Mailbox Monday October 31

Happy Halloween! We had trick or treat in our neck of the woods yesterday. It was cold, windy and rainy! Not ideal weather for trick or treaters. We had a few brave kids but not as many as we usually have.

It's Monday and we all know what that means! Mailbox Monday! This months hostess is Serena at Savvy Verse and Wit.

I received a few books this week for review, plus a surprise audiobook and a gorgeous bookmark I won from a mini-challenge during Dewey's Read-a-thon. It's a beautiful variegated knitted bookmark. My picture does not do the bookmark justice. Trust me, it is gorgeous! I won it from Fancy Terrible Book Reviews. Thank you ladies! Be sure to stop by and say "hi" to them!

These are the books I received.

The Third Reich(audiobook) by Roberto Bolano read by Simon Vance-courtesy of MacMillan Audio

The Dressmaker by Kate Alcott-courtesy of Doubleday Books

The World We Found by Thrifty Umrigar-courtesy of Harper Collins

The America's Test Kitchen Menu Cookbook-courtesy of Amazon Vine

So that is what came into my home last week. What new reads made their way into your home?

Yankee Doodle Dixie by Lisa Patton

Yankee Doodle Dixie by Lisa Patton

Hardcover: 304 pages
Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books (September 13, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0312556934
ISBN-13: 978-0312556938

Summary

A charmingly funny testament to second chances in life and love from the acclaimed author of Whistlin’ Dixie in a Nor’easter

Lisa Patton won the hearts of readers last year, her book Whistlin’ Dixie in a Nor’easter became a sleeper-success. Building on a smashing debut, Lisa’s poised to go to the next level—because whether in Vermont snow or in Memphis heat, Dixie heroine Leelee Satterfield is never too far from misadventure, calamity...and ultimately, love.

Having watched her life turn into a nor’easter, 34-year-old Leelee Satterfield is back home in the South, ready to pick back up where she left off. But that’s a task easier said then done…Leelee’s a single mom, still dreaming of the Vermonter who stole her heart, and accompanied by her three best friends who pepper her with advice, nudging and peach daiquiris, Leelee opens another restaurant and learns she has to prove herself yet again. Filled with heart and humor, women’s fiction fans will delight in this novel.

My Thoughts

This is the sequel to Whistlin' Dixie in a Nor'Easter. This book could be read asa stand along since the beginning does bring you up to date on Leelee Satterfield's story but I would recommend reading both books in order. Why would you want to miss out on the fun?

This book picks up with Leelee arriving back home in Memphis. It doesn't take Leelee long to realize that life as she knew it in Memphis is about to change. She is now a single mother who needs to support her daughters and find a place to live. I admired how Leelee picked up her boot straps and took care of business, in her usual hilarious way. Leelee once again charmed her way into my heart and had me laughing.

Lisa Patton has introduced us to some new characters in this book while bringing back some old faces from the previous book. In this book we get to see more of Leelee's best friends, who are just as entertaining as Leelee. We also get to see more of Kissie, the woman who was hired to care for Leelee as a baby. Such a wonderful, gentle soul. There is also Riley, Leelee's extremely, annoying neighbor. I really wanted to wring his neck. Leelee has the patience of a saint with him. Not so sure I could have been as gracious. There are also many quirky characters where Leelee finds a job at a radio station. Wherever Leelee goes, fun is sure to follow.

This is another heartwarming, fun story. I hope Lisa Patton isn't done writing about Leelee yet! Leelee's story can brighten even the darkest day! It's pure adorable, Southern fun!

I received this book from Amazon Vine for my honest opinion

Whistlin Dixie in a Nor'easter by Lisa Patton

Whistlin' Dixie in a Nor'easter by Lisa Patton

Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books (September 29, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0312556608

Summary
Leelee Satterfield seemed to have it all: a gorgeous husband, two adorable daughters, and roots in the sunny city of Memphis, Tennessee. So when her husband gets the idea to uproot the family to run a quaint Vermont inn, Leelee is devastated…and her three best friends are outraged. But she’s loved Baker Satterfield since the tenth grade, how can she not indulge his dream? Plus, the glossy photos of bright autumn trees and smiling children in ski suits push her over the edge…after all, how much trouble can it really be?

