Follow Friday and Blogger Hop

Welcome to another edition of Follow Friday and Book Blogger Hop!

Happy Follow Friday everyone! Let me tell you a little bit about this HOP. Every friday or really Thursday evening we all get together and say HI! But, we need to know how to find you, so please your link in the Mr. Linky below. Also on Follow Friday we have a Feature...because alliteration is the way we roll. Each week is a different feature from the book blogging community. They are picked randomly or I give in after multiple harassing emails. Just depends on the week. If you want to be next weeks feature...leave your link. Also, I've had a recent rash of people signing up on the linky weeks later, which sort of defeats the purpose. If you want to participate check back here on the next Friday!


Our feature this week is...

Jess from Gone With the Words

Hi everyone! I’m Jess and I’m behind the “Gone with the Words” blog! I haven’t always been a reader, I was in Middle School (or Junior High to some of you), but lost interest in High School. It all changed in 2009 when I bought Twilight....and read it in a matter of hours. I then scrambled to get my hands on the rest of the series and didn’t leave my house all weekend. The rest is history. I was in love with books once again.

After reading about 200 books last year alone I decided to begin a blog where I could talk about them. Thus, Gone with the Words was born in January. At that time it wasn’t called that though, it was called “Read? Don’t Mind if I Do...” but wasn’t in love with that name. So I held a poll that included names suggested by other bloggers and Twitter friends, and that’s how I got the name for my blog. As for which genres I like, it’s evolving the more I read. I love Paranormal/Fantasy & Contemporary YA and Romance the most though. I also really like Urban Fantasy. If it’s a series, that’s even better.

Q. How did you come up with your blog name?

Mine is rather stupid. You see I tend to be that person that stuffs things together to make new and interesting things. Or just silly names - which seems to be trendy for the last decade especially with celeb names. So like, I was trying to choose what I wanted to be when I grew up and I said to myself:

"Well I like computers. Total computer dork. And I like art. So that makes me...the perfect Computer Graphic Designer!" That was random, but true.

How does this translate to a name...well I like paranormal stuff and I'm a book junkie, so...I shortened it changed the ie to ee...just for shits and giggles and viola' Parajunkee as a handle. Tack on the View because of course the blog is my opinion and there you have it. Parajunkee's View.

Now for the Follow Fun!

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To join the fun and make now book blogger friends, just follow these simple rules:

1. (Required) Follow the Follow My Book Blog Friday Host { http://www.Parajunkee.com/} and any one else you want to follow on the list
2. (Required) Follow our Featured Bloggers - http://bookaholicdoesblogging.blogspot.com
3. Put your Blog name & URL in the Linky thing.
4. Grab the button up there and place it in a post, this post is for people to find a place to say hi in your comments
5. Follow Follow Follow as many as you can, as many as you want, or just follow a few. The whole point is to make new friends and find new blogs. Also, don't just follow, comment and say hi. Another blogger might not know you are a new follower if you don't say "HI"
6. If someone comments and says they are following you, be a dear and follow back. Spread the Love...and the followers
7. If you're new to the follow Friday hop, comment and let me know, so I can stop by and check out your blog!

Happy Follow Friday!

Follow it up with your twitter address if you want to get that one out!

*********

My answer:

I came up with the name of my blog because I have been "a book girl" since I was little. My newest passion of knitting has become very important to me as well. Put them both together and there you have it. Bookgirl Knitting.



In the spirit of the Twitter Friday Follow, the Book Blogger Hop is a place just for book bloggers and readers to connect and share our love of the written word!  This weekly BOOK PARTY is an awesome opportunity for book bloggers to connect with other book lovers, make new friends, support each other, and generally just share our love of books!  It will also give blog readers a chance to find other book blogs to read!  So, grab the logo, post about the Hop on your blog, and start HOPPING through the list of blogs that are posted in the Linky list at http://www.crazy-for-books.com/

The Hop lasts Friday-Monday every week, so if you don't have time to Hop today, come back later and join the fun!  This is a weekly event!  And stop back throughout the weekend to see all the new blogs that are added!  We get over 200 links every week!! 

