Booking Through Thursday - Recent Funny

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Today's question: What’s the funniest book you’ve read recently?

My Response:
Although I love to laugh, I haven't read many funny books. Whenever I come to a place in a book that causes me to laugh out loud, I'm delightfully surprised. Unfortunately, that doesn't happen often. So I had to think to answer this prompt.

According to Their Deeds by Paul Robertson is one book that had me chuckling several times. Although it's a mystery, there's a play on words going on throughout the novel. The protagonist and his wife dialogue like the Thin Man. This is a book about the operations of a bookstore, and I think that anyone who loves books will enjoy it. My review is here.

How about you? Have you read any funny books lately?

Unread and Waiting

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Today's question: An idea I got from The Toddled Dredge (via K for Kat). 

“Today I present to you an Unread Books Challenge. Give me the list or take a picture of all the books you have stacked on your bedside table, hidden under the bed or standing in your shelf – the books you have not read, but keep meaning to. The books that begin to weigh on your mind. The books that make you cover your ears in conversation and say, ‘No! Don’t give me another book to read! I can’t finish the ones I have!’ “

My Response:
Books are heavy! When we moved, I decided to be strong and give away boxes and boxes of books. Therefore, today's question is an easy one for me to answer. These few books on the top shelf of my office bookcase are waiting to be read.


This stack sitting just inside the front door are ready and waiting to be read. Notice the darling bookends that BJ sent me are holding them in place.


Here's the one I'm currently reading. 


I've dramatically slowed down in my reading. Hey, something had to give! 

How many books do you have calling out to you? 

Booking Through Thursday - Library Week

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Today's question: I saw that National Library week is coming up in April, and that led to some questions. 

• How often do you use your public library and how do you use it? 
  
• Has the coffeehouse/bookstore replaced the library? 
  
• Did you go to the library as a child? 
  
• Do you have any particular memories of the library? 
  
• Do you like sleek, modern, active libraries or the older, darker, quiet, cozy libraries?
  

My Response:

• I used to go to the library a couple of times every month. Now I'm kept busy with all of the books that publishers send me for review. If ever I run out of reading material, I'd return.
  
• I do not think that coffeehouse/bookstores will ever replace the library. Even though a customer may pick up a book and read a bit of it, the book cost money if you want to finish it. In today's economy, people appreciate that a library offers books to read for free.
  
• I got my first library card at age five and went there each week. I wrote about that here and here. 
• I worked as a library clerk for six years in a high school. I wrote about that here.
• I prefer an active library to a dark, quiet one. I've never stayed to read anything inside a library; I just get what I want and take it home to enjoy. However, while in college, I did use a quiet room to research material that could not be checked out.
  

I'm interested in reading your answers.

Take note of my book giveaway in my sidebar.

Purchase of Poison & Good Book

The small gold mining town had only one drug store. A respectable lady went into the store, calmly walked up to the druggist, looked into his eyes and said, "I would like to buy some cyanide."

The druggist asked, "Why in the world do you need cyanide?"

"I need it to poison my husband," the lady replied.

The druggist's eyes got big and he exclaimed, " Lord have mercy! I can't give you cyanide to kill your husband. That's against the law! I'll lose my license! They'll throw both of us in jail! You CANNOT have any cyanide!"

The lady reached into her purse and pulled out a photograph of her husband in bed with the druggist's wife.

The druggist looked at the photo and replied, "Well now, this is different. You didn't tell me you had a prescription."

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I reviewed this funny book. Check this out.

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Book Giveaways!
See my sidebar.

Blue Monday - Chaise Lounge

It's Blue Monday! To participate:

1. Post about something blue on your blog. It can be pretty, ugly, funny, old, or new as long as it's blue. Leave a link to this blog on your post.

2. Place the Blue Monday button on the top of your post so that people can easily spot it. Place another Blue Monday button on the sidebar of your blog.

3. Return here and link in with Mr. Linky by leaving your name and the Permalink to your post. To create a Permalink, click on your Blue Monday post title and copy all the stuff in the http window. It is a longer address so that people can find your post even later in the week--whenever they get a chance to visit. For those who just can't wait, Mr. Linky will be up after midnight!

Do NOT link in until after your post is up.

4. Visit other Blue participants by clicking on their links. Make someone's day; leave a comment. I appreciate it when you take the time to leave a comment for me.

5. Check back later to make certain you visit all the Blue participants. (That's why the Permalink is so important.)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Most of you know that I love to read. I have turned that love into a nonpaying job! I review books and post my reviews here. Today I want to share my prime reading spot. This chaise lounge is located in my bedroom. See the BLUE carpet? Notice the BLUE throw and the BLUE in the print of the pillow.



Here's a close-up of my print pillow with the touch of BLUE in it. I have two pillows that match the chaise lounge; I keep them in the basket on the floor for easy grabbing.



Here's a close-up of the soft BLUE throw. Although I don't use it often, it comes in handy when needed. I don't know if you can tell, but the upholstery material has a thread of BLUE running through it. That's why everything coordinates.



Check out the Book Giveaways! Happy BLUE Monday!
Blue Monday Participants

1. LANA G! 2. Susan 3. Mojo, NC, USA 4. Sheila 5. ellen b 6. Katherine 7. Robyn 8. Melissa 9. Rechelle 10. Carrie - Oak Rise Cottage 11. Carrie - Carola Nativity Gallery 12. Christine (xinex) 13. Theresa 14. Karen 15. JudyBug 16. Cam 17. Linnea

18. Kathy b 19. Linnea--B 20. Elizabeth 21. Sweetie 22. bj 23. Heidi Pocketbook 24. Marie 25. Jeanne 26. Beverly 27. Carlotta 28. Terie 29. Judi 30. Traci 31. White Iris Designs 32. Dixie 33. Diane@ A Picture is... 34. Lynne

35. Linda\'s Blue Gatte 36. Sherrie 37. Blondie 38. Debra 39. Helen 40. Jane 41. Mamapippa - Belgium 42. JLS Hall 43. Shirls Rose Cottage 44. pagan sphinx 45. Baba 46. Carolyn 47. charli and me 48. Chari 49. Lisa 50. Andi 51. Kathy again

Powered by... Mister Linky's Magical Widgets.

Booking Through Thursday - Honesty

I receive a lot of review books, but I have never once told lies about the book just because I got a free copy of it. However, some authors seem to feel that if they send you a copy of their book for free, you should give it a positive review.

Do you think reviewers are obligated to put up a good review of a book, even if they don’t like it? Have we come to a point where reviewers *need* to put up disclaimers to (hopefully) save themselves from being harassed by unhappy authors who get negative reviews?

My Response:
I review books, and if you read my reviews, you will know that I am honest. I give my opinion of the work--simple as that. I will add, though, that I recognize that an author has put his time and effort into the title; no one should be treated badly, even if the job is not done well. Therefore, I do look for the good things. I state the weak points, but highlight those good points so that readers can make their own informed choices.

I have had interactions with authors, but always been on a professional level. I do not feel the need to define the job of reviewing by establishing disclaimers. My integrity cannot be bought for the price of a book!

What's your take on this question?

Check out my giveaways on my sidebar!

A Tag from Dawn

Dawn from Dawn's Daybreak is a faithful blogging friend who teaches kindergarten. What a lucky group of children to have her for a teacher! Dawn tagged me with a book meme. I've actually done this before on my book blog, but I'm game to share again. The rules are:

1. Link to the person who tagged you and post the rules on your blog.

2. Share seven random and/or weird book facts about yourself.

3. Tag seven random people at the end of your post, and include links to their blogs.

4. Let each person know that they've been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.


My seven random book facts:


1. I got my first library card when I was five years old, after signing my name in cursive.


2. While in high school, I got in trouble when my mother caught me reading Peyton Place.


3. I’ve read all of Ernest Hemingway’s novels without like any of them.


4. I’ve read most of Ernest Hemingway’s short stories and loved almost all of them.


5. I served as a library aide when I was in junior high school.


6. As an adult, I worked as a Library Clerk in a public high school.


7. I established a church library from scratch, using the Dewey Decimal System and card catalog and grew the collection to over 1,000 volumes.


The seven fortunate people I choose to do this are:

Cathy at Melodies and Hymnsongs

Jeanne at Backyard Neighbor

Diane at A Picture Is Worth...

