In which I spend money on books.... again.

Okay, so I'm sure that many of you can relate to this story.  I have A LOT of books around my house.  I would guess that 97% of them I have not yet read.  And despite my yearly promise to myself that I will not buy another book until I have tackled the hundreds that are already crammed in every small space in my house, I cave in probably within two weeks of making said promise.  When I bought my Kindle I thought, "HA! Now I won't have to have book buying guilt as I won't have to add any physical books to my shelf!"

Um.....

So, now do I not only have still hundreds of books unread that we are tripping over, used to stop a table from rocking, whatever... you get my meaning, I also have probably about twenty samples and maybe half a dozen books waiting on my Kindle, and some I started and will never finish.

Book buying diet... FAIL.

Not to mention cookbooks, I have a THING for them.  They also line shelves inside my kitchen, not in the hundreds but lets say there's more than two and less than thirty. (cough)

And while I was snooping around on the interwebs, always dangerous, I realized I had not stopped over at Pioneer Woman's abode in quite a few months, so I grabbed my Bailey's tainted coffee and knocked on her "www."

Well..... not only do I marvel in the force that her blog has become (a recent poll she took on one post about how young people feel took in over 46,000 comments.  Thaaaaat's right, not 46, not 460... FORTY SIX THOUSAND people commented.) I started to meander around her recipe index and then I saw that... GASP (and that's a REAL gasp, not the Christian Grey variety) SHE HAS A NEW COOKBOOK OUT!  

So there I was at Chapters this morning with my 5 year old in tow with every intention of just looking at it.  I picked it up and it was gorgeous in all its pioneer woman glory.  I took my daughter to the kids section so I could really give it the 'ol once over, and I looked once and it was over.  It literally took me about three seconds of flipping to know I wanted it, nay... MUST HAVE IT.  And then I looked up and saw a lovely display of YA novels just staring at me.  One may have been winking, but I'm not exactly sure.

Next thing I know a copy of Divergent AND the new Pioneer Woman Cookbook had somehow magically ended up in my hands and I was handing them to the cashier with a gamblers glee at the blackjack table.

Here I sit on my living room couch like a dieter who just went on a binge.  Even though it is just two books (I've done worse... much MUCH worse) I still feel like my house will actually be made of books someday, you know furniture, fridge, the whole thing.

Anyway, this is why I get very good at hiding Chapter's receipts like they are evidence of a crack habit from my husband.

Just like he hides receipts for his motorcycle doo-dads.  Right?  RIGHT?!!

MAILBOX MONDAY! APRIL 23RD

Hello all!

I haven't done a MM in a very VERY long time.  I actually DID receive an exciting ARC in the mail today!  I got the newest Hilary Mantel book that will be released in May!!!  "Bring Up the Bodies" is the sequel to Wolf Hall and is all very Ann Boleyn.  HUGE THANK YOU to Christine over at Henry Holt and Company!



I also bought a couple of books on my Kindle.  After seeing Titanic in the theatre two weeks in a row, and with all of the info on it recently, I have become fairly obsessed and bought the 1955 classic A Night To Remember by Walter Lord, and Life Boat No. 8 by Elizabeth Kaye ( for 1.99!) today.

For more Mailbox Monday click here. 

REVIEW: HARRY POTTER FILM WIZARDRY BY BRIAN SHIBLEY

Harry Potter Film Wizardry by Brian Shibley

• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: Harper Design (October 19, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061997811
• $24.99 US

Of all of the Harry Potter type books this is my favourite.  This book is so chock full of absolute fun and fascinating tid bits that I think every HP fan should have one.  

First of all, it details really cool facts about the making of all of the films, with bios and interesting info on each actor.  It was created by the Art Department from all of the films so it is one of the most detailed and uber cool fan books I've ever seen!

For example, there is this:

A "real" Mauraders Map (not sure why it's sideways and I can't figure out on my mac how to upright it, but you get the idea).  It looks completely authentic and is to scale so it feels totally real. 

Okay, frig, so this one is sideways too... ANYway, these are replicas of the posters that Umbridge puts up in the school and look and feel like the real thing. 

There are so many extras in this amazing book I could go on and on.  There is a replica, that looks and feels real, of a Quiddich program, a ticket to the Yule Ball, a catalogue of George and Fred's store... 

But it is in the extra info that you get from David Heyman and each director, the actors, and the various departments from the film as well as J.K. Rowling herself. 

