Writing in Books: Musing Mondays

A Musing Mondays prompt from Should be Reading:

This week’s musing — courtesy of http://abookandashortlatte.wordpress.com – asks… Do you take notes while you read?

Yes. Always.

I used to take notes in a separate notebook, but then my house was overrun by books AND notebooks. So, now I write my notes in the book. At first, I had a really hard time writing in a book. It just seemed wrong.

But now, I get to go back to a book and let my notes spark my memory. Since I read so many books, I often forget the details. Now I don't.

Plus, I write reviews for every book I read. Without my notes, I wouldn't be able to give specific examples or quotes. I always think a quote within a review really helps give the reader insight into the author and the story.

The only problem... it's hard to share my books with friends. :-)

Do you take notes when you read?

A Blog By Any Other Name: Musing Mondays

First, a quick announcement. The winner of the paperback copy of The Healer of Fox Hollow is ...

Beth from Hawaii

Beth, your copy will be out to you shortly. Thanks to all who entered.

If you missed the review, please check it out here. The book is amazing.

*****

And now for a Musing Mondays prompt from Should be Reading:

What attracts you to a book blog? What puts you off in a book blog? Do you share personal stuff on your book blog?

Great question, and I'm really looking forward to reading the responses. I'm always looking for ways to make this book review blog better for readers. Books mean so much to me, and I want to give reviews and recommendations that people find helpful.

I like to read reviews that seem genuine, equal parts summarizing the story and telling me why the reviewer liked/didn't like the book. Since I read cross genres and enjoy mixing it up, I also prefer book review blogs that cover a myriad of books. If I'm in the mood for paranormal, I might go directly to a paranormal reviewer. But more often than not, I'm just in the mood for a good book and not hung up on its subject matter. I also love a unique perspective. I read a review the other day where the reviewer broke down her stars based on characters, setting, and several other story elements. It was thorough and sold me on the book.

If every review on a blog is 5-star and glowing, I start to doubt the site. Not every good book is. There has to be a scale. I'm willing to consider anything 3 to 5, especially if the review is well-written and explains what was good/bad. And I will shy away from blogs that constantly rate books poorly, because then it seems overly critical. Finally, I get turned off if I see too many flashing book ads. It leaves the feeling that positive book reviews are being bought.

I don't share a lot of personal stuff within reviews, but I will share personal aspects to further explain what I like and don't like about certain books here. I share more personal experiences at my Depression Cookies blog. My most personal responses for this blog are usually within my Musing Mondays posts.

Your turn... what makes you love/hate a book review blog?

False First Impressions: Musing Mondays

A Musing Mondays prompt from Should be Reading:

Have you ever read a book that, at the time, you didn’t feel a strong connection towards, but as time goes by you find yourself thinking about it a lot?

When I first picked up Diana Gabaldon's Outlander, I was anything but smitten. I didn't get the hype. And I was especially shocked that my mom passed it along, that she found it entertaining and liked it enough to recommend it. My mother is rarely wrong.

Turns out she wasn't.

I read the book when my youngest child was only months old. I read it here and there, taking way longer than normal thanks to sleep-deprived nights and child-filled days (I had three kids five and under at the time).

Years later, I picked up Dragonfly in Amber, book 2 in the Outlander series. I didn't dislike the first book. I was just disappointed that I wasn't more enchanted with it. I needed to give it, and my mother, another chance. I was quickly smitten this time. I read this one plus two more in a few months time. I craved to know more about Claire, Jamie, and Brianna. I still think about them and want to get back around to the series soon.

In the same vein, I've always wanted to go back and read some classics. It's hard to appreciate some of the great works when you are a teenager and being forced to read them by a teacher. I know I'd love so many more of them now.

What initially forgettable book became one of your favorites? Or are your instincts usually right the first time?

The New Life of Covers: Musing Mondays

A Musing Mondays prompt from Should be Reading:

Do you think the book cover is “dead”? Do you care whether the “covers” on digital books exist or not?