Chris at Chris's Corner

Squawmama at Our Adventures with Tassie

Shelia at Note Songs

Carol at Charli and Me


After you leave a comment, take a look at my sidebar. There are two make-up books I'm giving away.  If you win one and don't need it because you're so gorgeous, maybe you'll have another Christmas present to regift!

A Merry, Merry Christmas Giveaway!

I know it's not even Thanksgiving yet, but I want you to have something extra to be thankful for, and I need time to have these get mailed out to you.

What could be better than solving a gift problem for one of the most difficult people-to-buy-for on your Christmas list? Wait until you hear about this, and I'm sure you'll agree that it's not too early. The generous folks at Hachette Book Group are allowing me to host another major book giveaway! This time I choose the titles. I asked if I could offer two titles that Johnny (who hates to read) has actually read (!) and enjoyed!

Both of the following books are about awesome Christian men. Read the publisher's description in blue, followed by my review in black. Decide which one you'd like to get for that hard-to-buy-for man in your life, and follow the directions below. I understand that some people reading this will not be interested; that's fine, but please leave me a comment anyway. (I get awfully lonely!)

From the commander of the Delta Force team portrayed in the movie Black Hawk Down comes a gripping testimony of faith refined by the fire of unimaginable trial! Learn how General Boykin's experiences in the Special Forces---and in the crosshairs of the media---shook and ultimately strengthened his trust in God.

My Review:
Johnny and I are very different people. I am an avid reader; he would tell you that he hates to read. Nevertheless, when this book came into our home, he picked it up. (Trust me, that's unusual.) He turned a couple of pages, and when I gently suggested he take a look at it, he began to read! He did not stop that first day until he got to sixty-some pages.

The following day, he picked it up and read some more! As we drove down the street one day, he began to tell me about this man's life. I asked, "If this were made into a movie..."

"I'd go see it!" he exclaimed, interrupting me. He loves action films, and he said that's what kind of film this book would make. On another day, he stated, "This man is a machine! You can't believe the things he's done!" Well, he finished reading the book! Yep, he read all 350 pages, and he loved it.


Josh Hamilton was the first player chosen in the first round of the 1999 baseball draft. He was destined to be one of those rare "high-character " superstars. But in 2001, working his way from the minors to the majors, all of the plans for Josh went off the rails in a moment of weakness. What followed was a 4-year nightmare of drugs and alcohol, estrangement from friends and family, and his eventual suspension from baseball.

BEYOND BELIEF details the events that led up to the derailment. Josh explains how a young man destined for fame and wealth could allow his life to be taken over by drugs and alcohol. But it is also the memoir of a spiritual journey that breaks through pain and heartbreak and leads to the rebirth of his major-league career.

Josh Hamilton makes no excuses and places no blame on anyone other than himself. He takes responsibility for his poor decisions and believes his story can help millions who battle the same demons. "I have been given a platform to tell my story" he says. "I pray every night I am a good messenger."

My Review:
My husband, who by his own definition, is a non-reader, thought that this book was "great!" Addicted to sports, my husband grabbed this book when it came into our home. This is an easy read for any baseball addict, but is also a good read even for a non-lover of the game. In this memoir, Josh Hamilton is so talented a ball player that he receives $3.9 million bonus just for signing with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays at age eighteen.

Here is a man devoted to family and God, who comes close to throwing all away. My husband found himself getting angry as he read about the many bad choices Josh made for four long years! The promise of a Golden Life tarnishes because of drugs and alcohol.

Family ties are strong, and one special family member comes through to help him turn around, and advance all the way to the All-Star Home Run Derby in 2008.

Now here's the amazing part. This giveaway is for five (5) copies each of these newly released, brand new, hardbound books! That's a total of ten (10) books!

• Winners are restricted to the US and Canada. No PO Box mailing addresses, please.
• I must have a way of contacting you, so be sure to leave your email address in code in your comment: you[at]yourmail[dot]com (Please do not ask me to look it up!)
• I'll close the comments at 6PM EST November 18th and pick the ten winners. I will contact the winners via email to get their mailing information. The winners will have three days to respond. If I do not hear from them within three days, I will select another winner(s).
• If you're interested, just say so in a comment. (If you are not interested, please leave me a comment anyway because you KNOW how I love comments!)
• Last giveaway, I felt badly because so many said they wanted the book, but they neglected to leave the all-important email address in code.
  

