TV Made Me Do It - why I read Our Town

I just finished reading Our Town by Thornton Wilder (a book that has been on my shelf for I know over 8 years). A lot of people may have read this book in high school, but I didn't have to. I don't think it was ever on my class syllabus or summer reading list. And I didn't pick it because it is a Pulitzer Prize Winning classics (however I did take a class on just that -Pulitzer Prize Winning Plays). No, I wanted to read it because it was on My So-Called Life. You know the episode where Rayanne tries out for the school play (Our Town), mimics Angela in her audition to get the part and later betrays Angela in the worst way possible. (I tried not to be spoilery there, could you tell?).  Reading Our Town, I kind of knew what to expect have already watched the show, but some scenes read differently from how I expected having watched MSCL. I can still hear Rayanne's voice as Emily.

Our Town isn't the only book I've picked up because it was referenced in other media. I also started reading Still Life with Woodpecker by Tom Robbins after seeing Drew Barrymore's character Lucy reading it in 50 First Dates. I'm going to be honest and say I don't think I made it through the first chapter. I put it down when I couldn't get into it. I have it and may revisit it some day. I'm still trying to figure out why I bought it? Was it because I was going through a Drew Barrymore phase? Yes, I had one. Or was it because I wanted to know why the character Lucy, someone who loses her memory and must live the same day over and over again, would be reading that particular book? Maybe it was simply because there was a character in a movie reading a book that I had never read before. It was probably a combination of all of these things.

It's just funny to think about where my reading inspiration comes from or why I would even consider buying a certain book. I'm sure I'm not the only person who has drawn inspiration from television or movies. Or even from what characters in books are reading. I thought about reading some Albert Camus after reading the characters read quotes from his works aloud in Hannah Moskowitz's Invincible Summer. I'll hold off for now, but it did make me want to.

So am I the only one? Does anyone else choose to read books because they saw a character read it in a movie or television show? Or if a character in a book you are reading is reading a book that you had never read before, would that encourage you to check it out? I'd really like to know.

In My Mailbox (49)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme run by Kristi at The Story Siren which explores the books that have been delivered to our mailbox or doorstep or directly into our hot little hands.

Purchased:

Perfect by Ellen Hopkins

You Against Me by Jenny Downham

Gifted:

Break by Hannah Moskowitz

RAK from Jen! Thank you!!

Review:

Scarred Lions by Fanie Viljoen

Thrill Seekers by Edwina Shaw

Huge thank you to Ransom Publishing!

Thanks so much to Jen for the Random Act of Kindness! Jen and I met on Twitter through the recent Bout of Books Read-a-thon. I started following a lot of new people and blogs which was great. Amanda another read-a-thon in the works at On a Book Bender. Anyone who is interested should visit her blog and then sign-up on October 6th. I think I will save Perfect to read until then.

I also received Scarred Lions and Thrill Seekers from Ransom Publishing. These titles are from their Cutting Edge series - quick reads for reluctant readers. The stories sound incredible and I plan to feature them in the upcoming weeks on my blog. These titles are from the UK, so they may not be readily available to my US readers.

Now that I've shared my books for the week, I'll be stopping by other blogs to see what everyone else got.

Love My Indie - independent bookstore

Love My Indie is where authors, bloggers and readers share their favorite independent bookstores. Check out some past posts HERE.

I didn't have a guest blogger or author scheduled for this week's Love My Indie, but there are some great ones coming up in the next few weeks. If you like my Love My Indie feature and want to participate, you can!

I'm always looking for bloggers, authors, and readers who want to provide a guest post. If you are interested, just fill out the form below! I look forward to hearing from you and learning about your favorite independent bookstores.

Spotlight On: Sunset Bridge and Giveaway

Sunset Bridge Happiness Key#3

by Emilie Richards

Published by Mira

Available: June 21, 2011

Five very different women find friendship–and unexpected love–on the barrier island known as Happiness Key.

Former socialite Tracy Deloche has nothing to her name but five ramshackle beach cottages and the unlikely friendships she's formed with her tenants:  Wanda, the wise waitress turned popular pie-shop owner.  Janya, the young Indian wife whose arranged marriage surprises her every day.  Alice, a widow raising her complex tween-age granddaughter.  Maggie, Wanda's daughter, a former Miami cop with a love life as complicated as Tracy's own.

The new man in Tracy's life hasn't mentioned love or commitment–and suddenly Tracy needs a big dose of both.  Janya longs to be a mother–and inherits two young siblings to care for.  Alice may lose her beloved granddaughter to someone no one expected. Maggie helps out at Wanda's Wonderful Pies, but is the kitchen big enough for both Gray women when one of them is looking for a murderer?

