nightstand notes/ wanna view some reviews?

Well, it seems that this past month has been another of my periodic slow times, and I did something that is really uncharacteristic of me. I abandoned not one, but TWO books, when I was even halfway through! One was a novel that I really gave a valiant effort toward, but I was having the biggest difficulty caring about the characters at all, and the other was a nonfiction parenting book that really contradicted our experiences and read as significantly trite advice to my ears. Unfortunately, those two really seemed to slow things down for me, but I'm trying to get back on track.

Right now, I'm being transported to England on the cusp of the 1960's in the novel The Palace of Strange Girls by Sallie Day. I'm just about halfway through, and I'm thrilled to once again be captivated by a novel's characters.

I'm about to start on a YA novel, The Secret of the Sacred Scarab by Fiona Ingram, which certainly could win an award for coolest alliteration in a title! I'm thinking that it will be right up JAM's alley, but I have to get my review in for it very soon, so we won't be reading it together. I'll be sure to put it on his shelf when I'm done, though!

The next one on my shelf is one that I've been wanting to read since I first heard that it was published- My Prison, My Home by Haleh Esfandiari. A very good friend of ours is a close colleague of the author's, and I clearly remember the worry that plagued him when she was detained in Iran in late 2006. I believe that hers will be a fascinating story to read.

And I'm still carrying Mother Daze: Tales from the Imperfect Playground by Christine Carr over from last month... looks like a fun one, and that is definitely in order.

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If you're inclined to see what reviews I had posted in the last month over at 5M4B, here's the round up:

* The Listeners- a beautifully illustrated picture book from the perspective of an enslaved child in the American south just as Abraham Lincoln is elected president. Simply amazing.

* Captain Nobody- a new middle grade novel that JAM and I truly ADORED! Engaging story full of heart and dear characters.

* Her Fearful Symmetry- I believe I've mentioned my obsession with Audrey Niffenegger's The Time Traveler's Wife, once or twice maybe, and this is her new novel which is absolutely unique and captivating.

* Wenda the Wacky Wiggler- cuteness abounds in this picture book that my own little wigglers love to pull off the shelf!

* Falling Into the Sun- this was a difficult novel to read in that it challenged some of my own personal beliefs and it was filled with pain, but at the same time, it engaged me and made me think.

* On Reading: Meeting the Minds Behind the Books- my own little essay about this year's National Book Festival. What a day!!

* I Shudder- a hysterical memoir/book of essays that had me laughing out loud and reading passages to anyone who had the misfortune of being nearby.

* Winter's Tail- the amazing story of Winter the dolphin who has a prosthetic tail! Informative picture book with a fantastic accompanying website to boot!

* Big Frog Can't Fit In- Mo Willems. Enough said.

* I Need My Monster and Spooky Spooky Spooky!- Monster and Halloween themed picture books.

* The Man Behind the Peace Prize- a wonderful picture book about the life of Alfred Nobel. It's a giveaway for three books that closes TONIGHT.

* Not That Kind of Girl- a memoir full of religious, cultural and identity crises.

* Waiting for the Owl's Call- another picture book giveaway-- it's still open for another week!

* Day is Done- holy cow, another giveaway! A new picture book with accompanying CD by Peter Yarrow.


That's a wrap. Click over for the giveaways, or to link up with us at 5 Minutes for Books for this month's "What's on Your Nightstand?"


Happy reading,