What's In Your Handbag?

Do you always have a book in your handbag? If you can't leave home without something to read, then "What's In Your Handbag?" is the post for you! Every Friday, I will be posting what book is currently in my purse. I would love to know what books are in your handbag this week, so leave a comment below telling me - or if you post it on your site, leave the link in the comments so I can go read about it!Since I have today off of work, I am going to try and read most of the day. I'm going to Body Worlds and then it's home to read The Private Lives of Pippa Lee by Rebecca Miller :) It sounds good!

So readers, what's in your handbag?

Eek! My Books are Making me Claustrophobic

Remember this post where I showed pictures of my "bookshelves"? Well it is several months later and the situation is worse! I did just do my annual clean-out and box up a bunch of books, but why should I have to do this?! I need space and I need more bookshelves and I need to figure out how to combine the two into my minuscule abode.

I think I might need to do another clean-out and maybe re-prioritize my reading pile and maybe eliminate some books from said pile. The bigger my floor stack of books gets, the more I feel out of control and reading becomes less fun to me. Unless I can find a better solution for my space, I'm thinking I need to condense the pile {sob} UNLESS I can be unemployed for the next year or so and just read all day! {joking}

Sorry for the rant, but I honestly have not read much this summer and it is kind of bumming me out but it is also making me feel guilty and lame because I can't read as much as everyone else! I'm losing my spark!

Kindle GIVEAWAY at SheKnows.Com

SheKnows is having a fabulous Kindle Giveaway! Go here and enter your e-mail address, name and phone number to enter! Easy right?!

The winner of this Amazon Kindle will also receive the first chapter of The Seven Rays by Jessica Bendinger! Jessica is an acclaimed Hollywood screenwriter; you may have heard of Bring it On and Stick It {hehe}! She wrote those and I'm not going to lie, I love those movies! Especially Bring it On - I've seen it a million times...at least! So it almost goes without say, but I am looking forward to this upcoming release very much!

For those who haven't heard of The Seven Rays, here is the synopsis from the website:

When seventeen year-old honors student Beth Michaels starts receiving gold envelopes with messages like, YOU ARE MORE THAN YOU THINK YOU ARE, she thinks that a crazy person might be stalking her. When she begins seeing people's thoughts, feelings, and personal histories on their electromagnetic fields, she thinks that she might BE a crazy person. When the hottest boy in town, Richie Mac, kisses and becomes obsessed with her, she KNOWS that she is a crazy person. But she can deal with all of that until her mom gets freaked out by her erratic behavior (what seventeen year old doesn't break through a glass window at a bookstore every once in a while?) and has her institutionalized. It is at the psychiatric institute, where Beth finds out that she was adopted under mysterious circumstances and that maybe all this craziness is real. Now all she has to do is break out of the psychiatric institute - with Richie's help - and go on a road trip to New York to discover who she really is and why all this is happening to her ... except who are these people chasing her and what do they want? Is it possible that Beth might be more than she thinks she is?

The Seven Rays will be released November 24th. You can pre-order the book from Amazon; Borders; Barnes & Noble; Powell's Books; IndieBound; Overstock; Nicola's Books; Books-A-Million; or Tattered Cover Bookstore

I've already entered, have you?!

My Last Twenty Books

There was an interesting post called "Bloggers and Commercialism, Part Two" from Marie of the Boston Bibliophobe {check out part 1 here}. She wrote these great posts to illustrate the effect of not receiving review copies would have on her blog {Lenore got in on the action here}. I don't pursue ARC's or review copies because to me it is too much pressure! I love to read for the pure joy of it all. Don't get me wrong, if I'm offered a book {which is super rare} and it is something I'm interested in, I will read it. Also, I do enter most giveaways because I love to win things! I know I can't keep up with the other blogs out there as far as a lot of reviews; but I hope everyone can see that I just do this blog for fun and as a way for me to have a "master list" of what I've read :) Here are the last twenty books I've read:

