In My Mailbox (21)

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

Purchased:

The Big Crunch by Pete Hautman

Dawn by Kevin Brooks

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater (signed)

The Fates Will Find Their Way by Hannah Pittard

Won:

The Replacement charm bracelet

Thank you Sarah's Random Musings

I Know It's Over tote bag

Thank you C.K. Kelly Martin

and I Just Wanna Sit Here and Read

BADD by Tim Tharp

Thank you RandomHouse/RandomBuzzers

This week was full of treats for me. I went to a 30 Seconds to Mars concert at The National in Richmond, VA. The venue is awesome and there isn't a bad seat in the house. Well there aren't any seats because it's standing room only (aside from the balcony). The concert was so much fun and the energy of the crowd was crazy.

While we were in Richmond, we visited Fountain Bookstore. I had never been there before but made it a point to check it out. As I've mentioned before there aren't any independent bookstores were I live, so when I visit a new town, I like to check out the local book scene. The owner, Kelly, was very attentive and gave me a few book recommendations while I was there and even recommended a great place to have lunch. I loved visiting the store and will stop in the next time I am in town.

Since I couldn't pass up giving an indie bookstore my business, I ended my self-imposed book buying ban a day early and got some really great books. They are supposed to be my Valentine's Day gift from my hubby. He told me to get five which I thought was excessive (haha) and picked out only four.I guess he doesn't know that I have Delirium coming in the mail.

I also won some fun treats which arrived this week. I won BADD from Random Buzzers. I love the paintball themed cover. I also received a The Replacement themed charm bracelet from Brenna Yovanoff and I Know It's Over tote from C.K. Kelly Martin. I received the book a few weeks ago, and the tote just came this week. I love it! Thank you all so much!

I can't wait to see what you got in your mailbox this week.

Tuesday Teaser (10)

From  The Outside Boy by Jeanine Cummins (page 21)

I'd never seen him so still before, not even when he was sleeping. And that stillness was a small gift. It allowed me to press Grandda into my memory like clay into mold.

 Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read and open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Letting Go Giveaway #1

I've recently decided that it is time to let go of some books that I have been holding on to for a while. Simply put, I have too many books and not enough space for them all. If you want to know the whole story, you can read my Letting Go post.

As I clear off my shelves, I will be donating, swapping and giving some books away. For my first giveaway, I'm giving up my Gossip Girl series by Cecily von Ziegesar. I read the first book, got hooked on the show and then got (purchased or swapped) more books in the series. But as it happens, I got sucked into the tv show and never followed up with reading the books. So instead of just having them sit on my shelves, I will be giving away the first five books of the series to one lucky winner. The books included are:

Gossip Girl

You Know You Love Me

All I Want is Everything

Because I'm Worth It

I Like It Like That

Again, the books I am giving away are from my personal library. I like to call them "Used but In a Good Way." If you would like a chance to win these books, just fill out the form below. Contest is now closed.

Letting Go

I am a hoarder. Of books. Let me say it again. I am a hoarder of books. Ever since college, I've had this need to keep every book that I read, buy almost every book that I want or think that I need. As an English major, I took a lot of literature classes, and I do mean a lot, which of course would have extensive reading lists with anywhere from 6-10 books. I would have between 18 and 30 new books a semester. Multiply that by 4 semesters. Then add all of the literature classes I took in Graduate School and I easily had another 50+ books. For my YA literature class, I purchased the 12 books on my group's reading list (the class was split into two groups) and then I got at least 4 books from the other group's reading list. (This is when my love for YA lit started)

I never saw anything wrong with getting new books. I loved books and the stories and adventures that were within the covers. Some books I wanted because of the cover. Sad but true. Again, I didn't see anything wrong with having so many. They are a great investment. I would have an extensive library that my friends could borrow from whenever they wanted. But as the years have passed, they haven't really wanted to. (Those of you who do borrow my books, I'm not talking about you and I love it when you read my books).

My need for having new books didn't end when I graduated (shall I admit it? yes, 7 years ago). My favorite place to go shopping is the bookstore (as I imagine many of you reading this blog can relate). I don't have a closet full of clothes or a different pair of shoes to wear with every outfit. But what I do have are books, books, and more books. And you know what else? Even More Books. I have books that I had to have the day they were released and I still haven't read. I have several series that I've never even read (that would be you Harry Potter .  . . and Gossip Girl . . . . and Shopaholic).

I've commented here a few times about my self-imposed book buying ban which will be ending in 3 days (yes, I am counting them down), and how difficult it has been for me. But I am glad that I decided to do it because it has made me realize that I don't need every book I want. I don't have enough time to read every book I want to read and sometimes I am overwhelmed by how many choices I have. And I don't have the space to house all of the books that I own.

So what does this all really mean? It means that it is time to Let Go. It's time to let go of books that I read for school and will probably never read again. It's time to let go of the books that I started and will most likely never finish. It's time to let go of my "lender" copies - do I really need 3 copies of the same book? Nope. I sure do not. It's time to admit that I'm not going to read all of the classics I think I should read and if I decide to one day, I'll just check them out from the library.

Over the next few months I will be sorting through my shelves for books to donate to the local Adult Literacy Program, swapping a few, and hosting "Letting Go" giveaways. I'll have to roll my change for postage, but I think it is worth it. (that may be a shameless plug, but I hope you see it as an opportunity)

Does this mean that I will stop buying books? No way. I just won't be so quick to purchase. I will put more thought into my purchases and I will see if my local libraries have the books before I rush out to the bookstore. I say all of this, but there is a book released on February 1st that I will be getting. For sure.  A little book called Delirium, you may have heard of it. I didn't say I was cured, but I am ready for change.

