tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29921239140188803122024-02-18T20:39:07.588-08:00thebookgathererA good book on your shelf is a friend that turns its back on you and remains a friend. ~Author UnknownAnnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02062625442820022669noreply@blogger.comBlogger282125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2992123914018880312.post-54628401817519110122014-09-22T11:40:00.002-07:002014-09-22T11:40:53.366-07:00That Monday feeling<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Annhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02062625442820022669noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2992123914018880312.post-47577120292874553442014-08-25T14:02:00.001-07:002014-08-25T14:02:30.362-07:00That Monday feeling<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Annhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02062625442820022669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2992123914018880312.post-5957954954397695732014-08-20T11:10:00.000-07:002014-08-20T11:10:02.403-07:00WWW Wednesdays<br />
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I've just finished <i>The Little Coffee Shop of Kabul </i> and had a great discussion about it at bookclub last night, over cupcakes and cocktails. I've already written a review about it <a href="http://thebookgatherer.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/the-little-coffee-shop-of-kabul.html">here</a>.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv7vV5GjIwQt7rKS895E0JOjXDj3sdYT74-ojoVJQ9myaxA_B_3ohnRz9QcnPqj6zQRDij_rJUb-IKXTkAs2dItewy8lM2eCwTuNnA9Brgm2NSI-ILPAqz8MHaKLPxV7D7z-fMgI713wI/s1600/HaroldFry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv7vV5GjIwQt7rKS895E0JOjXDj3sdYT74-ojoVJQ9myaxA_B_3ohnRz9QcnPqj6zQRDij_rJUb-IKXTkAs2dItewy8lM2eCwTuNnA9Brgm2NSI-ILPAqz8MHaKLPxV7D7z-fMgI713wI/s1600/HaroldFry.jpg" height="200" width="126" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">At the top of my pile is <i>A Girl is a Half-formed Thing </i>but a bookmark is currently sitting about a quarter of the way in to <i>The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harbold Fry </i>so I may opt for that one. </span></div>
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Annhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02062625442820022669noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2992123914018880312.post-24970785226942708922014-08-18T11:49:00.002-07:002014-08-18T11:50:24.314-07:00That Monday feeling<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Don't think anything else needs to be said really!Annhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02062625442820022669noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2992123914018880312.post-75433231599802154872014-08-16T14:35:00.000-07:002014-08-16T14:35:32.113-07:00The Little Coffee Shop of KabulIt's been years (I'm not kidding) since I last wrote a book review but what better book to get back into it than this one. What a sweet, sweet story.<br />
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I'd seen this book lying around on the shelves of bookshops, charity shops and supermarkets for a while but had never picked up it. Don't ask me why, though having a 16-month-old in the house has put a blight on reading over the last, well, 16 months!!!<br />
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However, the lure of a book club discussion, held in a venue that serves cocktails and cupcakes, was too good to refuse so <i>The Little Coffee Shop of Kabul </i>made it onto my reading list.<br />
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And I loved it! An easy read, a wonderful collection of characters, each with their own story to share (and a secret to reveal), a lovely tone and a fabulous setting. I'm not one to pick up non-fiction to learn about a particular area of the world - that's too much like hard work. But to be able to read stories that give you an insight into another country, another culture- like this one does - is certainly my cup of tea (I don't drink coffee!)<br />
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It's not a mind-blowing story by any means, nor is it all that gripping - I didn't get to the end of each chapter desperate to know what was going to happen to the characters in the next - but it was the perfect book to curl up with on an English summer's evening when a hot drink and a blanket are needed to keep warm!<br />
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I think for me, it was knowing a bit about the author - herself an expat having lived in Kabul - that really gave something of a compelling angle to the story. I'm now looking forward to picking up Deborah Rodriguez' bestselling memoir, <i>The Kabul Beauty School.</i><br />
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I'll be interested to hear what the rest of the readers of the bookclub this week think of it - and what cocktails and cupcakes are on the menu!<br />
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<br />Annhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02062625442820022669noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2992123914018880312.post-47617416908452373252014-05-09T10:43:00.001-07:002014-05-09T10:43:49.599-07:00Time to get back on the bike<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Annhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02062625442820022669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2992123914018880312.post-77199499197808934212012-03-09T12:56:00.002-08:002012-03-09T12:56:45.655-08:00I'm in need of a new challenge2012 came about pretty quickly; now we're fast approaching the first quarter mark and I'm still trying to get my year sorted! With each 12 month period disappearing faster than before I think we need to introduce a "sort your sh*t out" month in between so I can at least update my diary, register everyone's birthdays for the year ahead, plan holidays and of course, suss out the reading challenges for the year ahead.<br />