I've been pondering this subject for awhile. Craig Mod's article, Hack the Cover: Covers, Covers--Everywhere, offered some amazing insight on how the popularity of eBooks has affected the marketing importance of book covers.

Let's be honest, covers were an important marketing tool in bookstores. When readers browsed, the cover was their first impression of a book. A striking cover could compel me to pick up any book, taking away any preconceived notions I had about what I liked and didn't like in story or genre. A great cover backed up by a wonderful back cover summary was all I needed.

Fast forward to the Amazon world of eBooks and online shopping. Now I browse by genres and authors I like. Then I go to the book's page and notice the cover. Sure, I'm still influenced by the cover's allure, but it's not my first impression anymore unless I'm standing in Barnes & Noble or my favorite independent bookstore, Novel Places, close to my house.

Once I purchase an eBook, the cover is gone. I choose the title on my home page and go right to the first page of the book. The cover is gone from my memory and has little influence on my imagination. Every time I pick up an actual book to read, I see the cover and its images affect my mental picture of the characters and/or scenery.

But like all things, does the cover just need to catch up to technology? Jump over to Craig's article for some amazing pictures on old-style, possibly future-style, book covers. We just need the hardware to catch up so that digital covers are still what we see and part of the reading experience.

I say... long live covers. I hope they stay around but evolve with the books they so lovingly adorn. Otherwise, we might as well go back to Kinko's-printed manuscripts or Microsoft Word documents and read words without the beauty and visual.

And who wants that?

How do you see the future of book covers?

Long Nights: Musing Mondays

Another Musing Mondays prompt from Should be Reading:

What is the longest book you have ever read? How long did it take you to read it?

Thanks to the crazy last two weeks of school for my three girls, I've missed the last two Musing Mondays. But, I'm back!

Although I'm not sure it is THE longest book I've ever read, Ken Follett's The Pillars of the Earth has to be close. At just under 1,000 pages (980), it is massive. But I loved it. Book length can be a tricky thing. Too long, and some readers get scared off. Ken Follett could have easily broken up The Pillars of the Earth into two books.

Plus, book clubs tend to shy away from lengthy books because the members usually only have a month to read the chosen book. I read The Pillars of the Earth for a book club, and it was all I could do to finish. And I'm a fast reader. But it was worth every single long night.

For a lengthy book to be successful, it has to be jam-packed and evenly paced. If there are too many dull moments, and I look to see that I'm only 15% done, I might not make it. With a shorter book, I'd probably still finish and not give up.

Do books over a certain page number scare you off?

Begin at the End: Musing Mondays

Another Musing Mondays prompt from Should be Reading:

What do you do with the book before you start reading it?

Sadly, I begin by putting the book next to my bed and letting it gather a bit of dust first. Once it has acquired the necessary amount to beat out its dust-burdened contenders, I wipe it down and flip to the last few pages.

Yes, I know what you are thinking. Why would I start with the back?

Too often, I'm disappointed with endings. I learn more from the last few pages of a book than the first few. If I was an agent, I would ask for the last two chapters of a book.

Okay, that's not entirely true. I do think a beginning can make or break a book, but that's before I'm invested. A bad ending is after pages and pages of investment.

And, yes, I have ruined a few books this way, but I still felt compelled to read and see how the story ended up there.

Do you have any ritual before you start reading?

Proper Place to Stop: Musing Mondays

Another Musing Mondays prompt from Should be Reading:

Do you tend to read to the end of a chapter or can you stop anywhere?

I always stop at the end of a chapter. With rare exception, and no matter what I have to do to get there.

Where I have to watch myself... when a book is so good that I read a few lines into the next chapter and must then finish another chapter. What ends up happening is an overly dramatic book-slamming-shut moment when I know I have to stop reading. You know those times. Have to pick up kid from school. Must make an appointment. House is on fire. I know I must slam the book shut before I can read a few words into the next section.

On the rare occasion that I have to stop short of the next chapter, things like a child screaming in a must-take-notice sort of way, I will put a bookmark in and mark where I stopped with a pen. But, in those cases, that screaming child better be hurt. I'm just kidding. Well, mostly.

