
Happily Ever After (Level 4): Read/watch any combination of original tales, modern tales, or films, resulting in 12 total selections.

Here are a few other notes of importance:

The challenge will run from January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2012.
Selections can include any age level or genre, from picture books and classics to young adult and even graphic novels. Creativity is completely acceptable here!
You do not need to determine your list of fairy tales. Go with what moves you at the time!
A blog is not required, but it is encouraged. You are also welcome to keep track of your selections via GoodReads, LibraryThing, Shelfari, or simply the comment section.
Reviews are not required, but are encouraged. Other participants enjoy receiving recommendations!
A Mr. Linky is below for sign-ups. Another post will be made for adding your reviews. Both direct links can be found on the left sidebar.
You can overlap your choices with other challenges.

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Books read for this challenge:

2012 Fairy Tale Challenge: Review Links

2011-12-30T16:40:00.000-06:00

Special Thanks to my Personal Faery Friend for the Button Art: Ye Olde Faery Shoppe

This is the place for all 2012 Fairy Tale Challenge reviews and recommendations. Please directly connect your review using a permalink and the following format:

Title of Tale (Name/Blog Name of Participant)

If you do not have a blog or social book network, you can use the comments section below for your list of reads or recommended reads.

Announcing the 2012 Fairy Tale Challenge!

2011-12-30T16:33:00.001-06:00

Special Thanks to my Personal Faery Friend for the Button Art: Ye Olde Faery Shoppe

Fairy (Level 1): Read 1 original tale. Read 1 modern tale. Watch 1 film. (Total of 3 selections.)
Dwarf (Level 2): Read/watch any combination of original tales, modern tales, or films, resulting in a total of 6 selections.
Royal Prince or Princess (Level 3): Read/watch any combination of original tales, modern tales, or films, resulting in 9 total selections.
Happily Ever After (Level 4): Read/watch any combination of original tales, modern tales, or films, resulting in 12 total selections.

Here are a few other notes of importance:

The challenge will run from January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2012.
Selections can include any age level or genre, from picture books and classics to young adult and even graphic novels. Creativity is completely acceptable here!
You do not need to determine your list of fairy tales. Go with what moves you at the time!
A blog is not required, but it is encouraged. You are also welcome to keep track of your selections via GoodReads, LibraryThing, Shelfari, or simply the comment section.
Reviews are not required, but are encouraged. Other participants enjoy receiving recommendations!
A Mr. Linky is below for sign-ups. Another post will be made for adding your reviews. Both direct links can be found on the left sidebar.
You can overlap your choices with other challenges.

Where to go from here?

Post about it on your blog, announcing which level you hope to achieve and linking back to this post. Feel free to grab the beautiful button art (courtesy of my own special fairy friend)!
Post your direct link to your announcement post in the Mr. Linky below. If you have no blog, then post your profile to your social book network or announce in the comment section.
Experience happily ever after in your choice of tales (or not, depending on the tale)!
Come back and post your reviews under the Fairy Tale Challenge Reviews Mr. Linky.

Any questions, just leave them in the comments section or contact me directly using the link above. Happily ever reading!

2011: A Year in Review

2011-12-30T16:03:00.000-06:00

I cannot believe that tomorrow is the final day of 2011! The time flew by so quickly and it is now that time to reflect on the year as a whole. I'm going to break it down into three categories, with my personal favorite last: The Goals, The Challenges, The Favorites.

THE GOALS

My goals at the beginning of the year was three-fold: increase reading, writing, and exercising.

Reading: In 2010, I read a total of 47 books. In 2011, I read a total of 58 books. I would definitely say that there has been improvement. My reading has changed over the last year, reading more graphic novels than I ever have and I am excited to see what 2012 will bring!

Writing: This past year, I wanted to stay more up-to-date on my reviews and simply spend more time writing in general. I do believe that I have been keeping up my reviews overall, though you will see many reviews of my 2011 reads appearing in the first couple of months in 2012. In addition, I was offered the opportunity to do a bit of freelance writing for a local publisher's website, creating my writing to grow in leaps and bounds! There will definitely be more to come of this in 2012!

Exercising: This is the one aspect of my overall goals that I feel that I failed miserably at in 2011. I didn't exercise on a regular basis and will be working to do this in 2012. I want to lose a bit of weight and be healthier overall, and exercise will be the key to this success!

Overall, two out of three isn't bad! I will take it and will be looking forward to what 2012 will bring. Be checking back tomorrow for the 2012 goals and changes coming to Tif Talks Books!

THE CHALLENGES

Over the years, I have come to love participating in challenges. I participated in a number of challenges (nine to be exact) in 2011 and here is a quick recap of the results . . .

Dewey Decimal Challenge: I had a goal to read a minimum of four non-fiction books throughout the year. I read a total of five! Challenge Result: COMPLETE!

2011 Fairy Tale Challenge: This was my personal challenge for the year, hosted right here at Tif Talks Books. My goal was to reach the Happily Ever After level of 12 books; however, I unfortunately only read five. There was the option of also watching films, so I do have to wonder if my episodes of Grimm would have counted and helped to complete this challenge?!? (I will be hosting this one again to redeem myself though!) Challenge Result: FAIL!

100+ Reading Challenge of 2011: I obviously was shooting for a minimum of 100 books read in 2011. Sadly, I only read 58. I did improve from last year, however, and with this in mind, I will be switching challenges this year to better accommodate my personal goals. Challenge Result: FAIL!

2011 Young Adult Reading Challenge: I had hoped to read a total of 50 books for this challenge, but only made it halfway with 25 books. I will not be participating in this challenge next year, but I will be continuing to read YA. Challenge Result: FAIL!

Take a Chance Challenge 3: I tried my luck on this challenge again this year in the hopes for better results. I set my expectations lower with the intention of only completing three of the challenges. Sadly, I only completed one. I think it is time that I admit that this challenge is not for me! Challenge Result: FAIL!

Young Readers Challenge: I think that I have successfully completed this challenge every year that I have participated. The goal was to read 12 books this year. I read 17. Since this does not seem to be a challenge for me, I will not be continuing with this in 2012. Challenge Result: COMPLETE!

Off the Shelf Challenge: Due to my ridiculous stack of books on my TBR shelf, this was the perfect challenge for me and I had high hopes for it with a goal of reading a minimum of 30 books. Unfortunately, I only read eight. Since this little addiction of mine is a true problem, I will be participating in this one again next year with the hopes of having much better results! Challenge Result: FAIL!

2011 Graphic Novels Challenge: I really wanted to read more graphic novels in 2011 and that I did! I had set my goal at the intermediate level, wanting to read 3-10 novels. I actually read 21! I have decided not to participate in this challenge for 2012, but I will continue to read graphic novels. I have completely fallen for them! Challenge Result: COMPLETE!

The Stephen King/Richard Bachman Challenge: I have been participating in this perpetual challenge for a couple of years, but have decided to discontinue it at this time. I will always read King, so I really do not need to be challenged to do so!

Overall, I successfully completed a total of three challenges, failed at five, and discontinued one. I would have liked to have seen better results for some of these, but I'm not going to complain. I only loosely participate in them anyways!!

THE FAVORITES

Last, but not least, we come to my favorite part of the Year in Review . . . my personal favorite reads of 2011! This is always so difficult to decide, but alas, I must try to narrow it down at least a bit. Without further ado, I present to you my personal five favorite reads of the year in alphabetical order by author last name . . .

Deadline by Mira Grant

Who knew that I would fall in love with a book about zombies?!? Add some bloggers to the mix and a storyline that keeps those pages turning, and you have one of my favorite reads of the year. I cannot wait to read the final installment of this trilogy in 2012!

A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness

Love, love, love this story and I cannot wait for the sequel. It has vampires, witches, action, and horror in an unique story that had me hooked from the first few pages!

In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson

Larson has once again hooked me with one of his narrative non-fiction tales, this time about the rise of Hitler in Nazi Germany. His brilliant writing will have me picking up every book that he has ever written!

Blind Your Ponies by Stanley West Gordon

This book took me to a place that I could relate (as it is based in my home state) and reminded me of the beauty found in small towns all across the country. It's a book that is more than just about a game of basketball, and one that I intend to re-read one day, even despite the number of pages!

Fables: Legends in Exile by Bill Willingham

I discovered this series this year and have only read the first two, but instantly fell in love. It is a modern spin on one of my favorites: fairy tales. It has action, romance, beautiful artwork, and so much more! I can't wait to read more of these in 2012!

Honorable Mention

Though this book did not make my top five for the year, I do believe that it still deserves a mention; hence, the Honorable Mention! The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde is a witty book full of humor and literary connections that was so hard to put down. Fforde is another that I will be exploring more in 2012!

Now it is your turn! What were some of your highlights and favorites of 2011? (Feel free to leave links in the comments for me to visit your lists!)

Blast From The Past: Christopher Pike

2011-12-21T06:00:00.002-06:00

Back in the day of the angsty teen and pre-teen years, I was a fan of Christopher Pike. I read any and every book by the author that I could get my hands on. I have moved on to other authors in the years following and for a while, forgot about these beloved books. This last spring, I came across some used copies of Pike's books and immediately picked them up. I knew it was time to revisit these books from my childhood. Over the last couple of months, I have read five of Pike's titles. And now as an adult, here is what I think about them in mini-review form . . .

Gimme A Kiss
Jane Retton wants revenge. Her diary goes viral at school and life becomes difficult . . . so difficult that she is willing to kill AND die to get even.

Gimme a Kiss was the first Pike I choose to dive into this time around and it did not disappoint. It kept me wanting more, though it was a bit predictable.

The Last Vampire
Alisa Perne is believed to be the last vampire on Earth, but when she gets a call from private investigator, Mike Riley, she begins to question if she is correct. Going undercover as a high school student to get to Riley's son, Alisa's life takes an unexpected turn and her enemy returns with an ultimatum.

The Last Vampire was probably my personal favorite of the bunch, maybe because I have a soft spot for the blood-sucking beasts. The end is a cliff hanger, leaving me the desire to find the sequel.

Master of Murder
Marvin is a senior in high school and holds a secret that would shock his classmates . . . he also is the best-selling author of the books many are talking about. What he doesn't realize is how much he is incorporating a hometown murder into his series. When someone figures out the connection, Marvin may end up as the next victim.

Master of Murder is filled with lots of twists and turns, and the end left me with a creepy feeling (but maybe not why one would expect!).

Scavenger Hunt
The senior class is celebrating the upcoming graduation with a scavenger hunt. The first group to complete the hunt wins a big prize. Carl Timmons has gotten lucky to end up on the same team as the gorgeous new girl, Cessy. However, the hunt leads him to more than just the usual hot spots around town, sending him on the hunt for his life.

Scavenger Hunt had so much potential. I loved the concept. I even enjoyed the love triangle. But, the ending fell short of my expectations, ending with a fizzle.