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As you'll see, I'm a bit behind on that last resolution. My reading challenges are still of 2011 vintage and dare I say it most of them are sadly incomplete. The planning of holidays on the other hand has been sorted (London last month, Tokyo this month) so at least I have set aside time too read.<br />
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But I'm now on the search for 2012 challenges. And given that most of you will already have started a few I wonder if I could be so cheeky as to ask for some recommendations. Have you signed up to a fabulous challenge for 2012 that is still accepting new members? Or do you have a challenging your hosting that I could join. I'm open to anything and everything... so put your challenge forward!Annhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02062625442820022669noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2992123914018880312.post-63730700228771943642012-03-07T19:07:00.000-08:002012-03-07T19:07:43.446-08:00Book Review: Bride of New FranceIt's a National Bestseller, described as <i>the best piece of historical fiction</i> one reviewer has read in a long time while another describes it as a <i>moody, beautiful piece of historical fiction</i>.<br />
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<a href="http://nationalpostarts.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/bride.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://nationalpostarts.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/bride.jpg" width="213" /></a>But I'm really sorry, I just didn't enjoy <i>Bride of New France, </i>by Suzanne Desrochers. It was painful. I felt totally removed throughout the entire 288 pages and when I read an historical novel I want to be drawn in, travelling with the characters, living and breathing the experiences along with them, crying when they're upset, struggling or heartbroken and I didn't feel a thing for this novel at all.<br />
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I tried. I really did try and I so wanted to enjoy it, but more often than not I'd find myself reading four or five pages and not taking a word in!<br />
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It was a first novel, and it was written by an academic researcher, not a writer, which the author readily admits. As such the descriptions were incredibly vivid. Obviously a result of meticulous research, which has been commented on: "<i>A meticulously researched, lyrical tale... Bride of New France succeeds in bringing history to life" </i>(National Post) but I just wanted more feeling. I wanted the main character Laure to really come into her own.<br />
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<b>From the back cover</b><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"Laure Beausejour has grown up in a dormitory in Paris surrounded by prostitutes, the insane, and other forgotten woman. Despite numerous hardships, she dreams of using her needlework skills to beome a seamstress and one day marry a nobleman. But in 1669. Laure's dreams are cruelly dashed when she is sent across the Atlantic to New France as a <i>fill du roi. </i>Powerful and haunting, <i>Bride of New France, </i>is a remarkable tale of a French girl and her struggle to survive in a brutal place and time."</span><br />
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Laure had spark - after all, she survives and given the hardship of the time, only those with incredible inner strength and determination would do so - but I never felt as if her character was really allowed to shine through. It was almost as if the author was too concerned about getting the historical facts correct to give her full attention to her main character.<br />
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However, on the plus side, it was a novel like none I had read before - which is always a welcome change. And it certainly opened my eyes to a period of history that I hadn't encountered before. It has also piqued my interest to find out more about this period of Canadian history which isn't a bad thing. And I genuinely admire any new author who has the ability to put pen to paper and craft a novel from such extensive research.<br />
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Unfortunately, this just wasn't the book for me. I'd still give it 3 out of 5 stars but it was certainly hard work! <span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>Annhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02062625442820022669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2992123914018880312.post-48681273734211581642012-03-01T17:30:00.001-08:002012-03-01T17:30:25.488-08:00What makes a good bookclub?I joined a bookclub this week. Despite being a book gatherer, avid reader and a regular bookshop customer, I've never once belonged to a bookclub. And to be honest I'm not actually all that familiar with "bookclub protocol".<br />
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I began looking for a bookclub to join at the beginning of the year, but that was a challenge in itself! It seems bookclub membership is very hard to come by! Why is that I wonder? One reply told me they didn't have any places available - is there a limit to the number of members a bookclub can have?<br />
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That's not to say the bookclub meeting I attended this week wasn't worth the wait. Although discussion about the book was a little on the subdued side - none of us really took a liking to it! - it was a pleasant hour spent discussing, constructively criticising and musing about the story within.<br />
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However it's got me thinking and wondering what are the elements you need to make a good bookclub? Is it the people? The number of members? The choice of literature? The venue? The coffee?<br />
