Good morning, and welcome to another Monday, in which we celebrate our reading, blogging, and life. Mailbox Monday is hosted in September by BooknAround; and Book Journey brings us another edition of What Are You Reading?
MAILBOX MONDAY:
This week’s “haul” consisted of one free downloaded e-book, one review book, and a book I purchased for Banned Books week.
1. The Catcher in the Rye, by J. D. Salinger (for Banned Books Week)
Anyone who has read J.D. Salinger’s New Yorker stories–particularly A Perfect Day for Bananafish, Uncle Wiggily in Connecticut, The Laughing Man, and For Esme With Love and Squalor–will not be surprised by the fact that his first novel is full of children. The hero-narrator of The Catcher in the Rye is an ancient child of sixteen, a native New Yorker named Holden Caulfield.
Through circumstances that tend to preclude adult, secondhand description, he leaves his prep school in Pennsylvania and goes underground in New York City for three days. The boy himself is at once too simple and too complex for us to make any final comment about him or his story. Perhaps the safest thing we can say about Holden is that he was born in the world not just strongly attracted to beauty but, almost, hopelessly impaled on it.
There are many voices in this novel: children’s voices, adult voices, underground voices-but Holden’s voice is the most eloquent of all. Transcending his own vernacular, yet remaining marvelously faithful to it, he issues a perfectly articulated cry of mixed pain and pleasure. However, like most lovers and clowns and poets of the higher orders, he keeps most of the pain to, and for, himself. The pleasure he gives away, or sets aside, with all his heart. It is there for the reader who can handle it to keep.
2. Shepherd’s Prayer (e-book), by Katja Willemsen (review book from author)
When Raisin Radcliffe and her brother, Geoffrey, stumble on a labyrinth of caves underneath an ancient dolmen in the French Pyrenees, she forms a mysterious kinship with a sun-seared tribeswoman. Vision or reality? She isn’t sure.
Then a village boy, Nicolas, is kidnapped by a violent cult. Their demand? Shut the nearby prehistoric cave, Grotte des Loups, or the child dies.
Frustrated with police inefficiency, Geoffrey becomes obsessed with finding Nicolas, and pulls Raisin into his desperate hunt. Soon they too become the cult’s prisoners, and are transported deep into the bowels of the Grotte des Loups cave where they are coerced into a macabre ritual involving the stolen boy, wolves and a sacrifice.
Will Raisin and Geoffrey accept the help of the ancient tribeswoman to save the boy?
3. For Keeps (e-book), by Aaron Paul Lazar (free download)
When retired family doctor Sam Moore gets a call from the coroner to come to The Twin Sisters Inn to consult on a murder victim, he’s puzzled. Why would Lou call him? He’s retired now, and just wants to spend time with his beloved Rachel, his grandsons, and to work in his gardens.
Within days, the body count increases and Sam is a prime suspect, so he calls on a peculiar talisman—his brother Billy’s glowing green marble—to whisk him back in time in search of clues before the killer strikes again.
***
WHAT ARE YOU READING?
Welcome to another new week in September. A time to share our reading, blogging, and life adventures, and a time to enjoy our community of book bloggers.
In two weeks, we’ll be doing Bloggiesta again! Ole! And I’ll be working on spiffing up one of my blogs. Anybody else participating?
This past week wasn’t that phenomenal, with fewer books and blog posts completed.
But I do think that a couple of the books are worth noting.
As for blogging, on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, I participated in the regular memes; then on Thursday, I posted What Sparks Your Enthusiasm on a Thursday?
Saturday found me posting my Sweet Saturday Sample: Moving Forward; and Still Salivating Over an Old Guilty Pleasure.
And today, in addition to my Sunday Salon, I did Sunday Potpourri: Anticipation.
Books Read-Click titles for reviews:
1. Midnight Exposure, by Melinda Leigh
2. The Redgraves, by Donald Spoto
3. Left Neglected (e-book), by Lisa Genova
4. Looking for Mary, by Beverly Donofrio
What’s Up Next? (click titles/covers for more info)
1. Click: An Online Love Story (e-book), by Lisa Becker
2. Sister, by Rosamund Lupton
3. This Time Together, by Carol Burnett
***
And that’s it, folks! I may read an additional book, but I’m feeling the need to kick back a bit this week. What about the rest of you? What was your week like and what lies ahead? Come on by and share.
The cover of SISTER is so compelling. I’m participating in Banned Books Week and Bloggiesta too. Hope you have a great reading week!
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I think so, too, Laura. I can’t wait for these September events to happen!
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Love the cover of Sister, I don’t even know what it’s about and I want to read it LOL … off to check it out. I’m over committed so won’t be doing banned book week this year but I’m hoping to participate in Bloggiesta for the first time.
Have a great week and happy reading.
