Politics & Prose: Revisiting First Impressions
Politics and Prose has no small claim to bookselling fame; it is one of the most successful independent bookstores in the country. The store is perhaps best known for its author events, which attract legions of famous writers and large crowds.
Wordless Wednesday: Home for the Fourth
Today for the Fourth of July, I contributed to The Land That I Live’s special holiday post about the lands where the blog’s contributors live. I wrote about finding our first house, and the feeling of coming home. Jack and I had a few of his family members over for a casual BBQ this afternoon, which was great fun. It was the first time some of his cousins had seen the new digs. We sat around the table in the sunroom pictured […]
Orange July 2012
It’s incredible to think that 2012 is halfway over. What a busy but fun year so far! This month, I will be participating in Orange July, a twice-yearly challenge to read more books from the winners and nominees of the Orange Prize, my favorite literary award. This month, I’m planning to read We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver; State of Wonder by Ann Patchett; The Very Thought of You by Rosie Alison; and The History of Love by Nicole […]
“Losing Clementine” by Ashley Ream
Clementine has made up her mind: In 30 days, she’s going to end it. Kick the bucket. Buy the farm. Push up daisies. That gives her an entire month to put her life in order. Because she’s resolved not to leave a mess… not like her mother did.
One More Page: A Community Bookstore
This month for Indie Thursday, I’m writing about Arlington’s One More Page Books & More, owned and operated by Eileen McGervey. For Eileen McGervey, One More Page is not just a business; it’s a passion. She did enough research at the beginning to know that she wouldn’t make her fortune in bookselling. In fact, she eschews the idea. Her definition of success is simply “to be able to pay the bills” and keep the doors of her store open. But perhaps McGervey […]
Wordless Wednesday: Sonia Manzano
Sonia Manzano, a young adult/middle grade author and “Maria” on Sesame Street, was the first author I met at BEA. She was great, and I wasn’t even caffeinated yet!
A Dreamer of the Golden Dream
On evenings like this, when the breeze spreads upward and lifts the hood of my jacket off my eyes, when the air holds the crisp promise of spring just above my head, with the blue dusk slowly creeping upon me, I think of all the paths open to me–all of the possibilities of my life, all of the places I will go. For most of my life, I wanted nothing more than to move to California. My parents moved to Delaware before […]
Ten Literary Characters I Wish I Knew IRL
Today I was going to write about people I know who remind me of literary characters, but let’s face it: I don’t have 10 friends. Instead, I give you a list of the ten characters I wish I knew in real life. 10. Kathy Nicolo Kathy Nicolo, one of the main characters in Andre Dubus III’s House of Sand and Fog, is confused, angry, and depressed for much of the book. But she seems so real, so honest; she’s the kind of […]
Monday Mailbox: BEA Loot
Two things: I swear that I know the real title of Jenny Lawson’s memoir, despite what I say in the video; and I think my hair is preparing an uprising against me. Let’s Pretend This Never Happened (A Mostly True Memoir) by Jenny Lawson Matched by Ally Condie The Vicious Deep by Zoraida Cordova SprinkleBakes: Dessert Recipes to Inspire Your Inner Artist by Heather Baird Then Came You by Jennifer Weiner I receive a very small commission when you purchase the book […]
“Duchess of the Shallows” by Neil McGarry and Daniel Ravipinto
Title: Duchess of the Shallows Authors: Neil McGarry and Daniel Ravipinto Pages: 207 Release date: March 2, 2012 Publisher: Peccable Productions Genre: […]
One More Page: Meeting Carolyn Parkhurst
I’ve staked out a folding chair on the cleared sales floor of One More Page. A few rows up, Carolyn Parkhurst is arranging sundry items on the table: a hat, a t-shirt, a framed picture of herself. These items appeared in Parkhurst’s promotional video for her latest book, The Nobodies Album—possibly the funniest book trailer ever.
“Maisie Dobbs” by Jacqueline Winspear
Maisie Dobbs is setting up a new business in 1929 London, and she’s got her work cut out for her. She’s putting her years of private investigative training to work and opening up shop as P.I.
Wordless Wednesday: T.R. Burns
T. R. Burns–nee Tricia Rayburn–with her latest middle-grade book at BEA Book Bloggers. Merits of Mischief sounds really fun!
Top Ten Books For Summer
10. Let’s Pretend This Never Happened (A Mostly True Memoir) by Jenny Lawson This hilarious memoir would be closer to #1 on my must-read list for summer, except I’ve actually already started it. So, technically, it’s #1 on my currently-reading list this summer. And well deserved! Jenny Lawson spoke to BEA Book Bloggers a few weeks ago, and she blew me away with her humor–but more than that, with her honesty. Her book is doing the same. 9. I Am Forbidden by […]
Monday Mailbox: Jon Krakauer, Gretchen Rubin, and More!
Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith by Jon Krakauer Jesus Land: A Memoir by Julia Scheeres Random Family: Love, Drugs, Trouble, and Coming of Age in the Bronx by Adrian Nicole LeBlanc We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver The Happiness Project: Or, Why I Spent a Year Trying to Sing in the Morning, Clean My Closets, Fight Right, Read Aristotle, and Generally Have More Fun by Gretchen Rubin Property by Valerie Martin I receive a […]