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So, fellow book loving bloggers, whether you're a member of a bookclub or not, what would you say makes a good bookclub (and what doesn't!)?<br />
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<br />Annhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02062625442820022669noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2992123914018880312.post-62049988459800590192012-02-29T09:15:00.002-08:002012-02-29T09:15:51.952-08:00WWW Wednesdays<br />
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<b style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: green;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 19px;">WWW Wednesdays is a weekly meme hosted by Miz B of <a href="http://shouldbereading.wordpress.com/" style="color: #993322; text-decoration: none;">Should Be Reading</a></span></span></span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: green;">• What are you currently reading?</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: green;">• What do you think you’ll read next?</span></div>
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<b>What are you currently reading?</b>
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<a href="http://images.doubleday.com.au/Images/4306_1.GIF" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://images.doubleday.com.au/Images/4306_1.GIF" style="text-align: center;" width="159" /></a>I currently have bookmarks in books all over the place but the one I picked up last night (and am just about to pick up again this morning) is <i>Beyond the Sunset, </i>by Anna Jacobs. It's the second book in a trilogy about four English sisters who emigrate to Australia in the 1860s.</div>
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<a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51yFIO6uogL._SL500_AA300_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51yFIO6uogL._SL500_AA300_.jpg" style="text-align: center;" width="200" /></a>I spent yesterday afternoon curled up reading <i>Bride of New France, </i>by Suzanne Desroches (it's handy working from home ;) It wasn't quite as good as I'd hoped, but I felt somewhat comforted by the fact that others at bookclub last night were a little disappointed in it as well. As one member said, "great story, not great writing!</div>
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Possibly, <i>Destiny's Path, </i>by Anna Jacobs which is the third book in the trilogy but I've also got <i>The Sisters Brothers, </i>by Patrick deWitt that is awaiting my attention and I don't think I can resist that cover any longer. It intrigues me!</div>
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</div>Annhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02062625442820022669noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2992123914018880312.post-6871128821876294712012-01-12T09:43:00.000-08:002012-01-12T09:43:22.565-08:00Step into the magic of this bookstore!Check out this little bookstore in Toronto. I think this just goes to show that nothing can beat the magic of a book!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFbXNWObJGR8Ak43gb225YChL4oK4690AKxdEX7D6f35FdYqd9HYl1SEt9RlM7xie2G28kfR0dOzeDtVwznZhlmsb7GEcZR1Lx3aHX6YR1Dg3_t-Zn7AMcF-P5kcM2TrTBn4avrPhiahQ/s1600/Bookstore.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFbXNWObJGR8Ak43gb225YChL4oK4690AKxdEX7D6f35FdYqd9HYl1SEt9RlM7xie2G28kfR0dOzeDtVwznZhlmsb7GEcZR1Lx3aHX6YR1Dg3_t-Zn7AMcF-P5kcM2TrTBn4avrPhiahQ/s400/Bookstore.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKVcQnyEIT8&feature=youtu.be">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKVcQnyEIT8&feature=youtu.be</a></div>
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<br />Annhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02062625442820022669noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2992123914018880312.post-85395612112952916502012-01-03T14:12:00.000-08:002012-01-03T14:12:27.513-08:002011... well that was a challenge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfvfrGWDEDf4ziwKY2HhKcgzUr5IyBgIv3kXX5CcJGiS006d_gx8cbFGKdcNBL6eJcMKzvtiv11CVDiWdSeWP4Vzp3LZAyMaKukoPn5gaw2Udt0lAEG86sP5VTlUsSybpbO2BqxP0LjTs/s1600/Bike.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfvfrGWDEDf4ziwKY2HhKcgzUr5IyBgIv3kXX5CcJGiS006d_gx8cbFGKdcNBL6eJcMKzvtiv11CVDiWdSeWP4Vzp3LZAyMaKukoPn5gaw2Udt0lAEG86sP5VTlUsSybpbO2BqxP0LjTs/s320/Bike.jpg" width="248" /></a></div>
Thank you to my wonderful and ever so talented <a href="http://sempiterna-me.blogspot.com/">mother-in-law</a> for this beautiful doodle.<br />
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Reading 111 books was a challenge - and one that beat me! Only 96 this year. Might have to come back stronger in 2012! Congratulations to all the other bookworms for their reading challenges in 2011!Annhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02062625442820022669noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2992123914018880312.post-38020990135290617012011-12-15T11:03:00.000-08:002011-12-15T11:03:34.045-08:00Decision time... and Book #62: Fly Away HomeIt's always a challenge to write a review long after reading a book and as I sit here frantically trying to recall what on earth Book #62 of the year was, and what it was about, I once again wish my powers of procrastination weren't so, well... powerful!<br />
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But a quick check on Amazon (where would we be without Amazon) and the story of <i>Fly Away Home, </i>by Jennifer Weiner is slowly coming back to me... but only just.<br />
<a href="http://0.tqn.com/d/bestsellers/1/0/e/C/-/-/fly_away_home.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://0.tqn.com/d/bestsellers/1/0/e/C/-/-/fly_away_home.JPG" width="209" /></a><br />