As a tropical storm brews, the wind carries surprises and secrets over the bridge to Happiness Key.  Now, more than ever, five friends will discover just how much they need one another.

Emilie Ricards is a USA Today bestselling author and has penned over sixty novels. She has written a variety of series novels including romances, romantic suspense, futuristic fantasy, paranormal, and mysteries. Visit Emilie's website at http://emilierichards.com

One copy of Sunset Bridge is available to my blog readers. If you would like a chance to win Sunset Bridge, please read my contest rules and then fill out the form below.

Contest Rules:

Must be at least 13 yrs or older

Open to US/Canada addresses only
Following is NOT required

one entry per person

Contest ends September 21st 2011 11:59 EST

One winner will be selected using random.org

Good Luck!

In My Mailbox (48)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme run by Kristi at The Story Siren which explores the books that have been delivered to our mailbox or doorstep or directly into our hot little hands.

Purchased:

Dear Bully: Seventy Authors Tell Their Stories 

edited by Megan Kelley Hall and Carrie Jones

Shut Out by Kody Keplinger (e-book)

Swapped:

Pure by Terra Elan McVoy

Crooked by Laura and Tom McNeal

Paperback Swap

Love My Indie with The Secretary from The Secretary Files

Love My Indie is a feature where fellow bloggers, readers, and authors tell me about their favorite independent bookstores. I love the feeling I get when I go into an independent bookstore - like it is filled with hidden treasures just waiting for me to find them. Maybe one day I will have the chance to visit these amazing bookstores.

Showing some Indie Love today is:

The Secretary from The Secretary Files

 

 

 

Neighborhoods change. Some go co-op, some go corporate and some go extinct.

Especially in New York City’s outer boroughs change is the constant and in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, Manhattan’s weekend alter-ego, change has come and come to stay.  In Williamsburg, everything is both fleeting and nostalgic; one can wax their handlebar mustache while tossing away their defunk iPhone 4, but strangely enough within all this flux there are a few locations that have resisted the infinite updates.

Established in 1999, Spoonbill & Sugartown Booksellers (http://www.spoonbillbooks.com) has proven that no matter an ever-changing main street or new version of hipster, people will always want to shop for books. (Yes, I believe, people will always want to shop for books). Open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Spoonbill & Sugartown carries a carefully curated collection of art/design books, indie publishers, ’zines and literature. Hardcover, paperback, new, used, rare and novelty, books line the shelves. The heart of the store is a large table, always offering up something new and undiscovered, the first destination for any knowing customer.

Spoonbill has outlasted the other local bookstores for two reasons. First, they buy or trade used books 363 days a year, perfect for voracious reading City-dwellers who don’t have the square footage for a hoarding habit. (Guilty!) Although, you may want to call ahead to make sure the owner or manager is on duty to make the purchase (ignore the surly female on the phone, she’s much nicer in person).  Secondly, the store keeps current with its changing clientele. For instance, when the original hipsters turned forty and started families (as did the owner) parenting and children’s books were added to the shelves. This kind of adaptability within a consistency is what makes Spoonbill & Sugartown a mainstay on Williamsburg main street, Bedford Avenue.

For events and readings (http://spoonbillevents.wordpress.com) at the store, which happened about once a month, you either have to be “in-the-know” or read their sidewalk sandwich board à la minute. But like all things in Williamsburg, the fewer people who know about it, the cooler it is.

So, if you’re visiting Williamsburg, don’t ask directions to the new hip clothing stores (those are still on the Lower East Side), instead pop into Spoonbill to peruse their collection, pet the cats and gaze at the soon-to-be-extinct hipster.

Spoonbill & Sugartown
218 Bedford Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11211-3234
(718) 387-7322

 

Many thanks to The Secretary for sharing this gem of a bookstore. It sounds like a really great place to shop for books and has a little bit of something for everyone. I couldn't imagine not having enough space to keep all of my books. But if I couldn't I would like to have a place like Spoonbill and Sugartown where I can sell back my books. 

 

Want to share your favorite independent bookstore? Sign up HERE.

And the Winner Is . . . .

The Winner Is . . .

Heather M. (PA)

She has won my Back to the Books Giveaway - $10.00 Barnes and Noble gift card

(winner has been contacted by email and accepted giveaway prize)

There were 396 entries and using random.org, number 391 was selected. Congratulations Heather! Thanks to everyone who stopped by my blog and entered.