Books Bought #15

Books Bought is a weekly meme that I host on my blog on a weekly bases. The purpose of this meme is to list all the books you bought this past week. These books can be bought in various ways such as online, in store, library sales, yard sales, second hand book stores etc you get the idea.

Here is what I bought this past week. What books did you buy this week and why?

These books I bought from a friend who was going to take them to a second hand bookstore to sell so I saved her a trip and besides once I saw this book I told her I would trade Stephanie's newer book for this one when I was done with it.
-I wanna be Your Joey Ramone by Stephanie Kuehnert

-Strange Angels by Lili St. Crow

-The Secret Identity of Devon Delaney by Lauren Barnholdt

-Four Truths and a lie by Lauren Barnholdt

-Two Way Street by Lauren Barnholdt

The following books I bought when I went to Chapters with Donna Thursday night. I tried to show some restraint but it was pretty hard. Here is the goodies that followed me home:

-How I live now by Meg Rosoff

-Living Dead Girls by Elizabeth Scott

-Royal Blood by Rona Sharon

-A Summer Affair by Elin Hilderbrand

-Barefoot by Elin Hilderbrand

Summer House Review & Pump Up Your Promo Tour

PUB DATE: June 2009



Thank You to Dorothy at Pump Up Your Promotion for sending me this book and allowing me to be a part of the July virtual tour of it.


This is Nancy Thayer's latest book. I just love the cover of it and if this doesn't say summer then I don't know what does. How I would love to be there right now.

Nancy Thayer has written several New York Times best sellers. Before signing up for this tour I have to admit that I have never heard of Nancy before and after reading Summer House I am curious at pick up some of her earlier books to read.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

At thirty, Charlotte Wheelwright remains the dreamer she’s always been. But when she begins an organic garden on a portion of her grandmother’s land, Charlotte learns to plant her feet in solid ground and begins to build a new life.


More often than not, ninety-year-old Nona Wheelwright contentedly spends her time reminiscing about days gone by. But with her family’s annual reunion and financial meeting looming, Nona must give up her days of quiet solitude to soothe her easily riled up family.

For decades Charlotte’s mother, Helen, who married into the illustrious Wheelwright family, has been pressured to adhere to their way of life. But when, during the course of the family’s annual summer retreat, she discovers her husband’s betrayal, Helen wonders if she sacrificed her dreams for the wrong reasons.

Artfully written and set on the glorious island of Nantucket, Nancy Thayer’s Summer House is a vibrant and stirring novel about family, love, and daily choices that affect entire lives.


New York Times calls it, "a Nantucket family-reunion story...well-wrought, appealing book will come as a pleasant surprise...packed with literally down-to-earth charm, what with a central character who escapes her family of starchy bankers by lovingly tending her vegetable garden."

MY THOUGHTS:

This is my first time reading anything by Nancy Thayer and I have to say I really enjoyed reading the book. I am just wondering if this story will be continued as there was alot of open gaps that left me wondering alot of things.

While I was reading it I have to admit that Nona was my favorite. I loved reading about her memories. She seems like a great grandmother to have. It was nice reading them as it made you feel you were actually there with her.

Summer House is about three generations of Wheelwright's. The Wheelwrights run a very well known bank in Nantucket that has been the family business for many generations.

From the outside it looks like the Wheelwrights have the perfect lives but on the inside its not what it appears.

The three main characters in the book seem to tell the story. There is Nona who is the matriarch of the Wheelwright's and is 90 years old. She has two grown children, Grace & Worth. Grace is married and has three grown daughters. Worth is married to Helen and has three grown children as well. Their daughter Charlotte is 30 and is living with Nona.

Nona gave us a glimpse into her life from the time she was introduced into the Wheelwright family. She over heard Herb's(her deceased husband)mother and father telling her they didn't think she was good enough for the family when she was younger. She tried very hard to fit into this family. She always wondered when and if she would fit in.

