Teaser Tuesday: Carry Yourself Back to Me

Cold fog quiets the birds and shifts like hot steam above Lake Windsor to the east.  Minutes earlier hailstones sliced past Annie's bedroom window and skipped off the ground like pearls on concrete, escaping in all directions.

-- Carry Yourself Back to Me by Deborah Reed.

This is my second Teaser Tuesday from this book because I am savoring it. I love it. Annie is a singer-songwriter in central Florida. Her brother is in jail, charged with murder.  Her ex-lover with a new, pregnant wife just showed up on her porch.  Bad memories from her past are resurfacing. This is a great story!

Here is some of the buzz: The author was interviewed om tv yesterday. The book got a Publisher's Weekly review.  It is this month's choice for the From Left to Write Book Club. Library Journal praised the book and called Reed "an author to watch." And there is a sweet country song tie-in by Brush Prairie.

Teaser Tuesdays is hosted by Should Be Reading, where you can find the official rules for this weekly event.

Mailbox Monday and Giveaway Winner

Thanks for joining me for Mailbox Monday! MM was created by Marcia at A girl and her books (fka The Printed Page), who graciously hosted it for a long, long time, before turning it into a touring meme (details here).

The wonderful Amused by Books is hosting in September. Please visit!

I got one book last week and am also announcing the winner of last week's giveaway.

GIVEAWAY WINNER

Laurel-Rain Snow, the author of several delightful blogs, including Rainy Days and Mondays, as well as her own novels, won a copy of Real Women, Real Wisdom: A Journey into the Feminine Soul by Maureen Hovenkotter, author and editor.

This is a "leap-frog" giveaway, so LRS will also have the opportunity to host her own giveaway for another copy.  And, contrary to what I wrote in the giveaway post, these are final editions, not ARCs. 

THE BOOK: In Real Women Real Wisdom, 17 ordinary yet extraordinary women—most in their 50s and 60s—reflect on the challenges, mysteries and ultimately the triumphs in their lives. Their stories tell of the transformative experiences of loss, suffering, life-threatening illness, recovery, and forgiveness, as well as the quiet moments of reflection that have led to their personal encounters with the Divine. The journeys they share hold great wisdom, hope and inspiration for all who read about them. (Publisher's description.)

THE AUTHOR/EDITOR: Maureen Hovenkotter is one of the 17 authors of the book and the editor of the collection.  She has written about faith and spiritual matters for a number of publications, including The Oregonian, The National Catholic Reporter, St. Anthony Messenger and The Catholic Sentinel. In the fall of 2003, her husband of 33 years was killed in an accident. She wrote about that experience and the subsequent pilgrimage journey to discover herself in 42 States of Grace: A Woman’s Journey (reviewed by me here). She shares her reflections on life and spirituality in her blog, Travelin' with Charlie. The mother of two adult children and grandmother of one, she lives outside of Portland with her golden retriever, Charlie. She is currently enrolled in a formation program to become certified as a spiritual director.

THANKS: Thanks go to Maureen Hovenkotter and Grey Wing Press for providing two copies for this giveaway.

THIS WEEK'S MAILBOX

I got a copy of the darling Cakespy cookbook: Cakespy Presents Sweet Treats for a Sugar-Filled Life by Jessie Oleson. 

Oleson is the author of the irresistible CakeSpy blog and the book is chock full of recipes, photos, and Oleson's adorable illustrations. 

This has major Christmas gift potential.

State of the Blog: Part Three, the Challenges

Fall is in the air! I am running out of time to finish my challenges.

To keep track of my reading for the year, I like to do quarterly blog assessment posts.  This one takes a look at the challenges I'm working on in 2011. The first part addressed my lists. Part Two dealt with my author lists.

NOTE: If you are working on any of these same challenges, please leave a comment here on on my main challenge post. I would like to read your main challenge pages and any reviews.

CHALLENGES HOSTED BY ROSE CITY READER

I am hosting the two Battle of the Prizes Challenges again in 2011. The challenges run from February 1, 2011 to January 31, 2012.



2011 Battle of the Prizes: American Version

 

Like in past years, this challenge pits National Book Award winners against Pulitzer Prize winners. There are two ways to participate -- either read one book that won the Pulitzer Prize, one that won the National Book Award, and one that won both; or read two Pulizer winners and two National winners.

I'm going with the 4-book option this year.  I've read one of each so far:

• Breathing Lessons by Anne Tyler, for one of my Pulitzer choices (reviewed here);
• Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier, for one of my National Choices (reviewed here).

