Blue Sky Monday!!!

I'm lookin' at Blue Skies!!!!  For real. Figuratively, too. I've been planning tours the past week or so-ish, and it's lookin' GOOD!!!!  :-D

Thx, Sheila, @ Book Journey for this great-way-to-start-a-Monday! She's all decorated St. Patrick's Day. Beautiful!

I'm trying my first EVER audio book. Rather sporadically. When I run errands and stuff.  I'm listening to Mastiff by Tamora Pierce. It's quite the out-of-body experience for me... I am so visually grounded. To hear a story leaves me wondering if I actually know what's going on or not... it's, like, extra mysterious, or something. Do you listen to books much?

I recently finished Terra by Gretchen Powell so I could plan the awesome Scavenger Hunt Tour in April. I don't usually finish tour books. In fact, it's my policy to stop mid-way to plan a tour. I like to grab that tension... you know, that moment when you're into the story and can hardly put it down, but you still don't know what's next?  Yep, that.

Also for tours... I'm in the middle of daynight by Megan Thomason (possibly the most creative person I've ever met. Ever.) and Blue Hearts of Mars by Nicole Grotepas. I'm right there in that moment... the one I described. Sweet tension!!!

Next up... would be Sweet Mercy by Ann Tatlock, 'cause that tour's comin' up and I have yet to plan it. Also in the works are tours for I Have People by Taylor Dean and The Battle for Princess Madeline by Kirstin Pulioff. (And The Golden Lily, Vale!)

I only mention all these in case you wanna join the parties, I mean Tours. Lol. Click on the covers in the sidebar or I've linked the ones with open sign-ups here, too. 

Musing Mondays by Miz B asks you to muse about one of the following each week… • Describe one of your reading habits. • Tell us what book(s) you recently bought for yourself or someone else, and why you chose that/those book(s).

When I read slowly... it's because I'm catching an hour before everyone wakes up in the morning and half an hour at night after I get everyone to bed. When I read fast... I'm pretending to be too sick to perform all my regular duties and I camp out on the couch with a cup of tea. :-D  I schedule "sick days" as regularly as possible.


My most recent book purchase, well, besides By Darkness Hid, which everyone should nab today (sidebar!), was Indigo Spell at the book signing. Yes, it's signed. SQUEE!! And that's why I bought it, besides voraciously reading all of Richelle Mead's VA series in the last 6 months. (That might have had something to do with it, too.)

Did you see the trailer for Dark Triumph, yet? Hm?  It's soooooo perfectly dark and sinister. I love it.



Enjoy your Monday!!!!

You Know You're in the Country When.... MONDAY!

Content Warning: Graphic Violence hinted at.


You know you're in the country when... the mobile slaughterhouse pulls up to your neighbors field... in full view of your front window. And you hear gunshots. And you just close the curtains... or run errands for a couple hours.

I've tried complaining to the police, but I get these sympathetic smiles and questions about whether I eat beef. Seriously?!?!  Not anymore, I don't!!!!!

You know you're in the country when... you can buy range-happy chicken eggs from your neighbors. (Key word: "happy". Not that chickens have brains big enough to express a lot of happiness, but I can imagine they're happy. They look pretty happy.)

You know you're in the country when... you can smell the first "burn day" of the new season.

I grew up in a small town... one of those classic types of small towns perfect for movies with train tracks dividing it in half and a "snob hill". There may have only been 5,000 residents, but I'm still a city girl. I don't know hardly anything about farm/country living. The town I live in now is "small", but it used to be farmland before Portland sprawled to engulf it. Only 10 minutes from the mall, my neighbors are (mostly delightful) country-folk. I made them all Christmas cookies when we first moved here and nearly killed my neighbor's dog with chocolate. I had to pause writing this post so I didn't burn my second attempt at applesauce. (My first attempt wasn't a hit, but I'm not giving up. Even when my husband pointed out that no one in our family eats applesauce. Humph. Well... I will. Now.)


Do you ever get crushes on fictional characters? Name one (or a few), and tell what you liked...

