April 19, 2009
8:45 AM
Today promises to be a gorgeous and hot day in Northern California. Already the sun is shining warm through the pines and I have flung open the windows to let in the delicious smell of Spring.
This weekend was Dewey’s 24 Hour Read-A-Thon, and from what I could see it was a huge success thanks to the efforts of many bloggers led by Nymeth, Hannah, and Trish. Congratulations to all those readers who completed this event – it can be a daunting task, but is always fun! I really missed not being able to participate this year (although I tried to unofficially go out and cheer readers on). I am determined to participate in the next one in October.
This week I finished reading The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe (read my review) which is set in Salem Massachusetts and involves a mystery surrounding the Salem witch trials. I mostly enjoyed this debut novel.
Next I raced through Everyone Is Beautiful by Katherine Center (read my review). As with her first novel, I loved this wonderful book which was full of humor and explored the challenges women face. I can highly recommend this book, and cannot wait until her third novel is released!
On Friday I finished reading a book which has been sitting in my TBR stack for far too long. The School of Essential Ingredients by Erica Bauermeister (read my review) is a comfort read. Lush and full of terrific food descriptions, it takes a look at the lives of eight people who attend a cooking school.
I began reading Follow Me by Joanna Scott yesterday and it hooked me in the first paragraph. Scott is a new to me author. Her prose is wonderful. I have a feeling I have found another favorite author. Watch for a review of this book on April 27th when I will be participating in a virtual book tour. I will also be offering a giveaway of this book in ARC form, as well as two other finished novels by this same author thanks to Miriam at Hachette.
What are you reading today? Whatever it is, I hope it is something wonderful. Have a great week!
= Excellent
= Good/Very Good
= Okay read
= Not recommended
= Ugh! Don't waste your time.
I, for one, very much enjoyed your “unofficial” cheerleading. It was greatly appreciated!
Every single book you have listed in this post is either on my TBR list or I have read and thoroughly enjoyed! I look forward to reading your review of Follow Me later this week.
Joanna Scott was one of my English professors in college! I would very interested in reading one of her books!
Here is my very first Sunday Salon: http://tselfoninternets.blogspot.com/2009/04/sunday-salon.html
Thank you so much for your kind words, Wendy. I hope you manage to participate next time!
I will pop by to check out the Joanna Scott posts. Keep hearing all this great buzz so must check it out. I also lurked around the Readathon and was so impressed by the amazing stamina and good spirits. Maybe next time. Today I am reading Unaccustomed Earth. Happy reading!
The readathon was a smashing success and got book bloggers lots of attention thanks to twitter!
Of course, my own personal readathon was a bit of a dismal failure, as I had distraction after distraction and was only able to finish two books.
I’m so glad to hear you are enjoying Follow Me! I haven’t started it yet, but I know if you like it, I’m certain to as well.
I loved School of Essential Ingredients as well. I’ll be adding Follow Me and Everyone is Beautiful to my lists.
Thank you for your comment on my post at Bookstack today
I recently lost my mother-in-law to advanced dementia, and now have an uncle following her rapidly. So hard to watch, isn’t it?
It sounds like you are having a beautiful spring day and you had a great week of reading. I have been reading lots of great things about Everyone is Beautiful and School of Essential Ingredients. I will be adding them to my tbr pile/mountain.
The readathon was a lot of fun–my first as a reader, and I hope to see you in October!
*smiles*
Kim
Been hearing great things about Follow Me! And I love the cover.
Molly: Glad the cheerleading was helpful
You did great! Looks like we share the same interests in books!
El Fay: How cool is that?!?!?
Nymeth: You’re so welcome! And I hope to participate in the next one…I love this event
Frances: Unaccustomed Earth is fantastic…hope you are enjoying it as much as I did. I agree about the stamina for the Read-a-thon!!!
Amy: I think finishing two books is great – not a failure at all!
RR: You are welcome – I think dementia is incredibly painful to witness in someone you love (even worse that actual physical decline) – a little bit of them seems to fade each day and it is heartbreaking. I can totally empathize with where you are in your life right now. *hugs*
Kim: Thanks! I will be there in October unless something unexpected happens!
Lenore: I love the cover too.
Ooh, GREAT choice of books for the read-a-thon!
I want to be able to say ‘gorgeous and hot’ in the same sentence and mean the weather! lol Hope you are able to particpate in the readathon in October!
Swapna:
Kailana: LOL! I am really going to try to participate in October…barring any unforeseen issues