Teaser Tuesdays

TEASER TUESDAYS asks you to:

Grab your current read.Let the book fall open to a random page. Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12. You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given! Please avoid spoilers!

My Two Teasers:

"She imagined him as a boy, listening to things no child should hear, seeing terrible images. No wonder he didn't want to talk about his past.

~p. 123, True Colors by Kristin Hannah

Tuesday Thingers

What is your favorite book? Is your favorite book listed in your LT library? If it is listed, do you have anything special in the tags or comments section? Have you looked to see if you can add any information to the Common Knowledge? AND a little off topic, do you find that your 5-starred books are consistent with your favorites, and is your favorite a 5-star rated book in your library? How have others rated your favorite book? :)

My current favorite book is Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen. I absolutely love this book and think it is great! It is in my LT library and in the comments section I wrote "one of my all-time favorite books" and I gave it 5 stars. Overall, it has a rating of 4.14 stars and has 386 reviews on LibraryThing. It is ranked #131 in popularity and 1,031 people gave it 5 stars. 7, 686 readers have this book in their LT library. I think all that is pretty interesting. If you haven't read it, you need to...A.S.A.P.!!!

The Great Eight

LibraryThing book review...
The Great Eight: How to be Happy (even when you have every reason to be miserable) by Scott Hamilton with Ken Baker

I, also, grew up watching Scott Hamilton skate and loving him. Scott has had lots of hard times, so I figure he probably has some good suggestions. His book begins with his health struggles as a little boy to surviving cancer, twice. In one chapter, he tells us when we fall to get up. I like this, it is pretty simple, but so true. He also calls hard times or problems as "God-scheduled opportunities." These are times for growth, learning, and living according to God's plan. We also need to make our losses, our wins. He tells us that life events don't define you; how your deal with them is what's important.

I definitely picked up some good, no-nonsense ideas about living life. The book is easy to read and enjoyable. It is rather repetitive and most of it is just common sense. He goes back and forth quite a bit. I think it would have been better if told chronologically.

Friday Fill-ins #116

1. Why do we have to end Spring Break?

2. Hanging out on Facebook & LibraryThing are now habits.

3. I have been a total bum this week-yeah!!!

4. I had never heard the phrase "that is dope or sick" and it means it is cool.

5. Monday, I will dread going back to work the way I always do.

6. How was I to know the last time I saw Nick would be the last time?
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to a movie, tomorrow my plans include mowing the yard and Sunday, I want to rest up for work!

The Geography of Love

LibraryThing book review...
The Geography of Love by Glenda Burgess

Glenda Burgess finally meets her Mr. Right, Kenneth Grunzweig, and she had just about given up. Ken has been married twice before, is widowed, and is 13 years older. He also has a daughter with whom he shares a turbulant relationship. Most women would run, but Glenda stays believing in this man. They share a great love, have two children of their own, and have fifteen good years together before tragedy strikes...cancer.

This memoir really touched me and brought me to tears several times. This is a love story about two people, who despite everything, fell madly in love and had a beautiful, passionate relationship. It is also a very sad story, the story of tragic illness and how to survive it with dignity. This is one you won't soon forget.

Madness: A Bipolar Life

LibraryThing book review...

Madness: A Bipolar Life by Marya Hornbacher

This book is Marya Hornbacher's real life story about living with bipolar. She describes her mania, her destructive behavior and the effects of her behavior on herself and all her loved ones.

Her writing is intense and descriptive; it gives you an idea of what she is going through when she is in a manic episode. Her struggles with an eating disorder, alcohol, and her medications are continual and some are ongoing. She is honest, so honest that I could really feel her pain. It feels like she actually brings you into her world just for a bit so you can get an idea of what it is like. I got the idea and a new respect for people who struggle with mental illness. This book also made me appreciate, even more, my boring little "normal" life-thank goodness for it!

Tuesday Thingers

Question: Do you visit the memes section often? Have you visited recently? Have you discovered anything that surprises you when you visit the memes for your library?

I have never visited the memes section on Library Thing, I did not even know it existed! I did check it out today & it is interesting. Some things I found out about my library...I share no books with just one other person. 98.39% of my authors are alive. 66 of my authors are female, 27 are male, SO 29.03% of my authors are male. I do not have any work duplicates.

Nothing really surprised me about the information. I do enjoy contemporary literature more than the classics. I didn't realize I enjoyed female authors so much more than male, but it makes sense. I will have to work on appreciating male authors a little bit more!!!

Great giveaway!

At Marta's Meanderings, she is celebrating her 100th post by giving away a HUGE prize package of books (courtesy of Hachette Book Group). There are multiple ways to win and the giveaway doesn't end til 3/31/09. Make sure you head over! Here's the direct link to the giveaway promotion. !00th Post Giveaway!

