Read a lot?

Do you love to read? Is reading your passion? Or do you like it a little? Maybe when you have nothing else to do?

Well, reading is my passion. I have read all of my life, of course going through lulls now and then, but always finding time to read. I seem to have reconnected with my reading self lately (more than ever) and have ambitious enough to start a reading blog. This blog will be where I write book reviews of books I have read, write about book giveaways that other bloggers are having, write about reading challenges that I am taking part in, and who knows what else. 🙂

The books that I will review will be from picture books to adult books (no, not THAT kind of adult book :)), and everything in between-chapter books, series books, intermediate books, middle grade books, young adult books. All of them! Some book reviews will be posted on this blog, but I will probably just put the majority of them on my other blog.

So…….if you want to take a peek at my reading blog where I’ll be blogging about all things reading, then look right here-

http://extremereadingandwriting.wordpress.com/

And yes, I am a proud member of the Nerdy Book Club-are you? 🙂

 

Mrs. Perfect-Chick Lit Book Review

Yes, I read chick lit, and I am not ashamed. Well, maybe a little. I do want to read and enjoy the classics. One day I will. Hopefully. But for now when I want to escape into the adult world of books I tend to gravitate toward mystery suspense, romance, and chick lit. And I LOVE IT! 🙂

Mrs. Perfect by Jane Porter          Published-2008           Length-417 pages

I’m going to be honest about this book. Within the first couple of chapters I wasn’t really loving Taylor Young, the main character, or the setting which happened to be a neighborhood of multi-million dollar homes. It seemed to have too much snobbery even to the point of sounding ridiculous!

But hold on-I kept with it. And ended up liking Taylor and the story. It was an easy read, very easy. Taylor turned out to have more character than I could see in the beginning, and I ended up being on her side!

Here’s a little book description from amazon:

  As a young California girl growing up in a blue collar neighborhood, Taylor Young dreamed of being popular, beautiful, and acquiring a wardrobe to die for. Not to mention marrying a handsome, successful man and living happily ever after in a gorgeous house with three wonderful children. Now, at 36, Taylor has reached the pinnacle of her dreams, but is it all about to unravel? As the new school year approaches, Taylor prepares herself for playing the perfect alpha mom: organizing class activities, fund-raising, and chairing the school auction. But the horror! Her archrival, bohemian mom Marta Zinsser, is named Head Room Mom of Taylor’s daughter’s fifth grade class. As tensions rise at committee meetings and school activities, the two rivals seem to be destined for a final confrontation. But as Taylor plans her next move, she is floored by a more serious blow at home-her husband has been secretly unemployed for the past six months. With her posh lifestyle crumbling, Taylor struggles to maintain her alpha image-but could Marta, who cares little about appearances, be her only true friend?

Taylor and Nathan are struggling to hang on to their house, their relationship, and their future. It’s all about money. It always has been. But, sometimes money is not the answer.

In the beginning Taylor CAN’T STAND Marta. Especially the way she looks and like she doesn’t have a care in the world. And then Marta is chosen to be Head Room Mom! Taylor almost comes unglued. Here’s a sentence from the book that divulges how she feels.

“That’s like making SpongeBob SquarePants president of the United States.” What a comparison!

There was a vivid description of Taylor’s friend, Lucy, and her appearance that I especially loved. You have to know that Lucy is going through a separation and does not have custody of her kids so she is very distraught and haggard. And I do sympathize with her, but this use of comparative language to describe her face is great.

“Look at me! I’m a wreck. I haven’t slept in days. The bags under my eyes are too big for carry-on.” Priceless! 🙂

I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.

My last thoughts on this book: If you are looking for an easy read to escape the daily pressures of your own life-you have found the book that can make that happen.