Can you stop reading anywhere?

Let's Hear it For the Girls: Musing Mondays

Another Musing Mondays prompt from Should be Reading:

If you were going to write a book, what would you write about? Would it be fiction, or nonfiction?



Love this topic. My debut novel, Depression Cookies, is about the mother-daughter bond and the importance of strong female relationships. A coming of age story, it's told from two different perspectives, teenage daughter and her mother. The best part, I co-authored it with my mom.

I have a couple of novels in the works, but there is one general theme: strong female characters and an in-depth look into women and relationships. I'm sure it's because I am a woman, the oldest of three sisters, and now mom to three daughters that I am so intrigued by the complexity of women and their bonds.

I usually read stories with women at the forefront. Nothing against men. I will mix in a male-focused book from time to time. And this definitely does not exclude male authors. One of my favorite female stories was She's Come Undone by Wally Lamb. I can't tell you how many times I turned back to the front cover while I was reading, just to convince myself yet again that a man wrote the book. He did an amazing job!

She's Come Undone Summary (Amazon): Dolores Price. She's 13, wise-mouthed but wounded, having bid her childhood goodbye. Stranded in front of her bedroom TV, she spends the next few years nourishing herself with the Mallomars, potato chips, and Pepsi her anxious mother supplies. When she finally orbits into young womanhood at 257 pounds, Dolores is no stronger and life is no kinder. But this time she's determined to rise to the occasion and give herself one more chance before she really goes under.

I so loved this book that I went on to read I Know this Much is True by Wally Lamb, a book centered on twin brothers. Male-focused, but definitely a relationship story.

At the end of the day, people intrigue me. Call me boring, but I find WHY people do things more intriguing than WHAT they do. I want to write those stories.

How about you? What type of book would you write?

Stories for Women: Musing Mondays

Another Musing Mondays prompt from Should be Reading:
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What do you think are the top 5 books every woman should read? (And for the men who might be playing today: What do you think are the top 5 books every man should read?)

Wow, that's a tall order. Let me start with the men. I need to be totally honest here. Although I read many genres, I tend to stick to stories with a strong female character or about female relationships. I simply find women more interesting and complex. No hate mail, please.

I'm occasionally surprised, and I'm always happy about it when I am. Recently, I read a great "guy" book: The Voynich Cypher. My husband loves Dan Brown, Robert Ludlum, Clive Cussler, and Tom Clancy. I've read at least one by each and give them props.

Now to women's literature. More problems (if you call these problems): I'm all over the place and have so many books I love.

My thoughts:

For Moms
Anne Lamott's Operating Instructions: A Journal of my Son's First Year. It doesn't matter if you have a son or daughter. Lamott offers us all an in-depth and raw look into honest Mom thoughts. No sugary, my-children-are-perfect stories here. I read this during my first daughter's first year, and it helped me own those moments where you feel less than worthy to be a parent.

For Moms of Girls
Judy Blume's Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. Not only did this book help me in my teenage years, it has also helped my tween daughter. It's timeless.


And, in a bit of shameless self-promotion, my book, Depression Cookies. It's a coming of age story from both the mother and daughter's perspectives (which I wrote with my own mother). It's journey through body image issues, stranger anxiety, emotional drama, and finding common ground. Moms and daughters can read it together and discuss the different perspectives and timeless teen issues.

For Fans of Historical Fiction
Pope Joan by Donna Woolfolk Cross. I read this several years ago in my book club, and I was fascinated. It was the book that made me embrace historical fiction. And you can't ask for a stronger female character.

For Nonfiction Fans
James Fox's Five Sisters: The Langhornes of Virginia. The story focuses on Nancy Astor (married Waldorf Astor), Britain's first female MP, but includes all five sisters. It's female power and strength in spades. (My review)

A close second, if not a downright tie, is The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot. It shows the complexity of the female spirit and reads like fiction. (My review)


For Young Adult
Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. Yes, the subject matter is difficult, but it's an amazing book with a strong, memorable female lead. Although classified young adult, it's for teens and up.

