I'm Still Here...

Hi everyone!  It's been a while since I've posted or even read any blogs.  Believe it or not I have hardly read anything for the month of October.  I've been really sick, so I've been spending my time taking care of my daughter and resting.  I couldn't do much else.

BUT...I'm finally starting to feel better and I'm looking forward to reading books and blogs again.  I'm going to try to start posting again this week.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

This is the pumpkin my husband and daughter carved this year!
Source:  My Photo

Yay!!! It's Here...

We finally got The Son of Neptune today, and my daughter is very excited.  She was reading it before we ever made it to the check out.  It made me so happy to see her jump up and down with joy at the mere sight of the book.  She's been waiting patiently for so long.  I hope it's all she wants it to be, but I know it will be.  It's about her favorite literary character, Percy Jackson.  She gets to visit with an old friend.

Isn't reading awesome?

Source:  Goodreads

Goodreads summary
In the first pages of this standalone sequel to The Lost Hero, Percy Jackson remembers only his name and the name of Annabeth, a mysterious woman he associates somehow with the city of San Francisco. From those sparse clues, he must somehow complete a mission for the leader of the Roman camp even as he is being pursued by the two sisters of Medusa, who possess an apparently unquenchable thirst for vengeance: Even when killed, they spring back to life. Rick Riordan's second Heroes of Olympus promises even more excitement than the first.

Busy, Busy, Busy...

I've been super busy!  I haven't felt all that great lately either.  I haven't had much time to read or blog.  Hoping to get back on schedule in the next day or two.

Southern Belle Reading Challenge Wrap Up...Man Was It Fun

Southern Belle Reading Challenge
Hosted by Brenda Gail at Curling Up With A Good Book 

Well September is over, and I'm sad to say so is the Southern Belle Reading Challenge.  But I'm glad to report that Brenda says she will host it again next year...Yay!  So if you missed it this year start making your list now. 

This challenge was about all things "southern"...fiction set in the south, non-fiction, cook books, magazines, food, music, festivals, and famous southerners.  Before this challenge I hadn't read all that much southern fiction, but now I have to say that I have a real love for it.  I have found so many good books and authors by participating in this challenge.  Not only did I find lots of new books...I found a new blog that I absolutely love and visit every day.  Brenda did such a great job running this challenge.  Every day she posted a southern topic on her blog, and they were all different.  I learned a lot about the south, and had fun doing it.  I also loved reading all the great comments from others doing the challenge.  I'm always interested in what others are reading.

I read 5 books in the month of September for the Southern Belle Reading Challenge.

Source:  Goodreads

The first book I read for the challenge was The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd.  You can read my review HERE.

Source:  Goodreads

 The second book I read for the challenge was My Summer of Southern Discomfort by Stephanie Gayle.  You can read my review HERE.

Source:  Goodreads

 The third book I read for the challenge was Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg.  You can read my review HERE.

Source:  Goodreads

Book number four and perhaps my favorite from the entire challenge was Hissy Fit by Mary Kay Andrews.  I had no idea what to expect from this book, and to be honest I was expecting a shallow girly book.  Boy was i wrong!  This was a deep meaningful book, but fun at the same time.   You can read my review HERE.

Source:  Goodreads

The fifth and final book I read for the challenge was The Southern Belle of Honeysuckle Way by Linda Bruckheimer.  I haven't posted a review yet, but look for it soon!


My goal for the challenge was 4 books.  I met it plus one, so I'm very happy.  The Southern Belle Reading Challenge was lots of fun, and I will definitely be doing it again next September.  Thanks Brenda!!!

Do Your Kids Love To Read?

I found an article by James Patterson on CNN.com today.  It's about a subject that is very near and dear to my heart..."How to get your kid to be a fanatic reader".  Reading is such an important part of every day life, and I am very happy to say that my daughter is a "reading fanatic" and reads every day.   You can read the article by clicking HERE.

Lots of Great Book Lists...

I've spent the last few days visiting the blogs of others who are participating in Fall Into Reading 2011.  FIR is hosted by Katrina over at Callapidder Days.  I've visited 25 so far, and added many books to my To Be Read list.  If you have some time you should go check out the challenge and those participating.

The Help is on a LOT of people's list, and I've only heard good things.  It's on my list too, and I'm anxious to get to it.  I need to finish  my library books first though.

Sometimes I feel like I'm reading in slow motion...

Thomas Jefferson's Library

I love Thomas Jefferson's historic home, Monticello, and I often go check out their website and online catalog (I have a wish list a mile long).  When I visited Monticello in Charlottesville, Virginia with my family a couple years ago the library was one of my favorite rooms.  Check out an article about Jefferson's library on Monticello's website HERE.

Library at Monticello
Source:  www.monticello.org

Jefferson Bookstand
Source:  www.monticellocatalog.org

Among the many ingenious devices found in Jefferson's Cabinet, this one perhaps most clearly suggests Jefferson's passion for knowledge. One can imagine him turning the stand, completely engrossed, consulting five books at once to find the answer to a burning question. Our bookstand is a line-by-line reproduction of the original, which was made in the joinery at Monticello, probably from Jefferson's own design. It's great for cross-checking information from several sources or just keeping reference books and current reading handy. Made of solid mahogany with a soft, hand-polished finish, the rotating stand holds five books at adjustable angles on rests that fold down to form a 12" cube.  (Source:  www.monticellocatalog.org)

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I've had some very busy days lately with more to come over the next couple weeks.  My progress on The Southern Belles of Honeysuckle Way is slower than I'd like, but I am reading every day.  That's really all I can ask of myself.  Hoping to finish it tomorrow...