But Leelee discovers pretty fast that there’s a truckload of things nobody tells you about Vermont until you live there: such as mud season, vampire flies, and the danger of ice sheets careening off roofs. Not to mention when her beloved Yorkie decides to pick New Year’s Eve to go to doggie heaven-she encounters one more New England oddity: frozen ground means you can’t bury your dead in the winter. And that Yankee idiosyncrasy just won’t do.

The inn they’ve bought also has its host of problems: an odor that no amount of potpourri can erase, tacky décor, and a staff of peculiar Vermonters whose personalities are as unique as the hippopotamus collection gracing the fireplace mantle. The whole operation is managed by Helga, a stern German woman who takes special delight in bullying Leelee for her southern gentility. Needless to say, it doesn’t take long for Leelee to start wondering when to drag out the moving boxes again.

But when an unexpected hardship takes Leelee by surprise, she finds herself left alone with an inn to run, a mortgage to pay, and two daughters to raise. But this Southern belle won’t be run out of town so easily. Drawing on the Southern grit and inner strength she didn’t know she had, Leelee decides to turn around the Inn, her attitude and her life. In doing so, she makes friends with her neighbors, finds a little romance, and realizes there’s a lot more in common with Vermont than she first thought.

In this moving and comedic debut, Lisa Patton paints a hilarious portrait of life in Vermont as seen through the eyes of a southern belle readers won’t soon forget. A charming fish-out-of-water tale of one woman who learns to stand up for herself-in sandals and snow boots-against the odds.

My Thoughts

I adored this book! Leelee Satterfield is a somewhat spoiled southern belle but she caught my heart right off the bat with her charm. She is quite the character. When she follows her husband to Vermont to open an inn, something neither of them knows anything about, the fun begins! Leelee is a fish out of water but she is determined to make those around her happy. The cultural differences between Leelee's southern roots and Vermont are very entertaining. It is like night and day! Leelee kept me laughing through the whole book.


This is a cute story that is entertaining and will keep you laughing. It is not a serious, intellectual read but a humorous look at the differences between Southerners and us Yankees. It is a light read that will leave you feeling good at the end. Just sit back and enjoy! I am looking forward to reading more of Leelee's antics!


This book was a win from Dewey's Read-a-thon (quite awhile ago)

WWW Wednesday October 26

WWW Wednesday is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading.

To play along, just answer the following three questions…
• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you’ll read next?

What are you currently reading?

The American Heiress by Daisy Goodwin

I am loving this book. I have both the book and the audiobook and am using both.

What did you recently finish reading?

Whistlin' Dixie in a Nor'easter by Lisa Patton

Yankee Doodle Dixie by Lisa Patton

These two books were fun and entertaining. Be sure to come back Thursday and Friday for my reviews on both books.

Wonderstruck by Brian Selznik

This is a fabulous children's book! Click on the title for my review.

What do you think you’ll read next

Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs


I'm hoping to swipe this back from my daughter who swiped it before I had a chance to read it.

Wonderstruck

Wonderstruck by Brian Selznik

Reading level: Ages 9-12
Hardcover: 608 pages
Publisher: Scholastic Press; 1 edition (September 13, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0545027896
ISBN-13: 978-0545027892

Summary from Goodreads

Set fifty years apart, two independent stories—Ben's told in words and Rose's in pictures—weave back and forth with mesmerizing symmetry. How they unfold and ultimately intertwine will surprise you, challenge you, and leave you breathless with wonder.

Ever since his mom died, Ben feels lost.
At home with her father, Rose feels alone.

He is searching for someone, but he is not sure who.
She is searching for something, but she is not sure what.

When Ben finds a mysterious clue hidden in his mom's room,
When a tempting opportunity presents itself to Rose

Both children risk everything to find what's missing.

With over 460 pages of original drawings and playing with the form he invented in his trailblazing debut novel, The Invention of Hugo Cabret, Brian Selznick once again sails into uncharted territory and takes readers on an awe-inspiring journey. Rich, complex, affecting and beautiful, Wonderstruck is a stunning achievement from a uniquely gifted artist and visionary.

My Thoughts

This was my first read by this author and I have to say I was very impressed! I saw a copy of this book in my local bookstore and was impressed with the artwork. The artwork had piqued my curiosity.

