Weekly Link Round-Up (May 24)

Here's what I read this week.

Reviews

Jen at Devourer of Books reviewed Shanghai Girls by Lisa See. Although novel takes place "in cosmopolitan Shanghai, as well as Los Angeles, in the first half of the 20th century," instead of a more traditional setting, I'm looking forward to reading it.

Shelly at Write for a Reader reviewed The Real Real by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus. It's about a teen who "gets chosen to star on the Laguna Beach-style reality show filmed at her school." Sounds like another good one from the authors of the Nanny Diaries. And Shelly is also hosting a giveaway of a signed copy of the book.

Carrie at Books and Movies adds to my wish list every time she writes a best-of post. This week it's Favorite Memoirs, Part One. There are some new-to-me books on this list, and I'll be looking for them at the library.

Nicole from Linus's Blanket reviewed the thriller Fault Line by Barry Eisler. Here's what she had to say: "The writing was crisp, flowed smoothly and was engaging and accessible even as it explored darker family themes, war and violence." I don't usually read thrillers, but this one is now on my list.

Diane at Bibliophile by the Sea reviewed The Visibles by Sarah Shepard. It's a coming-of-age story, and "[t]he theme of family, loss, and how family background and situations affects each of us deeply is prevalent throughout this story."

Meghan from Medieval Bookworm reviewed The World in Half by Cristina Henriquez. If this quote from Meghan's review doesn't get you, then nothing will: "This is a lovely, lovely book. It’s carefully written in measured, beautiful prose, allowing the impact of the emotions that the characters are feeling to sweep the reader away more than telling us that it should. The setting is gorgeous. I could feel the warm breeze in Panama and the chill in Chicago’s winter. I could see the Panama Canal for myself for the first time."

Conversations

Lisa from Books on the Brain wants to know if you are a skimmer or a reader when it comes to getting through through blog list every day. See what everyone else said and then leave your own comment.

Have you read any of the Stephenie Plum books? If so, Carrie from Books and Movies want to know: Ranger or Morelli? Come on, tell us who you would pick.

Do you Tweet? Natalie from Book, Line and Sinker wants to know the pros and cons of being on Twitter.

How-Tos

Swapna at S. Krishna's Books has started a new series on book-trading sites on the Internet. Her first post is an overview of book trading and her second post focuses on Paperback Swap. If you're new to trading (like I am), this series is something to bookmark.

Keira at Love Romance Passion gives you sixteen tips for reading more books. Check them out.

For those wanting to know how to add tabs to a Blogger blog I stared with Blogger Buster and played around from there. If your template currently doesn't allow you to add gadgets above or below your header you need to change the "showaddelement" lines from no to yes. There are two of these in the header section of your template.

More Bookish Links

Do you participate in the Book Review Carnival? The next two editions are currently taking submissions: paranormal fiction and local (to you) authors. If neither of these categories suit you, please visit the site and click on Upcoming Editions and find the perfect carnival for your reading tastes. If you don't find it then volunteer to host a carnival for your favorite genre.

Indiebound has summer reading suggestions for kids and adults.

Steph from Reviewer X is giving away all the Elizabeth Scott books. I don't even want to tell you about it because I want to win. Anyway, head on over to Steph's blog and read all about it. And while you are there read Pub Story and Favorite Kind of Romance. Heck, just read Steph's blog.

Molly from My Cozy Book Nook had a great Q&A post about why we blog.

If you haven't read the Enola Holmes mystery series, here's your chance to get started. Ruth from Bookish Ruth is giving away the first three books in the series.

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Some of these links are part of a link-sharing group.

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Weekly Link Round-Up (May 17)

Here's what I read last week.

Being Social

Meryl's Notes Blog has some tips on how to join a conversation on Twitter.

Amy (My Friend Amy), Meghan (Medieval Bookworm), and Michele (Reader's Respite) have started the Book Blog Social Club. It's a place available for everyone to use to host online social events.

Summer Fun

Amy wants to know what you'd like to watch on DVD this summer. She's hoping to organize a discussion.

Lisa from Books on the Brain is helping to put together a summer book club. Check it out and think about joining in.

Robin from Around the Island is hosting Summer Stock Sunday. It's a chance to share photographs of "your barbecues, your beaches, your cannonballing kids, that island sunset, an old pair of flip flops, anything that says summer to you." Sounds like fun.

Books

Nicole from Linus's Blanket reviewed Nine Lives: Death and Life in New Orleans by Dan Baum. It's a very personal look into how the hurricanes have affected the city. Nicole says: "If you love reading about different communities and enjoy getting a glimpse into people’s lives then you will truly enjoy this book."

Carrie from Books and Movies reviewed The Blue Notebook by James A. Levine. This is on my TBR and so I was interested in what Carrie thought: "Levine has crafted a heartbreakingly realistic book full of the worst that humanity is capable of inflicting on one of its own."

Shelly from Write for a Reader did a fabulous job promoting Children's Book Week. Please take the time to check her celebration. You'll find reviews, interviews, giveaways, and more.

Jen from Devourer of Books reviewed Every Last Cuckoo by Kate Maloy. I have this book in my TBR and will be reading it for my book club in July. This sounds like a super book and great club choice: "as ridiculous as it may sound, the book was a like a cozy old sweater. " Isn't that a great way to describe a book?

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Weekly Link Round-Up (May 10)

Here's what I read last week.

Blogging and Tweeting

If you are on Twitter, you'll be interested in Mashable's list of 100+ authors on Twitter. If you're not on Twitter, this may make you sign up!