RULES:

Your blog should have content related to books, including, but not limited to book reviews.

1.  Enter your book blog link in the Linky List below

In your link, please state the main genre that you review:  eclectic, contemp. fiction, ya, paranormal, mystery, non-fiction, etc.

Example:  Crazy-for-Books (contemp. adult fiction) 

2. Post about the Hop on your blog.  Spread the word about the book party!  The more the merrier!  In your blog post, answer the following question (new question each week!).  

If you have a suggestion for a future HOP question, go to http://www.crazy-for-books.com/!  Thanks! 

 

This week's question comes from Somer who blogs at A Bird's Eye Review (her blog design is ADORABLE - check it out!):

 "Do you read only one book at a time, or do you have several going at once?"

My answer:  In the days before my Nook, I would typically only read one book at a time.  Since I've acquired an e-reader, I typically have 2 books going at once - one on the e-reader that I can throw in the purse or take to the gym - and one in paper that I read at home.  Right now, I have 3 books going which is CRAZY for me - 1 book on the Nook, 1 book in PDF on my Netbook, and 1 book in paper!

3.  Visit other blogs in the Linky List!  Make new friends!  Follow new book bloggers!  Talk about books!  Rave about authors!  Take the time to make a quality visit!  Check out other posts and content, make a new friend!  Don't randomly follow someone if you never intend on actually following them!  No spamming please!  (Please do not leave your link and not visit other blogs - it's just not cool and not in the spirit of the Hop!)

And just as an FYI - this event is not something you should feel that you have to participate in every week.  If you want to join in and link up once a month, GREAT!  It's up to you how often you participate!

So, have fun HOPPING and enjoy your BOOK PARTY weekend!!!

My answer:

I have several books going at once. Usually one for each blog. Well, at least one. My YA blog is the heaviest right now with a mermaid series going on and some other books I am reviewing on a deadline. If I could strap on a futuristic device that let me read in my sleep, I would do it. For me, it is paper books, PDFs on my IPad and e-books on the Nook Color. Oh, and audio books too!UPDATE:  THE BOOK BLOGGER HOP DOES NOT ACCEPT TWITTER LINKS!  IF YOU LEAVE A TWITTER LINK, IT WILL BE DELETED!!!  ONLY YOUR BLOG URL IS ACCEPTED!  THANK YOU

 

 

 

On my wishlist

International bestselling artist Brian Froud and New York Times bestselling author John Matthews come together for the first time to create a spectacular interactive book that opens the doors to the enchanted world of Faerie. How does one discover faeries in one’s backyard or a garden, forest, or meadow? Through insets, hidden messages, magical signs, reflective mirrors, and other paper mechanics, Froud and Matthews reveal how anyone may discover the way to the land of Faerie. All you need is to believe and to own this book!

Goodreads

I took a quick look at this book at the store the other day and it is lovely. A must for anyone who loves faeries!

What I'm Reading Now...

The American debut of internationally bestselling Swedish writer Camilla Lackberg’s haunting first novel. Returning to her hometown of Fjallbacka after the funeral of her parents, writer Erica Falck finds a community on the brink of tragedy. The death of her childhood friend, Alex, is just the beginning. Her wrists slashed, her body frozen in an ice-cold bath, it seems that she has taken her own life.

Erica conceives a book about the beautiful but remote Alex, one that will answer questions about their own shared past. While her interest grows into an obsession, local detective Patrik Hedstrom is following his own suspicions about the case. But it is only when they start working together that the truth begins to emerge about a small town with a deeply disturbing past.

(Goodreads)

This book was sent by the publisher for review.



There's a zombie in my mailbox...

This week I did the squee dance when I opened the mailbox and found The Zombie Autopsies. And I found a copy of Rot and Ruin at the used book store. Awesome. Now I just need to get a copy of Patient Zero.

Hope your week is rocking along.

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In my mail box

Incredible books to review sent by awesome publisher friends. Rot and Ruin was a happy find at the used book store. Woo-hoo!

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Follow Friday and Blogger Hop

Hello everyone. Welcome back for another Follow Friday and Book Blogger Hop. Just click on the links and head over to our host's websites to add your name to the linky list. Meet some new book minded folks. Don't forget to leave some comment love and maybe follow along.

http://www.parajunkee.com/
http://www.crazy-for-books.com/

This week's featured blogger is: Ashley from Bookaholic Does Blogging.

 Question of the week:

Who are you "the person" as opposed to you "the blogger"?

My answer:

I am a Merchandise Manager at a very high volume B&N store.  It is a full time job and then some, but I love it. When I am not at work, I am a dog mom (dog slave) to 9 rescue dogs, 4 finches, 1 fish and 1 lizard. I am also a wife to my wonderful husband of almost seventeen years. When I am not keeping up with all of that, I am working on two YA novels, learning to knit and crochet and attempting to resurrect my exercise bike from underneath a pile of laundry. Most days I wish I had a maid. Some days I actually get to watch parts of a movie when I run past the TV. Go figure.

So yes, I have mastered the art of blogging and writing my books while getting my time in on the exercise bike (there is this awesome shelf on the bike), nuking dinner while rolling my hair in granny rollers and getting my husband's jeans ready in time for him to wear them to work when I get up at 4am to be at work before 7am. I blog over Cheerios. I read everywhere. Audio books are my friend. I need a tool belt for all of my electronic gadgets. Android phone. IPad. Nook Color.

Life is never dull. My life as a blogger started last fall. Social media in general started last April. I love it. Never have a felt more connected with book lovers and friends all over the globe. My job as a bookseller and the life of a book blogger mesh perfectly.  I get to talk about books day in and day out. What could be better than that?

So, now I have five blogs with differing subject matter, and am toying around with an idea for a sixth. But, to my husband's very real point, I need to get my books written. So, cross that New Year's resolution with the exercise bike that is staring me in the face and you have a woman that can really multitask.  Now, where is that coffee?

From Crazy For Books:

In the spirit of the Twitter Friday Follow, the Book Blogger Hop is a place just for book bloggers and readers to connect and share our love of the written word!  This weekly BOOK PARTY is an awesome opportunity for book bloggers to connect with other book lovers, make new friends, support each other, and generally just share our love of books!  It will also give blog readers a chance to find other book blogs to read!  So, grab the logo, post about the Hop on your blog, and start HOPPING through the list of blogs that are posted in the Linky list at crazy-for-books.com (http://www.crazy-for-books.com/)

The Hop lasts Friday-Monday every week, so if you don't have time to Hop today, come back later and join the fun!  This is a weekly event!  And stop back throughout the weekend to see all the new blogs that are added!  We get over 200 links every week!! 

RULES:

Your blog should have content related to books, including, but not limited to book reviews.

1.  Enter your book blog link in the Linky List on the host site.

In your link, please state the main genre that you review:  eclectic, contemp. fiction, ya, paranormal, mystery, non-fiction, etc.

Example:  Crazy-for-Books (contemp. adult fiction) 

2. Post about the Hop on your blog.  Spread the word about the book party!  The more the merrier!  In your blog post, answer the following question (new question each week!).  

 

 

This week's question comes from Ellie who blogs at Musings of a Bookshop Girl:

 "If I gave you £50 (or $80) and sent you into a bookshop right now, what would be in your basket when you finally staggered to the till?"

My answer:

 

Wow. I think I would take half of the YA section with me. Probably the new book Zombie Autopsies also. It looks like a hoot. Steel, Darkest Mercy, Vespertine...those are all on my list.

Shattered Souls

Lenzi hears voices. She also sees visions--gravestones, floods, a gorgeous guy with steel gray eyes. She knows she must be going crazy, just like her dad did. Her boyfriend, Zak, can't do anything to help, and the voices just keep getting louder, the visions more intense. But when Lenzi meets Alden, the boy from her dreams, everything makes sense.

