Devourer of Books

I’m sure all of us have wondered this, whether we wanted to link to other book bloggers’ reviews or if we just wanted to see whether or not our opinions were in the mainstream.  Sure, we *could* run a Google search, but then all sorts of extraneous stuff comes up.

Luckily, Nicki of Fyrefly’s Books made a solution for us: The Book Blogger Search Engine.  Basically it is a Google search that just searches book blogs.

The only caveat is that she has to actually TELL Google that a site is a book blog and should be searched.  She’s got nearly 1,000 blogs listed now, but perhaps in celebration of Book Blogger Appreciation Week you could check her information page and make sure that a few of your favorite book blogs are listed?  If not, just shoot her a comment and let her know.

Oh!  And don’t forget that you can add the search widget to your blog as well!

Have you heard that Sourcebooks is re-releasing some of the R.F. Delderfield books?  They’ve got “God Is An Englishman,” “Theirs Was The Kingdom,” and “To Serve Them All My Days.”  As part of their promotion of these re-releases, they sent me “God Is An Englishman.”

I found the writing to be quite lovely, but I just couldn’t get into the book.  There was one point when I thought I would be able to do it:

“Empire building isn’t a matter of occupation and annexation any longer.  You have to take these people one by one and train them.  As administrators, as doctors, as shipwrights, as ironmasters.  You have to bring them sanitation and check the endemic killer diseases in their filthy towns and villages.  You need roads, telegraph systems and, above all, railways.”
-p. 7

The above quote really intrigued me, but I still just couldn’t do it.

The problem isn’t so much with the book, as it is with my relationship with the book.  “God Is An Englishman” is a large book and it is one you have to concentrate on fairly well.  You cannot just pick it up here and there while feeding a squirmy baby, as I was trying to do.  I do think I would like to try this sometime in the future, but right now I just cannot give it the attention it deserves.

Check out the publisher’s description, and see if you would be interested:

The first novel in the epic God Is an Englishman series, this book is a stirring saga of England in the 19th century, as the Industrial Revolution takes hold, forever changing the landscape of England and her people.

Adam Swann, scion of an army family, returns home in 1858 after service with Her Majesty’s army in the Crimea and India, determined to build his fortune in the dog-eat-dog world of Victorian commerce. Swann is soon captivated by Henrietta, the high-spirited daughter of a local mill owner. As Swann works to build his name, he and Henrietta share adventures, reversal, and fortune.

A beloved novel by a beloved author, God Is an Englishman is a treasure both for Delderfield fans and the growing legion of fans of historical fiction.

I would like to welcome Christina of Reading Thru The Night to my blog today!  She is my BBAW interview partner.  You can see her interview of me over at Reading Thru The Night.

1. I see that you’re a teacher.  This particularly intrigues me as I’m an ex-teacher myself.  What do you teach?

7th Grade, Advanced Language Arts.

2. Oh, so you’re all about books and words in your job!  Does being a teacher effect what you read or how you blog at all?

In part, teaching does encourage me to read some books that I normally wouldn’t have, like the Sunshine State books.  Generally, the books that are on the middle grade lists aren’t ones that I normally would pick up.  But because I give book talks and in the past we’ve participated in the Battle of the Books (where the students choose the year’s winner) I move pass my judgement.  In most cases, I’m glad that I did.  I’ve read some really cool books because of the list (i.e. The Red Kayak, Kingdom Keepers, Hurt Go Happy).

I still read my own personal books and review those.  My blog represents my outside interests equally.

3. When and why did you start “Reading Thru The Night”?

I found the book blogging community by accident about a year and a half ago.  Once I found one book blog it opened the door for many.  Man was I surprised and stoked.  I lurked for a few months.  I’m the type of person that gets into something, jumps head in, gets a bit obsessive and then moves on.  I didn’t really want to start a blog if I didn’t think I could follow through with it, you know?  Then, being about as original as possible, I decided to blog in January of 09 after committing (again) to read 100 books in a year.

4. What has been the most rewarding experience of blogging?

I know everyone says the community, and it’s true, that’s a big part of it. Everyone and I mean every-ONE has been so positive and kind.  Plus I’ve gotten in the habit of looking to see what my book buddies are reading, you know?  I mean, all of it’s so great.  But the best experience is what the community of bloggers has led me to.  I’ve found so many cool new books.  Books that I would never have checked out had it not been mentioned by another blogger who I dug.  Oh gosh, and I would have never known about Bookmooch.  Wow.  What was my life life before then?  Or LibraryThing?  There’s just too much good bookie stuff out there for a book-nerd like myself!  Who knows if I would have found it on my own!