Melissa at Melissa's Bookshelf has a great post on links to Blogger tips and tricks. This is a super resource.

Pro Blogger has a post on blogging applications that work with Windows. Some are familiar, but I bet you discover a new program or two.

Events

Shelly at Write for a Reader reminds us that next week is Children's Book Week. Be sure to check out the ways in which she plans to celebrate; she has events planned for the whole week.

I know that you've barely recovered from Dewey's spring read-a-thon, but did you know there was also a 48-hour read-a-thon? This is the fourth year. For details, check out the information post by Mother Reader at Heart of a Reader.

BEA (May 28 to 31)

For those of you going to BEA, be sure to sign up to spend some time in booth 4077, generously hosted by Fran Toolan. He has a list of bloggers already signed up for the Blogger Signing. All bloggers attendingt BEA are encouraged to sign up. I mean it: This is for all of us.

Attendees should set aside 2 p.m. on Saturday to attend the Book Bloggers: Today's Buzz Builders panel in room 1E15. The panel is hosted by Jennifer Hart from HarperCollins and consists of Julie from Booking Mama, Amy from My Friend Amy, Natasha from Maw Books Blog, Dawn from She's Too Fond of Books, Stephenie from Stephenie's Written Word, and me.

If you cannot attend BEA, be sure to listen to the panel on Blog Talk Radio. We would love everyone to feel connected to the event. So tune at 2 p.m. on Saturday May 30.

Books

Jen at Devourer of Books read The Brightest Moon of the Century by Christopher Meeks. The novel follows Edward through three decades of his life. Jen says: "Edward was just such a patently real, human character that I could not help but becoming involved and invested in his life."

Carrie at Books and Movies likes books about writitng and reading. And she put together a terrific post in which she talks about some of her favorite books in this genre. This is a post to bookmark.

Swapna over at S. Krishan's Books is one of many bloggers celebrating Asian Heritage Month. And what better way than to host a giveaway of books written by Asian authors. Here's your chance to exapand your reading horizons.

Melissa at Vintage Joy discovered a bookstore that not only has free to reasonable shipping rates but also contributes part of its profits to promoting world literacy. Be sure to read about this generous bookstore.
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Some of these links were part of a link-sharing group.

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Weekly Link Round-Up (May 2)

Here's what I read last week.

Conversations

Last week was the week of conversations. Lots of good and thoughtful posts. I've gathered a bunch here. If I've missed something good, please leave a link in the comments. Book bloggers are thinking and writing about a number of issues. Read these posts and leave a comment. I'm still following them all.

Jen at Devourer of Books asks if the Three Strikes You're Out rule applies to authors. Do new to you authors get fewer chances than a familiar author?

At Follow the Reader, Charlotte Abbott interviewed Bethanne Patrick about the connections among book bloggers, reviewers, publishers, authors, and publicists. Very interesting.

Jennifer at Literate Housewife wants to know how you choose your next book. This is a more in-depth conversation on this topic than I've seen in a while.

Trish at Trish's Reading Nook has a whopping 60+ comments on her Sunday Salon post about ARCs, author interviews, and other book blogging topics. I think she has a winner post.

This and That

Lilly at Reading Extravaganza is now a U.S. citizen! To celebrate she has a fabulous giveaway: your choice of one of four books. They all look good. Even if you don't want one of the books, be sure to stop by and say congratulations!

Filed by Author is a newish site that is all about connecting authors and readers. I just learned about it yesterday, so I haven't had a chance to really explore and see what they're all about, but I thought I would share.

Julie at Booking Mama had a great guest post this week by Sandra Gulland the author of Mistress of the Sun. Don't miss the post and be sure to enter the giveaway.

Historical fiction fans of all sorts should be sure to head on over to Carrie's blog Books and Movies. She's gathered together some of her favorite novels in this genre.

Reviews

Nicole of Linus's Blanket reviewed The Little Book on Meaning by Laura Bermen Fortgang. I'm not usually drawn to inspirational books or religious books, but this one sounds a bit different and I'm intrigued. Nicole says this: "This was a lovely book to read and ponder, and one whose passages I would definitely like to refer back to and examine further."

Are you interested in books about the Amish? Shelly at Write for a Reader reviewed Gift of Grace by Amy Clipston. This one looks great. Shelly says: "I finished this book in less than 24 hours, because I just couldn't put it down! I cried in the beginning and I cried at the end. Now that's the definition of a good book, at least I think so."

Amy from My Friend Amy reviewed Either You're in or You're in the Way by Logan and Noah Miller. This memoir is a tale of fulfilling the American Dream. Amy says: "It's the story of how an independent film gets made, it's a story of two brothers love for their father and for each other, and it's just plain fascinating."
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Some of these links were part of a link-sharing group. If you'd like to use my button on your blog, help yourself.

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Weekly Link Round-Up (April 27)

Here's what I was reading last week.

Book Sites

I visit three non-commercial book sites on a regular basis. Most of you will know about them, but if not, be sure to check them out.
⇒ For mystery lovers, don't miss Stop, You're Killing Me. This a great resource for titles, authors, and subgenres of mysteries.
⇒ For fiction of all sorts, try Fantastic Fiction, which is a great place to find authors and lists of all their works.
⇒ I go to World Cat any time I want to find details about a book: ISBN, editions, formats, translations, and more. (Note: you do not need to sign in to use the site.)

If there is a must-see general book site you visit on a regular basis, please let me know.