I'd read my first Jennifer Weiner novel, <i>Good In Bed, </i>earlier this year and to be honest was slightly disappointed with it (review<a href="http://thebookgatherer.blogspot.com/2011/03/nice-glass-of-wine-and-book-15-good-in.html"> here</a>. Fortunately I had a glass of wine to sob into while getting through it!). I was expecting a new Jill Mansell (my favourite chicklit author of all time) or a Sophie Kinsella, but not to be. However, thanks to A Few More Pages' <a href="http://thebookgatherer.blogspot.com/p/2011-challenges-new.html#2nds">2nds challenge</a>, I decided to give her another go and she redeemed herself.... to a certain extent.<i> </i><br />
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Only problem is, I read <i>Fly Away Home </i>back in the summer and I can't for the life of me remember what it was all about. Obviously not one that left a lasting impression!<br />
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The plot goes something like this: regular family, husband in politics, has an affair, wife finds out and leaves him. Meanwhile, two grown daughters, each battling their own inner - and outer - demons suddenly come to realise what their mother is going through. Everything comes together in the end - just how, I can't remember!<br />
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So, decision time. Is it third time lucky for Jennifer Weiner and I, or do I cut my losses and allow other Jennifer fans to continue to enjoy her books while me and Jill pick up where we left off?Annhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02062625442820022669noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2992123914018880312.post-91934495179093945552011-12-14T22:11:00.000-08:002011-12-14T22:12:01.504-08:00Book #61: The Little Giant of Aberdeen CountyI love it when you get on a roll and read one great book after another. <i>The Little Giant of Aberdeen County, </i>by Tiffany Baker was the second one in a row and I was caught between wanting to read it as quickly as possible to see what happens, and trying to make it last to savour this lovely, sweet, yet sorrowful story.<br />
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<a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51ZzkIpmACL._SL500_AA300_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="The Little Giant of Aberdeen County" border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51ZzkIpmACL._SL500_AA300_.jpg" /></a><br />
(I also loved having it on the bedside table - who wouldn't with a cover like that!)<br />
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The Little Giant's real name is Truly. She's the younger sister of Serena-Jane - the beauty of the family, and the youngest daughter to a father who becomes widowed upon Truly's birth. It seems life is difficult right from the start for Truly as her father, and indeed the community, aren't quite sure what to do with this 'little giant'.<br />
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Yet Truly has a big heart and while she may not have a big personality, she's kind, gentle and loving to those around her. However, not all deserve it. As she forms special bonds and relationships with the other outcasts of the village, then takes on the responsibility of bringing up her only nephew, Truly comes across a secret power that she never knew she had.<br />
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The story is a slightly unusual one, but it draws you in and Truly really is a beautiful character you want the best to happen to. She's captivating, enchanting and loveable all in one and deserves to be truly happy as a result!<br />
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<br />Annhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02062625442820022669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2992123914018880312.post-29722261031817453242011-12-14T10:41:00.000-08:002011-12-14T14:15:49.451-08:00WWW Wednesdays<br />
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<b style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: green;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 19px;">WWW Wednesdays is a weekly meme hosted by Miz B of <a href="http://shouldbereading.wordpress.com/" style="color: #cc3300; text-decoration: none;">Should Be Reading</a></span></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: green;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 19px;">To play along, just answer the following three questions: </span></span></span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: green;">• What are you currently reading?</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: green;">• What did you recently finish reading? </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: green;">• What do you think you’ll read next?</span></div>
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-CGfbX9l9Cis/TkuKmtHbJ5I/AAAAAAAAOjQ/BBN020bG_nU/La%252527s%252520Orchestra%252520alexander-mccall-smith%25255B7%25255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-CGfbX9l9Cis/TkuKmtHbJ5I/AAAAAAAAOjQ/BBN020bG_nU/La%252527s%252520Orchestra%252520alexander-mccall-smith%25255B7%25255D.jpg" style="text-align: center;" width="128" /></a><b>What are you currently reading? </b></div>
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I'm halfway through <i>La's Orchestra Saves the World, </i>by Alexander McCall Smith. I haven't read one of his books in ages and have to say I've been missing them. This one is proving to be a great read so far. I can see another late night on the horizon!</div>
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<b>What did you recently finish reading?</b></div>
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I've had a spate of great books recently and managed to get through some of the best of the year I think. Most recently was <i>The Girl in the Red Coat, </i>by Roma Ligocka, a memoir about her time as a young girl growing up in World War ll Poland. Absolutely fascinating! I now have very itchy feet!</div>
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<b>What do you think you'll read next?</b></div>