Helen is in her 60s and is having to deal with alot of things and basically has alot on her plate. What will she do when she finds out about Worth's secret life? Will she be able to confide in anyone? Will she be able to forgive him? She wonders when will she be a grandmother. She is very much like Nona trying to fit into the family and basically just goes with the flow.

Charlotte is Helen's 30 year old daughter who is basically a free spirit. She is a dreamer and that is what the family sees her as. She has no real goals in her life and never sees things through. When she goes to live with Nona she feels as though she has found her calling in life and has set up an organic farm. When the family hears she made a profit they feel as though their is favorites within the family. Is that true? Will she be able to see things through and start a new life? What will Nona have to say about letting Charlotte having that little piece of land to the family? Will she be able to find happiness and be with a man, Coop or Whit?

It was nice to read Summer House because it appears as though this family has it all but when you look behind close doors they aren't that perfect family the appear to be. Each family has their own secrets and some surprising then others.

Reading Summer House I almost felt like I was there. I love a book like that. I think one day I will have to go to Nantucket.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Nancy Thayer is the New York Times-bestselling author of The Hot Flash Club, The Hot Flash Club Strikes Again, Hot Flash Holidays, The Hot Flash Club Chills Out, and Moon Shell Beach. She is also the author of a new June release, Summer House. She is the mother of Samantha Wilde, whose debut novel, This Little Mommy Stayed Home, comes out on June 23. Nancy lives on Nantucket.



You can visit her website at http://www.nancythayer.com/.

Two Years, No Rain Review & TLC Book Tours

PUB DATE: June 2009

I have to say Thank You to Lisa at TLC Book Tours for allowing me to be a part of the tour for Two Years, No Rain.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

An earnest journey from heartache to heartthrob and all the emotions along the way; at once an old-fashioned love story and a cautionary tale of self-reinvention.

In San Diego County, it hasn’t rained in 580 days. But for weatherman Andy Dunne, everything else is changing fast…Only a few weeks ago, he was a newly divorced, slightly overweight meteorologist for an obscure satellite radio station, hiding his secret love for a colleague, the beautiful—and very much married—Hillary Hsing. But nearly overnight, Andy has landed a new gig, flying a magic carpet in a bizarre live-action children’s TV show. So what is affable, basically decent Andy Dunne going to do now that he can do practically anything he wants? With a parade of hot moms begging for his autograph and a family that needs his help more than ever, Andy has a lot of choices. First, though, there’s this thing with Hillary, their heated text messages, a long-awaited forecast for rain – and a few other surprises he never saw coming.

MY THOUGHTS:

I have to admit I was gushing when I opened Two Years, No Rain to read for two reasons, one this book sounded really good when I heard about it and the second was that it was a signed copy. I always get excited when I discover a book that is sent is a signed copy.

Shawn is a new to me author. He wrote Jessica Z last year. After reading Two Years, No Rain I am really excited to pick you Jessica Z to read. Perhaps in the very near future a review of it will appear on this blog.

I really enjoyed reading Two Years, No Rain and right now I would be willing to send them all the rain we have been having.

Andy is a 30 something guy, newly divorced (living in a house with not furniture) and works at a satellite radio station reporting the weather. Although right now with two years of no rain and nothing in site Andy is having a hard time to report the weather Southern California.

When is love interest Hillary (they have been friends) tells him about a voice audition that is happening he is reluctant at first but with her persuasion he agrees to make a demo and go to the audition. Before Andy realizes it he is hired as the host of the children's show. Which is perfect because at the satellite radio station there is cutbacks and he looses his job.

Andy is trying to deal with his failed marriage and his ex-wife's affair that ended the marriage. Andy is also a family man who cares about his family as he tries to help his sister and her family because her husband is a chaplain who is in the war. He takes Hannah, his niece under his wing because Hannah and her mother are constantly fighting and everyone agrees that being able to have another place to crash whenever Hannah needs it is a good thing. He is also still grieving the loss of his twin brother.