Waiting on Wednesday: The Day Before

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

 

The Day Before
by Lisa Schroeder
Published by: Simon Pulse
June 28, 2011








Sometimes there's no turning back.

Amber's life is spinning out of control. All she wants is to turn up the volume on her iPod until all of the demands of her family and friends fade away. So she sneaks off to the beach to spend a day by herself.

Then Amber meets Cade. Their attraction is instant, and Amber can tell that he's also looking for an escape. Together they decide to share a perfect day: no pasts, no fears, no regrets.

The more time that Amber spends with Cade, the more she's drawn to him. And the more she's troubled by his darkness. Because Cade's not just living in the now--he's living each moment like it's his last. (from Goodreads)

I first found out about this book when I signed up for The Contemps Challenge. I've read Lisa's first two books and I have Chasing Brooklyn on my bookshelf right now. I've been waiting to read it but knowing that a new novel is on the way - I may read it sooner than later. It sounds so good and the I love the cover. I can't wait to read it and add it to my bookshelves.

The Mind Readers by Lori Brighton

Cameron Winters is a freak. Fortunately, no one but her family knows that Cameron can read minds. When Lewis Douglas arrives, he tempts her with possibilities of freedom. Determined to embrace her hidden talents, Cameron heads to a place where she meets other Mind Readers. But when the Mind Readers realize the extent of Cameron’s abilities, they want to use her powers for their own needs. (from Goodreads)



 The Mind Readers is the first young adult novel by Lori Brighton and the first book by Brighton that I have read. I was immediately drawn into the story of Cameron when I first heard her voice describing the thoughts of the people in the diner she was sitting in. She hears one man describing how he wants to kill his girlfriend and another is thinking about robbing the diner. Before either man does anything, knowing that only one of them will actually proceed with his plan, she gets up and walks away. 


After years of living with her grandmother, Cameron knows when to use her mind reading ability and when to keep it a secret. Exposing her abilities  had only caused problems for her before and she kept them hidden from everyone. But when Cameron and her friend discover the body of another friend washed up on the beach, Cameron must use her abilities to find out who killed her friend and help protect whoever may be next. At this same time Lewis, a mysterious new guy, comes to town and he may just have a few dangerous secrets of his own. 


The story opens with the mysterious murder but lends itself to so much more. In exposing the murderer, Cameron's abilities become common-knowledge in her school and instead of becoming the hero, she is ostracized by her friends and classmates. In what seems like a rash decision, Cameron leaves town with Lewis to learn more about her powers and find solace with those who are like her. This is where the story really begins. Not knowing who to trust and what to believe, Cameron begins to question if she has done the right thing by leaving her grandmother. Who are these people she is has chosen to live with? Is she ready for what may be coming her way?

Brighton has written a fantastic story about paranormal abilities. Every fast-paced moment is filled with tension as I, like Cameron, questioned is this really happening? Who is lying? Who can be trusted? The Mind Readers, likely written as a first of a series, allows for so many possible ways for this story to continue. Filled with characters who definitely have their own stories to tell, I cannot wait to read what will happen next.

On Not Buying Books

After I bought or received an excessive amount of books 2 weeks ago, I declared a book buying ban for the rest of the month on January. With overflowing bookshelves, stacks that are about to topple over and reviews that need to be written, I thought that it was necessary. So far it has been a success, but it has been a struggle too. I'm not purchasing books, checking books from the library or making any requests from NetGalley. Swapping is an option, but I'm trying to not do that either. Let me say that it has been difficult. This is probably the longest I have gone without buying books. But there have been temptations.

Yesterday, I worked overtime to try to dig myself out of the mountains of paperwork. It is probably one of the busiest times of the year for me and there is so much to do and not enough time to do it. I have a feeling I will be spending the next several Saturday's in the office. What does this have to do with my buying books? Well the entire time I was at work, I kept thinking about how great it would be to check to see if there were any book sales at the local bookstore. I was sure that buying a few books would make me feel better about working the long hours and that I deserved a little treat. I thought that I needed a little retail therapy and of course books are my go to remedy. I'm proud to say that I didn't even go to the bookstore, but I wanted to. Oh, did I want to.

Then late last night, I was looking at Barnes and Noble website to see what books I might want to buy once the book buying ban is over - I've been making a list. When I'm not buying books or reading books, I'm making lists about books. Anyway, my husband walks into the room (having just come home from work) and all I say is, "I want to buy some books." No, "Hi honey, how was work?" or "I'm glad your home." Just "I want to buy some books." Then he asks me which ones, I name the first two that came to mind and he says, "OK, pick out 3 and I'll get them for you." I start to waiver, as I do every time he does this. I feel guilty when he buys me books when I have so many that I still need to read. Sensing my hesitation, he then said, "Pick them now or I'm taking back the offer." I frantically (yes frantically like I'm on some soft of a binder) start to add them to my online shopping cart. It's so easy to just click, click, click and I'll have some new books on the way to my house. But even though I want some books, giving in to the ban really wasn't what I wanted.  I truly want to see if I go make it to the end of the month without buying any books. So I emptied the online cart and I don't have any books on the way to my house.

So, even with need for fulfillment and enticing offer, week two of the book buying ban has been a success. I only have one more week to go. I just hope that I don't go all crazyboots and buy every book that I want. I really want to start being more thoughtful in the books I do decide to buy. I'm hoping this is something I can gain from this whole experience.