Book Series Review: The Selection Trilogy

So, I recently started a book series and then ended up finishing it all in one week. It included a lot of late nights and completing chapters during nap time, but seriously...I couldn't put the books down!

I'm talking about the The Selection series, a trilogy of "dystopian romance" books that have been pitched as The Hunger Games meets The Bachelor (some of you may already be rolling your eyes, I know). Via Amazon- "In a world where everything is determined by social castes, America was born a five, one of the lowest castes. This year, a Selection will be held to find a bride for Prince Maxon. America's mother thinks that having her daughter participate will be the solution to all of their problems but America doesn't want to participate for one simple reason - she is secretly in love with Aspen." I'll stop there to avoid giving anything away, but after finishing the third book I almost felt like maybe I should keep them as my dirty little secret. I mean really, the books are silly. I wouldn't go as far as to say dumb, but this is TRUE beach reading, fluffy stuff that is all entertainment and not a lot of thinking involved. I'm almost torn as how to even review it, because on one hand I was completely sucked in, but on the other I found myself very irritated at the main character, America Singer (her name even bugs me), and found myself wanting to roll my eyes and say "WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?!" more times than I can count.

However, even though I find America irritating, The Selection is a good story, and if you're in the market for a light-hearted, easy read that will absolutely engage you, then go for it. I really did enjoy all three books, beginning to end. But if you are someone who would probably tease me for still kind of liking The Bachelor and is a little more cynical of silly romance story lines, these might not be for you.

But really, for $2.99 it's worth a shot- maybe you'll end up liking the silly fluffiness of it all. I know my sister and I did!

xoxo

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To visit Amazon without my link, click here. :)

9 Books to Add to Your Summer Reading List

It's almost summer and with that comes a renewed excitement for reading...at least for me! Ever since I was a child I've enjoyed making and completing summer reading lists. And in the spirit of that excitement, here is my first installment of some great picks. I'll be back in a week or so with part two. Enjoy!

one // two // three

four // five // six

seven // eight // nine

Happy reading! xoxo

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12 Books To Read This Spring

Spring is in the air people! What better time to sit outside on a blanket, sip some lemonade, and dive into a good book? Or, if you're in my world, try to read a couple of pages around 11pm in bed, before you can't even keep your eyes open anymore. Either way, here are some books I plan on picking up this spring. Have you read any of them? I think I'm most excited about #9, 11, and 12!

Happy reading, and let me know if you have any great books to add to this list too.

one // two // three // four

five // six // seven // eight

nine // ten // eleven // twelve

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Having It All.

source

Sometimes I'll read something and my mind will say "YES OH GOD YES! That's it exactly," my head nodding in agreement, face smiling, the works. It doesn't happen often but when it does, my bookworm soul just squeals with delight. There are few things I love more in this life than feeling a connection with a book, an article, a blog post, a motivational quote (if I'm being honest). And why? Because when we read these things and the author somehow knows exactly what has been buried in our minds that we haven't had the opportunity (or courage, or how-to) to pull out of ourselves, and when this complete stranger does it without even knowing us, it's brilliant.

I have a short list of books and posts and things like that that I keep tucked away in the back of my mind, for weird days when I don't want to feel so alone in my thoughts. I add to the list sometimes, if I find something really good, but like all really amazing, brilliant things, it doesn't happen too much. Just enough to be special. But just the other day I came across this article and fell in love.

In it, the author Delia Ephron talks about the idea of having it all, and how that idea is constantly changing, and really, never satisfied; it's always expanding and shrinking. She says, "to me, having it all- if one wants to define it at all- is the magical time when what you want and what you have match up," and goes on to describe it as little bits of time (fleeting moments as she calls them) when everything is just so. And just right.

The article was short- a quick two page read- but I've been thinking about it for days, and what the idea of "having it all" means to me. When I was in high school, I was certain that having it all meant dating the cutest boy and spending time with my friends every weekend. Back then if you would have asked me what it meant to be my current age and to have it all, I'm sure I would have said something about living in a big city, going out all the time, and not settling down until much later. But of course we grow up. We change. And like Ephron mentions in her writing, the idea shrinks and expands in accordance with our reality.

And right here, right now, having it all to me is like she describes- I don't think it's possible to "have it all" forever and always feel satisfied, but I do think it's attainable in these little moments and pieces of life.

To me, it's about family and friends. And it's about feeling like where I am is right where I'm supposed to be. It's when Hank and I are sitting on the couch at night, both boys asleep, and in the quiet of the house I know that my family is safe and sound and warm and fed. It's when I'm out with my oldest and dearest girlfriends, and I can look around and know that these girls really get me. After all these years and all this growing up, they're here. That's having it all. It's that feeling I had when I walked across the stage to receive my Master's degree, and it's that feeling I had when I walked into my classroom on the first day of teaching high school English. It's working towards something and getting there. And it's conversely the way I felt driving away from that school for the last time, 9 months pregnant, knowing that I was leaving one thing to begin another. It's when everything clicks into place, and even for just an instant, life makes perfect sense.

And I love that. I love that a little two-page article had me thinking for days, I love that it got me taking stock of my own life, got me talking to friends about their idea of having it all. I'm so thankful that there will always be writers out there who inspire me to see the little beauties around me, the articles and books and even blog posts that have me nodding in agreeance, and feeling like this huge world isn't really so big after all. Grateful for those "YES OH GOD YES! That's it exactly" moments, and to know that other people are out there too, smiling at the pages or the screen as they read the same exact words that I am.

xoxo

Book Review: The Husband's Secret

The Husband's Secret is one of those novels that is perfect for a night spent in, cuddled up in a comfy armchair, book in hand. Or it's perfect for a whole day out on the beach, under the shade of a big umbrella. Point being, you're going to want to find a cozy place to dig into this book, because once you dive in you won't want to put it down.

I'd consider this novel a beach read- well-written and engaging, but nothing spectacular or life-changing. It's entertaining, will keep you hooked, and I thoroughly enjoyed all of it, from beginning to end. In a nutshell (and in my usual style of not giving too much away), it's a book that tells a lot of different stories that all are connected in one way or another. Each chapter goes back and forth between the different characters' sub plots, and to be honest in the beginning I was a bit confused and almost considered taking notes. But stick with it, and by the time you get to the third or fourth chapter you won't be confused at all. On a side note I always marvel when books seamlessly do that. Do you know what I mean? There are a ton of characters, and you feel like you could be lost, but somehow the author manages to make it all work, and before you know it they all seem like old friends with no way you could ever confused one for the other. Or maybe that's just me, and I'm just a super nerd. ;)

Anyway, the book tells the story of Cecilia, a woman living in Australia, who finds a letter from her husband that is marked "only open in the event of my death." I'm sure you can guess what happens next (no spoiler- yes, she opens it!). What she finds, and what transpires between all of the characters, is fascinating.

I recommend this book to anyone and everyone who is looking for an engaging read that will keep you on your toes and totally involved in all of the different types of stories woven throughout the novel. You'll find romance, suspense, sadness, disappointment, new love, old love, the list goes on.

Have you read The Husband's Secret? What did you think? And if you do decide to pick it up, please let me know if you enjoyed it too.

Happy reading!

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If you'd prefer to view the book without my affiliate link, feel free to click here instead! :) 

8 (More) Books to Add to Your Summer Reading List

One more month of summer...one last list of summer reading books. Seriously, nothing makes me happier than having a huge stack of books to read, whether it be samples on my Kindle or a tall pile next to our bed. It takes me back to the summer reading programs at our local library growing up- such great memories of picking our books, filling out the sheets, and feeling so accomplished when we finished five, ten, fifteen books in a week. I'm proud to be a book lover, and I always seem to have an immediate connection with other readers too. I also love sharing great titles with my friends, so please feel free to do the same with me, if you come across a book you just couldn't put down!

Check out my previous 2013 Summer Reading list here, and let me know if you've checked out any of the books below. Happy reading!

one // two // three // four

five // six // seven // eight 

(and click here to read an interview on NPR with the final book's author, Kate Christensen)

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Book Review: Before I Fall

Last week I mentioned on Twitter that I had just finished what might be my favorite YA book of all time, and possibly my favorite book of 2013 so far. And what is this mysterious book called? Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver. Last week I finished up the Delirium trilogy (also by the same author), and because I loved those books so much I thought I would try out her debut novel and see if I liked it too.

Here's the little blurb from Amazon:

What if you only had one day to live? What would you do? Who would you kiss? And how far would you go to save your own life? 

Samantha Kingston has it all: looks, popularity, the perfect boyfriend. Friday, February 12, should be just another day in her charmed life. Instead, it turns out to be her last. 

The catch: Samantha still wakes up the next morning. Living the last day of her life seven times during one miraculous week, she will untangle the mystery surrounding her death—and discover the true value of everything she is in danger of losing.

After I read this I was a little hesitant, thinking it would be an overly-repetitive Groundhog Day type of teen novel; I mean reliving the same day SEVEN times in one book? More than anything I was curious how the author could possibly make that interesting. So I ordered the sample for my Kindle, and got to reading.

The story is told in the voice of Samantha, who is a popular teenager at her high school. The author gets her "teenage voice" spot on, and when I first started reading the sample I wasn't sure if it would get annoying. But it didn't. And as the sample went on, I got hooked, and I had to know what happened next.

That was kind of the theme of the novel for me- I couldn't put it down, and had to see what would happen with every turn of the page (the electronic page?). I finished it in two days. I'm not sure if this book is for everyone- I could see some people thinking it was a bit juvenile, but I LOVED it. I thought that the book was incredibly well-paced, and I found myself getting super invested in the characters because you got just enough of them, at just the right time. It was weird to feel like I evolved right along with Sam- at first I didn't really like her, but by the end I was holding my breath that everything would be okay.

There are all sorts of things going on in the story: suspense, romance, lots of teenage drama. And I'm not sure if this book is for everyone, but it's for me. I related to many parts of it, and oddly enough it had me crying, which is not how I would have pictured my reaction back when reading the sample. But I found SO much inspiration within these pages. It reminded me that life is short, that (most of us) only get one go-round at life, and surprisingly, made me feel incredibly appreciative of my own little world.

I highly, highly recommend this book to you if you are a fan of YA literature, and don't mind the point of a view of a teenage girl who still hasn't quite found her place. Two thumbs up, for sure.

Let me know if you decide to read Before I Fall, and be sure to keep me updated on what you think once you finish it. Enjoy!

image above via Amazon
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If you'd prefer to view the book without my affiliate link, feel free to click here instead! :) 

Book Review: Delirium

 

Oh, YA novels, I love you so. I've been thinking about how much I enjoy reading dystopian literature while spending some time organizing our bookshelves this week, and realizing just what a long love-affair it's been. It started off at an early age with A Wrinkle in Time (although I suppose that book is much more sci-fi, really), and continued with The Handmaid's Tale, and then exploded as more and more awesome books appeared while I taught high school English. It was a treat discovering all of them right along with my students, and I think that's one of the main facets of teaching I miss; all of the reading and discussion.

This book I'm reviewing though, I tried to avoid for quite some time. I'm not really sure why, but I would see Delirium in my recommended Amazon titles every time I would log into the site. I had read the short summary a few times, but after reading so many other trilogies that sounded so similar, it just didn't hook me, and yet there it was, the same cover, always annoyingly begging to be read.

Then a couple of nights ago I couldn't sleep so I decided to just give it a go (at least it would finally get off my recs list!) and downloaded the sample to my Kindle. Of course, because this is just how things work with me, I was hooked. First off, the writing is really great, but even more so, the story is truly captivating.

You know I don't like to give much (if anything!) away, but here's a super short little hook for you. It's all about a regular old girl, living in a regular old place (a futuristic Portland, Maine), who is just trying to live her life in the confines and insanely rigid structure the government has set in place. In this world "love" is seen as a disease, and around your 18th birthday you get the cure, although many people become "infected" before this, which is dangerous and deadly, as far as society is concerned. I'm sure you can guess what maybe happens next, but trust me, it's worth the read.