As the book progresses we see that Andy and Hillary (who's unfortunately married) relationship begin to form. Its all just casual flirting by text and phone calls until her husband discovers this and tells Andy to back off. Which they do but then a chance at going to Hong Kong arises, will Andy take Hillary with him? Will this relationship have a chance to blossom like the rosebush Hannah planted in her uncles yard?

I loved Andy he was just your typical guy next door that you would fall in love with. You couldn't help but root for him throughout the book and hoped that he would come out on top in the end.

Another thing I loved about the book was "When the world ends, the readers will be spared. You and I will be spared, together, just because we cherish books." Isn't that a great quote?

Here are some other bloggers who are taking part in this tour:

July 30th (Thursday) Raging Bibliomania
August 3rd (Monday) Chic Book Chick
August 4th (Tuesday) Planet Books
August 10th (Monday) Book Worm with a View
August 12th (Wednesday) Starting Fresh
August 13th (Thursday) Alea Pop Culture
August 18th (Tuesday) Books on the Brain
August 20th (Thursday) Book-a-rama

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

After growing up in the midwest, Shawn Klomparens moved to the Northern Rockies in 1994 for what he thought would be a one-year break from graduate studies. Grad school was quickly forgotten for the mountains, though, and in the fifteen years since he’s worked as a bicycle mechanic, line cook, computer geek, and writer. He continues to live and write in Jackson Hole, Wyoming with his wife and two children.
His debut novel, Jessica Z, came out in 2008. Two Years, No Rain is his second book.

You can check out Shawn's site here.

Dead Until Dark Review

PUB DATE: Originally came out in hard cover January 2008. This version of the book came out September 2008. This is the movie tie in version.

As many of you know Beth Fish Reads is hosting the Sookie Stackhouse Reading Challenge. The challenge is to read all nine books in this series by June 30, 2010.

I saw this on twitter in June and decided that I wanted to take part in this knowing that I probably could finish this challenge without a problem. I have managed to convince my partner in crime Donna and hoping to have convinced Michael to take part in this challenge too. Its easy 9 books to read in the next year. How hard could that be right? I have bought all 8 books for now and I am hoping that by the time I get to the 9th one it will be in paperback. I am one down and 8 to go.

The books in this series are:
Dead Until Dark *COMPLETED*

Living Dead in Dallas

Club Dead

Dead to the World

Dead as a Doornail

Definitely Dead

All Together Dead

From Dead to Worse

Dead and Gone

Charlaine Harris is the author of 28 books. This is a new to me author. Dead Until Dark is the first book in the Sookie Stackhouse series. True Blood is an original series that is based on the Sookie Stackhouse novels that airs on Sunday nights on HBO.

When I first picked up Dead Until Dark to read I wasn't sure at first and kept thinking to myself what did I just get myself into? I am not into the gory, scary stuff and I can't watch horror movies etc because they creep me out. So I am probably sure that I couldn't watch this on HBO.

Surprisingly enough once I started to read the book, I realized that it wasn't going to be gory with details and ended up devouring the book in a weekend. I am so excited to read Living Dead in Dallas and I keep picking it up and wanting to read it but I am trying to limit them to a monthly read if possible.

I loved Sookie. She is a waitress in the towns only bar called Merlotte's in a small town in Louisiana. I felt I could relate to Sookie very well as we both are fairly quiet, don't get out a whole lot (personally I find that come 10:00 PM I want to be home in bed reading), keep to ourselves and back in the day I didn't find or think of myself as dateable. Look at the tv version of Sookie who wouldn't want to date her?

I have to admit that I never read the back of the books when I bought them and I wanted there it be an element of surprise when I read them, so when I came upon people calling her Crazy Sookie and her disability I was curious to find out what it was. I was surprised to find out that it wasn't what I thought it was.