And it was just announced on Mugglenet.com that there is a sequel to this book called "Harry Potter:  From page to screen" coming out October 25th for a whopping $75.00, but if it is created like Wizardry is than I will pre-order it as this one is THAT GOOD!  If you pre-order from Amazon.com you can get the book for $47 with free shipping.  The book is 500 pages and sounds amazing!!!

RATING 5/5

MAILBOX MONDAY -- JULY 25

Mailbox Monday is a weekly bookish meme that was created by Marcia over at The Printed page, this month it is being hosted by Gwendolyn over at A Sea of Books!

Since I haven't done a MM in awhile, I have quite a few books to report!  Most are on my Kindle, so I bought them, but I did get one book from Simon and Schuster Canada... THANK YOU!

Dark Inside by Jeyn Roberts YA
Release date November 1, 2011

Here is the blurb from Amazon:
Since mankind began, civilizations have always fallen: the Romans, the Greeks, the Aztecs…Now it’s our turn. Huge earthquakes rock the world. Cities are destroyed. But something even more awful is happening. An ancient evil has been unleashed, turning everday people into hunters, killers, crazies.

Mason's mother is dying after a terrible car accident. As he endures a last vigil at her hospital bed, his school is bombed and razed to the ground, and everyone he knows is killed. Aries survives an earthquake aftershock on a bus, and thinks the worst is over when a mysterious stranger pulls her out of the wreckage, but she’s about to discover a world changed forever. Clementine, the only survivor of an emergency town hall meeting that descends into murderous chaos, is on the run from savage strangers who used to be her friends and neighbors. And Michael witnesses a brutal road rage incident that is made much worse by the arrival of the police--who gun down the guilty party and then turn on the bystanding crowd.

Where do you go for justice when even the lawmakers have turned bad? These four teens are on the same road in a world gone mad. Struggling to survive, clinging on to love and meaning wherever it can be found, this is a journey into the heart of darkness – but also a journey to find each other and a place of safety

ON MY KINDLE:

Unbroken:  A World War II Story of Survivor, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand

Kindle Edition

I heard about this book from Oprah who emailed her fans that she was loving it and that it read like a novel.  This prompted me to google the book and holy moly are people all over the place loving it!  I downloaded the sample and as is Amazon's little trick they end the sample at an awesome part where you're like, "DAMN YOU AMAZON!!" And you have to buy it to find out what happens.  But this book really had me at "hello", and it has not let me go since.  So far an excellent read, and just brilliantly written.  I am about 23 % done, another little annoying thing about the Kindle.  I'm not sure what that is in PAGES, but I'm about 1/4 of the way through and so far highly recommend.  

You can click here to read more about it or to order.

 The Chimps of Fauna Santuary

by Andrew Westoll 

Kindle Edition

First of all I have to say that I love primates, all of them.  I actually studied 1 year of primatology in university, until I discovered as much as I loved them I hated collecting data more.  So I ixnayed the whole career in the science.  So, I am always up for a good ape story. 

I read about this book in our local newspaper awhile back, but at the time it was not available on kindle so I waited until it was.  What I like about it is it does not focus it's attention on the horrors of the lives of the chimps in the research facility, but of their rehabilitation.  

So far there is a fair amount of humour in it, something involving a cell phone smelling like chimp poop.  I like the guys voice, and I think it will be fun to read this from his perspective. 

You can click here to read more about it. 

And I know these last ones don't count because technically I haven't downloaded them yet, but I plan to later today, and it is a STEAL of a deal.  You can purchase the first four books in the Game of Thrones series on your Kindle for $9.99... thaaaaat's right, for 10 bucks you can have all four books!  I have the first book's sample downloaded and from all of the feedback from friends and family I am getting, I think I will really enjoy them.  Anyone out there agree?  Give me your thoughts on this series, I am very curious!  Historical fiction is my favourite genre, and eventhough I know that this is not historical, it is set in a fantasy world in that sort of medieval time period.. which... I ... love. 

For more Mailbox Monday's click here! 

SUNDAY THIS AND THAT

The last month has been extremely busy and stressful, but all good kinds of stress!  I PASSED my certification testing for dog training which is very exciting and satisfying!  After 8 months of studying and training my little Piper, we finally can relax for a bit before I get my business off and running.  At the moment I am shopping around for a logo/website designer, etc, and working with some terrific people over at dogTEC who specialize in helping dog businesses get off of the ground.

We are off to Orlando in a week to partake in all of it's Harry Potterness and Disneyness... we are all super excited!  We were in Disneyland about 3 1/2 years ago when we only had one child and she was 8.  Now she is 11 and our youngest is 4, so it should be fun!

On the book front I am still reading Ken Follet's Fall of Giant's and loving it.  Now that I am done stressing about exams and training I can get back into it!