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Oh, so do I, Teddyree. I plan to take part at least minimally in Bloggiesta. I usually enjoy doing the blog makeovers. I have never done anything special on banned book week, so I decided to do it. The book I picked (above in my mailbox) looks like a quick read. Thanks for stopping by.
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Sheperd’s Prayer looks particularly intriguing and I think I would like This Time Together too.
Enjoy your reading week.
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I think they both look good, too, Martha; thanks for stopping by, and enjoy your week!
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Your current books look like great reads. I just looked up the description for Sister and it sounds riveting. Have a great week!
Rebecca @ The Key to the Gate
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That’s going to be my first read this week, Rebecca. Thanks or stopping by…enjoy your week!
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I read Sister last year. I’ll be interested to see what you think of it.
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I’m looking forward to it, Lindsey; thanks for visiting, and have a great week.
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I am thinking about participating in Banned Books Week. It is something I feel strongly about but I don’t know if I will have the time. I won’t be participating in Bloggiesta because I will be really busy that weekend. I hope you have a fun and productive event though and get a lot done on your blog.
I’ll have to check out your review of Left Neglected. I’ve been wanting to read Lisa Genova’s books and just got Love Anthony.
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Love Anthony was my first book by this author, although I had Left Neglected on Sparky for…well, a long time. Now I am so glad I finally read it.
I always love Bloggiesta, Christina, and have never participated in Banned Books week. Hope I am not scrambling around too much…lol
Thanks for visiting.
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YAY for the Catcher In The rye, banned book week and Bloggiesta!!!
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Yay! I always love Bloggiesta and have been wanting to do the Banned Book Week. Thanks for stopping by, Sheila.
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Oh I hope you enjoy Catcher, it’s one of my all time favorites! I’ll look forward to your review of the Carol Burnett book, I’ve always liked her 🙂
Have a great week of reading!
The Relentless Reader
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Me too, Jennifer…and I have enjoyed “moments” with J. D. Salinger in another author’s memoir about her youthful relationship with him (Joyce Maynard).
Carol Burnett makes me laugh, and I love to laugh! lol
Thanks for stopping by.
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I didn’t read Catcher in the Rye until I was an adult but I loved it. My favorite book this week was the audio of Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer. Please come see what I’m reading now.
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That happened to me with To Kill a Mockingbird…and obviously, Catcher, too. Thanks for stopping by, Sarah, and enjoy your week.
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Sister is still on my wishlist. I hope you enjoy it
Have a great reading week,
Shelleyrae @ Book’d Out
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I’ll be reading it first, Shelleyrae…thanks for stopping by, and enjoy your reading.
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Midnight Exposure intrigues me; sounds a bit like the Jack Reacher books, or maybe Dean Koontz? I learned a lot from the last Bloggiesta, so looking forward to that! 🙂
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Yes, Midnight Exposure was a really good one. I haven’t read the Jack Reacher books, but now that a movie is coming out, (I think I heard that) I want to read at least one. Thanks for stopping by, Wendy.
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I loved Catcher in the Rye, and would love to read Click and Sister! Happy Monday and Good reading!
Here’s what I’m reading
Ashley
#BookNerd
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I’m looking forward to all three, Ashley…thanks for stopping by, and enjoy your reads.
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I reread Catcher in the Rye several years ago and didn’t love it the way I did in high school. I’ll be interested to see how you react.
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Since I didn’t read it when I was young, I guess I won’t be able to make the comparison; but I have found that experience to be true with other books I reread as an adult.
Thanks for stopping by, Kathy, and enjoy your week.
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Click looks intriguing. Have a wonderful week, Laurel, and enjoy all your new reads.
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I think so, too, Kaye…thanks for stopping by, and have a great week!
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I hate that I have too many review commitments to take part in Banned Books Week, but I am noting it for next year. I can’t believe I have not read Catcher in the Rye.
Happy Reading!!
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I am trying very hard to turn down review books when I start feeling overwhelmed….and then “unsolicited” books arrive in the mail! I wish that wouldn’t happen, but sometimes those books turn out to be good, too.
Thanks for visiting, Lori, and enjoy the week.
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Click looks like a good book, I haven’t heard of it. Hope you have a good reading week!
Here’s My Monday
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I’m looking forward to it, Shan…thanks for stopping by, and enjoy curling up with your choices.
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I cannot tell you how cute Click is! Adorable cover and sounds great. Enjoy!
Have a wonderful reading week 🙂
Whatcha readin’ this week @ the Brunette Librarian 🙂
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I’m counting on it, Brunette Librarian. Thanks for stopping by, and enjoy your week.
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I LOVED Left Neglected, glad to see you did too! Have you read Still Alice? Another phenomenal book by Genova.
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I seem to be reading them in reverse order, Kelly, starting with Love Anthony. I definitely plan to read Still Alice. Thanks for stopping by.