Reviews

I've been meaning to read The Uglies by Scott Westerfeld; now I think I'll have to read it soon. Jen at Devourer of Books was not sure it'd live up to the hype, but here's what she said: "Unlike with 'Twilight,' where I kept reading because I felt I had to, I’m going to continue reading this series because I want to."

Nely at All about {n} reviewed The Late Lamented Molly Marx by Sally Koslow. The premise of this is great: Molly is in limbo after her death and she can hear people's thoughts. Nely said: "I absolutely—hands down—adored this book. I thought Molly was such a lovely narrator."

Interview and Guest Post

Shelly at Write for a Reader does the best interviews, and this week she talked to two authors of the Horse Diaries series for young readers. Each book is the series is about a different horse in a different time period. Sounds like a great idea. Don't miss the interview.

Meghan of Medieval Bookworm has a guest post with Laurie Brown the author of What Would Jane Austen Do? This isn't your ordinary guest post: Brown mentions Dewey's Read-a-thon! Come see what else Brown has to say about her book and about time travel.

Blogwarming

Here's a super idea: Carrie of Books and Movies moved her blog (you know this because you read my link-up post last week!). This week, she's giving away six fabulous books as part of her blogwarming celebration. Don't miss out, there's a great selection.
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Happy birthday, Mr. BFR!

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Weekly Link Round-Up (April 20)

Because of the Spring Read-a-Thon, I'm going to make this week's link round-up short and sweet!

Conversations

Amy at My Friend Amy wrote Why I Blog, Bethany from B&b ex libris wrote Cool and Not Cool, and Trish from Hey Lady Whatcha Reading wrote This Blogging Thing Reminds Me of High School. Are there cliques? Are some people cool? Does anyone feel left out? Read these posts and join in the discussion.

Alyce from At Home with Books wants to know about participating in memes. You all do it, but how much is too much? Let her know.

Reviews

Jen at Devourer of Books reveiwed First Comes Love, Then Comes Malaria by Eve Waite-Brown. Ever thought about joining the Peace Corps? Take a look at this book. Here's what Jen had to say: "Let me just tell you that Eve is awesome. She is smart and sassy and I felt like I was sitting with one of my girlfriends, listening to her tell her story - complete with hand gestures and sarcasm. "

Shelly from Write for a Reader reviewed The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan. Yes this YA book involves zombies, but Shelly says: "I'll admit, I've never really been into zombies, . . . but this, I liked! I think it's because the focus of the book is not really the zombies, but Mary and her delimna."

Moving

Carrie from Books and Movies has moved!! Click on the link and re-set your bog reader so you don't miss a thing she has to say! I've already made the switch.

Giveaway

Julie from Booking Mama reviewed and is giving away two copies of Because I Love Her edited by Andrea N. Richesin. This sounds like a super book about mothers and daughters. Even if you don't want a copy, be sure to read the comments Julie is getting: all about how special her readers' moms are.

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Weekly Link Round-Up (April 12)

Here are some things I read this week.


Giveaways and Challenges

Amy from Passages to the Past has a super giveaway: The winner will get a signed copy of The Tory Widow plus a revolutionary America survival kit! How cool is that? There's still time to enter.

Carrie from Books and Movies has five copies of Jantsen’s Gift by Pam Cope and Aimee Molloy to give away. This memoir of a mother's struggle to find peace after the death of her son sounds inspirational and moving.

You know, of course, that April is the month of Earth Day. Did you know that this year is the fortieth anniversary of the event? In celebration, Rebecca of Lost in Books is holding an Earth Day Challenge with prizes! It started Friday, but you can easily catch up. It's a super idea, and I hope you all take a look.

Molly at My Cozy Book Nook has a fun Summer Vacation challenge coming up. It'll go from May 22 to September 7. There are prizes involved! Go check it out.

Fun Weekly Features

If you are more organized than I am, you might want to play along with What Are You Reading on Mondays at J. Kaye's Book Blog. Every Monday, participants summarize what they accomplished the week before and set their goals for the week to come. It's one way to stay on track and make it through your TBR piles.

You have to take a break from reading once in a while -- really! Try Tube Talk Tuesdays with Amy from My Friend Amy. She and Elizabeth are talking TV. This week it was the pilot episode of Supernatural. Tune in and join the discussion.

On hump day, give yourself a break and share some Midweek Morsels with Kristina at Kritina's Favorites. Coming up this week is a chance to share your successful Easter recipes. I bet you could share Passover recipes too.

On Thursdays try Thursday Thunks. This fun meme consists of a series of questions or fill-ins that require short answers -- humor is welcome!

On Fridays try Refer a Book on Shannon's blog Confuzzled Books. Just recommend a good read for a chance to win a book!

Tech Help

Have you ever been confused about Excel? Worry no more because Kris at Not Enough Books has written a great post that will help you become a spread sheet queen!

Reading Event

April 16th is Support Teen Literature Day, and Shelly from Write for a Reader is encouraging everyone to participate. It's really easy: Just drop a YA book off at a public place. Please see Shelly's post for instructions and to learn more about this fantastic program.

Just for Fun

Warning: before reading Jen's post at Devourer of Books put down any food or drinks. You would not believe what keyword searches lead to her blog. I don't want to know why this search takes you to Jen: "i know he has some parts and im not sure how dominant they are." Eeeeeuuuuuu!

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Weekly Link Round-Up (April 5)

Here's what I was reading last week.

Conversations

Cathy over at Kittling Books discusses two autobiographies and asks, "Do we always have to tell the absolute truth?" What's your reaction to finding out that a person's life story has been embellished or secretly ghost-written? Let Cathy know.

Natalie at Book, Line, and Sinker wants to know if readers are born or bred. What do you think? Be sure to leave a comment on Natalie's blog.

