Sunday, May 25, 2014

Armchair BEA!


FRIDAY:  ARMCHAIR BEA WRAPUP!

Sadly, this is the end of our Armchair BEA adventure. I hope that you have enjoyed your time at Armchair BEA as much as I have. I hope you've befriended me and I've befriended you. I hope you have discovered some new reads and that I've discovered some new reads. I hope I've signed up for your giveaways and you have signed up for mine. And I hope that I see you again down the road soon. So happy to have met you this week!


THURSDAY:  ARMCHAIR BEA GIVEAWAYS!

I've never made it to BEA, but I've been to TLA and ALA and IRA and my number one goal there is to bring home books.




What do you think? Do I have a few books to giveaway or what?!

I picked five that I've read and enjoyed a lot for the Armchair BEA Giveaway from these huge stacks. If you'd like to win one of these and/or a $10 Amazon or Book Depository gc, simply leave a comment with the name(s) of the book(s) you'd like to win and your e-mail address (posted in an elusive way to thwart the wicked). The giveaway will be open through the end of May. Which sound good to you? 







WEDNESDAY:  BLOGGING

I never meant to be a writer yet I have always written. I made my first book when I was just four on one of those very cool 60's Rainbow tablets, a different story on each color pages, with illustrations.

I never meant to be a blogger; I started blogging for a summer inservice and I was hooked.

I just can't seem to stop writing and blogging.

What do I want to do next in blog-gification? More photos on my blog. More watercolors on my blog. Maybe a new watercolor header? More reviews of travel narratives. A weekly meme about Great Books Nobody Knows About? More great children's picture books. More cookbooks, especially bread baking cookbooks. A feature called Tiny Book Reviews?

And who knows what else....


TUESDAY:  AUTHORS

Something happens to me when I meet authors. I want to take authors home to meet my parents. I want to give authors the other half of a heart necklace and put on my half. I want to befriend them on Facebook (okay, I really do this.) Something happens to me when I meet authors.

Here are some of my favorite Meet-the-Author moments:






And still more:


Texas Book Festivals:

Texas Library Association Conferences:

International Reading Association Conferences:
2008 in Chicago
2007 in Toronto
2006 in San Antonio


Inprint Author Readings:

Authors That Came to My School/Town/Nearby:
Jon Klassen (My school)
Darien Gee (Skyped)
John Rocco (Blue Willow Bookshop in Houston)


All the authors I've met are here on my Pinterest board.



MONDAY: INTRODUCTION


Please tell us a little bit about yourself: Who are you? How long have you been blogging? Why did you get into blogging? Where in the world are you blogging from? 

    Let me introduce myself.
    Bonjour! Enchanté! Bienvenidos!


    I am Deb Nance at Readerbuzz.
    I love to read good books. Any genre. Any length. Good books.
    I especially love children's books,
    travel memoirs,
     literary fiction
    creative nonfiction,
    and books about happiness.
    I've been blogging almost six years from the little town of Alvin, Texas,
    just outside of Houston.



    List your social details -- Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, etc. -- so we can connect more online.









What does your favorite reading space look like? 




My delightful Meditation Room? ¡Sí! 
Candle? ¡Sí! 
Relaxation fountain? ¡Sí! 
Reading music? ¡Sí! 




Comfy reading clothes? ¡Sí! 
Coffee? ¡Sí! 
Snacks? ¡Sí! 



Huge stack of books to read? ¡Sí! 



How about you? ¿Esta lista? Ready? 

What are we waiting for? ¡Vamos! Let's go!



SUNDAY: BEA LONGING

I suffer from the ultimate paradox:  I desperately long to go to BEA each year, but I can never attend; I'm completely tied up in that confusing miasma of book returns and lost books and inventory that is the end-of-the-year for school librarians. Impossible.

Or is it?

Of course, being a blogger-in-the-know, I've heard about Armchair BEA. I've even signed up for it a few times. Actual participation? A Google search of my blog didn't turn up more than a terse sentence or two about the upcoming event.

This year I have the chance to change that. I signed up to be...wait for it...a BEA cheerleader. Yes, a BEA cheerleader. This, I think, will force me to get out of my armchair and climb into my Armchair and take on the whole world of Armchair BEA.



Can't wait!

Here's the BEA Agenda for the week.

Here's the Instagram Challenge.

How about Twitter Parties?!

How about you? Are you coming? Hope to see you there!



Tuesday, May 20, 2014

Priceless



Do you ever take a shot that isn't photographically perfect, but that you just love in your heart? This is one of those. I took it the day of the graduation-from-high-school party for my older son, Jon. That's my mom, in blue, with the enormous smile on her face, laughing at something Jon said. I love the expression on Jon's face, too. So Jon. So Mama.


For more wordless photos, go to Wordless Wednesday.

Saturday Snapshot is hosted by West Metro Mommy ReadsTo participate in Saturday Snapshot: post a photo that you (or a friend or family member) have taken and then leave a direct link to your post in the Mister Linky at West Metro Mommy Reads.

Monday, May 19, 2014

What Are You Reading?!






                 



We just got in from a long weekend in Chicago. My younger son, Ben, has graduated from college. Woo hoo! He gets married in July and I will, at long last, take off that mom apron.

I did a little reading on the plane, up and back. I finished my reread of Orphan Train for the Tuesday night book group. I finished W is for Wasted, the latest in the ABC mysteries. And I read A Nice Little Place on the North Side: Wrigley Field at 100 and learned more about the Cubbies that I ever knew existed. Three very good reads!

I started Creative Habit and Storied Life of A. J. Fikrey and Path With Heart and Studs Terkel's Chicago. I'm going to set aside Chicago until I head up there in July but I'm going full force into the other three.

So that's my reading week. How about you? Are you reading anything good? Any recommendations? Hope you'll share your reading week with me, too.
               








It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is where we share what we read this past week, what we hope to read this week…. and anything in between.  This is a great way to plan out your reading week and see what others are currently reading as well… you never know where that next “must read” book will come from. I love being a part of this and I hope you do too. As part of this weekly meme Book Journey loves to encourage you all to go and visit the others participating in this meme. 

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Watercolor


It looked fun at the art supply store.
And portable.

The trays come apart and the lid holds water.

I tried to draw and paint my versions of some photos.


A homemade watercolor painting of some homemade bread.


The Eiffel Tower. Of course.



And moi. Readerbuzz.


Very fun.



For more wordless photos, go to Wordless Wednesday.

Saturday Snapshot is hosted by West Metro Mommy ReadsTo participate in Saturday Snapshot: post a photo that you (or a friend or family member) have taken and then leave a direct link to your post in the Mister Linky at West Metro Mommy Reads.

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Books I Almost Put Down But Didn't


To make the cut for this post, I chose books that I had literally picked up and put back down and then picked up again.


The Book Thief
Yes, The Book Thief. Sorry. I can hear your gasps of horror. I tried this book at least three times before finally deciding to read the whole thing. And, of course, I loved it when I did. But it was something about the voice, about Death as narrator, that just hit me the wrong way time after time. You, my fellow readers, kept urging me on. Thank you.


John Green books
I gave up on John Green books after reading my first, Paper Towns. It was just...well, meh. I didn't see the John Green all my fellow bloggers were raving about. Then I read Fault in Our Stars. And it blew me away. Okay, John Green, apologies.

King of the Wind
My fourth grade teacher read King of the wind. And Misty of Chincoteague. And Sea Star. And everything else Marguerite Henry every wrote. Everything horse-ish that year. And I wasn't a Horse Girl. And then I decided to read all the Newbery winners. I put off King of the Wind as long as I could. What a surprise....a fabulous story. It must have been Horse Book Overload, I suppose.

Edith Wharton books
Our bookgroup decided to read Edith Wharton last month. When I was trying to choose one to read, I read review after review lambasting poor Edith. I almost put down House of Mirth before I really got into it, but then I read one more review and I read on. So glad I did.


We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow 
We Will Be Killed With Our Families
Who really wants to read about a massacre in Africa? I'd heard such good things about this book that I obtained a copy. Over the years I'd read a page or two and then put it down. Too troubling, I thought. Finally I resolved to read it or give it away. Whew. Not a happy read, but one I'm very glad I finished.

Haruki Murakami's Underground
I'm a big fan of Murakami's fiction. I got a copy of this book in a Bookcrossing trade years and years ago. I read a bit and put it down. I read a little more and put it down. Finally decided to read the whole thing during a Readathon in the middle of the night after reading for hours and hours. Let me say that again, with emphasis: "Finally decided to read the whole thing during a Readathon in the middle of the night after reading for hours and hours." Do you see anything wrong with this strategy? Do you see why I did not like this book after forcing myself to read it during the middle of the night, tired and restless? Yes, I think you do. 