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Only listing five doesn't seem fair (and I even snuck in two extra). I loved The Help, and all dog lovers should read The Art of Racing in the Rain. As far as classics, my all-time favorites are The Good Earth and A Separate Peace. And my go-to romance author is Nora Roberts, hands down.

What's your top book recommendation for women?

I can't wait to hop around and read others' opinions on this subject. If you are also interested, please check out the commenters here.

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Loving Book Clubs: Musing Mondays

Another Musing Mondays prompt from Should be Reading:

Do you belong to any book clubs — face-to-face, or online? If so, how long have you been with the group(s)? If not, why?

I have belonged to an in-person book club for the last ten years, and I love it so much that I always hate to miss it. You see, I'm addicted to books, so I need to be surrounded by people with the same addiction so we can support one another.

Unfortunately, I also move a lot. I moved to Maryland a year and a half ago, and one of the very first things I did was find a new book club. To me, it's like finding a Mom's group... you immediately have something in common with every single member of the group. You may never agree on a particular book, similar to a parenting style for Mom's groups, but you respect the people around you and sometimes even rethink your own opinion.

Being a book club member has helped me learn to appreciate all genres, as well as teaching me how to analyze a book while I'm reading it. Plus, I love hearing others' opinions and discovering aspects of a book I might have missed.

I have never joined an online book club, however. It could be fun. Anybody tried this? If so, where do you find a group?

A Book That Found Me: Musing Mondays

Another Musing Mondays prompt from Should be Reading:

Have you ever found a book out of the blue, read it, and then had it be surprisingly good -- one that stuck with you for years? If so, what book was it?

Yes. Sophie's World by Jostein Gaarder. It was one of those books I picked up while browsing a bookstore. Nothing about "the history of philosophy" would normally grab my attention, but I was drowning in enjoying three kids ages 7, 5 and 2.

Sadly, thanks to Mommy brain, I don't remember many of the details. I do, however, remember being swept away and loving the character of Sophie. But even more telling, it left me with an aching desire to learn more about philosophy.

I hope to re-read the book one of these days and enjoy it all over again. Maybe one of these days I'll also quench that desire to find out more about philosophy.

The Amazon book summary: One day Sophie comes home from school to find two questions in her mail: "Who are you?" and "Where does the world come from?" Before she knows it she is enrolled in a correspondence course with a mysterious philosopher. Thus begins Jostein Gaarder's unique novel, which is not only a mystery, but also a complete and entertaining history of philosophy.

 

Did you ever stumble upon a book that made a huge impression?

Don't Judge a Book by its Cover: Musing Mondays

Another Musing Mondays prompt from Should be Reading:

Would you choose to review a book if its description sounded interesting but the cover was terrible?

Description would win over cover all day long. However, if the prompt asked if I would you choose to review a book with a great cover and a terrible description, I'd be much more hesitant.

Since I love reading cross-genres, there are very few books I would refuse to review. I haven't reviewed any Erotica yet, but mainly because I haven't been asked to.

When I'm reviewing, I keep an open mind until I no longer can (horrible editing, poor story, uninteresting characters).

That being said, I do love an amazing cover. I think a great cover held more value when I was browsing a traditional bookstore than browsing online. When I was picking books in a traditional store, a cover would catch my eye. I'd pick the book up and immediately read the back cover.

Inevitably, I'd end up with five books. To cut it down to two, I'd read the first two pages and the last two (yes, the ending... I know, bad girl!) and pick based on that.

What about you... if you are just browsing, how do you pick a book?

Reading Wishes: Musing Mondays

I've missed a few Musing Mondays, so I'm glad to be back on track with today's Musing Monday prompt from Should be Reading.

What book do you wish you were reading right now? Where would you take it to, if you could go anywhere to read for a while?

