Now in paperback: A Land More Kind Than Home - Wiley Cash

 I'm popping my head in today for a special occasion.  (I'm officially dark this month, so it is only for Wiley that I would do such a thing!)

The amazing "A Land More Kind Than Home" by Wiley Cash is now available in paperback.  So if you haven't yet read this book (and I must ask...what are you waiting for???), then this is the perfect excuse to get out there and grab a copy.

I first met Wiley at the 2011 SIBA conference.  You will never meet a nicer guy...he was sincere, funny, and humble.  For that reason alone I would have read his book.  

But here is the kicker.  The book is incredible.  I rated it a 5 out of 5, and included it on my favorites of 2012.  I've also been told, just FYI, that the audio is amazing as well.  You probably find it strange that I didn't listen to the audio myself, but I had in my hot little hands the ARC (a collector's edition by now, I am sure!) and was committed to it.

So there you go.  If you didn't listen to my urgings last April, or when I published by "best of" list at the end of the year, then I'm giving you another chance.  Read it now.  

Mid-Florida Champions!

It may be hard for you to see the score, so let me just tell you.  WE WON!!!  36-16.  At the half, it was tied 16-16 and I was not happy.  But when we came out for the second half, we were a team possessed.  We intercepted two of their passes, allowed almost no yardage, and literally crushed them.  It was amazing.  And a wonderful birthday present for my son.  Drink wine and eat a steak I shall.

We now begin to compete against teams outside the Central Florida area.  Our next game is Saturday in Winter Springs, FL (on the outskirts of Orlando) against a team from Tampa.  No rest for the weary.  I shall take nothing for granted and be appreciative for every bit of extra time we have in this season. 

A few of my favorite things...

 Because I am a bonehead, and accidentally double-posted on July 12, I saw I had nothing coming up on the blog today.  So I thought now would be a perfect time to publish a post I'd been thinking about for awhile.


I develop unhealthy attachments to things now and again.  I immerse myself in them, and love them until I can't love them any more, and then I burn out.  But a few items have stood the test of time.  I thought I'd share the love, because you all should know such joy.


   

 1.  100 Calorie Klondike Ice Cream Sandwiches - When you are counting calories and have a sweet tooth, this will do the trick.  I've tried other things...the Fiber One 90 Calorie brownies, Hershey's Kisses, and other various ice cream goodies.  They either don't taste all that great, are more calories, or too addictive and you can't stop eating (kisses).  But these are DELICIOUS!!!

2.  Carol's Daughter hair products - These things are not all that easy to find.  Sephora has them, as well as Ulta, and you can get them online, often with free shipping.  And they are not cheap, but they make your hair do tricks.  They are made with all natural products like Monoi Oil, Acai, Shea and Cocoa Butters, and are sulfite free.  I also love that the owner, Lisa Price, named her product after her mother, and started making them in her garage.  The best thing is that they all smell wonderful.  My favorites are the ones that smell like Chocolate!

 3.  Rose's Botanicals -  I discovered this line of products when I was on vacation at St. George Island.  Rose has a shop over the bridge in Apalachicola, and I was drawn in by all of her homemade soaps and lotions that smell heavenly and leave your skin silky smooth.  I mean, it is pure decadence.  According to the woman at the store, Rose makes everything at her home in Sopchoppy, FL.  She uses goats milk and shea butter in her lotions and soaps, and some of the soaps are formed around natural sponges.  She offers over a dozens scents, but if you have a request, she will try to accommodate.  I love supporting small business owners, and Rose makes it easy with online shopping.  The only downside is that you can't touch and feel and smell, but she IS generous about sending samples when you order from her!

4.  Under Armour Sports Bra - Call me weird, but sports bras are a very big deal with me so I had to mention this one.  For anyone out there that is "endowed" and jumps around a lot, you know exactly what I'm talking about.  My whole life, I have been on a mission to find one that keeps everything in place, and only NOW can I stop my search.  It doesn't have that X back (which makes everything spill out from your sides), has good elastics around the bottom, NO WIRES, and pads that can be worn in or taken out.  The price might make you catch your breath ($58) but for everyone that has my issues, you know this is a small price to pay to get what you need.  Sizes available in A through DD cup.




    

A few bookish goals for 2012

 I'm always in awe of the bloggers that run their blog like a business.  They accomplish so much...features, interviews, giveaways.  They are always dreaming up something new, they work their social media, and are constantly improving their game.  


Me?  Not so much.  I'd love to have that kind of attitude, but I burned out years ago in the corporate world in the high-achieving category.  Therefore, I am the blog sloth.  (Haha!  I kind of like that term!)


But I do always think about what I am doing at the end of every year.  I am generally satisfied with my schedule throughout the week.  In my case, three book reviews (really not reviews though...maybe rambling would be a better term), something relating to movies on Monday, a picture on Wednesday, and my Sunday Salon.  I take Saturdays off.  


I will continue to heavily screen review copies, and join few challenges.  Fun = good.  Stress = bad.


As far as what I want to read though, here are some ideas:


1.  Read more free verse.  This was WAAAAY outside my comfort zone in 2011, but I have found that I love it.  For all of you that are scared, trust me and just try it ONCE.  Two titles that I have jotted down are "Perfect" by Ellen Hopkins, and "I Heart You, You Haunt Me" by Lisa Schroeder.


2.  Read more graphic novels.  Again, a genre that was off the path for me a couple of years ago.  Now I can't get enough.  Seriously.  My library seems to be lacking.  I'm going to put my miner's cap on and go digging one of these days.


3.  Immerse myself in the wonders of Simon Vance and Robin Sachs.  For those of you who don't recognize these names, they are the audiobook voices that will reduce you to a puddle of mush.  More digging at the library.


4.  Re-reads.  Something I very rarely do.  Specifically, I want to read "Smilla's Sense of Snow" by Peter Hoeg, "Beach Music" by Pat Conroy, and Stephen King's collection of short stories "Night Shift".  These are all books I remember fondly.  I want to see if they hold up.


5.  Author projects:

• Karen White - Tradd Street series, because I feel left out.
• John Green - I think I have them all, between my daughter and I.  
• Haruki Murakami - I will start with "Kafka on the Shore" and proceed further if I am moved.
• Sarah Pekkanen - If you follow her on Twitter, you will fall in love with her.  The fact that everyone loves her books, and that she wrote them in Chuck E. Cheese because she has three boys?  Can't resist.
• Kate Atkinson - I need more literary mysteries in my life, and I loved "Case Histories".
• Lisa See - Because she is coming to Orlando in March!

I am sure in 10 minutes I will read one of your posts and come up with more things I want to do, but these are ones that have been brewing for a couple of weeks.  Any other suggestions or comments?  

A Holiday Break

 My cats and my family are stealing my internets for the next four days.  I shall be baking, reading, shopping, eating, watching movies, and generally spending time with my loved ones.   It's what the holidays are all about!

OK, I might find time to write a couple of reviews, but you shall not see my face online.  I also have a project...to come up with some New Year's goals for reading, which I will share on my January 1st Sunday Salon.

I hope all of you, my friends, have a wonderful Christmas!

Sandy's Summer of Magical Reading

Normally, I don't do recap posts.  Call me lazy.  But if you've been patient enough to listen to me blather on over the summer, you will know that I have had ONE AMAZING summer of reading.  So amazing, I thought it was worthy of sharing.

So what happened to make this occur?  Did I get lucky?  Did I get easy?  Is my mantra of "reading what I want" and staying away from the lure of the ARC paying off?  Who knows.  But the moons aligned for the months of June through August, and I accumulated eleven five-star reads...which is probably more than I racked up in all of 2010.  Here are the beauties that rocked my world:

1.  Revolution - Jennifer Donnelly (Audio)

2.  The House of Tomorrow - Peter Bognanni (Audio)

3.  Cutting For Stone - Abraham Verghese

4.  The Devil's Star - Jo Nesbo

5.  The Fates Will Find Their Way - Hannah Pittard

6.  The Doomsday Book - Connie Willis

7.  Clara and Mr. Tiffany - Susan Vreeland (Audio)

8.  What Alice Forgot - Liane Moriarty

9.  Faith - Jennifer Haigh (Audio)

10.  Bossypants - Tina Fey (Audio)

11.  The Time Traveler's Wife - Audrey Niffenegger (Audio)


So.  What do you think?  Any you agree or disagree with passionately?  What about your summer?  Was it magical for you? 

Wants and Needs

It has been awhile since I've done an accounting of my wants and needs.  These are driven by about a hundred different sources (primarily YOU), but deserve an official post when they come from my Bookmarks magazine.  Every time one of these beauties arrive in the mail, my brain explodes, and the May/June issue is no different.  I had to share a few with you, because it makes me feel better.  So here we go.  Descriptions provided come from Bookmarks:

NEEDS 

The Midnight Palace - Carlos Ruiz Zafon
In Zafon's international-best-seller "The Shadow of the Wind", a Barcelona boy's discovery and subsequent love of a mystery novel embroils him in a mystery of his own.  "The Midnight Palace" switches time, place and characters to 1930's Calcutta and a set of twins saved by an English lieutenant.  As the twins come of age, they must deal with the terror that claimed their savior's life.  (May)

The Ridge - Michael Koryta
Koryta is best known for his crime fiction (until recently, he was a private investigator by profession), including "Tonight I Said Goodbye", the first of four Lincoln Perry books, "Envy the Night", and "So Cold the River", a supernatural thriller.  In "The Ridge", another supernatural thriller, evil forces haunt a troubled lighthouse in Kentucky.  (June)

Note:  Did someone say lighthouse?  I am putting out the smoke signal to anyone in a position of influence...I would give the left appendage of your choice for an ARC of this one.

The Snowman - Jo Nesbo
The acclaimed Norwegian author has penned eight novels in the series starring police investigator Harry Hole, including "Redbreast", "Nemesis", and "The Devil's Star".  In "The Snowman", Hole must investigate the disappearance of a dozen women gone missing during a first snowfall.  (May)

WANTS


Candyfreak:  A Journey Through the Chocolate Underbelly of America - Steve Almond
How often I've listened to my parents reminisce about those long-lost sweet treats from their childhoods.  I now know that they are not alone in their mourning, as Almond embarks on a truly epic journey to discover what caused the demise of his favorite candies.  The ultimate reward comes, however, when he finds that perhaps they are not extinct after all.  Quite the patriotic read!

Ghost Soldiers:  The Epic Account of WWII's Greatest Rescue Mission - Hampton Sides
A harrowing tale, not only of the POW survivors of the Bataan Death March but also of the men who were part of the mission sent to rescue their fellow soldiers in the Philippines.  Riveting in its horrific detail and punctuated with personal accounts of the Ghost Soldiers, this book is undeniably a homage to a generation that valued freedom, valor, and brotherhood above all else.

The Girl in the Blue Beret - Ann Mason
Mason's "Atomic Romance" was not well received by critics; here's hoping that reviewers will respond more favorably to this novel - about an American World War II pilot shot down in Europe, who goes in search of his rescuers years later.  (June)

Kate Atkinson - In this issue of Bookmarks, there is a special feature on this amazing author.  And it reminded me that I am a blumbering fool to have read (and loved) "Case Histories" when I read it years before blogging, and have never read another of her novels.  I have no good excuse for myself, except that I am easily distracted.   

While she has had three stand-alone novels early in her career, it is the Jackson Brodie series that I am particularly interested in.  "Case Histories" was first (and what a debut for a series!!! holy cow), followed by "One Good Turn", "When Will There Be Good News", and "Started Early, Took My Dog".  Her works are the definition of "literary thriller".  I dare not compare her to Tana French, but she is pretty darned good.  I envision a project in my near future.   

 

So.  Whatcha think?  Any of these excite you?  Have you read any of them?

2011 Book to Movie Adaptations - Mark Your Calendars!

Perhaps most of you already read Entertainment Weekly, so please forgive me if I am regurgitating information you already know. But this was just too exciting not to share - don't mind me while I jump around and flap my hands!!! Get out your e-calendars and write these down:










February 18 - I Am Number Four, teen aliens are yesterday's vampires...maybe

March 18 - The Lincoln Lawyer, for all the Connelly fans

April 22 - Water for Elephants, even though I am not buying the Pattinson thing

July 15 - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, then we can all grieve

August 12 - The Help, where I will be first in line baby

November 18 - Breaking Dawn Part 1, not THAT excited, but it was a book

December 21 - The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (US), but it won't compare


Which ones are you going to see at the theater? Or will you wait and get it on Netflix? Any predictions on which ones will be blockbusters?

The best way to spend 11 hours!!!

I love movies. Maybe not as much as my sister, who sees about 8 a week, but I enjoy them, nevertheless. I get especially anxious and excited around Oscar time, always vowing to get out and see some of the nominated films. Reality? I never do. I might get to them on Netflix six months down the road, and instead go see Paul Blart Mall Cop or Inkheart or something else kid-friendly. (When the kids turn 18, they're going with me, darn it.)

Filled with this angst, I came across something in my Entertainment Weekly this weekend that I had to share with you. On February 21, select AMC Theatres will unspool all five best picture nominees for $30...bottomless popcorn bucket included! I checked...that is eleven hours of butt-numbing entertainment. This is almost too tempting...

Confessions of an Audio Book Addict

I've always known that we bibliophiles are cut from a different cloth, and I think it is safe to say that we are quite proud of that fact. However, this morning I had to step outside myself and really closely analyze my reaction to a minor issue that arose last night.

I was 30 minutes away from finishing Pride and Prejudice on audio book. I'm into the romantic finish and schmaltz up to my knees. I pop the earbuds into my head to finish out the book while making dinner. And the iPod freezes up. I mean, it's done. It doesn't respond to my frantically smushing buttons, plugging it into the charger, or my attempts to sync. I'm screaming to myself "No, No, No!" First things first, I sat down at the computer, pulled up iTunes and listen to the end of the book, foregoing dinner preparation. OK, now and I at least breathe. But then my mind starts to erratically race in various directions. I need to make an appointment at the Genius Bar on Friday to get it fixed. OK, done. What if I have to buy a new one? OK, money is no object in this case. What if they need to send it off to fix it? It could be weeks. What will I do? How will I clean the house? How will I exercise? I HAVE "DRAGONFLY IN AMBER" (all 33 discs) LOADED AND READY TO ENJOY!!!!!! I NEED TO HEAR ABOUT JAMIE!!! I start to get the shakes. The kids are talking to me, and I won't respond. I keep jabbing the iPod buttons. I very quickly sink into a malaise. I do remember that I have an old iPod Mini that will hold a gig of stuff, and I transfer the first three discs of Dragonfly onto that. OK. At least I'm not totally stranded. But I'm still depressed.

My husband comes home from work to find me sullen and untalkative. After he hears about my crisis, he quickly reminds me that the financial world is crumbling around us, there are people starving in Africa, innocent people dying in religious wars in the Middle East, and to straighten out my priorities. I remind him that he is the one that bought me the super duper iPod and is his fault I am addicted. This goes nowhere.

This morning, the iPod had lost its charge, which was expected. I plugged it in to charge, and after I few minutes, I found it to be in normal, working order. My funk was gone, just like that. The swing of my mood was so extreme, it almost made me dizzy. This cannot be normal. Should I seek help? Am I bipolar? Is my need to read out of control? I seriously scare myself.