Possible National Award winners for my second choice:

1. The News from Paraguay by Lily Tuck
2. Them by Joyce Carol Oates
3. Morte d'Urban by J.F. Powers
4. The Hair of Harold Roux by Thomas Williams (from the LibraryThing Early Reviewer program, so I could scratch it off two lists)

 Possible Pulitzer winners for my second choice:

1. One of Ours by Willa Cather
2. Arrowsmith by Sinclair Lewis

2011 Battle of the Prizes: British Version

Just as in 2010, this challenge is to read books that won the Man Booker Prize and the James Tait Black Memorial Prize.  This has the same set up -- either read one winner of each prize and a double-dipper, or read two of each.

I will have to go with the 4-book option, because I've read all three of the double-dippers. So far, I've read:

• Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel for a Booker choice (reviewed here);
• Brazzaville Beach by William Boyd for a Black choice (reviewed here).

Other possible Booker picks are:

1. How Late it Was, How Late by James Kelman 
2. Shindler's List by Thomas Keneally

Other possible James Tait Black picks are:

1. The Black Prince by Iris Murdoch
2. White Teeth by Zadie Smith

2011 CHALLENGES I AM PARTICIPATING IN

The challenge titles link to my main challenge posts.

Foodie's Reading Challenge

Margot at Joyfully Retired is hosting a challenge for 2011 that I am very excited about: The Foodie's Reading Challenge!

I signed up at the "Bon Vivant" level to read four to six books.  I've already read four, and will probably read some more before the end of the year. I am on a Food Freedom kick, so food books are stacking up on my nightstand.

So far, I've read:

1. The Food of France by Waverley Root (reviewed here)
2. Everything I Want To Do Is Illegal: War Stories From the Local Food Front by Joel Salatin (reviewed here)
3. American Terroir: Savoring the Flavors of Our Woods, Waters, and Fields by Rowan Jacobsen (reviewed here)
4. The Onmivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals by Michael Pollan (which I haven't reviewed yet, but discussed here)

Others in the running include (in no particular order):

• The Raw Milk Revolution: Behind America's Emerging Battle Over Food Rights by David E. Gumpert
• James Beard on Food Delights and Prejudices by James Beard
• On the Town in New York by Michael Batterberry
• Stuffed: Adventures of a Restaurant Family by Patricia Volk
• The Tuscan Year: Life and Food in an Italian Valley by Elizabeth Romer
• Comfort Me with Apples: More Adventures at the Table by Ruth Reichl
• Alice Waters and Chez Panisse by Thomas McNamee
• Epicurean Delight: The Life and Times of James Beard by Evan Jones
• American Terroir: Savoring the Flavors of Our Woods, Waters, and Fields by Rowan Jacobsen
• Vie De France: Sharing Food, Friendship and a Kitchen in the Lorie Valle by James Haller
• French Spirits: A House, a Village, and a Love Affair in Burgundy by Jeffrey Greene
• A Cordiall Water by M. F. K. Fisher
• The Feasting Season by Nancy Coons
• Dumas on Food: Selections from Le Grand Dictionnaire de Cuisine by Alexandre Dumas

And it might be a good idea to include this one:

French Women Don't Get Fat: The Secret of Eating For Pleasure by Mireille Guiliano

Chunkster Reading Challenge 

 

Wendy at caribousmom is hosting this fun challenge again this year.  The challenge sign-up post is here.

Since I didn't reach my chunkster goal in 2010, I am scaling down a bit in 2011 and signing up for the "Chubby Chunkster" level this year.  That means reading four books over 450 pages long.

So far, I've only read one chunkster with my eyes. I've read a couple more with my ears, but audiobooks don't count -- the tactility of big fat books is a main point of the challenge.

So far, I overlapped with the Foodie challenge on The Food of France by Waverley Root (reviewed here), is quite the Chunkster.

I'm still planning on Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy.  That's my "big book" for 2011.  I don't know which others will strike my fancy.

The Vintage Mystery Reading Challenge

The Vintage Mystery Reading Challenge is hosted by My Reader's Block.  The goal is to read mysteries written before 1960.  I signed up at the "In a Murderous Mood" level with the goal of reading four to six books, by at least two different authors, by the end of the year.

So far, I have read six, but I only reviewed one. So I have completed the challenge, but in a pretty half-assed way.

1. A Study in Scarlet by Sir Arthor Conan Doyle
2. The Sign of the Four by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
3. The League of Frightened Men by Rex Stout
4. Clouds of Witness by Dorothy L. Sayers (reviewed here)
5. The Secret of Chimneys by Agatha Christie
6. Unnatural Death by Dorothy L. Sayers 

Birth Year Reading Challenge 2011

I am participating in this challenge, but I keep forgetting to put up a post.  Or to read the books.