Delirium had me on the edge of my seat, and crossing my fingers that it would all work out. It's a wonderful read- a fast book that keeps on moving- and it's book that makes you think about what we deem important in our own society, and what we see as important in our own lives. With a protagonist you want to root for, and a society you'll end up hating, I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading about love, adventure or a world gone bad that might have a little good left in it, somewhere (this is the part where I always feel like I'm on Reading Rainbow).

Let me know if you decide to check it out!

image above via Books Complete Me
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9 Books to Add to Your Summer Reading List

So my friend posted a photo of her daughter's Scholastic Book Club order today on Instagram and I just about freaked out as a million memories came rushing back. I can remember so vividly whenever we'd get those tissue thin flyers chock full of things to circle, check, underline, whatever! New books with the coolest covers, exciting titles that drew me in as I scanned the page, and baby animal posters! Please tell me you remember those posters...

So I had to visit the Scholastic website and indulge my nostalgic side. I love that these flyers still exist, for every grade, and now my one wish for the summer is that Scholastic would make one for adults! How cool would that be?!

In its absence, I thought I would make a list of some books to add to your list. Some of these I've read (see previous reviews grouped together here and here) and some are on my to-read list too!

Now all I need is a comfy lounge chair and a glass of lemonade. Cheers!

Everyday // Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness // The Light Between Oceans

The Fault in Our Stars // Tell the Wolves I'm Home: A Novel // The Age of Miracles

Beautiful Creatures // Eleanor & Park // I Love Everybody (and Other Atrocious Lies): True Tales of a Loudmouth Girl

p.s. I've talked about The Fault in Our Stars and The Age of Miracles so many times here but for good reason- I LOVE them. If you haven't read either, be sure to add them to your list first.  And then next read The Light Between Oceans, another book I recently fell in love with!

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Book Review: Beautiful Creatures

You know when you see something once, then all of a sudden see it everywhere? That's kind of what happened with Beautiful Creatures. I had never heard of it before, but suddenly after seeing mentioned on a morning news show, I saw movie previews, Amazon recommendations, you name it. And then later that week I was between books when I decided to just give it a try, even though it looked kind of cheesy. Thank goodness for book samples on the Kindle, right?

So I downloaded a sample and was immediately hooked. I LOVED it, and bought the book right then and there. I stayed up for a good hour or so reading and enjoyed every minute.

A couple things about this book- it's a YA title, so it's in the same vein as Twilight. I wouldn't compare it to Twilight as far as writing (the writing in Beautiful Creatures is much better) but I would say that it's in that same genre- magical, mysterious, with a fantasy element. But that's where the comparision ends. The story is a Southern Gothic, and tells the tale of Ethan Wate, a high schooler living in a small, sleepy South Carolina town whose entire world is turned upside down upon the arrivel of newcomer Lena Duchannes, even though she has haunted him in his dreams for months. I don't want to say another word because I feel like part of the magic for me was knowing nothing about the story- but just know that I was left holding my breath until the very end, thoroughly enjoying the magical journey these characters took me on. And at 563 pages, it's a long journey- which was so welcome. So many YA books these days feel rushed but because the book is so substantial, characters were incredibly well-developed and I was really able to get into the plot.

And even better? When I finished the book I realized it was part of a four-book series. I started the second right away and it was JUST as good as the first. I'm on number three now and loving it too.

I highly recommend Beautiful Creatures (and the series) if you're looking for a little escape- if you like fantasy and suspense, or even if you just like romance. Some people may find parts of it cheesy (I didn't at all, but I know I'm not always the most cynical person). Overall though, I feel like most readers would enjoy this book, as there's something for everyone. 

Have you read it? What did you think? If you do decide to give it a try, please let me know your thoughts!

xoxo

Read & Do: If You Give a Moose a Muffin

I talk about it often, but growing up I was lucky enough to have a Mom who was not only an elementary school teacher but also a librarian, so my life was always books, books, books. And so often my Mom would also do an activity with us that went along with whatever book we were reading that made the pages come to life. I have some of the best memories of cooking food and making fun things with my family in our little yellow house, tucked away in the forest. And now that Henry is older and is all about making things and helping out, I thought it would be fun to start a tradition where we do the same!