Events

Did you know that April is National Poetry Month in the United States? Carrie from Books and Movies is celebrating by introducing us to some of her favorites. Wendell Berry and William Blake are among the authors highlighted by Carrie. Check out who else is mentioned and read some poems she shares with us.

Have you heard of Book Binge? Everyone is invited to keep track of the books he or she reads in April. Head on over to It's Not All Mary Poppins to get your badge and join the fun.

Joint Book Reviews

Jackie at Farm Lane Books hooked up with Rebecca from Rebecca Reads to do a joint book review of Foundation by Isaac Asimov. They reviewed the book as part of a mini-challenge and purposely picked a genre outside their comfort zone. Although neither of them liked the book, you should check out their posts for some ideas of how to conduct a joint review via email.

Amy from My Friend Amy took joint reviews into the social media realm. She put out a request on Twitter for a co-reviewer of Etta by Gerald Kolpan. Ali from Worducopia took up the challenge, and the two reviewed the book on Google Talk! Pretty cool, eh? The novel is based on the life of Etta Place, of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid fame. Amy concluded: "we both felt the book was decent though the format didn't work for us one hundred percent of the time."

Super Monthly Wrap-Up

I'm officially and publicly acknowledging that my monthly wrap-up posts are on the lame side. Jen from Devourer of Books is my new "wrap-up guru." Not only did she read 20 books in March but she presented her monthly stats in a terrific post. I have some work to do before May 1!

Giveaway

Shelly from Write for a Reader has a fabulous April Fools' giveaway that is no joke. Seriously, check it out for a chance to win a number of books. You'll be the fool if you don't enter!

More Reviews

Nicole from Linus's Blanket reviewed a super YA novel about the Underground Railroad. The Light across the River by Stephanie Reed provides some insight into Uncle Tom's Cabin and "is a great mix of love, duty, mystery, suspense and history . . . an exciting read, and definitely a page turner." Wow!

Swapna from S. Krishna's Books reviewed The Lost Hours by Karen White. This one went directly onto my wish list, especially after I read this: "If you haven't read Karen White, I can't recommend her highly enough, especially if you like Southern fiction and/or mysteries. If you have and enjoyed her work, then definitely read this book – you'll find all that you've previously loved in it and more!"

Wendi from Wendi's Book Corner absolutely loved Married by Mistake by Abby Gaines. As Wendi suggests, this one sound like a great vacation read: "It was refreshing, the characters were well-written, the story moved along at a nice pace, and had a wonderfully happy ending."

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Weekly Link Round-Up (March. 22)

Here's what I read this week.

Giveaway for Women's Health Awareness

Marta from Marta's Meanderings is giving away two (yep, two) freshwater pearl bracelets to help promote women's heart health as part of the Cheerios Circle of Healthy Heart and WomanHeart programs. Find out more about making sure all women get access to adequate health care. (Note: the link is to Marta's home page because I'm having trouble getting a working direct link.)

A Closer Look at Books

Do you know The Very Hungry Caterpillar had an anniversary? Check out how much Eric Carle's books have meant to Jen at Devourer of Books.

Farrah at The Book Faery Reviews spotlighted author/artist R. Scot Johns. Johns's guest post gives us a fascinating glimpse in how digital technology can be used to produce beautiful books.

AMACON Books Blog has a great new feature called Anatomy of a Book Cover. Learn about the design process.

Booksquare blog is all about "Dissecting the publishing industry with love and skepticism." Lots of good information about where the book industry is and where it should be going.

Getting to Know You

Trish at Hey Lady! Whatcha Readin'? is putting out feelers for a book blogger get-together and visit to Powell's. I can't tell you how much I would love to be able to do this.

Remember Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury? Elizabeth at As Usual, I Need More Bookshelves has a super feature based on the book. It's a great way to learn more about each other.

Natasha (aka Maw Books) has a feature called Reader Spotlight in which she interviews fellow book bloggers. It's great fun.

New Features, Conversation, Review

Amy at My Friend Amy has a new feature called So Cal Lit Scene in which she is going to review as many bookstores as she can within driving distance of her home. I bet she does a little shopping too! It's a great idea.

Do you drink tea? Then here's the weekly event for you! Anastasia at Birdbrain(ed) Book Blog has a new Thursday Tea feature "showcasing a tea and the book I’m reading while I’m drinking it." She asks others to share in the fun.

You know how what I think about audiobooks, but what do you think? Carrie at Books and Movies discusses the joys of audiobooks and shares her top twelve listens. Help her decide what to listen to next.

Wendi has a great review of Everyone Is Beautiful by Katherine Center (whom she is interviewing tomorrow) up on Wendi's Book Corner. This sounds like a must read: Wendi says it's "a beautiful book that is full of life, and not just some fantasy life, but a real life, and one that I can relate to."
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Some of these links were part of a link-sharing group. To find out more, e-mail Amy of My Friend Amy. If you want to do this on your own, feel free to use my button.

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Weekly Link Round-Up (March 15 )

Here's what I read this week.

Go Visiting

Have you heard of the Women’s National Book Association? Well I hadn't either. They have chapters around the USA. If you're in the New York City area, be sure to look into the great programs they offer.

Indie Book Bloggers is looking for book reviewers who would like to share their feeds and expand their readership. You'll recognize several blogs in the feed list there. Just click the "add my blog" button if you're interested.

Have you been over to the blog Life of a Publisher? If not, you're missing out on some great reading.

Get Organized

Have been thinking about spring cleaning? You must head over to Devourer of Books and follow along as Jen shares her adventures with Gail Blanke’s Throw Out 50 Things. I know that I've been inspired to get a grip on the clutter and junk wonderful collection of fabulous items that can be found in my house!

Check Out Reviews, Interviews, and Giveaways

Carrie form Books and Movies has a review of a book by one of my favorite authors: Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon. If you are unsure about reading the series, here's a bit of what Carrie says: "The first book was really good, but the sequel blew me away."

Do you like chocolate? Then don't miss the terrific giveaway over at S. Krishna's Books. Okay, so I misled you. The giveway is for The Chocolate Run by Dorothy Koomson. This is a chance to win a book that is currently available only in the UK.

Nicole from Linus's Blanket has a powerful book to pass along: Secret Daughter: A Mixed-Race Daughter and the Mother Who Gave Her Away by June Cross. This is a moving story, and Nccole says she "learned a lot about not only about human relationships and race relations in this country, but also wonderful stories about the evolution of the entertainment industry."

Amy from My Friend Amy offers an awesome guest post by Phyllis Scheiber. In her discussion of Willing Spirits, she asks: "Exactly when does a writer begin to store the really important memories?" Don't miss this post because once you get a taste for Scheiber's writing you'll want to win a copy of the book.

A huge 100th-post giveaway is happening at Marta's Meanderings: 5 winners of two super book packages! Head on over and enter for your chance to win 10 books!

Shelly at Write for a Reader has a review and giveaway of for My Little Red Book by Rachel Kauder Nalebuff. She is celebrating International Woman's Day and will be posting an author interview too!

And finally don't forget to enter my first giveaway! I've got two books to pass along.

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Weekly Link Round-Up (March 8)

Here's what I was reading this week.

Conversations

Be sure to congratulate Amy of My Friend Amy on getting a book endorsement published! How cool is that? Then read her post and join in the discussion. Do jacket blurbs and book endorsements influence your decision to read a book? Yea or nay, don't forget to join in the conversation.

I want to be a kid in Carrie's house! She says, "I . . . fix the kids’ breakfast, and while they’re eating, I read aloud to them. It’s a daily ritual that we all love, and I hope will continue for a long time." Go see what she's reading. Then leave a comment at Books and Movies and share your favorite family books.

Things to Read

Did you know that each week Harper Perennial posts a short story on its blog Fifty-Two Stories? Sone of the authors are well known (to me) and other are not. This week the story is by "Carol Windley, from her new story collection, Home Schooling. 'What Saffi Knew' asks questions all children would if we could."

Peter Pnin's site Lilies Lakes and Lonely Lizards offers an audiovisual collection of poems. Poetry lovers should check this out.

Reviews

Jen at Devourer of Books almost didn't read America America by Ethan Canin. But once she started listening to this coming of age story, she found that "Cory was a great character, from an uncertain boy to man who has matured into his role in life." Don't forget to check out what she has to say about the narrator of the book (and don't tell her husband!)

"The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins is, in one word, fantastic," according to Trish of Hey! Lady Watcha Readin’? Read this review with your credit card in hand, because you will be placing an order for the book.

Giveaways

As you know this was the week of the Book Carnival Giveaway Tour. It's not too late to sign up for the contests at Marta's Meaderings. Marta has five (yep, five) books to give away. Look in her sidebar: three contests end tonight but two go for another couple of weeks.

Shelly at Write for a Reader is giving away a copy of Everyone Is Beautiful by Katherine Center. This sounds like an interesting look into contemporary life: "It's about what really happens in a marriage, the emotions that are out there, and the way women feel but are sometimes so afraid to talk about."
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Some of these links were part of a link-sharing group. To find out more, e-mail Amy of My Friend Amy. If you want to do this on your own, feel free to use my button.

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Weekly Link Round-Up (March 1)

Here are some posts, blogs, and events that attracted my attention this week.


Conversations

This week at My Friend Amy the talk was all about book signings. Do you love them? Have you ever been? Do you avoid them like the plague? Amy and her readers want to know!

Okay, fess up! You know you've destroyed a book at some point in your life. Have you ever done any of the things the 60 commenters at Maw Books Blog have? Even if you don't want to add your own story, you really have to read some of these tales.

Author Guest Post

Jen hosted author Robin Maxwell at Devourer of Books. Maxwell wrote Signora Da Vinci, which has been receiving great reviews from book bloggers. If you are a fan of historical fiction and/or the Renaissance, don't miss this informative post, in which Maxwell addresses some of the lesser-known aspects of Leonardo da Vinci's world.

Lists

Want a peek inside Bookmarks magazine? Carrie from Books and Movies shares about a half dozen mini reviews of books she wants to investigate.

Several of my readers have asked for suggestions for graphic novels. Booklists Online has a top-ten list for YA novels. Check it out.

Reviews

If you have book-loving little ones, you'll need to read Shelly's review at Write for a Reader of A Carousel Tale, written and illustrated by Elisa Kleven. Shelly notes, "Children need to be able to imagine, and this book helps them to see how wonderful make believe can be."

If you have a daughter who is reaching maturity, you might want to consider My Little Red Book, by Rachel Kauder Nalebuff. But Tracy from Bookroom Reviews says this book "is not just for young girls. It is a trip down memory lane and a feeling of connection to each story."

Here's a book with something for everyone: romantic suspense, historic fiction, and Victorian mystery! Silent on the Moor, by Deanna Raybourn, was reviewed over at Wendi's Book Corner. This third in a series is a "wonderful story laced with the perfect mixture of mystery, danger and romance!"

