Life & Leopard : books

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#LiteraryJunkies: August Edition

Aug 19, 2014

While I haven't been doing much blogging lately, I have been doing a lot of reading. I set a small goal for myself this year to read 20 books and so far, so good. I have a stack on my dresser of books that I need to read, so I should be good until Christmas. (Hint, hint...anyone?)

I am so glad I got back into blogging right before #LiteraryJunkies kicked off for the month. I love to talk about what I have been reading and get other book recs that I may not have been aware of. I'm always up for trying out a new author or genre....except for raunchy romance. Nothankyou.

Anyway, here are this months questions:

1. What are you reading? Tell us about it.

Since I haven't been around much, I'll just list what I've read recently and link you to the Goodreads synopsis of each one.

All of these books were fantastic! I would recommend any one of these to put on your to-read list.

2. Do you read one book at a time or multiple books at once?

I usually just read one book at a time. I don't do well with reading multiple books at once as the story lines seem to get jumbled in my head. I prefer to concentrate on one piece of work at a time.

3. What is the first book that made you fall in love with reading?

Probably The Little House on the Prairie series. I remember those vividly and wish I still had those copies. I am not sure what ever became of them.

4. Do you prefer a physical copy of a book or an electronic version?

I have recently started using the Kindle app on my iPad to read some of the books I get for free from BookGorilla.com. If you haven't checked that website out yet, do so. They will send you a daily email of ebooks that are either free or cut-throat cheap! I stock up all the time! Ha! I am okay with either version now, but I still like seeing my favorite books on my bookshelf. :)

5. What are three books on your "to be read" list?

Lone Wolf by Jodi Picoult
The Light Between Oceans by M. L. Stedman
Leaving Time by Jodi Picoult

And there you have it! Lots of books to choose from here if you are needing some suggestions. Have you read something I have? Wanna talk about it? Leave me a comment-I love to talk books!

Labels:books,literary junkies,reading | 0 comments

#SummerBookSwap

Jun 25, 2014

I participated in my first summer book swap last week and I enjoyed it so much, I will probably do it again! I got paired up with Megan from Semi-Charmed Kind of Life and it was pretty much a match made in book-lover heaven. We both love Jodi Picoult and we love to get lost in the books we read. Unbeknownst to me, I sent her a book that had been on her "to read" list for a while. When I read the description of the book I sent her, I thought to myself, "This is it." (To see what I got Megan, you can go here.)

As for what Megan got me.......

I am one happy camper right now! I am almost finished with a little book series I started and then I get to start on this baby! I'm stoked! Thank you so much, Megan! It was the perfect choice as I had been wanting to read this one for a long time now.

Not only is this a book swap, but it's also a link up! Click on the badge below to check out other blogger book swap stories like Megan's and mine!

Follow Me!

Labels:books,link up,reading,summer book swap | 7 comments

Literary Junkies: June Edition

Jun 17, 2014

It's time for me to talk about books again which is a Godsend for me (and all of you) because I just can't produce anything good here lately. I get on a roll with writing and then life happens and I have to pay attention to that for awhile. By the time I come back to the writing, I've lost the momentum I had. We are going out of town this weekend, so I am hoping to take the chance to really unplug and clear my head.

So, anyway, BOOKS!

1. What are you reading? Tell us about it!

I am actually reading a book this time! I am currently reading The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh and it has been pretty good so far. I am on page 91 of 352 and have just hit the second part of the book. I am loving it so far and can't wait to do a review on it! (Ooo, which reminds me...I need to review The Storyteller...)

Here's the Goodreads synopsis:

The Victorian language of flowers was used to convey romantic expressions: honeysuckle for devotion, asters for patience, and red roses for love. But for Victoria Jones, it’s been more useful in communicating mistrust and solitude. After a childhood spent in the foster-care system, she is unable to get close to anybody, and her only connection to the world is through flowers and their meanings. Now eighteen and emancipated from the system with nowhere to go, Victoria realizes she has a gift for helping others through the flowers she chooses for them. But an unexpected encounter with a mysterious stranger has her questioning what’s been missing in her life. And when she’s forced to confront a painful secret from her past, she must decide whether it’s worth risking everything for a second chance at happiness.

