Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Novella Challenge

Trish of Hey Lady! Watcha Readin'? is hosting a challenge for Novellas. Books that are too long to be a short story but too short to be a novel. Here are the rules:
  • Read 6 novellas in 6 months
  • A Novella is defined as between 100-250 pages (with some leeway allowed!)
    You don't have to have your own blog
  • Provide reviews of the books you read either on your blog, on the challenge blog, or in the comments section of the challenge post.

I am sure that I have a few books that will qualify that are in current challenges. I will post a proposed list soon. The challenge goes from April 1 - September 30, 2008.

Thursday, February 7, 2008

Library Lovers


I got this meme from BookGirl and had to participate because I LOVE the library. I feel so blessed to live in a country that has opened the world to me for FREE through books!

How do you plan on celebrating Library Lovers month?
I think I will take some treats into the library and thank the librarians!

How often do you accidentally spell library as ‘libary’ when you’re in a hurry?
Always...I am a terrible speller so I am sure that have have spelled it MANY ways wrong!
What is the most amount of books you’ve ever had checked out at one time?
I think that since my daughter has been born I have checked out about 40 books. Those kids books add up FAST and only take minutes to read so you have to check out a lot…hence the large amount on the fine question! Btw – the kids books seem to walk off too!

What is the longest you’ve ever gone without visiting the library?
Probably 6 months. When I made really good money I bought a lot of books and didn’t go to the library much…then…I got laid off and re-discovered the library. J Now I use the library a lot! I especially love books-on-CD, which is a $40 - $100 savings a pop!

What is the biggest fine you’ve ever had? $20! The librarian felt so bad for me that she gave me 3 used books for free ($1 value).

When you go to the library, do you plan ahead and make a list? Or do you browse?
My closest library is a satellite library out of an elementary school, so they have a very small room for fiction…hence my need to plan ahead. I actually reserve books off the internet and then just pick them up at the desk…at least for my books. For my 1 year olds books…we browse. The Louisville libraries (any of them) don’t seem to be great browsing libraries. I haven’t put my finger on why…but the Champaign, IL library is awesome for browsing…they have a lot of new releases and popular books near the front and spread out in a way that you can see all the covers. I got so spoiled…who would have thought a larger library wouldn’t be as good? Not me. This may sound weird, but Champaign is building a new library and I can’t wait to visit…even though I can’t check out any books. When I was in Paris I wanted to stop by the library, but only got a chance to stop by.

Have you ever been shushed or hushed by a librarian?
Yes, but I was 13! In fact, one of my friends had 2 boys fight over her at the library and one through the other through a side door window. The librarian reamed me and my friend out about it! I will never forget that.
What is the worst (against-the-rules) thing you’ve ever done in the library?
Again at 13 we would “unofficially” check books out (i.e. walk out with them) and return them after we read them…this was before the alarms would go off. Although the window breaking incident might rank up there too...though I didn't do it.

What’s the worst thing you’ve ever done to a library book?
My dog chewed up a hardback book, but I paid for it.
Have you ever had a “favorite” librarian?
Yes! Mr. Reynolds my librarian in the High School library. I volunteered at the library and loved working with him!
If you could change one thing about your library it would be…
More browser friendly and more downloadable books. They have a decent selection of download books, but they don’t seem to EVER update them…they get this from a third party so I don’t know what the deal is.

Free Book!

Stephanie at the Written Word is giving away a free book. The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs. Pop in and enter...so far it looks like a 1 in 30-60 chance to win - better than the lottery! And she liked the book! :) Bonus!

January Challenge Update

Here is the January Challenge Update (even though it's Feb 7!)

1st In a Series - 11/12 Books to go
2008 TBR Challenge – 11/12 books to go
Reading Full Circle Challenge - 9/10 books to go
Themed Reading Challenge (Title with Blue) - 2/4 Books to go
2008 A to Z Challenge List – 6/ 52 books to go

Blue Bistro - Elin Hilderbrand



Rating: 3 Don’t bet on this one…wait for the movie (···)

Pages: 371

Challenges: Themed Reading, A-Z Challenge (Title B)

This book is about Adrienne who has spent her life after high school floating around, moving colleges, changing jobs and cities, and changing men. Her newest move takes her to Nantucket where she meets one of the owners of the Blue Bistro the "it" restaurant on the island. Adrienne is hired to be a hostess of the restaurant. But there is some mystery afoot between the owners Thatcher and Fiona (also the Bistro chef) and why the Bistro is in its last year even though it is wildly successful.

I liked this book and I enjoyed seeing the workings of a restaurant. My only restaurant experience is McDonalds...and I can tell you it doesn't compare! Adrienne and Thatcher have a mutual attraction, but the mystery surrounding Fiona is always beneath the surface, which makes the story interesting (I don’t want to give too much away!). I might have rated this book higher but I really didn’t like the ending. I thought it was very abrupt and left a lot to be desired. Though if you have been debating working in a restaurant or feel that you may have missed out on this experience I think you would enjoy this read!

Monday, February 4, 2008

How important are Gallbladders anyway?

Well it seems that after staying up all night in the ER I have gallbladder problems...and what is it with Doctors. In one breath they are telling you that you have gallbladder problems...so as I am adjusting to this they spring on you that you need surgery. Excuse me? Huh? This is the second time this has happened...the other was with my daughter...the Doctor was scheduling the surgery before I had even contemplated that she needed surgery!

So I am starting to educate myself on gallbladders....very interesting...who could have thought little stones would be SOO painful! So I got pain meds, anti-nausea, and an antibiotic...because it seems I also have a Urinary Tract Infection (who knew?).