Friday Memes

FRIDAY

Hosted by An Island Life

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:

What is your desktop picture?

My Answer:

My 4 kids..my 2 sons and their girlfriends.

Hosted by Java from Never Growing Old

Are you a blogger over 40? Yeah, welcome to the club!  Please join in the fun and get to know your fellow bloggers!!

Hosted by Jennifer from CRAZY FOR BOOKS

  In the spirit of the Twitter Friday Follow, the Book Blogger Hop is a place just for book bloggers and readers to connect and find new book-related blogs that we may be missing out on! This weekly BOOK PARTY is an awesome opportunity for book bloggers to connect with other book lovers, make new friends, support each other, and generally just share our love of books! It will also give blog readers a chance to find other book blogs that they may not know existed! So, grab the logo, post about the Hop on your blog, and start HOPPING through the list of blogs that are posted in the Linky list below!!
The Hop lasts Friday-Monday every week, so if you don't have time to Hop today, come back later and join the fun! This is a weekly event! And stop back throughout the weekend to see all the new blogs that are added! We get over 200 links every week!!
Your blog should have content related to books, including, but not limited to book reviews.
If you start following someone through the Hop, leave a comment on their blog to let them know! Stop back during the week to see other blogs that are added! And, most importantly, the idea is to HAVE FUN!!

"What are your feelings on losing followers? Have you ever stopped following a blog?"My Answer:
When that happens, I wish I knew why. It feels like I am losing a friend but don't know what I did. However, I have stopped following some blogs if they haven't posted in a month or so. I also may stop following if we no longer have the same genres in common



Thursday Memes

THURSDAY

Before getting to today's memes, I want to thank my fantasic and fabulous friends who thought and told me to do all memes on one post.....you were RIGHT.....it is much easier and takes up less time.  So a BIG thank you!!!  Happy Thursday!!! 

http://btt2.wordpress.com

Today's Question:
I’ve seen many bloggers say that what draws them to certain books or authors is good writing, and what causes them to stop reading a certain book or author is bad writing. What constitutes good writing and bad writing to you?
My Answer:
  Good question!!  I just had this happen.  I picked up the next book in line from my request pile, liked the synopsis, liked the title and then started to read.  Fifty + pages and had to put it in the DNF pile.  It was very wordy, and in my opinion rambling at times.  I still hadn't been pulled into the story line by the 50+ pages.  Picked up the next book, same thing, good synopsis, good title, started reading and was hooked by the first page and a half.
  If I can't connect with the characters, storyline and/or visualize the scenes through the author's written words by the first 50 pages, then I can almost guarantee it will end up a not so good and/or a DNF.  I used to have 100 pages as my cut off point, but an author told me that a reader should be "hooked" within the first few pages. 
 

Hosted by Lori from Dollycas's Thoughts
From Lori's site:
We depend on each other for book reviews, giveaways, encouragement, friendship, but how well do we really know each other?  So that is what this meme is all about, getting to know each other.

WEEK 10 QUESTIONS

Did you vote on Tuesday?

  As I hang my head in shame and shake it no, I didn't.  First time that ever happened, I swear!!  Since I am still not allowed to drive and hubby didn't leave work until very late, he went straight to the polls and just made it himself.
Where do you get news about what's happening in the world? (Newspapers, Internet, Local Television Stations, Cable News, etc.)
Morning routine includes booting up computer, grabbing coffee mug and turning on TV first for local news then to a cable news station, which stays on all day, just in case there is breaking news (have done this ever since 9/11).  I also subscribe to CNN Breaking News for my computer.
Do you read in bed before you go to sleep?
Most of the time, but lately no, by the time hubby gets home, we eat, clean up, talk, we are asleep by the time our heads hit the pillows.

Review "Hollywood Savage" by Kristin McCloy

Hollywood Savage by Kristin McCloy
Published by Washington Square Press
A division of Simon & Schuster
ISBN 978-0-7432-8647-3
At the request of Simon & Schuster, a TPB was sent, at no cost to me, for my honest opinion.
  Synopsis (from back of book): "Meet me at five," the voice said on the answering machine, Four ordinary words yet, when heard by the wrong person, enough to change the course of a marriage.
  Marooned in Hollywood while writing a screenplay based on his latest bestselling novel, Miles King, records in his journals his escalating conviction that his glamorous wife, a New York-based journalist named Maggie, his having an affair.
  Amidst the un-buffed egos and the longing for connection and fame he encounters at every cocktail party and no-name bar in Hollywood, Miles finds unexpected comfort in an affair if his own with Lucy, a young mother whose open, eager mind sparks an irresistible passion in him. Miles's constantly shifting emotional state-a potent brew of lust, guilt, anger and betrayal- is only one of the perils he must navigate as his fantasies become increasingly hard to distinguish from reality.
  My Thoughts and Opinion: When I first accepted this book for review, I thought it was going to be the typical Hollywood life style that is the basis of many books, the gossip in magazines and on entertainment TV shows. The following opinion is mine and only mine. I read 50+ pages, and at that point, I still had not been pulled into the story. I found the narrative of first-person very wordy, that at times, I would have to reread sentences to process what was really being said. I felt that the storyline was slow paced in the pages read. Unfortunately, this book had to be put aside in the DNF pile.