1. Forever by Judy Blume -- received as a gift last year
2. Love the One You're With by Emily Giffin -- purchased at Border's
3. Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen -- purchased at Border's
4. The Chosen One by Carol Lynch Williams -- purchased at Border's
5. L.A. Candy by Lauren Conrad -- purchased at Target
6. Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler -- purchased at Barnes&Noble, and it's signed!
7. Hedge Fund Wives by Tatiana Boncompagni -- received a copy from Thomas - who was in charge of marketing this book.
8. Extras by Scott Westerfeld -- purchased at Border's
9. Specials by Scott Westerfeld -- received as a birthday gift last year
10. Pretties by Scott Westerfeld -- received as a birthday gift last year
11. Uglies by Scott Westerfeld -- received as a birthday gift last year
12. Still Alice by Lisa Genova -- read for the Reading Round Robin (borrowed)
13. Rattled! A Memoir by Christine Coppa -- purchased from Border's
14. One Fifth Avenue by Candace Bushnell -- received as a gift
15. Dead Before Dark by Wendy Corsi Staub -- purchased at the Book Nook, it's signed!
16. A Little Bit Wicked: Life, Love and Faith in Stages by Kristin Chenoweth -- purhcased from Amazon
17. Look Both Ways by Jacquelyn Mitchard -- purchased from Amazon
18. Midnight Twins by Jacquelyn Mitchard -- purchased from Amazon
19. Love and Other Natural Disasters by Holly Shumas -- BookMooch
20. All We Know of Heaven by Jacquelyn Mitchard -- purchased from Amazon

As you can see from my list, I purchase a lot {almost all} of my books. I also use BookMooch a lot and am always excited when a book from my wishlist is availble! I don't visit the library as much as I used to because I'm in a small town and they don't have newer stuff some times, it involves inter-library loans and sometimes I just don't feel like dealing with it!

I would be interested in where everyone else gets their books.

One Lovely Blog Award

Thank you so much to Amy the amazing "Park-Avenue Princess" for this awesome award! It is always good to know that people are reading your blog and enjoying it :) And the award is kind of fancy, which I love because I am kind of fancy! hehe

Thanks again Amy! And now it's my turn to nominate 3 other blogs for this lovely award.

I am going to nominate three blogs that are semi-new to me, but I enjoy them so much!!! I hope you all love them....


Bookalicious

Book Chic City

It's All About Me

Congratulations ladies, you all have lovely blogs :)

Book Round-Up

I've been pretty lax on buying books lately, but I did recently order these two lovely books:
So, I already have these books but when I saw the UK covers, I just had to have them! Bookalicious told me about this awesome site that has FREE worldwide shipping....um yes please!

So I have to know - does anyone else have multiple copies of some books because of different/better covers? Or am I just a freak?!

Winner of the Nostalgic Summer Prize Pack

Congratulations to Trishalynn0708

for winning the Nostalgic Summer Prize Pack! Yay! I have e-mailed you for your details :) Thanks to everyone for entering, it is nice to "meet" some new people!

What's In Your Handbag?

Do you always have a book in your handbag? If you can't leave home without something to read, then "What's In Your Handbag?" is the post for you! Every Friday, I will be posting what book is currently in my purse. I would love to know what books are in your handbag this week, so leave a comment below telling me - or if you post it on your site, leave the link in the comments so I can go read about it!

I'm reading The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen for the Sarah Dessen Challenge! I love Sarah Dessen and I'm having a little bit of a book rut, so I figured I would get in some of the books that are fun and easy reads :) Sarah Dessen can always break me out of my rut, and I am waiting for Along For the Ride from our inter-library loan {since I am waiting for the paperback version to come out before I purchase it}.

So readers, what's in your handbag?

Heartfelt Award

Thanks to Carolyn at Book Chic City {she has a super-cute blog} for the Heartfelt Award!

Do you reach for a cup of cocoa or tea when you're relaxing, seeking comfort, sharing a plate of cookies with family and friends? You know that feeling you get when you drink a yummy cup of cocoa, tea or a hot toddy? That is what the Heartfelt award is all about: feeling warm inside!
The Rules:

1. Put the logo on your blog/post.
2. Nominate up to 9 blogs which make you feel comfy or warm inside.
3. Be sure to link to your nominees within the post.
4. Let them know about the award by commenting on their blog.
5. Remember to link to the person from whom you received your award.