Booking Through Thursday - Presents

What, if any, memorable or special book have you ever gotten as a present? Birthday or otherwise. What made it so notable? The person who gave it? The book itself? The “gift aura?”

My Response:
No one special gift book stands out, but I can remember getting books for my birthday, Mother's Day, and Christmas on several occasions. I love books, and it's an obvious gift choice for me. They have all been novels, except for one time in my life. That was my college graduation at age forty-nine.

I'm a late bloomer. When I graduated from college, my daughter and son-in-law threw me a surprise graduation party. I received several reference books as gifts: Webster's New Universal Unabridged Dictionary--an almost five-inch thick volume, One Hundred Great Operas and Their Stories, and The Complete Poems of of Keats & Shelley. Those titles were selected as symbols of pride at what an old lady could accomplish. Over the years, the dictionary has been frequently used. The opera book was given to me by a couple who, along with my husband and me, were season ticket holders for that one year. I opened it a few times. The poetry book has been the most neglected. It was a gift from my son and his wife, who were impressed with my GPA and envisioned me curling up and reading it night after night. These presents are special because when I look at them, I remember the time of celebration, the wonderful surprise party, and the love of family and close friends.

Have you ever received a special book for a gift?

Booking Through Thursday - Conditioning

Mariel suggested this week’s question.

Are you a spine breaker? Or a dog-earrer? Do you expect to keep your books in pristine condition even after you have read them? Does watching other readers bend the cover all the way round make you flinch or squeal in pain?

My Response:
In all honesty, I would have to answer: yes, yes, yes, yes, but I've changed. In fact, I've flip-flopped. When I was a child, I handled books as if they were precious keepsakes. They are.

When I got older, I used to break the spine by bending the book in half so that I could more easily hold it in one hand while I read. I'd press my fingers down the inside spine to force the book to lay flat while open. I'd think nothing of folding down those pages to keep my place. After all, bookmarks fall out! I confess that I've further messed up books by making notes in them, underling and highlighting lines in them. But no longer.

Now, my books are kept in pristine condition; it's difficult to tell by looking at a book whether or not I've read it. In fact, I hesitate to fully open a book too wide. This means I gently turn the pages as I read. Instead of dog-earring a page, I use a Post-it to keep my place. What changed me? I began to sell my books on eBay!

How do you read a book?

Booking Through Thursday - Meme

I’ve seen this series of questions floating around the ‘net the last few days, and thought it looked like a good one for us! (My answers are in parenthesis.)

What was the last book you bought?

(Sunset by Karen Kingsbury--I must find out how the Baxters are doing.)

Name a book you have read MORE than once

(The Holy Bible and just recently, The Justice by Angela Hunt)

Has a book ever fundamentally changed the way you see life? If yes, what was it?

(Yes, the Bible!)

How do you choose a book? eg. by cover design and summary, recommendations or reviews

(I look at the cover and read the blurb and title. Once in awhile, I read a book recommended by a friend or a reviewer. In addition, I have favorite authors I follow. )

Do you prefer Fiction or Non-Fiction?

(I have always loved fiction best!)

What’s more important in a novel: beautiful writing or a gripping plot?

(The plot--the story--is the most important part.)

Most loved/memorable character (character/book)

(This is one of those questions that I will think on and reevaluate as the day wears on. Whenever I read a good book, I'm left with memories of characters, so there are many. I will mention the last memorable character--a ventriloquist's dummy, George.)

Which book or books can be found on your nightstand at the moment?

(Rhapsody in Red by Donn Taylor is the book I currently reading. I start a book and keep at it until I've finished. I seldom read more than one at a time.)

What was the last book you’ve read, and when was it?

(I finished by George by Wesley Stace on October 6th.)

Have you ever given up on a book half way in?
(Yes, just recently. It is so awful that I simply could not finish it. Obviously, I won't review that one!)

Be sure to click here for my
next book giveaway: Altar Call, a frothy, fun read by Hope Lyda.