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Literate Housewife’s Birthday Bash!

birthday-cake

Today is my birthday and I want to celebrate in grand style. You’re only 38 once, right? What better way to celebrate than to spread the joy? First, let me tell you about my presents and then I’ll talk about the goodie bags:

My Gifts

Yesterday was a great day. My team lead called a meeting with me for 9am. I walked into the meeting and settled down into the work day only to discover that he called it just to have my co-workers bring in a cake and wish me a happy birthday early. What a way to start the day! After being sick, I have to say I’ve been a little down – nothing big, but just sort of blue – this was just what I needed. Why a day early? Well, I normally work from home on Thursdays and they wanted to be sure that to catch me by surprise. Boy, did they ever. It was great.

I wasn’t going to work from home, but then I thought, why not? Well, that kind of messed my hubby up, so I’ll be waiting until Friday for my birthday present from him. Oops! That’s okay, though. Why not spread the celebration over several days, right? My girls are more excited about my birthday than they ever have been and that will be fun all on its own. Their school has started a walking program on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7:30, so we’ll start the day out together getting (me)/staying (them) healthy. I just know it’s going to be a great day.

When I got home from work, I received an email from Amanda at Regal Literary. My review of Audrey Niffenegger’s Her Fearful Symmetry was selected as one of the top 1o submitted to them. SQUEEEEE!! I cannot believe it! Because I was selected, I get a signed and personalized 1st edition of the novel. Did I say I cannot believe it? I can’t. That was by far the hardest review I’ve ever had to write. I’m honored that they selected it. They will be highlighting all of the top 10 reviews on Her Fearful Symmetry’s Facebook page over the next few days. What a great (who cares if it’s unintentional) birthday present!

The Goody Bags

I’ve got some bookish goody bags organized for this special day. I wish I had one for everyone stopping by because I appreciate each and everyone of you. For a chance, please select a goody bag and let me know in your comment which one you’d like. Please leave additional comments for each Goody Bag you’re interested in. It’s that simple. I will keep a list of who would like which goody bag and through the magic of List Randomizer, I will choose a winner. There are 8 goody bags since my birthday is October 8 and 8 is my favorite number. Curious to see what’s in the goody bags? Here they are:

Goody Bag #1

Cover of The Tudor Rose

Danielle at Sourcebooks has graciously offered one copy of Margaret Campbell Barnes’ The Tudor Rose to one of my Birthday Bash readers in the United States. Thank you so much, Danielle and Sourcebooks!

This book was just reissued this month and I reviewed it on Monday. Here is a link to my review. It tells the story of Elizabeth of York that begins just before her father’s death. I really enjoyed it and found it was a great follow up to Philippa Gregory’s The White Queen.

Goody Bag #2

Cover of A Match for Mary Bennet

Danielle from Sourcebooks is offering a second Goody bag for my Birthday Bash readers in the United States – a copy of A Match for Mary Bennet by Eucharista Ward, O.S.F. Thank you again, Danielle and Sourcebooks!

This book was published this month and I reviewed it yesterday. Here is a link to my review. It tells the further story of Mary Bennet, Elizabeth Bennet Darcy’s quiet and serious younger sister. This is a really charming Pride and Prejudice sequel with a nice sense of humor.

Goody Bag #3

Cover of The Trials of Honorable F. Darcy

The Trials of Honorable F. Darcy by Sara Angelini is another book I requested from Danielle at Sourcebooks. I fell in love with the cover. Unfortunately, I just couldn’t get into it. If you like Pride and Prejudice sequels and modern romance, you should give this a try. This Goody Bag is for my ARC copy, open to any of my Birthday Bash visitors. I know that there is a reader out there for this novel.

Goody Bag #4

Cover of Foreign Tongue

If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you know that I fell in love with Foreign Tongue by Vanina Marsot. It was one of my favorite books over the past year. I can’t say enough about it. Here is the link to my review. Not only is the novel wonderful, so is its author. I interviewed Vanina Marsot and had a wonderful time doing it. She sent me a signed copy of her novel and made my day. I’d like to pass my ARC copy on to one of my Birthday Bash visitors in Goody Bag #4. Maybe one of my favorite books during my 37th year will be one of yours in the upcoming year.

Goody Bag #5

Cover of Capote in Kansas

Another one of my favorite books of my 37th year was Capote in Kansas: A Ghost Story by Kim Powers. Here is a link to my review. If you are a fan of Truman Capote and/or Harper Lee, you will love this novel. If you’re not, you will, too. I had previously read Lee, but not Capote. I couldn’t put it down. Goody Bag #5 is for my hardcover copy of this novel.

Goody Bag #6

Cover of The Devil's Company

Tomorrow I will be reviewing David Liss’ third installment of his Benjamin Weaver series, The Devil’s Company. I haven’t read any of the other books in this series but it wasn’t necessary. I really enjoyed Benjamin Weaver and the mystery in which he found himself in this novel. This hardcover novel, which was sent to me thanks to Random House after I snagged it as part of LibraryThing’s Early Reviewer program, is Goody Bag #6.

Goody Bags #7 and #8

The last two Goody Bags are for books I am looking forward to read during my 38th year:

Cover of Pope Joan Cover of Sorrow Wood

Goody Bag #7 is for a paperback copy of Pope Joan by Donna Woolfolk Cross. This is a book I’ve heard so much about and I happen to have two copies.

Goody Bag #8 is for my second hardcover copy of Sorrow Wood by Raymond L. Atkins. This is the author’s second novel. I read and loved his first novel, The Front Porch Prophet. Here is a link to my review of that novel. I’m really looking forward to Sorrow Wood.

Thanks for stopping by. I enjoyed spending part of my birthday with you! The Goody Bags are up for grabs until Thursday, October 22nd (Ally’s 5th birthday) and I’ll announce the winners on Friday, October 23rd (Emma’s 7th birthday). Since October 25th is my 12th wedding anniversary, I cannot guarantee that they’ll make it in the mail until Halloween.

October 8, 2009 | Filed Under Books

Comments

132 Responses to “Literate Housewife’s Birthday Bash!”

Just Mom
Posted: Oct 8th, 2009 at 8:24 am

Happy Birthday, Jennifer! I love your goody bags and hope I win one!! Wow, October is an expensive month in your home – lots of celebrations! Enjoy all of it!

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