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That age-old classic, <i>Animal Farm, </i>by George Orwell is sitting on my bedside at the moment, but so too is a half finished Harry Potter so it may well depend on the mood I am in!</div>
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</div>Annhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02062625442820022669noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2992123914018880312.post-53976525233686336372011-12-14T10:35:00.000-08:002011-12-14T10:35:41.889-08:00Book #60: When God Was A RabbitWith a title as unusual as this, it was no wonder that Sarah Winman's debut novel caught my eye earlier this year. I was mooching around the bookstore (as one does!) and was instantly drawn to the cover. "What on earth could this book possibly be about?" I wondered.<br />
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<a href="http://genevalunch.com/book-my-place/files/2011/11/When-God-Was-a-Rabbit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://genevalunch.com/book-my-place/files/2011/11/When-God-Was-a-Rabbit.jpg" width="211" /></a>It has an absolutely beautiful cover design, this intriguing title - yet neither really provide any clue as to what this story contains. A quick skim of the blurb and I find out it's the tale of a brother and a sister. Perfect - that's what my family consisted of.<br />
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As the story unfolds, there's a definite relationship between the two characters - an inquisitive and curious younger sister and a protective older brother. Yet they don't come across as close. That said, there's certainly a great deal of love between the two. We're introduced to both characters as children but then the story skips ahead in time to New York and 9/11.<br />
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Although various events occur throughout the story, none of these are written about in great detail and nor do they have to be. It's not the events of the story that shape these two, but rather their sibling relationship and all that it entails.<br />
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I recently read a magazine article which listed the top 100 books of 2011. Shamefully I hadn't even read a half of them, but <i>When God Was A Rabbit </i>featured and I was able to put a tick beside it. As the year ends, this book still stands out as one of my favourite reads of the year. It's gentle, unassuming and a novel so different from any I've read before.<br />
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I always love finding a book like this and even better when it's an author's first one. That certainly bodes well for 2012!Annhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02062625442820022669noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2992123914018880312.post-59271689186322385172011-12-12T10:13:00.000-08:002011-12-12T10:13:24.932-08:00A bookworm's best Christmas presentHhhmmm, yes, well suffice it to say I've neglected this blog somewhat during the second half of the year. And despite travel, moving, more travel and settling into a new home, I've no excuse really - particularly in this day and age of communication.<br />
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<a href="http://img2.imagesbn.com/images/102590000/102592962.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Smart Women Read Between the Lines: A Reader's Journal" border="0" src="http://img2.imagesbn.com/images/102590000/102592962.jpg" /></a>But I am still determined to read 111 books in 2011 and although time is now of the essence, I have a feeling I may just make it. It certainly helps that the chilly Northern Hemisphere temperatures have arrived and that the best place to be at the moment is inside, curled up on the couch with a steaming hot chocolate and a good book!<br />
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And I've read some fabulous books of late - all of which are deserving of a review, so in addition to reading the final 21 books needed of my challenge (in less than 21 days!!) I'm going to make a concerted effort to dedicate time to the blog as well.<br />
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First of all though I wanted to share this awesome Christmas present for all booklovers and bookworms. Someone who knows me too well gave this to me earlier in the year and I love it!<br />
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There are pages for books read and reviewed, novel ideas, books to read and a place for those all important lists we could do without!<br />
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You can get your own copy here at <a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_2_16?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=smart+women+read+between+the+lines+a+reader%27s+journal&sprefix=smart+women+read">Amazon</a>, or even cheaper, here at <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/p/home-gift-smart-women-read-between-the-lines-a-readers-journal/12605000">Barnes & Noble</a>.<br />
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<br />Annhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02062625442820022669noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2992123914018880312.post-22905981781887599432011-09-22T17:26:00.000-07:002011-09-22T17:26:33.509-07:00MIA... and I haven't had my nose in a book either!Oh dear - I have been well and truly missing in action. The Book Gatherer has totally neglected all things books these past few weeks - and although I want to blame a weekend in Las Vegas 'baby' (I can't help but put baby after Las Vegas every time I either write or say it - somebody stop me quick!), visitors, moving, work, and the last days of summer, I'm going to have to be honest and put it down to procrastination, poor time management, and a lack of self discipline. Sad but true!<br />