W.W.W. Wednesdays

WEDNESDAY

Hosted by Miz B at Should Be Reading

What are you currently reading?

What did you recently finish reading?

What do you think you’ll read next?

Product Review and Giveaway 2011 Book Lovers Calendar 11/02 to 11/16

It's already November.  This coming weekend we change the clocks.  Thanksgiving is a few weeks away.  And Christmas right around the corner.  Well I am here to help!!!!

Do you know someone who loves to read?  Do you love to read?  lol  Silly me, of course you do!!! 

Book Lovers Stuff .com is your one stop shopping for all the readers in your life.  Or maybe you want these products, then send this link to your family and friends to help with their shopping.  BookLoversStuff.com has a variety of merchandise for those that love books.

Mary from BookLoversStuff.com sent me a 2011 Book Lovers Calendar to review.  Two words.....Absolutely Gorgeous.  Each month has a different and beautiful picture of places and books that Mary researched herself.  When I received the calendar, I was so impressed.  The paper is of stock quality whereas I have decided that I am not writing on this calendar, but just hanging it above my desk and enjoy looking at it every day as I blog.  The paper quality is strong, where I have also decided that at the end of each month, that picture will be framed and placed around my office.

I plan on making my family's Christmas shopping very easy.  I am sending them this link, BookLoversStuff.com, because I have my eye on quite a few of her products, for example, the coffee mug, the tote bag, Tee-Shirts, mouse pad, and even wine glasses.

And now for some great news!!!!  Mary has generously offered to have three......YES......I said THREE....calendars to give away to 3 lucky visitors!!!!  Mary, you are

CLICK HERE TO BRING YOU TO

THE GIVEAWAY ENTRY PAGE

P.S.  A word from Mary
The Wesley Chapel G.R.I.T.S. (Girls Reading In The South) Book Club was formed three years ago.  One of the members wrote in the the Charlotte Observer columnist who wrote about our area, Wesley Chapel.  She asked if the columnist would run an add in the paper for other women who were looking to join a book club.  Five of us showed up at the designated coffee house and the rest is history.  We've only added about 3 members since as we want to keep the group small.

DISCLAIMER

I received this product, 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 and/or friends.

Tuesday Memes

TUESDAY

Today will be the start of the new format, whereas all daily memes will be contained in one posting.  Since I have so much fun and enjoy participating in memes, I tend to go overboard on some days, so on Sunday, I asked you, the fabulous and fantastic followers, how you would rather have my memes posted and it was unanimous.  In one posting.  If for some reason, you change your mind, please feel free to let me know.  I can be flexible lol.  Drum roll please.....roll out the red carpet.....here we go lol.

Hosted by Miz B at Should Be Reading

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!

Jeff exhaled, shoving his hands in his pockets and finally turning toward her. "No. It's...I mean, you were going to tell me eventually, right?"

page 229










Hosted by Katrina from Callapidder Days

Today's question (#6)
This week’s question:

Where do you love to read? Note: I don’t mean where do you actually do most of your reading, because that might be the carpool line, the work cafeteria, or even the bathroom (if you have to escape from a few small children in order to read a chapter of your book). I mean, what are a few of the places where you LOVE to read?

  I have answered this question on many different occasions and many different memes but am going to add a few more locations other than my daily reading sites.
  Every day reading depends on the time of year.  I am usually in my favorite recliner, with afghan when it's cold out.  During the summer either by or sitting on a "chair" float in the pool. 
  Now for all the other occasions.  While on vacation, which our favorites are Aruba or a cruise.  When on a plane, helps take my mind off flying and the time we are in the air, since I am a very nervous flyer.  If hubby and I are driving to a destination that takes approx 1 hour or more, I will read in the car, in between conversations. And now that I have the thought of these places in my mind, I think hubby and I will be having a discussion tonight at supper, that we are overdue. 

Review "Fly Away Home"