Sort of.

He tells Lenzi that she's a reincarnated Speaker--someone who can talk to lost souls and help them move on--and that he has been her Protector for centuries. But instead of embracing her abilities, Lenzi struggles between her life as the girlfriend of a sexy musician and the life she is destined to lead with Alden. Yet time is running out; a malevolent spirit has been trying to destroy Lenzi for ages, and he will surely kill her if she doesn't make a decision soon.

Her choices are clear: Destiny or normalcy. Alden or Zak. Life or death. (Goodreads)

This book was sent to me by the publisher. Thank you for an enjoyable read!

What I liked:

I liked the reincarnation aspect of the book and found it interesting that Lenzi/Rose struggled to remember her past. As a Speaker (to the dead) she has lived over and over helping earthbound souls resolve their issues and move on. The tension between Zak and Alden, Lenzi's Protector, was also good. On several occasions, you just weren't sure if she was going to stay with Zak, who had some serious bad boy tendencies, or end up with Alden, who she has loved for centuries. (Even if she didn't remember it.)

Living in Texas, I also enjoyed references to Galveston and Houston. Some of the areas were familiar, others not. It did give me a feeling of home and history, as the story flashed from present to the past.  Excellent!

What I didn't:

Sometimes it felt that the story slowed a bit when Lenzi was deciding what direction to go with her life. This can happen with teen scenarios, so it didn't hinder my enjoyment of the book.

Overall impression:

I thought Shattered Souls was a great book and I look forward to seeing more of Lenzi and Alden. They are a great pair. The plot works. The background of the story was good and the Texas Gulf Coast history added a valuable aspect to the story. The characters have snap and it kept me guessing until the last page. I like that in a book. When it was over, I sighed.

And lastly, a word for my wonderful friend and the author of this novel. Great job!!! Mary has been a mentor and friend for several years and I treasure her friendship. She has a passion for writing and I am so proud of her! From the first time she shared her work with me, I joked with her that I would be seeing her work on my bookshelf one day. I wasn't kidding.

If you would like to know more about Mary Lindsey, please visit her on Goodreads and at her website:

http://www.marylindsey.com/



Hard News

Hard News

After a bout of cancer, author L.K. Madigan dies of cancer. We all mourn her loss. She is the author of :

This book will be featured in a selection of mermaid books being reviewed at my YA blog,
http://danasyabookpile.blogspot.com/ in the coming weeks. I hope you will join me in remembering this great author. Please support her memory by adding this book to your to be read list on Goodreads, Shelfari and Librarything.

Kim Harrington: CLARITY Release Day! Plus a Contest!

Kim Harrington: CLARITY Release Day! Plus a Contest!

When you can see things others can't, where do you look for the truth?
This paranormal murder mystery will have teens reading on the edge of their seats.
Clarity "Clare" Fern sees things. Things no one else can see. Things like stolen kisses and long-buried secrets. All she has to do is touch a certain object, and the visions come to her. It's a gift.
And a curse.
When a teenage girl is found murdered, Clare's ex-boyfriend wants her to help solve the case--but Clare is still furious at the cheating jerk. Then Clare's brother--who has supernatural gifts of his own--becomes the prime suspect, and Clare can no longer look away. Teaming up with Gabriel, the smoldering son of the new detective, Clare must venture into the depths of fear, revenge, and lust in order to track the killer. But will her sight fail her just when she needs it most? (Goodreads)

I can't wait to read this book!

Blogger Hop and Follow Friday

 I like the cupcakes. It is just one of my things. If you pop over to my http://bookgirlinthekitchen.blogspot.com/ site, you will see even more. Cupcakes are just the best things in the whole world. I love to sit and read with a nice cup of coffee or hot tea and a tasty cupcake by my side. Sadly, I am out, so I am dreaming about them while blogging.

