Friday #1 Aloha Friday

I am trying out a new format today for Friday memes (if you would, please comment which way you like better...thank you).  On Fridays, I participate in 4 memes and in the past have put all of the memes in one post.  I have found that it is hard to respond to comments as they are all bunched together.  Today I am going to try a format where I create a posting for each individual meme.

Hosted by An Island Life http://islandlife808.com
From An Island Life: In Hawaii, Aloha Friday is the day that we take it easy and look forward to the weekend. So I thought that on Fridays I would take it easy on posting, too. Therefore, I’ll ask a simple question for you to answer. Nothing that requires a lengthy response.
If you’d like to participate, visit An Island Life answer the question and then post your own question on your blog and leave your link below. Don’t forget to visit the other participants! It’s a great way to make new bloggy friends!
  My question:   Since Spring is around the corner, what is your favorite thing about this season?
     I have 2.  First is to see my daffodils and tulips start to bloom and the second is to open up the windows and let the fresh air in and smell the scents of spring.

in the fun. You don't need a blog to comment. But if you do and want to join in, link is above.

Friday #2 Friday 56

Hosted by Storytime With Tonya and Friends http://storytimewithtonya.blogspot.com
Rules:
* Grab the book nearest you. Right now.
* Turn to page 56.
* Find the fifth sentence.
* Post that sentence (plus one or two others if you like) along with these instructions on your blog or (if you do not have your own blog) in the comments section of this blog.
*Post a link along with your post back to this blog.
* Don't dig for your favorite book, the coolest, the most intellectual. Use the CLOSEST
    His head snaps up.  "You just hand things out to anyone who wants them."
                          From Live To Tell by Wendy Corsi Staub

Join in the fun. You don't need a blog to comment. But if you do and want to join in, link is above.

Friay #3 Book Blog Hop

BOOK BLOG HOP HOSTED BY CRAZY FOR BOOKS BLOG     http://www.crazy-for-books.com/    (She is working on design) 

Here are the instuctions from her site:

Every day I seem to find another book blog that I start following. In the spirit of the Friday Follow, I thought it would be cool to do a Book Blog Hop to give us all bookies a chance to connect and find new blogs that we may be missing out on! It will also give blog readers a chance to find other book blogs that they may not know existed!

So, if you'd like to participate, just repost this on your blog, sign MckLinky below, and check out other blogs in MckLinky! Let's connect and make new book bloggy friends!! So, if you consider yourself a book blogger, come join the fun!
Pretty please - Your blog should have content related to books, including, but not limited to book reviews.
There were 129 links the first week, so don't forget to stop back and check out the new blogs that are added during the week!!




.

Thursday

I look forward to and enjoy taking part in daily memes.  Great way to find new blogs and find it to be really fun.  I usually have a minimum of two a day except for Friday, which will be 4 this week !!   However, on Thursday, I only have one meme.  Does anyone know of other fun memes for Thursday?  If so, would you let me know please.  Thanx

http://btt2.wordpress.com/

Today's question:

How do you feel about illustrations in your books? Graphs? Photos? Sketches?

  It would depend on the book.  If it is a reference book, then absolutely would need illustrations, such as how-to, text, cook, children's, "coffee table", etc. books.  For the books that I enjoy, fiction, then no.  When I read,  and as part of the enjoyment for me, is to take the writer's words and use my imagination to make the story come alive.

  Do you have a preference?  Leave a comment and/or join in on the fun.  Link to this meme is above.

Wednesday

Should Be Reading http://shouldbereading.wordpress.com

 *What are you currently reading?
     Live To Tell by Wendy Corsi-Staub 
 *What did you recently finish reading?
     Waking Up In The Land Of Glitter by Kathy Cano-Murillo (4 star rating)
 *What do you think you’ll read next?
     Silent Scream by Karen Rose
     The Cutting by James Hayman

Hosted by Bermudanonion's Weblog http://bermudaonion.wordpress.com/
  No words this week but will be visiting others to learn new words.  Thank you for posting them.

      

Hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine http://breakingthespine.blogspot.com/

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted here, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.
  This is my first posting for this meme.  Hoping to find and add books to my TBR book bucket list.

(James Patterson fan....need to catch up with series before buying this one)

I met the author through Good Reads and was pleasantly surprised that during college years we lived in the same neighborhood.  Small cyber world!!