See You Later
Mark has it made. He just graduated from high school and he writes computer software to earn a modest living. Then, he meets Becky and falls in love. The problem is Becky already has a serious boyfriend. With the help from his new friends, Mark may be able to change that relationship status. The question is . . . If he does, how will it affect the future for more than just himself?

See You Later was another storyline that I liked. The characters are easy to connect with, but the ending left me disappointed because of that connection.

Overall, Pike entertained me and did not disappoint. I look forward to re-visiting more of his teen novels when I'm in the mood for a fun, quick read. Unfortunately, today I would not rank them as my favorites. Apparently with age, I have come to desire more.

Have you re-visited beloved authors from your past? Do they still live up to your memories and expectations?

2011 Fairy Tale Challenge Wrap-Up

2011-12-20T22:46:00.000-06:00

It is that time of year to be wrapping up the 2011 challenges, including the 2011 Fairy Tale Challenge hosted right here. Despite my horrible hosting throughout this year for this challenge, you can still post your wrap-up posts and any last minute reviews that you may have for this challenge right here! I considered hosting this challenge again (with better hosting skills the second time around!), but would love to hear what you think! After you leave any links you may have (permalinks only please!), then post in the comments any and all feedback that you have for this challenge. I want to know what you think and any ideas you may have for another round!

Are you interested in joining another Fairy Tale Challenge? What other challenges will you be participating in for 2012?

Sunday Synopsis: December 18, 2011

2011-12-18T22:49:00.000-06:00

One week from today will be Christmas! Can you believe it?!? Are you ready?!? I finally finished my shopping today and now just have to wrap and do a bit of baking. I cannot believe how fast time has flown by during 2011. There is still so much happening in these last few weeks though and I can't wait to share all the bits of news as soon as I can!

Thankfully, this weekend was a productive weekend in so many ways! One of those ways was in writing. I sat down and wrote a number of reviews that I now need to get scheduled. I have so many other things planned for the next couple of weeks that I will be scheduling many of these reviews in 2012! This feels so good! I am hoping to work ahead, particularly over this holiday break, and finally have the opportunity to sit down with one of my goals for 2012 ... more writing! I won't give the other goals away quite yet, but they are coming soon!

As for the reading front, I have been picking up a few graphic novels to pass my time these days. I just finished Fractured Fables and am starting Bad Island this evening. I have a few more to get through from the library and then I will be diving back into the novels for the remainder of the year. I have an extended period of time off this year for the holiday and really look forward to some great reading time!

That's all I have to report this week. Tell me . . . Are you ready for the holidays (if you celebrate)? What are reading during this busy time of year?

Walrus Report: Sweet Designs by Julia Usher

2011-12-14T06:00:00.001-06:00

For all you foodies out there and wannabe bakers, I am so excited to share with you one of my latest event reports through Walrus Publishing! This last weekend, I had the opportunity to attend a demonstration and talk with author Julia Usher. She is the brilliant and creative mind behind Cookie Swap: Creative Treats to Share Throughout the Year and her latest release, Ultimate Cookies. Be sure to click on over to see her edible art and hear just how the event went, complete with full intimate demonstration. You do not want to miss this sweetness!

Deadline by Mira Grant

2011-12-13T18:00:00.002-06:00

Not long ago, I read and reviewed Feed by Mira Grant. Georgia and Shawn Mason's story has been on my mind and I could not help myself when I requested the sequel, Deadline from my local library. I simply had to know where life was going next in the zombie apocalypse.

In Deadline, we follow Shawn's adventures, moving from an Irwin (reporting personal encounters with the living dead) to a more administrative role for the website the siblings built during the presidential campaign. Just when he thinks life is beginning to get back to normal . . . well, as normal as life can get based upon the events at the end of Feed . . .another conspiracy falls into his lap and the team is on the hunt/run once again. The extent of the conspiracy is completely unexpected for all involved, including the reader!

Deadline is one of those rare sequels that leaves you more satisfied than the first, but yet also leaves you hungering for so much more. I have marked my calendar for the final installment of the Newsflesh Trilogy, Blackout, set to be released May 2012. In the meantime, I must get my own copies of these books. I feel a future re-read coming on!

Are you a fan of the zombie craze? What other books would you recommend for the zombie fans?

Dear Santa

2011-12-12T23:30:00.000-06:00

Dear Santa,

I know that you are receiving a multitude of requests these days with Christmas quickly approaching. Life has been a bit hectic, but I just could not help myself in writing this letter to you. It has been more than 20 years since I wrote my last letter and tonight, I write late into the night after a long day of work and finally getting two crabby children to fall asleep. The thing is, with days like today, it is really a good book that allows me to escape and keeps me going the entire year. Being able to sit in a comfy chair, turning the pages of a book filled with adventure, mystery, or wonder is something that can motivate me like no other. So, tonight as I write this little letter to you, I want you to know that my little list of requests keeps on giving the whole year through. It helps me to become a better mother, a more empathetic person in my everyday life, and it educates me more and more about the world I live in. With a price tag that comes with just one of these books, the payback is truly endless! Here are just a few ideas in no particular order:

Inheritance by Christopher Paolini

Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare

1Q84 by Huraki Murakami

11/22/63 by Stephen King

Lost in a Good Book by Jasper Fforde

Thank you so much for your bit of time and consideration! I truly appreciate it and will be anxiously awaiting Christmas morning along with two not-so-crabby children!

With Warmest Wishes,
Tif :)

Sunday Synopsis: December 11, 2011

2011-12-11T22:59:00.000-06:00

Once again it is Sunday night, and I sit here at the last minute writing my weekly wrap-up! I always tell myself that I am not going to wait until the last minute, but for some reason . . . well, you get the idea! With the holidays quickly approaching, my calendar is getting full with parties and last minute meetings and I really need to finish my shopping at some point in time! Before you know it, 2012 will be here and I will be left wondering where another year has gone!

Speaking of time passing so quickly, I realized that I meant to post the winners of my Thankful Giveaway last week and never did! All winners have now been notified and I am awaiting mailing information at this time. Everyone has until Wednesday, December 14th to reply or I will "draw" another name. For now, please join me in congratulating the following winners:

Anita

Carol

Kimberly

Carrie

Kara

Not a lot of news on the reading front as I am currently in the middle of some reads and have not had much time to pick up a book these days. I am hoping this will change over a long holiday break, but only time will tell (as usual). We will be having an interesting change in our household coming up in a couple of short weeks, so my reading may or may not change. I can't give you a lot of details at this time, but I cannot wait to share this fun news with you very soon!

That's all I've got on this late evening. I'm off to attempt to read a bit before falling asleep. Good luck with all your holiday parties, shopping trips, and reading!

Do you find yourself reading more or less around the holidays? Do you switch up your reading during this time of year?

Walrus Report: A Night With Kim Edwards & Book Review

2011-12-08T22:28:00.000-06:00

This week over at Walrus Publishing, I was writing all about Kim Edwards! For those who do not know who Kim Edwards is, she is the author of the popular bestseller, The Memory Keeper's Daughter. I read and reviewed this book a few years ago and still think about that book even to this day. To have the opportunity to meet her and hear her speak was an amazing experience, and I recommend that you take a quick jaunt over read all about my experience.

When you are done with that little reading journey, you can continue with the Kim Edwards' theme by checking out my latest book review of her book, recently released in paperback, The Lake of Dreams. I will leave you with a quick peak of the paperback novel.

Isn't it beautiful?!?

Monday Maunder: December 5, 2011

2011-12-05T22:41:00.000-06:00

I missed my usual Sunday Synopsis post, so today I've decided to change things up with a little Monday Maunder. What might maunder mean? According to dictionary.com . . .

maunder [mawn-der}]

1. to talk in a rambling, foolish, or meaningless way.
2. to move, go, or act in an aimless, confused manner: He maundered through life without a single ambition.

As soon as I read this definition, I knew that this is really more of what I do in my weekly Sunday Synopsis post. I ramble, often in foolish and maybe even meaningless ways. I talk about my week in reading, writing, and life in general. Sometimes it makes sense, and sometimes it makes sense to probably only myself. I have instantly fallen for this word and may even consider moving this weekly post to Monday instead. Afterall, I think I am maundering, not synopsisizing! (Yes, I may even make up my own words from time to time!)

As the year is beginning to come to a close, I have really been thinking about what this site will look like in the new year. The year 2011 has brought some unexpected and very pleasant opportunities my way and I believe another shift in my focus is coming. I have not yet worked everything out, but this little maunder may be a peek into what is to come. Then again, maybe not! I will keep you all posted in the weeks to come and quit my rambling for now!

As for the reading front, I am currently finishing up the book The Lake of Dreams by Kim Edwards after seeing her at an event last week. I actually have an article coming up via the Walrus Report later this week on that event, so be watching for it. After this, I have a few more graphic novels to tackle from the library (I had to renew a couple!), a number of reviews to write from my completed books, and then I am considering finishing out my year with Maguire's land of Oz. I have been avoiding the series beyond Wicked because I have simply loved it so much. I have high expectations and have been worried that they will not live up. After recently seeing Maguire in person, he has inspired me to return to one of my favorites and finish this series. The question is . . . Can I do it before the year-end?

Well, enough maundering for the day! Tell me . . . what words have you discovered lately that have tickled your fancy? What are you currently reading this week? Any other exciting news?

Guest Article: Introducing Gone Reading!

2011-12-01T06:00:00.000-06:00

Today, I am excited to introduce Brad Wirz, found of GoneReading! He is here to chat with us about the history and purpose behind his non-profit organization and has shared some amazing photos to document his journey to get where he is today. Please give him a warm welcome!

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Hello, my name is Brad Wirz and I’m the founder of a philanthropic organization called GoneReading. We market a line of gifts for readers and on our website (www.GoneReading.com) and donate 100% of our company’s profits to fund new library construction in the developing world.

How did GoneReading come to be? Allow me to explain…

I’m a guy who really loves to read. Books have always played a central role in my life, so much so that I simply cannot imagine a world without them. My latest book is practically always within arm’s reach.

In the spring of 2010, however, I learned just how lucky I’ve been to have books in my life. After arriving in rural Honduras for a week-long volunteer trip, I learned we would spend much of the time helping to build a library. The experience forever changed my life.

A few days of hard labor in the developing world can really get you thinking. We learned that the new library on which we worked would be the first of its kind for more than a hundred miles in any direction. Hundreds of villages, thousands of people in the area had no access to books at all up to that point. That simply blew my mind.

I later learned that close to one billion people live in the world today without books. Even if they learn to read as children, the skill is lost over time due to the lack of reading materials. As you can imagine, these are the poorest regions of the world.

Fortunately, when rural libraries are built in or near these villages, life changes for the better. I’ve seen it with my own eyes while traveling through India and Nepal earlier this year. People of all ages develop skills; they become confident and learn how to improve their own lives. They start saving-cooperatives and tiny businesses that thrive. Most important, they start to gain control over their lives and that of their children.

Following my trip to Honduras I quit my job, ending my 20-year, better-than-I-deserved career in corporate marketing. The result is GoneReading and our effort to use the power of commerce to fund radical change through the magic of reading.

As a book lover yourself, you can play a dramatic role by helping to create such libraries, and in turn creating cycles of prosperity in the poorest parts of the world. Check out our gifts for readers at www.GoneReading.com and treat your friends and family to a bookish gift that they’ll cherish forever.

Thanks for your time, and thanks to Tif Talks Books for helping us spread the word!

Bradley S. Wirz

Founder & CEO
Gone Reading International, LLC
brad.wirz@gonereading.com

------------------------------

Don't forget to take a gander over at GoneReading. You may just find the perfect gift for the readers in your life! For example, I leave you with a design for a bag that I am adding to my Christmas wish list right now!

Walrus Report: Local Holiday Gift Guide

2011-11-28T21:15:00.000-06:00

With only four weeks of shopping left until Christmas, many may still be looking for some special gifts for the readers in your life! Over at Walrus Publishing today, I have shared a few of my local recommendations to check out. There is truly something for everyone on your list!

Do you have any book recommendations from your local literary loves?

Sunday Synopsis: November 27, 2011

2011-11-27T21:55:00.000-06:00

What a week! Yummy food, good reads, long weekend, and exciting family news!! With all that this last week has had to offer, I really don't want to go back to work tomorrow! I guess I will just revel in the details here . . .

Thanksgiving was a small affair this year that only included my husband, children, and myself. It made for a very quiet and relaxing day, though we missed having family with us this year. The good news is that we do have company coming to visit after Christmas, so we do have that to look forward to!

For those who missed my earlier post, I decided at the last minute to participate in the Thankfully Reading Weekend hosted by Jenn's Bookshelves. I have had a number of graphic novels checked out from the library that I have been wanting to get to before their due date, and this provided me with ample opportunity. The books that I was able to finish included the following:

Persopolis by Marjane Satrapi
Persopolis 2 by Marjane Satrapi
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum and interpreted by Eric Shanower & Skottie Young
Anya's Ghost by Vera Brosgol

I will be writing reviews of all of these eventually in the weeks to come, but I will share that I think my personal favorite was The Wonderful Wizard of Oz! I will be picking up another one tonight as I still have at least four more books to get through before next weekend, but have not yet decided which one.

In addition to the above reading, I was also able to finally catch up on my Google Reader and blog commenting, wrote a couple of reviews, and worked on grading for my class that will come to an end tomorrow. Overall, I would call this weekend quite a success!

And, of course, I cannot end my Sunday Synopsis without mentioning our family's most exciting news of the weekend that took place just hours ago ... my son lost his first tooth!! It was only this morning that he discovered that it was loose and he could not take it any longer. He decided to just pull it out himself! Crazy kid! I can't wait to see what the tooth fairy brings him tonight!

That's it for my Thankfully Reading long weekend! How was your's? Did you get in a lot of reading? What was your favorite of the weekend? Did you have any other exciting events occur?

Thankfully Reading Weekend 2011

2011-11-25T11:22:00.000-06:00

I know it is a bit last minute, but I have decided to participate in the Thankfully Reading Weekend hosted by Jenn's Bookshelf! The event runs from today, November 25th thru Sunday, November 27th. There are no specific rules associated with this little read-a-thon and you don't even have to have a blog to participate. All you have to do is READ!!

Over the next few days, I intend to catch up on a stack of graphic novels that are due back to the library very soon! I also have a few other things I would like to get to, such as catching up on my Google Reader and grading some papers (all involve reading)! I have no specific goals. I have no idea if I will participate in the mini challenges. I just plan on enjoying some good reading time. Though I must admit that I would also like to get some reviews written over the weekend as well! Either way, I'm looking forward to a fabulous book-ish weekend!

Will you be joining in on the thankfully reading fun?

Thank You Authors!

2011-11-24T06:00:00.001-06:00

Happy Thanksgiving!

On this day in the States, we celebrate Thanksgiving. In our home, we take note of everything that we are thankful for every night at dinner or before bedtime. On Thanksgiving Day, we pull out everything we have written down and read them during dinner. It is our way of remembering the good things we have in life and to show our appreciation for those things. Though we do something similar all year round, this is the time of year that we purposefully put it in writing. To stay with this tradition, I have decided to highlight a number of authors that I have been thankful for here, in no particular order. Enjoy!

Thank you Laura Ingalls Wilder for opening my eyes to the love of reading and beginning my first of many nights of reading late into the night! I loved reading about a character that was closer to my age, living in and off the wilderness and land. I will forever be grateful!

Thank you to Gertrude Chandler Warner for writing my all-time favorite childhood story, The Boxcar Children. My fondest memories are those of my friends and I mimicking those responsible and independent children. They were great role models to look up to . . . kind, respectful, thoughtful, resourceful, and so much more!

Thank you to Gregory Maguire for reminding me about my love of fairy tales and expanding my worldview through the universal stories. Even as an adult, nothing beats picking up a childhood favorite (though it has many more adult issues involved!).

Thank you to Sandra Boynton for bringing beautiful stories into my children's lives. Your stories have saved me many times in traffic, doctor's offices, grocery stores, etc. thanks to a bit of memorization and the very catchy verses that will probably never leave my mind.

Thank you to Stephen King for bringing my nightmares to life on paper and on the big screen! (I really have no way of wording this better and he always keeps me coming back for more!)

And, last but not least, thank you to J.K. Rowling for bringing the wizarding world to life and allowing me to realize that there was so many worlds out there to explore if I just opened my mind a bit more. In the best and worst of times, nothing beats jumping into the mind of Harry Potter and instantly embracing the comfort of the words, the world, and the unforgettable characters.

I really could go on and on, but I will leave it at that for now. Which authors would you thank and why? Please share!

Walrus Report: Getting Wicked with Gregory Maguire

2011-11-23T22:02:00.000-06:00

Last week, I had the pleasure of attending an event featuring one of my all-time favorite authors ... Gregory Maguire! For those who do not know Maguire, he is the author of a number of books with many having a fairy tale spin, and his most well-known being his first adult novel, Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West. I have attended an event with Maguire before, so I thought I knew what to expect. Needless to say, he just kept on pleasantly surprising me with his talent and wit. I don't want to give away too much information here, so I recommend that you click on over to the Walrus Publishing website for the full fangirl experience!

Are you a fan of Maguire? If so, what is your favorite piece of his work?

Sunday Synopsis: November 20, 2011

2011-11-20T22:58:00.000-06:00

Happy Sunday! How can it not be happy when I know that I only have to work two days this week?!? I guess you could say that I am super excited!!! I get to spend some good time with my kids, have some yummy food in the days to come, and of course, have lots of reading time! I just need to decide which books to read next! I'm hoping to get caught up on some writing as well, since this last week I only posted one time and that was a review for The Night Circus. I have a lot to catch up on! I have been doing so well this year on staying pretty up-to-date on reviews, so I can't fall off the wagon now!

Since I have already jumped ahead, I need to take a moment to take a few steps back as well and examine this last week. My ultimate highlight (of the month!) was attending the Gregory Maguire event!! This man never ceases to amaze me with his talents and brilliance! I will be gushing all about the event later this week via the Walrus Report, but let's just say that I cannot wait to dive back into his land of Oz in the weeks to come!

Last, but not least, I wanted to chat about my blogosphere love. In the past, I used to include some of my favorite links of the week right here in my Sunday Synopsis. As you can probably tell, I have stopped doing that over the last few months. However, it has not gone away completely! Instead, I have been posting my book-ish highlights via my social networking sites, Tif Talks Books on Facebook or @tiftalksbooks on Twitter! Whenever I come across a recommended link, I post it via these routes. What are your thoughts about this? Would you prefer this method, or should I go back to sharing some links here in my weekly wrap-up post?

I will leave my thoughts at that for the week. Tell me . . . what will you be reading over the holiday weekend?

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

2011-11-15T06:00:00.001-06:00

Erin Morgenstern is being talked about a lot these days thanks to her debut novel, The Night Circus. Before the book was released to the general public, the book blogosphere and beyond was buzzing with excitement and praise. After the hardcover hit bookstore shelves, the love has only continued to grow, frequently appearing on the top of many bestseller lists. With all this chatter and the kindness of one of my bookish friends, I had to dive into Morgenstern's world!

What is it about this world that is so popular? I could talk about the writing that you could so easily get lost in. I could praise the characters, so complex and intriguing, you want to continue turning the pages to dive more into their worlds. I could explore the world created by a team of imaginative individuals and only decked in black and white. I could go on and on about many things, but I have no intention to. I only plan to tell you about this story that is so intricately woven and mysterious that it initially leaves you confused, yet wanting more. You do not know why you want more, but by the time the fog begins to clear, you have become so invested that your devotion takes you to the final pages until the story comes to its bitter sweet end. You find yourself relating to the obsessed followers (known as reveurs), remembering your favorite scenes from this special circus . . . and maybe considering throwing in a bit of signature red to feel more at home.

In short, The Night Circus is an intriguing enigma, filled with characters and magic that bring out unknown desires in the reader. Morgenstern is being talked about for good reason. She has created a world you want to get lost in, even if you are not even sure what draws you into it. She is not one to just watch; she is one that needs to be read . . . NOW!

For those who have experienced the magic of The Night Circus, what tent or exhibit would you visit first?

Sunday Synopsis: November 13, 2011

2011-11-13T21:28:00.000-06:00

Another Sunday and another week closer to Thanksgiving! I cannot tell you how excited I am for a very long weekend, to just hang out with my kids and my husband, reading as much as I can, and watching movies. I have been so busy at work that I come home completely exhausted. This last week was better, this week will be even better, and next week will be bliss! I'm even tempted to have a Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings movie-thon!

Anyways, let's talk books! I have been reading some books from my past these days, revisiting one of my favorite childhood authors, Christopher Pike. It has been fun to re-read these little books! I definitely do not enjoy them as much as I did back in the day, but they are quick, entertaining reads to say the least. I'm hoping to finish up a couple more this week before moving on to something else. I'm still deciding on the something else at this point!

I am super excited for Tuesday night this week! I get to attend an author event for one of my all-time favorite authors ... Gregory Maguire!!!! I have met the author before about ten years ago, but my excitement has not waned for him one bit! I feel like such a groupie! This is definitely going to help me get through this week!!

Other than that, I really don't have much else to write about tonight. I've been working on catching up on things around the house, such as laundry, raking, etc. -- nothing exciting! That will be changing very soon though!

What are you reading this week? Do you have any exciting plans coming your way?

Meeting the Voice Behind Skippyjon Jones

2011-11-10T13:44:00.000-06:00

Back in September, my family spontaneously ventured to the library to listen to and experience Judy Schachner, the author and illustrator behind the popular children's books featuring Skippyjon Jones. Schachner was touring to promote her latest story, Skippyjon Jones: Class Action.

When we arrived, the local library was already packed with fans of all ages. We expected a partial reading with the usual talk and Q&A session. What we got was so much more! The author not only shared hilarious personal stories and her inspiration behind her work, but she also entertained the crowd with a reading of Class Action, completely in character! The audience was frequently laughing; the children entranced.

After the presentation was complete, the lines began to form for the personalized signing. Being at the end of the line, we had a LONG wait. A librarian came to the rescue to entertain the children (and parents!). Despite the wait, my children were excited and thrilled to meet Schachner. And, they each left with a special treasure . . . . a personalized greeting and illustration from the author herself! Just take a peek for yourself! As you can see, the wait was completely worth it!

Have you had the pleasure of meeting Skippyjon Jones or his creator yet?

The Thankful Giveaway

2011-11-09T06:00:00.001-06:00

Over the last couple of weeks, I have finally come to terms with the fact that it is time to start cleaning off the shelves, getting rid of some of my books. My shelves have become so overwhelmed and there is simply no shelf space left to pile the books on. It has been so very difficult, but I have finally shed some and now it is time to pass them on to you as a way of saying THANK YOU for commenting, sharing in my bookish chatter, and even lurking. Simply fill out the form below with your name, email address, and books that you would like to win. I will randomly choose 5 winners at the end of the month to pass the books onto.

Deadline for Submissions: Wednesday, November 30th
Winners Announced: No later than Monday, December 5th
Please Note: One entry per person and US residents ONLY.

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Walrus Report: Hit List by Laurell K. Hamilton

2011-11-08T22:33:00.000-06:00

Today, I have a book review of Hit List by Laurell K. Hamilton on the Walrus Publishing website! If you are into paranormal, vampires, werewolves, and/or tough kick-ass women, then you will definitely want to check this one out. Don't forget to click on over for my full review and recommendation for both Hamilton die-hards and newbies!

Are you a fan of Hamilton? What books would you recommend?

Walrus Report: NaNoWriMo, Spooky Reads, & Bookstore Cruise

2011-11-07T21:24:00.000-06:00

I mentioned yesterday in my weekly wrap-up that I did not have time for writing, but that may not have been the whole truth. I did have a few articles post over the last couple of weeks on the Walrus Publishing website where I do a bit of freelance writing. Now that I have more time on my hands, I am able to share the details with you here! Let's go with the most recent first . . .

As many of you already know, it is National Novel Writing Month or NaNoWriMo for short. As I have mentioned in previous posts, I have actually considered participating this year for the first time. Over on the Walrus site, I shared a few of the details of the month, including some published authors that wrote their books during this event. As for me, I have signed up on the site, but have not begun my novel yet; therefore, I am considering myself an unofficial participant. My goal is to start writing, but I do not have the intention of completing 50,000 words by the end of the month at this time.

In the spirit of Halloween, I shared an eclectic list of books that leave you haunting for more. Whether you prefer fiction, classics, non-fiction, or children's, you will want to click on over to find out what books I would recommend to meet your desires. Don't forget to add any spooky reads that you would recommend, so that I may add them to my list for next year!

Last, but definitely not least, I shared my latest adventures on the 2nd Independent Bookstore Cruise sponsored by the St. Louis Independent Bookstore Alliance (SLIBA). I had another great day, filled with prizes and many more books added to my shelves. You can click on over for the wrap-up of the day, but I have also included a little slideshow below of pictures as well that I was unable to include in the original feature.

As you can see, I did not go completely writing-free! And, I've got one more Walrus Report article coming in the near future, featuring a book review!

Sunday Synopsis: November 6, 2011

2011-11-06T22:33:00.000-06:00

I'm baaaaack!!!! The last couple of weeks have been crazy and due to a bit of traveling, I simply have not had the chance to be online or writing here on the site. I am now back, however, and feeling more energized than ever to focus on my writing, both here and in general!

The biggest reason I have been absent is because I took a weekend trip to Orlando this last weekend. I was there for a volunteer position that I have held the last couple of years, and I was handing over my reigns to someone new. My time in this position has been amazing and so inspiring, but it has also come time for me to step down and focus my attention on things closer to home. While I was there, I really did not get a chance to explore due to a packed schedule, but I was okay with that. I have always imagined my time in Orlando being with my family, and they were not able to come with me this time.

I have also had a chance to get in a little bit of reading in my preparation for the trip, on the flight, and very, very little since I arrived home on Halloween. I finished Hit List by Laurell K. Hamilton and have really been re-visiting some favorites during my teen years by Christopher Pike.

I really could go on and on about the last couple of weeks, but I would rather not bore you! Let's just get to the usual monthly check-in on my challenges. I will start first with the wrap-up of my first year doing the RIP VI Challenge and then move into the rest in list format.

The RIP VI Challenge was so much fun this year and I really have been inspired to keep on reading the books that I had originally pictured. I was able to complete the challenge by reading four books. My personal favorite of the list was Deadline by Mira Grant. Reviews of all of these books will be coming in the near future.

The rest of my challenges are listed below. It looks like I have completed or am close to completing a number of the challenges, though there are a couple that I really don't think I will be able to complete. Oh well! I still have almost two whole months left before I can really make an official determination on any of them!

The Stephen King/Richard Bachman Challenge (Perpetual)

2011 Graphic Novels Challenge (8 of 3-10 Books)

Off The Shelf Challenge (7 of 30 Books)

Young Readers Challenge (10 of 12 Books)

Take A Chance Challenge 3 (1 of 3 Books)

2011 Young Adult Reading Challenge (12 of 50 Books)

The Dewey Decimal Challenge (3 of 4 Books)

100+ Reading Challenge of 2011 (37 of 100 Books)

Fairy Tale Challenge (2 of 12 Books/Movies)

I will leave my chatter at that, but now it's your turn! What did I miss these past couple of weeks? What are you reading? What was your favorite RIP read?

Sunday Synopsis: October 23, 2011

2011-10-23T22:48:00.000-05:00

What a fabulous weekend I had!! It all began yesterday, where I had the joy of participating in another local independent bookstore cruise. I will be sharing all about my day later this week via the Walrus Report, complete with a whole slew of pictures! As soon as I arrived home, I then headed right back out the door to attend a little Halloween carnival with my family. Today, we picked out our pumpkins and then headed out to the zoo this evening for more Halloween fun! Of course, that means I did not accomplish much the last couple of days and I am currently scrambling just to ensure that everything is ready for school and work tomorrow, but it was completely worth it! I love this time of year and it is only just beginning!

On the reading front, I finished reading Deadline by Mira Grant. I can't wait to share my thoughts on this one with you! I started reading Bunnicula with my son and anticipate finishing that one this week. I also began reading Hit List by Laurel K. Hamilton, my first experience with this author.

I will be traveling later this week, so I hope to get a lot of reading done. The early part of the week, I have a number of things I need to get written, many of which I have deadlines for. I am going to try to write ahead here for the site as well, but those with deadlines come first. I already have a number of things written long hand, so it will all depend on if I can get them typed in time.

And, on a completely random note, I have been going through my TBR pile and am finally feeling like I should really be parting with a stack of books. When the piles have begun to leak out of my closet and I no longer have room for just the books that I need to read ... my dear addiction then becomes the issue of the rest of my household! With that said, what does it mean for you? It means giveaways galore in the month of November! Be watching for them!

That's it for this week! Don't forget to share with me your reading plans for the week. What are you currently reading? What has been your favorite read for the RIP Challenge or the spooky season in general?

Walrus Report: A Night With Women's Fiction

2011-10-20T21:10:00.000-05:00

Last week, I had the great pleasure to attend a panel of three local women's fiction authors: Judy Merrill Larsen, Susan McBride, and Sharon Shinn. These amazing women shared a wide array of information, from their book inspirations to what makes a good story and so much more! Today, I share my experiences over on the Walrus Publishing website. Click on over and read more about how these three authors inspired me to read more of their work as well as write more on my own personal projects!

Have you read any of the works by these three women? If so, what did you think?

Coffee With Nathan Everett

2011-10-18T22:16:00.000-05:00

Last month, I had the great pleasure to meet Nathan Everett for an afternoon coffee while he was passing through town on his new release tour for The Rubricant. I first met Nathan this last spring during Armchair BEA. He served as one of the sponsors for the event, and very generously shared free e-copies of his past works with our participants. With kindness like that, how could I pass up the opportunity to meet him in person?!?

Within an hour's time, we shared blogging stories, chatted about how his book tour was going so far, and discussed writing in general. I was able to pick his brain on how he has progressed in the writing and publishing world. We conversed about cover designs, National Novel Writing Month, and what is to come for his career.

As we parted ways and I traveled home, my mind ventured to the perks of today's technology. Thanks to the internet, authors and readers are connecting in a way that they have never before. Social media is creating bridges that previously did not exist and the possibilities are expanding exponentially. The really crazy thing is that Nathan must have been thinking along the very same lines because the very next day he wrote The Changing World of Book Marketing and the Rise of the Independent Book Blogger. Being the published writer, Nathan added his eloquence and own experiential wisdom to the topic.

Thank you Nathan for the great conversation and the inspiration! I look forward to the next chat, either online or in person! In case you missed Nathan's special guest post, click on over and discover the secrets behind the ink on the pages you read!

How has social media helped to connect you in special ways?

Sunday Synopsis: October 16, 2011

2011-10-16T23:11:00.000-05:00

Since only one hour remains in Sunday, I figured I better get writing for a quick weekly check-in! As many of you could probably tell, not a whole lot was accomplished this past week here on the site. I was swamped, working into the wee hours of the night much of the week. The most exciting part was attending a panel on local women's fiction writers, which will be featured via the Walrus Report later this week. Other than that, not a whole lot was accomplished on the reading or writing front. Now that a bit of time has been cleared, I'm hoping to change that this week! I have a stack of books to review, a stack of books to read, and I can't wait to dive into both!!

On the reading front, I am currently reading Deadline by Mira Grant as well as The Last Vampire by Christopher Pike (a re-read from my teen years!). I am also excited to start reading Bunnicula tomorrow with my son!! I'm not sure which book will be next in line after these ones, but I am sure I can find something! What's on your reading agenda?

On the writing front, I am considering participating in NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) in November. I have seen the chatter about it over the last few years, have been encouraged by many to participate, but have not yet. Any thoughts you would like to share with a possible newbie?

Last, but not least, I am excited to be participating in another independent bookstore cruise on Saturday!! I will get to meet more local authors, visit with a few of my personal favorites, and discover more indies in my area. I am so excited and hope to be posting a few different things via Twitter and Facebook throughout the day. Be sure to tune in!

I wish you a wonderful week and many happy readings!!

WANTED: Fall/Halloween/Thanksgiving Book Recommendations

2011-10-13T21:29:00.000-05:00

Well, hello! It is good to be back! This past week has brought lots of work, literally! I've been working every night this week and simply have not had a lot of time for writing. I am so glad to be at least writing this little post tonight, not only to receive a few recommendations from you, but also to say hello!

HELLO READERS!!

Now, on to the recommendations portion of this post! I am now the woman in charge of doing my parent teacher organization newsletter, and I have decided to start a little section focusing on reading with your child, complete with book recommendations from classics to new releases. I am very excited about this and cannot wait to begin sharing my love for books! However, since I am not an expert, I would love your help! I am currently looking for your personal recommendations for favorite books, featuring Fall, Halloween, and/or Thanksgiving, and focused on the elementary school crowd.

What books would you recommend? Any favorites for the season?

Sunday Synopsis: October 9, 2011

2011-10-09T22:04:00.000-05:00

Have you ever had one of those weeks filled with so much, but completely unproductive? That was my week! After missing work all week a couple of weeks ago, I returned to piles of tasks and an exploding inbox. On top of it all, the beginning of the week brought about a roller coaster of emotions ... one of my close cousins welcomed a first child and the next day, I received the news that another had very unexpectedly left this world. I found myself struggling with wanting to celebrate, but also mourning from afar, being unable to travel to the services this weekend. Needless to say, I was left with a week that did not result in a lot of writing and even less reading!

This week, I am hoping for a much more productive week as I begin to get back into the usual routine of work and life. Thankfully, my health is even better and I am continuing to heal more and more every day. And, with the rest of the news that surprised me this week ... it has helped me to appreciate all those that I love even more and tell them more often!

In fact, it has made me realize just how important my blogging friends have been to me! I have been writing here for more than four years, and these past four years have brought a multitude of challenges and difficult times. This has been a great outlet for me, and your comments and words of encouragement mean more to me than you will ever realize. For that, I thank you! THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

On a less serious note, I'm hoping to step back up my reading this week with Deadline by Mira Grant, the sequel to my recent read of Feed. Nothing like some crazy, flesh-eating zombies to get me back to "normal!"

Have you shared your love and thanks with those close to you today? And, for a less heavy discussion question, what will you be reading this week?

The Spiderwick Chronicles by Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black

2011-10-05T06:00:00.001-05:00

The Spiderwick Chronicles is a five book series where Black and DiTerlizzi share the story of the Grace children. It was these three children, two brothers and a sister, that have come across a secret book about faeries. They have shared this book with the authors as well as their adventures as a cautionary tale and a warning.

When I first saw these books years ago, I picked up the first simply due to the look. The binding was unique - small, the size of a mass market paperback, but with a sturdy hardcover binding. The pages themselves had antiqued edges. And, after a quick flip through the book, I discovered the most adorable black and white sketches. I had to give this book a try!

The story itself is a precious one. You have three innocent children that end up in an unexpected situation, fighting beasts of all sizes, and you know -- saving the world! It is a simple read, enhanced by the illustrations that originally hooked my interest. Though the story does feature some darker scenes (as one would typically expect when battling beasts), they are not too dark or worrisome, even for the feint of heart.

I have not yet seen the film based on the series, but I do look forward to viewing it in the future. Afterall, one can never be too prepared and the visuals of the techniques outlined in the book may prove to be handy! For those of you also interested in preparing yourselves and heeding the warning of the Grace children, the five books in the series include:

The Field Guide
The Seeing Stone
Lucinda's Secret
The Ironwood Tree
The Wrath of Mulgarath

Have you been educated by The Chronicles? What did you gather from it?

Walrus Report: Give Me Some Mo

2011-10-03T21:36:00.000-05:00

Today over on the Walrus Publishing website, I feature a favorite children's author in our home! Many of you have heard of this man called Mo Willems, but can you guess which books I choose to feature? Comment here and take your guess, then click on over and share your personal family faves by this author!

Sunday Synopsis: October 2, 2011

2011-10-02T22:21:00.000-05:00

And, I'm back! Finally! Remember, last week when I mentioned that I was sick? Well, it just got worse and worse, putting me completely out of commission this last week! I am not back to 100% yet, but I am doing much better and back to writing and reading as usual!! The sad part is that I missed the most of Banned Books Week, but I have decided to post one more little thing about it later this week just simply because I can!

In the meantime, I really have nothing else to report except that I cannot believe that it is already October! The year is quickly getting away from me and my reading goals are really not being met as I had hoped. However, on a positive note, I am writing a much higher percentage of reviews this year than I did last year! Now, I just have to see what kind of reading I can finish from here!

Since I really have nothing left to report this week, I am going to leave you with my latest challenge updates. Enjoy!

The Stephen King/Richard Bachman Challenge (Perpetual)

2011 Graphic Novels Challenge (8 of 3-10 Books)

Off The Shelf Challenge (7 of 30 Books)

Young Readers Challenge (9 of 12 Books)

Take A Chance Challenge 3 (1 of 3 Books)

2011 Young Adult Reading Challenge (11 of 50 Books)

The Dewey Decimal Challenge (3 of 4 Books)

100+ Reading Challenge of 2011 (34 of 100 Books)

Fairy Tale Challenge (2 of 12 Books/Movies)

What was your favorite part of Banned Books Week? Share your favorite links and clue me in to what I missed!

Banned Book: The Diary of Anne Frank

2011-10-01T06:00:00.005-05:00

Today I am writing this review on behalf of Banned Books Week and in particular, in conjunction with Sheila over at Book Journey in celebration of our right to read whatever it is we please. I had planned a multitude of other things to appear this week, but unfortunately, sickness has prevented that. I will try to post at least one of these before the end of the week for your reading pleasure, however.

In honor of Banned Books Week, I decided to pick up the book The Diary of Anne Frank. For those that have not heard of this book before (and I truly believe you would be in the minority here!), this is a true diary of a young Jewish girl that went into hiding with her family during World War II, in the height of Hitler's Nazi regime. For more than two years, they hid away in safety and avoided the concentration camps while literally life around them was destroyed. However, before they could experience the "after the war" world that they all imagined, they were discovered and sent off to their death. The only living member of the family was Anne's father, who graciously has allowed Anne's story to be shared with the millions that need to hear it. This is a story that cannot and should not be forgotten.

I have read The Diary of Anne Frank a couple of times before, both in my earlier years. When I first read the book, I was astounded at what someone my age had experienced and made me appreciate even more the things I did have in life. My little worries of living life in a small town and dealing with high school drama was nothing compared to Anne's life in hiding. Granted, I also could relate to her on many levels being a teen myself at the time of my earlier reads. On the other hand, on this re-read, I gathered a multitude of other emotions from the read. Since my first readings, I have read and researched the Holocaust and Hitler, gathering many more facts since my younger years. Combining my increased knowledge on the topic as well as now being a parent myself, I now view the book in a different light. I still am humbled at what Anne and her family had to live like in hiding; however, I read the book thinking about what Anne's parents have done to keep the family and their children safe. Knowing that as hard as they tried and the outcome that resulted, made this re-read much more difficult. I saw foreshadowing and irony in entries that were never purposefully written in. In essence, the book proved to be a more difficult read this time, but not one that is any less important.

I feel this book is very important for everyone to read. Though due to the graphic conversation that could result after completing the book, I do not believe it is one that should be simply read. It is one that needs to be discussed and processed. Though it is an easy read, it is not necessarily easy for one to fully comprehend and a discussion may be necessary after its completion. I do NOT believe it should be challenged or banned in any way, but others have disagreed. In fact, according to an article in the Washington Post in January 2010, a school in Virginia recently removed a version of this book due to sexually explicit content and themes of homosexuality. Over the last few decades, ALA has recorded six different challenges to the book for this same reason or because it was "a real downer." Even today, this book proves to be a controversial one, and it should be! We cannot ignore the history of our world and this book ... this short-lived life of Anne Frank ... is proof of that. We must always remember!

As I mentioned above, this article is written in conjunction with Book Journey Banned Books Week. Be sure to pick up all the clues from Saturday, September 24th to TODAY (Saturday), October 1st and leave a comment on each of the participating blogs to be eligible to win the prize package. Participating blogs are posted daily at Book Journey (http://bookjourney.wordpress.com/). Good luck and have fun!

And, your clue is . . .

Have you read The Diary of Anne Frank? What have been your thoughts, particularly when considering past versus present? What books have you read for Banned Books Week 2011?

Sunday Synopsis: September 25, 2011

2011-09-25T22:47:00.000-05:00

This whole weekend I have been sick. What originally started out as allergies at the beginning of the week has now mutated to something much worse. UGH! With that in mind, I am not going to be writing much tonight as all I can think about is going to bed! However, there are a couple of things I did want to mention, so let's just get down to business!

First, if you did not see the multitude of reviews I posted this week, here is a quick recap:

Arrrr Pirate Faves (in honor of International Talk Like a Pirate Day!)
The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde
The Good Neighbors by Holly Black
When the Emperor Was Divine by Julie Otsuka

Second, this week is Banned Books Week! I will be sharing at least of couple of special items this week in honor of those books that have created such an outcry, including a special partnering with Sheila of Book Journey!

It's going to be a great week as long as I can get rid of all this sickness! In the meantime, tell me how you are celebrating Banned Books Week.

When the Emperor Was Divine by Julie Otsuka

2011-09-23T06:00:00.001-05:00

In 1942, signs were posted throughout the United States announcing that all those of Japanese descent must report to the government for their own protection. Neighbors disappeared overnight and friends instantly became enemies. No questions were asked as internment camps appeared and possessions of those imprisoned were overtaken by those not. Otsuka's novel explores one family's experiences from beginning to end, and brings out a shameful history that we should never forget.

When the Emperor Was Divine is an intriguing read that educated me a bit more on a part of World War II that I was not as familiar with. It left me wanting a non-fiction version of what the victims experienced before, during, and after, particularly after reading the following quote ...

"Life was easier, they said, on this side of the fence." (p. 67)

"This side of the fence" referred to the side behind the guards and barbed wire of the internment camps. "This side of the fence" didn't have to face the hate, the return to nothing, and the question of what tomorrow would bring. "This side of the fence" brought regular meals, a roof over their heads, and in a sense, safety.

Otsuka's writing was not my favorite. It was simplistic and choppy, but written in a way that could be considered reflective of the narrators, stating the facts of a situation out of their control and treated as a number, de-humanized and void of emotion. I truly consider it more of a way that can introduce the general population to a piece of history and encourage them to search for the facts to prevent something like this happening ever again. I will even start this research by leaving you with a little video ...

Can you think of other novels that may serve as gateways to the social justice and/or nonfiction realm?

The Good Neighbors by Holly Black

2011-09-21T06:00:00.000-05:00

While at the library a couple of months ago, I came across the first book in a trilogy by Holly Black known as The Good Neighbors. The graphics on the cover intrigued me and since I just finished a previous series by the author, I thought I would give it a try.

