#176 ~ 84, Charing Cross Road

84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff 84, Charing Cross Road has to be one of the most charming books I’ve read in a long time.  It also showed me how I assume almost everything I read is fiction.  It took me about a quarter of the book to think: “The American has the same [...]

#175 ~ Baggage Claim

Baggage Claim by Tanya Michna Beth Overton comes up with a brilliant idea after learning that her only daughter Joy is expecting her first baby – she flies from Atlanta to Houston to surprise her husband with the news.  Beth is not at all confident in herself or her marriage, so she is hoping to  [...]

Sunday Salon ~ To D.C. and Back

I finally got my pictures back from my trip to D.C. earlier this month. I wish that I could say they were worth the wait, but they were most definitely not. I forgot to bring the digital camera with me, but was “lucky” enough to have an unused, cheap disposable camera I got at a [...]

My aha moment ~ Passionate about Reading

While I was in Washington D.C. last week I was contacted by a firm working with Mutual of Omaha‘s aha moment tour.  They found my blog, read my About page, and asked me to share my aha moment with them over the weekend while the aha moment team was in Roanoke.  I was flabbergasted to [...]

Thanks for the Thrills

I cannot express how much I loved Michael Jackson’s Thriller. I loved every song and played the heck out of the album. I had posters of Michael Jackson in my junior high locker, and Billie Jean is my favorite pop song ever.  I remember the night the video to Thriller premiered on television so well [...]

We Have Our Winners!

I’ve finally drawn for my two open contests and I’m pleased to announce the following winners! Admission ~ Laura from I’m Booking It Please send me your mailing address and I’ll get it to Miriam at Hatchette ASAP.  Please let me know if sometime in July still works for you.  For the rest of you [...]

Color Me Tired…

I’m sorry I haven’t been a very active blogger for the past week.  Normally I can get a lot done while I’m away from home, but I was just beat the entire time I was in DC.  I didn’t even get that much read while I was gone.  Maybe 150 pages total.  That’s a big [...]

#174 ~ Palace Circle

Palace Circle by Rebecca Dean Palace Circle, which I found to be pleasant but not striking or enduring, is hard for me to summarize. It starts by telling the story of Delia, a spirited 18-year-old American girl who quickly falls in love with and marries a much older, widowed English gentleman. About the only thing [...]

Back in the Noke

After a business trip to the DC area, I’m finally back home in the Noke (that’s twice just for you, Kathy!).  I will be posting more later today.  Thanks to everyone who has supplied ideas for the third Dog Days of Summer Week.  I will be posting my selection and the winner of the contest [...]

The Dog Days of Summer

I don’t know about where you live, but Southwestern Virginia has been hot and muggy (when it’s not raining) for the past week or so.  Summer has arrived and I’m sure that the heat and humidity will only intensify.  During this time, I’ve walked through the stickiness to the mailbox and found two books that [...]