 

 

 

Caldecott (Nerdcott) Reading Challenge

Another (yes, another!) great reading challenge for you to join. Laura over at LibLaura5 and Anna at A to Z Library are hosting this might I say “challenging” challenge. Insert note to self: This is a STRESS FREE reading challenge to do at your own pace! 🙂

300 Caldecott (Picture book) winners and honors to be read.

Here’s a list that begins with the year 1938 which is where we will begin, too. Unless you want to begin somewhere else. 🙂

http://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/caldecottmedal/caldecotthonors/caldecottmedal

This challenge will begin in January. You can follow on twitter by using the hashtag #nerdcott.

Let’s get reading!

 

Newbery (Nerdbery) Reading Challenge

Here it is folks! An awesome challenge to join up with!

John over at Watch.Connect.Read is starting a reading challenge along with Colby at sharpread. We will be reading ALL Newbery Award winning books over the course of 2 years beginning with the 1st one to receive the award and reading them in order. Unless you want to deviate and read them any which way! 🙂

This Newbery Reading Challenge will begin on January 1st, 2012! To follow it on twitter just use the hashtag #nerdbery-yes, we are book nerds and PROUD OF IT!!!!

This is bound to be a fun and exciting reading challenge for all!

Here is the list of Newbery winners that we will be reading that I have copied from John’s blog (thank you, John!):

• 90. Moon Over Manifest
• 89. When You Reach Me
• 88. The Graveyard Book
• 87. Good Masters! Sweet Ladies!
• 86. The Higher Power of Lucky
• 85. Criss-Cross
• 84. Kira-Kira
• 83. The Tale of Despereaux
• 82. Crispin
• 81. A Single Shard
• 80. A Year Down Yonder
• 79. Bud, Not Buddy
• 78. Holes
• 77. Out of the Dust
• 76. The View from Saturday
• 75. The Midwife’s Apprentice
• 74. Walk Two Moons
• 73. The Giver
• 72. Missing May
• 71. Shiloh
• 70. Maniac Magee
• 69. Number the Stars
• 68. Joyful Noise
• 67. Lincoln: A Photobiography
• 66. The Whipping Boy
• 65. Sarah, Plain and Tall
• 64. The Hero and the Crown
• 63. Dear Mr. Henshaw
• 62. Dicey’s Song
• 61. A Visit to William Blake’s Inn
• 60. Jacob I Have Loved
• 59. A Gathering of Days
• 58. The Westing Game
• 57. Bridge to Terabithia
• 56. Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
• 55. The Grey King
• 54. M.C. Higgins, The Great
• 53. The Slave Dancer
• 52. Julie of the Wolves
• 51. Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH
• 50. Summer of the Swans
• 49. Sounder
• 48. The High King
• 47. From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
• 46. Up a Road Slowly
• 45. I, Juna de Pareja
• 44. Shadow of a Bull
• 43. It’s Like This, Cat
• 42. A Wrinkle in Time
• 41. The Bronze Bow
• 40. Island of the Blue Dolphins
• 39. Onion John
• 38. The Witch of Blackbird Pond
• 37. Rifles for Watie
• 36. Miracles on Maple Hill
• 35. Carry On, Mr. Bowditch
• 34. The Wheel on the School
• 33. …And Now Miquel
• 32. Secret of the Andes
• 31. Ginger Pye
• 30. Amos Fortune, Free Man
• 29. The Door in the Wall
• 28. King of the Wind
• 27. The Twenty-One Balloons
• 26. Miss Hickory
• 25. Strawberry Girl
• 24. Rabbit Hill
• 23. Johnny Tremain
• 22. Adam of the Road
• 21. The Matchlock Gun
• 20. Call it Courage
• 19. Daniel Boone
• 18. Thimble Summer
• 17. The White Stag
• 16. Roller Skates
• 15. Caddie Woodlawn
• 14. Dobry
• 13. Invincible Louisa
• 12. Young Fu of the Upper Yangtze
• 11. Waterless Mountain
• 10. The Cat Who Went to Heaven
• 9. Hitty, Her First Hundred Years
• 8. The Trumpeter of Krakow
• 7. Gay Neck, the Story of a Pigeon
• 6. Smoky, the Cowhorse
• 5. Shen of the Sea
• 4. Tales from Silver Lands
• 3. The Dark Frigate
• 2. The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle
• 1. The Story of Mankind

Newbery (Nerdbery) Reading Challenge

Here it is folks! An awesome challenge to join up with!