2. Library or bookstore?

I'm going to have to go with a bookstore on this one. I, personally, like roaming the shelves and seeing what gems they have. When I go to a bookstore, I usually have a title in mind to purchase, but I always have to grab two or three more. I'm a book hoarder and I'm proud of it.

3. What book(s) have you read and re-read several times?

I am not thinking of any right now. I don't know if that is because there really hasn't been, or because I can't remember.

4. What is the first book that made you fall in love with reading?

Oh man....I don't know how to answer this because I feel like I have always been reading. I guess I probably really started reading in the 4th grade. That's when I started reading stuff like The Babysitters Club and Sweet Valley High. Eventually I read some of the Nancy Drew series and all of the The Little House on the Prairie series. By the time I was in middle school, I was reading the Fear Street series. I discovered I loved to write at thirteen and that just fueled my love for reading even more.

5. Who's your favorite author? Tell us so we can binge-read!

Edgar Allan Poe, Joyce Carol Oates, Jodi Picoult, Stephen King, Janet Fitch, and Marian Keyes. Take your pick! Disclaimer: Don't read Poe when you are happy or sad. If you're happy, you won't get it. If you're sad, he will make you want to be a recluse. Read him in the "in-between."

That's it for today! If you love books and want to participate, link up with us!

Labels:books,link up,literary junkies,reading | 4 comments

Literary Junkies: May

May 20, 2014

It's the third Tuesday of the month and that means it's time for Literary Junkies!

For those of you that are new, the third Tuesday of every month is a post dedicated to talking about books. I link up with several other like-minded bloggers and we all geek out over each others posts for a few days and then we all go back to our regularly scheduled blogging programs.

If you are a reader and a blogger, you should totally join us!

Anyway, on to this months questions:

MAY

1. What are you currently reading? Tell us about it?

I am about halfway through The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult. I started the book last month when I was too exhausted to even hold my head up, but I have made progress! It's been a really good book so far and it will be the first book to knock off my list for the summer reading challenge

2. Do you judge a book by its cover? What cover elements make you not want to pick up a book?

I am turned off by half-naked men and/or women on the front of a book. This is why I don't read most romance novels.

3. Do you participate in any other book-ish link ups? Tell us about them so we can join next time.

Literary Junkies is the only one I participate in, but I am excited to find more to link up with!

4. Have you ever watched a movie that was better than the book version? Explain yourself.

This has never happened to me. Every book that I have read that has a movie attached to it has always been better than the movie. Here's why: Usually, the movie leaves out things that I think are important to the story or they change something crucial and I am left feeling betrayed. Dramatic? Maybe.

5. Summer is here! Do you read more often during any particular season?

I actually read more in the Spring and Summer than I do any other time. This is actually strange to me because I tend to hibernate in the Fall and Winter and you would think that I read more. I don't. I don't know how to even explain that.

6. What is the worst book you have read this year? Why?

I am going to get clobbered for this.....The Book Thief. I just couldn't get into it! I tried really hard for about three weeks, reading a little every day, and I finally decided that I couldn't read the book. I think the way it is written has a lot to do with it.

That's it for this months Literary Junkies!

Psst! Have you entered my giveaway yet?

Labels:books,link up,literary junkies,reading | 9 comments

Summer 2014 Book Challenge

May 1, 2014

I'm coming a little late to the game on this, but I just found out about Megan's book challenge, and I am really excited to start. I love to read! I feel like I don't get to do it enough because I'm not actively making the time to read. Well, that's all about to change!

Basically, we have to come up with a list of books to read that meet certain criteria that can be found here. We have from today until August 31 to finish our lists. Wanna see my list?

Freebie! Read any book that is at least 200 pages long.

The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult (480 pages)

Read a book that was written before you were born.

How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk by Faber & Mazlish (304 pages, Published 1980)

Finish reading a book you couldn't finish the first time around.

I'm going to have to think about this one for a bit. -TBD-

Read a book from the children's section from the library or bookstore.

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle (247 pages)

Read a book that is on the New York Time's Best Seller's List when you begin reading it.

The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty (416 pages)

Read a historical fiction book that does not take place in Europe.

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen (335 pages)

Read a book another blogger has already read for the challenge.

-TBD-

Read a book with “son(s),” “daughter(s)” or “child(ren)” in the title.