On my immediate TBR list on my kindle are the following:

Here's the blurb from Amazon.com:
While observing exotic animal trainers for her acclaimed book Kicked, Bitten, and Scratched, journalist Amy Sutherland had an epiphany: What if she used these training techniques with the human animals in her own life–namely her dear husband, Scott? In this lively and perceptive book, Sutherland tells how she took the trainers’ lessons home.

The next time her forgetful husband stomped through the house in search of his mislaid car keys, she asked herself, “What would a dolphin trainer do?” The answer was: nothing. Trainers reward the behavior they want and, just as important, ignore the behavior they don’t. Rather than appease her mate’s rising temper by joining in the search, or fuel his temper by nagging him to keep better track of his things in the first place, Sutherland kept her mouth shut and her eyes on the dishes she was washing. In short order, Scott found his keys and regained his cool. “I felt like I should throw him a mackerel,” she writes. In time, as she put more training principles into action, she noticed that she became more optimistic and less judgmental, and their twelve-year marriage was better than ever.

What started as a goofy experiment had such good results that Sutherland began using the training techniques with all the people in her life, including her mother, her friends, her students, even the clerk at the post office. In the end, the biggest lesson she learned is that the only animal you can truly change is yourself.

Full of fun facts, fascinating insights, hilarious anecdotes, and practical tips, What Shamu Taught Me About Life, Love, and Marriage describes Sutherland’s Alice-in-Wonderland experience of stumbling into a world where cheetahs walk nicely on leashes and elephants paint with watercolors, and of leaving a new, improved Homo sapiens.



I have only so far downloaded the sample but I LOOOVE what I have read and will be reading it on my trip.


And after reading the reviews of this in our local paper:

Here is the blurb from Amazon.com:


In Harkness's lively debut, witches, vampires, and demons outnumber humans at Oxford's Bodleian Library, where witch and Yale historian Diana Bishop discovers an enchanted manuscript, attracting the attention of 1,500-year-old vampire Matthew Clairmont. The orphaned daughter of two powerful witches, Bishop prefers intellect, but relies on magic when her discovery of a palimpsest documenting the origin of supernatural species releases an assortment of undead who threaten, stalk, and harass her. Against all occult social propriety, Bishop turns for protection to tall, dark, bloodsucking man-about-town Clairmont. Their research raises questions of evolution and extinction among the living dead, and their romance awakens centuries-old enmities. Harkness imagines a crowded universe where normal and paranormal creatures observe a tenuous peace. "Magic is desire made real," Bishop says after both her desire and magical prowess exceed her expectations. Harkness brings this world to vibrant life and makes the most of the growing popularity of gothic adventure with an ending that keeps the Old Lodge door wide open.


I just ordered the sample of this and will be reading it this afternoon... any of you read it?  What did you think?


AND:

I have been wanting to read this for ages, and I understand it has a lot of super twists and turns that bloggers sometimes have a hard time reviewing it without revealing any spoilers. 


In fact there is not really a blurb, only a couple of high profile reviews on Amazon.

I have wanted to read this for a million and a half years!  I think it will be a fast read, perfect for our vacation.  The second book has just come out.  


Here's the blurb from Amazon:


Fans of Louise Fitzhugh's iconic Harriet the Spy will welcome 11-year-old sleuth Flavia de Luce, the heroine of Canadian journalist Bradley's rollicking debut. In an early 1950s English village, Flavia is preoccupied with retaliating against her lofty older sisters when a rude, redheaded stranger arrives to confront her eccentric father, a philatelic devotee. Equally adept at quoting 18th-century works, listening at keyholes and picking locks, Flavia learns that her father, Colonel de Luce, may be involved in the suicide of his long-ago schoolmaster and the theft of a priceless stamp. The sudden expiration of the stranger in a cucumber bed, wacky village characters with ties to the schoolmaster, and a sharp inspector with doubts about the colonel and his enterprising young detective daughter mean complications for Flavia and enormous fun for the reader. Tantalizing hints about a gardener with a shady past and the mysterious death of Flavia's adventurous mother promise further intrigues ahead.


And that should keep me busy enough!  


Have a wonderful day!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!

Hello everyone!  I just wanted to come on here and wish everyone a Merry Christmas, or if you do not celebrate Christmas, a HAPPY HOLIDAY!!!

Things with my Mom over the last 3 weeks were slowly becoming a total nightmare, but things have begun to turn around!  We are very hopeful now that she will make a complete recovery, and my Christmas wish is that she is able to enjoy the holidays and come home for more than just a day pass on Christmas Day.