My nominees are:

1. Bookalicious {even though she was already nominated, I love her blog!}
2. Novelicious {she was also nominated already, but I love her blog too!}
3. A Novel Menagerie {she has the BEST Bachelor(ette) recaps, love them!}
4. Park Avenue Princess {her blog makes me smile}

There are a bunch of other blogs that I read, so I'm sorry if I missed anyone!

July 22, 2009: Forever

I'm having a bit of a reading rut, so I went back to an all-time favorite, now sporting a fancy new cover....Forever by Judy Blume!

Product description from Amazon.com:

When you build up something in your mind -- really imagine it, wish for it -- sometimes, when it actually happens, it doesn't live up to your expectations.

True love is nothing like that.

Especially not for Katherine and Michael, who can't get enough of each other. Their relationship is unique: sincere, intense, and fun all at the same time. Although they haven't been together all that long, they know it's serious. A whole world opens up as young passion and sexuality bloom.

But it's senior year of high school, and there are big changes ahead. Michael and Katherine are destined for another big "first": a decision. Is this the love of a lifetime, or the very beginning of a lifetime of love?

I know that not everyone loves this book, and I can see that. If I read this book today without having any emotional connections to it, I might not like it - it's understandable. However, I do have emotional connections with this book - if that makes sense. I just remember reading it every summer and thinking about what my first love would be like. And Michael kind of reminds me of someone I once knew, so there is that nostalgic factor! This will forever {pun intended} be my favorite Judy Blume book, it just makes me feel young again!

One thing to note --> this book is a little outdated, so Judy Blume writes an introduction about how if you're going to have sex, use a condom. It's a valid message and she did it without having to rewrite parts of her book to make it more current. Although I love the new cover, to me it just doesn't go with the book. I'm used to my ugly yellow cover ;)

Also, I'm giving this book away here! The contest ends tomorrow (7/24/09), so hurry up and check it out.

GIVEAWAY: Nostalgic Summer Prize Pack

Hey guys! Go here to learn all about my first contest! You still have a week to enter :)

In honor of my childhood summers I am going to be giving away: Everything I Needed to Know About Being a Girl I learned from Judy Blume edited by Jennifer O'Connell and a copy of Forever by Judy Blume {my ultimate favorite}.

{Alicia}

What's In Your Handbag?

Do you always have a book in your handbag? If you can't leave home without something to read, then "What's In Your Handbag?" is the post for you! Every Friday, I will be posting what book is currently in my purse. I would love to know what books are in your handbag this week, so leave a comment below telling me - or if you post it on your site, leave the link in the comments so I can go read about it!

I received the lovely book above from BookMooch and was so excited because I really like this cover better than the hardcover version. Also, I'm like permanently single - so I can relate to the book ;)! I'm in a little bit of a rut - I keep picking up and putting down the same book and I just can't seem to get my mind into anything. I'm hoping this book will be just what I need! Has anyone read it?

So readers, what's in your handbag?

Also, don't forget to enter my very first contest!

My First Contest - The Nostalgic Summer Prize Pack

So here it is, my first contest! When I was growing up I read Judy Blume constantly! Every summer, I knew I would have reading material because I alway re-read my favorite three books: 1. Forever 2. Here's To You Rachel Robinson 3. Just as Long as We're Together.<--now with fancy new covers :) In honor of my childhood summers I am going to be giving away: Everything I Needed to Know About Being a Girl I learned from Judy Blume edited by Jennifer O'Connell and a copy of Forever by Judy Blume {my ultimate favorite}.

To enter this contest:

+ 1: Required entry: Leave a comment on this post and tell me what your favorite summer stories were when you were growing up {all other entries are optional}
+ 1: Follow me via RSS or on Blogger - leave comment
+ 2: Blog about this contest; the sidebar is fine - leave the link
+ 1: Follow me on Twitter -- twitter.com/adw7984
+ 2: Tweet this contest and be sure to include @adw7984 - leave me a comment and let me know if you did that.

