tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-109498752012-01-04T13:31:02.669-08:00"A room without books is like a body without a soul." ~ CiceroSheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683621539060743740noreply@blogger.comBlogger2751100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10949875.post-78527422602479686682011-10-29T09:44:00.000-07:002011-10-29T09:45:29.605-07:00

reading this now it's a fictional story about Emily Dickinson (it is not short like Emily's poems)

Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683621539060743740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10949875.post-74779563998955460502011-10-15T09:42:00.000-07:002011-10-29T09:42:48.053-07:00

Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683621539060743740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10949875.post-61807886274316979372011-10-08T09:41:00.000-07:002011-10-29T09:41:34.352-07:00

This was such a surprise book and I just loved it.  I found it at the library and the title got me (not the cover - the cover is awful).  It's a book about a woman going through a life crisis, and the chaos of her life that makes dealing with her crisis nearly impossible.  I loved the quirky characters, living in their impossible house.  I loved the main character, with her impossible cleaning

Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683621539060743740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10949875.post-9213676524909591542011-09-28T21:37:00.000-07:002011-10-29T09:37:46.134-07:00

Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683621539060743740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10949875.post-65114260723892529552011-09-21T09:35:00.000-07:002011-10-29T09:35:49.861-07:00

Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683621539060743740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10949875.post-49808960856857224102011-09-16T09:32:00.000-07:002011-10-29T09:34:45.036-07:00

Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683621539060743740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10949875.post-45879957419943776792011-08-25T09:29:00.000-07:002011-10-29T09:37:26.181-07:00

Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683621539060743740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10949875.post-41265619370771462842011-08-22T09:52:00.000-07:002011-08-23T09:52:46.094-07:00

A fun mystery written for 5th/6th graders and up, but I loved it.

Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683621539060743740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10949875.post-7254709627988418462011-08-20T09:50:00.000-07:002011-08-23T09:51:17.504-07:00

#8 (I think) in the series.  Predictable, but comfortable and easy reading.

Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683621539060743740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10949875.post-71281642148971314722011-08-16T09:48:00.000-07:002011-08-23T09:48:32.936-07:00

Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683621539060743740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10949875.post-50894447394529065172011-08-05T09:47:00.000-07:002011-08-23T09:47:37.462-07:00

Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683621539060743740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10949875.post-30896026048136611852011-07-31T09:45:00.000-07:002011-08-23T09:46:49.957-07:00

This is an interesting book that looks at our friendships and questions how well we really know the people who are our closest friends.

Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683621539060743740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10949875.post-51247570989021097012011-07-30T09:43:00.000-07:002011-08-23T09:49:25.932-07:00

This is a powerful book.  It is not an easy subject matter, but I highly recommend it to high school students and anyone who works with high school students.

Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683621539060743740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10949875.post-6395827807888470252011-07-29T09:45:00.000-07:002011-07-29T09:45:52.480-07:00

I thought this was a very good and very powerful book.  It's sad and graphic and contains very adult subject matter.  I wish they had kept the UK title - "The Other Hand".  I think it captures the dual nature of the book - the two narrators, the two sisters, the two people traveling on vacation, the two different choices they make regarding "the beach" (can't say more than that or I'll ruin it

Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683621539060743740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10949875.post-88668421154234499822011-07-26T13:08:00.000-07:002011-07-26T13:08:24.029-07:00

reading this one now

Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683621539060743740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10949875.post-18050012353413384092011-07-24T13:07:00.000-07:002011-07-26T13:07:30.230-07:00

A fun book to read in the summertime.  Enjoyable and interesting characters.

Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683621539060743740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10949875.post-25298631662059011282011-07-18T11:25:00.000-07:002011-07-18T11:25:09.060-07:00

I loved it!  The main character, Angela, decides to move from New York City to a small town in Maine (I won't tell the details why!).  Her plans for her life end up very different from what she pictured, but along the way she discovers that all the secrets to good Italian cooking that her Nonna taught her are central to her happiness in life.  It makes you want to make marinara and eat bread

Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683621539060743740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10949875.post-60664748407841742872011-07-14T05:52:00.000-07:002011-07-14T06:06:28.760-07:00

This was a beautiful book.  It is the story of a small town pastor in the 1950s, grieving the recent death of his wife.  He has two young daughters, a church full of selfish, small people, and a strange housekeeper.  This book really shows you the destructive power of gossip and the strength that comes from faith and love.

Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683621539060743740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10949875.post-58369411230409976762011-07-13T16:01:00.000-07:002011-07-14T06:06:04.154-07:00

This was a quick and fun book - a non-traditional love story.  It read a little "historal romance" to me, but I still enjoyed it.

Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683621539060743740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10949875.post-27136534286391724382011-07-11T08:51:00.000-07:002011-07-11T08:51:17.715-07:00

The latest in the Thursday Next series.  I had a bit of trouble getting interested in this one, but once the written Thursday figured out the real Thursday was missing, and she had to travel to the Real World to investigate, I was hooked. This is the sixth book in the series: The Eyre Affair (Thursday Next Series #1) Lost in a Good Book (Thursday Next Series #2) The Well of Lost Plots (

Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683621539060743740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10949875.post-67597607204417075202011-06-29T09:55:00.000-07:002011-10-08T19:56:14.262-07:00

I really enjoy reading Jodi Picoult books, but I find that I have to space them apart because once I start one, I have to finish it and ignore everything else.  Also, they really stay with me and make me think.  This one starts out being about a suicide pact, but it turns out to be about something very different.  It's heartbreaking.

Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683621539060743740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10949875.post-67469918142700067612011-06-06T08:25:00.000-07:002011-06-06T19:23:03.187-07:00

I'm reading this aloud with my daughter. I read it in 8th grade. It is one of my favorite books.

Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683621539060743740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10949875.post-33974916873673088452011-06-04T19:25:00.000-07:002011-06-06T19:26:07.079-07:00

Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683621539060743740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10949875.post-82652391088416390532011-05-25T07:07:00.000-07:002011-06-21T07:11:15.168-07:00

Interesting book about friendship and love and what happens when you have to choose between your best friend and your soulmate.

Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683621539060743740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10949875.post-74236281806822758702011-05-23T07:01:00.000-07:002011-06-06T19:22:38.178-07:00

I read this book to prep for discussing it with one of my students.  Great book!  I finished it in two days and really loved the characters and the story.  (It's a "young adult" book and both of my local libraries had it.)

Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683621539060743740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10949875.post-83319719303907374472011-05-11T17:50:00.000-07:002011-05-13T13:42:40.997-07:00

Fantastic!  If I knew more Shakespeare, I would have loved it all the more.  The story of a family - three sisters, a father who is an English professor (hence the Shakespeare), and a mother who is recently diagnosed with breast cancer.  Great characters.  The story is not wonderful and not bad at the same time.

Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683621539060743740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10949875.post-26924052865687296362011-05-10T17:49:00.000-07:002011-06-06T19:24:31.636-07:00

I read this in one day. I don't have much to say about it yet. I feel like it is brilliant in ways I don't get until I think about it some more.

Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683621539060743740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10949875.post-59369883218573929922011-05-03T08:42:00.000-07:002011-05-03T08:42:21.307-07:00

This is the book that inspired the movie, The Social Network.  I haven't seen the movie (yet), but the book is really interesting and pretty fast to read.

Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683621539060743740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10949875.post-9653748757887525342011-04-30T08:50:00.000-07:002011-05-03T08:52:17.494-07:00

A fun book, complete with every stereotyped character from high school, all showing up at a reunion.

Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683621539060743740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10949875.post-42138840011135824292011-04-18T08:56:00.000-07:002011-05-03T08:57:54.046-07:00

Another fun novel with knitting Irish wool sweaters as a backdrop.  This was a sweet story and, although it was predictable, I enjoyed it.

Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683621539060743740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10949875.post-26954661485054466942011-04-11T15:37:00.000-07:002011-05-03T08:50:05.686-07:00

This was a fun and fast read, but I still have no desire to knit lace with double-zero needles.

Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683621539060743740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10949875.post-50793069197987247152011-04-10T15:39:00.000-07:002011-05-03T08:48:37.129-07:00

I read this with a student. If I wasn't a mostly-vegetarian before, I would be now.

Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683621539060743740noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10949875.post-75785864124186826982011-04-05T09:09:00.001-07:002011-04-05T09:20:01.650-07:00

Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683621539060743740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10949875.post-15878775922159584662011-03-27T16:12:00.001-07:002011-04-05T09:20:44.218-07:00

Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683621539060743740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10949875.post-45866766735137794912011-03-26T16:14:00.000-07:002011-04-05T09:21:45.373-07:00

Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683621539060743740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10949875.post-91138417285885794752011-03-06T09:27:00.000-08:002011-04-05T09:27:57.972-07:00

Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683621539060743740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10949875.post-85233412740679222242011-03-05T09:43:00.000-08:002011-04-05T09:26:48.512-07:00

Reading this with one of my students.

Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683621539060743740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10949875.post-48706920931698378592011-03-04T09:23:00.000-08:002011-04-05T09:25:55.402-07:00

Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683621539060743740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10949875.post-15265622568647154412011-02-22T09:40:00.000-08:002011-04-05T09:18:57.836-07:00

I picked this up at the library while I was looking a cookbooks for bread.  I've been trying different homemade bread recipes, with varying degrees of success, but haven't found "the" bread recipe that I'm looking for.  Anyway, this book looked interesting so I grabbed it.  What fun!  I've never wanted to open a bakery, but I do love to bake, and reading about Gesine's journey from working in

Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683621539060743740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10949875.post-61019837171180205572011-02-07T15:35:00.000-08:002011-02-07T15:35:17.706-08:00

Another book to discuss with a student

Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683621539060743740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10949875.post-67586329012670054742011-02-02T15:54:00.001-08:002011-02-07T15:32:26.991-08:00

I'm reading this so I can discuss it with a student.  Yep, I get paid to read great books.  Sweet job, huh?

Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683621539060743740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10949875.post-38036075091689299602011-01-31T18:43:00.000-08:002011-01-31T18:43:23.600-08:00

Excellent!  A work of fiction, based on real events, and written as a collection of letters.  Just like reading other people's mail!  Set on the small island of Guernsey, which is located between England and France, right after WWII.  Juliet, a reporter and author, receives a letter from a man who lives on the island.  He has a book that once belonged to Juliet, and he wants to know more about

Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683621539060743740noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10949875.post-77426201691013118142011-01-28T15:48:00.000-08:002011-01-29T18:45:58.167-08:00

This was a quirky little book.  It took me awhile to get into it, but once I did it was a quick read.  I have the feeling I didn't understand some of it.

Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683621539060743740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10949875.post-71974675109603105232011-01-25T18:47:00.000-08:002011-01-31T18:44:57.231-08:00

These Is My Words: The Diary of Sarah Agnes Prine, 1881-1901 Arizona Territories I loved this book!  Written like a diary, and based on family history and the spirit of a great-grandmother.

Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683621539060743740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10949875.post-7826977137881907852011-01-18T09:17:00.000-08:002011-01-29T18:47:12.831-08:00

third book in the series read it in a day very fun

Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683621539060743740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10949875.post-74303716531738489032011-01-16T09:13:00.000-08:002011-01-18T09:16:26.186-08:00

This is the second book in the Puzzle Lady series of mysteries - I'm hooked :)  They are clever and fun and easy to read.  I even solved most of the crossword puzzle as I went!  If you like mysteries that aren't too gory or scary, then you'll like these books.

Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683621539060743740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10949875.post-48281786238637081292011-01-15T09:08:00.000-08:002011-01-18T09:13:30.894-08:00

Set in Germany during WWII, this is the story of a group of people that were saved from the death camps for a specific purpose - to answer letters to people who are dead.  Part historical fiction, part love story, part mystery - adds up to a great story.  The letters from people newly arrived at the camps to loved ones (they are actual letters, I think) are haunting.  The characters are great -

Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683621539060743740noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10949875.post-54948901206211575002011-01-12T10:30:00.000-08:002011-01-12T10:08:00.504-08:00

Loved it!  I finished this book in a three-hour late-into-the-night reading session.  It was so unexpected and unique.  I really enjoyed the story and the characters, especially Rose. Rose, a young girl, discovers she has a rare gift - she can taste the emotions of people who make her food.  Unfortunately for Rose, her mother's emotions taste bad.

Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683621539060743740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10949875.post-13210890464101949042011-01-03T10:26:00.000-08:002011-01-12T10:05:17.533-08:00

I finally finished this.  It took me a very long time.  I could blame the holidays, but the real reason is that I didn't identify with any of the characters.  It was a fun book, interesting to read, but very easy for me to put down after reading a few pages. 

Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683621539060743740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10949875.post-3774693434693996272011-01-01T06:17:00.000-08:002011-01-06T10:24:10.876-08:00

This was a great year of books for me.  In all, I read 47 books, which is two more than my goal for the year.  Of course, the highlight of the year's reads was The Hunger Games trilogy - I loved them so much and will probably read them again next year.  My top pics for the year are listed on the right sidebar. Goals for 2011 include reading more classics, reading at least 47 books, and reading

Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683621539060743740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10949875.post-63403227356831934142010-11-27T08:54:00.000-08:002010-12-01T09:02:18.984-08:00

My friend, Melanie, recommended this book to me and I loved it!  It was the right blend of happy and sad at the end, and I love how the prolouge sets you up to think the wrong thing about a situation - something the main character does throughout the book. Kimberly Chang and her mother arrive in New York to live in a condemned building and work long hours in a sweatshop in the garmet district. 

Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683621539060743740noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10949875.post-25041194921385153732010-11-12T08:56:00.000-08:002010-11-21T08:59:02.350-08:00

I found this book in the mystery section of the library.  I was interested in the main character, the little old lady who writes crossword puzzles and solves mysteries, right from the start.  She's not who she seems to be, though, and this was a quick fun read.  Happily, there is a whole series!

Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683621539060743740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10949875.post-44405246127845120562010-11-03T08:50:00.000-07:002010-11-21T08:55:23.102-08:00

I loved this as much as the first book, Shiver.  The subject of werewolves and teen love is a bit played, but the writing is so good that it doesn't really matter.  The narration switches between four characters, and it was a little confusing at times, but it was great for backstory and for really developing these four characters.  I can't wait for the third book!

Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683621539060743740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10949875.post-69692487289311030252010-10-29T08:44:00.000-07:002010-11-21T08:46:58.569-08:00

I read this out loud to the kids while Stuart was in India.  We all cried.  It was great.

Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683621539060743740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10949875.post-61209824201015427582010-10-27T08:47:00.000-07:002010-11-21T08:50:19.223-08:00

I've had this book on my "to read" list for a long time.  It started out really interesting.  For me, the ending was miserable and it took me forever to finish it.

Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683621539060743740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10949875.post-68633990819748516182010-10-14T22:23:00.000-07:002010-10-18T22:25:49.501-07:00

Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683621539060743740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10949875.post-41655883982054894802010-10-11T22:19:00.000-07:002010-10-18T22:23:17.463-07:00

The final book in The Hunger Games trilogy. I loved it. I have recommended these books to almost everyone I talk to these days.  I love them.  I'm not going to say more, because I don't want to spoil anything. They are so good.

Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683621539060743740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10949875.post-52688883751705738802010-10-06T08:25:00.000-07:002010-10-07T08:31:15.251-07:00

This is the second book in The Hunger Games triology, and it was just as good as the first book.  Katniss, our main character, returns to her home district after winning The Hunger Games.  She has to face Gale, her best friend; she needs to figure out what her relationship with Peeta is going to be, and she is still afraid that President Snow is not finished with her yet. I don't want to say too

Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683621539060743740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10949875.post-14747994699847670542010-10-03T08:24:00.000-07:002010-10-07T08:42:04.359-07:00

So many people recommended this book to me that I was afraid that I wouldn't like it because it was too anticipated.  I was wrong.  I loved it.  Set in the 1960's in Jackson, Mississippi, it is the story of white women and black women, of racial lines and of people who want to erase the lines.  It's funny, and it's sad.  I love that the narrator changes between three of the characters, and the

Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683621539060743740noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10949875.post-87779864413022010832010-09-30T08:20:00.000-07:002010-10-07T08:41:14.608-07:00

I have never read anything by this author, and I have mixed feelings about this book.  It was smart and funny, but it was also very depressing and ended badly.  I really can't forgive a book for ending badly.  Ending tragically - that I like.  Ending happily, that's ok too.  Ending open is even ok with me.  But ending badly, with a hint of hopelessness, that ruins the whole book for me.The main

Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683621539060743740noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10949875.post-41604513024413744992010-09-26T08:20:00.000-07:002010-09-30T08:21:45.044-07:00

Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683621539060743740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10949875.post-25800306496948380592010-09-19T09:48:00.000-07:002010-09-23T09:55:03.956-07:00

This is by far the best book I have read this year.  Although it is written for young adults, I was captivated by it from the start and finished it in two days.  Set in a strange future world, this is the story of Katniss, a teenager forced to hunt for food for her family to survive after her father dies.  She becomes a pawn in the controlling government's very twisted Hunger Games, a televised

Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683621539060743740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10949875.post-69829269878542404882010-09-14T12:24:00.000-07:002010-09-14T12:24:16.708-07:00

Such a funny book!  This is the diary of 60-year old Marie Sharp, a smart English woman who is embracing her old age.  From calling everyone "Dearie" and falling hopelessly in love with her grandson, Marie dishes out wisdom and humor along the way.

Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683621539060743740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10949875.post-14028996203371779712010-09-10T12:15:00.000-07:002010-09-14T12:20:31.755-07:00

A short book about a small town and a very big secret.  The narrative is shared by four people, and that format makes this book very interesting to read.  It's a great study in character.  (Too bad I didn't like half of them.)

Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683621539060743740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10949875.post-70053011391847132662010-08-29T12:10:00.000-07:002010-09-14T12:15:17.646-07:00

People told me this book was hard to "get into", but not for me.  It was interesting from the start, and I really enjoyed it.  For the most part.  There were very distrubing scenes which I could have done without, and I'm pretty sure I'm missing some of the Swedish and European references.  I also could not keep the charasters straight, but once I gave that up, I enjoyed the suspense. Not for

Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683621539060743740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10949875.post-22388037610380460952010-08-19T08:55:00.001-07:002010-09-23T10:19:35.521-07:00

This is a fun book about thirty-four year old Cat, who decides on the spur of the moment to travel to Italy for a month.  With some great Roman Holiday moments, I enjoyed reading this.  However, it's predictable with a happy ending.

Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683621539060743740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10949875.post-68586002348303438342010-08-13T16:16:00.000-07:002010-09-23T10:06:53.017-07:00

The main character, Nan, is an eccentric Nantucket resident, deals with her financial troubles by turning her large vacation house into a bed and breakfast. I've been waiting for a long time to read this book, and I was seriously disappointed in it.  Every single character had relationship trauma - there was not a happy or normal marriage in the whole lot.  Nan started out as a great character,

Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683621539060743740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10949875.post-85446411101092209992010-08-05T15:54:00.000-07:002010-09-23T10:00:53.419-07:00

Although this was pretty predictable, I enjoyed reading it.  The characters were interesting, and I liked the storyline about Sari, who is forced to face an old enemy in a new friend, and her strained relationship with her parents over her brother's autism.  The knitting patterns/drink recipes at the end were cute.

Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683621539060743740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10949875.post-31462801436832208432010-07-30T09:35:00.000-07:002010-07-30T09:35:19.014-07:00

Laugh out loud funny. Read it in two days. Very adult.  Very insightful.  Very very funny.  Love this guy.

Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683621539060743740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10949875.post-4453793683633988042010-07-28T09:35:00.000-07:002010-07-30T09:37:11.990-07:00

Chick lit.  Perfect for summer.

Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683621539060743740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10949875.post-51625378745649477962010-07-20T17:30:00.000-07:002010-07-20T17:30:01.345-07:00

Audio - read by Emily Gray My friend loaned this to me and I listened to it today driving home from my parents house.  It was a lovely story.  I love these audio books read by people with an English accent.  This is summer reading chick-lit at it's best - funny, light, and with a good ending.

Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683621539060743740noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10949875.post-66857056219049147132010-07-18T13:06:00.000-07:002010-07-18T13:06:57.132-07:00

An excellent and sad book about two sisters who disappear one afternoon, and the aftermath for their family, for the detective assigned to their case, and for the people who meet one of the girls thirty years later.  But is she who she says she is?  Why doesn't her story add up?  Who is she? Twists and turns, and I didn't see the ending coming.  If you can handle the subject matter, this is a

Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683621539060743740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10949875.post-49807434203091216062010-07-16T13:07:00.000-07:002010-07-18T13:11:56.475-07:00

A light cute story for lovers of Pride and Prejudice.  Emily, a bookstore manager, decides to go on a Jane Austen tour of the English countryside.  Emily thinks she's avoiding love, but ends up meeting her dream man.  Of course, he's not really real.  A bit fanciful and highly unlikely, but a very fun story.

Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683621539060743740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10949875.post-15332541492848894932010-07-07T09:39:00.000-07:002010-07-18T13:19:33.220-07:00

An excellent book - and the sequel is coming out soon! Many will say this is the new Twilight, and except for the wolves, this is not much like Twilight at all.  Where Twilight was fun and cheesy-romantic (and yes, not the greatest writing), Shiver is honest, edgy, and the writing is almost heartbreakingly good considering it's aimed for the high school crowd.  It's the story of Sam, a boy who

Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683621539060743740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10949875.post-85135656277426185642010-07-04T08:40:00.000-07:002010-07-07T09:35:07.610-07:00

This is nothing like The Time Traveler's Wife.  I really loved that book.  This book is good, but I can't put my finger on it.  I can't figure out the ending, and I really don't like not figuring out the ending.  Having said all that, it's a good book and I'm glad I read it. This book is the story of twins.  There are the twin girls - they have just turned 21, but they are very girlish.  Their

Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683621539060743740noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10949875.post-2617902451171610702010-06-25T09:27:00.000-07:002010-07-07T09:30:54.516-07:00

Lisa See does it again - loved it!  Like Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, this novel is about life in China and relationships between women.  Two sisters live a life of leisure in Shanghai, but must accept an arranged marriage and flee to America when their father faces financial ruin and Japan invades China.  Tragic, powerful, and almost epic.  An excellent book!

Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683621539060743740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10949875.post-55013228535099171682010-06-21T09:22:00.000-07:002010-07-07T09:26:57.725-07:00

My friend loaned this book to me and I read it in two days.  It was really good.  It is the story of a young girl that has not spoken in three years, and her best friend.  The two girls go missing one summer morning.  The search for the two girls reveals family secrets and a complex small town history. I really liked the way that Calli's mom struggles with her motherhood.  Is she a good mother

Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683621539060743740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10949875.post-42670902183464814452010-06-17T08:07:00.000-07:002010-07-07T08:40:12.320-07:00

Full Title:  Jane Austen in Scarsdale, or Love, Death, and the SATs A cute book which takes the basic story line from Jane Austen's Persuasion and sets it in a modern day high school.  The main character, Anne, is a guidance counselor at a New York high school.  She is always thinking about the one that got away, when of course he shows up in her life again.  Predictable, but fun anyway.  Good

Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683621539060743740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10949875.post-216040754659216702010-04-02T07:39:00.001-07:002010-07-07T09:34:04.483-07:00

This book is set in a convent in Italy.  A very interesting book about Catholic history, convent politics, and religious fervor.  I especially liked the passages about the ways the nuns used their garden to grow herbs for medicines.  Fascinating.

Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683621539060743740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10949875.post-30489796189973547892010-04-01T15:47:00.000-07:002010-04-02T07:38:05.275-07:00

My friend, Vivien, recommended it to me.  I loved this book.  In fact, the only thing I didn't like is the fact that the whole thing is a work of fiction.  The characters were so great - they just jumped off the page and it's hard to believe that they weren't real people. Type: Fiction (but reads like a memoir) Sex Level: R Comments: YLIIYL*: *You'll Like It If You Like

Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683621539060743740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10949875.post-70318635898995570702010-03-30T08:59:00.000-07:002010-07-07T09:35:57.902-07:00

Reading this with a student.Great as always.

Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683621539060743740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10949875.post-29529127073076617992010-03-29T07:33:00.000-07:002010-04-02T07:36:05.306-07:00

Type:  Non-fiction Comments: YLIIYL*: *You'll Like It If You Like

Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683621539060743740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10949875.post-17781823628800271292010-03-24T08:00:00.000-07:002010-03-26T11:15:53.109-07:00

Loved it. All of it. Every page. First off, I had no idea this was going to be a book-the-next for the immortal classic Rebecca. I picked this up for the author, because The Sisters Mortland charmed me so much. Thankfully, I have read Rebecca and remember enough that I could dive right into this book, and I went quickly off the deep end. For those who haven't read Rebecca, this is a gothic

Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683621539060743740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10949875.post-68244534963526337392010-03-21T07:49:00.000-07:002010-03-23T07:54:34.880-07:00

I'm reading my way through the Jonathan Tropper shelf at the library, and I'm enjoying every page. This one is about an author who returns to his small town when his father is hospitalized. Almost everyone hates him for his thinly veiled fiction about life in their small town, and Joe comes to terms with his past and realizes that perhaps no one is to blame. Tragedy happens whether we try to

Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683621539060743740noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10949875.post-11350796686969325272010-03-18T07:54:00.000-07:002010-03-23T07:59:25.468-07:00

I read this with a student. I had never read it before, and it haunted me. I really liked it. Every time I watch tv now, or catch myself talking about tv characters as if they were real people, I think of Guy's sad wife, and feel convicted of some sin of fakeness. I read this at the same time as reading Huck Finn, and the similarities of the two books popped out at me. The river, of course,

Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683621539060743740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10949875.post-85321951519154683752010-02-28T08:12:00.000-08:002010-03-02T08:30:12.849-08:00

This was an excellent book. I started it last week, and then on Friday night, it hooked me. I stayed up a bit late, but restrained myself when I saw that I had over 200 pages left, and I was tired. I spent several hours on Saturday reading it, and it was so good. This book is about three sisters, and three men who love them, and three characters take turns telling the story. (See the theme of

Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683621539060743740noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10949875.post-39573239138350127692010-02-26T09:27:00.000-08:002010-02-26T08:23:19.872-08:00

Reading this for church and small groupType: non-fiction; spiritual growthYLIIYL*: The Purpose-Driven Life*You'll Like It If You Like

Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683621539060743740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10949875.post-13832002426877777512010-02-24T10:55:00.000-08:002010-02-26T08:18:58.692-08:00

This was a fun book to read, but I was a little misled by the title and cover of the book. It was more about the main character, a woman who takes over her grandmother's yarn store after her husband announces he wants a divorce - then dies in a car crash. There is a stitch-n-bitch group that meets in her store, but most of the book is about her life, her conflicting emotions regarding her late

Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683621539060743740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10949875.post-41172261315278534152010-02-23T08:20:00.000-08:002010-02-26T08:22:48.670-08:00

Although I've read this before, we listened to it in the car on our road trip. Excellent book - great to listen to on cd as well. The reader does the different voices and is very good. Type: MysteryComments:YLIIYL*: Mysteries, Egypt, the series*You'll Like It If You Like

Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683621539060743740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10949875.post-50805329691394570412010-02-03T09:29:00.000-08:002010-02-20T12:41:58.433-08:00

Listening to this in the car. I finished half then returned it. It was good, but it made me sad too. The way he talks about dying and living and his wife just made me too depressed. Type: Non-fiction; memoirYLIIYL*:*You'll Like It If You Like

Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683621539060743740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10949875.post-41746869767146730502010-02-03T09:22:00.001-08:002010-02-20T12:43:18.380-08:00

Listened to this on play-away from the library. I LOVED IT! I'll be checking out all of her books - interesting characters and descriptions of quilting. Type: FictionSex Level: GComments:YLIIYL*:*You'll Like It If You Like

Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683621539060743740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10949875.post-61579578003619081662010-02-02T09:17:00.000-08:002010-02-03T09:22:09.385-08:00

Funny, sad, made me laugh out loud. Type: FictionSex Level: R (maybe NC-17)Comments: Lots of language, drug use, etc.YLIIYL*:*You'll Like It If You Like

Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683621539060743740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10949875.post-70123028702171875152010-01-17T20:16:00.000-08:002010-01-17T20:18:00.235-08:00

Re-reading this to discuss with a student. Type: FictionComments:YLIIYL*:*You'll Like It If You Like

Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683621539060743740noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10949875.post-66219925542112886032010-01-17T20:14:00.000-08:002010-01-17T20:16:47.447-08:00

Listening to this on cd. It's lovely and delightful. Type: fictionComments:YLIIYL*: Jane Austen, particularly Sense & Sensibility and Pride & Prejudice*You'll Like It If You Like

Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683621539060743740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10949875.post-27384917772533744872010-01-08T08:24:00.000-08:002010-02-20T12:44:43.620-08:00

Not my favorite book, but an interesting read. Type: FictionComments:YLIIYL*:*You'll Like It If You Like

Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683621539060743740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10949875.post-46084814698106943472010-01-07T08:29:00.000-08:002010-02-03T09:26:34.049-08:00

This book changed my life.I recommend it, but it's not easy to read. It is a very pro-vegan book, and not really about being skinny (or bitchy) as much as being healthy and being careful of what you put into your body. The chapter on the meat industry is painful to read. The chapters on the FDA and the dairy industry made me really sad. The whole concept of the food pyramid (you know, the one

Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683621539060743740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10949875.post-70889321558407816112010-01-05T09:22:00.000-08:002010-01-17T20:19:45.099-08:00

I read this to discuss it with a student. It's a very good book for middle school readers. It's funny and would be a great springboard for discussions about civil rights in America in the 1950's and 1960's. Type: Fiction (young adult)Comments:YLIIYL*:*You'll Like It If You Like

Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683621539060743740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10949875.post-61017479991863458972010-01-03T09:20:00.000-08:002010-01-17T20:33:24.240-08:00

This read like a bunch of short stories connected by common characters. I liked some of them, and others were just too sad. Overall, a sad book. Usually, I like the sad stuff, but this was depressing to me. Type: FictionSex Level: (I can't remember)Comments:YLIIYL*:*You'll Like It If You Like

Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683621539060743740noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10949875.post-6174223487975380702009-12-22T09:25:00.000-08:002010-01-17T20:22:32.671-08:00

This is a wonderful book and I recommend it to all readers. The author describes a family-owned business, the family who owns it, the extended family that forms around this little store and pub, and her own need to find deeper meaning in life and a place to belong. Type: Non-fiction (memior)Comments:YLIIYL*:*You'll Like It If You Like

Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683621539060743740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10949875.post-3040339980935942132009-12-11T09:28:00.000-08:002010-01-17T20:27:20.096-08:00

Of course, I liked it. Of course, it involved codes and secrets and conspiracies. It made me want to go to Washington DC. That's all I'll say. I don't want to ruin it for you if you haven't read it. Type: FictionComments:YLIIYL*:*You'll Like It If You Like

Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683621539060743740noreply@blogger.com0