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance
This has to be my favorite story of Book I Almost Put Down But Didn't. I ran across a copy of this book in a cabin, left behind by a tourist, when I was working in Yellowstone Park in the summer of 1975. I read a few pages, was bored, and left it for someone else to find. Zoom forward to the fall of the same year. Now I'm taking Educational Philosophy in college and guess which book is the only book on the required reading list? Yes, ZAMM. Crazy, huh? This time I bought it and started reading it and couldn't put it down. Oddly, the class didn't make because of enrollment, but I read the book anyway. And reread it. And reread it. And recommended it and recommended it and recommended it. All to no avail. I've never had one person thank me for recommending it to them. Very strange.

Heart of Darkness
Assigned reading in high school. Read a few pages. Hated it. Read a few more. Loathed it. Read more. Continued to despise. Read to completion, desperately wanting to put it down, but didn't. Final assessment: Abhor completely.

War and Peace
I resolved to read WP last year. I read twenty pages. Nothing. Twenty more. Nothing. A hundred. Still nothing. I decided to give up. One of the few books that I have put down that I feel in my heart I should try again. I probably will. One day.



Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. This feature was created because we are particularly fond of lists at The Broke and the Bookish. We'd love to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!

Each week we will post a new Top Ten list that one of our bloggers at The Broke and the Bookish will answer. Everyone is welcome to join. All we ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND add your name to the Linky widget so that everyone can check out other bloggers lists! If you don't have a blog, just post your answers as a comment. Have fun with it! It's a fun way to get to know your fellow bloggers.

Monday, May 12, 2014

It's Monday!





                 



   Crazy, I know, but this week I didn't finish any books. I'm a little behind, too, on posting my reviews (they are written!)  I haven't been wild about any of the books I've chosen for review lately and that has put me off choosing new books that are offered. Too bad, perhaps, but I think for a bit I'm going to stick with books I already have on hand and books I want to read. 

     It can ruin your Reading Mojo when you force yourself to read books that you thought you were going to love but don't. I certainly don't want to ruin my Reading Mojo.

     So I'm reading some that I want to read now:





     
     I've got a couple that I'm bring along next weekend for our trip to Chicago to see our son graduate from college:




     It's so busy at school right now that I may not get around to posting reviews of books until school's out in four weeks. Apologies.  





What are you reading today?!




It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is where we share what we read this past week, what we hope to read this week…. and anything in between.  This is a great way to plan out your reading week and see what others are currently reading as well… you never know where that next “must read” book will come from. I love being a part of this and I hope you do too. As part of this weekly meme Book Journey loves to encourage you all to go and visit the others participating in this meme. 

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

My Mom in Timeout, 1935.



Miss you, Mama.

Happy Mother's Day, everyone!


For more wordless photos, go to Wordless Wednesday.

Saturday Snapshot is hosted by West Metro Mommy ReadsTo participate in Saturday Snapshot: post a photo that you (or a friend or family member) have taken and then leave a direct link to your post in the Mister Linky at West Metro Mommy Reads.

Tuesday, May 6, 2014

A Book Cover I'd Frame





Here's a cover I love so much that I did put it on my wall.
These seem appro for my Reading Room, don't 'cha think?




Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. This feature was created because we are particularly fond of lists at The Broke and the Bookish. We'd love to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!

Each week we will post a new Top Ten list that one of our bloggers at The Broke and the Bookish will answer. Everyone is welcome to join. All we ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND add your name to the Linky widget so that everyone can check out other bloggers lists! If you don't have a blog, just post your answers as a comment. Have fun with it! It's a fun way to get to know your fellow bloggers.

Monday, May 5, 2014

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?




                 


What Arrived Last Week



               


What I Finished Last Week








What are you reading today?!




It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is where we share what we read this past week, what we hope to read this week…. and anything in between.  This is a great way to plan out your reading week and see what others are currently reading as well… you never know where that next “must read” book will come from. I love being a part of this and I hope you do too. As part of this weekly meme Book Journey loves to encourage you all to go and visit the others participating in this meme.