Tuesday

Before I post my daily memes, I want to thank all those that stopped by yesterday and commented.  Please forgive me if I didn't make it to your site.  Sunday, I was able to get drafts done of my memes for part of this week.  But due to preop appointments every day this week, I am not able to put in much computer time that I usually allow myself daily.  Today, I am off to an appointment at the Blood Center as I am required to donate pints of my own blood just in case it is needed during the 2 day surgery.  Have another appointment for this next week too.  I can't wait for this whole process to be over.  OK....now to the fun stuff !!!!!!

Hosted by Should Be Reading http://shouldbereading.wordpress.com/

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

*Grab your current read

*Open to a random page

*Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

*BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

*Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My Teaser:

  There's no reason to think his elder daughter won't live a long and healthy life-that's what Garvey was told years ago, by a trusted physician.  But can you ever be sure?

Hosted By An Adventure In Reading http://raidergirl3-anadventureinreading.blogspot.com/

  I am in a suburban area of New York called Glenhaven Park with my friend Lauren, who is trying to deal with some personal issues.

  From Live To Tell by Wendy Corsi Staub

Monday

Hosted by Just One More Page http://rebeccavoy.blogspot.com/

Today’s MUSING MONDAYS post is about dust jackets.

Do you prefer books with a dust jacket? What do you do with your dust jacket while reading? Leave it on or take it off? (Question courtesy of Kim from Page after Page)
  It depends on where and what position I am reading in.  And also depends on the cover itself.  If I am in one of my reading chairs, the cover usually stays on.  If I am lying in bed reading, I take the jacket off as it tends to move around or even get torn, which I am very OCD when it comes to my books.  The jacket also gets taken off if for some reason it is not a well fitted jacket so I won't damage it.  Because I pass my books on, I want them to look as new as possible for the next reader. 

Hosted by One Persons Journey Through A World Of Books http://bookjourney.wordpress.com
This is a meme to list the books completed last week, the books currently being read, and the books to be finished this week.

I had a very slow week reading but did finish (requested review from The Hachette Book Group) 

And started (which I have been looking forward to from Bestsellersworld)

Hosted by The Printed Page http://printedpage.us/
It was a very slow week for mail deliveries  

From Phenix & Phenix Publishers

Waking Up In The Land Of Glitter by Kathy Cano-Murillo

Waking Up In The Land of Glitter by Kathy Cano-Murillo  (Rating 4)
Grand Central Publishing
ISBN 978-0-446-50924-4
At the request of The Hachette Book Group, a PB copy was sent, at no cost to me, for my honest opinion.
  Synopsis:  How do three females, so vastly different, become to be best friends, and support to and for one another. Estrella, or also known as Star, works at her family's famous restaurant known for it's good food and art exhibits. She feels this is just temporary until she finds her passion as an artist, but the problem is she tends to quit any and all projects before even starting. Then there is Ofie, wife, stay at home mother to one daughter and self proclaimed exceptional craft extraordinaire but is she really that good? And what skeletons is Arizona's television host, Crafty Chloe Chavez trying to hide. And how does a young boy with a fantastic future in fashion design, but needs to keep it hidden, bring these women together? Can these three women overcome the truth that they never wanted to face or be found out for?
  My Thoughts: Even with all the quirky personality traits that all the characters were portrayed to have, this reader found them to be frustrating one minute and rooting them on the next minute. The writer conveyed the emotions of the main characters with her writing style that made me laugh and cry with them as if they were my friends and communicated what true friendships should be. And even showed how some relationships can be sabotaged by our own egos, faults and insecurities. And how three women, with one hobby, see it in their own special way.
  My Opinion and Rating: I gave this book a rating of 4. It was definitely a "feel good" book with a message that friendships and overcoming obstacles and truth are always best fought with a true friend.  One of my favorite lines in this book was on page 190, which stated "Many so-called friends have walked in and out of my life but Star is the only one who has left footprints on my heart."  In my opinion, we should all be so lucky to have one of those friends.

DISCLAIMER

I received a copy of this book, at no charge to me,

in exchange for my HONEST review.

No items that I receive

are ever sold...they are kept by me,

or given to family or friends.