5. What is the best book you’ve discovered because of book blogs?

I can’t really narrow it down by a book because really it’s the genre of graphic novels.  I was SUCH a snob.  Really.  I would see manga or a GN and roll my eyes.  I’ve raved so many times on my blog about how Persepolis changed my mind…and I wouldn’t have read Persepolis if I wasn’t doing a joint reading with Madeleine’s Book and Photo Blog and I wouldn’t have done the joint reading if it wasn’t for Things Mean Alot.  Ya see? Bookies leading me into new territory.  :D  So, since Persepolis, I went on a graphic novel spree back in June and my opinion on the merit of comics has changed drastically.  There are so many good ones out there!

6. Favorite genres?  Authors?  Best book since you’ve started blogging?

I think that I’m one of the weirdest readers ever.  I can read two nutrition books followed by a vampire book followed by a couple of young adult which then might lead me into literary fiction.  Seriously.  I look back on my monthly lists over the past year and a half and cannot figure out any rhyme or reason.  Part of me wishes I could be more consistent.  You know I love how blogs advertise “YA blog” or “Historical Fiction Hot Spot”… *shrug*  It’s just never going to be me.  Blame it on being a Gemini?

Favorite authors, huh?  Let’s see…this always gets me in trouble right?  I feel like I’m on the hot seat, lol, and in my dramatic mind I picture those actors who accept emmys and they’re rattling off all the people to thank and as they’re walking down the stairs they think to themselves ‘who’d I forget?’.  Ok. So let’s see.  Some forever favorites would include: Tom Robbins, John Irving, Judy Blume, Jodi Piccoult, Laurie Halse Anderson, Neil Gaiman.  Okay.  Who’d I forget?

Best book since blogging huh?  Another tough one.  Each month goes by and I think to myself, “Yes, that’s it! That’s my number one book.”  But I’m going to say that it’s probably We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver.  It’s one of those books that just really makes the audience feel uncomfortable.  Second runner up might be The Actor and the Housewife by Shannon Hale.  Her dialogue in that book was absolutely amazing.

Most disappointing book?  The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold.  It was my first book this year.  I was soooo excited to read it and then it was a total letdown.  Maybe my expectations were set too high?  Everyone else seemed to love it.  What’d I miss?!?

Thanks Christine!

Nothing But Ghosts by Beth Kephart

Nothing has been quite been the same for Katie since her mother died: her father won’t sleep in his bedroom, she has barely spoken to her friends.  Life just seems flatter, less colorful.  To keep herself busy over the summer, Katie has taken a job working in the gardens of a large estate owned by a wealthy recluse, Ms. Martine.  Her gardener, Old Olsen, has them digging through hard packed dirt, ostensibly for a gazebo.  But when Katie arrives early for work and finds Old Olsen acting strangely around the hole, she gets curious and begins researching Ms. Martine and what exactly made her disappear.

Although “Nothing But Ghosts” started a bit slowly for me, it was lovely from the first page.  Katie’s sorrow was palpable, but the book wasn’t depressing.  I was intrigued by the mystery that Katie was attempting to solve and sympathetic to her motivation: after all both Ms. Martine and her mother had disappeared, although in different ways; perhaps if she could figure out what happened to one, she could gain something resembling closure for the other.

I first heard about this book from Amy and was talking with her about it after I finished.  I told her something that I want to share, because I think it perfectly sums up my experience with the book.  I told her that ’by the end I just wanted to give that book a hug’.  Not just Katie, although I’d have liked to give her a hug at many points, not Katie’s father, although I could feel his pain emanating from the pages, but the book itself.  It felt like Kephart was being very vulnerable with this book and pouring bits of her soul onto the pages, and after reading it I felt that I had just spent time with a good friend.

As soon as I finished reading this I put another of Kephart’s books on hold at the library right away.  Highly recommended.

Buy this book from:
Powells.
A local independent bookseller via Indiebound.
Amazon.

There are lots of reasons to love book bloggers, but in honor of Book Blogger Appreciation Week I wanted to share one that has been repeatedly brought to my attention in the last few months.  Book bloggers are really kind, generous people, people who like to share in each others’ lives and who are always willing to celebrate with one another.

I have experienced this caring firsthand while pregnant and after I had my baby.

First, Amy, Michele and Meaghan started the Book Blog Social Club and threw me a baby shower.  The Social Club is now available for others to host celebrations.

As part of my shower, 6 amazing bloggers also chipped in to send me an Amazon gift certificate that is buying Daniel books and diapers.

I thought all that was pretty amazing, but it didn’t even end there.

In addition to SO much support through email and Twitter while I was pregnant and while I was learning how life worked with Daniel, I’ve had more bloggers thoughtfully send Daniel presents.

Marci of Serendipitous Readings knit Daniel adorable booties and a winter bonnet.  I think these might even work for two winters!

Jennifer of Literate Housewife sent Daniel this Winnie the Pooh doll and outfit, as well as this ‘chew on me’ book – he’s figured out that one already.

And finally, Nicki of Fyrefly’s Books knit Daniel this gorgeous blanket, isn’t it lovely?

To all of you who’ve sent Daniel presents and all of you who have given me even one word of advice or encouragement, I appreciate you!