Fun question this week from Should be Reading. You know what you don't hear so often?  Do you ever get mad at fictional characters? 'Cause I found myself rather furious at a few fictional people this past weekend.

I'm reading Last Sacrifice and I'm only 70 pages from the end of this 594 pg volume. I want to remember this moment.


Rose is infuriating. She knew her heart and yet she led Adrian on, anyway. "Because he is fun." Um.... yea... (thick sarcasm here) and having fun is obviously a priority in her life.

Adrian is a tad irritating. (I'm not picking a fight here, listen before swinging!) What's up with this pickin' up the vices again when Rose is out of sight? He's got the willpower of a... of a.... um... what? What fluffy thing has no willpower? A rabbit? A cute, soft, fluffy rabbit? They're known for being productive. Lol. That'll work.


Dimitri is... well, I could strangle him, if I could get close enough (although he's a good answer to this question, too, if I tolerated crushes. Which I don't). What's up with his nebulously growing sense of "right"?! I mean... it's one thing to have a standard of Right & Wrong, it's a whole 'nother thing to be changing the rules all the time without warning.

Victor Dashkov was also infuriating. So sinister, so dangerous. "Was" is the key word there, I suppose. He's harmless on pg 520.  I think. I hope!

The other reason I'm writing instead of reading is I wanted to apologize for disappearing over the weekend. (Without warning - ha!) The Friday headache thing went away, but then I was running some sort of fantastic marathon of birthday parties and sports events with some in-laws sprinkled generously everywhere. (Picture Halloween candy sprinkles in orange and black 'cause sprinkles are nice.)

Which reminds me of Trinity's favorite book of the week: If You Give a Cat a Cupcake. This book is awesome. I love the roundabout logic and the easy-to-read words. I've read it to her twice, is all, and she's read it to me at least four times (out of the 20 she wanted to. Compromise!)


I totally guessed Dash's book wrong, too... I'll have to get back to you on that, though. Like a distracted Mom, I have forgotten again what that fast-paced book is actually called. (Good grief.)

Speaking of being distracted... have you ever washed a water bottle in the washing machine?!  I recognized the sound of the plastic, disposable water bottle while transferring clothes from the washer to dryer and I had to laugh. It was just one of those weekends, I guess. At least I didn't throw all the dishes in the washing machine. It could have been worse!

Thx to Sheila @ Book Journey for hosting It's Monday, What are you Reading?


From whom I heard this awesome bit of news! Remember that thought about reading The Hobbit together? There's a Readalong going on RIGHT NOW!!  I'm so joining that. I tell ya... all us great minds think an awful lot alike. They're still near the beginning-ish, if you wanna jump on board with me. It'll be fun!!

Takin' my Time on a Fine Monday!

Memorable Monday is hosted by Escape in a Book.

From Becoming a Butterfly pg 110 on my Nook. I posted a review & author interview (and giveaway!) this morning. I like this quote for showing the tension... how Lacey gets herself in trouble and how Mia Castile writes so playfully. I had to laugh at "China"!!

"I cringed for three obvious reasons. 1. Henry must have heard Chase and knew someone was in my back yard. I imagined him and Byron suddenly communicating using military hand gestures and a form of sign language. 2. Chase was standing over my backside with me in this  swimsuit. 3. It was only a matter of minutes before Henry realized I'd been here the whole time. I wanted to disappear under my lounger, under the deck, under the ground, and come up in China."

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Book Journey.

Somebody is going to want to strangle me. So... before you do, please hear me out!!  And then maybe I'll help you!!  Lol.

I started reading Insurgent last weekend, right? Remember? Mother's Day gift?!  Yea. Awesome.

Well, then I posted about writing my book and some (possibly insane) volunteers stepped forward to read it. And, OF COURSE, it needs a lot of work. But it's also worth working on. So... Um... my brain was whisked away until I realized I was reviewing Becoming a Butterfly by this morning. (Please see my love of schedules and reviewing in a timely matter in previous posts.)  Ok... so I'm trying to find a quiet moment to finish Insurgent, because I keep crying. (What? I might be extra emotional this week. What of it?!)