The Gravedigger's Daughter by Joyce Carol Oates (624 pages)

Read a book that was/will be adapted to a film in 2014.

Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed (336 pages)

Read a book written by a blogger.

The Rules of Inheritance by Claire Bidwell Smith (304 pages, Claire Bidwell Smith)

Read a biography, autobiography, or a memoir.

Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert (349 pages)

Read a pair of books with antonyms in the titles.

This one is going to be tricky, too. -TBD-

I think I have a pretty good start! Be sure to stay tuned for updates or follow my progress over at Goodreads! Let the summer of reading begin!

Labels:books,reading,Summer 2014 Book Challenge | 6 comments

Literary Junkies: April Edition

Apr 15, 2014

I can't believe it is already time for Literary Junkies again! For those of you that are new followers, LJ's is a link up that is done once a month for all of us book lovers out here in blogland. This is where we all get to basically geek out. It's a pretty fun time! If you are interested in joining us, please check out Taylor or Christine's blog.

And now for this month's questions!

1. What are you reading right now? Tell us about it!

I just started The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult Sunday evening. I read two pages and literally started nodding off. It's not the book-I was just that exhausted from our weekend. I really like Picoult and I am excited to read this-after I get a little more sleep in me. ;)

2. Divergent, Hunger Games, or Twilight. Which do you prefer and why? (If you've never read them which do you think you'd prefer?)

I've only ever read the Twilight series. The other two aren't really cup of tea.

3. TV Series Based on Books they start out very close to the book to draw in the fans but then will start to separate themselves by changing things and adding characters. What are you thoughts on this?

I'm not much for watching TV series' that are from books. I used to watch True Blood, but that was maybe one or two seasons. It was a good series, but I have never read the books, so I can't compare it.

4. You've just been recruited to help a movie studio bring your favorite book to the big screen. What's the movie and who are you choosing to play the main characters?

Wow. Um....I've thought about this since I got the email Sunday night and I really can't think of a complete answer. :(

5. Going back to the above question, do you keep it word for word the same or do you use this chance to change little things you thought would make the book better?
I can answer this though! I would change little things, but nothing majorly important to the story.

6. After you finish a physical copy of a book do you keep it for a reread, put it on a shelf to collect dust, donate it to Goodwill, or do you just not purchase physical copies of books?
It depends on the book. I either end up keeping them or I will re-sell them.

That's it for today! Have a good one!

Labels:books,link up,literary junkies | 10 comments

Literary Junkies: March Edition

Mar 18, 2014

Hello Fellow Book Lovers! It's the 3rd Tuesday of the month...Literary Junkies Link Party Day!! And Literary Junkies Book Club Twitter party (tonight at 7pm CST). A time where all our fellow book lovers get together and share our love and joy of books!

Grab our button, grab the questions below, write your post and link up with us!!

LITERARY JUNKIES HOSTED BY LIFE WITH A SIDE OF COFFEE AND PINK HEELS PINK TRUCK

YOUR MARCH CO-HOST: SARA FROM A PLETHORA OF PONDERINGS

And now it's time for the questions!

1. What are you reading right now? Tell us about it!

I'm not currently reading anything right now because I have been so busy with the blog re-brand...and potty training a toddler....

2. What was your favorite series to read when you were a kid?

The Little House on the Prairie series. I adored those books. My aunt got me hooked on them (she also did that with the Nancy Drew series) and those books transported me. That series is what really got me into reading.

3. The world is ending: What 3 books do you save from your collection in hopes to contribute to whatever new society forms?

This was one of the questions I made up for today's link up and I always wonder this about other book lovers. (If you have read Fahrenheit 451, then you know where I'm coming from when I ask this. If you haven't, go...read it now.) Anyway, my three books would be: Edgar Allan Poe: Complete Tales & Poems, The Norton Anthology of Western Literature, and Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison.

4. What is your favorite genre to read? Why?

I will read anything as long as it isn't those mass produced Harlequin Romance type of books. Those are just not for me.

5. If you wrote a book about your life, what would the title be?

Shadow Girl

6. What is next on your "to read" list? Tell us about it!

My mom brought me a book recently that was written by the actor that plays Kurt (Chris Colfer) on the show Glee. It's called The Land of Stories: The Wishing Spell and I'm pretty excited to read it. Mom said it was pretty good, so I'm going to give it a whirl. Here's the Goodreads synopsis:

Alex and Conner Bailey's world is about to change, in this fast-paced adventure that uniquely combines our modern day world with the enchanting realm of classic fairy tales.