All of your support and love is SO APPRECIATED and has touched me and my family more than you will every know.  Although I have lost a few followers in the last 3 weeks, I treasure each and every one of you that have chosen to stick around!  :0)

I have a few bookish things on my Christmas list, here they are in no particular order!

OOGY by Larry Levin

In 2002, Larry Levin and his twin sons, Dan and Noah, took their terminally ill cat to the Ardmore Animal Hospital outside Philadelphia to have the beloved pet put to sleep. What would begin as a terrible day suddenly got brighter as the ugliest dog they had ever seen--one who was missing an ear and had half his face covered in scar tissue--ran up to them and captured their hearts. The dog had been used as bait for fighting dogs when he was just a few months old. He had been thrown in a cage and left to die until the police rescued him and the staff at Ardmore Animal Hospital saved his life. The Levins, whose sons are themselves adopted, were unable to resist Oogy's charms, and decided to take him home.

Heartwarming and redemptive, OOGY is the story of the people who were determined to rescue this dog against all odds, and of the family who took him home, named him "Oogy" (an affectionate derivative of ugly), and made him one of their own.

Dog Tips from Dogtown
Following in the paw prints of the successful first DogTown book, companion to the hit show on the National Geographic Channel, Dog Tips from Dogtown is the pet owner's practical guide to building a healthy, happy relationship with a dog. Relying on the unparalleled expertise of the trainers at the Best Friends Animal Society, this manual shows, with step-by-step illustrations, how to apply the power of positive reinforcement to train a pet. From adoption tips to canine communication lessons and training strategies that make a regimen fun for everyone, Dog Tips from DogTown is a complete guide to the tried and true methods that work miracles every day at the Best Friends Animal Society.




 
 
 
 
 
 
 
What bookish things are on YOUR list this year??  I LOVE to hear what books other people are dying to see under the tree!!

Book Blab Jr.

Hello all,
Wellll, after months of blogging, my 10 year old daughter comes up to me and says, "Hey Mom?  I was wondering, do you think I could do a book blog called Book Blab for Kids?"  I thought about it for a second, and then I said, "TOTALLY! What a great idea!"  Her blog is actually another blog under my account, but with her as an author, so it is totally safe.  And she was given VERY STRICT orders to not say ANYTHING other than her first name and age.  SO, without further a do,  click here to check her out!  And if you want to show your support, I know she would be THRILLED if she could have a few followers!!! 


She will be doing reviews for books for kids in the range of 7 to 12 year olds.  She will be reviewing books she has already read, but if you all have any suggestions you can just leave a comment for her (which I am moderating first) and we can pick it up at the library for her to read.

I am very proud of her for wanting to do this as a fun hobby.  I really am!  I wonder if there are any other kid book bloggers out there!  If you know of any, maybe you could send their link our way!

Hvae a great day everyone!

AND THE WINNER IS...................

The winner of Book Blabs very first ever MEGA GIVEAWAY and the GRAND PRIZE WINNER OF a $50 credit from Book Depository PLUS a release copy of the Super Secret YA novel PLUS a book of their choice from my ARC/book pile!  (see list below) 

After many entries and TONS of guesses about the indentity of the Super Secret YA novel, and 13 correct guesses the winner is:





GRAND PRIZE WINNER:
SPAV FROM FICTION KINGDOM!!!

The second place winner may choose one selection from my ARC/book pile and I will ship it to you, and the 2nd place winner is:   

2ND PLACE WINNER:
KATE FROM I just wanna sit here and read!

And the third place winner who also gets to choose a book from the list below is:

3RD PLACE WINNER:
KRISTINE FROM Maidenveil!

CONGRATULATIONS to all of the winners, and thank you SO MUCH to everyone who entered the contest!!!!!!!!!! 

Now... for the BIG REVEAL....... the identity of the SUPER SECRET YA NOVEL IS...........


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I thought it might be fun to tell you guys some of the guesses that we had, they were all VERY VERY GOOD!  (These are the GUESSES and NOT the list of books for winners to choose from!)

• The Prince of Mist by Zafon (This book had 3 guesses, the most of any of the clues!)
• The Rise of Renegade X
• Patch from Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick
• The Secret Year
• The Death Defying Pepper Roux by Geraldine McCaughrean
• Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney
• Midnight Sun by Stephanie Meyers
• Lies by Michael Grant 
• Worldshaker by Richard Harland
• The Red Pyramid Kane Chronicles Book 1
• Friend is not a Verb by Daniel Ehrenhaft
• Radiant Shadows by Melissa Marr
• Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green
• Infinity:  Chronicles of Nick by Sherrilyn Kenyon
• The Lighter Side of Life and Death by C.K. Kelly Martin

I found a few in there that I would DEFINATELY pick up!  Especially the first one The Prince of Mist, it is a GEORGOUS looking book with a great premise.