John over at Watch.Connect.Read is starting a reading challenge along with Colby at sharpread. We will be reading ALL Newbery Award winning books over the course of 2 years beginning with the 1st one to receive the award and reading them in order. Unless you want to deviate and read them any which way! 🙂

This Newbery Reading Challenge will begin on January 1st, 2012! To follow it on twitter just use the hashtag #nerdbery-yes, we are book nerds and PROUD OF IT!!!!

This is bound to be a fun and exciting reading challenge for all!

Here is the list of Newbery winners that we will be reading that I have copied from John’s blog (thank you, John!):

• 90. Moon Over Manifest
• 89. When You Reach Me
• 88. The Graveyard Book
• 87. Good Masters! Sweet Ladies!
• 86. The Higher Power of Lucky
• 85. Criss-Cross
• 84. Kira-Kira
• 83. The Tale of Despereaux
• 82. Crispin
• 81. A Single Shard
• 80. A Year Down Yonder
• 79. Bud, Not Buddy
• 78. Holes
• 77. Out of the Dust
• 76. The View from Saturday
• 75. The Midwife’s Apprentice
• 74. Walk Two Moons
• 73. The Giver
• 72. Missing May
• 71. Shiloh
• 70. Maniac Magee
• 69. Number the Stars
• 68. Joyful Noise
• 67. Lincoln: A Photobiography
• 66. The Whipping Boy
• 65. Sarah, Plain and Tall
• 64. The Hero and the Crown
• 63. Dear Mr. Henshaw
• 62. Dicey’s Song
• 61. A Visit to William Blake’s Inn
• 60. Jacob I Have Loved
• 59. A Gathering of Days
• 58. The Westing Game
• 57. Bridge to Terabithia
• 56. Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
• 55. The Grey King
• 54. M.C. Higgins, The Great
• 53. The Slave Dancer
• 52. Julie of the Wolves
• 51. Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH
• 50. Summer of the Swans
• 49. Sounder
• 48. The High King
• 47. From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
• 46. Up a Road Slowly
• 45. I, Juna de Pareja
• 44. Shadow of a Bull
• 43. It’s Like This, Cat
• 42. A Wrinkle in Time
• 41. The Bronze Bow
• 40. Island of the Blue Dolphins
• 39. Onion John
• 38. The Witch of Blackbird Pond
• 37. Rifles for Watie
• 36. Miracles on Maple Hill
• 35. Carry On, Mr. Bowditch
• 34. The Wheel on the School
• 33. …And Now Miquel
• 32. Secret of the Andes
• 31. Ginger Pye
• 30. Amos Fortune, Free Man
• 29. The Door in the Wall
• 28. King of the Wind
• 27. The Twenty-One Balloons
• 26. Miss Hickory
• 25. Strawberry Girl
• 24. Rabbit Hill
• 23. Johnny Tremain
• 22. Adam of the Road
• 21. The Matchlock Gun
• 20. Call it Courage
• 19. Daniel Boone
• 18. Thimble Summer
• 17. The White Stag
• 16. Roller Skates
• 15. Caddie Woodlawn
• 14. Dobry
• 13. Invincible Louisa
• 12. Young Fu of the Upper Yangtze
• 11. Waterless Mountain
• 10. The Cat Who Went to Heaven
• 9. Hitty, Her First Hundred Years
• 8. The Trumpeter of Krakow
• 7. Gay Neck, the Story of a Pigeon
• 6. Smoky, the Cowhorse
• 5. Shen of the Sea
• 4. Tales from Silver Lands
• 3. The Dark Frigate
• 2. The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle
• 1. The Story of Mankind

Audio book giveaway

Hop on over to Jesse ‘s fabulous audio book giveaway to win some great stuff. Make sure you have signed up for readathon!

http://www.jessiesremarkablereads.com/

It’s Monday-What Are You Reading?