"The Land of Stories" tells the tale of twins Alex and Conner. Through the mysterious powers of a cherished book of stories, they leave their world behind and find themselves in a foreign land full of wonder and magic where they come face-to-face with the fairy tale characters they grew up reading about.

But after a series of encounters with witches, wolves, goblins, and trolls alike, getting back home is going to be harder than they thought.

Like I said, I will read anything as long as it isn't Harlequin Romance stuff. :)

And that's it for this month! If you want to participate in our link up, write a post up answering the questions provided and link up! I love going around and seeing what everyone is reading and how they answered the monthly questions. It's a lot of fun and you can wind up adding new books to your "to read" list! :)

Labels:books,link up,literary junkies,reading | 12 comments

Literary Junkies: January Edition

Jan 21, 2014

It's that time again for Literary Junkies! Basically, we are going to talk books today, so, if you like books, stick around! If you don't, come back tomorrow for a new recipe! Haha!

As per the norm, we've got questions that need answering, so lets get to it!

1. What are you reading right now? Tell us about it.
Well, I just started reading The Book Thief and.....it's not going so well. I don't want to give up on it just yet, but I'm not really sure if this book is my cup of tea. I'm going to give it another chapter or two and then make my decision. However, if you are interested in what The Book Thief is about, here is the Goodreads synopsis:

It is 1939. Nazi Germany. The country is holding its breath. Death has never been busier, and will become busier still.

Liesel Meminger is a foster girl living outside of Munich, who scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she can’t resist–books. With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, she learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement.

In superbly crafted writing that burns with intensity, award-winning author Markus Zusak, author of I Am the Messenger, has given us one of the most enduring stories of our time.

Sounds great, right? I know! I think it may be the writing that I am having a problem with....I don't know...I'll keep you all posted on this.

2. Out of the 16 books that will be turned into a movie adaptation, which one are you most looking forward to seeing this year? (Article Link)

Okay, so, I'm really not a book to movie girl. They tend to leave out (I think) crucial pieces of information when they turn pages into movies. However, with that being said, I am curious about The Fault in Our Stars and Gone Girl. Those were two books that I really enjoyed and would like to see what they have done with them for the big screen. I also got some new books to read off that list, so that's cool!

3. What was the worst book you ever read?
The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway....OMG...I had to keep pinching myself to stay awake. Ugh. I don't mind some Hemingway, but that one....Oh, that was difficult. Ha!

4. What foods or beverages have you spilled on a book while reading? Anything good?

Chocolate. I tend to eat chocolate and read. I'm always smudging chocolate on the pages. Haha! I try to clean it off, but, ya know....Oh well...adds character...

5. Do you picture characters as popular film or tv actors? Or do you create a whole new person in your head?

I create a whole new person in my head unless I have seen the character already portrayed in the movie, then I see that actor as that character.

6. . Out of all the authors you've read books by, who's brain would you want to pick the most?

Ohh geez....Umm....Joyce Carol Oates....Her characters are so amazing and....raw. I want to know how to do that. Her characters are the ones I relate to the most.

And there ya have it folks! Come back next month for more book talk!

What are you currently reading?

Labels:books,literary junkies | 8 comments

Literary Junkies Link Up: December Edition

Dec 17, 2013

I can't believe it has already been a month since we last talked books! The time has just flown by! I'm back again today for Literary Junkies Link Up and most of you know the drill by now. If you are new, you can go here or here to find out more!

And now for the questions! 1. If you could write a book, what would it be about? This is probably why I don't have a book started-I don't know what I want to write about. I want to be a published author, but have no idea what I want to write about!
2. If you had to read one book or trilogy for the rest of your life, what would it be? All I would ever need is an anthology of Edgar Allan Poe.
3. Who is your current favorite book character and why? I am not reading anything at the moment. I am giving myself a rest so I can start fresh in 2014! I reached my goal of 15 books this year! I actually read 16, so that made me feel better about the small goal I had set for myself! Next year's goal is 20!
4. Is there a book you read every year during the holiday season, if so what is it and why? Nope.
5. Do you have any books on your Christmas list? Name a few. The Accursed by Joyce Carol Oates, Lone Wolf and The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult.
6. What is a book you read and loved that you didn't expect to? Oddly enough, it was the Twilight series. I actually didn't think I would like them and I ended up loving them. Now, the movies they did...ehhhh......