E-Readers and the Kindle

Molly over at My Cozy Book Nook wrote a fabulous review of the Kindle. If you've been wondering about the features or its ease of use, read this post.

If you're still undecided and want a look at what's on the horizon, check out this article by Fortune magazine. The Hearst Corporation is working on new new technology for an innovative reader.
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Some of these links were part of a link-sharing group.

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Weekly Link Round-Up (Feb. 22)

Here are some posts, blogs, and events that attracted my attention this week.

Conversation

All the Buzz Reviews hosted a five-day conference last week about book reviewing. Each day focused on a different topic: how to be a reviewer, what about negative reviews, advantages of being a reviewer, readers' viewpoints, and authors' thoughts. This was a great discussion and one that all book reviewers should read.

Reviews

⇒ Historical fiction lovers are in for some treats.

Even if you're not a Shakespeare or poetry lover, you'll want to read the review of The Sonnets by Warwick Collins over at Devourer of Books. The book "feels as if it is a snapshot of Shakespeare’s life, it could almost be an excerpt from his lost diary." This is a terrific example of how to review a good book that just isn't the right match for you. We can all learn something from Jen's sensitively written post.

Civil war and global war are often difficult topics to read about, and Amy at My Friend Amy addresses this issue in her review of the novel Winter in Madrid by C. J. Sansom. The book doesn't flinch from teaching us about the darker sides of the Spanish Civil War and its lasting effects; as Amy noted, "In a haunting eerie way, I was reminded of how we are never that far away from . . . hopelessness and poverty."

⇒ And families were big this week.

What happens to a family when it must face a medical tragedy? While My Sister Sleeps by Barbara Delinsky addresses this issue from a variety of perspectives. As Marta of Marta's Meanderings says, the book "makes you wonder if you know your family as well as you think you do." Sounds like a must read.

Valentine Roncalli's family business is in financial trouble, and the young woman has an idea for saving the company. So she and her grandmother travel to Capri to put the plan in motion. This is just part of story told in Very Valentine by Adriana Trigiani and reviewed at Bermudaonion Weblog. I haven't yet read a book by this author, but Kathy says, "No one can write about families the way Trigiani can." Sounds like a great first in a trilogy.

⇒ And here's one for the bakers.

Need an excuse to bake? The holidays are over and winter seems to be dragging in the Northern Hemisphere. And those down under should celebrate the last days summer. Wendi of Wendi's Book Corner has the perfect cookbook for you: Confetti Cakes for Kids by Elisa Strauss with Christie Matheson. The book offers step-by-step instructions of the cutest cakes. And to show how inspiring the book is, Wendi shares photo of the car cake she made for her son's second birthday.

Fabulous Giveaway

Okay, here's a giveaway that you won't be able to resist: Trish of Hey Lady! Whacha Readin'? is giving away two Slankets. What's a Slanket? It's a fleecy blanket you can wear like a robe. It's fabulous way to curl up on the couch on a winter's night and read, watch TV, or knit. Don't miss this one; Trish gives you plenty of chances to win.

Getting to Know You

⇒ I love getting to know my fellow bloggers better and so I have two treats for you this week.

Shelly at Write for a Reader shares her awesome mini-interview with us. If you haven't been following this meme, then you are truly missing out. This has been the most fun way to learn about some of my blogging buddies. Here's just one tidbit Shelly shared: "I have my Masters in Educational Leadership." If you want to be interviewed visit Shelly's blog and make a request.

Want to take a peek into someone else's home? Do you try to imagine your blogging friends hard at work in front of their computers? Your curiosity can be satisfied by visiting Kittling: Books and checking out Cathy's Wednesday feature called Scene of the Blog. We have visited with a blogger from Denmark and another from Canada. You too could be featured, just leave a comment on Cathy's blog.

Just for Fun

Twilight fans: Don't miss the preview of the New Moon movie put together by Tracy of Book Room Reviews. You'll find photos, the new logo, and the date of opening night. And don't miss Stephenie Meyer's latest book recommendation.

Do you use your library? Penny from Penny's Pages posted about the Library Use Calculator. It's a way to tell how much you're getting out of your library. Her family comes in at a whooping $1651 a month! Check it out!

Into word games that tie into literature? Then you have to play Saturday Word Play at The Book Mine Set blog. Each week John makes up a word game. Yesterday he cleverly integrated Wordle into the quizz!

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Some of these links were part of a link-sharing group.

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Weekly Link Round-Up (Feb. 15)

Here are some posts, blogs, and events that attracted my attention this week.

Conversations

⇒ This was a good week for readers interested in British royalty.

Meghan from Medieval Bookworm asks, "Why is Richard III so often presented as a chivalric figure in modern historical fiction?" She discusses several aspects of chivalry in terms of Richard III's life. This fascinating post prompted several good comments.

You have to have some sympathy for poor Catherine Howard, Henry VIII's fifth wife. Amy from Passages to the Past reminds us that this week is the anniversary of Catherine's beheading. Would you want to have been a queen in the 1500s? Check out the comments Amy's post generated.

⇒ And there was some help for those of you who are wondering what to read next.

Are you are trying to seek out Christian fiction or are you trying to avoid it? Booksellers and marketing departments often fail to distinguish Christian fiction from general fiction. What's a reader to do? Amy at My Friend Amy has a solution. The trick is to be familiar with the publishing houses and imprints that focus on this genre. Amy has done an excellent job of gathering all the needed information into one place. Check out the comments for more thoughts.