Fly Away Home by Jennifer Weiner
Published by Atria Books (Division of Simon & Schuster)
ISBN 978-0-7432-9427-0
At the request of Simon & Schuster, a HC was sent, at no cost to me, for my honest opinion.
  Synopsis (from book's jacket): Sometimes all you can do is fly away home... When Sylvia Serfer met Richard Woodruff in law school, she had wild curls, wide hips and lots of opinions. Decades later, Sylvie has remade herself as the ideal politician's wife-her hair dyed and straightened, her hippie-chick wardrobe replaced by tailored knit suits. At fifty-seven, she ruefully acknowledges that her job is staying twenty pounds thinner than she was in her twenties and tending to her husband, the senator.
  Lizzie, the Woodruffs' younger daughter is at twenty-four a recovering addict, whose mantra HALT (Hungry? Angry? Lonely? Tired?) helps her keep her life under control Still, trouble always seems to find her. Her older sister, Diana, an emergency room physician, has everything Lizzie failed to achieve-a husband, a young son, the perfect home-and yet she's trapped in a loveless marriage. With temptation waiting in one of the ER's exam rooms, she finds herself craving more.
  After Richard's extramarital affair makes headlines, the three women are drawn into the painful glare of the national spotlight. Once the press conference is over, each is forced to reconsider her life, who she is and who she is meant to be.
  My Thoughts and Opinion: This storyline was written with the old adage, "No one knows what goes on behind closed doors". But then taken a step further since the family behind those closed doors could not see what was happening. The Woodruffs were the ideal family to outsiders but each family member was living their own solitary life, each with their own secrets. The plot was relatable since it mirrored what we frequently see on the news with politicians and sports figures. I was also able to identify with the characters in this family because of a general age recognition within my family. The writing style was smooth and descriptive. Even with a serious and emotional theme, the author was able to add some humor into some of the scenes. Without including any spoilers, I found it to even include personal thought provoking questions, such as, "what would I do in this situation"?, "are we true to our self"?, are we really who we think we are"?, "who or what makes us happy"?, "are we true to our self"? This book could be put down, but not for long, because this reader wanted to know how it ends.

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 and/or friends.

Musing Mondays (1 of 3)

MONDAY

Happy Monday all!  How was your Halloween?  Yesterday my hubby went out and bought the candy for last night (I still am not allowed to drive).  I told him approximately what to get, and being a man....did he listen.......NO!!  He came home with enough candy for the next 4 years.  I laughed all night because.....are you ready for this......we had about 6 little goblins that rang our doorbell  all night lol.  So this morning, I sent him off to work with a wicker basket and 1/3 of the candy and told him to put it on his desk.  My plan was not only to get rid of all this candy, but every time he looks at it,  he will be reminded that he should have listened to me lol.

Yesterday I asked about how I should post my memes.  It was unanimous, to put all memes as one post instead of having each meme having it's own posting.  Since today's memes had already been drafted and ready to go, in individual form, I didn't want to redo them.  I will be trying out the new format after today.

Hosted by Miz B at Should Be Reading 

Today's Question:

Do you have any special reading that you do as it gets closer to Christmas? If so, tell us about it! And, if not, tell us why not!      

My Answer:
As an adult...no.  When my boys were small, I did read them Christmas stories.  I never even thought about reading a book because of a holiday, I just read my favorite genres year round.

Mailbox Monday (2 of 3)

  

November is being hosted by Julie from Knitting and Sundries.  Thank you Julie!!!

Mailbox Monday was created by Marcia of The Printed Page and is now on tour.
I want to thank Avis from She Reads and Reads for being a wonderful host during the month of October. 
According to Marcia, “Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week. Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.”
My postal carrier was quite busy this week.  I just don't understand why she isn't excited delivering my mail like the way I am when I see she has goodies for me lol.

                       Monday                                 Friday                               Friday

               Bestsellersworld                               Both from Simon & Schuster


                                               Friday                                 Saturday

                                     Doubleday                                The Story Plant Publishing

                                    

Meet Me On Monday (3 of 3)

Hosted by Java from Never Growing Old

From Java's site:

  Blogging is a funny thing...we tell our most intimate thoughts for all to read and yet most of the time I find myself sitting and wondering, "who is this person!?" I know them...but yet I don't know them! I want to know who the person is behind all those words so I thought of a great way for all of us to "meet" each other!

Questions:

1. Have you ever been on a cruise?

Yes!!  Is someone planning one? Is this an invitation?!!  I'll be packed in an hour!! 

We have been on 2 Royal Caribbean cruises and had a blast!! First time went with 14 couples.  Second time, even better!  As part of a graduation present, we took our 2 sons, they had never been, so I got to see it through their eyes.  They both said that a cruise was the only way to go on vacation, and one of them went again, just a couple of months ago.  A good friend of mine, Julie, is leaving on one next week...hoping she has a fantastic and fun time!!

2. What is your favorite way to eat eggs?

Egg salad sandwich, scrambled, eggs over medium fried egg sandwich, deviled eggs.....think you get the point....I like eggs!!!

3. What is your favorite reading material?

4. Name all the pets that you have ever had?

Before getting married, our family had 2 toy poodles, Fluffy and Toby

When we got married, we had a Doberman named Duke.  And when the boys were small, Santa brought them a Bichon named Raffee (named after one of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles for those that remember)

And until just recently, we lived with our son's dog for 5 years.  A weimaraner named Bronx (son is a big Yankee's fan, but I called him the demon dog.  We had a mutual dislike of each other lol.  He had separation anxiety, so whenever my son left the house, he would try to find something to destroy.  I was sad when my son bought his own house and moved out but I was delighted that the dog was leaving too!!!

5. Were you ever a girl/boy scout?

Yes....for a very short time.  Long enough to do the cookie sales, which I thought that was all we would do lol.