A Former Church

For more wordless photos, go to Wordless Wednesday.

Saturday Snapshot is hosted by West Metro Mommy Reads. To 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.

Great Picture Book Biographies of Great Women

Have I told you how much I love children's picture book biographies? Well, I do. I love reading picture books about strong, brave people. I especially love reading picture books about strong, brave women. 

Here are some of my favorites:

Wilma Unlimited: How Wilma Rudolph Became the World's Fastest Woman

Eleanor, Quiet No More

Gertrude is Gertrude is Gertrude is Gertrude is Gertrude

Mrs. Harkness and the Panda

Miss Lady Bird's Wildflowers: How a First Lady Changed America

Here Come the Girl Scouts: The Amazing All-True Story of Juliette 'Daisy' Gordon Low and Her Great Adventure

Me...Jane

What to Do About Alice? How Alice Roosevelt Broke the Rules, Charmed the World, and Drove Her Father Teddy Crazy

Miss Dorothy and Her Bookmobile

Bon Appetit! The Delicious Life of Julia Child

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.

My Reading Week (or Lack Thereof)

In the heady, book-a-day summertime, I forget the reading dearth I always hit at the end-of-winter-but-not-quite-spring. That's where I am now. A meeting or book club or yoga class every day after school and conferences and tournaments and carnivals and lesson planning every weekend leave little time for free range reading. When you get home at five-thirty every evening and it's already starting to get dark, you just want to eat a little supper and take a bath and go to bed.

All of which is to say that I didn't finish anything last week. I read little bites of Middlemarch and Redwall and Sketch and The Year of Reading Dangerously, but nothing I can write down in my reading log.

My mailbox, on the other hand, was full.

When I saw that I'd managed to accumulate over $250 at Amazon, I decided it was time to break down and start ordering some wish list books. So I did. I ordered fifteen books. So far, I've received Maira Kalman's My Favorite Things and Danny Gregory's new Art Before Breakfast, along with Literary Listography: My Reading Life in Lists and A Kid for Two Farthings and Doodling in French and The Essential Scratch and Sniff Guide to Becoming a Wine Expert.

I haven't broken them open yet (I'm soooo good at saving) but I'm enjoying, for now, just looking at this huge stack of wish list books that are awaiting me.

How was your reading week? Have you read anything I should be reading? Does winter slow down your reading?

What is the Sunday Salon? Imagine some university library's vast reading room. It's filled with people--students and faculty and strangers who've wandered in. They're seated at great oaken desks, books piled all around them,and they're all feverishly reading and jotting notes in their leather-bound journals as they go. Later they'll mill around the open dictionaries and compare their thoughts on the afternoon's literary intake....That's what happens at the Sunday Salon, except it's all virtual. Every Sunday the bloggers participating in that week's Salon get together--at their separate desks, in their own particular time zones--and read. And blog about their reading. And comment on one another's blogs. Think of it as an informal, weekly, mini read-a-thon, an excuse to put aside one's earthly responsibilities and fall into a good book. Click here to join the Salon.

The Sunday Post is a meme hosted by Kimba at Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It's a chance to share news and recap the past week.

Mailbox Monday was created by Marcia at The Printed Page. We share books that we found in our mailboxes last week. 

 It is now being hosted here.

Stacking the Shelves is a meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews in which you can share the books you've acquired.

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. 

Customer at the School Book Fair

For more wordless photos, go to Wordless Wednesday.

Saturday Snapshot is hosted by West Metro Mommy Reads. To 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.

The Ten Biggest Book Problems

Ten Big Book Problems


Nothing to read

Too much to read

People who say they (gasp!) hate to read

Articles about "the death of reading"

Required reading at school

Trying to choose a favorite book

Being interrupted when I'm reading

Bad movies of good books

Children whose parents don't (won't?) read to them

People who never read but
try to cozy up to me by telling me they've read a good book
and then reveal the book is Fifty Shades of Gray

From BuzzFeed...Problems Only Book Lovers Understand




What did I forget? Any suggestions for me?