Sunday

I am so excited that I found another meme today that I think I am going to enjoy! Is it that I get a kick out of daily memes and challenges because I am a semi new book blogger and like being part of a community that has the nicest people? For the experienced bloggers...do you still enjoy the fun or does it wear off after a while? Thank you to Midday Escapades...via her newsletter...I found the following meme hosted by The Eclectic Element (theeclecticelement.blogspot.com)

Slapdash Sunday is a day for your proverbial week 'leftovers.' Is there something you wanted to say, but just forgot? Is there something you want to write about, but isn't worth a whole page? Do you have a random thought, funny or otherwise that needs to be written down? That is what Slapdash Sunday is for!
  I just love the comment above "but just forgot" LOL I suffer from CRS so this is the perfect meme for me.
  I will be posting a book review a little later today. Waking Up In The Land Of Glitter by Kathy Cano-Murillo. Because it was my current read and I always have my book close at hand, it was the topic of multiple memes. I posted a snippet on Friday for Friday 56 and had quite a few comments asking me to share what it meant.  I will repost it so you can see where everyone's mind was regarding the 2 sentences LOL.  Here it is:
       "People, I sweated over this baby for you! Stay tuned until after this commercial break, because I'm going to show you how I made it!"
OK.....here it is .....Chloe Chavez one of the characters, was a television news commentator that had a segment Crafty Chloe and was about to show instructions on making a lamp.  Are you disappointed that it wasn't something else?  lol

MY JOURNEY

REMINDER

As of tomorrow and going forward for the next 4 weeks, my postings may not be complete or completed in time for my Feedburner newsletter distributions.  I apologize in advance.  And to those that have become new followers (I apologize to those that already know) I am scheduled for 2 major spinal surgeries on April 5th & April 6th.  This week starts the preop preparations, I have appointments everyday for different procedures due to the complicated nature of the operations.  I am going to try and get as much done as I can as far as blogging for 2 main reasons....it is enjoyable and takes my mind off what is becoming a very anxious time and need to get in as much as possible for when I have blogging withdrawals during my hospital stay.  I wonder what the consequences would be if I stole, took, borrowed a hospital issued computer to try and blog while in the OR (ok ...I am pushing it) Recovery room. lol  Needing to find any and all humor in this situation.  So please forgive me as I use this segment as a personal platform to journal my emotions as I go through this scary time.  Plus its cheaper than a therapist lol.

  Wellllllll......Slapdash Sunday worked for me  lol.   Have a Happy Sunday and try to RELAX & READ.....its fun.

Saturday

I should have blogged about this yesterday...but its better late than never.  I jumped on Jennifer's Book Blog Hop over at Crazy For Books (http://www.crazy-for-books.com/).  Info to follow.  I had read that there are quite a few book bloggers out there.  And like the saying...there are never too many books, the same goes with book blogs.  What a great way to meet new friends that have the same love for books as you. She has had a great turnout for her 1st day.  So join in !!!!!! The following is from Crazy For Books:

Hey book bloggers! Every day I seem to find another book blog that I start following. In the spirit of the Friday Follow, I thought it would be cool to do a Book Blog Hop to give us all bookies a chance to connect and find new blogs that we may be missing out on!
Now, I follow a lot of blogs and I haven't seen this feature yet, so if someone else is doing a Book Blog Hop, please let me know!! I don't want to step on any toes or anything!
So, if you'd like to participate, just repost this, sign MckLinky below, and check out other blogs in MckLinky! Let's connect and make new book bloggy friends!!
I'll try to make a nifty graphic to go along with this, but give me another week to get that done! :)
Instructions: Add your BLOG NAME in the Title with a link to your book blog Since this is just getting started, spreading the word would be awesome!!!

Any special plans today?  I am a little behind in reading so this post will be short so I can get some things done around the house, and then I am going to Relax & Read !!!  Have a great Saturday!!!!

Friday

TGIF....and the busiest day for memes, so I don't want to waste any time, let the fun begin........

Hosted by An Island Life http://islandlife808.com
From An Island Life: In Hawaii, Aloha Friday is the day that we take it easy and look forward to the weekend. So I thought that on Fridays I would take it easy on posting, too. Therefore, I’ll ask a simple question for you to answer. Nothing that requires a lengthy response.
If you’d like to participate, visit An Island Life answer the question and then post your own question on your blog and leave your link below. Don’t forget to visit the other participants! It’s a great way to make new bloggy friends!
  My question is:   Favorite Girl Scout Cookie?
     Thin Mint....mmmm....wouldn't mind a few right now.