Now, HERE is the list of books I have on offer for all three winners to choose from! 
• Hush Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick (SIGNED ARC)

• Saving a Fish from Drowning by Amy Tan
• Slumdog Millionaire by Vikas Swarup
• The Sign for Drowning by Rachel Stolzman
• Falling Apart in One Piece by Stacy Morrison (ARC)
• The 13th Hour by Richard Dotsch (ARC)
• Three Day Road by Joseph Boyden
 Eternal on the Water by Joseph Monninger
• The White Queen by Phillipa Gregory
• A Brief History of the Future by Jacques Attali
• The Fourth Part of the World by Toby Lester (ARC)
• River Thieves by Michael Crummey
• Dewey The Small-Town Library Cat who Touched the world by Vicki Myron
• The Glass Castle by jeannette Walls (hardcover)

• And a gently used copy of White Cat by Holly Black as well. 

The winners MUST EMAIL ME BY FRIDAY MAY 7TH , 2010 in order to claim your prizes!  You must email me your snail mail addresses, and the SPAV please visit Book Depository.com and select your $50 dollars worth of books, please do not exceed this amount as all of the prizes are coming out of my own pocket, including the White Cat that I will be ordering for you and the shipping of the books from my house.  I can't WAIT to see which ones you have selected!  All winners can contact me at circlebooks@shaw.ca

REVIEW OF WHITE CAT COMING TOMORROW! 

Thanks again to all who entered and followed along for the clues!

MAILBOX MONDAY AND WINNER OF MISTRESS OF ROME CONTEST!

Mailbox Monday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by Marcia over at The Printed Page. 

I have not posted a MM in about 4 weeks, so I do have a few to share! 

A HUGE thank you to Paul over at Source Books for review copies of:

(Blurb from Source Books)
Picture the Dead is written by two-time National Book Award finalist Adele Griffin with illustrations throughout by Lisa Brown, who pens an “illustrated, two-panel book review” in the San Francisco Chronicle (she’s also married to Lemony Snickett)! This book has received glowing reviews from Michael Chabon (The Adventures of Cavalier and Klay), Brian Selznick (The Invention of Hugo Cabaret), Holly Black (The Spiderwick Chronicles), and Judy Blundell (National Book Award Winner for Best YA Novel in 2009!)—all New York Times Best Sellers. Set against the backdrop of the Civil War, this richly illustrated paranormal mystery is reminiscent of a Cold Mountain for the Young Adult audience. To find out more, or to read the first chapters, check out the landing page on TeenFire (http://teenfire.ning.com/group/PictureTheDead) or visit www.PictureTheDead.com!

We Hear the Dead is written by Dianne K. Salerni who previously self-published this novel under the title High Spirits. Her efforts in self-publishing proved so successful that shortly after its release, she had sold the book to Sourcebooks and had optioned the movie rights! Roughly 160 years ago, Kate & Maggie Fox started making creepy rapping noises to convince an aunt that their home was haunted—in the hopes that she’d move out. Two years later, after news of their powers spread across the country, the Fox sisters hit New York city—“communing with spirits” in front of sold-out crowds and notable celebrities like Horace Greeley, James Fennimore Cooper and George Bancroft. Told from the first person perspective of each sister, this novel is a peak inside the lives of two of the most famous Spiritualists to ever live. We Hear the Dead reveals the secrets of the Fox sisters’ séances and their struggle to find themselves amid their deceit. For more info, check out the landing page on TeenFire (http://teenfire.ning.com/group/WeHearTheDead) or go to http://www.wehearthedead.com/

 
Thank you so much to TLC Tours for sending me this book!
Meet the Ames Girls: eleven childhood friends who formed a special bond growing up in Ames, Iowa. As young women, they moved to eight different states, yet managed to maintain an enduring friendship that would carry them through college and careers, marriage and motherhood, dating and divorce, a child’s illness and the mysterious death of one member of their group. Capturing their remarkable story, The Girls from Ames is a testament to the deep bonds of women as they experience life’s joys and challenges — and the power of friendship to triumph over heartbreak and unexpected tragedy.




 
 
WINNER OF MISTRESS OF ROME BY KATE QUINN!!!
 
CONGRATULATIONS:  ddufek!  I have emailed the winner and they have until Wednesday May 5th to respond, if they do not then I will be redrawing.  Thank you so much to all  who entered!!! 