Only every time I get a quiet moment, I want to WRITE. And then I got sucked into Becoming a Butterfly... which, um, don't tell anyone, but I'm still finishing. I almost snapped at the gas station attendant this morning when he interrupted me to give me my receipt. It was NOT a good stopping place!!  (Please refer to potentially emotional week!) (No, we can't pump our own gas in Oregon, but it makes for a great reading moment. Sometimes I get in the long line to have a longer moment.)


So... I'm in the middle of both of them as well as Shadow on the Wall, which I'm scheduled to review Wednesday, I think. (Kali!)  Failstate is after that, 'cause it's due Monday.

Who is scheduling for me?! How am I supposed to write while reading and reviewing all these books?!  What about getting ready for Armchair BEA?! And TWO birthday parties PLUS four kids getting out of school for the summer AND a trip to Yellowstone?! My scheduler ought to check in with me.



Ok. I can totally hear a reader wondering WHY I need strangling? Lemme spell it out for you. I took a book that should be read in one sitting even if it's over 500 pages and turned it into more than a week. It makes me feel ill just to think about it.  Except... there is the wee little tiny part of me that just doesn't want it to end. Like, maybe if I "can't" find the time, I can drag it out just a little longer. It's just, I really like Tris... and the writing is so deliciously incredible!  Oh, why does it have to end?!


Musing Mondays is hosted by Should Be Reading.
Uh... happy Victoria Day anyone!  (?)

This week’s musing asks…

What do you do with the book before you start reading it?

Before reading, I usually do a lot of background checking on the book & the author. I read the premise and skim reviews on Goodreads. I find the author's sites and see what they like, what else they've written. You know, nose around.

I do this especially for review books, 'cause I hate saying something really dumb like, "woops! I guess I don't like your book at all!!"  Yea. I try to catch that reaction before I have it and avoid it altogether.

When I receive a gift or browse the library, I check out the cover, the review quotes, a little bit of the premise and the author blip.

When I review or highlight a book, I stalk the author everywhere, 'cause by then, I feel like I know them.

Mailbox Musings

Mailbox Monday is hosted by Reviews by Martha's Bookshelf for the month of May.

I rec'd Insurgent on Saturday - an early-bird Mother's Day gift, so I could start reading the night before. Soooo thoughtful of my Cool, Man!!!  :-)  He also gave me flowers, which are beautiful, too. Almost as beautiful as the cover of Insurgent!!  :-D

Here's the stack of books I had with me at last week's book signin'. I got extra copies of Shatter Me and Under the Never Sky to share with Colorimetry readers - signed copies!!  So exciting!!  The giveaway for Shatter Me is already posted with my review. Later this week, I'll give away the signed copy of Under the Never Sky. Ssssoooo exciting!!!  I'm excited.  I have copies of Eve & Hallowed on my Nook, so these are to share, too... but no tellin' when.

Earlier this week Anna Banks sent me the picture of the box I posted last night - the one that's missing my address. The actual box arrived Saturday and I found a wealth of treasure inside!!

Here's a tiny sneak peek:

I really have to post about this separately... so, um, stay tuned!!


Musing Monday is posted by MizB of Should be Reading:

This week's musing asks...

Do you tend to read to the end of a chapter or can you stop anywhere?

Hey! So this question is REALLY IMPORTANT!!!

Whatya do when Tris has a gun pointed to her head so that "it forms a cold circle on (her) skin." [Pg 188 Insurgent] and your wonderful 8 year old asks for a popsicle. DO YOU GIVE HIM THE "NOT NOW!" FINGER?!

Stopping anywhere is an essential skill to learn to be a long-time proficient reader. I prefer to stop when the action or tension lulls, whether that's at the end of a chapter or somewhere in the middle. When the main character gets a chance to take a deep breath and contemplate things, I often do the same, pause and contemplate.