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I listened to the Carol Burnett book on audio. I loved it and it was even better that she narrated it herself.
Enjoy your week!
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Oh, that would have been good, Yvonne…I think I’d be willing to try audio if a celebrity I enjoyed was narrating it. Thanks for stopping by.
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I’ll be curious to see what you think of Click! Enjoy your books this week!
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Thanks, Crystal…I’m hoping to enjoy it. Glad you could stop by.
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I loved Left Neglected – it was the first book I read by Lisa Genova…such an amazing story! I have Love Anthony and will be listening to it soon.
I’ll be participating in Bloggiesta – so much to do and I can’t wait!!!
Have a great week and thanks for stopping by my blog!
~Kristin @ Always With a Book
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Thanks for stopping by, Kristin…I’m so excited to now read Still Alice, since I’ve read the other two.
Also looking forward to Bloggiesta.
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Shepherd’s Prayer sounds like an interesting read.
http://tributebooksmama.blogspot.com/2012/09/mailbox-monday_17.html
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I think so, too, Tribute Books Mama. Thank for stopping by.
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Click: An Online Love Story sounds so good. *adding it to my tbr*
🙂
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Doesn’t it? Thanks for stopping by, Cayce, and enjoy your reads.
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Interesting reads! I hope you enjoyed them! Thanks for stopping by 🙂
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Thanks, Helene…It is going well so far. Glad you could stop by.
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That’s awesome that you’ll be participating in banned books week. Looks like you picked a good one! I’m excited for Bloggiesta too 🙂
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Definitely good stuff coming up, Lucy. I enjoy the community feeling. Glad you could stop by.
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I’ll be interested to see what you think of Click since it sounds cute to me.
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Yes, I agree, booknaround….thanks for stopping by, and for hosting this event.
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Thank you for reminding me about Bloggiesta. I love to participate in that blogging event. Hope to see you there, too!
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It is probably one of my favorite things, Deb; I learn more each time, and afterwards I feel a sense of accomplishment.
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The cover-art for ‘Click’ is super cute – enjoy!
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Yes, I agree, Jo…thanks for stopping by and enjoy your week!
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I was very surprised by how much I liked Still Alice by Lisa Genova. I’m sure I’ll get to Left Neglected someday. Enjoy your week!
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I can’t wait to read Still Alice, after reading her other two. Thanks for stopping by, Jen. Enjoy your week!
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I loved left Neglected also, Lisa G is amazing, I have her next to read end of month. I want to read Sister also. A great line up of books as usual.
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I’m really enjoying Sister….I haven’t read this author before, but her next book is already on my list. Thanks for visiting, Marce….enjoy!
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I’d like to read the Carol Burnett book, she is one of my favorites. I read The Catcher in the Rye way back in high school. Probably time for a re-read since I don’t remember much of it anymore.
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I don’t know how I missed Catcher back in high school…but oh, well, I like reading books because I want to rather than for an assignment…lol
Thanks for stopping by, Leslie.
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I’ve had Rosamund Lupton’s Sister on my TBR for ever! I really must get to it soon. I hope you enjoy it :-).
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I’ve had it on a stack for awhile, but I’m glad to be reading it now. Thanks for stopping by, Sophia…enjoy your week.
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I’d love to see your views on your last book!
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Thanks, Mystica….I usually have all reviews up by the end of the week. Glad you could stop by.
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I’m looking forward to Bloggiesta again, too. There are some things I thought I’d get to after the last one, but I never did. I suppose setting a date and taking the time is really a great idea!!
Thx for hopping by to visit! 😀
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I agree…setting aside the time with a to-do list can help a lot! Thanks for stopping by, Laura, and see you at the Fiesta!
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They look good. ENJOY!!
Elizabeth
Silver’s Reviews
http://silversolara.blogspot.com/2012/09/mailbox-monday-9172012.html
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Thanks for stopping by, Elizabeth. I’m relishing the books!
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Hi Laurel-Rain,
Another good and varied haul this week, it’s difficult to choose a favourite.
I love the sound of ‘Sisters’ and ‘For Keeps’, both are new to me authors and I look forward to reading them.
I should have read such a classic as ‘Catcher In The Rye’, but haven’t and I have to admit that now I would never be able to read it, without thinking of the character ‘Mac’, which Mel Gibson played in the film ‘The Conspiracy Theory’, where he purchased every copy of this book that he came across!!
Thanks for an interesting post,
Yvonne
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Oh, I had forgotten about the movie and Mel Gibson’s role. I’ve already read many thoughts about Catcher, not all of them positive, but I guess I’m going to risk disliking it…lol
Thanks for stopping by, Yvonne, and I am amazed at how much I’m enjoying Sister, as I haven’t read this author before, either.
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All new-to-me books, and I hope you enjoy them!
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So far so good, Anna…and thanks for stopping by!
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