SUNDAY SALON AND CHRISTMAS BOOTY

Well, hello all!  I must say that after taking a break from blogging for over a week, I feel TOTALLY refreshed and raring to go for the new year.  I really didn't do much internet stuff at all over the holidays, and it was just wonderful.  But now I am back and realize how much I truly enjoy reading all of your blogs, interacting with all of you (or as many as I can.. how Bermudaonion does it I have no idea!  She remains the QUEEN of COMMENTING for sure!)  and writing on Book Blab here. 

My reading over the holidays consisted of Pope Joan, and I was just itching to see what my hubby and girls picked out for me for Christmas and was SUPER excited with their choices, PLUS my parents, er I mean "Santa" gave me a gift card to Chapters.  SWOON!  So, here is what was given and purchased in all their bookish glory:

Aren't they BEAUTIFUL?..........excuse me, I feel a little light headed.....

I know you can see from the pic what the books are, but here is the run down anyway:

GRACELING by Kristin Cashore

There has been much ballyhoo about this book in the bloggy world, and thus I have wanted to read it for a veeeerrrry long time.  Okay, for a few months, but whatever.  It always feels like a long time when one is waiting to read a juicy little number.  And get a load of the premise, here is the blurb from Amazon.ca

Katsa has been able to kill a man with her bare hands since she was eight shes a Graceling, one of the rare people in her land born with an extreme skill. As niece of the king, she should be able to live a life of privilege, but Graced as she is with killing, she is forced to work as the kings thug. When she first meets Prince Po, Graced with combat skills, Katsa has no hint of how her life is about to change. She never expects to become Pos friend. She never expects to learn a new truth about her own Graceor about a terrible secret that lies hidden far away . . . a secret that could destroy all seven kingdoms with words alone. With elegant, evocative prose and a cast of unforgettable characters, debut author Kristin Cashore creates a mesmerizing world, a death-defying adventure, and a heart-racing romance that will consume you, hold you captive, and leave you wanting more.

Sounds like a gooder, am I right?

Next on the roster is:

WOLF HALL by Hilary Mantel

There has been a lot of talk about this one as well, and it is apparently a very very good historical fiction and the first page has me immediately hooked, which is (most of the time) a good sign.

Here's the blurb on that one (courtesy of Amazon.ca):

England, the 1520s. Henry VIII is on the throne, but has no heir. Cardinal Wolsey is his chief advisor, charged with securing the divorce the pope refuses to grant. Into this atmosphere of distrust and need comes Thomas Cromwell, first as Wolsey's clerk, and later his successor. Cromwell is a wholly original man: the son of a brutal blacksmith, a political genius, a briber, a charmer, a bully, a man with a delicate and deadly expertise in manipulating people and events. Ruthless in pursuit of his own interests, he is as ambitious in his wider politics as he is for himself. His reforming agenda is carried out in the grip of a self-interested parliament and a king who fluctuates between romantic passions and murderous rages.

From one of our finest living writers, Wolf Hall is that very rare thing: a truly great English novel, one that explores the intersection of individual psychology and wider politics. With a vast array of characters, and richly overflowing with incident, it peels back history to show us Tudor England as a half-made society, moulding itself with great passion and suffering and courage.

I have one thing to say about that blurb:  Yu...mmy.

Next is A LION AMONG MEN by Gregory Maguire
This is the next in the trilogy for his Oz series.  I started this one over the holidays and it proves to be as weird and groovy as the last two.  I only JUST started it, though, and as is the way with most of his books it takes a good chunk of the book to get me really hooked, so I'll keep you posted.  Basically this is the life story of the Cowardly lion of the Wizard of Oz story. 

And on to:  PIRATE LATITUDES by Michael Crichton

I have to preface this by saying that I have never in my life... ever... read anything by Michael Crichton.  Yes, I have seen the Jurassic movies, and that's about it.  But there is something about Pirates, and the sea.  I just LOVE to read about them!  In fact, if any of you reading this right now have any recommendations for any sea faring type books set in the piraty type era I would be much appreciated.  For example one of my all time favourite books I discovered last spring by total fluke was John Boyne's Mutiny on the Bounty. 

ANYway, I don't know much about this one other than this manuscript was found among his belongings after his death, and from what I have heard about it, it's pretty good. 

Here is the blurb from Amazon.ca: 
The Caribbean, 1665. A remote colony of the English crown, the island of Jamaica holds out against the vast supremacy of the Spanish empire. Devoid of London's luxuries, Port Royal, its capital, is a cutthroat town of taverns, grog shops, and bawdy houses. In this steamy climate, life can end swiftly by dysentery--or dagger. But for a daring soul like Captain Charles Hunter, this wild outpost in the New World can also lead to great fortune, if he abides by the island's code. In the name of His Majesty King Charles II of England, gold in Spanish hands is gold for the taking and the law of the land rests with those ruthless enough to make it.



Word in port is that the Spanish galleon El Trinidad, fresh from New Spain, is awaiting repairs in nearby Matanceros. Heavily fortified, the impregnable Spanish harbor is guarded by the bloodthirsty Cazalla, a favorite commander of King Philip IV. With the Jamaican governor's backing, Hunter assembles a crew of ruffians to infiltrate the enemy island and commandeer the galleon and its fortune in Spanish gold. The raid is as perilous as the bloodiest tales of Matanceros legend, and Hunter will lose more than one man before he makes it onto the island's shores, where dense jungle and the firepower of Spanish infantry stand between him and the treasure.

With the help of his cunning band, Hunter hijacks El Trinidad and escapes the deadly clutches of Cazalla, leaving plenty of carnage in his wake. But the danger--and adventure--are only just beginning. . .


And last but by no means least is the brand spankin' new cookbook by Ree Drummond from Pioneer Woman who I have loved since she launched her little wee blog two and a half years ago.  This wee blog grew to the mammoth it is today (and I know you bloggers reading this will appreciate this stat) which has an AVERAGE OF 33 MILLION HITS EVERY SINGLE MONTH.  Thaaaaaat's right.  She is the little blogger that could.  What started out as blog like we all have, to share her thoughts and a few recipes with a few family members, exploded into the juggernaut that it is today from her post on how to cook a steak.  But it wasn't just that, the appeal about Ree is she is just like us, her blog is written in the funniest best voice E-V-E-R, and you will find yourself reading every little scrap she has on there, just because she is so damn charming and funny.  Her cookbook is just like her blog, very charming and cute.  I have only one small bone to pick with it though, I in no shape or form needed a recipe for egg in the hole.  I just don't need to read how to cut a hole in a piece a bread and fry an egg in said hole.  Don't need that.  And I also don't need a recipe on how to mash potatoes.  I mean puh- leeeze.  Otherwise it is pretty good.  But all of her recipes are available on her site FOR FREE, so in hind site I guess I didn't really need the book, but I am totally happy my hubby bought it for me.  It is beautiful, and I look at it every night in bed and dream about all of the yummy things I'm going to make with it. 

So, that was my Christmas booty!  Not to mention my ACTUAL booty has grown about a size and a half due to the holidays, but I'm not going to cry about it.  I'm totally not.  Really. 

We were at the library today and I aquired a copy of "Shiver" by Maggie Stiefvater  (how much do I love that woman's last name? Go 'head, ask me.)  which I have been in line to get for ages so I'll be reading that along with "Lament" (and OH MY GOD I literally JUST discovered as I opened another page to google the author of this one to type in here, and it is MAGGIE STIEFVATER!  I had no idea!  Okay, she may just be my new favourite YA author.  I'm just sayin'.)  by Maggie Stiefvater.

What was YOUR holiday booty???

TEASER TUESDAY

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB from Should Be Reading.  Anyone can play along!

• Grab your current read
• flip to a random page
• select two (2) teaser sentences from somewhere on that page
• please do not include spoilers!
• add the author and book title so we can all add them to our TBR piles!

I have just started Pope Joan by Donna Woolfolk Cross (from the library) and I am ABSOLUTELY LOVING it!  Georgous writing, and an "instant-getting-into" kind of book. Here is my teaser from Pope Joan:

"The canon's sobs slowly quieted, and he began the prayer for the dead.  This time Joan did not join in.  Quietly, under her breath, she began to recite the Oath, invoking the sacred name of Thor the Thunderer, just as Mama had taught her so long ago."


For more teasers click here.

ME WANT....

Every Wednesday night while my oldest daughter is at her choir practice, my 2 year old daughter and I hit the Chapters nearby for a couple of hours.  She plays with the Thomas the Tank Engine set and I drool over books that I want.  Last night I sought out a few that have been creating some buzz in the blogosphere, so I finally had a chance to read the first few pages of each one, and can I just say HOW MUCH I AM DYING TO READ EACH ONE OF THEM NOW???!!!!

Here they are in no particular order:

MAZE RUNNER by James Dashner

This one opens with the character waking up in some sort of an elevator and the only thing he can remember is his name.  Seriously?  HOW COOL IS THAT! I have been avoiding summaries of this book like the plague because I love to go in FRESH, but I did read the first page and SWOON!  So, far... me likey.