When I read this question, my brain was immediately full to capacity. There are SO many books I want to read right now. One of these days, I'll take a picture of the piles of books laying around my house. By my bed, in my linen closet, on my closet floor, under my desk, on my desk, in the cabinets above my desk... and, of course, all the books on my Kindle.

If I had to choose just one, I'd have to go with Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins. I loved Hunger Games and am beyond excited to see the movie. What better way to get back into the Katniss vibe than to read the final book of the series!

As far as where I'd read, I don't care. Honestly. If it's a good book, I get so lost in it that I'm wherever the author wants me to be. I just need any quiet corner, so I can immerse myself.

What's at the top of your to-be-read pile right now?

Valentine's Day and Love Stories

Happy Valentine's Day! A day honoring love makes me want to talk about love stories. I was swamped yesterday and missed my Musing Mondays post. The prompt from Should be Reading:
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What is your favorite romantic book--or book that includes a love story? (an adult romance, young adult, kids' story, anything)

My favorite romantic book in the last few years was Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. My complaint with most romance novels, although even I like a simple romance now and again, is how closely they all follow the same formula... boy meets girl, boy is terrified of commitment, there's an instant attraction, girl follows her heart, a misunderstanding occurs, boy and girl end up together.

Outlander offered so much more. It's realistic, gritty, but still captures your heart. On the young adult side, I really enjoyed the City of Bones trilogy. There's romance, but it's not clear cut and both the male and female characters have strength (same with Outlander).

I don't enjoy seeing a woman who ignores all brain signals to listen to her heart. Sure, I want her heart to rule in the end, but only after running some obvious things through her brain first.

I also noticed Oprah's book club online posted The 8 Greatest Love Stories of All Time. They are:

1. The Invisible Bridge, Julie Orringer
2. Important Artifacts and Personal Property from the Collection of Lenore Doolan and Harold Morris, Including Books, Street Fashion, and Jewelry by Leanne Shapton
3. The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Victor Hugo
4. Blankets, Craig Thompson
5. Brokeback Mountain, Annie Proulx
6. Tuck Everlasting, Natalie Babbitt
7. One Day, David Nicholls
8. Love Story, Erich Segal

I haven't read any of these, although One Day is in my to be read pile.

Reader friends: Have you read any of these? Would you recommend any?

And on this Valentine's Day, please share with me the best love story you've ever read.

Football Wins Over Reading: Musing Mondays

Another Musing Mondays prompt from Should be Reading:

Did you do any reading in lieu of watching the football game, yesterday, or were you foregoing reading to watch the game? If you read a book (or books) what did you choose?

I was enjoying the game. First, I am a huge professional football fan. But I was also enjoying the commercials and the halftime show. My favorite commercial: Clint Eastwood's Chrysler commercial.

If you missed it, here's a bit from the ad: "It's halftime in America too. People are out of work and are hurting and all are wondering what they are going to do because they know it isn't a game. The people of Detroit know a little something about this. They almost lost everything, but we all pulled together now Motor City is fighting again."

I also enjoyed the Ferris Bueller Honda ad. But combine that with the Madonna halftime show, and I was left feeling... old. I loved Madonna growing up, but I thought she looked awkward at times during the show. The dance moves seemed made for a younger version of herself, and I didn't need to see her with gold pom poms. Anyone sub-30 watching this year must have been so clueless.

My daughter asked me who Ferris Bueller was and what prohibition was (thanks, Budweiser). At least she did know Madonna.

Tonight, however, I'm back to reading. The Book Thief needs my attention.

Did you curl up with a good book last night or watch the Superbowl festivities?

Moving From One Book to the Next: Musing Mondays

Another Musing Mondays prompt from Should be Reading:

How far along are you in your current read before you start thinking about what you’ll read next?

According to my Kindle, I'm 76% done with The Royal Sheikh by Katheryn Lane. I have mixed feelings about the percentage complete bar at the bottom of my Kindle reads. I like seeing my progress by looking at the pages on either side of my bookmark, and the percentage bar isn't quite the same. But, it's also less obvious with the Kindle how much reading I still have to do. With bigger books, I find the Kindle less daunting.