A little late, but so worth it! 🙂

 It’s Monday, December 26, 2011-What are you reading? This weekly meme is hosted by Sheila over at Book Journey.

You can also check out a link up for this meme at this fabulous blog by Jen and Kellee-Teach Mentor Texts. Or hop over to Page In Training to check out her reads.

Have I got some books for you from this past week!!!!

And not in any particular order: Breadcrumbs, The Future of Us, Clementine and the Family Meeting, My Weird School#2, A Monster Calls, Bigger Than a Breadbox

 Breadcrumbs was a magical book written with beautiful and vivid language that made me feel as if I was there with Hazel in the snow. A full length review will be coming later this week. For now, just let me say that I was whisked away on an enchanted journey with Hazel as she searched for her best friend and what he USED to be! I’m not a big fan of fantasy, but this book won me over.

This one, The Future of Us, can be marked down as an all time favorite of mine. I could connect to the references to technology from the 90’s perspective-they even made me laugh out loud. I LOVED that even though the book was centered around teenage lives, there was no meanness or bullying or any of that kind of stuff that makes your stomach turn! 🙂 This book DOES have some mature content so while my 17 year old daughter could read it (and is by the way and loving it), my 6th graders will NOT touch it! 🙂

 What can I say about this book, A Monster Calls? It was a great read. A deep one. An emotional one. A powerful one. This story deals with grief, sadness, and guilt through the heart of a young boy. The illustrations throughout the book really bring the story to life. It’s a book that I’m glad I read and would read again but be forewarned: You need to have a lighthearted book waiting for you after this one. 🙂

In fact, here is a great lighthearted book to read after A Monster Calls! Clementine and The Family Meeting. Or any Clementine book for that matter! Clementine is my new best friend with her quirkiness, funniness, and her sense of self. Now I’m just waiting on the next one-and there better be a next one! A must read for all kids!

 I wanted to read this one, My Weird School#2-Mr. Klutz is Nuts, to see how I would recommend this series to my 6th graders that need simple stories to keep them engaged. It was a funny, simple, wacky tale of school. Mr. Klutz, the principal, really was nuts! 🙂 I am going to shove put this book into the hands of some of my reluctant readers when we come back from break.

Bigger Than a Breadbox-I JUST finished this one. And LOVED it! Rebecca is dealing with a new home, a new town, a new school, AND a separation of her parents. This is a realistic fiction book mixed with fantasy, and I have to say that is my kind of book. Laurel Snyder did a fantastic job of writing a story that would resonate with kids-a little bit of magic with a big dose of an issue that affects a lot of them. Look for a lengthy book review later this week, but go right now to your nearest bookstore and BUY THIS BOOK AND READ IT! 🙂

So those are the books that I read last week-I did good didn’t I? Now on the agenda-this is the hard part because I will select several books that I want to read and then change my mind so don’t hold me to it-but I think I’ll be delving into:

Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer Holm

Ivy + Bean by Annie Barrows

True by Katherine Hannigan

And hopefully a couple of adult books since I have won SEVERAL from some giveaways on goodreads.com and librarything.com.

Check back with me next Monday to see if I stayed true to my word OR if I changed my mind completely-I’m prone to doing that!! 🙂

It’s Monday-What are you reading?

 It’s Monday, December 26, 2011-What are you reading? This weekly meme is hosted by Sheila over at Book Journey.

You can also check out a link up for this meme at this fabulous blog by Jen and Kellee-Teach Mentor Texts. Or hop over to Page In Training to check out her reads.