This contest will be open internationally and the contest will end on July 24th at 12:00 pm EST, so hurry up and enter :)

September 14-18, 2009: Book Blogger Appreciation Week 2009

My Friend Amy posted the following information here:

Announcing the Second Annual Book Blogger Appreciation Week September 14-18, 2009

Last year over 400 blogs came together to celebrate the art of book blogging during the first ever Book Blogger Appreciation Week! I am so pleased to announce that the second annual Book Blogger Appreciation Week will be taking place September 14-18.

WHO Anyone who blogs about books is invited to participate. In fact, we want everyone who blogs about books and reading to be a part of this week!
WHAT A week where we come together, celebrate the contribution and hard work of book bloggers in promoting a culture of literacy, connecting readers to books and authors, and recogonizing the best among us with the Second Annual BBAW Awards. There will be special guest posts, daily blogging themes, and giveaways.
WHEN September 14-18, 2009
WHERE Here at the new Book Blogger Appreciation Week Blog! (Please note that this year there are three separate blogs and feeds—one for the main event, one for giveaways, and one for awards.)
WHY Because books matter. In a world full of options, the people talking about books pour hard work, time, energy, and money into creating a community around the written word. I, Amy, the founder of Book Blogger Appreciation Week love this community of bloggers and want to shower my appreciation on you!

WANT TO PARTICIPATE?
Please help us spread the word about Book Blogger Appreciation Week by posting about it on your blog, stumbling this post, twittering about it, and telling everyone you know that it’s time to have a party and celebrate book bloggers!

Please register by filling out the registration form! Registering ensures your inclusion in the BBAW 09 Database of Book Bloggers and enters you into the drawing for the BBAW 09 Grand Prize!

Come back often as there will be many updates! And follow us on Twitter!

AWARDS
BBAW Award Nominations will open tomorrow, July 15 on the BBAW Awards Blog.

So make sure to go on over and register, I did and I can't wait to participate :)

July 10, 2009: Love The One You're With

Love the One You're With by Emily Giffin provided an easy read for my relaxing spa weekend AND as a plus, I get to check it off of my Chick Lit Challenge :)

Product description from Amazon.com:

Ellen and Andy’s first year of marriage doesn’t just seem perfect, it is perfect. There is no question how deep their devotion is, and how naturally they bring out the best in each other. But one fateful afternoon, Ellen runs into Leo for the first time in eight years. Leo, the one who brought out the worst in her. Leo, the one who left her heartbroken with no explanation. Leo, the one she could never quite forget. When his reappearance ignites long-dormant emotions, Ellen begins to question whether the life she’s living is the one she’s meant to live. Love the One You’re With is a powerful story about one woman at the crossroads of true love and real life.

When I first started reading this book, I got really angry! I thought I had read it before, but I must have just read the first chapter as an excerpt somewhere.

Anyways, I really love Emily Giffin's writing style - she really pulls you into the story. I was annoyed with Ellen though because I am totally on Team Andy :) If she doesn't want him, I will take him! I did not see Leo's appeal and wished he would have just left her alone. He knew she was married! Grrrrrr.....

I have a hard time with emotional cheating - but I think that Giffin wrote the subject in a way that made me understand Ellen's reasoning. As a reader, I was inside Ellen's head and heart and knew what she was feeling at every moment. Yes, I got frustrated with her reasoning - but at the same time, I had to give her space to figure it out. Luckily it all worked out in the end!

What's In Your Handbag?

Do you always have a book in your handbag? If you can't leave home without something to read, then "What's In Your Handbag?" is the post for you! Every Friday, I will be posting what book is currently in my purse. I would love to know what books are in your handbag this week, so leave a comment below telling me - or if you post it on your site, leave the link in the comments so I can go read it!
Okay - so I am posting this a little early because my scheduled posts haven't been working lately, so I've had to manually post them (after I figure out they didn't work!) I am taking myself to a day spa for my birthday and I am going to relax and have some wine and read this book! How self-indulgent of me ;) I love Emily Giffin, her books always make me smile!

So readers, what's in your handbag?

What's In Your Handbag?

Do you always have a book in your handbag? If you can't leave home without something to read, then "What's In Your Handbag?" is the post for you! Every Friday, I will be posting what book is currently in my purse. I would love to know what books are in your handbag this week, so leave a comment below telling me - or if you post it on your site, leave the link in the comments so I can go read it!
This week, I have Sisters of Misery by Megan Kelley Hall. This is a book that I have been interested in for awhile, and I finally got it on BookMooch. After I finished Lock and Key, I needed a new book to read. For this, I relied on my super-official method of picking out reading material....I closed my eyes and spun around, then I pointed to a book in my pile and this is what I picked up! It's a very reliable method for me :)

So readers, what's in your handbag?

July 2, 2009: Lock and Key

Book: Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen
Read for the Sarah Dessen Challenge

Amazon.com Description:

Ruby is used to taking care of herself. But now she’s living in a fancy new house with her sister Cora—a sister she hasn’t seen in ten years—and her husband Jamie—creator of one of the most popular online networking sites. She’s attending private school, wearing new clothes, and for the first time, feels the promise of a future that include college and her family. So why is she so wary? And what is Nate— the adorable and good-hearted boy next door— hiding behind his genial nature? As Ruby starts to see, there’s a big difference between being given help, and being able to accept it. And sometimes, in order to save yourself, you’ve got to reach out to someone else.

My Thoughts: First of all, LOVED it! Second of all - I deserve a freaking medal for waiting for this book to come out in paperback (pssst....Along For the Ride can hurry up with the paperback). All of my other books are paperback and they just match so nicely!

Even though Ruby seemed a little rude in the beginning, I really enjoyed her character and I loved her growth arc. Yes, I am a sap because I loved her relationship with Nate a ton (Nate, are you real? If so, please call me!) He was such a good person and was always looking out for her and when we learned his story and saw the way he closed himself up, I was heartbroken....I *may* have cried. I felt like I was with the characters throughout their journey and I even got butterflies in my stomach when Nate kissed her, like I was nervous for her! How dorky am I?

I also loved the relationship between Cora, Jamie and Ruby. The first chapter did not paint Cora in a nice light, but as the book went on and as Ruby learned about her sister - we also learned about her and began to realize that Cora would do anything to protect her sister. Also, how awesome is Jamie? They both really cared about her future, and did not see her as a burden to their life and I really liked that aspect of the book.

It is a great book that you won't want to put down. Now, where can I get a key necklace?

Sarah Dessen Challenge

Here's the thing....I'm a couple of months late to this challenge, but since I love Sarah Dessen so much I am going to do it! I've already read all the books (except for Along for the Ride) and I loved them so of course I will re-read them! Plus, they are perfect summer books and ALWAYS make me feel nostalgic (quite the theme with me this summer!)

So thank you to Em at Em's Bookshelf for hosting this lovely challenge! Here are the rules:

1) Read all 9 books by Sarah Dessen.
2) Set your own time frame. My goal is to read all 9 books by June 30th but yours could be by the end of 2009 or by the end of the summer. Whatever works best for your schedule. Don't stress...this is supposed to be fun! :)
3) Comment on this post or link to this post on your blog. The more people that hear about this, the more people we'll have cheering us on!

So here are the books:

1. Just Listen
2. The Truth About Forever*
3. This Lullaby*
4. Dreamland*
5. Keeping the Moon*
6. Someone Like You*
7. That Summer
8. Lock and Key -- July 2, 2009*
   
9. Along for the Ride -- August 8, 2009
   

And my personal deadline is: December 31, 2009
Progress: 2/9 by August 8, 2009

With the exception of Lock and Key (which I am currently reading), I will try and read these books in order and I think that I have them all :)

June 28, 2009: The Chosen One

The Chosen One by Carol Lynch Williams examines life inside a polygamist cult....and that is why I bought it! I know - I'm a strange person! The story follows Kyra as she is "chosen" for her Uncle, this disturbs her, her father and his wives. As she comes to terms with being married to her uncle, she decides that this isn't the life she wants for herself and attempts to escape. She'll learn that escaping is not as easy as she may think - physically and emotionally.