Shortly after the book begins Sookie is working one night and a tall, dark and handsome guy comes in and she discovers his name is Bill Compton. For once Sookie can't read this guy but she does know what he is. She manages to save his life one night and from that point they are together all the time. She likes him and he likes her.

With the arrival of Bill there is suddenly quite a few murders. More then this little town has ever seen. Everyone believes he is behind them and is the prime suspect. When they realize that he isn't behind them the finger is quickly pointed to Sookie's brother Jason as he has been with quite of few of these murdered women. Sookie is on a mission to prove that Jason can't be behind these murders. Is Jason really behind these murders or is he being set up to take the rap for someone else?

I want to say more things about the book but I don't want to spoil it for anyone. All I have to say is that I really enjoyed it and looking forward to starting Living Dead in Dallas in August. If you are looking for a quick and exciting read that is fast paced then let me suggest this to you.

Here are other covers of this book. Which one do you like?

For me I happen to live the above cover with the cartoon like cover mainly because all the over books I bought are done in this format.

Have you read the book? If so let me know and I can add your link to my review.

For more info on Charlaine Harris you can check out her site here.

I am applying this book to my Buy a Book Read a Book Challenge for July. Buy a Book, Read a Book is a yearly challenge that is being hosted by My Friend Amy and you can check out her blog here. For this challenge you basically are required to buy a book a month and read it that month. You are required to read 12 books in the year.

Mailbox Monday/ In My Mailbox

Mailbox Monday and In My Mailbox are weekly memes were you share all the great book goodies you get in the mail. If you would like to take part all you have to do is go to Marcia-Printed Page and Kristi-The Story Siren and leave your comments in their posts or Mr Linky.

What goodies did you get this week?

Here is what I got:

• Three Bags Full by Leonie Swann. This was a contest win from Twitter from Bookmadam (Julie-seen reading)


• The Hope of Refuge by Cindy Woodsmall. This is for the Random House blog tour Aug 3-11th.


• The Late Lamented Molly Marx by Sally Koslow.

I also got a bunch of children books and if you would like to see what I got then please go to Books Upon A Wee One's Shelf. It will be posted in a little bit.

Blue Like Play Dough Tour for WaterBrook Multnomah

Summary:
In the everyday stretch and squeeze of motherhood, Tricia Goyer often feels smooshed by the demands of life. In Blue Like Play Dough, she shares her unlikely journey from rebellious, pregnant teen to busy wife and mom with big dreams of her own. As her story unfolds, Tricia realizes that God has more in store for her than she has ever imagined possible.

Sure, life is messy and beset by doubts. But God keeps showing up in the most unlikely places–in a bowl of carrot soup, the umpteenth reading of Goodnight Moon, a woe-is me teen drama, or play dough in the hands of a child.

In Tricia’s transparent account, you’ll find understanding, laughter, and strength for your own story. And in the daily push and pull, you’ll learn to recognizes the loving hands of God at work in your life… and know He has something beautiful in mind.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Tricia Goyer is the author of numerous works of fiction and nonfiction, including Generation NeXt Parenting and the Gold Medallion finalist Life Interrupted. Goyer writes for publications such as Today’s Christian Woman and Focus on the Family, speaks to women’s groups nationwide and has been a presenter at the Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) national convention. She and her husband, John, live with their family in Montana.

If you are interested you can buy the book here: http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9781601421524

Books Bought #14

Books Bought is a weekly meme that I host here on my blog. If you want to take part please leave a comment with your link and I will be sure to check out your books you bought. I love hearing about new and old books. So please share what you got.

Here is the books I bought this week (July 19th to 25th)

• Ballads of Suburbia by Stephanie Kuehnert (I bought this because Shelly at WriteForReader is having a Big Ballads Blitz. I wanted to be a part of this so I bought the book to support this first time author.)


