Go back in time and find a good story...

If you are feeling a bit overwhelmed with all the new books coming out, you may want to go back in time and read something you may find easily at book sales, library sales, even sold cheaply by sellers on Amazon. These books have stuck out in my mind as they were all read with much vigor, excitement, and a ton of  book nerd love.

I did not want to read The Rook, but a persistent book group member insisted and I was glad I listened to her. I read it rather quickly and was satisfied with the story, I loved the characters, plot, and the London setting. Perfect YA book.  (And you will never forget the name "McFawny.")


http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=the+rook

This was a cool read, no pun intended. The setting is on the edge of a forest near mountains where a couple makes their life living on a smallish farm. A strange child comes out  of the woods when it's cold and she has a story to tell but in her own magical way. Perfect book for a sit down with a cup of coffee, tea or hot chocolate.

http://www.amazon.com/Snow-Child-Novel-Eowyn-Ivey/dp/0316175668/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1445820538&sr=1-1&keywords=the+snow+child

 I remember reading this, along with my Gan, when Oprah was planting her name all of the latest and greatest books. It was a good story, the main character, Julie Harmon is one of my most favorite characters.

 http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/gap-creek-robert-morgan/1100380311?ean=9781616201760

This book blew me away. Stunning writing about conjoined twins about the life they are living told by each  girl separately. The writing is non exploitative, it was simply beautiful, tragic, sad, and victorious. I was so impressed I gave it out to a friend after I was finished.

 http://www.amazon.com/Girls-Novel-Lori-Lansens/dp/0316066346/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1445820682&sr=1-1&keywords=the+girls+book+lori+lansens

I hope you enjoy these books as much as I did. Sometimes a turn back to find good books from months ago, years ago, maybe even decades ago will never disappoint!

Buy all of them!

What's happening this month! TBRs, Grisham and Totes!

 The  TBR book pile is getting bigger and bigger and bigger. What to read next has become quite a chore. Almost finished The Girl in the Spider's Web by David Lagercrantz, which I have tons to write about when it comes to this book. Good and not so bad but not so good, well, really good and some meh stuff. 

But what to read next during the most busy time of the year??? 

I picked out Gray Mountain by John Grisham. It has been a long time since I have read one of his books, it's time.  Plus, no offense to Mr. Grisham, but he is a perfect read during a busy time. PLUS it's a drug store paperback! My favorite.

Shameless plugging of my friend's direct sales business. My friend R got into thirty-one which is totes and bags and purses and all kinds of really neat stuff. I was fortunate enough to book a party and had another friend book a party off of mine so I received lots of credits. One thing I adore is a bag I got for work but would happily use it as a book bag at any time. It has loads of pockets, fits iPads (probably a smallish laptop) and hardbacks, paperbacks and a couple of Kindles. Click the "thirty-one" link and it should take you right to the tote. Good quality and I am a FUSS over bags, though I collect tote bags like some collect Star Wars paraphernalia. Check them out, book a party! My friend R is truly one of the best consultants and gives one hell of a Facebook Event party. 

Link to my friend Robin, my hirty-one consultant:
http://www.mythirtyone.com/rwms70

So that is where I am in the book world. And in the book tote world as well (though the tote is going to be used for work too.) I fully intend to get more reviews out but with job hunting it's a bit hard to fit in time for blogging let alone getting a book finished!

Have the most happiest of Halloweens if I don't get back here any time soon! 

Furiously Happy by Jenny Lawson

I cannot write a review for this book. I can tell you what the book is about but it's one of those rare gems you must read for yourself. It's about mental illness told humorously, sometimes with sadness, by Jenny Lawson, "The Bloggess" as most of us know her. It's a book about being happy even when you are broken. Chronically broken. And no one can explain this journey better than the author.

My suggestion? To know all things Jenny Lawson.  Go to her blog:    http://thebloggess.com/

Pick through the blogs, get to know her, the type of language as well as her inside stories a bit. You do not have to inundate yourself with reading a ton of the blogs, pick through, it's an easy task. But don't let "easy task" fool you. Jenny Lawson is a very complicated person. That's why she is so loved.

And then run out and get yourself  "Lets Pretend This Never Happened."  Lawson's first book, a memoir. You will laugh your way through her life story. Even if you skip over the blog, I recommend this book to be read first. And not in public. Don't say you weren't warned. 

Sometimes it takes a bit of a hike backward to read a new book, readers know that but Furiously Happy stands alone nicely. It's your choice as a reader in how much time you want to invest.

You will never be as funny as Jenny Lawson,  nor as creative and certainly not as enchanting. She opened  up her life to readers and they have found a real gem. I hope you do as well.

Buy both books.

Hide both books and do not lend them out. 

You will never see them again.