BOOK ONE: KIN

In Kin, we meet Rue Silver, an only child in a family full of secrets. However, those secrets are about to break wide open thanks to the boundaries between worlds that begin to blur. The graphic novel is created with pure black and white illustrations filled with many unspoken details. In fact, I read this book almost immediately finishing it and could not wait to continue on to the next installment.

BOOK TWO: KITH

In Kith, we learn more about Rue's mother, Nia and the love between her parents. The boundaries that were previously blurred are now completely shattered thanks to the plans of Grandpa Aubrey. We learn of betrayals and new loves as the artwork by Ted Naifeh continues to please and leave the reader fascinated.

BOOK THREE: KIND

In the third and final book, Kind, we see that Rue is now between a rock and a hard place. Being half human and half faerie, she must decide where her loyalties and love lie. Battles break out. Rebellions result. How will it all end? Will Rue be able to stay true to both heritages? I will not give away the ending, but I will say that it completely satisfied me!

The Good Neighbors trilogy is one I truly want to add to my own personal collection. I loved the story. I adored the illustrations. And, the author has won my heart. I look forward to exploring more of her work very soon!

Have you been exposed to The Good Neighbors? How about other works by Holly Black?

The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde

2011-09-20T06:00:00.000-05:00

For quite some time now, Kristen of We Be Reading has been urging me to give Jasper Fforde a try and thanks to her recent Fforde-a-thon, I finally had the opportunity to meet Thursday Next in The Eyre Affair. Next is a Literatec; a detective and protector of literature. When classic literary characters begin disappearing, it is none other than Next who steps up to solve the crime and save the day both inside the pages and out.

When I began reading The Eyre Affair, I really had no idea what to expect. I had heard from many that Fforde's work illicited an extreme response . . . I would love or hate it. Here is a short list of what I personally discovered during my Next adventure:

Fforde's wit is one I have never encountered before, but I enjoyed it very much. I often found myself chuckling out loud from passages, either at the time I was reading them or later when the humor dawned on me!
I was inspired to read a few classics that I have previously had no desire to pick up, namely Jane Eyre.
And, last but not least, I have found an author that I cannot wait to revisit! I would even consider the first in the Thursday Next series re-read worthy!

In short, Kristen has got me hooked on yet another author, and I can't wait to get Lost in a Good Book!

Have you been captivated and inspired by Fforde like I have? Or, would you rather pass?

Arrrr Pirate Faves!

2011-09-19T06:00:00.000-05:00

Did you know that today is Talk Like a Pirate Day?!? With this special day falling on a Monday, we all know that this week has to start off on a good foot! Simply give yourself a good ol' pirate grin when you look at yourself in the mirror; instead of greeting everyone with a boring "hello," give them a "Ahoy me hearty;" and spoil yourself with a little pirate gold, even if it is just a chocolate coin wrapped in foil. And, if you are really feeling the pirate love, you can even change your Facebook language to match your mood by selecting Account Settings, Language, and English (Pirate)! Why not go all out?!?

And, when you are getting ready to tuck your little matey into bed tonight, don't forget to finish off the day with a story to bring on the pirate dreams. Here are just a few that I would recommend that have been shared in our home and visited often . . .

How I Became a Pirate by Melinda Long & David Shannon

Beautiful intricate illustrations detailing one young boy's encounter with pirates, both the good and the bad.

1001 Pirate Things to Spot by Rob Lloyd Jones

A family favorite filled with amazing pirate pictures with 1001 hidden pirate objects. Great for quiet cuddle time!

On a Pirate Ship by Sarah Courtauld & Benji Davies

Imagine a day in the life of a pirate, this perfect read-aloud will get your listeners joining in the action of the story.

Shiver Me Letters: A Pirate ABC by June Sobel

An alphabet story with a pirate loot twist. All you need is an "R" to get you started on a wild treasure hunt!

Pirate Pete by Kim Kennedy

My son loved Pirate Pete and the repetitive nature of the story. Even before you have a reader on your hands, your little one can help you read this one before the end.

If you are looking for more pirate ideas, be sure to check out these other great resources:

Talk Like a Pirate Day Official Website
Ideas for hosting your own pirate party can be found in an archived version of Literacy Lava.
The Book Chook celebrates Talk Like a Pirate Day with LOTS of great ideas!
I also share a few ideas from a couple of pirate parties I personally have thrown ... one of the birthday parties and another being a celebration of literacy.

Do you have any other resources or book recommendations for fellow pirate lovers? If so, share the loot!

Sunday Synopsis: September 18, 2011

2011-09-18T22:30:00.000-05:00

This past week was Book Blogger Appreciation Week (BBAW), and what a week it was! It was filled with wonderful collaborations, amazing posts across the book blogosphere, and a wide variety of tips. And, I can't forget to mention the award that Armchair BEA received: Best Blogging Event!! This alone made my week!! I have not yet had the chance to read through all the contributions, and to be honest, I probably won't be able to! However, I am sure going to try to get through a number of them. In case you missed any of my personal posts, here is a quick summary for you . . .

Day 1: My Blogging Community
Day 2: Meet Words and Peace (An Interview)
Day 3: Maintaining Community: Let's Talk Cake!
Day 4: My Reading Evolution
Day 5: Trends and Tools

And, if you missed my bonus guest article by author Nathan Everett titled Ink in Our Veins, you will definitely want to check that out. It is so fascinating and something I never thought of before!

This week, I am hoping to get back to the usual. I have a number of reviews coming up and a special post going live first thing tomorrow morning in honor of Talk Like a Pirate Day, held annually on September 19th. I am hoping to meet a couple of authors this week, but am working on the details of those, so keep your fingers crossed for me! And, last but not least, I am hoping to finally dive head first into The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. I have been hoping to do so earlier, but things just got too busy this last week.

What's on your agenda this week? Do you have any great books you are excited to dive head first into?

Guest Article: Ink in Our Veins by Nathan Everett

2011-09-16T13:00:00.000-05:00

I am so excited to announce a guest today . . . Nathan Everett, author of the newly released The Gutenberg Rubric, sharing some information that is the heart and soul of books . . . the ink! I had the pleasure of meeting and working with Nathan as a sponsor this last spring during Armchair BEA and would feel lucky if I were able to meet him in person. Without further ado, I introduce you to . . .

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Ink in Our Veins

The closest I came to actually being a printer was the hours I spent in the school office or church office running the mimeograph machine. My mother was a secretary and I remember as early as 8 or 10 years old that my job was to stand beside the mimeograph as she turned the crank and insert sheets of scrap paper between the freshly inked sheets that came out of the rollers. Failure to do so would result in a messy ink transfer between the pages. We would get into a rhythm, and before long the 100 or 200 copies would be stacked neatly and I would remove the slip-sheets as my mother re-inked the drum and fastened the next stencil in place. Even the next morning, when the usher handed us our bulletins, I could smell the ink on the page and know that I had helped print it.

I’m not sure that counts as being a printer’s devil, but eventually my experience elevated me to the position of “master mimeographer” at the high school where I printed everything from the newsletter to the playbook for the football team.

I learned early on that not all ink was the same. The thick globs that I spread on the mimeo drum with a spatula were a far cry from the sticky ball-point pen ink than leaked and soiled more than one of my shirts. And the discovery of the silky liquid India ink for my first fountain pen (that also leaked) was nothing short of awesome.

So I suppose that it was natural that when I started a novel in which a rare book expert needed to authenticate a manuscript, the first thing I thought of was the ink. And, in fact, it turns out that is one of the first things that an anthropologist is also interested in. But I had no idea what an incredible history ink had in our world—a history that goes back 4,000 years. I encountered the book Forty Centuries of Ink by David Nunes Carvalho in digital format, of all things, as a part of the University of Virginia Library Electronic Text Center when I was doing research. Published in 1904, the book traces the development of ink from the earliest known examples, through recipes, ritual usage, poison pens, and tattoos. It is a remarkable read, if a little overwhelming at times.

But the science of authenticating manuscripts and incunabula (works of 15^th century printers) had always depended upon actually scraping a bit of ink from the parchment and mixing it with various chemicals that would reveal its composition. For some reason, that’s frowned upon. Imagine scraping a bit of ink from the pages of the Gutenberg Bible to find out Gutenberg’s formula for ink. Various records and traditions had shown that the principle ingredients Gutenberg used were boiled linseed oil and lampblack, similar to artists’ oil paint. It was certainly not going to be acceptable to scrape ink off the page of every ancient manuscript that came to light or, more destructive yet, to cut a bit of the paper and dissolve it in chemicals to do carbon dating.

Then a remarkable thing occurred in 1986: a refurbished cyclotron at the University of California, Davis, was used to analyze the inks on a page from a Gutenberg Bible without destroying or adversely affecting the rare work. The results showed that in addition to the oil and carbon, the ink contained nickel, copper, and lead. In further studies, it was shown that Gutenberg’s inks had an unusually high proportion of copper and lead compared to other printings of the era. Other findings from the study showed that even the master printer had difficulty maintaining a consistent impression as the thickness of the ink was three times greater on the recto (odd) page than the verso (even) page.

As I continued to research the dating of manuscripts, I discovered similar experiments involving x-ray spectrography that enabled the work to be done with portable equipment rather than having to take the manuscript to a cyclotron.

To my knowledge, no one has compiled a master data base of ink-prints from ancient manuscripts and incunabula as I have suggested that the Dr. Keith Drucker created in The Gutenberg Rubric, though it seems like a good idea to me. During the first 50 years of printing, it was more common for printers to mix their own inks than to buy from a commercial vendor, so differences from shop to shop should be ascertainable. For Keith Drucker and Madeline Zayne, verifying the date and ownership of various documents played a critical part in deciphering the hidden code.

I’d heard the phrase rivers of ink used in reference to newspapers when I was quite young. But it was just a few years ago that a friend used the term “Black River” to describe the shape of the type on a page. That was the inspiration for three patents in electronic typography that I filed. It was also a significant catchphrase when creating the mystery of The Gutenberg Rubric.

The secret, you see, is hidden in the Black River.

Links:

The Gutenberg Rubric: http://www.gutenbergrubric.com

The Rubricant Blog: http://www.gutenbergrubric.com/blog

Author Central: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B004QVVE1S

Author Info: Nathan Everett nathan@nwesignatures.com

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Thank you to Nathan Everett for a fabulous piece and for stopping by Tif Talks Books today! Be sure to click on over and find out what other secrets he may have up his sleeve!

Trends and Tools

2011-09-16T06:00:00.000-05:00

On this fifth and final day of Book Blogger Appreciation Week (BBAW), we are to focus on blogging in general . . . our best practices or tried and true tools and techniques that we use to keep up with the ever-changing blogging world. This is really one of my weakest links, so I am looking forward to reading the many posts going up today about these secrets (or not-so-secrets); however, I will share a few things that I do believe in even if they seem to be old school!