For the first Read & Do I picked a book that has been on heavy bedtime reading rotation lately- If You Give a Moose a Muffin. Henry LOVES this book, and I like it too; the moose is huge and silly, and the story is adorable. It's by the same authors of If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, so I'm sure you can guess how the story goes.

So this morning we read the book for the 1000th time, then we got out muffin-making ingredients (and blackberry jam, the moose's favorite!), and got to baking. We used an old favorite clean-eating oatmeal-applesauce muffin recipe I make often, and I'll include it below as well.

Henry and I had the best time getting covered in flour, counting out all of the ingredients, and then eating the fruits of our labor. He kept saying "I made these, Mommy!" with a huge smile on his face. I already can't wait to choose our next book, and I'm thinking next time I should get out the tripod so I can snap some of us together, too. Enjoy!

Oatmeal Applesauce Muffins (from the Eat-Clean Cookbook)

Ingredients:
1 cup dry, old-fashioned oatmeal flakes
1 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/2 cup skim, rice, soy, or almond milk
2 egg whites, beaten (vegans, you can substitute egg-replacer also- I've tried it and it works well with this recipe)
2 tbsp ground flaxseed
2 tbsp + 1tsp canola oil
1 tbsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
3/4 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup dried fruit of your choice (try to get unsulfured and unsweetened if you can)

Directions:
1) Preheat over to 375 degrees. Prepare muffin tin with cupcake liners.
2) Combine oatmeal, applesauce, milk, eggs, flax and oil in a medium bowl.
3) In another medium bowl, combine dry ingredients, including dried fruit.
4) Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour wet ingredients into it. Stir until all ingredients are just combined.
5) Fill muffin cups 3/4 full. Bake 15-20 minutes (we baked ours for about 15-16).  Cool and enjoy!

Book Review: The Silver Linings Playbook

Earlier this week I tweeted, "Ever finish a book and want to cry because it’s over and you’ll never get to read it for the first time ever again? Yeah, that." I was talking about The Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick. Honestly, it's hands down one of the best books I've read in a long time, kind of on the same level as The Fault in Our Stars. It's hard to explain all of the emotions it brought out of me; at times I was crying, then laughing, then shaking my head at the sheer happiness it brought out of me. It's funny and touching, heartbreaking and heartwarming, all at once.

I first heard about this book because of the movie. In fact, I had no idea the book even existed. But while watching the Golden Globes it was impossible to miss- the movie was mentioned a million times, garnering many nominations and a win too, for Jennifer Lawrence. I didn't really know anything about the film though, from the 5-second clips I saw over and over, and I wasn't exactly interested outside of just wanting to know what the hype was all about.

So last week while on Amazon picking out samples for my Kindle (one of my favorite things to do), this book was in the middle of my recommendations. I actually thought it was the DVD at first, so I skimmed over it, but when I had a hard time finding books I was excited about, I went back through my recommendations and clicked through. And I'm SO happy I did.

I started the book that night, and immediately got lost in its unique perspective and story. It's beautiful. The story centers upon its protagonist, Pat Peoples, who is released from a mental hospital at the start of the book. I hate summarizing books for fear of giving anything away (I prefer to know nothing about a novel going into it), but just know the book deals with Pat's life; his "recovery," with love, with hope, with family...and with Kenny G.  There were so many times I found myself just smiling ear to ear as I read- and unable to put the book down. I read it in two days and was thoroughly depressed when it was over. To me it was part Catcher in the Rye (odd comparison, maybe), part The Fault in Our Stars, and part any wonderful, sweet novel I've ever read that inspires hope. And yes, even though it's a novel that deals with dark topics, in its own quirky way I was left feeling inspired, hopeful, and smiling.

Read it, and when you do, let me know how much you loved it! Hank's reading it now, and when he's done I can't wait to see the movie together, which I heard is wonderful too.


image above via Amazon
I used Amazon Affiliate linking in this post. If you'd prefer to view the book without my affiliate link, feel free to click here instead! :)  

Book Review: The Age of Miracles

I finished The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker this evening, after poring over every word, reading and rereading every line in it. I'm not really sure how to even begin talking about it besides telling all of you to read it- to just go get it, to go pick up this novel that is somehow more like a long poem, page after page.

The Age of Miracles is fiction, although I feel like it could be real, which is strange and scary all at once. Without giving too much away I will say that it is about our world right now gone wrong- how a "slowing" of the Earth's rotation suddenly happens, and it's about what happens next. The writing is beautiful, pages full of the sharpest imagery and words that just click together like they were meant to be written precisely in that way. There are many stories in one- the Earth's story, a family's story, a growing up story that reminds me a lot of my own sometimes awkward adolesence, and a love story...a beautiful, touching story that brought me back to being 11-years old myself, falling in love with the boy on the skateboard.

This is a special book, a book for adult fiction lovers, YA fiction lovers, Sci-Fi lovers....anyone who loves good read. It made me laugh and cry, and I found myself squeezing in 5 minutes, 10 minutes of reading whenever I could.

Just watch this trailer for the book, then get yourself a copy...and let me know what you think.

xoxo

Bookworms and Small Fries

I'll be back with my Literate & Stylish post later today, but in the meantime I wanted to point all of you over to Small Fry, to read about our current favorite kiddo books, along with some other amazing ladies.  It's such a fun feature and I can't wait to see Part Two tomorrow! Thanks for having me, Small Fry!

Judy Blume, Henry, and Me

The other day while at my parents’ house, my Dad brought out some extra-large boxes full of books from my younger years. I’ve always been an avid reader, but when I went off to college to share a teeny tiny dorm room, my book collection had to stay behind to make room for a mini-fridge. In hindsight, my freshman fifteen probably would have appreciated the books rather than a place to keep beer cold but hey, what can ya do? Luckily my parents aren’t insane and instead of giving my half-ton of young adult literature to the Salvation Army, they boxed them up for safe keeping.

So on that day just last month, when the boxes came out of the garage clearly labeled “D’s Books,” my heart did a hop-skip-jump in my chest as I remembered all of the treasures that lay inside the cardboard containers. For me, reading was a huge part of everything from as far back as I can remember. Reading Rainbow, summer reading programs, Book It, and I even recall wanting to invite the head librarian, Doris, to my 8th birthday party. I never thought I was too cool to read and actually, I thought you were so not cool if you didn’t. I devoured books as quickly as I could, often finding myself in the middle of three or four at a time, and the sight of me teeter-tottering out of the library, books stacked high in my arms as my Mom helped lead me over to the car, was not uncommon. My young-adult literature obsession started with books like A Wrinkle in Time (still love it), worked through the Babysitter’s Club (I was totally a non-diabetic Stacey with a touch of Claudia and Kristy), and took hold in all things Judy Blume (my hero).

Judy really did it for me, and I found myself reading and re-reading her books every few months. I loved Deenie (hated Mrs. Fenner), couldn’t get enough of Tiger Eyes, cried right along as Linda aka “Blubber” was ostracized, and like many young girls, my most favorite was Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. There I was, a slightly awkward preteen living in a small, rural New Jersey town, quite naive to the world, learning all about first kisses and padding your bra, the weird classmate who might actually be cool and menstruation belts. Ah, the menstruation belts. Even now the chapters involving the belts and pads are still really strange. Looking back I remember being totally confused. I mean, I guess those people way back then had to use archaic contraptions like that…but now, holy shit. And “Teenage Softies”? Don’t even get me started.

But anyway, moving away from period talk and back to literature...later on when I was a high school English teacher I tried to explain the wonder of libraries and Judy Blume to my students during a book club unit.

Me: “I used to rush into the library straight to the YA section, snatching up any books that looked interesting. I judged by cover, by the back, by the first page and then I would find myself a corner and read the afternoon away. Judy Blume books were my favorite – she so got what it’s like to be a teenager. I can seriously still think back and remember reading some of her books for the first time. It was magical.”