The book tells two layered stories, one through illustrations and one through words. The illustrated story is the story of Rose, who is enamored with a silent movie star named Lillian Mayhew. The written story is the story of Ben, who is grieving over his mother and wonders who and where his father is. Both Rose and Ben found a special place in my heart right away. You can't help but feel compassion for both characters. Rose and Ben's stories happen 50 years apart from each other and for the longest time I couldn't figure out how they were related. The suspense was building in me. Eventually the two stories come together in a way I never imagined! I found this a unique way to tell a story and I think it is a great way to tell a story to children. I don't want to say any more about the story as I don't want to spoil one moment of this delightful story for any reader. The story is a delectable journey that you will want to savor. I could not put this book down and read it straight through!

The pencil drawings are stunning and remarkable! The written story is creative and the descriptions are wonderfully vivid! Brian Selznick is extremely talented! This is a book you do not want to miss!

This is a wonderful story for all ages. I think kids and adults will enjoy this. The recommended ages are 9 years old and up or 4th grade and up. I have to agree with the recommended ages. There are some subjects that might be too sad or intense for younger children. I suggest you read it and decide if it is okay for your younger children.

I received this book through Amazon Vine for my honest opinion.

Mailbox Monday October 24

It's Monday and we all know what that means! Mailbox Monday! This months hostess is Serena at Savvy Verse and Wit.

I survived Dewey's Read-a-thon! We should have t-shirts that say that! I managed to get three books read before conking out in the wee hours of the morning. Not bad seeing my day normally begins at 5 am. Sunday morning was painful! As soon as the dogs had been put out, fed and got their medicine, I went back to bed until 9 am! I never sleep that late. Last night we had a bad storm come through but I slept right through it all! Guess I was tired!

I only received one book this week. That is okay by me. I have many books to catch up on. I purchased this book with a coupon. I can't pass up a good book or a good coupon!

What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty


Hardcover: 432 pages
Publisher: Amy Einhorn Books/Putnam; Book Club (BCE/BOMC) edition (June 2, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0399157182
ISBN-13: 978-0399157189

Alice Love is twenty-nine years old, madly in love with her husband, and pregnant with their first child. So imagine her surprise when, after a fall, she comes to on the floor of a gym (a gym! she HATES the gym!) and discovers that she's actually thirty-nine, has three children, and is in the midst of an acrimonious divorce.

A knock on the head has misplaced ten years of her life, and Alice isn't sure she likes who she's become. It turns out, though, that forgetting might be the most memorable thing that has ever happened to Alice.

That is what I received last week. What wonderful books made their way into your home?

Dewey's Readathon End of Event Meme

It's over. I had a blast. I read three books and was very happy with that. I didn't make the full 24 hours but I knew that I wouldn't. I finally gave up around 2 a.m. I tried again at 5 but my eyes and brain said no. Thank you to all the hosts and committee members who made it all possible! A special thanks to all the cheerleaders! You guys are awesome! See you in the spring!

1. Which hour was most daunting for you? From midnight on was hard for me. I finally gave up around 2 am and took a nap, woke up at 5 but my eyes hurt so I went back to sleep.

2. Could you list a few high-interest books that you think could keep a Reader engaged for next year? I enjoyed Wonderstruck by Brian Selznik. It was very different and was a quick read.

3. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year? The only suggestion I would have is maybe some easier mini-challenges, at least during the latter hours of the readathon. My brain needed easier challenges then.

4. What do you think worked really well in this year’s Read-a-thon? I liked the list of readers that was alphabetized.

5. How many books did you read? I read 3 books

6. What were the names of the books you read? Wonderstruck by Brian Selznik, Whistlin' Dixie in a Nor'Easter by Lisa Patton, Yankee Doodle Dixie by Lisa Patton.

7. Which book did you enjoy most? I really loved all three books!

8. Which did you enjoy least? NA

9. If you were a Cheerleader, do you have any advice for next year’s Cheerleaders? NA

10. How likely are you to participate in the Read-a-thon again? What role would you be likely to take next time? Of course I will participate again! I wouldn't miss it!

My Ending Stats

How many pages read since last update: 637
How many pages read total: 1110 pages
Number of books read since you started: 3
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 150 minutes
Running total of time spent reading since you started: 558 minutes

Mini-challenges completed: 5 mini challenges completed
Prizes won: The Bakers Wife by Erin Healey (yay!)