Live Interview with George Pelecanos!

Posted on April 16, 2009 by Jenn

I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to participate in a live interview this afternoon with George Pelecanos, author of sixteen crime novels, including The Turnaround (2008) and The Way Home (May, 2009).

You can access the interview here. Thanks again to Miriam at Hachette and author George Pelecanos for providing such an amazing opportunity to book bloggers!

And don’t forget to enter in my contest to win a copy of The Turnaround. Contest ends on Saturday, April 18th.

And stay tuned for my review of The Turnaround!

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Countdown to Dewey's 24 Hour Read-a-Thon!

Posted on April 15, 2009 by Jenn

I’m officially beginning the countdown to Dewey’s 24-Hour Read-a-thon! As you can see, I’ve even added a countdown clock to my sidebar!

I’ve requested my reading material from the library and I will pick it up today.

So far, here is my list:

Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson
Wicked Lovely Trilogy by Melissa Marr
Thirteen reasons Why by Jay Asher
America, America by Ethan Canin
House of Night series by P.C. Cast
The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra
The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan
Vampire Academy Series by Richelle Mead
Jessica’s guide to dating on the dark side by Beth Fantaskey
Need by Carrie Jones
Angels of Destruction by Keith Donohue

Now, depending on my reading mood, I may remove or add books to this list.

So, if you are participating in the Read-A-Thon, what is on your reading list?

Also, if you are interested in sponsoring me in the Read-a-thon, and supporting Books for Soldiers, please fill out this secure form.
You can also submit a donation to Books for soldiers here (also located in my sidebar).
Please let me know if you are donating to Books for Soldiers, either by leaving a comment or emailing me directly at jenlaw77ATearthlinkDOTnet. I’m attempting to keep track of all donations generated during the Read-a-thon.
Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Teaser Tuesday-April 14

Posted on April 14, 2009 by Jenn


TEASER TUESDAYS asks you to:

  • Grab your current read.
  • Let the book fall open to a random page.
  • Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.
  • You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!
  • Please avoid spoilers!

Today’s teaser comes from George Pelecanos’ The Turnaround, which I’m rereading for a BlogTalk Radio show on the 16th.

“Though he had opened neither books nor newspapers in his youth, he had picked up the reading bug while in prison. The habit had stuck”

What is your teaser?

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

A Must Have Item for Any Book Lover!

Posted on April 13, 2009 by Jenn

Are you afraid of damaging your paperback book? Or are you the secretive type and want to keep the book you are reading hidden from those around you? Well, the Hardbacker is the item for you!

A member of my book club introduced me to Hardbackers a few years ago. I’ve become hooked on this item since then! Hardbackers turn any paperback book into a hardback, without damaging the book. The covers are designed to extend the life of your book by protecting both the front and back covers. They come in a variety of sizes, ranging from trade paperback all the way up to college textbook size. They also come in sixteen different colors! My personal favorites are granite and brick.

I have three Hardbackers of my own. I constantly have a book in hand (or in my purse) and they were beginning to suffer the wear and tear a paperback gets after a good reading. Since using Hardbackers, my paperbacks have remained in the same pristine condition as they were when I purchased. In addition, I get a number of paperback ARCs that are often falling apart by the time I’ve finished reading them. I learned that the workbook size is the perfect fit for most ARCs. I’m so enamored by this product that I felt the need to share it with you all!

So, check out Hardbackers now! A great gift for any book lover!
Posted in Blog Post | Leave a comment

Review: Laura Rider's Masterpiece, by Jane Hamilton

Posted on April 13, 2009 by Jenn
Charlie and Laura Rider have been married for twelve years. Their love for one another is apparent, but their relationship is a platonic one. Laura no longer has a sexual interest in Charlie. The problem isn’t Charlie; she simply has no interest in sex any longer. This arrangement has worked for them both, that is, until Jenna Faroli, a public radio star and Laura’s idol, moves into their small, quaint town. Charlie and Jenna happen to meet one day, and Laura sees the impact this meeting has on Charlie. She devises a plan. She’s always wanted to be a writer of romance. So, she uses this “relationship” that Charlie has with Jenna to showcase her writing skills. She convinces Charlie to start corresponding with Jenna via email. This email conversation is very tame to begin with, but when Laura begins to add a bit of her own intimate and romantic language, Jenna falls in love with the Charlie that is writing to her. Laura’s so obsessed with learning what the ideal woman wants in a man, she doesn’t realize she is practically hand-feeding her husband to Jenna. The relationship that ensues is a total surprise to all that are involved, including the reader. LAURA RIDER’S MASTERPIECE is yet another stellar piece of writing by Hamilton. The characters are dynamic and the storyline is compelling. I tried very hard not to hate Laura Rider’s character, but that was a difficult task. She seems to live most of her life in her own little writing world. I was astounded at her actions and her lack of emotion after learning about Charlie’s relationship with Jenna. All of this together produced a great piece of fiction!