But I digress...

Before Kindle, I had books lined up next to my bed in order of how I wanted to read them. This is another way the Kindle is throwing me off. Since I have reading obligations (book club, reviews), I have to now keep a calendar and notes with books to read next.

Except for time management purposes, I am not thinking of the next book I'm going to read until I finish my current read. I like to focus. I have tried, with little success, to read multiple books. I'm too easily distracted, so I'm comfortable knowing I'm a one-book-at-a-time kind of gal.

Now that I rarely go to a bookstore, almost all of the ones near me have closed down (sniff, sniff), I don't tend to get distracted by a new book. I stick with my planned order.

How about you? Do you plan your next book, or grab whatever strikes your fancy?

Loving Young Adult: Musing Mondays

Another Musing Mondays prompt from Should be Reading:

Why do you think that the Young Adult genre is so popular with even the adult readers? Do you read YA books, yourself?

Since being a young adult myself, I never read the genre until my youngest sister and oldest daughter started recommending titles. Then I became quite enthralled.

I love the Young Adult genre. Let me tell you why:

1. Characters - There's so much to explore with young adult characters. They are at that beautiful stage of life where they know just enough to be dangerous, but not necessarily enough to be judged. These characters can be open to influence, both good and bad. It's a mine field for authors. Plus there's so much the characters can learn.

2. Story - Just like any other type of fiction, the complexity of story can range from lighthearted to devastating. But there's something special about seeing story develop through the eyes of characters still figuring it out. For me, at least, this only adds to the complexity and potential of where the author can take you. Something about a younger adult going through something touches me at a different level than an older person, someone who at least in theory should be wiser.

3. Community - Thanks to the popularity of this genre, I can chat with my girlfriends and my daughter and her girlfriends about the same material. It bridges that gap between the ages. And what could be better than that?

Do you read YA books? If so, what's your number one reason?

Reading What the Cool Kids Read: Musing Mondays

Another Musing Mondays prompt from Should be Reading:

Are there any “raved reads” –books that everyone seems to be talking about– that you’re hoping to get read this year, yourself? What books are they, and why are you hoping to read them? Is it because you want to say you’ve read it? Or, would you have chosen to read it, even if you’d discovered it yourself, and no one was raving about it?

In my experience, overly-hyped or raved about books tend to disappoint. Too often these books come with a set of expectations few can live up to. I feel the same way about movies. But there are exceptions. When my book club raves about a book, I will definitely pick it up. Usually, we'll put the particular book in our rotation anyway.

I read Twilight before people were raving, and I'm so glad. I enjoyed it, but I would have gone in with a much more critical eye if everyone was talking about it. Same was true for the City of Bones trilogy.

To be fair, I read Hunger Games post-hype and still loved it. But I stalled after book two. My daughter just finished all three and is begging me to read Mockingjay so we can talk about it. Sharing with her is always a huge motivator!

For this year... I still want to read the much-hyped The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. I already own the three books, but I'm hesitating. Can it live up to what everyone is saying?

I do love to chat with my friends about books, but most of them aren't reading what's in vogue. We usually pass titles around, but they aren't necessarily mainstream in popularity.

But, to be a little more hip in the book world, particularly since I have a teenager daughter who devours books and needs appropriate recommendations, I am joining one more (at least) reading challenge: 2012 Book Blogger Recommendation Challenge. I'll have more details about this challenge on Wednesday.

What hyped book is on your must read list for 2012?

*****

Tomorrow, I'm thrilled to be hosting Sallie Lundy-Frommer who will be talking about her novel, Yesterday's Daughter, "an emotionally laden paranormal vampire romance novel woven with layers of betrayal, love and loss."

Please stop by!

My Book Gifts, Merry Christmas to Me: Musing Mondays

Today's Musing Mondays prompt from Should be Reading:

Did you get any books for Christmas? If so, what were they? If you didn’t, what books are you most looking forward to reading (and/or buying) in the new year?