But I use the word "prefer" very lightly... 'cause people are more important than stories. The story will wait, right where I left it, whereas people change all the time. Relationships are fragile, irreplaceable treasures!

I didn't leap out of my chair to get my 8 year old his popsicle, but I did make eye contact with him (without thinking "knife-knife-knife!") and smile and say, "no dear, you've already had five."  Jajajajaja  I mean, I nodded, being incapable of speech.

Maybe some readers can schedule in quiet moments of uninterrupted reading. Personally, I don't think "quiet" is essential for reading, nor perfect location. I read all over the place. And when the Post Office Clerk says "next!" I close the book, wherever I'm at, happy to have slipped away to another world for a few more moments.  Totally worth it!!

M is for Monday and Meme

You gotta LOVE Mondays, right?

No?

Me, neither.

At least, Book Journey starts the week pleasantly by asking about BOOKS!!

I finished Soulless... and dove immediately into Changeless  (review forthcoming!)


This series is DELIGHTFUL. I love the wit and humor. Alexia is such a wonderful character... but I'm not reviewing right now...


I had to *pause* to read The Quaker State Affair, as a scheduled Tribute Tour stop. I didn't think I could tackle it in two days, which is all I left myself, but it was a zippy read for being such a solid book (in weight & topic!)



And then I jumped into Heart of Gold on my Nook and it's cute!!  Hooked it's claws immediately, so I'm meandering through it quite happily, although I also picked up Calvin Miller's poetic retelling of the life & ministry of Jesus, since it was Easter week and the poetic side met me right where my contemplative side was hangin' out. (See below!!)



When I finish... all of these books I'm in the middle of, I might get around to Angelfall, but it's very likely I'll continue with Alexia on into Blameless as well as pick something entirely new.  OR... maybe start my next scheduled Tour stop so I don't have to read it all in a day!!  That'd be The Kingdom on the Edge of Reality.


Musing Monday is hosted by Should be Reading...



What do you think are the top 5 books every woman should read?

Lol.

As in specifically a "woman"?!

1. Created to be his Helpmeet

You're going to think I'm crazy, but this old-school book about being a wife taught me a TON about how men think and what they value and what strengths I have as a wife & which things I shouldn't obsess over, etc, etc. I read this WAAAAY before I got married & made so many decisions that benefited the both of us from football to peanut butter to sex. I don't agree with everything in the book... but it's never too early to read something as thought-provoking & inspiring & potentially life-changing, not to mention, learning how to "spit out the sticks" of stuff ya don't agree with. Worth it!!!!

2. Jane Eyre &/or Pride & Prejudice

Of course!!!  Not everyone's cup of tea, I know, but what great inspirations for being a woman and standing for personal values while discovering true love!!

3. Books by Robin McKinley or any other author who believes in the power of being a woman completely disconnected with the world of men. Like Sunshine or The Blue Sword or Deerskin. Her women are powerful, complete beings that don't need to be rescued!!

4. Fiction written by men - pick a man's fantastical book. Like The Lord of the Rings, The Name of the Wind, or The Game of Thrones. Soak up the love of action and the cluelessness of women's emotions. Climb inside a man's perfect world so they make more sense in day to day life. (jajajajaja  - Am I getting myself in trouble here?!)

5. Whatever floats yer boat, draws you into imagine the wildest, most amazing possibilities. Vampires, werewolves, fairies, angels... WHATEVER. Let the imagination go wild and free with something fictional. Spark creativity and let it flow into your daily life. These books would be whatever just pulls you in irresistibly.

Who was that who said that if you want your kids to excel read them fairy tales? Einstein?!

That's what I think.  I am not very good with lists 'cause (as I discovered with that Left Brain/Right Brain test last week) the possibilities are endless, as are the right answers. bleh!!


Memorable Monday is hosted by Escape in a Book





This  Singer Trilogy is hugely quotable...