Have I got some books for you from this past week!!!!

And not in any particular order: Breadcrumbs, The Future of Us, Clementine and the Family Meeting, My Weird School#2, A Monster Calls, Bigger Than a Breadbox

 Breadcrumbs was a magical book written with beautiful and vivid language that made me feel as if I was there with Hazel in the snow. A full length review will be coming later this week. For now, just let me say that I was whisked away on an enchanted journey with Hazel as she searched for her best friend and what he USED to be! I’m not a big fan of fantasy, but this book won me over.

This one, The Future of Us, can be marked down as an all time favorite of mine. I could connect to the references to technology from the 90’s perspective-they even made me laugh out loud. I LOVED that even though the book was centered around teenage lives, there was no meanness or bullying or any of that kind of stuff that makes your stomach turn! 🙂 This book DOES have some mature content so while my 17 year old daughter could read it (and is by the way and loving it), my 6th graders will NOT touch it! 🙂

 What can I say about this book, A Monster Calls? It was a great read. A deep one. An emotional one. A powerful one. This story deals with grief, sadness, and guilt through the heart of a young boy. The illustrations throughout the book really bring the story to life. It’s a book that I’m glad I read and would read again but be forewarned: You need to have a lighthearted book waiting for you after this one. 🙂

In fact, here is a great lighthearted book to read after A Monster Calls! Clementine and The Family Meeting. Or any Clementine book for that matter! Clementine is my new best friend with her quirkiness, funniness, and her sense of self. Now I’m just waiting on the next one-and there better be a next one! A must read for all kids!

 I wanted to read this one, My Weird School#2-Mr. Klutz is Nuts, to see how I would recommend this series to my 6th graders that need simple stories to keep them engaged. It was a funny, simple, wacky tale of school. Mr. Klutz, the principal, really was nuts! 🙂 I am going to shove put this book into the hands of some of my reluctant readers when we come back from break.

Bigger Than a Breadbox-I JUST finished this one. And LOVED it! Rebecca is dealing with a new home, a new town, a new school, AND a separation of her parents. This is a realistic fiction book mixed with fantasy, and I have to say that is my kind of book. Laurel Snyder did a fantastic job of writing a story that would resonate with kids-a little bit of magic with a big dose of an issue that affects a lot of them. Look for a lengthy book review later this week, but go right now to your nearest bookstore and BUY THIS BOOK AND READ IT! 🙂

So those are the books that I read last week-I did good didn’t I? Now on the agenda-this is the hard part because I will select several books that I want to read and then change my mind so don’t hold me to it-but I think I’ll be delving into:

Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer Holm

Ivy + Bean by Annie Barrows

True by Katherine Hannigan

And hopefully a couple of adult books since I have won SEVERAL from some giveaways on goodreads.com and librarything.com.

Check back with me next Monday to see if I stayed true to my word OR if I changed my mind completely-I’m prone to doing that!! 🙂

Nerdie Book Awards

Hop on over to the Nerdy Book Club site to find out which books won the nerdie book awards this year. You’ll find a list of 97 books that were nominated for awards in several different categories as well as the top ones that won out! This blog is dedicated to people who LOVE to read young people books (maybe so we’ll still feel young?!?). Check it out and visit it often for updates.

http://nerdybookclub.wordpress.com/2011-nerdies-book-awards/

You can even deck yourself out with some nerdy book club SWAG so you’ll be styling! 🙂

Some holiday cheer!!!

I hope everyone has a wonderful time with family and friends during Christmas! Here’s something I thought might make you chuckle a little (sort of relieve all the stress that you MUST be feeling with little ones smothering you all around you, in-laws breathing down your neck helping you in so many ways, the baking that is now making you want to regurgitate providing a sense of comfort, and the downright stress loveliness that comes from wrapping gifts. 🙂

Enjoy and have a wonderfully, exciting, glorious Merry Christmas!!!!!!