Welcome to another Follow Friday and Book Blog Hop. Thanks for stopping in for a visit. Please feel free to leave some comment love and tell me what you love to muncy on while you are reading. Or blogging for that matter.

Our two host sites are:

http://www.crazy-for-books.com/
http://www.parajunkee.com/

Please stop over and get the deets on the blog of the week and follow a new blog or two. Share the love.

In the spirit of the Twitter Friday Follow, the Book Blogger Hop is a place just for book bloggers and readers to connect and share our love of the written word!  This weekly BOOK PARTY is an awesome opportunity for book bloggers to connect with other book lovers, make new friends, support each other, and generally just share our love of books!  It will also give blog readers a chance to find other book blogs to read!  So, grab the logo, post about the Hop on your blog, and start HOPPING.

The Hop lasts Friday-Monday every week, so if you don't have time to Hop today, come back later and join the fun!  This is a weekly event!  And stop back throughout the weekend to see all the new blogs that are added!  We get over 200 links every week!! 
RULES:

Your blog should have content related to books, including, but not limited to book reviews.
 

1.  Enter your book blog link in the Linky List below

In your link, please state the main genre that you review:  eclectic, contemp. fiction, ya, paranormal, mystery, non-fiction, etc.

Example:  Crazy-for-Books (contemp. adult fiction) 

2. Post about the Hop on your blog.  Spread the word about the book party!  The more the merrier!  In your blog post, answer the following question (new question each week!).  

 

This week's question comes from Mia who blogs at Girl About Books:

 "Who's your all-time favorite book villain?"

My favorite villain lately is the girl from Let Me In. She is sort of a monster, eating all of her neighbors at the apartment complex, and sending out her "father" to get more victims. She may be homicidal, but she is vulnerable too. She protects the boy from his passel of bullies and loves him when no one else can be bothered. In the end I wanted her to win and them to be together.

Who did you pick?

Late breaking additional question:

What embarrassing thing have you done on cold medicine?

As for me, I don't have anything on cold medicine other than nightmares. The weirdest thing I ever did at night was to wake up with teeth marks on the table next to the bed, with blood in my mouth where it had bit me back. Go figure.

In my mailbox

This week has been a busy one for new releases and recent publications. All books were sent by the publisher for review.

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Follow Friday and Blogger Hop

Hey everyone! Welcome to another fun Follow Friday and Blog Hop. Our blog of the week is:

Stop by http://www.parajunkee.com/ for more information on how to follow this cool site.

http://www.crazy-for-books.com/

Weekly questions:

1. What is your favorite TV show?

2. Are you happy with the name of your blog?

Let's start with the second one. Yes. I am happy with the name of this blog. It sprang out of my love for books and yarn. They are my two obsessions. Piles of books and yarn on my writing desk should give it away.

Needless to say, not much writing actually happens at the writing desk.

The answer to the first question is:

I love this show. Every week (except this one! Argh!!!) I Tivo it and watch it with the hubby. We usually eat in front of the TV, and this show makes our night.

Thanks for stopping in and celebrating Follow Friday with me. Stay a moment and leave some comment love and maybe follow along. Let me know what cool things you are reading.

Best in reading,

Dana

In my mailbox this week...

What is in your mailbox this week? Drop me a comment. I would love to hear. (Not about your bills.) :)

Follow Friday and Blogger Hop

Hello everyone and welcome to another Follow Friday, hosted by our extremely wonderful hostess, Parajunkee. This week's guest is Dreaming About Other Worlds. Pop over to www.parajunkee.com/ to sign up on the linky and follow this great blogger. Also follow the blog hop over at http://www.crazy-for-books.com/


Question: Have you ever read Science Fiction? What is your favorite book?

I personally like fantasy much better than hard core science fiction. Some of my favorite series are True Blood, The Rachel Morgan series, Keri Arthur's Riley Jenson series and there are several others. I tend to like the monsters. Robots and the futuristic space ship novels. Not really me I guess.

