MamaManagement

I've been obsessively listening to audiobooks lately. I have multiple books running on my phone through Audible, plus library books running through Hoopla, AND the kids and I are listening to (and loving) The Emerald Atlas by John Stephens audiobook in the car. Not only am I listening to new books, but I'm also relistening to one of my favorite "pump me up" books, You Are A Badass by Jen Sincero, pretty much any few moments I get. I actually just paused an audiobook so that I could write this blog post. I'm still reading hardcopy, hold-in-my-hand books too, never fear (currently: The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer; just finished: Obsidio (The Iluminae Files book 3...see earlier blog post on that trilogy) and Crazy Rich Asians (which I did not love)). BUT, it's audiobooks that hold my passion and attention right now. I'm not entirely sure why...the ease? the fact that I can listen while I drive or fold laundry or walk the dog? am I just "into" non...

My dear, sweet bibliophiles, I bring you good news of fun adventures in outer space! A few months back, a bookseller in the small, independent bookstore, The Country Bookshop, in Southern Pines, NC, recommended a YA book called Illuminae . And, as I am want to do when other book lovers recommend books to me, I bought it, without reading the blurb or first page or anything else. Fast-forward to a couple of weeks ago...I picked it up. When I finished it just a few days later, I put book two in the series on hold at the library. (Moving quickly on to book two, or moving on to it at all, is not a given with me when it comes to trilogies/series. I have read A LOT of book ones and never moved on to book two--even when book one was enjoyable.) I devoured book two, Gemina , in a few days. This time, I put book three, Obsidio , on hold before I even finished book two. I will be picking that one up at the library today! So, this begs the question, why are these books so compelling? ...

I know you've been wondering what's keeping me from turning out the light at a decent hour lately. Well, here's what I've been reading the last couple of months... Hint: After writing this post, I realized that there's a clear theme here-- perspectives different from my own . I'd say it's been an eye-opening few months! :-) So here's a quick run down on the pages I've been turning... An Abundance of Katherines by John Green ...I really enjoyed this book. It's a generally light and easy read. I think Green captures the voice of teenage boy on the cusp of manhood so well, and I LOVE the best friend character. It's a fun little ride. Recommend. The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion ...I wasn't sure about this one when I started it. Getting into the main character's "Autism-spectrum" voice, because it was so unlike my own, took a few pages. But I'll tell you what, it was so worth it. This book was entertain...

I love it when I get to combine favorite things...like writing and coffee shops, and friends and red wine, and delicious food and my favorite foody/hubby. Great combinations get bonus points if you throw in some coffee, too. Well, I've been working one of those kinds of combinations a lot lately by reading books (favorite thing #1) that inspire and motivate (favorite thing #2). (And yes, I often enjoy some coffee...or tea...while I'm at it.) It is possible that I'm even a little obsessed with this combination right now...not that I'm the type to go overboard with a good thing... I've mentioned many of these books in various recent posts, but I thought I'd share them all in one big ol' book post. So, if you're looking for a little inspiration, if you need some motivation, consider checking out one of these books and see if, perhaps, they are the kick in the pants, or the shift in perspective, that you're looking for... Present Over Perfect ...

Book Revision Central Ever wonder how a book gets from a writer's head to the book store? I used to think that they just sat down and wrote it, and then sent it to the publisher, where it was edited, printed, and sent to book stores. Um...no. It's not as neat and tidy as all that. It's not smooth. It's not easy. And it's not fast. At least not for me...and I haven't even gotten to the agent and publisher part...YET. (From what I've heard, that's a whole other can of beans!) Since I'm knee deep in third round revisions on one of my middle grade novels (and having some, ahem, issues with, um, motivation and focus right now...), and I'm doing more intricate and elaborate work on it than I ever have on a book before, I thought I'd share a little glimpse of what this book writing stuff looks like. First, what got this book to where it's at today? Well, I wrote the first draft of it (as with all five of the novels I've writ...