Hosted by Storytime With Tonya and Friends http://storytimewithtonya.blogspot.com
Rules:
* Grab the book nearest you. Right now.
* Turn to page 56.
* Find the fifth sentence.
* Post that sentence (plus one or two others if you like) along with these instructions on your blog or (if you do not have your own blog) in the comments section of this blog.
*Post a link along with your post back to this blog.
* Don't dig for your favorite book, the coolest, the most intellectual. Use the CLOSEST.
     "People, I sweated over this baby for you!  Stay tuned until after this commercial break, because I'm going to show you how I made it!"
     From Waking Up In The Land Of Glitter by Kathy Cano-Murillo

http://fridayfillins.blogspot.com/

And...here we go!

1. Why are you making the bed, you are only going to sleep in it again? (words spoken by my family)
2. I want you to take a trip to Aruba asap.
3. If I am willing to do it then it will be on my terms.
4. Take a chance and see what happens.
5. I could use a VACATION.
6. Praying that the surgery is successful and then I will have a great quality of life with little pain.
7. And for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to spending time with hubby, tomorrow my plans include laundry, computer to-do items, reading and hubby quality time and Sunday, I want to wish my baby, Mark, a Happy 24th birthday, wish he lived closer, and its RELAX & READ Sunday!

Thursday

  TWO DAYS IN A ROW.....Yesterday morning with coffee mug in hand and reading my subscribed newsletters, there was my name, I had won Still Life by Joy Fielding from Karen over at Bookin' With Bingo.  I was so excited since I have started to make my surgery "To Do List" and thought this one is definitely going to the hospital with me.

  Then today...once again...same routine, except this time I almost choked on my coffee.  Rachel, who has accepted the torch from J.Kayes Book Blog, and is now  Home Girl's Book Blog has passed on this award to me.  You really should stop by her blog....she has a unique style of posting that has never failed to make me smile.  I so take these awards seriously and appreciate them.  To think just a few months ago, I was stalking blogs, reading the reviews and wishing to join in the fun.  And now, here I am, accepting and being accepted into the nicest and friendliest neighborhood of blogs. Thank you again Rachel !!  Now for the blog and it's criteria:

1. Every winner of the Prolific Blogger Award has to pass on this award to at least seven other deserving prolific bloggers. Spread some love!

2. Each Prolific Blogger must link to the blog from which he/she has received the award.
3. Every Prolific Blogger must link back to This Post, which explains the origins and motivation for the award.
4. Every Prolific Blogger must visit this post and add his/her name in the Mr. Linky, so that we all can get to know the other winners.
I am sure that there are some that I am passing this to, that have received it in the past but please enjoy it today and know that I think that you are a "Prolific Blogger". OK....drum roll please.........
       Midday Escapades            Crazy For Books
       Xmas Dolly                      Socrates' Book Reviews
       Caiafa Craziness              Rundpinne
       Tea Time With Marce

http://btt2.wordpress.com/

Today's question:
In honor of National Grammar Day … it IS “March Fourth” after all … do you have any grammar books? Punctuation? Writing guidelines? Style books?
More importantly, have you read them?
How do you feel about grammar in general? Important? Vital? Unnecessary? Fussy?
  Confession time...so please don't tell anyone (lol)....but throughout my education, I found some aspects of grammar difficult. So I am thinking, I should have kept those books. But with the technology of today who needs reference books? However, I do feel it is very important. I think that all the positives of technology there are quite a few negatives for the youth of today. I know when I hear those that are our future talking, I cringe. Maybe I am just old fashioned but I find it sad that some appear not to be able to put 2 sentences together. So yes...I feel it is both vital and important.

Last week I didn't go on my treasure hunt for new blogs, and not sure if I will be able to do it next week (have appointments every single day to start the preop procedure), I am definitely doing it today. I noticed on Home Girl's Book Blog (http://j-kaye-book-blog.blogspot.com/) newsletter, there were quite a few blogs new to me so, Thank you Rachel for sharing your blog roll.

CRITERIA
**Go to one of your book blogs you visit (each week visit another blog)
**Click on their blog roll/blog lists.
**Find blogs that are new to you from that list.
**Visit those new blogs (optional but would be nice...award them with the "Thursday Treasure" icon and become a follower)
**Post on your site the name of the blog you initially visited and the new sites you found.
**Leave a comment here with a link to your site(if you don't have a blog, list your finds here) so others may see the blogs you have found.
  Found some great blogs and they are:
       dArLyN&bOoKs                Chew & Digest Books
       red headed book child        My Random Acts of Reading
       The Lost Entwife
  I look forward to following your blog.....

Wednesday

Hosted by Should Be Reading http://shouldbereading.wordpress.com/
 *What are you currently reading?
     Waking Up In The Land Of Glitter by Kathy Cano-Murillo (from The Hachette Book Group)
 *What did you recently finish reading?
     A Note from an Old Aquaintance A Novel by Bill Walker (5 star rating...Great book !!)
     Starting Over by Andy Serwer (I gave it a 2 star rating)
     Sonnets For Sinners by John Wareham  (Rating 2)
 *What do you think you’ll read next?
     Live To Tell by Wendy Corsi-Staub (Bestseller's World)
     Mother Daze by Christine Carr 

Talk & Thoughts

Has this happened to you?  How should a situation like this be handled?  Any tips and/or suggestions.

  I was asked, and I accepted to read a "book" for review.  It was stated it was a PDF format so I thought I would be able to d/l to my EReader.  So no problem....wrong.  Contacted the agent if the PDF for EReader could be sent.  Was told that only permission that the agent had was for a d/l to computer.  I personally have a hard time reading a text that big on my computer for certain reasons, like bringing it to appointments, cumbersome in certain positions when reading, etc etc.  Since I accepted this before knowing all this, I am having a "things that make you go hmmmm blogging reviewing etiquette question.  Would it be appropriate to not review and let the agent know or just struggle with it?

     ANY AND ALL COMMENTS WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED !!!!!! 

Hosted by Bermudanonion's Weblog http://bermudaonion.wordpress.com/

  My words this week are a bit difference.  My current read, Waking Up In The Land Of Glitter has Spanish and "Spanglish" terms, and the author has kindly provided a glossary of these words.  So this is just a few I have learned, but might need in the future lol.

  cerveza  =  beer                     Champurrado   =  Mexican hot chocolate        

  mi hijo   =  my son                     que Linda     =    how beautiful

Tues

Hosted by Should Be Reading http://shouldbereading.wordpress.com
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
  *Grab your current read
  *Open to a random page
  *Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
  *BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
  *Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
  My Teaser:
Every morning, Chloe woke to a call from her mother, begging her to move home and give Clive another chance.  And every morning, Chloe hung up pissed and depressed that her mother refused to take an interst in her profession.
    From Waking Up In The Land Of Glitter by Kathy Cano-Murillo   page 94

Hosted By An Adventure In Reading http://raidergirl3-anadventureinreading.blogspot/
  Today I am in Tempe, Arizona at the famous La Pachanga restaurant

Today's memes were from my current read:

Mon

Hosted by Just One More Page http://rebeccavoy.blogspot.com/
 Today’s MUSING MONDAYS post is about a story format.
How do you feel about books written in a differing format – whether this be journals or letters (epistolary), verse novels, or any other form? Is this something you enjoy? Or do you prefer straight forward chapter prose.
  I am a "Plain Jane" chapter reader.  Unless, say a portion of a journal or a letter is part of the story line.   Then there is the "mind over matter" chapter format which is my favorite.  Small chapters, say 3-7 pages.  It seems that I read those books faster.  I will tell myself.."just one more chapter" and then I realize I have read 10 chapters especially if the book is a can't put down to start with. 

Hosted by One Persons Journey Through A World Of Books http://bookjourney.wordpress.com
This is a meme to list the books completed last week, the books currently being read, and the books to be finished this week.
  Completed:
     02/25/10 A Note from an Old Acquaintance by Bill Walker
     02/25/10 Starting Over by Andy Serwer
     02/26/10 Sonnets For Sinners John Wareham
  Reading:
     Waking Up In The Land Of Glitter by Kathy Cano-Murillo (The Hachette Book Group)

Hosted by The Printed Page http://printedpage.us

Review for Pump Up Your Book

Review for The Hachette Book Group