Category: books

Shopping for the perfect gifts takes a lot of time and energy. This year I’m LOVING the trend I already see emerging where bloggers share ideas in posts. How great is that? Like sharing with your friends without ever leaving home. Today I present my part 1: books. Now if you know me at all you’ll know I’m a bookworm. So much so, I’m going to add a tab to my blog just about my favorite/most recommended reads. But that’s something for another day. Today I want to suggest some books I have purchased for people on my holiday list:

Perfect for the fancy little girl in your life: I gave this to Miss E as a pre-Christmas gift. It’s really, really popular here in 4-year-old land. So are all her books. (Target has a whole Fancy Nancy section!)

http://www.amazon.com/Fancy-Nancy-Splendiferous-Jane-Oconnor/dp/0061235903/ref=pd_sim_b_2

Or for the older girl in your life, another Nancy- Nancy Drew. CLASSIC.

http://www.amazon.com/Nancy-Drew-Starter-Carolyn-Keene/dp/0448452324/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1258294811&sr=8-1

This is a fantastic cookbook – I’m giving one away to a cook in my life who doesn’t know about Ree & her blog or site. I bet she’ll love it much as I do.

http://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-Woman-Cooks-Recipes-Accidental/dp/0061658197/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1258294232&sr=8-1

The Twits was always a favorite of mine, but you really can’t go wrong. Charlie and the chocolate factory, The Witches, James and the Giant Peach, Matilda… I’m talking Roald Dahl here and for any school aged kid – boy or girl – these are classic must-reads.

http://www.amazon.com/Twits-Roald-Dahl/dp/014241039X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1258294476&sr=1-1

and last but not least, for the mushy romantic in your life I suggest some Nora Roberts. Darn her – she got me all choked up once again by the time I was nearing the end of this one. She sure does suck a girl into feeling like the characters are real and friends to boot. I’m loving her Bride Quartet series (this is book #2) about four best friends who run a wedding business… and are falling in loooovvvvveeee one at a time. (sigh) You’d think it would be over the top – but so far it’s so not. Best of all the book is PRETTY. No trashy cover  here – no a lovely cover, beautiful deckle edged pages and even a scallop border on the inset. A good giftable romance if I ever saw one.

http://www.amazon.com/Roses-Bride-Quartet-Nora-Roberts/dp/0425230074/ref=pd_ys_iyr7

If you have your own book suggestions for gifts – please do share here!

A few years back I read a novel by a Phillippa Gregory and while it was very interesting and well done, it put me off any kind of historical fiction for a LONG time. There was simply too much detail about things I didn’t want to hear about. (Ye olde feminine care products, anyone?) I decided right then that I’d no longer read anything by an author trying to tell of another time.

Pride & Prejudice remains my favorite tale based in England. I endorse it only in three forms. The original book and these two movie versions.

I’m an Austen purist too – I don’t like fan fiction spin-offs of her tales. But these two movies are a-ok. As is the movie version of Emma staring Gwenyth Paltrow. That’s got my thumbs up. Watch these and sip some tea on a cold day. Nothing could be more warm & fuzzy, I assure you.

Word to all you Edward fans – he’s a punk little dufus next to Mr. Darcy & Mr. Knightly (Emma). Twilight is a fine series, I really enjoyed the writing… but Edward as ultimate heartthrob? Come. On. (whoops – that was a tangent, let’s get back on track!)

So a few years go by and my reading continues it’s path. Until Loretta Chase’s Lord of Scoundrels and Georgette Hayer’s Devil’s Cub pop into my reading material and rock my socks. Shocked and amazed, I did love them much as the people begging me to read them promised. Thanks to them, I will now accept a very few new historical/regency novels each year. Before I admit (yes, I’m like a bouncer with a red velvet rope) a book I have to 1) love the premise   2) like the voice of the author   3) be intrigued by the lead characters  4) skim the book for TMI moments (Phillippa Gregory scarred me!) and finally 5) I read the very last page.

Does that shock you? Well let me tell you a secret – I lean towards the HEA (happily ever after) so I know generally that the ending will be happy. I’ve also found that reading ONLY the last page does not ruin the story or plot. It just tells me how the author finishes, and if it’s in a style I like or if I might find myself flinging the book. Believe me – I’ve put a LOT of books back on the Borders shelf because the last few paragraphs told me just enough to know to walk away.

I use that same last page tactic on all books EXCEPT mystery now, and it’s significantly reduced the number of bad books I’ve read. Of course all of this talk of reading is because mostly the last month I haven’t been able to read very much at all. I’ve been too busy! I hope to share some suggestions for you + a modern England book suggestions post soon. Until then, I’d love to hear about what you are reading and loving….

I have a complaint! When I go into the bookstore and the employees have ‘goals’ of specific books to get me to buy I get cranky. Whatever happened to booksellers to being trusted guides to great reads? My local store is Borders, and usually I go in knowing what I’m buying ahead of time and I have a coupon for it. Recently I checked out some features on their website and CRACKED UP – mostly because their recommendations and suggestions are based more on best selling than actual greatness I think. Sheesh. Well, at least I have some friends and blogs I follow where I know I can get real truth on good reads!!

Now here’s my disclaimer: I’ve been on a STINKER STREAK. That’s right, I’ve been reading bad books. Not on purpose, just things haven’t been working out for me and my choices. So, determined to shake things up I walked into Borders a few weeks back and purchased books I’d either never heard of, or did NOT have on my to buy list.

What happened? Well I got 5 books and I liked 3 of them quite a bit! (I have 2 STINK BOMBS from this batch too, but I won’t talk about those)

Let’s start with this guilty pleasure read right off the bat. I read a blog months ago – somebody had an advanced copy of this and said it was crazy cute. So when I found it (and had coupon to burn) a few weeks back I went for it. She gets a life coach, but it turns out he’s FBI agent who is just filling in for his brother the real life coach. She’s also got a bad habit of physically hurting men she’s attracted to – that gives us some comical moments in the early chapters. I’ll say it – it’s kinda cheesy. But in an awesome way that I loved. The dog, the other guy getting life-coached? way cute. Don’t ask why, but I feel guilty for liking it much as I did.

I have picked this up 100x because I love the cover, but figure I wouldn’t actually like the book because usually cover love = me not liking contents. Surprise! So far this book ROCKS and living up to hype, which is surprising. It’s all in letters format to/from an author + men and women in and around England (and channel island of Guernsey) right after WW2. {disclaimer? I’m not actually finished with this one… but it’s so good I can’t see changing my mind}

Now this is an author I’ve never read, and I thought the cover was mighty cute… I’m glad I risked it! It’s a light romantic comedy about a shock jock in a coma who’s spirit has to go help this lady (while his body lays in hospital). Surprisingly sweet and even touching at times. I loved the angels, spirit guides, and yeah, even the demons. He talks to her and advises her – and dang it I totally enjoyed my time with this author. Ending (clearly he has to get back into his BODY, and clearly she has to meet him, not just hear his voice!) got thumbs up too – so color me pleasantly surprised!

So there are 3 that I might suggest – as always I welcome your ideas! Goodness knows I found better books on my ‘oh what the heck’ excursion than I did when I was trying to research and pick wisely!

PS – stay tuned Monday for a new give-away… one that features one of my favorite books!!!

When traveling years ago I used to just pick up something to read at the airport. What would I find? What would appeal? Would it be any good? The adventure was half the fun. Heck- that’s how I discovered the Shopaholic series, so it was a successful system. I so rarely got to read at home meant that travel time was when I’d read. (in planes, hotels, down time at my parent’s place…)

These days I read at home a lot, so I have ‘to be read’ books hanging around as well as ‘i want’ lists on www.amazon.com just waiting for me to have time to read. My point? I’m preparing for a trip and trying to figure out what to bring! I avoid hardcovers as they just weigh a ton in my backpack and I always regret it. I have to bring a variety of authors and genres and at least 2 books more than I think I’ll read. Why? 1) I’m a moody reader and 2) I like options.

So right now I’m figuring out what books I must bring and read (I’ll be sure to let you know) for my upcoming short trip to Colorado. Of course I got distracted in my quest by thinking ‘what would I recommend to someone else traveling?’ and I thought I’d share that list here today.

Want some sugar-sweet, pure 100% girly goodness romance? (sigh) Nora Roberts new book was supposed to be for my trip but I got sucked in and LOVED it. So the cutest, sweetest hero I’ve read in a long time too.

If you are in the mood for a screwball adventure/comedy with mob hits, a heroine that is good in the kitchen (both defending herself and cooking), and a big cast of great characters:

Wanting to laugh outloud and read something high in snarky, battle of the bulge hilarious goodness? Jen Lancaster has a new book out (Pretty in Plaid), but not having read that one yet + loving on paperbacks means I’d tell you to take one of my favorite reads of 08-

Finally today might I suggest for murder mystery with a stylish twist – the Crime of Fashion series is super funny!! I’ve read the first two and I just realized I should read more. Based in Washington DC and full of memorable characters this is fun stuff.

Ok, so if I was on a plane those are some of my suggestions… what are some of yours? I’ll be making up my list of what to pack and share soon as I can decide!