But I finally got my hands on a copy of The Anti-Death League by Kingsley Amis (on the Burgess list), so I am going to get at least one candle.

Any ideas for other books published in 1966?

International Anita Brookner Day

I had good intentions for participating in International Anita Brookner Day.  I finished my one book, A Friend From England, but I didn't review it. I hope that Thomas at My Porch hosts the challenge again next year so I can have a second chance.

State of the Blog, Part Two: The Authors

 
Fall is in the air and I am filled with all that back-to-school enthusiasm I always get this time of year, even though my school days are far behind me.

To keep track of my reading for the year, I like to check in and see what kind of progress I've made on my lists.  There's no point in being a compulsive "list" reader if you don't play with the lists on occasion.

This is the second of my quarterly blog assessment posts.  This one takes a look at my author lists over in the right-hand column. The first part addressed my lists. Part Three will deal with the challenges I joined this year.

NOTE: If you are systematically reading the books of any of these authors, please leave a comment here or on the post for the author's list (click on the title below or in the right-hand column) and leave a link to any related post. I will add the links on the author's list post.

I recently split my author list into two parts: General favorites and Mystery favorites.  See here for discussion.

So far in 2011, I've read 29 books by my favorite authors.  As soon as I make some progress on my Guilt List, I plan to get back to my old friends.  And probably add some new names to my lists.

GENERAL FAVORITES

Kingsley Amis

The Crime of the Century

I plan to read The Anti-Death League (a Burgess favorite) for the Birth Year Reading Challenge.

Maeve Binchy

Evening Class (1996)

William Boyd

Brazzaville Beach (reviewed here; read for my 2011 Battle of the Prizes, British Version, challenge)

Nat Tate: An American Artist 1928-1960 (reviewed here)

Elinor Lipman

Then She Found Me

Philip Roth

The Human Stain (reviewed here)

C. P. Snow

George Passant (originally titled Strangers and Brothers) (reviewed here)

Anne Tyler

Breathing Lessons (reviewed here; read for my 2011 Battle of the Prizes, American Version challenge)

John Updike

Beck: A Book (reviewed here)

P. G. Wodehouse

The Indiscretions of Archie

MYSTERY FAVORITES

Kate Atkinson

When Will There Be Good News?
Started Early, Took My Dog (reviewed here)

Lee Child

Gone Tomorrow

Dick Francis

10 Lb. Penalty
Bolt
Banker (reviewed here)
Knockdown
Break In

P. D. James

A Mind to Murder
Unnatural Causes

Donna Leon

Death in a Strange Country

John Lescroart

A Plague of Secrets (reviewed here)

Helen MacInnes

The Hidden Target

Ian Rankin

Strip Jack
Knots and Crosses
Hide and Seek

Dorothy L. Sayers

Clouds of Witness (reviewed here)
Unnatural Death 

Julia Spencer-Fleming

One Was a Soldier (2009) (reviewed here)

State of the Blog, Part One: The Lists

Today is the first day of autumn.  Although it is actually warm and sunny here in Portland, fall is in the air.  Time for me to check in and see what kind of progress I've made on my lists and panic because the end of the year is approaching faster than I can read. 

This is the first of my quarterly blog assessment posts.  This first part addresses the book lists. Part Two, coming soon, will take a look at the author lists.  Part Three will deal with the challenges I joined this year.

My book lists are over in the right-side column. These are now divided into Prize Winners and "Must Reads" and include lists of books I have read or intend to read for some reason or another. Also in the right-side column are lists of my favorite authors. I add to these lists of lists from time to time.

NOTE: If you are working on any of these lists, please leave a comment here or on the post for the list (click on the title below or in the right-hand column) and leave a link to any related post. I will add the links on the list post. 


So far in 2011, I've read 34 books from my book lists. 

THE PRIZE WINNERS

COSTA BOOK OF THE YEAR

Books read in 2011: none so far.

EDGAR AWARD

Books read in 2011: The Chatham School Affair by Thomas H. Cook (reviewed here).

JAMES TAIT BLACK MEMORIAL PRIZE

Books read in 2011:

• G by John Berger (reviewed here; read for my 2010 Battle of the Prizes, British Version, challenge);
• Brazzaville Beach by William Boyd (reviewed here; read for my 2011 Battle of the Prizes, British Version, challenge).