Thanks for stopping in. Hope to see you back as a follower. Stay a moment and leave a comment. If you are here, you are wonderful! Happy Follow Friday.

Best,

Dana

What I'm Reading Now...

Big things are about the happen at Maple's house. Mama's going to have a baby, which means now there will be four Rittle sisters instead of just three. But when baby Lily is born too early and can't come home from the hospital, Maple knows it's up to her to save her sister. So she and Dawn, armed with a map and some leftover dinner, head off down a river and up a mountain to find the Wise Woman who can grant miracles. Now it's not only Lily’s survival that they have to worry about, but also their own. The dangers that Maple and Dawn encounter on their journey makes them realize a thing or two about miracles–and about each other. (Goodreads)

So far, this book is great. Love of family and lyrical mythology made my heart smile as I am reading it.

Finished:

My initial thoughts are the same. Great middle grade adventure book with strong female characters learning how to face adverse situations and prevail. This book stresses family bonds and learning to work with one another to get things done. Great book for kids.

In my mailbox this week.

Duvall, Texas.
A small town that’s about to be in some big trouble.

Pastry-chef-turned-unexpected-action/adventure heroine Tammy Jo Trask is finally ready to embrace her mixed-up and often malfunctioning magic. Too bad not everyone wants her to become all the witch she can be.
First, there are the local residents who form a scripture-spouting posse and kidnap Tammy to “defend” Duvall against witchcraft. Next, someone saddles her with a secret package chock full of dangerous visions, just as the president of WAM—the World Association of Magic—arrives with his entourage to investigate her. And who worse to examine Tammy’s entanglement with off-limits and drop-dead gorgeous wizard Bryn Lyons than his ex-girlfriend? Not to mention that the clash between the locals and the magical visitors leads to a series of unnatural disasters that may doom them all.
Will Tammy Jo’s magical synergy with Bryn be enough to help her save the town or will her enemies succeed in putting Tammy out of commission for good? One thing’s certain: this would-be witch is ready to rumble, Texas style…

This series by Kimberly Frost is full of spice and Texas flair. The first two books kept me reading late into the night and I can't wait to start reading the third. I recieved it from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Blog Hop!

 Hello everyone! It is time for another Blog Hop! Join me in supporting other fellow book bloggers in our love of reading and reviewing books. Just pop over to our amazing host's website at http://crazy-for-books.com/ and sign up on the linky list and follow some new book friends. Leave a link in the comment fields for us to follow a great post that you made this week.

Stay a moment, follow if you like and share some comment love. Nice to see you here.

Floating on Mams's Song

I enjoyed this book. The illustrations are lovely and the story enchanting. It is about the power of being yourself. 

Hands Off, Harry!

This wonderful book will be coming out in June 2011 from Katherine Tegen Books. It is about a young alligator named Harry and his inability to play nice and respect the space of other children in his kindergarten class.  Miss Harmony sure has her hands full! Will she get Harry to see that personal space is important, and that hands should be used for helping and not hurting? Check out this great book. It has all the elements of a good story time, complete with interactive questions to get kids engaged in the storyline and bring in people from their own lives. 5 out of 5 stars.

Author Rosemary Wells (Harpercollins) 

A String of Hearts

I enjoyed this book very much. The illustrations are lovely and the Valentine's Day story is sweet. It makes kids of all ages think about the people in their life and appreciate the little things about each and every one of them. Sometimes you never know just how many friends you have! The last page gives a recap of how Valentine's Day came to be and how the holiday has changed over the years. Great information! 5 out of 5 stars.