• Blue Moon by Alyson Noel. This is book 2 in The Immortals series


• Devilish by Maureen Johnson (This was a bargain book I bought)

For my anniversary present I got:

• Hollywood Is Like High School with Money by Zoey Dean


• I am the Messenger by Markus Zusak (Michael from A Few Minutes With Michael recommended this book so I went ahead and bought it.)

This was all the books I bought what did you buy this week?

"Honey, It's All in the Shoes TLC tour

PUB DATE: July 2009

I have to say thank you to Lisa at TLC tours for allowing me to be a part of the tour for this book and to HCI Books for sending me the book.

ABOUT THE BOOK:
Finding your footing has never been so much fun!
Can you remember the magic you felt when you slipped on your mother’s high heels; your very own first pair of pumps; your excursion for the perfect professional pair; the glory of finding the most comfortable shoes, and your first ballet slippers, Mary Janes, or running shoes? In these pairs of shoes reside distinct journeys, phases of life, triumphs and tragedies, precious memories, and lessons learned.
In ‘Honey, It’s All in the Shoes’ Phyllis Norton Hoffman takes you on a journey examining these defining moments, sharing what she has learned when she was required to wear different shoes-from a mother and wife to entrepreneur and businesswoman to publishing powerhouse to doting grandmother- and provides advice for women on putting their best foot forward, no matter their role, circumstance, or stage of life. Hoffman’s fun, nostalgic, and intriguing exploration of the phases of her own life and the virtues that she’s lived by gives you hope, confidences, and pride in the life you are already living and the life you are planning ahead. Everything you need is all in the shoes! Through your own recollections and understanding of what your own shoe closet holds and represents, you will discover your true worth as a woman.

MY THOUGHTS:
I have to admit that for me I don't have a closet full of shoes but I do love looking at shoes. I basically I have a couple pairs of flip flops, sandles, dress books and two pairs of high heel shoes. Nothing to big or anything that compares to Phyllis's collection or I am sure other women's collections.

I wish that when I looked at these shoes special memories came to mind but sadly nothing does for me I think of them just as shoes.

It was nice to read Phyllis's book because it was like walking in her shoes. In her book she talks about the history of shoes, her life and a recipe or two. She talks about growing up in the South and the protocol that Southern women seem to follow even to this day it seems. From the impression I got it seems like money is never an issue but looking good is. Which is so true it doesn't matter if you got money just as long as you look good.

I loved this quote "Just as no two women share the same shoe closet, no two women share the same exact life experiences," and I think we would all agree with this statement. I am sure I have shoes in my closet that no one else has just as no one else has them same life experiences that I have.

Another nice thing about the book was that she included some quotes from celebrities, proverbs, music, movies etc ("I'm not waiting forever to get those shoes!" Wicked Witch of the West -Wizard of Oz). She also has illustrated pictures of shoes, along with illustrations of The Queen, Princess Diana, Dorothy and her ruby red shoes along with many more.

Did you know that the first pair of high heels ever worn in recorded history belongs to a bride and one of the most celebrated women in history? It was Catherine de Medici and it happened in 1533 when she married Henry the second of France.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
A leading figure in the publishing industry, Phyllis Norton Hoffman is majority owner and president of Hoffman Media, LLC.
A native of Hoover, Alabama and a graduate of the University of Alabama in Birmingham, she began her career as a Certified Public Accountant with a nationally known firm before founding a special-interest publication company in 1983 that is now known as Hoffman Media, LLC.

Hoffman is recognized industry-wide as a savvy businesswoman and talented entrepreneur. She serves as the creative engine of the company, producing an ever-widening range of beautiful magazines including TeaTime, Southern Lady, Just CrossStitch, Sew Beautiful, and Taste of the South magazines. She is also a sought-after speaker across the country, a devoted wife and mother and a church and community leader.

OTHER BLOG STOPS:
July 24 at Shhh I'm Reading
July 27 at Talent to Play and Book Nook Club

PURCHASING THE BOOK:

If you are interested in purchasing this book you can do so by going to this site:
HCI BOOKS or Amazon

Mailbox Monday/ In My Mailbox

Mailbox Monday and In My Mailbox is a weekly meme where you post on your blog the books you received in the mail the previous week.