Another one is GRACELING by Krisin Cashore

I have heard nothing but great things about this one, but also as is my way, I have not read a summary of the book, but did read the first couple of pages and once again... SWOON!  DYING to read it! 

BEAUTIFUL CREATURES by Kami Garcia

I only heard about this book earlier this week when some blogs were offering it up as one of their giveaways.  I had no idea what it was about.  In this case I did read the back cover (or was it the inside jacket?) and this is what it said:

Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small Southern town of Gatlin has ever seen, and she's struggling to conceal her power and a curse that has haunted her family for generations. But even within the overgrown gardens, murky swamps and crumbling graveyards of the forgotten South, a secret cannot stay hidden forever.

Ethan Wate, who has been counting the months until he can escape from Gatlin, is haunted by dreams of a beautiful girl he has never met. When Lena moves into the town's oldest and most infamous plantation, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her and determined to uncover the connection between them.


In a town with no surprises, one secret could change everything.

Sounds cool right?

THE BLUE NOTEBOOK by James Levine

This is totally my kind of book in every way.  It is a novel about a 15 year old prostitute in India, and is her notes about her life and her "profession".  The first page had me riveted, and it was all I could do to not run up and buy it.  And LOOK AT THE COVER!

Here is an excerpt from the letter written by the publisher:

The Blue Notebook brings us into the life of a young woman for whom stories are not just entertainment but a means of survival. Even as the novel humanizes and addresses the devastating global issue of child prostitution, it also delivers an inspiring message about the uplifting power of words and reading–a message that is so important to hold on to, especially in difficult times. Dr. Levine is donating all his U.S. proceeds from this book to help exploited children. Batuk’s story can make a difference.

SHIVER by Maggie Stiefvater

This is one that has been around for awhile, but I finally had a chance to have a look and read the first couple of pages.  I ALREADY love it, and can't WAIT to read it! 
Here is the description courtesy of Amazon.ca:

For years, Grace has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf - her wolf - is a haunting presence she can’t seem to live without. Meanwhile, Sam has lived two lives: In winter, the frozen woods, the protection of the pack, and the silent company of a fearless girl. In summer, a few precious months of being human -- until the cold makes him shift back again. Now, Grace meets a yellow-eyed boy whose familiarity takes her breath away. It’s her wolf. It has to be. But as winter nears and the temperature drops, Sam must fight to stay human or risk losing himself, and Grace, forever.

Sounds amazing, right?
 
Okay, so I left the bookstore feeling......well.... empty handed!  I could almost feel the weight of all of the books stacked in my hands, and if it wasn't almost Christmas I would not be responsible for my credit card bill!  They were all just TOO GOOD! 
 
Have a WONDERFUL day!

ANNOUNCEMENT: 200 FOLLOWER FANTASTIC GIVEAWAY!

It occurred to me the other day that Book Blab is almost at 200 followers according to google friend!  WOOOOT!!  I can't TELL you all how much I appreciate all of the support you guys give to me!  And as a thank you, I am going to have a 200 FOLLOWER FANTASTIC GIVEAWAY!  On the day that I reach 200, I will announce the first official day of the giveaway.  It will involve a total of 10 books!  The grand prize winner will have first pick of 3 books from the pile, and the second place winner will choose 2 books from the remaining 7, and then 5 MORE lucky winners will recieve a book!  These books will be either brand new, or very gently used novels including a few ARC's!  One book in particular is a SIGNED ARC of Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick.  It is gently used, but it is autographed which makes it pretty cool!  And if we hit 300 before the deadline, I will add another 5 books to the pile!  That's a total of 15 books potentially up for grabs!!!!! 

So stay tuned in the days and weeks ahead because as soon as we hit 200 you can start to enter!  And that will be the day that the names of the titles available to win will be released! 

TEASER TUESDAY

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading.  It's my favourite meme of all time, and anyone can participate!

• Grab your current read
• flip to a random page
• select 2 sentences from anywhere on the page
• try not to include any SPOILERS!
• make sure you tell the name of book and the author so we can add the book to our TBR pile!

I am in between reads at the moment, so I have to cheat this week a bit.  This teaser is from one of my favourite books "The Bronze Horseman" by Paullina Simons.  You can read my review of it here. 

     Alexander's eyes gleamed so brightly that Tatiana felt as if all of the blood in her body had rushed to her cheeks.  "Tania, what words," he asked slowly, "would you like me to teach you in English?"

Um... SWOON!

You can read more teasers here.