It's Friday...can only be Book Hop Party!

Hosted by Crazy for Books

This weekly BOOK PARTY is an awesome opportunity for book bloggers to connect with other book lovers, make new friends, support each other, and generally just share our love of books! It will also give blog readers a chance to find other book blogs to read!

So follow the link to Crazy for Books and join in the fun!

Who is your favorite new-to-you author so far this year?

I cannot narrow it down to one.....

Liane Moriarty  - What Alice forgot  - Liane has written several books before but this is the first time I have come across her work.  She also writes children's books.  You can find Liane here http://lianemoriarty.com.au/

Beth Hoffman - Saving CeeCee Honeycutt - Beth is a new author and New York Times Bestseller.  I am so looking forward to her next book.  You can find Beth here
http://bethhoffman.net/

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Have a busy weekend ahead, but am desperate to get my latest read (What Alice Forgot) finished by Sunday.  I have 2 more library loans (Ellis Island and The Hand that First Held Mine) that need to be read in next couple of weeks as other readers are waiting on them.  DS2 (2 yrs old) and I are off to the library on Sunday to register his 2nd Summer Read Challenge.  He has to share 6 books through the summer hols with me to complete his Summer Read Chart and get his certificate.

What are your reading plans for the weekend?

Have a good weekend and enjoy the Hop.

Waiting for the Postie

Well, have been very busy online shopping and have lots of parcels I am waiting for.
School uniform for my Daughter and eldest son.  New this year we have to buy our uniform from an online store.  I do like online shopping but I prefer to support our local shops if I can.  Expensive this year as the Head decided all new uniform so my daughter has all new uniform for her last year at school, and my eldest son is just joining "big" school!!!

Waiting for a toilet seat, step and fun potty training book for youngest son.......any guesses as to what will be topic of conversation in our house for the next few weeks.  It was ten years ago since I last had a potty in the house and it feels like I am approaching it for the first time again!!!

Waiting on a book that fell into my online shopping basket along with the potty training equipment and a DVD (or DDD as youngest son calls them) for my daughter.

Plus I have a supermarket shop due this afternoon......I know, I hear ya say......."u said u like to support the local shops".....  I do, I do but supermarkets are a different species altogether.  Unfortuantely I do need to use them and when it comes to supermarkets I begrudge giving them my money so I alternate which one I use to get the best deals.  The one I am waiting on today is in another town, so what I save on petrol pays the delivery charge.

Alfie's Preschool pick

Incy Wincy Spider by Keith Chapman (Bob the Builder) /Jack Tickle

Little Tiger Press

A fun book to share with your toddler as Incy Wincy Spider goes on an adventure around the farmyard.  He meets many farmyard animals along the way and finally finds his way home.  Great for familiarising your little ones with farm animals.  Incy's webs are covered in glitter to give a 2d effect.

Am now listed at Kay's Book Blog Directory

Am now newly listed at Kay's Book Blog Directory
Please visit her site.  Wonderful resource for finding Book Blogs you may have missed.

Interesting article yesterday - The Power of Richard and Judy

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/jul/25/tv-book-clubs-richard-judy-amanda

"TV book clubs: more powerful than the Booker prize             
Richard and Judy's approval could make a book an instant bestseller"


"You can almost feel the smarm in Richard Madeley's voice. "We're thrilled that the Richard and Judy name is once again associated with books." WH Smith announced last month that it is joining forces with daytime TV veterans Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan to create a new version of their TV book club. It will launch this autumn in 1,055 stores. Six books will be promoted, selected by Richard and Judy and WH Smith's buying team. Although there's no tie-in television show this time, a spokesperson said TV advertising was likely"
 
 
I have to admit that when scanning the titles before me in WH or Waterstones I was drawn to Richard and Judy or now TV Book Club stickers as 9 times out of 10 it would be a book I would like to read.
 
It would be good to see the Richard and Judy selections back.  Looking forward to it.

The Richard and Judy backlist can be found here Richard and Judy Book Club

The TV Book Club list can be found here  The TV Book Club

Sunday....too busy to housework! ;)

Had a lovely day out with the family at Drayton Manor theme park, yesterday.Was surprised that DS2 was ready to go on the rides in Tho
masLand . He was asleep before we left the car park to come home.  Any little ones who love Thomas the Tank Engine would love Thomasland within the theme

park. It was ideal for us having a teenager and toddler to entertain.

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 I didnt realise that the Book Blog Hop was a whole weekend event, by that I mean it takes up the whole weekend to browse and follow all the lovely blogs I have been missin. :)

I am very new to blogging. It all began when I was searching for a book review (don't remember which one now) and I came across blogging. The first blog I bookmarked was  'Til we read again Next was Crazy for Books. I was so inspired by these great websites I felt I really wanted to join in and so here I am!

If you haven't already discovered Crazy for books and the Book Blog Hop, you don't know what ya missin! Come join the fun!

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Over the next few weeks I hope to add to my blog, ideas I have so far are....

*highlighting one of the blogs I follow a week,
*Quote of the month (already at top of blog under title),
*a news clip a week,
*reviewing some of my favourite books over last year from my Reading Diary Notebook,
*reviews of books that my children are enjoying.

