Book List :: August 2012 (summer reading)

A
ugust already! The summer is half way over and yes it is sad but I am enjoying all of the fun activities (keeping me from my books). I have updated the reading list for the August selection. I know the post is short and sweet but that is kind of the way it has been going. Not so much for the SEO lovers of the world. But I hope you READERS are enjoying the books.

Check out the reading selection from our goodreads.com group.

Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Ca... by Fannie Flagg $15.10	Divergent by Veronica Roth $9.99	The Memory Keeper's Daughter: A Novel by Kim Edwards $10.20
Lucky Man: A Memoir by Michael J. Fox $9.48

Cheers to the August selection - I hope you are able to sit and relax, sip a glass of ice-tea, be warmed by the sunset and Keep Turning those pages!
Happy Reading,
 Jennifer

A true confession to my BLOG

It's summer time and I need to confess my book reading has really come to a SLOW down. Yup I do declare as slow as a turtle crossing the main street. But I can let you know the books I have started are an EXTREME delight.

For me I have started two books but I want to add more.


Abraham Lincoln: Vampire HunterBy Seth Grahame-Smith 

• I love the opening scene I am so intrigued to read more but by the time my little guy is down for the count lately so am I. (true confession)

Summer Sisters: A NovelBy Judy Blume

• I am also trying to get this book opened every time I go to the beach. (I have noticed these friendship books haven't been my greatest love this year but we will see)

So what have I been doing instead of spending my nights reading.

• Gardening - We are part of a community garden in Patchogue, NY
• Working - still working on getting my consulting business off the ground
• Beach days - weekend is beach days 
• BBQ's - spending time with family & friends
• POOL TIME - little man loves it so we are busy floating and looking for treasures under the sea. 

We did read some great children's books. He is in summer school and the curriculum is Under the Sea. My next post will be about those books. 

I am hoping to get on track but right now I am still enjoying the summer. Cheers to all!

Keep Turning those pages
Happy Reading,
 Jennifer

Book Review :: Firefly Lane

W
ell I tried, and I just have to move on. Everybody loved it but I am just not into this summer read. So I pass it on to YOU! Share with me all you book DIVA's. Did you love the book? Don't get me wrong I love friendship books. And this is definitely got the girlfriend from childhood to adult drama. The setting and characters are great but I feel I got the story in the first 250 pages not 500 pages. 


But what I do love is the authors postscript about the AWARENESS of your body and breast cancer. Everyone pay attention. We lose to many wonderful people to this disease and early diagnosis  can be a key to saving lives. So touch, feel, get funky - Know your breasts, Know your Body. For more details on self examination check out this site. Breast Self-Exam http://ww5.komen.org/breastcancer/breastselfexam.html


Share a Book Rating :: 2 - Skimmed the whole way to the end, Did I miss something?


I will keep on my list but I am on to a new book. 

Keep Turning those pages
Happy Reading,
 Jennifer

Product Description (from Amazon) 


From the New York Times bestselling author of On Mystic Lake comes a powerful novel of love, loss, and the magic of friendship. . . .

In the turbulent summer of 1974, Kate Mularkey has accepted her place at the bottom of the eighth-grade social food chain. Then, to her amazement, the “coolest girl in the world” moves in across the street and wants to be her friend. Tully Hart seems to have it all---beauty, brains, ambition. On the surface they are as opposite as two people can be: Kate, doomed to be forever uncool, with a loving family who mortifies her at every turn. Tully, steeped in glamour and mystery, but with a secret that is destroying her. They make a pact to be best friends forever; by summer’s end they’ve become TullyandKate. Inseparable.

Children Book Review :: Water, Weed, and Wait By Edith Hope Fine, Angela Halpin

W
e are part of our local community garden  when I saw this book I grabbed it. We read it that very day when we got home and little man was so excited to talk about what we planted. The anticipation we have as we go to the garden was shared in this book.

The illustrations in the book are a delight for the child and adult reading. It is so much fun to watch him point out the many vegetables. Below is a nice picture some of the vegetables we picked this past weekend.


Read :: Water, Weed, and Wait By Edith Hope Fine, Angela Halpin
Share a Book Rating ::  5 - Loved it! Can't wait to share.
Product Description (from Amazon)

When Miss Marigold challenges the kids at Pepper Lane Elementary to turn an unpromising patch of their schoolyard into a garden full of fruits, flowers, and vegetables, they know they'll need all the help they can get. Soon everyone in the community is lending a hand—including an unlikely neighbor with a soft spot for gardening—and it isn't long before peppers, zuccchini, sugar peas, snapdragons, zinnias, and much more are growing and blooming.

Back matter includes photos of students gardening in real school gardens and information on how readers can start their own school or home garden project.

I hope you enjoy the book and the ideas to build a community garden. The benefits are not just a a bountiful harvest but wonderful community friendships.

Keep Turning those pages
Happy Reading,
 Jennifer

And from our Community Garden in Patchogue
(see insert) 


Join us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/PatComGarden

Author Notes :: Tom Franklin

W
e read this book in the begininng of the year. This is a brilliant story between two men, a town and a murderer. The best part was the secret at the end. Here is my review of the book. You remember that relationship when you were younger; you and your friend next door were friends for life, two peas in a pod and then one day something changed, no more tea parties or hot wheel derbies, the outside world entered in to your circle. (Read more) 

About the Author :: (from Goodreads.com)

Tom Franklin was born and raised in Dickinson, Alabama. He held various jobs as a struggling writer living in South Alabama, including working as a heavy-equipment operator in a grit factory, a construction inspector in a chemical plant and a clerk in a hospital morgue. In 1997 he received his MFA from the University of Arkansas. His first book, Poachers was named as a Best First Book of Fiction by Esquire and Franklin received a 1999 Edgar Award for the title story. Franklin has published two novels: Hell at the Breech, published in 2003 and Smonk published in 2006. The recipient of the 2001 Guggenheim Fellowship, Franklin now teaches in the University of Mississippi's MFA program and lives in Oxford, Mississippi with his wife, the poet Beth Ann Fennelly, and their children.

I found this site that give a nice interview MISSISSIPPI WRITERS: Tom Franklin nice to find out some details like (See Below)

Who is your favorite author/authors? What is your favorite book?
I loved Stephen King and Edgar Rice Burroughs as a kid.  Now it's Barry Hannah, Rick Bass, Cormac McCarthy.  Favorite book?  Rick Bass's The Watch.  Barry Hannah's Airships. McCarthy's Suttree.

Read ::  Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter: A Novel (P.S.) By Tom Franklin
Share a Book Rating ::  2 - Finally finished, your turn!!

I hope you enjoyed learning about Tom Franklin. Pick up the book or join Share A Book and you could receive a free copy.

Keep Turning those pages
Happy Reading,
 Jennifer

#FridayReads :: Abraham Lincoln: Vampire HunterBy Seth Grahame-Smith

F
riday reads, such a great way to start the weekend. What is on your night stand? couch? patio?  I am torn between a lingerer from last months list I am still trying to finish or a new book from the July list.

I have to do it ... The vampire theme is just getting me so interested. I will keep you posted if it hits the TOP 5 on the Share a book rating.

READ :: Abraham Lincoln: Vampire HunterBy Seth Grahame-Smith
Share a Book Rating ::  I will keep you posted!!

ENJOY THE WEEKEND.

Keep Turning those pages
Happy Reading,
 Jennifer

Book Review Dedication - Happy Birthday :: Mom

I
n honor of Mom's Birthday. I wanted to document her wonderful 64th birthday. She is an earth shaker in education - shaping and inspiring high school and college students. She is a poet by her own talents and shares with her local community.

She is a mom that created a lifetime of learning and thrill of reading for her children.

Happy Birthday Mom by jmclozano 

So I did some searching online I added this book to my list and dedicate the review to my Mom once finished.

READ :: She Walks in Beauty: A Woman's Journey Through Poems Caroline Kennedy (Author)


Share a Book Rating ::  Stay Tuned!!

If you read this book send me a note. DO you think Mom would like?





Keep Turning those pages
Happy Reading,
 Jennifer

Children Book :: Driving my Tractor

W
e loved this book. It was perfect after a day at the garden where we picked so many delicious vegetables. The book is bright and colorful which made it very entertaining for my three yr old. But most of all we also love the great music video on iTunes. So for a little entertainment we listen to Steve Songs going around the farm on the tractor.


Share a Book Rating ::  5 - Loved it! Can't wait to share with you!!

Source: store.barefootbooks.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

Driving my Tractor

Chug along with a farmer and his tractor on this multi-season animal adventure! A busy farmer picks up fifteen animals along his route, but when his trailer hits a stone, chaos ensues. This colorful book combines simple counting instruction with humor, repetition and rhythm to encourage learning fun. 

Book with CD edition includes song sung by acclaimed children’s performer SteveSongs. 

Ages 3 to 7 years Written By: Jan Dobbins Illustrated By: David Sim Sung By: SteveSongs

I hope you enjoy the book as well as the music. Happy 4th of July!!

Keep Turning those pages
Happy Reading,
 Jennifer

Author Notes :: Sarah Addison Allen

L
et's get to know Ms.Sarah Addison Allen. A few months ago I read her book The Girl Who Chased the Moon: A Novel. I gave the book a 4 rating.

Share a Book Rating ::  4 - Could have been a 5, but nothing is perfect!!

I fell in love with the grandpa, small town, BBW cooking and the changing wallpaper. What about you?

Also, the cooking described in the kitchens of the local restaurant and kitchens in this book were making me hungry while turning the pages. I really want to try her recipes for the Milky Way Cake. As always it is Monday and I like to take a glimpse into an #authors life. Let's learn more about Sarah Addison Allen.

The Girl Who Chased the Moon by jmclozano

Her goodreads.com descriptions states: 

"She was born and raised in Asheville, North Carolina, in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Allen grew up with a love of books and an appreciation of good food (she credits her journalist father for the former and her mother, a fabulous cook, for the latter). In college, she majored in literature -- because, as she puts it, "I thought it was amazing that I could get a diploma just for reading fiction. It was like being able to major in eating chocolate."

Published Books:

• Garden Spells (2007), 
• The Sugar Queen (2008), 
• The Girl Who Chased the Moon (2010), and 
• The Peach Keeper (2011).

Video :: YouTube The Peach Keeper (2011)

Maybe one day we can all get together for some Southern style drinks and BBQ. Please don't forget the dessert. Nice to meet you, Sarah Addison Allen! I will be picking up the The Peach Keeper SOON!!

Keep Turning those pages!
Happy Reading,
 Jennifer