Mailbox Monday is hosted by Marcia and In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi.

If your taking part just remember to go to each of those blogs and leave your comments and post what you got in the mail.

Here is what came to my door this week:

Monday:

Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella (Random House Canada)

Girl On Top by Nicole Williams (a win from twitter via HBG)

Ask Me Anything: Every Fact you Ever Wanted To Know (fall release) from DK Canada along with a DK chicoBag (reusable shoppig bag), a brain stress ball and a spring catalogue. I couldn't find the brain to include in the picture. Michael must have taken it from my basket and put it somewhere.

The Pocket Guide to Boy Stuff by Bart King (Raincoast Books)

Little Oink by Amy Krouse Rosenthal (Raincoast Books)

Lines That Wiggle by Candace Whitman (Raincoast Books)

Duck!Rabbit! by Amy Krouse Rosenthal (Raincoast Books)

The Chronicle 2009 Totebag from Raincoast Books

I am so excited to get the totebag. I was admiring it when Chronicle Books showed the bag when they were at BEA in May. Thank You so very much Raincoast for sending me this totebag. As soon as I open the bag I will take another picture of it.

Tuesday:

The Chic Shall Inherit the Earth by Shelly Adina (book 6th in the All About Us Series)

Wednesday:

14 Cows For America by Carmen Agra Deedy

Thursday: Nothing

Friday:

Chicken Dance by Tammi Sauer

What did you get this week in your mailbox?

Getting To Know a New Blogger...

Welcome to a new monthly feature, Getting to Know A New Blogger, that I will be running on Cindy's Love of Books. Each month I will highlight a blogger that I know that perhaps you have never heard of before today. I figured this would be great in case we all meet up in NYC/BEA next year. This way it wouldn't feel like we were complete strangers.

I am really honored that my very first Getting To Know a New Blogger is
Michael from http://www.afewminuteswithmichael.com/
When I found out that Michael was going to start blogging, I knew he had to be the first because he is truly the only one person in blogging that I have known the longest.




He is new to book blogging but not new to me. I have known Michael since 1988. (Okay I am probably dating myself by saying this LOL) I met him when we started high school in grade 10. Michael was a friend of my cousin and he introduced us. We have been friends ever since then. He is one of a few friends from high school that I keep in touch with and truly love to hear from. Although I am not sure why as I did some pretty crazy things back in the day. LOL But I have to say that I am extremely happy that we did remain friends.

I got to meet up with Michael last summer when I went back home for a visit. He graciously invited us over for supper. This is a picture take last summer from that evening. You can even see Dakota got into the action too with the picture. Dakota is Michael's dog.




Alot has happened in the past year since I last saw Michael. He is now a new dad to a sweet and adorable baby boy. I haven't gotten the chance to meet him yet but thankfully for the little pictures Michael sends via email to me.

Michael graciously agreed to take part in Getting To Know a New Blogger and has answered a few questions for me.

CINDY: I have to ask you what is your favorite book and why?

MICHAEL: There are a few books that I return to again and again, for different reasons. One that comes to mind right now is "It" by Stephen King. It's a story that pulls me in every time I pull open my copy's tattered cover and read the first few paragraphs. Do I consider it to be an example of great literature? No - but I do consider it to be a hell of an example of storytelling.

CINDY: Perhaps I need to try and read Stephen King. I have never read any of his books. I know this question is always asked but I wanted to know If you could spend time with any author, dead or alive who would it be and why?

MICHAEL: I'd go with Horton Foote, one of the best screenwriters and playwrights there was. He's best known for his adaptation of Harper Lee's "To Kill A Mockingbird", for which he won the Oscar, and he also won another Oscar for his "Tender Mercies" screenplay. I would consider it to be an incredible opportunity to discuss with him how he approached adapting works, whether from novel or stage to film or television, and adapting his own works versus adapting another writer's works.