I have an odd obsession with polygamist sects, but have only read non-fiction books about how they work. This book was so realistic and so upsetting. My heart broke for Kyra through every chapter, especially when she was beaten so violently. It is so upsetting that something like this exists in our country and that there is seemingly nothing that can be done to stop it. The mentality behind polygamy is bizarre to me as well - I guess it is something I will never understand, but will always be fascinated by....this was a good book to satisfy that curiosity.

June 27, 2009: L.A. Candy

I bought L.A. Candy by Lauren Conrad when I was having a really bad day. The cover is really cute and it made me smile. I chose to read it on a mini-road trip and you guys! I really liked this book!

Product Description from Amazon.com:

Los Angeles is all about the sweet life: hot clubs, cute guys, designer . . . everything. Nineteen-year-old Jane Roberts can't wait to start living it up. She may be in L.A. for an internship, but Jane plans to play as hard as she works, and has enlisted her BFF Scarlett to join in the fun.

When Jane and Scarlett are approached by a producer who wants them to be on his new series, a "reality version of Sex and the City," they can hardly believe their luck. Their own show? Yes, please!

Soon Jane is TV's hottest star. Fame brings more than she ever imagined possible for a girl from Santa Barbara—free designer clothes, the choicest tables at the most exclusive clubs, invites to Hollywood premieres—and she's lapping up the VIP treatment with her eclectic entourage of new pals. But those same friends who are always up for a wild night are also out for a piece of Jane's spotlight.

In a city filled with people chasing after their dreams, it's not long before Jane wakes up to the reality that everyone wants something from her, and nothing is what it seems to be.

L.A. Candy is a deliciously entertaining novel about what it's like to come of age in Hollywood while starring in a reality TV show, written by a girl who has experienced it all firsthand: Lauren Conrad.

It is easy to compare Lauren to Jane in this book, but it's also easy not to...if that makes sense. After you get to reading the book, you read it as if it is unrelated to The Hills - and I think that is a good thing. Another great summer read!

It was so interesting to read about the behind the scenes life of a reality show, and I really sympathized with the Jane character....and was kind of attracted to Braden {I mean, in my mind he is gorgeous :) } The ending kind of made me mad because it was kind of abrupt, but I guess she is writing a second book, but I don't know!

Now, there are a lot of haters out there saying that it isn't original, she's an awful writer, etc. But here is what I have to say: obviously it isn't important literature, but it's a really fun book that will take your mind off of your surroundings - and at this moment, it is exactly what I needed!

Has anyone read any interviews with Lauren Conrad about this book/series(?) ? I'm just wondering if it was ghostwritten because it is actually written very well. I mean I looked and it didn't say anything about a ghostwriter, so I am assuming she wrote it herself - kudos Lauren! NOTE: In a Cosmopolitan Interview, Lauren says she wrote the book herself....okay, I must search for my July issue! Also, I thought I read an article saying it would be a series but I can't find it. When will the next one come out? Lauren, are you writing at this very moment because I don't like to wait too long lol!

June 25, 2009: Twenty Boy Summer

According to her best friend Frankie, twenty days in ZanzibarBay is the perfect opportunity to have a summer fling, and if they meet one boy ever day, there's a pretty good chance Anna will find her first summer romance. Anna lightheartedly agrees to the game, but there's something she hasn't told Frankie---she's already had that kind of romance, and it was with Frankie's older brother, Matt, just before his tragic death one year ago. ~Amazon.com Description

I first picked up Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler because I saw a sign in the Barnes & Noble window advertising a book signing from a local author. I had no idea that she was from my area, so I went and got the book signed! I had seen the book floating around on other blogs, but didn't pay much attention...silly me!

This book is definitely a great summer read, I was longing for the beaches of California (and being 16/17 again) even though I've never been. I think that Ockler really described Anna's feelings perfectly and I felt that I was right there with her during her journey.

This book was so beautifully written and the subjects of loss, friendship and new love were written so realistically. You will be heartbroken at different points in the book and for me, I also felt so nostalgic for my childhood summers. A great summer read at any age....and the cover is absolutely beautiful!