This week's Tuesday Thingers, hosted by Wendi's Book Corner, was about adding ratings to your book reviews. After introducing the topic, Wendi asked fellow bloggers to respond to several questions, but the biggies were Do you use a rating system? and Are you influenced by the rating given to a book? The answers are insightful and may make you question your current practices! It's not too late to add your own opinion.

Event, Poll, More on Making Buttons

I love learning new words. If you're like me or if you're looking for a super new weekly event, don't miss Kathy's Wondrous Words Wednesday at Bermudaonion's Weblog. Each week, participants list new-to-them words, use the word in context, and then provide the definition. I guarantee that you'll find new words or at least get a clearer understanding of words you thought you already knew.

Steph at Reviewer X had an interesting poll about whether and when you give up reading a book that is clearly not your favorite. The post generated a lot of comments. I had a good time seeing how other people handle dud books.

Remember my post Making Buttons for Your Posts? In it, I discussed watermarking software. Some of you might have been stumped at that stage or didn't want to spend the money for software. Well, you're in luck. Kris at Not Enough Books wrote a fabulous, detailed post about a free software program called Paint.Net that adds text to your images. If you use a PC, don't miss her post.

Reviews, Giveaways, Interviews

Trish at Hey Lady! Watcha Reading? reviewed The Help by Kathryn Stockett. The story is about three women, black and white, of different generations in 1960s Mississippi during the heart of the civil rights movement. Here's what Trish had to say: "I was giddy with the knowledge that I was reading something wonderful. I loved the friendships, the characters, and the situations. I loved the dialogue. I loved the writing." If it sounds like you would love it too, be sure to enter her giveaway.

If you like history, historical fiction, or exploration stories, Marta from Marta's Meanderings has a great book for you. The Terror by Dan Simmons is based on the true story of the search for the Northwest Passage. According to Marta, "This book brings to life the horrors of men at sea, what they endured in that brutal cold." This page-turner could be yours, if you enter Marta's giveaway.

Shelly at Write for a Reader offers a comprehensive look at Too Tall Alice by Barbara Worton, an illlustrated children's book, whose message is "It's not easy being different, it's okay though. Just be yourself." But wait! There's more! Shelly was also lucky enough to conduct an extensive author telephone interview. Worton is a "wonderful woman" who is happy to share her thoughts about writing, reviewing, and blogging. Don't miss this one.
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Some of these links were part of a link-sharing group.

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Weekly Link Round-Up (Feb. 7)

Here is this week's Link Round-Up. Enjoy!

Conversations

Michele at A Reader's Respite was wondering about the genre Chick-Lit. Does the name offend you? Do you understand what the label means? For a lively discussion, be sure to check out Michele's blog. And for a treat, don't miss her follow-up post.

Most of us want to pass our love of reading onto the next generation and beyond. Amy, at My Friend Amy, talks about the importance of reading to our children but also makes us aware that reading doesn't come easy to everyone. She challenges us to get involved in community literacy programs. Read her post and the comments, and join in the discussion.

Trish from Hey Lady! Whatcha Reading takes a lighter look at reading to kids by introducing four picture books that are sure make at least some of your children giggle. But then asks, "Would you read these books to your kid?" I don't have children, but I can assure you that my brothers would have loved them.

Just for Fun

Maybe it's in the air or maybe we can thank Kim's Blog Improvement Project, but new weekly events seem to be popping out all over. There are sure to be at least a few that will interest you. Here are four new events (I'll try to highlight more in future posts).

S. Krishna's Books is hosting Thursday Tunes for all you music lovers out there. I have discovered some new artists and have been reminded of old favorites. Aren't you curious about what book bloggers listen to when they're not reading?

Every Wednesday on Kristina's Favorites you'll find a Midweek Morsel. This is a chance to discover a new recipe and to share one of your own favorites.

Have you played Friday Feud yet? Kittling Books poses a question each week. Leave your answer in the comments, and remember that humor is encouraged.

If you use your local library, think about participating in Library Loot at A Striped Armchair. This Wednesday event is really taking off.

Reviews

Audiobooks were popular this week:

Marta from Marta's Meanderings reviewed the audio version of 100 Ways to Simplify Your Life by Joyce Meyer and read by Sandra McCollum. Marta says, "All of the ideas will help in some way to make your life a bit simpler--from learning to say no to learning to set boundaries."

Head on over to Bermudaonion's Weblog to read Kathy's review of Little Pink House by Jeff Benedict and read by Maggi-Meg Reed. This is a true story of how ordinary citizens can challenge local government. Kathy notes, "I found myself admiring the people who stood their ground and fought."

By the way, if you're an audiobook fan, you'll relate to Sandy's Confessions of an Audio Book Addict over at You've Gotta Read This!

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For those who prefer their books in print:

Wendi reviewed the beautifully illustrated Cole Family Christmas by Jennifer Liu Bryan with Hazel Cole Kendle. The book takes place during the Depression, and Wendi says, "This wonderful family will work its way into your heart and help you remember what the holidays are really about!" Visit Wendi's Book Corner to read more.

Looking for a great children's book? Shelly from Write for a Reader reviewed Little Skink's Tail by Janet Halfmann. Shelly says, "Children will love the use of onomonapeia, like sniff, sniff; and gobble, gobble, gobble, as well as the author's use of rhyme, like stickly-prickly, as Little Skink makes his way through the forest." The book also contains educational activities for the interested child. This cute story is recommended for 4-8 year olds.

