Sunday, July 5, 2015

Eight Hundred Grapes, New Slow City, Little Book of Happiness, Creative Schools





What I Read Last Week

I finished four good books last week:


I reviewed Eight Hundred Grapes here.
Now I'm giving away a finished copy of the hardback
along with a very cool Eight Hundred Grapes coffee mug.
Enter to win the book and mug here.

In New Slow City, William Powers, after living happily and simply in a twelve-by-twelve cabin (a story recounted in the appropriately named Twelve-by-Twelve), marries and moves with his new wife to NYC. The challenge is on: can the couple live happily and simply in a 350-square-foot micro-apartment in New York? Be warned that Powers is, shall we say, somewhat west of the status quo when it comes to living simply and slowly...I honestly can't see the mass of American people adopting many of his ideas. But even if you are inspired to try a few of his ideas, it's a book well worth reading.

O's Little Book of Happiness is exactly what the title states: little stories about everyday happinesses. I swear that I could physically feel little jets of happiness enter my bloodstream as I read along in the pages of this book. It is quite delightful. Perfect little boosts of happiness in each story.

Ken Robinson is determined to help education, and I think Creative Schools: The Grassroots Revolution That's Transforming Education is his best effort yet. Robinson seeks out schools and teachers and methodologies that produce fabulous results and shares these schools and teachers and methodologies with us. You can't help but be motivated to join Robinson's revolution after reading this book, I think.
           





What I'm Reading Now


 
You can see my bookmarks are all near or past the halfway mark in all of these books:
Magister Ludi, As I Lay Dying, Lone Star, Far From the Madding Crowd, and Lists of Note.
I'm also on disk 10 of 14 on my audiobook, In the Kingdom of Ice.
These are all fantastic reads; it's hard to decide what to read on each day.
I've been especially taken with In the Kingdom of Ice...
I don't know when I've enjoyed a more compelling audiobook.
           







What are you reading today?!




And I hope you'll stop by and throw your name in the hat
to win a finished hardback of Eight Hundred Grapes 
along with a clever little EHG coffee mug. 
Stop by here to win!


What is the Sunday SalonImagine 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.

34 comments:

  1. I really enjoyed Eight Hundred Grapes and hope you did too!

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  2. I can't believe you can be reading so many books at once. I'm a monogamist in the reading sense. One book in completion, then another. Although on a rare occasion I've read some non-fiction I have often read fiction at the same time and read the non-fiction over days (and days!).

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  3. I want that mug, but I have already read the book. I loved EHG, I thought it was a great story.

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  4. It sounds like a really productive week! I hope you enjoyed the books :) thank you for visiting my blog.
    Have a great week,
    Amy x

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  5. Wow, and I thought I liked to read a lot of books at once. :) Thanks for stopping by my blog.

    Stormi

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  6. I loved Eight Hundred Grapes...and while I have read it, I entered the giveaway, as I only had an ARC...and who can resist that mug?

    Enjoy your haul...and I am curious about New Slow City.

    Thanks for visiting my blog.

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  7. I think Eight Hundred Grapes looks good- and nice mug too! Great giveaway. And The Kingdom of Ice looks very interesting, as well. Hope you have a great weekend Deb.

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    1. I knew I'd like Kingdom of Ice but I had no idea it would be such a detailed story. I can see the author did lots and lots of research.

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  8. I love the burst of fireworks as I read this post :)

    New Slow City and O's Little Book of Happiness both sound right up my alley (we are addicted to HGTVs Tiny House Nation).

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  9. I'm adding O's Little Book of Happiness to my TBR. It definitely sounds like a book we need. Not sure about New Slow City though it does sound interesting. I'm looking forward to reading Eight Hundred Grapes. It sounds like such a great read. Have a great week!

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  10. New Slow City sounds like something I would enjoy, and the Creative Schools book, also. I have Far From the Madding Crowd on my Kindle, but haven't had the extra time to read it. As I Lay Dying is another novel on my should have read classics list. I love your blog fireworks! Have a fab week. :)

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    1. So many great schools described in the Creative Schools book.

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  11. That's neat when you read only good books in a week. I spent this week readign Led Astray and Visions by Kelley Armstrong. I finished Visions yesterday evening and loved it. I am around 68% with Led Astray, which is a collection of short stories.

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  12. I've been waiting months for the latest Ken Robinson book. If you enjoyed it, I know I will. Today, I think I'll reread The Read-Aloud Handbook. It's been awhile.

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  13. I'm interested in In the Kingdom of Ice. Is it too detailed? Or just the right pace? thx

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    1. I love it. It is very detailed, but the details are fascinating.

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  14. I am adding O's Little Book of Happiness on my next book order. Sounds like a shot of what I need. did you have a nice 4th of July celebration?

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  15. I really enjoyed Eight Hundred Grapes and that mug is super cute! Hope you had a wonderful 4th of July weekend. I haven't read the book but we are hoping to see Far From the Madding Crowd next weekend. Happy reading :)

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  16. Eight Hundred Grapes is one I hope to read in July, but with how quickly the month goes, it my be August. Have a great week.

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  17. Oh wow. You have a lot of books going on. :D Hope you are enjoying them all and have a great week!

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  18. I have Grapes on my tbr pile. I'm off to read your review because I haven't heard too much about it as of yet :D Have a great week!

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  19. That little book of happiness sounds like a great read for a dreary day. Thanks for stopping by at my blog, and have a great week

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  20. I'm so pleased to see you read so many books at the same time, I have about two paperbacks and four ebooks on the go just now!

    Lots of good reads though!

    Have a great week!

    Heather @ Random Redheaded Ramblings

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  21. I've seen all those blog posts about tiny houses and frankly, while my husband and I lived in 1100 sq ft when we first got married, I'm glad we don't have to do that anymore. It was fine when it was just the two of us, but awfully crowded when we had friends over.

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