Bloggin' 'bout Books: 06/17/10

2026 Literary Escapes Challenge

- Alabama

- Alaska

- Arizona

- Arkansas

- ~~California~~ (2)

- Colorado

- ~~Connecticut~~ (1)

- Delaware

- Florida

- Georgia

- Hawaii

- Idaho

- ~~Illinois~~ (1)

- ~~Indiana~~ (1)

- ~~Iowa~~ (1)

- Kansas

- ~~Kentucky~~ (1)

- Louisiana

- ~~Maine~~ (2)

- ~~Maryland~~ (1)

- Massachusetts

- ~~Michigan~~ (2)

- ~~Minnesota~~ (2)

- Mississippi

- Missouri

- Montana

- Nebraska

- Nevada

- New Hampshire

- New Jersey

- New Mexico

- ~~New York~~ (2)

- North Carolina

- North Dakota

- ~~Ohio~~ (2)

- Oklahoma

- Oregon

- Pennsylvania

- ~~Rhode Island~~ (1)

- South Carolina

- ~~South Dakota~~ (1)

- Tennessee

- ~~Texas~~ (1)

- Utah

- ~~Vermont~~ (1)

- ~~Virginia~~ (1)

- Washington

- West Virginia

- Wisconsin

- Wyoming

- Washington, D.C.*

International:

- England (6)

- Ireland (1)

-Scotland (1)

Everything But the Kitchen Sink

11:34 AM

So, I should be writing a review of Whistling in the Dark, but I've got so many other things swirling around in my head that I had to get them out. Here goes:

- Like you, I've been seeing tons of posts about CSN Stores. The company, which sells a huge variety of products - lighting, bookshelves, home decor, furniture, etc. has been tremendously generous to bloggers. I was slightly bummed that I hadn't been contacted by them ... and then, voila! I got an email offering me the chance to review one of their products. How ecstatic am I? Very ecstatic! CSN has such a variety - how am I ever going to choose a product? When I do, you'll be the first ones to know. Stay tuned for my review. In the meantime, click on over and check out all the goodies at CSN.

- Do you read O magazine? Even though I haven't watched her show in years, I still love me some Oprah. I don't take her book recommendations any more seriously than I do anyone else's, but I love the fact that she not only reads, but also works diligently to promote books. In the July 2010 issue of O, you'll find "Our Biggest, Best Summer Reading List Ever" (also available online by clicking here). Fun, no? It highlights titles I've seen all over the book blogosphere (The Passage by Justin Cronin, The Book of Negroes by Lawrence Hill, My Name Is Mary Sutter by Robin Oliveira, etc.) as well as some I hadn't heard of (Elizabeth Street by Laura Fabiano, The Madonnas of Echo Park by Brando Skyhorse, What Is Left the Daughter by Howard Norman, etc.). I also loved "O's Declaration of Reader Independence." Hilarious.

- I finished a reading challenge! I know, right? It's about time. Carl is a wonderful challenge host, and I enjoyed participating in Once Upon A Time this year. I did cheat a teensy bit by changing one of the books I was planning to read - I swapped As You Wish by Jackson Pearce for Wish by Alexandra Bullen. Still, I finished a challenge. Yay!

- About bloggy awards ... I know people are getting fed up with them. My friend asked me if they were the new version of chain letters. Ha ha. I think they're a little more sincere than that! I have seen a couple of bloggers declaring their blogs "Award-Free Zones." I wouldn't ever do that, but I do reserve the right to pass awards on only when I have the time and energy. That being said, I really do appreciate your attention and kind words. It means a lot to me that you all enjoy your time here at BBB.

Kika, Laura and Alison all gave me The Versatile Blogger award. I've just recently discovered their wonderful blogs via The Book Blogger Hop. Getting to know new bloggers is always fun. Since I just recently passed this one on, I'm not going to do it again, but I will tell you 7 Things About Me:

1. I've never broken a bone. This is probably because I'm the biggest wuss on the planet.

2. Although I have been bungee jumping, thank you very much. My older brother owned a bungee jumping company when I was in high school, so my younger brother and I both jumped out of his hot air balloon. It was a rush.

3. I'm not very daring in the food department either, although a year spent in The Philippines as an exchange student did broaden my culinary horizons quite considerably. I've eaten delicacies like dog, pig's brain, monkey, goat and nimbalut (you don't want to know, trust me). Okay, the curious can read all about it here. It should be noted that these dishes are not eaten often by the average Filipino. They were prepared for me because I am a gullible American.

4. I cannot sneak up on people. I have weak ankles that pop constantly. This put me at a distinct disadvantage when dealing with three brothers.

5. The same brother who convinced me to jump out of a hot air balloon used to roll me up in blankets, cinch a belt around my waist and tickle my toes 'til I cried. I'm still traumatized.

6. Back to food - my husband thinks I'm weird because I like soft ice cream. Not machine-soft ice cream, but hard ice cream softened. I've been known to pop a carton in the microwave if it's too hard.

7. Phew! That was hard. I think I am officially the most boring person in the blogosphere!

- Hm, was that it? I swear there was something else I was going to tell you. Oh well. Happy Reading!