Poison Pen

LibraryThing book review...
Poison Pen by Sheila Lowe

Claudia Rose is a forensic handwriting analyst whose old friend, Lindsey Alexander, has committed suicide or did she??? Lindsey was a big whig in Public Relations. She had made lots of friends and enemies in Hollywood. Lindsey's business manager asks Claudia to prove that the suicide note hadn't been written by Lindsey, he believes she was murdered. Claudia gets some help (and some romance) from handsome detective Joel Jovanic in solving the case.

I was really looking forward to reading this book. I thought the handwriting analysis was a new and interesting angle. I thought the story moved slowly and I just didn't get into it. I am hoping the next one in the series will be better...

Time of My Life

LibraryThing book review...

Time of My Life by Allison Winn Scotch

Jillian Westfield is questioning her marriage and wondering if she made the right choice between her husband, Henry and her former boyfriend, Jackson. During a massage, Jillian's blocked chi is released and she is taken back in time seven years. Jillian gets a second chance with Jackson and tries to overcome their problems. The problem is, Henry keeps popping up unexpectedly, reminding her why she fell in love with him. She is also missing her daughter, Katie, and wondering when she will see her again. She is torn between her old life and her real life...

I liked the idea of this book, getting a redo on your life, and doing things differently this time. (you think, anyways!) I enjoyed Jillian and I could understand her frustrations. I found the going back and forth between her two lives confusing, old life, new life, which one are we in now??? The book is charming, but forgettable, so sorry to say.

Run for Your Life

LibraryThing book review...
Run for Your Life by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge

There is a new killer in town and he calls himself THE TEACHER. Detective Michael Bennett is on the case and not only is he dealing with a killer, but he is grieving his recently deceased wife, and trying to take care of their ten sick (flu) children. The murders, at first, seem to be random. Mike soon figures out that there is a reason why these people were savagely murdered. Now he just has to find the killer...

This is classic James Patterson; quick, suspenseful, and lots of twists and turns. I love Mike Bennett-I look forward to reading more books with him in them. He is an all-around great guy trying to do his job and take care of his family. The ending was unexpected, but worth the read.

Very Valentine

LibraryThing book review...
Very Valentine by Adriana Trigiani

Valentine Roncalli is one of three sisters and a brother in her large, Italian family. She works with her grandmother in the family business, the Angelini Shoe Company. Valentine's brother, Alfred, wants to sell the building and the business. He feels it is time for their grandmother to retire. Valentine wants to save the business and is intent on finding a way to do so. A romance with two different men adds to the complications, as does a trip to Italy...

Valentine is a very likeable character who is struggling to find herself. This story is filled with wonderful family members, sexy men, delicious food, and lots of love. I really enjoyed reading this book and felt a lot of kinship with Valentine and her struggles. It has a lovely ending, but it also leaves a few openings for future books.

The Little Giant of Aberdeen County

LibraryThing book review...
The Little Giant of Aberdeen County by Tiffany Baker

The Little Giant of Aberdeen County is the story of two sisters, Truly and Serena Jane. Serena Jane is the perfect child in every way, beautiful and enchanting. Truly is remarkable both because her mother died during childbirth while having her and because she is extremely large. Their father doesn' t know how to deal with his grief or with two girls, so both are sent to different homes to live. They grow up in very different homes and make very different choices.

This is a charming, magical read. I really liked and felt for Truly, although I didn't always like or understand her choices. (like choosing to live with Dr. Morgan) Towards the end of the book, I loved that Truly gained some power and I really couldn't blame her for using it. This is a fun read with lots of interesting characters.

Friday Fill-Ins #114

And...here we go!

1. Keeping my mouth shut was my last random act of kindness.

2. Another place I would like to visit is Hawaii

3. TRY to use common sense in matters of the heart.

4. Coffee, tea or Pepsi.

5. We are on separate paths.

6. Our past reminds me that there is work to be done in the future.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to relaxing with a good book, tomorrow my plans include working on my yard and Sunday, I want to, need to clean house!!!

Tuesday Thingers

Question: Were you aware of the Early Reviewer Program? Have you received any books from the program? If you have, how have you liked the book(s)? Any other thoughts on the LTER program?

Yes, I am VERY aware of the Early Reviewer Program and have been participating since April of 2008. I have received six books from the program and was very excited to get each and every one! My favorite was The Pre-Nup by Beth Kendrick, it got four and a half stars. My least favorite was Playing Dead by Allison Brennan with a big two stars. I also got to read Say Goodbye by Lisa Gardner, My Husband's Sweethearts by Bridget Asher, Hell Bent by William G. Tapply, and Throw Out Fifty Things by Gail Blanke. I did like MOST of the books, probably two of them I could have lived without reading. I think the LTER program is awesome and I look forward to the chance of getting a book every month.