I always ask for books and bookstore gift certificates from Borders, (sad face) Barnes and Noble, or Amazon. I love any gift that's book-related and am a sucker for bookmarks.

This year my brother-in-law brought me one from Iceland, and my kids got me a sparkly one with my initial.

My book presents this holiday season:

11/22/63, Stephen King

Thanks to the lovely Carrie Green and her guest post here about Stephen King, I've been obsessed with trying out the horror genre, a genre I've stayed away from in the past. I've struggled with picking a King novel that's not too scary, so I asked for his newest one (and thanks to my hubby, I received it).

I've heard mixed reviews, so I'm interested to see what I think. If the gorgeous and intriguing cover is any indication, the book should be amazing!

Dear Me: A Letter to My Sixteen-Year-Old Self, Edited by Joseph Galliano

My husband is again to thank. I'm not sure where he heard about this one, because I hadn't, but the concept is amazing.

The back cover summary: If you wrote a letter to your sixteen-year-old self, what would it say? In Dear Me, some of the world's best-loved personalities have written just such a letter. These range from the compassionate to the shocking to the hilarious to the heartbreaking, but they all have one thing in common: they offer a unique glimpse at the people these teenagers would grow up to be.

I can't wait! And I'm looking forward to writing my own letter (and coax some other people into writing theirs) once I'm done reading it.

The Christmas Quilt, Jennifer Chiaverini

Our next book club selection. The lady who is hosting has asked us to come in our pajamas with our favorite quilt, so this can be nothing but fun.

I love reading holiday-themed books this time of year!



Die For Me, Amy Plum

A friend of mine, who is writing her own amazing novel that I'm fortunate enough to be editing, recommended this book. I bought it with one of my gift cards.

Booklist says, “Move over Bella and Edward. Plum introduces a world and a story that are sure to intrigue teen readers and will easily attract fans of the Twilight series.” This review plus my friend's recommendation equals SOLD!

The Writer's Workout, Christina Katz

I need to read more books about the writing craft. This one promises "366 tips, tasks, and techniques from your writing career coach." It's broken down into daily activities and inspiration, so I plan to read a page a day for 2012.

It should be a great kick-start. Too often, I don't want to spend the time reading craft books. My reading time is too precious, and I'd rather read good fiction. But a tip every day I can handle.

We Are Not Alone-The Writer's Guide to Social Media, Kristen Lamb

Yes, another craft book. If you've been on Twitter and wondered about the #MYWANA folks, this is what it's all about. Several trusted writer friends have raved about Kristen Lamb, so I made the leap (thanks to my brother-in-law's gift card).

I've been enjoying her blog for several months, so the book should prove useful.

I am so excited to dive into these books along with starting my 2012 To be Read (TBR) Pile Challenge.

What books are you excited to read? Did you receive them as gifts this holiday season?

A Book For All Reasons: Musing Mondays

Today's Musing Mondays prompt from Should be Reading:

What’s one book you always recommend to just about anyone?

Nothing like making me really think on a Monday morning! It's tough to have one book recommendation that would appeal to both men and women, much less appeal to people who love certain genres over others. But I cheat way too often with vague answers, so I'm going to own this one. I may be wrong, but I'll be committed.

Of the recent books I read, I would recommend The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot. This book would make both fiction and nonfiction readers happy. Plus, thanks to equal parts family saga and science details, the book can appeal to both men and women. A winner down the line. For more information, my review is here.

My Top Five Books in the Last Five Years (as seen on my sidebar):

1. Stones from the River, Ursula Hegi
2. Daisy Fay and the Miracle Man, Fannie Flagg
3. Sophie's World: A Novel About the History of Philosophy, Jostein Gaarder
4. I Know This Much is True, Wally Lamb
5. The Honk and Holler Opening Soon, Billie Letts

But, with the exception of Lamb's book, these appeal more to women than men. If I was in a room full of women making book recommendations, all of these would be on my list plus some of my new independent and small press favorites as seen here.

 

What book would you recommend to a mixed group of readers?