Tuesday, November 24, 2009

nightstand notes/ wanna view some reviews?

Oh my, oh my! I'm so proud to say that I have been reading and reviewing like a fiend lately, all in an effort to lessen the weight on the shelf of books I had requested or accepted from publishers. (Someone got a little eager shall we say??) With our upcoming Gift Guide & Giveaway on 5 Minutes for Books, I've submitted lots of reviews of books that are surefire winner gifts, and you all have to check out the fantastic giveaways that will be featured throughout the week! At the end of my wave of submissions, I'm looking at a pretty barren shelf... which means that I can start to look at upcoming titles lists again to put in a few requests (just a few, I swear!), AND I'm looking forward to hitting some of the stacks of titles on my other bookshelves that have been waiting months and months (and years and years!) for some attention. So, what's up next?

I'm just getting ready to start Candor by Pam Bachorz, a YA novel that sounds amazing from the press release and the little bit I've read about it on some other blogs. A town that has constantly streaming "Messages" that brainwash everyone into behaving appropriately, especially the teenagers. Hmmmm... intriguingly delightful, right?? I'm thinking something is gonna go wrong here...

I also have a novel that will be released in January- The Swan Thieves by Elizabeth Kostova that will come up soon. A wonderful contact that I have at Hachette Books assured me this was right up my alley, so I'm looking forward to it.

For my online book club, that I've pretty much ignored for the last year, has chosen a book that's making me jump back in- The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger. Yay! I read it again a couple years back, and it was a whole different experience than it was in high school. I'm really looking forward to rejoining my online book pals and chatting about this classic!

And finally, I'm pulling a novel off my shelf that one of those online buddies sent my way a long time ago that got pushed back. Matrimony by Joshua Henkin- I can't remember much about it, but when she reviewed it, it sounded like a wonderful read.

How about you? What's on Your Nightstand? is 5 Minutes for Books' monthly carnival that lets you share your reading lists or accomplishments! Link on up, won't ya?

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For the other half of this monthly offering, I shamelessly plug my most recent reviews on 5M4B. Yup, I'm cool like that.

*For the younger set:
Mommy, Draw Stars on My Tummy
(for little ones and their caregivers)
America's White Table (~3-9 y.o.)
Imagination Story Cards (kids of all ages)
An Illustrated Guide to Mythical Creatures (older kids)
The Secret of the Sacred Scarab (middle grade novel)
Karma for Beginners (YA novel)

*Parenting fun:
The Smarter Preschooler (very practical parenting advice)
Mother Daze: Tales from the Imperfect Playground (very funny parenting advice)

*Memoir:
My Prison, My Home: One Woman's Story of Captivity in Iran (Amazing.)

*Novels:
Palace of the Strange Girls (Really beautifully written.)
This Little Mommy Stayed Home (Freaking hilarious. And, an open GIVEAWAY!)


Happily surrounded by books,



**How did I do on my gratitude challenge?? **