CINDY: I remember watching "To Kill A Mockingbird" in high school and reading the book. I actually ended up buying the book as I really enjoyed reading it. I am curious as to why did you decide to book blog? Please don't say I was the bad influence on you. LOL

MICHAEL:It was your blog - Cindy's Love of Books - that brought book blogs to my attention. It was great to see how you and others were sharing your interest of good books, the whole sense of community. And while I was browsing through the blogs, I also got the sense that people were reading more than they would have otherwise, books that they found out about only through this connectivity. And that element particularly resonated with me, as I had recognized that my book reading over the past few years was sporadic at best. Outside of the screenplays I had read as part my side work as a story analyst or for my screenwriting group, the majority of reading was related to work. So, I decided to rediscover the joy of reading books, and at the same time think about why and how these stories worked (or not) and then share those thoughts through my reviews.

CINDY: Okay so I am a bad influence on you but hopefully in a good way? I have always been a reader but only started to keep track of books I read in 2007. Looking back into my note book I have noticed that my interest in books have changed and I am sure they will continue to change. Do you find your interest in books has changed over the years?

MICHAEL:Definitely. There were plenty of Hardy Boys books passed down from my brothers, and it wasn't long before I was into my father's collection of Robert Ludlum, Frederick Forsyth, Clive Cussler, Alistair MacLean and John LeCarre. Into that I gradually mixed some of the classics of fantasy like Tolkien's Lord of the Rings and Fritz Leiber's Fafhrd and Gray Mouser adventures, and sci-fi like Asimov's Foundation series. It was university where my reading broadened as a counterbalance to my science degree. English, history and philsophy courses pushed me into the Iliad and Aeneid, Abelard & Heloise, The Divine Comedy, Aristotle and Avicenna, and so on. And that hooked me enough to make me come back after my degree was completed to do a degree in philosophy, which lead to studying Greek and Latin, and quite a bit more reading and analysis. After my graduate work, there was a long stretch of technical and business reading for my job, and it was only after I started the screenwriting courses through UCLA that I realized how little reading I was doing for myself. So I dove into screenplays almost exclusively, while working on my own screenplay drafts. And now, thanks to the book blogging community, I am getting back into a wide variety of books, many of which I would not have been aware of if not for this community.

CINDY: Even though I have known you for 20 years and figured you would read Sci Fi I never knew about the other books you have read. I agree with you, since blogging I have read alot of books that I normally wouldn't have read other wise. I am so much aware now of new authors and stepping outside my comfort zone. Since getting into book blogging I am more aware of when books are coming out and having the chance now to see some of the titles that are coming out in the fall 2009 I have to ask you what book are you looking forward to reading and why?

MICHAEL:The screenplay for Slumdog Millionaire, to find out whether I would have voted for it to get the Oscar. In addition to reading books, I'm about to launch into a new round of screenplay reading. There's a stack of about 150 screenplays, like American Beauty, The Shawshank Redemption, and Double Indemnity - that I ordered through eBay which I will soon have my hands on, and they will become part of a new weekly meme that I'll be doing in the near future on my blog as well. So you have the world exclusive on announcing this upcoming meme - Screenplay Saturdays over at A Few Minutes with Michael.

Michael you will have to keep us posted on how "Screenplay Saturdays" is going and when it will make its official debut. Thank You again Michael for taking the time out of your busy day to answer these questions. If you haven't already checked out Michael's blog http://www.afewminuteswithmichael.com/ then you really should. He is an awesome blogger and I am not just saying that because he is my friend.

Would you like to be a part of "Getting To Know A New Blogger"?

If you happen to follow me and I am unaware then please let me know and I will add you to the list of Getting to Know a New Blogger or even if you are a blogger and want to take part leave me a message in this post and email at cindysloveofbooksarc AT gmail DOT com.