Britt at Confessions of a Book Habitue takes a frank look at War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells. She acknowledges that "Wells was a brilliant, forward-thinking pioneer." But she goes on to take a look at some of the novel's shortcomings.
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Some of these links were part of a link-sharing group started by Amy of My Friend Amy. If you would like to join in, leave your email address in the comments, and I'll send you the information. Link sharing is open to anyone who wants to participate, and you don't need to share links every week.

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Weekly Link Round-Up (Jan. 31)

Here are the blogs and posts I want to highlight this week.

Conversations

I'm sure you've seen the Booking through Thursday meme that many book bloggers participate in. This week Deb changed the rules just a bit and started a discussion through comments and blogs about books in the digital age. You shouldn't miss this conversation.

Amy from My Friend Amy wrote a thoughtful post about the joys of assigned reading. This topic has come up a couple of times in the book blogging world recently, and Amy talks about how exposure to the classics in school can spark a lifelong love of reading. Do you agree or disagree? Let Amy know.

Blogs

This year I expanded my horizons by reading my first graphic novels. Laza of Gimme More Books is hosting a graphics novel challenge. If you've been even a little curious about graphic novels and the wide range of genres available, please stop by the Graphic Novels Challenge blog. Can you believe that there are almost 40 reviews up and the challenge is barely one month old!

Have you been reading the great mini-reviews on Jenny's Page? It's amazing how many books Jenny reads and how wonderful her reviews are. She has the talent to say more in a few sentences than I can say in several paragraphs! She has eclectic tastes, so you're sure to find a book that interests you. I hope you explore Jenny's blog.

Posts

I know a lot of you get used books from BookMooch, contests, giveaways, and other sources. Have you ever gotten a book that came from the home of a smoker? If so, you might have noticed that the books carried a smoke stench. Keira over at Love Romance Passion has some tips on how to get rid of the foul odor. You might want to bookmark her post.

Julie from Confessions of a Book Habitue has a nice review of State of the Onion by Julie Hyzy. This cozy mystery features Olivia Paras, an assistant chef at the White House. Here's what Julie had to say: "Great story. It was lots of fun. Not overly complicated."

Historical fiction fans should go to Wendi's Book Corner to read the review of The Heretic's Daughter by Kathleen Kent. I thought the novel sounded interesting, but Wendi has convinced me that it's a must read: "This book gives the reader a wonderful view of what life was like during [the late 1600s] and a shocking look into what can happen when people turn against each other out of spite, bitterness and jealousy."

Steph, a.k.a. Reviewer X, put together a terrific post for bloggers who review ARCs. She asked a number of publishing companies this question: "How far ahead of the release date do you consider ideal for bloggers to post about ARCs you send out?" Almost a dozen publishers replied; don't miss their responses.

You might not know that Shelly at Write for a Reader conducts author interviews. Her latest is with Merrily Kutner, who writes books for children. Kutner says, "I aspire to write with the whimsy of Dr. Seuss, the skill of Jane Yolen and the sensitivity of Eve Bunting."

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Some of these links were part of a link-sharing group started by Amy of My Friend Amy. If you would like to join in, leave your email address in the comments, and I'll send you the information. Link sharing is open to anyone who wants to participate, and you don't need to share links every week.

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Weekly Link Round-Up (Jan. 24)

Here's my first Weekly Link Round-Up.

Any Lost fans out there? Amy, of My Friend Amy fame, had an interesting post about the connection between the television show and books and reading. In fact, she's hosting a reading challenge based on the books mentioned in the series.

Do you review ARCs or receive books from authors or publishers? What are your thoughts about revealing the source of the book you're discussing? Join the lively conversation about this issue over at Trish's blog, Hey Lady! Whatcha Readin'?

It's always great when a author agrees to be interviewed by a blogger. Shelburns was lucky enough to talk to Tony Peters, who wrote Kids on a Case: The Ten Grand Kidnapping. This young Canadian has a lot going for him, don't miss meeting him at Write for a Reader.

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Wendi just finished reading The Valentine Edition by Robin Shope. If you're a fan of Christian Romance, you should check out the review at Wend's Book Corner for this "wonderfully romantic story that helps the reader to gently remember the importance of prayer, forgiveness and faith."

ForstRose at Bibliophile's Retreat has a great suggestion for historical fiction fans with an interest in the church. Here's what she has to say about The Centurion's Wife by Davis Bunn and Janette Oke: "I'm not sure how to balance this rave out with more sober thoughts on the book as truly I wasn't able to find anything not to love about it."

If Jesus ran for president, would you vote for him? Roland Merulla's novel American Savior follows Jesus on the campaign trail. In a great review of this work of contemporary fiction, Kathy, of Bermudaonion's Weblog, tells us: "This book is humorous as well as thought provoking and I enjoyed reading it."

Marta of Marta's Meanderings posted a nice review of Houston, We Have a Problema, by Gwendolyn Zepeda. This is contemporary fiction about a young woman trying to find her way in the world. Here's a quote from the review: "It has a strong latino theme to it, but it definitely crosses all cultures with the themes of growing up, tolerance and acceptance."

If you like the mob and/or a good thriller head on over to Booking Mama to read Julie's review of Beat the Reaper by Josh Bazell. Julie says: "I enjoyed how the story was told using flashbacks into Peter's childhood and prior mob life because it gave the reader insight into his character. I also appreciated seeing how conflicted Peter was."

Mystery lovers should check out the review of Conscience Point by Erica Abeel over at S. Krishna's Books. Here's a snippet: "Conscience Point is fashioned as a modern-day Gothic mystery . . . that's very easy to get lost in."

Hope you enjoyed this Weekly Link Round-Up. Let me know if you'd like to see more of this kind of post.

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