Valentines come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. Some are homemade and some are store-bought. Some are funny and some are not. Sam wants to give just the right valentine to the most popular girl in the class, Tiffany. But what kind is the right kind? Mary Ann helps Sam figure out how to make all sorts of valentines. But will Tiffany even notice Sam if he gives her a special valentine?
Laura Malone Elliott and Lynn Munsinger’s charming story shows how the best friends are often the ones you may not know you have—until Valentine’s Day!—and even a simple string of hearts can show a friend how special he is. (Goodreads)

Ami Ami Dogs

The first in a series, Mitsuki Hoshi’s crafty collection is packed with four-color photographs, patterns, and instructions on how to craft a tumbling litter of adorable canine Amigurumi—the wildly popular crocheted stuffed animals from Japan. The perfect go-to guide for every stripe of crochet artist, from the crafting commuter to the full-time hook-and-needler (and the perfect gift for anyone who could use an extra dose of over-the-top cuteness in their life), Hoshi’s Ami Ami Dogs is sure to knit smiles and tail-wagging into the fabric of any home it joins.

Book Description

 

This Amigurumi handbook is filled with adorable photographs of puppies and easy-to-follow patterns to help you create them. Treat yourself to a darling friend to cuddle up with, make an entire family of puppies, or gift one to a loved one.

The world needs more Ami Ami Dogs
(from Harpercollins.com)

I found this book when one of my fellow booksellers pointed it out to me. It was love at first sight. Gone went the coffee money. In came Ami Ami Dogs. The projects are small and are primarily single crochet, so even a novice like me can do them. I am excited to learn that this is just the first in a line of these books. How wonderful!!! If you are interested, this book can be found at Barnes & Noble, both on the website and in stores.

Bookgirl in the Kitchen: Twinkie Chan

Bookgirl in the Kitchen: Twinkie Chan: "Twinkie Chan Cupcakes Take The Cake is the coolest with all things in the world of cupcakes. Playing on their site today, I encountered thi..."

In My Mailbox

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What I'm Reading Now...

A richly inventive novel about a centuries-old vampire, a spellbound witch, and the mysterious manuscript that draws them together.

Deep in the stacks of Oxford's Bodleian Library, young scholar Diana Bishop unwittingly calls up a bewitched alchemical manuscript in the course of her research. Descended from an old and distinguished line of witches, Diana wants nothing to do with sorcery; so after a furtive glance and a few notes, she banishes the book to the stacks. But her discovery sets a fantastical underworld stirring, and a horde of daemons, witches, and vampires soon descends upon the library. Diana has stumbled upon a coveted treasure lost for centuries-and she is the only creature who can break its spell.

Debut novelist Deborah Harkness has crafted a mesmerizing and addictive read, equal parts history and magic, romance and suspense. Diana is a bold heroine who meets her equal in vampire geneticist Matthew Clairmont, and gradually warms up to him as their alliance deepens into an intimacy that violates age-old taboos. This smart, sophisticated story harks back to the novels of Anne Rice, but it is as contemporary and sensual as the Twilight series-with an extra serving of historical realism.(Goodreads)

I have literally just started this book today and already I can tell it is a pageturner.

Library Issues & Taking Action

Library Issues & Taking Action

I had been hearing a lot about Texas Libraries losing much of their funding. Yesterday a wonderful friend of mine who works in the library system sent me over a link from Facebook that explained it all and showed how I as a concerned library patron, and citizen could make a difference.

Some of you may think that it has nothing to do with you. You never use the library. A couple of years ago, I might have agreed with you. After finding out all the programs the libraries in town offer, the amount of ebooks and eaudios I can check out to read for my IPad, Nookcolor and IPod, the computer training, the programs for kids...I could keep typing all day. My library is like a community center. I take free knitting classes there and honestly, I wouldn't know what to do without it. The librarians there are as much of a part of the library as the books. They care about the patrons they serve and become part of their lives. I know they have become a part of mine. With the proposed budget cuts, I can't even imagine how many librarians are going to find themselves out of a job.

Our country prides itself in education and the future. What kind of future will there be without libraries? I don't want to even image it. Where anyone, no matter their economic status, can go and check out a book. Where patrons can learn about computers to further their careers. Where social knitting types like myself can go and connect with like minded individuals in a safe environment? Yes, the library I go to is attached to a school. It may not have as many budget cuts as another branch, but maybe it will be the branch you might need to go to sometime in the near future. You just never know.