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.

My Husband-less Valentine's Day, My Bookish Valentine, and a Fully-Loaded Nightstand

My Husband-less V-Day

First time in thirty-six years of marriage that I was alone on Valentine's Day. Donde esta mi esposo, you ask? At a rock and mineral show, the biggest in the world, in Tucson, Arizona. He made the plans months ago, and he feels terrible that he is out-of-town for this big day. I suspect that guilt may drive him to bring home lots of make-up jewelry from the gem show, and that will be nice.

I wasn't really alone-alone anyway; I had lots of drop-in visitors and lovely phone calls. And I got to spend some solid time reading and who doesn't love that? 

My Bookish Valentine

Plus, look what arrived in the mail:

Yes, it's my amazing Bookish Valentine box from the quite amazing Andi of the deliciously amazing blog, Estella's Revenge. What is inside? A card and a candle and a chocolate bar and (of course!) a yummy book from my wish list, The Year of Living Dangerously.  Thank you, Andi! And thank you, Amanda from Fig and Thistle, for organizing this fun bookish event.

A Fully-Loaded Nightstand

So, what's on my nightstand for this week?

Let's zoom in a little closer, shall we?

Sketch. Redwall. The Year of Living Dangerously. Middlemarch.

Yes. Perfect. 

What are you reading today?!

What is the Sunday Salon? Imagine some university library's vast reading room. It's filled with people--students and faculty and strangers who've wandered in. They're seated at great oaken desks, books piled all around them,and they're all feverishly reading and jotting notes in their leather-bound journals as they go. Later they'll mill around the open dictionaries and compare their thoughts on the afternoon's literary intake....That's what happens at the Sunday Salon, except it's all virtual. Every Sunday the bloggers participating in that week's Salon get together--at their separate desks, in their own particular time zones--and read. And blog about their reading. And comment on one another's blogs. Think of it as an informal, weekly, mini read-a-thon, an excuse to put aside one's earthly responsibilities and fall into a good book. Click here to join the Salon.

The Sunday Post is a meme hosted by Kimba at Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It's a chance to share news and recap the past week.

Mailbox Monday was created by Marcia at The Printed Page. We share books that we found in our mailboxes last week. 

 It is now being hosted here.

Stacking the Shelves is a meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews in which you can share the books you've acquired.

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. 

In Which I Read Three Books at Once

Yes, I tell you smugly.  Three books at the same time.

And in two different languages.

Caution!! Caution!! Don't try this at home!!

Romance Books I'd Recommend to People Who Don't Like Romance Books

I don't like romance books. As a general rule. Sappy stories, improbable stories, predictable stories...I don't like any of those sorts of romance tales.

But there are some romance books I'd recommend, especially for those of you who are like me and aren't wild about romance as a general rule.

Here are my favorite romance book posts from the past:

♥♥♥Love Stories I Love♥♥♥

Top Ten Book Romances I Think Would Make It in the Real World

Top Ten Favorite Love Stories in Books

That should do it. Any books I left off? 

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.

My Week in Books

What I Read Last Week   Two fiction and one nonfiction books this week.  The Truth About Twinkie Pie features Double-G, a brilliant girl who is being raised by her older sister. Double-G's life changes when she and her sister move to a new city and she has a chance to be the person she wants to be instead of the person her sister wants her to be. It's a refreshingly read with plenty of plot twists to satisfy the most demanding of readers. And lots of fascinating recipes, too.  There are some book characters you meet that you can never forget. Simon Shaw in See Ya, Simon is one of these. He’s slowly dying of muscular dystrophy and you know from page one that he doesn’t have long to live. You might think that would make for a very sad story, but See Ya, Simon isn’t like that at all. Simon doesn’t mope; no, he lives, every minute, every second, vibrantly, enthusiastically, energetically. He’s the kind of kid you would love to have as a son, as a brother, as a friend. A regular kid in a wildly irregular body who laughs it up and goofs around and lives. When his death comes (as you know, from the start, that it will) you feel the same kick in the gut you would if it was a boy you knew in real life. You feel the pain of his loss, but you are glad you had the chance to know him, even though it was just through the pages of a book. It was pretty obvious that The Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace wasn’t going to be a happy story. It wasn’t. Rob’s mom refuses to marry his dad. His dad sells drugs. His dad is sentenced to life in prison for murder. The hope of the story is the sacrifices of Rob’s mom to send Rob to private school. Nevertheless, Rob sells drugs. Rob makes it to Yale, but keeps selling drugs. Rob graduates but still sells drugs. Despite, Rob’s mom’s best efforts, despite Rob’s brilliance, Rob is shot to death before he turns thirty. Yes, it's a tragic story, but it's worth reading to celebrate the efforts of Rob's mom, to encourage the work of kids like Rob, and to try to figure out ways that others won't have similarly short and tragic lives.

What Arrived Last Week   Mobile Library                          Sketch!  Hausfrau                    Rockin' the Boat A great week for books at my mailbox. Can there be anything more wonderful than receiving two review copies that come straight from your Amazon wish list? Or receiving two books that would have been on your Amazon wish list had you known of their existences? Yes, a great week.

What are you reading today?!

What is the Sunday Salon? Imagine some university library's vast reading room. It's filled with people--students and faculty and strangers who've wandered in. They're seated at great oaken desks, books piled all around them,and they're all feverishly reading and jotting notes in their leather-bound journals as they go. Later they'll mill around the open dictionaries and compare their thoughts on the afternoon's literary intake....That's what happens at the Sunday Salon, except it's all virtual. Every Sunday the bloggers participating in that week's Salon get together--at their separate desks, in their own particular time zones--and read. And blog about their reading. And comment on one another's blogs. Think of it as an informal, weekly, mini read-a-thon, an excuse to put aside one's earthly responsibilities and fall into a good book. Click here to join the Salon.

The Sunday Post is a meme hosted by Kimba at Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It's a chance to share news and recap the past week.

Mailbox Monday was created by Marcia at The Printed Page. We share books that we found in our mailboxes last week. 

 It is now being hosted here.

Stacking the Shelves is a meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews in which you can share the books you've acquired.

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. 

Texas Jalapeño Galletas

Shhhh! The secret ingredient! Jalapeños!

Top Ten Books I Can't Believe I Haven't Read

Appointment in Samarra
Reason: Recommended by respected reader friends
Status: On shelf for over ten years
Attempts: At least four



Any William Faulkner
Reason: On every Must-Read List in existence
Status: I've never acquired a single copy of any Faulkner book
Attempts: Never attempted



Beloved
Reason: Beloved is...well, beloved.
Status: Have had many, many copies
Attempts: Never opened



Amy and Isabelle by Elizabeth Strout
Reason: I adored Elizabeth Strout's Olive Kitteridge.
Status: Have purchased this book three different times.
Attempts: Made it through chapter one before setting it back on shelf.



War and Peace
Reason: Probably on more required reading lists than any other
Status: Gave away copy two years ago
Attempts: Made a valiant effort in 2013 to read it, finally setting aside after 300 pages.



Lion, Witch, and the Wardrobe series
Reason: Great children's series
Status: Many, many copies
Attempts: Listening to Dawn Treader on audio now



The Professor and the Madman
Reason: Rave reviews of this nonfiction book
Status: Has been part of many bookboxes over the years
Attempts: None



To the Lighthouse
Reason: Woolf is highly respected and I loved the one Woolf novel I've read
Status: Never acquired
Attempts: None



Middlemarch
Reason: Many reader friends have recommended this one
Status: Just purchased this one a few weeks ago
Attempts: Currently starting Chapter 2



The Razor's Edge
Reason: Story sounds like one I'd love
Status: Just obtained a copy last week
Attempts: None yet

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.