Labels:books,link up,literary junkies | 8 comments

Literary Junkies Link Up: November

Nov 19, 2013

It's that time of the month again where I get all nerdy on you. Okay, wait, this is probably not the only time I get nerdy on you, but you get the idea.

The drill is that I answer five book-related questions provided by Lesley from By the Porchlightt and Taylor from Pink Heels Pink Truck and then I head on over and link up with them! You can totally do this yourself, too! In fact, you should because it's totally worth it to browse the other blogs and get book ideas! :)

November Questions

1. What are you currently reading? Tell us about it! I am currently reading (and I am not lying about this title) Thin Rich Bitches by Janet Eve Josselyn. It's not my "normal" book choice, but it's not bad so far. I got it for free from BookGorilla.com. If you aren't subscribed to them, you should be. It's free! (They did not pay me to say that. I just love the website!)

Anyway...the synopsis:

Leaving her cheating husband in Boston with the paralegal he impregnated, Pippin Snowe and her son move to a ramshackle farmhouse that she inherited in the exclusive community of Dover, Massachusetts. Pippin finds employment with a local architect, designing kitchen renovations for wealthy Dover women who treat her as they treat the rest of the hired help. Concluding that social climbing is just another sport that she is no good at, Pippin opens a country club for dogs that offers services that the Dover women didn’t know they wanted until they found out that admission was required and spaces were limited.

With irreverent wit, Thin Rich Bitches is a humorous chronicle of one woman’s quest to find her place within a community of people who are more blessed physically and financially, while learning valuable lessons about life, love, competition, and canine couture.

Like I said, it isn't my "normal" book choice, but it's a nice change. The writing is pretty good and she has humor in all the right spots.

2. How many books have you read this year? Do you set reading goals for yourself? I track my books on Goodreads and I have read 12 books this year. My goal is 15. I used to read way more than 15 books year, but since becoming a mom, I don't really have all that much time any more. However, I still make time and thought that 15 books was a good goal. Next year, I will move it up to 20.

3. What do you think are the best and worst book-to-movie/TV show adaptations? Oh wow, um.....the first one that comes to mind is The Twilight Saga. I adored those books. I was in my mid-twenties when I read them. My mom got me hooked on those books. The movies were good, but not as good as the books. I faithfully went and saw every movie in the theater (the first one with my mom and some of her friends from work), but they just weren't as good as what I had pictured in my mind. I don't really care for them to adapt books into movies/shows. I think you lose a lot of the essence when you take a book and try to portray it on a screen.

4. What is the first line of your favorite book? Daaaaaaaannnggg! Oh this is so hard! I have many books I adore, but there are a few that have impacted me deeply and I classify those as my favorites. The first line of one of my favorite books is this:

"When I was twelve, a fortune-teller told me that my one true love would die young and leave me all alone." -God-Shaped Hole by Tiffani DeBartolo

I'm telling you, if you have not read this book, you need to. Don't let the title scare you. Trust me.

5. What's your favorite quote from a book? Oh I wish you would not have asked me this. I love quotes. I collect them. In my brain. Seriously. Most of my head is filled with Disney Junior cartoons, memorized children stories, and every single trait of Lynzi's. Despite this, there is a portion reserved for written word. That's where I go when I need a reprieve. Yup. In my head. They like me there. :)

Anyway, so, a quote....one.... .... ....

(It took me ten minutes to find one.)

I'm just going to stick with the God-Shaped Hole theme, because this is really a quote that spoke to me when I was reading the book. There is a lot of truth to this statement:

“We’re all searching for something to fill up what I like to call that big, God-shaped hole in our souls. Some people use alcohol, or sex, or their children, or food, or money, or music, or heroin. A lot of people even use the concept of God itself. I could go on and on. I used to know a girl who used shoes. She had over two-hundred pairs. But it’s all the same thing, really. People, for some stupid reason, think they can escape their sorrows.”