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What's worse, is that I haven't even had my nose in a book! I'm still currently reading Harry Potter number 3, although I also have <i>The Writing on my Forehead</i> by Nafisa Haji on the go as well - enjoying the latter a little more at this stage, but I'm getting really rather confused with all the characters! So as of today - no make that now! - the Book Gatherer is back on track.<br />
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She's just managed to send an article off <i>before</i> deadline, and while she may have boxes to pack and dinner to cook, she's going to be totally and utterly indulgent and simply curl up with a book instead! Should have done that a long time ago.<br />
<br />Annhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02062625442820022669noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2992123914018880312.post-3579561486290811762011-09-06T08:49:00.000-07:002011-09-06T08:49:38.309-07:00Teaser Tuesdays<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #66bb33;"></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijnQ6Xz-e2_yBykTonSVxjmJw0SJ3wyEqHmehyphenhyphenjPWQ9CQL6Ztb2gtjNLDaNSDSe8dI3LQRdqKWKWPu1GtCQQSsFtqlrrzCsxnqW8LemNezsTo9t7vrlUFSFSVzpUdkr0IXZui4POdRV0s/s1600/TT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; color: #cc3300; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Anyone can play along! Just do the following:</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijnQ6Xz-e2_yBykTonSVxjmJw0SJ3wyEqHmehyphenhyphenjPWQ9CQL6Ztb2gtjNLDaNSDSe8dI3LQRdqKWKWPu1GtCQQSsFtqlrrzCsxnqW8LemNezsTo9t7vrlUFSFSVzpUdkr0IXZui4POdRV0s/s1600/TT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span></span></a></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">--Grab your current read</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">--Open to a random page</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">--share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Be sure NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">--Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers!</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.panmacmillan.com/images/frontCovers/main/9780330507523-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.panmacmillan.com/images/frontCovers/main/9780330507523-01.jpg" width="131" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="color: #191919; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: normal;">"I wanted to tell the housekeeper that, in my opinion, this was the best tart I had ever tasted, and that I knew a thing or two about apple tarts on account of having eaten in Maidy Hogan's house. But I didn't dare."</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">p43, <i>Ellis Island, </i>by Kate Kerrigan</span></span></span></div>
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Annhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02062625442820022669noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2992123914018880312.post-91209392923102868812011-09-02T21:14:00.000-07:002011-09-02T21:16:54.344-07:00Book Blogger Hop<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #66bb33; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"></span><br />
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<a href="http://i595.photobucket.com/albums/tt34/crazybookblog/cfbmemebutton-2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; color: #cc3300; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="Book Blogger Hop" border="0" src="http://i595.photobucket.com/albums/tt34/crazybookblog/cfbmemebutton-2.png" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px; position: relative;" /></a>Book Blogger Hop is hosted by Jen at <a href="http://crazy-for-books.com/2011/09/book-blogger-hop-92-95.html">Crazy-For-Books</a>.</div>
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This week's question is:</div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">What are you most looking forward to this fall/autumn season?</span></b></div>
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Autumn is my favourite season, whichever hemisphere I'm in, although the Northern Hemisphere does do the seasons better. I love that beautiful rusty, orange of the leaves and the crunch of them under foot on the pavements.</div>
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But this autumn I'm also looking forward to an abundance of travel. The suitcase hasn't been used since the beginning of the year so first up is a weekend in Vegas, followed by a trip to London, a week in Jordan, a move to Vancouver then a trip home to New Zealand - all before Christmas!</div>
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And all that time in airports and on aeroplanes means lots of reading time - top of the list is <i>The Wild Rose</i> by Jennifer Donnelly.</div>
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Annhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02062625442820022669noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2992123914018880312.post-69954306110851108942011-09-02T20:53:00.000-07:002011-09-02T20:53:53.477-07:00Book Beginnings...on a Friday<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #66bb33; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; line-height: 21px;"></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">A little bit of fun on a Friday, this weekly meme is hosted by <a href="http://fewmorepages.blogspot.com/search/label/Book%20Beginnings%20on%20Friday" style="color: #cc3300; text-decoration: none;">A Few More Pages</a>. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">I'll share the first line (or two) of the book I'm currently reading (including the title and author) and let you know what my first impressions are - good or bad!</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">"Belle Svetlana surveyed her nude image in a full-length mirror, readying herself for a thirty-thousand-dollar-an-hour sexual encounter with the fifteen-year-old son of an Arab oil tycoon."</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">p1, <i>Poor Little Bitch Girl, </i>by Jackie Collins</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Wow, I had forgotten just how direct Jackie Collins is in her writing!</span></span></div>