"If she has loved him, a man will carry anything for his mother - a waterpot or the world." Singer pg 30

"Come to the court of God having eyes unwashed with dreams and you will see nothing." Finale pg 81

MmmmmmonDAY

Oh... it's definitely MONDAY!!!  Is anyone else reeling from the time change?  We all had to get up soooo early this morning. Bear & Trinity were ready with coats and shoes on, but still missed the bus.  (It comes back by - yay for me!!)

Our Cam was up in the middle of the night, sick, so some of us didn't even get all the sleep hours available between the time we could force ourselves to sleep and the time the alarm declared it was morning.

Some of us read a little, too, shortening that time even more.  Oops.

It's Monday, What are you Reading is hosted by Book Journey...



In my defense, Legend got really exciting, so that I couldn't put it down, but I had to. It's possible I finished it this morning before getting to my taxes.


Starters is very different, for also being labeled a "dystopian". When I couldn't fall asleep for thinking about Legend, I read Starters. That doesn't make sense, but that's what I did.



So... I'm still in the middlin' of Starters and at the beginning of Soulless... and slowly meandering through The Scarlet Pimpernel.

Next up: The Day of First Sun or Lies Beneath, maybe Intangible or Halflings or maybe Changeless!!  Maybe I have no idea.

Hosted by Miz B at Should Be Reading:

This week’s musing asks…

What book do you wish you were reading right now? Where would you take it to, if you could go anywhere to read for a while?

This question inspires me to turn on some Dr. Seuss:

In a chair, on my bed, across the couch, near my love's head. 

I would read this here or there, I would read it anywhere!  

I would read it on this pillow, I would read it in a willow, please, oh please, just let me read, you do my taxes and I'll simply read!!!  

Under the table, on the kitchen counter, outside in a gale, while rotating laundry... if I could I would, I would, I would, I would!!!  You could do my taxes for me, you could!!!

Um... that applies to any of the above-mentioned books.  *ahem*  And, um, yes, that was spontaneous, so excuse the horrible rhyming 'cause I really do need to get to work.

Finally, I leave you with a great quote:

Hosted by Escape in a Book:

"Why 'Day'?
Each day means a new twenty-four hours. Each day means everything's possible again. You live in the moment, you take it all one day at a time... You try to walk in the light."

This is from Legend, pg 304.

What Memorable Musings on Monday?

It's Monday! What are you Reading? is hosted by Sheila over at Book Journey



This week, what I'm reading is a Big Deal.  First...

I have my initial thoughts on The Giver written, but I need to refine it and clarify the parts I didn't like vs. the parts I did like and see where the rating levels out. It's turned into a harder post than I anticipated.

I finished A Great And Terrible Beauty, which I have conflicting feelings over, too. So... look for those two reviews this week.

Currently:

I'm bogging down on Untraceable, so I'm removing it from my "currently reading" spot. Three times I've been set up for something exciting and it was nothing and then "the only sound" was followed by multiple sounds... and... I'm just gonna wait a bit.  I love the sneaking around in the woods thing, but I am already tired of the attitude. Please... if you've read this book and it gets GREAT after page 50, let me know!!!!  (Don't you hate not finishing a book?!)


I picked up some books at the library and I can't stop peaking into Firelight, so I just dived in... Fast-paced writing, beautiful dragons changing into human form. I am in love with flying!!! Thank you to Forever Lost in Books for recommending this book last Wednesday!!!  :-D

Musing Mondays is hosted by Should Be Reading...

 (Happy Family Day, to anyone celebrating!)

This week's musing asks... What is the last book that you learned something from? What book was it, and what did it teach you?

You know... I'm going to say Peru in Images. I'll review it right away, so I don't want to say too much, but I had no idea how diverse Peru is. When I think of the country, I compare it to my State of Oregon, which is unfair... to Oregon, anyway, 'cause Peru contains so many different climates and cultures. This book really... well, nevermind. I'll tell ya tomorrow, maybe.

Memorable Monday is hosted by Escape in a Book

Today I give you a quote from A Great and Terrible Beauty, which I'll review on Thursday-ish...

"But forgiveness... I'll hold on to that fragile slice of hope and keep it close, remembering that in each of us lie good and bad, light and dark, art and pain, choice and regret, cruelty and sacrifice."

This book is flows like deep water, pulling truth out and interweaving it with creative story Thx to the ladies at Escape in a Book for starting this new Meme where we share our favorite quotes.

To share where you're at in your book randomly, answer the fun question for the Random Acts of Kindness Giveaway which only goes thru the 21st. I list all my Giveaways on the top of my left side panel.

What are you up to this Monday?!

It's Monday!

WAYR is hosted by Book Journey, who writes musing thoughts frequently (she probably has a planned schedule, but in my random life, it's "frequently") which are so fun.

Last week I realized people hop to each other's WAYR and report back to win prizes.  I think it's a genius way of sharing ARC's and extra books and stuff.  Last week I participated and it was my lucky week, 'cause...

I'M THE WINNER!!!!  :-D

I am currently reading two books: A Great and Terrible Beauty & Untraceable.

     &     

These two books are so different, it's pretty easy to read 'em simultaneously.  In Terrible I've gotten to the girls' school that is remarkably unfriendly.  It reminds me slightly of A Little Princess, which I thoroughly enjoyed and carry memories of forever... except for the crawling darkness. How freaky!!

I have always had a passion for the woods and sneaking around in 'em, so Untraceable is a lot of fun so far, too.  I do live in Oregon, you know, and my grandparents lived up on Dixie Mountain and our weekly visit involved 1/2 hour of dreaming out the window at Oregon's woodsiest landscape. Oh... I have stories, alrighty, tons of stories where I kick-butt in the middle of a forest, but you'd never find me 'cause I am invisible!!!  *ahem*  It's fun.


(Hey, so one time we had almost crested the mountain when this herd of elk leapt from an 8 ft bank on one side of the road down onto the other, into an empty field. We just stopped and watched (not like we had a choice) and time slowed down as elk after elk leapt across the road three or four at a time. They were bigger than I'd imagined they'd be and the thunder of their hooves shook the ground. I'd guess there were 80 of 'em altogether. It was amazing - sorta like this picture, only with lush greenery and forest instead of dusty rock.  Ok... that doesn't have anything to do with anything. Just some Monday trivia for you, I guess.)

If I'm gonna muse about anything, I should think about Miz B's question of the day:

What is your favorite romantic book –or book that includes a love story? (an adult romance, young adult, kids’ story, anything)

The root of my favorite love story is Beauty and the Beast first and best.

So I loved Rose Daughter and Pride & Prejudice. Ice & Jane Eyre fit really well as did the Twilight books (books, not movies - ugh.) I love The Goose Girl as nearly fitting the same concept with the arranged marriage.  True Love is a little scary - I mean, what if you actually find it?!  That's scary in it's own way, as frightening as a beast. (Click on the pix for more info.)

     

    

Then I have this odd obsession with True Love Unfulfilled... the ache of Almost.  I sobbed watching Becoming Jane 'cause they love each other, but they can't be together! Sunshine gives me the same ache of impossibility - Rae can't really love Con, but she can't not, either.

My favorite Love Stories have some impossibility to overcome - that is or isn't overcome-able. They have strength and depth and passion that isn't necessarily acted upon. Love stories that give me everything on a platter don't keep my attention.

There's one response to my Romantic Giveaway that totally tugged my heart like that. This is only a smidgen of someone's real life, but wow... I totally ache for you, girl!!!!

"I met my boyfriend online two years back and while he lives in Colombia, South America and I live in Wisconsin, I wouldn't trade him for the world. So far he's come here once, at the end of last summer, and stayed for three months. The time spent without him is one of the most difficult things I've had to go through, but he plans on coming here to further his education in 2014 or so. Unfortunately, things aren't going well for my family and we don't have a stable income, so I have no way to visit him like we were hoping. Waiting to be together is the worst and I will never take our relationship for granted like I've seen many others do."