So my 9 year old daughter is a voracious reader, like her mama. But, unlike her mama, she has, at any given time, about 5-10 novels in active reading mode. (I tend to have one fiction and one non-fiction book going; or one hardcopy and one audio book.) She switches from book to book depending on her mood. She carries at least three novels in her backpack at all times (that sucker is heavy!). And always has one in her hand when she climbs into a car. She takes them with her when we go out to dinner or, really, anywhere where there is even the slightest chance of a few minutes of downtime when she could slip in a few pages. She moans at bedtime when I tell her it's lights out and she has to put away the books. This, not so secretly, gives me unending pleasure. I LOVE that she is so into books. Love, love, love! And I encourage it. I support it...like a dealer supports a junkie. I'm constantly picking up another book from the library (or Amazon) that looks good. And now that she...

I haven't posted anything about books since my July post on A Man Called Ove.  (Read it. So good.) So, I thought I'd share my thoughts on the books I read this summer. This isn't necessarily an exhaustive list of all I read, but it gives you a good flavor...and maybe a few ideas on what, and what not, to grab on your next library (or Amazon) visit. Okay. Let's do this. The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware I found this book both entertaining and disappointing. The book rides the wave of mystery-thrillers with unreliable narrators that's so popular right now. (Confession: I'm kind of annoyed by unreliable narrators-- especially those with a drinking problem.) Anyway, the mystery was fun and kept me guessing throughout, but there was a big lag in the middle. A great editor could have helped speed the pace of this book and make for a more edge-of-my-seat read the whole way through. Cress (The Lunar Chronicles #3) by Marissa Meyer If you like Young Adult D...

Hey friends! It's been a while. I've been knee-deep in life and have been remiss in taking you along for the ride. I hope to do better on that in the coming months. In the meantime, I hope you all are doing well and enjoying your summer. I also hope you've been reading! I know I have been. And that's why I'm here today...to share the best of what's been on my bedside table of late. This is the first in a series of "Book Love" posts so you can make the most of summer reading time before it runs out. Let's jump right in... Up first is the best audiobook I've listened to in ages. I am IN LOVE with this book, people. IN. LOVE. It's Fredrik Backman's A Man Called Ove . Now, I have no idea how much my love for this book is influenced by the fact that I listened to it rather than read it. I would guess at least a little bit, because George Newbern did an amazing job with the narration. He made me feel like I was actually one of Ove...

If you ever read my book reviews on this blog, then you know I have a particular soft spot for character-driven YA novels. (See: Eleanor & Park, Aristotle & Dante Discover the Universe, Mosquitoland, etc.) There's just something about the capturing of that time of life. It's so hard, so pivotal...the stories so relatable. Even if I've never really been through what the character's going through, there's just something universal about the trials of adolescence and early adulthood. So, after basically taking the entire month of November off from reading (aside from a parenting book and a memoir for book club) I thought I'd jump back in with a good character-driven YA read. And, my oh my, did I find another beauty. All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven is the story of Violet and Finn, two broken teenagers who meet under most unusual circumstances and at exactly the right moment in their lives. It is a story of love and courage and a fight worth f...

I've been on a bit of a reading binge lately. According to my husband, I've been ignoring him. Book-widow. So sad. Anywho...here are a few of the books I've had in my hands lately... Notes From The Dog by Gary Paulson ...It's a super short read. Something like 150 pages. I read it in two days. It is super sweet and funny and touching and definitely worth the read. Goodbye Stranger by Rebecca Stead ...The most recent book from a favorite author of mine. Her book When You Reach Me is one of my favorites of all time and I adored her book First Light (and enjoyed Liar and Spy ). They're all middle grade novels, but worth the read for adults too. And this one was good as well. A touching story that expertly captures some of the perils of early adolescence with main characters you'll root for. Landline by Rainbow Rowell ...It's no secret that Rainbow Rowell has written one of my all time favorite books, Eleanor and Park , plus another fave,...