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Annhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02062625442820022669noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2992123914018880312.post-71323210500583090652011-09-01T10:19:00.000-07:002011-09-01T10:19:11.126-07:00Theme Thursday<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #66bb33; color: #191919; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"></span><br />
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<a href="http://i1214.photobucket.com/albums/cc491/kavyen/Reading%20Between%20Pages/ThemeThursday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; color: #cc3300; float: right; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="Theme Thursdays" border="0" height="79" src="http://i1214.photobucket.com/albums/cc491/kavyen/Reading%20Between%20Pages/ThemeThursday.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; border-width: initial; border-width: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px; position: relative;" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #191919; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;">Theme Thursdays is a fun weekly event, hosted by<a href="http://readingbetweenpages.wordpress.com/" style="color: #cc3300; text-decoration: none;">Reading Between Pages</a>, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;">that will be open from one Thursday to the next. Anyone can participate in it. The rules are simple:</span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #191919; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5;"><br /></span><br /><ul style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: disc; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 2.5em; padding-right: 2.5em; padding-top: 0px;">
<li style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; border-width: initial; border-width: initial; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-indent: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A theme will be posted each week (on Thursday’s)</span></li>
<li style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-color: rgb(119, 119, 119); border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; border-width: initial; border-width: initial; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-indent: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Select a conversation/snippet/sentence from the current book you are reading</span></li>
<li style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-color: rgb(119, 119, 119); border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; border-width: initial; border-width: initial; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-indent: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Mention the author and the title of the book along with your post</span></li>
<li style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-color: rgb(119, 119, 119); border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; border-width: initial; border-width: initial; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-indent: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It is important that the theme is conveyed in the sentence (you don’t necessarily need to have the word)</span></li>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;">This week's theme is </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394; font-size: medium; font-weight: bold;">SCHOOL </span>(or anything related)</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.waterstones.com/wat/images/nbd/m/978140/707/9781407071367.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.waterstones.com/wat/images/nbd/m/978140/707/9781407071367.jpg" width="130" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;">"Have I told you what happened to my cousin Laila? When she and her brother were fighting, pushing and pulling each other, over a <b>pencil</b>? Her brother poked her in the eye with that cursed <b>pencil</b>."</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">p5, <i>The Writing on my Forehead, </i>by Nafisa Haji</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">I can't say I envy teachers!!</span></span></div>
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Annhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02062625442820022669noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2992123914018880312.post-19754659870243931152011-08-31T11:35:00.000-07:002011-08-31T11:35:43.397-07:00WWW Wednesdays<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #66bb33;"></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 21px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: green;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 19px;">WWW Wednesdays is a weekly meme hosted by Miz B of <a href="http://shouldbereading.wordpress.com/" style="color: #cc3300; text-decoration: none;">Should Be Reading</a></span></span></span></span></b></span><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: green;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 19px;">To play along, just answer the following three questions: </span></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: green;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: green;">• What are you currently reading?</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: green;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: green;">• What did you recently finish reading? </span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<b>What are you currently reading? </b>I've been reading <i>Imagined London, </i>by Anna Quindlen but have literally just finished it, so technically I'm not reading anything at the moment. </div>
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However, I'm still savouring this incredible book of literary London so I figure that counts!</div>
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<b>What did you recently finish reading? </b>I finally finished <i>Friday Nights </i>by Joanna Trollope and did not enjoy it one bit. I have another one of her books on my TBR pile but it may be a while before I pick that one up. </div>
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<b>What do you think you’ll read next? </b>I'm all of a sudden needing a London fix so I'm tempted to pick up <i>Brick Lane, </i>by Monica Ali. If not, then it might be <i>The Writing on my Forehead </i>by Nafisa Haji</div>
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Annhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02062625442820022669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2992123914018880312.post-62027444175098119922011-08-30T11:00:00.000-07:002011-08-30T11:03:07.359-07:00Top 10 Tuesdays<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #66bb33; color: #191919;"></span><br />
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Books on my TBR list this fall</h3>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by <a href="http://brokeandbookish.blogspot.com/" style="color: #a56e3d; text-decoration: none;">The Broke and The Bookish</a>. Each week, they post a different topic and you get to create your own top 10 list! This week, the topic is: </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Top ten books I can't wait to curl up with this fall</span></div>
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<br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>1. The Wild Rose, by Jennifer Donnelly</b><br />I can't wait to get stuck into this one but I'm also trying to save it as well. I need to find a week before the end of the year when I can curl up and read these three books - I figure it's an excuse to go back and reread The Tea Rose and The Winter Rose again - without any interruption whatsoever!<br /><br /><b>2. The Hidden Diary of Marie Antoinette, by Carolly Erickson</b><br />She's such a fascinating woman is Marie Antoinette but I simply don't know enough about her. This year I've stumbled across Carolly Erickson's historical entertainment about various women in history so I think this is a perfect place to find out more about Marie Antoinette!<br /><br /><b>3. Harry Potter numbers 3, 4, 5, 6, 7... are there any more?!</b><br />I'm hooked on the magic of this little wizard. And I don't know why it's taken me so long to pick them up. Although I have come across others who have yet to read them so I don't feel too bad. However, I can't wait to read the rest in the series!<br /><br /><b>4. White Teeth, by Zadie Smith</b><br />I read On Beauty at the very beginning of the year and I'm determined to read another Zadie Smith by the end. If it's not White Teeth it will be The Autograph Man.<br /><br /><b>5. In a Far Country, by Linda Holeman</b><br /> I absolutely loved The Saffron Gate by Linda Holeman. It was the first of her books that I'd ever read so am very excited to read more. Even better, I found two on my bookshelf by her that I never even knew I had!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><b>6. Wanderlust: A history of walking, by Rebecca Solnit</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">I'm not quite sure what to expect of this one, but it's been recommended to me by a friend who has great taste in books so it can only be good!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><b>7. Uncle Tom's Cabin, by Harriet Beecher Stowe</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">I have neglected the classics so this fall I really have no excuse!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><b>8. Secret Daughter, by Shilpi Gowda</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">The cover alone captures me but I've also heard great things about this book since joining the blogging world this year so it's definitely on my TBR pile!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><b>9. The Midwife's Confession, by Diane Chamberlain</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">It's funny how things always happen at once. I'd seen a few bloggie mentions of this one and then a friend told me she'd been reading Diane Chamberlain's books lately and really enjoyed them so it must be meant to be!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><b>10. Anna and the French Kiss, by Stephanie Perkins </b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">I've heard such great things I really want to know what it's all about! I feel I'm missing out - but not for much longer!</span></div>
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</span></span>Annhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02062625442820022669noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2992123914018880312.post-40563657867068933282011-08-30T07:08:00.000-07:002011-08-30T07:08:45.029-07:00Teaser Tuesdays<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #66bb33;"></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">--Open to a random page</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">--share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">--Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers!</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">"There are eight daily papers, many more than any American city has - even if several seem devoted more to photographs of women's breasts and coverage of the unsavory sexual pasts of contestants in the television show "Big Brother" - and many of them cover the book business as though it were a spectator sport."</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">p29, <i>Imagined London, </i>by Anna Quindlen</span></span></span></div>
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Annhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02062625442820022669noreply@blogger.com16