MAN BOOKER PRIZE

Books read in 2011:

1. G by John Berger (reviewed here; read for my 2010 Battle of the Prizes, British Version, challenge);
2. Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel (reviewed here; read for my 2011 Battle of the Prizes, British Version, challenge)

NATIONAL BOOK AWARD

Books read in 2011:

• Lord of Misrule by Jaimy Gordon (reviewed here; read for my 2010 Battle of the Prizes, American Version, challenge).
• Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier (reviewed here; read for my 2011 Battle of the Prizes, American Version, challenge)

NATIONAL BOOK CRITICS CIRCLE AWARD

Books read in 2011:one, Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel (reviewed here; read for my 2011 Battle of the Prizes, British Version, challenge).

NOBEL LAUREATES

Books read in 2011: none so far.

ORANGE PRIZE

Books read in 2011: one, On Beauty by Zadie Smith (reviewed here)

PEN/FAULKNER

Books read in 2011: one, The Human Stain by Philip Roth (reviewed here)

PULITZER PRIZE

Books read in 2011: one, Breathing Lessons by Anne Tyler (reviewed here; read for my 2011 Battle of the Prizes, American Version, challenge)

THE "MUST READS"

1899 TOP 100

Books read in 2011: one, Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe (reviewed here)

ALL-TIME TOP 100

Books read in 2011: none so far.

ANTHONY BURGESS

This list is from 99 Novels: The Best in English Since 1939 by Anthony Burgess, which I finally read this year. My review is here. 

Books read in 2011: 

• George Passant, the first volume of C. P. Snow’s 11-volume Strangers and Brothers series (reviewed here);
• Wise Blood by Flannery O'Connor.

BBC'S BIG READ

Books read in 2011: one, Far From the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy.

BOOK CLUB

Books read in 2011:

• Honolulu by Alan Brennert; 
• The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot (reviewed here)

COLLEGE BOARD

Books read in 2011:

• The Portrait of a Lady by Henry James.;
• Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe (reviewed here)

COOKBOOK LIBRARY

Books read in 2011:

• Classic Spanish Cooking: Recipes for Mastering the Spanish Kitchen by Elisabeth Luard (reviewed here) 
• With a Jug of Wine by Morrison Wood (discussed here) 

I've read many foodie books that weren't cookbooks.  I think I'll start a new list.

EASTON PRESS

Books read in 2011:

• The Portrait of a Lady by Henry James.;
• Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe (reviewed here)

ERICA JONG

Books read in 2011:

• Wise Blood by Flannery O'Connor; 
• We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson (reviewed here); 
• The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas by Gertrude Stein.

FRENCH CONNECTION

Books read in 2011:

• The Food of France by Waverley Root (reviewed here);
• The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas by Gertrude Stein.

Also, I am currently reading The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery.

GUILT LIST

Books read in 2011:

• One City's Wilderness by Marcy Cottrell Houle (reviewed here); and
• Maps and Shadows by Krysia Jopek (reviewed here);
• Because You Might Not Remember by Don Colburn;
• The Losing Role by Steve Anderson (reviewed here);
• Spinning the Law: Trying Cases in the Court of Public Opinion by Kendall Coffey;
• Very Bad Men by Harry Dolan (reviewed here); and
• 42 States of Grace by Maureen Hovenkotter (reviewed here)

LT EARLY REVIEWERS

Books read in 2011:

• Shipwrecks, Monsters, and Mysteries of the Great Lakes by Ed Butts (reviewed here);
• Nat Tate: An American Artist: 1928-1960 by William Boyd (reviewed here);
• The Reluctant Detective by Martha Ockley (reviewed here);
• One Was a Soldier by Julia Spencer-Fleming (reviewed here;
• American Terroir by Rowan Jacobsen (reviewed here)

MLA'S 30

Books read in 2011: none so far.

MODERN LIBRARY

Books read in 2011: zero (finished this list a couple of years ago).

OBSERVER'S TOP 100

Books read in 2011:

1.  The Portrait of a Lady by Henry James; and
2.  Wise Blood by Flannery O'Connor.

OREGON BOOKS

Books read in 2011: none so far.

RADCLIFFE'S TOP 100

Books read in 2011:

• The Portrait of a Lady by Henry James.
• The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas by Gertrude Stein.

ROSE CITY READER'S TOP 10

Books read in 2011: none so far. Who knows if the list will change this year.

VENICE BOOKS

This is a new list that I just created in February.

Books read in 2011: one, Death in a Strange Country by Donna Leon.

WELL-STOCKED BOOKCASE

Books read in 2011: none so far.