Thanks to Miriam at Hachette for providing me with this book!

Posted in Review | Leave a comment

Help Me Support Books for Soldiers!

Posted on April 9, 2009 by Jenn

I’ve selected Books for Soldiers as my charity for the 24 hour Read-a-Thon. Books for Soldiers is a non-profit corporation that ships books, dvds, video games and relief supplies to deployed military members of the US armed forces.

For every book I read, I will donate $5 to Books for Soldiers. Typically, I can read a 300 page book in two hours, so I’m estimating that I will read approximately 12 books (more or less!) Books For Soldiers operates totally on donations, so please consider sponsoring me during the Read-a-thon with a donation. You can donate a flat amount or per book.

Books for Soldiers has provided me with a secure easy pay button to post on this blog. This button is posted below, and will be posted on the sidebar of this blog through the conclusion of the read-a-thon. Payments will be processed using Paypal. All donations are tax-deductible.

If you are interesting in donating, please email me at jenlaw77ATearthlink.net or by posting a comment below. I would like to keep track of the donations earned through this effort.

In addition, I will be sending a copy of each of the books I read to troops overseas. If you are interested in donating books please email me or comment below.

Thank you for considering a contribution to this cause. If you are unable to donate, please follow my progress on Saturday, April 18! I will be hosting an amazing giveaway that day, so stay tuned!

Posted in Blog Post | Leave a comment

Dewey's 24 hour Read-a-Thon

Posted on April 8, 2009 by Jenn

I will be participating in Dewey’s Read-a-thon, scheduled for April 18, 2009. This is a biannual event that was created by Dewey, and this year Hannah (WordLily), Ana (Nymeth), and Trish (Hey Lady!) have worked really hard to carry on in Dewey’s name .

So far, 72 other bloggers have signed up for this 24 hour event. I encourage you to sign up for it if you can. It’s an amazing “blog community” event.

For more information, visit the Read-a-thon Web site. And there are several levels of participation, including Cheerleader, Mini-Challenge Host, Organizer and Prize Donor.

So, check it out and join me and the other bloggers participating in this great event!

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Giveaway: The Turnaround by George Pelecanos

Posted on April 7, 2009 by Jenn
BOOK INFORMATION:
On a hot summer afternoon in 1972, three teenagers drove into an unfamiliar neighborhood and six lives were altered forever.Thirty five years later, one survivor of that day reaches out to another, opening a door that could lead to salvation. But another survivor is now out of prison, looking for reparation in any form he can find it.THE TURNAROUND takes us on a journey from the rock-and-soul streets of the ’70s to the changing neighborhoods of D.C. today, from the diners and auto garages of the city to the inside of Walter Reed Army Medical Hospital, where wounded men and women have returned to the world in a time of war. A novel of fathers and sons, wives and husbands, loss, victory and violent redemption, THE TURNAROUND is another compelling, highly charged novel from George Pelecanos, “the best crime novelist in America.” -Oregonian
Thanks to Valerie from Hachette, I have five copies of THE TURNAROUND to give away!
To enter, post a comment.
To be entered twice, blog about it (please include a link to your giveaway post in your comment)
To be entered three times, become a follower.
To be entered four times, tweet about it! (Be sure to include your tweet in your comment)
Winner will be announced on Saturday, April 18th.
Open to US and Canadian residents only. No P.O. Boxes.
Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Teaser Tuesdays-April 7

Posted on April 7, 2009 by Jenn

TEASER TUESDAYS asks you to:

  • Grab your current read.
  • Let the book fall open to a random page.
  • Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.
  • You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!
  • Please avoid spoilers!

    • My spoiler comes from Laura Rider’s Masterpiece, by Jane Hamilton:

    “Email, she often said, had ruined her life, and yet there were always the most seductive questions in he approach to her desk:Who would have written? What astonishing morsel, what wisdom, what battling wit might be there at the click of the mouse?”

    What is your teaser?

    Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

    It's Monday! What are you reading this week?

    Posted on April 6, 2009 by Jenn

    It’s Monday! What are you reading this week? is a weekly event created by J.Kaye to list the books completed last week, the books currently being read, and the books to be finished this week. 

    Books Completed from Last Week:
    Kitty Raises Hell by Carrie Vaughn (review to be written)
    This One is Mine by Maria Semple (review to be written) 
    I had the week off of work last week and got a great deal of reading done.  I made a small dent in my list for last week, but the majority have moved on to my reading list this week. 
    This Week’s Reading List
    Laura Rider’s Masterpiece by Jane Hamilton (reading now)
    Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah-book club pick (reading now)
    Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment