Random bookish thoughts for today's Sunday Salon:
-- When I saw this post at Heather J's blog the other day, I thought, "Oh, yeah. I DID say I'd read that book, didn't I!" But of course no libraries nearby had it, and neither did the book store! What is up with that? So I've done yet another Amazon order. The order includes Drood too, since the book store also didn't have that one, and I just think I need to read it, and I was sick of renewing it at the library. So anyway, I also signed up to try Amazon Prime so I could get them both fast. But I'll probably cancel it at month's end. Do you use Amazon Prime?
-- The book I'm reading with Heather? Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell. It's about time for a Gaskell kind of book. I'm excited. Are you a fan of Elizabeth Gaskell?
-- Catching Fire this week? It was wonderful. Loved it. Review to come later. Have you read it yet?
-- Is it nearly time for BBAW? Next week, right? Wow. Are you participating?
-- Next week will also be the kick off of a new year of reading for my F2F book club. Very excited to get going on that. Do you have a F2F club that you love?
-- I got an ARC from Angela Morrison this week, who's first book, Taken by Storm, I totally loved! So excited to read this new one too, called Sing Me To Sleep. But it doesn't come out until March. So when is it the right time to review it? I have a vague memory of a discussion about this, but I can't remember the outcome.
--Anyway, she also sent a signed copy of Taken By Storm for me to give away here. I'm so very excited about this. Stay tuned for details soon. And please enter! My giveaways have been sort of pathetic in the past, which has discouraged me from totally embracing the giveaway experience, but you can all prove me wrong this time! Will you enter a giveaway for a wonderful, intensely emotional, YA romance type book?
-- Oh, guess what I get to start planning this week? Book fair at the elementary school! This will be my ninth year (I think anyway, I've lost track) year doing it. Only two years left until my youngest is gone from that school and I hand it all over to those with younger kids. Will it be a sad day or a happy day? Do you support your school's book fair?
-- I spent several hours this weekend helping up at the big storytelling event in our neck of the woods. One day I drove shuttle vans (from parking lots to the site) and one day I drove golf carts (within the venue itself.) It was really lots of fun. Then on Saturday evening, we went to one of the performances, and that was lots of fun too. The event was celebrating it's 20th anniversary, and it's come from a small gathering in a backyard, to a huge nationally known storytelling festival. Have you ever been to a storytelling festival?
Okay, so. I guess that's enough ponderings for one post. Have a lovely rest-of-the-weekend, and enjoy the day off tomorrow if you get one!
1) I need to read Cranford. I need to read SOMETHING by Gaskell. I've heard she's so good.
ReplyDelete2) I read Catching Fire but it disappointed me, sadly. :( A good book, but not as good as The Hunger Games. It had some major problems.
3) Yay BBAW! :D
4) I actually have 4 F2F book clubs, one that I run and three that I attend, and I love all of them. Two are for classics, one's a Jane Austen themed club, and one's a YA club. They're wonderful. I've been running my classics group for nearly 3 years now. (3 years come December)
5) I'd probably enter your giveaway. I'm tired of giveaways on my blog. I actually had a bunch of spam entries come in this morning, like 15 of them! It was horrible. :( I think if I have giveaways from here on out, I'm not going to do those extra point things because they just end up augmenting my following without actually augmenting my following, if that makes sense. I don't like it.
Okay, I'm going to quit complaining and writing this long comment now. Have a great rest-of-Sunday!
I've never read anything by Elizabeth Gaskell, but it's an author that I've always meant to try.
ReplyDeleteI loved helping out at my sons' bookfairs in elementary school. Not sure what to expect this year they've both entered new schools - one high school, the other junior high. I'm thinking of checking out their libraries and finding out if they need any volunteers though.
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ReplyDeleteIf I had a nickel for every time I re-discover a book I meant to or wanted to read, I'd probably be rich! LOL
ReplyDeleteI do want to read Drood, but I'm waiting for the paperback version to come out before I purchase it. Unless it hits the discount table for less than I'd have to pay for the paperback first . . .
I belonged to Amazon Prime for about a year and a half. I loved it. But because I made the decision to cut back on my book buying for financial reasons, I decided it wasn't worth it. Especially since it really didn't matter that I was getting them faster since I don't read them right away. I was still spending at least $25 with each order, which automatically qualifies me for free shipping. Seemed like a waste of money in my case.
I'm not familiar with Elizabeth Gaskell at all. I look forward to hearing what you think of her book.
I haven't read Catching Fire or Hunger Games. I may someday, but neither is on the top of my must read list.
I am definitely participating in BBAW. I need to finish answering my interview questions.
I'm not in a face to face book club and since I don't have children, do not participate in the school book fairs. In fact, I couldn't even tell you if the local schools have them. I wish you luck with the book fair at the school this year! I hope it turns out to be a big success.
As for when to post your review of an ARC, I suppose you could ask the person who sent it to you. I've found that publishers usually prefer the reviews to go up around the time the book is set for release--as early as a month before but not too early or else people may forget about it.
I hope you have a great week!
I'm glad you're still up for Cranford this month - I'm only a few chapters in but I'm enjoying it so far.
ReplyDeleteI don't even know what Amazon Prime is!
ReplyDeleteLove (!!) North and South, but haven't read anything else by Gaskell.
Read Catching Fire this week, really liked it, but not as much as I loved The Hunger Games.
Only half-heartedly keeping up with BBAW. I'm not overly involved in the book blogging world. Seems like a fun thing though.
I'd enter a giveaway if it was international. But only if I really loved the idea of the book. I always feel a bit guilty when people commit to sending me things here to England.
My boys aren't old enough yet for school fairs. Also not sure if they do them? They must do, right?
F2F club?
A storytelling festival sounds like too much fun!
I love Gaskell! I'm reading Wives and Daughters now and judging by the size of it I will be for weeks to come.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read any Gaskell, but sounds good. It's hard to start a chunkster though.
ReplyDeleteLove the school book fairs, and good for you to organize. You def. deserve a break in 2 years time though.
I probably wouldn't enter for a YA romance giveaway.
I am particiapting in BBAW a little bit, just met my interview person.
The only story telling festival I've been to is at our elementary school. It is held one evening, the kids come in PJs, and there are usually 4 different storytellers to chose from, with snacks. It's a lot of fun, a nice little event for literacy.
Amanda: I love Gaskell! Sorry to hear you were disappointed by CF. FOUR book clubs!? Wow. Do come enter the giveaway... as soon as I get something posted about it! :) Loved your long comment!
ReplyDeleteJoanne: Oh, you need to try Gaskell!
Literary Feline: I debated waiting for the paperback. But my husband I already started the library copy, and just couldn't wait. Thanks for your advice on the review copy. I done a few, but have never had one quite this far before the release date. It's going to be hard though. I finished it this morning and loved it.
Heather J: Cranford should come tomorrow and then I'm jumping in!
Michelle: Loved North and South too! The movie especially. I plan to make my giveaway inernational. (Maybe I should look into postage rates so I'm too surprise though, huh?) F2F: A face to face book club, in real life, not online! :)
CoversGirl: Wives and Daughters is my favorite. You'll probably get all involved in it and be done before you know it!
Raidergirl3: As I said to everyone else, you really should try some Gaskell sometime! :) Your school's storytelling festival sounds very fun.
Thanks for all the comments everyone!
Hi! I'm dropping back in finally for a quick hello. :) I just have to say that I use Amazon Prime ALL THE TIME, but that's because I often need things quickly as an English teacher. If I didn't use it so often for school and such, I might not get it. I do love it though!
ReplyDeleteI hope you're having a great Labor Day Weekend. :)