Student: “Mrs. Hampton, first of all, you’re so funny (quick note: when students call you funny they mean really, really weird) but secondly, but do you know if you can get her books on my Kindle? The library is so freaking annoying and it smells bad.”

Me: “What smells bad? The library?! And don’t say ‘freaking’.”

Student: “Yes. The library. Books. They smell old and weird. I would rather just download to my Kindle and not even go there.”

Another student: “Seriously. Ugh, I hate the library, books do smell. Plus I feel like there’s no point to books now that they make movies into everything, you know? Kind of a waste of time.” (Most of the class nodded in agreement.)

And then… my heart broke into a million pieces. Seriously? My students didn’t like the library? I feel like who I am today, is because of a few things, two of them being the library and Judy Blume. Not that everyone has to love what I love, but to not even like the library a little? Shame of shames.

I think a lot about these kinds of things now that I’m a Mom. How can I convey a love of reading to our son Henry? In this world of instant gratification- 60-second downloaded books, interactive Facebook pages, and the 140-character share- everything is fast, fast, fast. Sitting down to read a 300-page book? No time, man, no time. Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m a e-reader fan and I’m borderline obsessed with my Kindle. But I DO know the beauty and wonder of books, the excitement of the “new literature” section in the library, and the quiet joy felt passing time turning pages in a comfortable chair. Kids should have a favorite author, or a favorite book. They should at least be exposed to these things so that someday, years later, they don’t make up the 75% of a sophomore English class agreeing that books are indeed a waste of time.

So, it is my goal to make sure that Henry grows up knowing all about the wonder of the library (and maybe even Judy Blume, too). It’s my mission to make sure he’s never too cool for reading. If he is in a class of book-haters, perhaps he can be the Guy Montag in the room, the one to stand up and say, “No no no, you’ve got it all wrong." It’s my goal to expose him to libraries and story time, to make-believe and creativity via the written word. And later, if he doesn’t like it, fine. But at least I tried. And if that trying includes me making LeVar Burton a fixture in our home and downloading every Reading Rainbow episode in existence, or resurrecting a Book It of my very own, paying him in personal pan pizzas to read chapter books, so be it! This boy will read.

*This one of the many pieces I'll be re-sharing here over the next year. This originally published on Hello Giggles, but since I am not writing for them anymore, it's important to me to have all of my writing in one place. If this is the second time you've seen this, I hope you didn't mind too much! Thank you for reading!

Happy Library Card Sign-Up Month!

This week I have a handful of blogger friends filling in with little posts for me while I'm gone. First up is my sweet pal Diana from Our City Lights. I'm sure you've already stopped by her blog, but if you haven't, be sure to check it out. Diana is one of my favorite people on the planet, and her blog is total extension of her: smart, beautiful and witty. It's a must-read, for sure.

And on the subject of libraries and books, this is one of three book-related posts I have set for this week. Fun! And with that said, here's Diana...

No, it's not your Visa, your MasterCard or even a poker chip.

It's your library card.

Seriously, your library card. You do have a library card, right? I know most of the readers of this blog venerate the library, but I know there's a few of you who don't even have a card yet. Don't think of the library as the moldy dark place for just books. Most libraries have had quite the facelift.

The services offered are ridiculous- besides the obvious free books, there's free wifi, free music, free new movies, free video games, free classes, freeeee! Find out what they have with WorldCat, an item search for any library.

The way to keep this going? Go support your local library. Pick up a new recipe book. Pick up a how-to book on Photoshop, or Gossip Girl Season 3 (oh, wait, I did that already). Pick up a book on Chanel to inspire you beyond the fashion blogs we read, pick up new music to add to your iPod. The list goes on.

Libraries need more support than ever. Yes, funds are needed, but you, the patron, must do nothing more than pick up one of the most powerful cards you will own in your wallet- your library card.


Why else should you sign up for a card? It's Happy Library Card Sign-Up month. If you have a library card already, you are in the rare category of Americans. If not, sign up already. Join the flickr group to join in!