Comments: I'm talking comments on blogs, whether it may be responding to comments on your own site or commenting on posts of fellow bloggers. Knowing that someone out there is reading your stuff and taking the time to share a word or two really can make a world of difference. Though I may be late in responding at times, I do believe it is better late than never. Personally, I always think it is fun to receive comments on older posts. It's good to know that they are floating around in cyberspace with the potential for more love!
Facebook: I maintain a Facebook page for this site. I feel that there are a number of readers out there that want to talk books, but may not use other social media networks. And, I really enjoy talking books wherever I can get it!
Twitter: This is by far a great way to connect with a large and varied audience! I have followers that are authors, publishers, book bloggers, book lovers, and so much more, and I follow many of the same. I find connections, small talk, and a commiseration of book love all over the place, from #fridayreads, #indiethursday, and so much more, including Twitter parties for such activities as #ArmchairBEA. There are so many possibilities out there, but I also truly believe that the important piece is the INTERACTION between the people. The purpose is to network and it is a great place to do just that!

There are a number of new trends out there in the world wide web, but due to time constraints, I have chosen not to get involved in them. I choose to participate in only so much, not spreading myself too thin, and still allowing for quality interactions. I will be really curious to find out if anyone has discovered the secret to finding more time in the day (maybe Hermoine's time turner or Well's time machine). Can you imagine what we could do then?!?

My Reading Evolution

2011-09-15T22:03:00.000-05:00

Today is Day 4 of Book Blogger Appreciation Week (BBAW) and the topic is reading. Since the beginning of this site, my reading has changed in so many ways and all for the better. In honor of the weekly theme of community, I will share just how much my reading has evolved and expanded thanks to a number of book bloggers out there.

First and foremost, I have been introduced to a wide variety of authors new to me, both old and new. I don't know if I would have ever discovered these books on my own . . . maybe eventually I would have . . . but I truly attribute these new loves to my experiences in the book blogging community. Which authors am I talking about? I will limit it to two . . . Jasper Fforde and Diana Wynne Jones . . . both thanks to We Be Reading! I can't wait to read more from these authors!!

I have also began greatly expanding my reading of graphic novels. I really love the recommendations from FICTION STATE OF MIND, particularly Fables by Bill Willingham. Though I cannot completely give her all the credit because West Virginia Red Reads urged me quite a bit on this series as well! Needless to say, my graphic novel list has truly expanded and I am loving every one that I have read!

I have always loved children's literature, particularly picture books, but I have come to discover new loves thanks to Jen Robinson's Book Page, There's a Book, and really just about everyone involved in Share a Story, Shape a Future. And, while speaking about kidlit, The Book Chook has inspired me in so many ways beyond the book and in literacy in general, I do not even have words for her to show my appreciation!

Overall, I have grown in my reading habits. I have grown as a person. And, I look forward to reading blogs every day to discover new finds along the way for both myself and to share with my children. I cannot even imagine what the next few years will bring to my reading repertoire and I'm so very excited to find out!

Maintaining Community: Let's Talk Cake!

2011-09-14T06:00:00.000-05:00

Day 3 of Book Blogger Appreciation Week (BBAW) is a continuation of Day 1, where we discuss the book blogging community; however today, we take a look at how we keep our community rolling, or where we may need to improve to bring us many more years of blogging in the future. After writing here at Tif Talks Books for more than four years, I have many thoughts on this topic. To save you from being bored, I am going to limit my thoughts to a three-tiered system! And, nothing is a better visual of three tiers than a wedding cake. (Yes, I love sweets!)

Tier 1: The Individual

I think the number one item to being a successful blogger is YOU! Throughout the years, I have discovered that this blog exists because of my desire to write, to discuss books, and to share in the love of literacy. My passion for these three things is truly what keeps me writing here. There have been times that I have wanted to step away. There have been absences, and some that were longer than others. For some reason, I continue to return to my writing and to this community. Maybe it is because this connection has been my constant (I have moved twice to different states since the beginning of this site). Maybe it is because writing is a release for me. Maybe it is because I simply love talking books and it is better to talk to myself than to someone who looks at you like you are One Who Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest!

The point is . . . Your site has to be about you! You have to want to put in the time. Being a book blogger is a lot of work. It takes time and oftentimes, money. If you lose the passion and it becomes more of a dreaded chore, then you may want to ask yourself why you continue. Maybe you just need to make some changes. Maybe you need to not post every single day. Find your niche. Find your style. Take pride in what you do. Blogging can be a great reward in and of itself . . . if you want that reward to be blogging!

Tier 2: The Online Community

Once you have established your site, branch out into the book blogging community. For the most part, your fellow bloggers are very encouraging, supportive, and enthusiastic about having you join. Yes, you will find the crabby ones. My advice to you on those ones . . . ignore them! There are hundreds of us out here in cyberspace that are willing to welcome you with open arms!

You will find some sites that have literally thousands of followers. Then, you have people like me that don't quite have that many! Is one better than the other? I don't think so! We just have different goals and purposes behind our sites. Personally, I don't shoot for the thousands. I have found a very devoted group that I can rely on interactions and friendships with. I choose to focus on those and cherish many of them as noted in my post from Monday. In addition, blogging is my hobby. As you discovered from Emma and I's interview yesterday, I am a busy person outside of my site. I simply don't have the time to market and post like some people do. Knowing your limitations and appreciating others are key.

Tier 3: The Community IRL

This last level goes beyond yourself and the online relationships, and propels you into the real world. Get out and meet with other book-ish people in your local community. Frequent your local bookstores (and participate in #indiethursday on Twitter!). Try out a book club or two until you find one that fits your personality and desires. Utilize your libraries. Go to your local author events. Meet up with other local bloggers (like the amazing Utah community does on a regular basis!). You never know what opportunities may present themselves. You never know when you may find your next best book-ish friend. And, you never know when you may discover a new book-ish love.

This level is one that is still fairly new to me and I continue to work on it on a regular basis. In fact, only a few months ago, I brought back a feature here called Literary Locals and have had a blast highlighting my local literary loves! And, without this last system, I would never have had my latest opportunity of branching out into the world of freelance writing which you can follow through my Walrus Report. You simply do not know what life may bring you in this area until you venture out and try a little something yourself!

Overall, I have grown over these past four years. I have seen my peers develop and I have experienced blossoming friendships that I will never forget. This community has so much to offer and I thank my lucky stars every day that I am a part of it! Today and every day, YOU are my lucky stars, and I am thanking YOU.

Words and Peace: A Great Combination!

2011-09-12T22:41:00.000-05:00

As part of Day 2 for Book Blogger Appreciation Week, we get to participate in one of my favorite parts of the entire week ... blogger interviews! We each are randomly assigned to another book blogger and we get to ask each other questions to our heart's consent! I always end up discovering a new favorite blog along the way and this year there is no exception!

Allow me to introduce you to Emma of Words and Peace . . .

WAIT!

Emma and I decided to spice things up a bit and created an interview trail. Before you can read what is written below, you must

CLICK ON OVER TO EMMA'S SITE TO READ PART I

Waiting . . .

And now, the reading may commence . . .

EMMA: that's a good one! Maybe in a medieval abbey, in the room called the scriptorium, where the monks/nuns would spend hours copying books! You must now think you got to interview the most nut case of all book bloggers, LOL! I still have myself a dozen of notebooks where I use to write down tons of excerpts I liked in my readings.

By the way, I used also to refuse totally to read ebooks, not even considering them as real books! Then I discovered how convenient it is to have some ebooks on hand, even though my husband and I still have enormous piles of books checked out at our fantastic public library. I rarely buy books, mostly for economic reasons. Wow, with 2 children, how do you manage to read and blog so much? (I married very late and have no kids, and I always marvel at what people manage to do with their time, even with children to take care.) Do you have a favorite time in the day for reading?

TIF: Reading with kids has always been easy for me because I really can read anytime or anywhere! When my oldest was born, I started reading my books out loud to him and have continued this tradition until this very day. I did the same thing with my 2nd, and thankfully, we all fit in reading time almost every single day. When I returned to work full-time more than two years ago, I actually found it harder to work and read then have kids and read or blog, if that makes any sense! Now I find myself staying up way too late to read and write, and find that mornings have become more and more an enemy over the years!By the way, I do not find you to be a nut case at all! That's what I love most about this community is that I find more and more people that are just like me!! :)What do you enjoy outside of reading and blogging? Do you have any other interesting hobbies or random facts to share about yourself?

EMMA: funny, I was going to ask you that question! Even though I don't have any children, I am actually also very busy, and end up reading only after 7:00 pm, up to.... midnight or more, same problem here, LOL! [We don't have TV, so we spend most of our evenings reading, or do watch occasional movies from our library]. So what do I do? I have a part-time job as Computer Assistant in my public...LIBRARY! Heaven on earth! I help people who come to use our numerous computers for free, it can be: how to change my Facebook profile picture, how to buy an airline ticket online, etc etc, really fun job. I am French, (and former English teacher in France), so every morning I also give French online classes, using Skype. It's great, I have students from all over the world. I have been also an English-French translator for over 20 years. Right now, I'm translating a new chapter to a book I had to translate last year, and I'm supposed to receive a 400 page book to translate. And last but not least, I'm a rockpainter, meaning I paint, but almost exclusively on rocks. It's fun, I sell them online and at art/craft shows. But I can only paint in the morning, in between classes. Right now I have a commission: I'm painting a beautiful collie dog, it's a memorial rock. Can I advertise here?? Here is my website: http://rocksbyemmanuelle.comApart from all that, I love hiking and birding a lot. And oh, I'm totally addicted to Words With friends!!Well now you know everything about me. may I ask you the same question?

TIF: Wow!! You definitely stay busy! I am so impressed, especially with the detail on your rock art!! My days tend to be pretty jam-packed these days as well! Besides my two young children (6 & 3) and being their chauffeur for all their activities, I also work full-time as an Academic Advisor at a local University, teach a freshmen transition class, and I just recently took on a freelance writing position for the Walrus Publishing website. When I have the chance, I enjoy doing a variety of philanthropy projects and LOVE to attend local author events and visit my local independent bookstores and libraries.

I have had such a great time chatting with Emma this past week and hope that you have enjoyed our little interview. I really think that we could have just kept on going, but for the sake of YOU, dear reader, we decided to stop our interview right there. Now, just in case you missed it . . .

Emma writes at Words and Peace. Click it. You know you want to!

My Blogging Community

2011-09-12T21:33:00.000-05:00

It is that time of year again for Book Blogger Appreciation Week (BBAW) and I am so excited to be participating once again. I have had the opportunity to participate the last couple of BBAWs and it never ceases to amaze me at the bonding of this community, particularly during this week. Granted, there are a number of other events that will bring us together, but this is the time that we can also recognize our accomplishments, whether via the BBAW awards or simply via our own personal posts throughout the week.

Each day this week, there will be a daily topic that we can share our own thoughts about. Today's topic is COMMUNITY and nothing states community like those that include book bloggers. We all come from different backgrounds. We live around the world. We read different books, but commiserate about our favorites just the same. We oftentimes discover that we are not alone in our passion for books as we so often have felt the majority of our lives. We may not be able to meet each other, but we still call ourselves friends.

Over the four years that I have been blogging, I have come to call many my friends. I have grown and become a better person because of them. I have been encouraged and supported. And, someday I hope to thank them all in real life! Here are just a few that I want to share a few words about today . . .

Ms. Blank . . . She no longer has a blog, but I know that she is still lurking out there! She was one of my early connections to the community, recommending the perfect books for me, and supporting me along my endeavors as her's changed along the way.

We Be Reading . . . Kristen has opened my eyes to so many different books and authors and has forever expanded my world! I appreciate her more than words can say and I can only secretly hope that my next big move will be closer to her neck of the woods!

Addicted to Books . . . Tracy is one of my "newer" friends in the community, but I our conversations are already so memorable! I look forward to her comments, and not-so-secretly admire her will power when it comes to book buying! She serves as the example I wish to achieve someday!

There's A Book . . . A couple of years ago, I was introduced to Danielle via Share a Story, Shape a Future. Since then, our friendship has blossomed and her emails, tweets, and comments bring a smile to my face every time. Then again, it could also be the long hours "together" on Armchair BEA!!

Since I mentioned Armchair BEA, I also want to give a quick shout out to my other original brains behind the big event: Michelle at That's What She Read, Florinda at The 3 R's Blog, and Emily at Emily's Reading Room. I have had a blast working with these ladies the last couple of years and look forward to more great years to come!

This is only a handful of fellow bloggers that I believe contribute a great deal to our community. I really could go on and on, but I will leave it at that for now. Click on over, follow them, and continue to spread the bookish love! That's what this week is all about, afterall!

Sunday Synopsis: September 11, 2011

2011-09-11T22:44:00.000-05:00

Today many people are writing about a decade ago. I'm not going to do that. It is not because I have forgotten or don't want to remember. I remember and each time, tears come to my eyes. Even after all these years, and not being directly affected, the wounds are still not completely healed. It was a devastating day, and I simply want to look forward to the positives that the future may bring.

One of these positives is the community that spans the world and celebrates the love of literature. Tomorrow marks the beginning of Book Blogger Appreciation Week or BBAW for short. I have participated in BBAW for the past three years, and I am very excited to be participating in a bigger and better event again this year! From daily topics to a blogger interview and giveaways galore, the week will be a busy one and I hope to celebrate daily this week. Of course, we cannot leave out one of the biggest things about the week ... awards! I have not yet posted about this here, but I have to throw my pride out there in one of my own events making the shortlist ... Armchair BEA for Best Book Blogging Event! Whether it receives an award or not, I am so proud to see the event get recognized so highly in this community!

Now, I'm off to work on my daily posts, all focusing on community! I hope to see you all around a lot this week and thank YOU for making this event amazing year after year!

Tales to Tomes Online Book Club: September Read

2011-09-07T22:28:00.000-05:00

Our September book choice for Tales to Tomes will be Juliet by Anne Fortier. Unfortunately, this will be the last book choice for the time being. I will be taking a break from the book club for a bit as I've got a serious addiction that I recently confessed to. I need to tend to some other previously neglected books on my shelves. If you are up for a read-a-long for any of the titles pictured here, however, please give me a shout! I would love to read along with you! If all goes well, the book club will return in full force at the beginning of 2012!

Feed by Mira Grant

2011-09-07T22:10:00.000-05:00

THE GOOD NEWS: WE SURVIVED.

THE BAD NEWS: SO DID THEY.

(from the front cover)

Cancer is gone. We no longer have to worry about the common cold. This sounds like a dream, but only nightmares exist when you have moaning zombies to contend with instead. The mainstream media has lost its credentials because of the lack of true coverage, resulting in bloggers becoming the truth behind the apocalypse. Georgia and Shaun Mason are two of these said bloggers, one reporting the news as she sees it and the other reporting the adventurous encounters with the living dead.

The Masons are only small town online press, but they hit the big time when they are selected to cover the next possible presidential candidate. As their stats increase exponentially, the people they can trust decrease just as much. Through thorough research, the truth begins to come out, but the price paid may be in human lives.

Grant's novel combines a number of realistic elements to the zombie apocalypse, which immediately drew me in. I was pulling for my fellow bloggers, trying to figure out the mystery, but loving the paranormal aspects along the way. The Masons are likeable. The plot was addictive. And, this reader simply could not FEED on the story fast enough! I cannot wait to read about more Mason adventures in the sequel, DEADLINE.

Have you read FEED yet? Would you rate it Good News or Bad News?

Walrus Report: Magic with McBride

2011-09-06T21:40:00.000-05:00

I have recently been bewitched by Susan McBride!

Over on the Walrus Publishing website, I have had the recent pleasure to write not one, but two pieces on Susan McBride's latest new release, Little Black Dress (LBD). The first was my experiences at her release party for the book and the second was a review of the book. With these two pieces combined with an interview with the author here a couple of weeks ago, you can learn all you want to know about McBride, LBD, and the magic she conjures!

Have you had the pleasure of reading LBD or any other pieces of McBride's work?

Readers Imbibing Peril (RIP) Challenge VI

2011-09-04T23:45:00.001-05:00

I have been sitting on the sidelines the last couple of years as I watch Kristen over at We Be Reading participating in the RIP Challenge, feeling a bit jealous that I always seem to miss out on it. It is guaranteed that I am always finding more books to add to my piles after this time of year; however, as I have recently discussed, I cannot buy anymore books this year. Therefore, I went searching through my mounds of TBR and simply took a few pics of books that could fit this challenge. But first, let's read what Carl at Stainless Steel Droppings has to say about this event . . .

Every September 1st through October 31st for the last 5 years I have hosted the R.eaders I.mbibing P.eril Challenge, affectionately known as the R.I.P. Challenge. I began this reader event, I blinked, and now I am hosting this for the 6th time. Wow, that is so hard to believe.

The purpose of the R.I.P. Challenge is to enjoy books that could be classified as:

Mystery.
Suspense.
Thriller.
Dark Fantasy.
Gothic.
Horror.
Supernatural.

The emphasis is never on the word challenge, instead it is about coming together as a community and embracing the autumnal mood, whether the weather is cooperative where you live or not.

There are two simple goals for the R.eaders I.mbibing P.eril VI Challenge:

1. Have fun reading.
2. Share that fun with others.

As I do each and every year, there are multiple levels of participation (Perils) that allow you to be a part of R.I.P. VI without adding the burden of another commitment to your already busy lives. There is even a one book only option for those who feel that this sort of reading is not their cup of tea (or who have many other commitments) but want to participate all the same.

R.I.P. VI officially runs from September 1st through October 31st. But lets go ahead and break the rules. Lets start today!!!

Multiple perils await you. You can participate in just one, or participate in them all.

I'm going with Peril the First Level, which states the following:

Peril the First:

Read four books, any length, that you feel fit (my very broad definitions) of R.I.P. literature. It could be Stephen King or Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Ian Fleming or Edgar Allan Poe…or anyone in between.

Now, here are a few pics of what I may be choosing from (if you have suggestions, please suggest away!) . . .

Here are the books that I have read:

Gimme a Kiss by Christopher Pike
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
Deadline by Mira Grant
Hit List by Laurell K. Hamilton

Sunday Synopsis: September 4, 2011

2011-09-04T22:44:00.000-05:00

I could write about how I did not get any writing done here on the blog this week. I could tell you about my week and the first day of my class. I could tell you about the awesome books I read this week. However, I have something much more important to get off my chest this week.

Confession Time: I have a serious problem with buying books. I told myself I would get better about this. Yet, books keeping entering my home. I use all sorts of excuses . . . I couldn't let this book sit on that shelf a minute longer. I was rescuing this treasure from a probable disastrous home. I have been dying to read this book. You never know when I could find this book at such a steal again. I bought it used. I'm supporting local indies.

Though some of these excuses are truly valid reasons for buying books, the truth is that my home is becoming overloaded with books that I have not yet read. My husband is beginning to get annoyed and often wonders why I do not read the books that I already own. And, if we are being honest, I really cannot use the excuse that I need variety to choose from. I really do have plenty to choose from for a multitude of moods!

Promise Time: Friday evening, I was desperate to address the problem after my husband made yet another comment. I have been not-so-slowly realizing how much of an issue this has become. And, in a frantic rush, I made a promise to my husband . . . I will not buy any more books until the year 2012! The words were not out of my mouth more than a second when I threw out an exception . . . UNLESS I am reporting on an event that I am freelancing for. That may have saved me, while still giving me a bit of leeway. BUT, I truly do NEED to cut back on my book purchases. And, I really NEED to be making this promise to myself more than anyone.

Afterall, the first step to recovery is admitting you have a problem. I have now done that publicly. Wish me luck!

Can you relate to my addiction? Is there a reading habit that you have that may be interrupting your everyday life?

Sunday Synopsis: August 28, 2011

2011-08-28T22:40:00.000-05:00

I have had a great day and a great weekend! I have completed a number of tasks and spent some great time with my kids. And, I have had some fabulous reading time. Of course, I still have a number of other things that I need to get completed as soon as I can, but I am choosing to look at the bright side this evening and appreciate the amount of things that I did get done!

Speaking of things I finished . . . I read When the Emperor Was Divine by Julie Otsuka this week and have read the majority of Feed by Mira Grant. In fact, I really want to get this written, so that I can return to this book! I'm having a hard time putting it down! When I am done with that one, I think I am going to move on to the new release, Little Black Dress by Susan McBride. It looks really good!

Outside of reading, this is another big week for me. The students return to the University this week where I work and the class I teach begins tomorrow. I am really excited to see the students again and to be back in the classroom. I begin to realize more and more how much these two things are what I love most about my job . . . and makes me wonder if it is about time for a slight switch in profession. Not now, but soon!

Moving beyond the deep thoughts of Tif, I thought I would leave you with the latest on my challenges.

The Stephen King/Richard Bachman Challenge (Perpetual)
2011 Graphic Novels Challenge (7 of 3-10 Books)
Off The Shelf Challenge (7 of 30 Books)
Young Readers Challenge (9 of 12 Books)
Take A Chance Challenge 3 (1 of 3 Books)
2011 Young Adult Reading Challenge (10 of 50 Books)
The Dewey Decimal Challenge (2 of 4 Books)
100+ Reading Challenge of 2011 (28 of 100 Books)
Fairy Tale Challenge (1 of 12 Books/Movies)

That's it for this week! I've got some great things planned in the coming days, so be sure to check back. Otherwise, I leave you with one question . . . What's on your reading agenda this week?

Fun Friday: Walken Piggy

2011-08-26T06:00:00.000-05:00

After I saw this video, I knew that I had to share it with all of you! I really do not need to give you much of an introduction though. Let's just leave it with this . . .

Christopher Walken Reads The Three Little Pigs!