I started with a plain A5 notebook last year after seeing reviews or suggestions for books I had read. I would say "loved that book" but couldnt remember exactly why or what I was doing at that time. I keep a few personal notes in my notebook too.

At the Hop!

http://www.crazy-for-books.com/

Book Blogger Hop 23 - 26th July 2010

Hosted by Crazy for Books this is a fab way to find new book blogs you may have missed. Come and join the party!
This is a weekly event from Fri-Mon.

Question for this week : TELL US ABOUT THE BOOK YOU ARE CURRENTLY READING!

I am reading What Alice forgot by Liane Moriarty

Imagine forgetting the most important ten years of your life.

Alice wakes up after a bump on the head believing she is still 29 and pregnant with her first child. It soon becomes apparant that she is actually almost 40 with three children.

Some of my favourite book sites

A few links to places, other than blogs, that I like to visit.
As I find new ones I will add them here and in a list to the left of my blog under
blogs I like to follow.

ivillage UK Book Club - small but growing community
Read It Swap It - great community, great swapping
The TV Book Club - Some great summer reading choices here, though personally not a great fan of the show

Will be back later today when D S2 has his sleep to go book blog hopping :)

I've packed some much in today

First day of the school hols and what a day....
trip to the town this morning for food shopping....
set up Thomas train set and prepare lunch for DS2 (dear son 2 - aged 2) and then down for his nap......
that would usually mean I get my computer time or reading time........BUT
DD (dear daughter - aged 15) wanted to do some baking........BUT
I was definate I was going to try home colour on my hair for the 1st time, which I was
very nervous about, but really need to try as colour at the salon is expensive!  So,
off to the bathroom to change the colour of the loo seat, bath, towel and shower, Oh and
my hair!
Colour took well and pleased with results..........
Kitchen next with DD to bake Choc and Banana Muffins and Coffee Muffins......
2 doz muffins later and DD decides she wants to take the muffins to a BBQ this eve.....
managed to keep some back for us......yummy!!
Mum's taxi service to drop DD and friends at BBQ.......
back to cook spag bol and garlic bread for dinner......

No wonder I am wanting my bed by 9pm most nights!   :)

Can I recommend.....

Saving CeeCee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Saving-CeeCee-Honeycutt-Beth-Hoffman/dp/0670021393/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1279627683&sr=8-1

12 yr old CeeCee Honeycutt is in trouble. For years, she has been the caretaker of her psychotic mother, Camille. But when tragedy strikes, CeeCee is left to fend for herself. To the rescus comes her previously unknown great-aunt, Tootie Caldwell.






First novel from Beth Hoffman and what a debut! It doesn't appear to be on general release in the UK (Amazon have the paperback on pre-order status)  but I have a very dear friend who picked it off my Amazon wishlist for my birthday.



12 year old CeeCee struggles to cope with her mother's mental illness until her mother is tragically run over.  Her father is a travelling salesman who has flitted in and out of their lives for years and cannot or doesn t want to take on the care of his daughter.  Ceecee is sent to live with a Great Aunt Tootie, taking only one box of her beloved collection of books,  and is immediately surrounded by strong Southern women who protect her and teach her about life. There are lows and highs, laughs and sadness and many lessons to add to CeeCee's Life book.

If you liked The Help I am sure you will like this one too

My 2010 summer read. Fantastic!
5* - I loved it!

Time to get to know my camera

My other half bought me a new camera for christmas and I have decided I really need to start using it properly, taking notice of the gadgets it has.

These are my first attempts at close up shots taken in my garden.   I am pleased with the results.  I always envy photographers who take great close ups of nature.

Sunday! Where has the weekend gone?

I try to pass on my love to books to my children (two teens and a toddler).  I think I have the only toddler who cries when I try to drag him out of the library!
I have asked them to comment on books they enjoy to add here from time to time.

So, may I introduce Alfie the Giraffe, who belongs to my youngest.  He will recommend books that we have enjoyed together.

Giraffes Can't Dance, by Giles Andreae and Guy Parker- Rees

Gerald was a tall giraffe

whose neck was long and slim

but his knees were awfully bandy

and his legs were rather thin

Gerald was not a great dancer and dreaded the annual dance until this year.  A lovely rhyming book to enjoy with your toddler meeting many jungle animals along the way.

Day 2

Now lets see if I can post a piccie on here today......
and follow some of my favourite book blogs....
and if I get some time maybe get round to the ironing   :0

Well, got a couple of pics up now, phew! 
Just time to share my latest additions to my TBR bookshelves.....

The Lost Symbol - Dan Brown - £2 at a car boot (bargain, I hope!)
The Very Thought of You - Rosie Alison - charity shop
Footsteps - Katherine MacMahon - charity shop
Twenties Girl - Sophie Kinsella - car boot
Loving Frank - Nancy Horan - charity shop
The Almond Picker - Simonetta A Hornby - charity shop
The Secret Life of Bees - Sue Monk Kidd - Charity shop

Here goes!

Hi
My first posting so please be gentle with me.
I have been reading other peoples' reading blogs for a while now and decided
to take the plunge with my own.
I get my ideas for books to read mainly from book forums and blogs.

Maybe I should start with my current read

Saving CeeCee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman