The Life We Bury - Giveaway Winner

Thanks to all who took the time

to comment. 

The giveaway winner was....

KAY

Congrats to Kay and thanks to all

my loyal readers.

Blogging Milestone and an Informal Giveaway

It's hard for me to believe that I've been blogging about books for (7) years this month  Other than a few header changes over the years, I haven't made any significant changes to my blog. My focus is still mostly about books for adults and young kiddos, with some occasional posts about family and life.

Last year and again this year, I thought about giving up blogging, but deep down I'm afraid I might miss it if I gave it up completely. So, I decided to continue until at least the end of 2015, because when I retire next month, I should have lots more free time to post without feeling stressed about having to do so.

Yes -- just (11) more working days for me. Not counting part-time or summer jobs while in school, In my adult life I've worked (27) years - full-time and (8) years part-time. I've had several high-powered jobs and a few fun and sometimes mindless jobs as well over the years. I've worked with my share of wonderful people and one wonderful mentor in my early HR days, and I've also worked for a few insensitive jerks as well....but haven't we all?

People ask me, "are you afraid to retire, or is the idea of never working again scary?"  My answer is "no way!!" I've dreamt about retirement for years and now I'm there.  I do tell these same people -- what is scary for me is the question I keep asking myself -- "where did my life go"?

Plans -- spending time with my (3) - 1-3 year old granddaughters before they start school fulltime, some travel with my husband, trying lots of new recipes, joining a gym, volunteering at at animal shelter and of course, reading --lots.

As far as blogging and books, it seemed appropriate to do something bookish for my post today. I decided to share what I considered to be the #1, favorite book I read each year for the last 15 years.

Here's my list.  How many of my favorites have you read or enjoyed?

• 2001 - The Bonesetter's Daughter; Amy Tan (no recent books?)
• 2002 - The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold (what happened to her?)
• 2003 - The Life of Pi; Yann Martel (once again, nothing new in years?)
• 2004 - Middlesex; Jeffrey Eugenides
• 2005 - Snowflower and the Secret Fan; Lisa See
• 2006 - Water for Elephants - Sara Gruen
• 2007 - Let the Northern Lights Erase Your Name; Vendela Vida
• 2008 - Tomato Girl; Jayne Pupek (sadly, this author passed away)
• 2009 - Cutting for Stone; Abraham Verghese
• 2010 - The Bells; Richard Harvell
• 2011- A Kind of Intimacy; Jenn Ashworth
• 2012 - East of Eden; John Steinbeck
• 2013 - The Goldfinch; Donna Tartt
• 2014 - Me Before You; Jojo Moyes
• 2015 -----so far --- A Little Life; Hanya Yanagihara

Giveaway

(US and International)

(I just finished this book and thought it was terrific. An extremely well-written psychological mystery. Just leave a comment stating you'd like to be considered for the giveaway (it's a trade softcover, like new). I'll draw the winner next Sunday.) I hope to post my review later this week. Definitely worth reading.

Have a Great Week Everyone.

Giveaway Winner ---- is --------

I'm a day late selecting the winner, but out of (13) entries the winner 

is......Paulita.

Thanks to all who entered.

Quick Giveaway - Shotgun Lovesongs - Nickolas Butler

Shotgun Lovesongs; Nickolas Butler 

Thomas Dunne Books/Macmillian - 2014

I have an extra ARC of Shotgun Lovesongs by Nickolas Butler (this copy is unread).  If you'd like a chance to win it, just leave a comment with your email and I'll draw a winner on Sunday evening. Good Luck!  (international entries are eligible for giveaway)

Description - 
Welcome to Little Wing.

It’s a place like hundreds of others, nothing special, really. But for four friends—all born and raised in this small Wisconsin town—it is home. And now they are men, coming into their own or struggling to do so.

One of them never left, still working the family farm that has been tilled for generations. But others felt the need to move on, with varying degrees of success. One trades commodities, another took to the rodeo circuit, and one of them even hit it big as a rock star. And then there’s Beth, a woman who has meant something special in each of their lives.

Now all four are brought together for a wedding. Little Wing seems even smaller than before. While lifelong bonds are still strong, there are stresses—among the friends, between husbands and wives. There will be heartbreak, but there will also be hope, healing, even heroism as these memorable people learn the true meaning of adult friendship and love.

Seldom has the American heartland been so richly and accurately portrayed. Though the town may have changed, the one thing that hasn’t is the beauty of the Wisconsin farmland, the lure of which, in Nickolas Butler’s hands, emerges as a vibrant character in the story. Shotgun Lovesongs is that rare work of fiction that evokes a specific time and place yet movingly describes the universal human condition. It is, in short, a truly remarkable book—a novel that once read will never be forgotten.

If interested, you can read my review here.

Literary Giveaway Winners

Thanks once again to Judith of Leeswammes' Blog for coordinating this fun even.  It was fun meeting new bloggers and always wonderful having old friends stop by as well.  There were 60 entry  comments for the giveaway.

The Prizes were

 The Winners were:

• Burial Rites (audiobook) - won by Elisabeth
• The Night Guest - (arc) - won by Megan ( Leafing Through Life)

Congratulations Winners

 and thanks to everyone who stopped by from Nov 9th-13th

Quick Sunday Update and the "My Blog Turned 5" Giveway Winner is.......

I've been on vacation since July 3rd and have yet another work-free week coming up. I'm so happy I squeak! Away for several days, meeting up with friends we haven't seen in a while, eating out a lot and lots of "books at the beach" , are on our agenda.  I have a couple pre-written posts scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, but other than that, I'll catch up with your blog/life happenings were I have computer access later in the week.

Finished: The Burgess Boys; Elizabeth Strout (very good); Tenth of December: Stories;  (different but good) as well as several kids books -- reviews coming.  

Currently reading: The Woman Upstairs: Claire Messud and After Her; Joyce Maynard (both are excellent so far)

Watched: Mama (OMG - scare your socks off psych horror thriller )

and Life of Pi (loved it)

Enjoy your week everyone.

Giveaway Winner 

of the MP3 Player 

is

Words and Peace

Congratulations and Enjoy
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
and thanks to all of my loyal readers who make the tough days worthwhile -- you are all the greatest --

Mid Year Reading Update - 2013 and a 5 year Giveaway --

A look at the first 6 months of 2013 -

So back on January 1st, I set a goal of reading at least 125 books in 2013; today June 30th I've read (71) books. So unless things fall apart in the second half of 2013, I think I have a good chance of reaching my goal.

A few things that were different for 2013 was that I did not join ANY reading challenges and I am happy that I made that decision. I part years, I always joined: eBook challenge, audio book challenge, reading my own books challenge, classics challenges etc, and while I am still reading these types of books, for me it feels a lot better not having to keep additional lists and post about it on other blogs. I think I'm just getting lazy in my old age.

My Favorite Books reads in 2013 - 

• Flora; Gail Godwin - 5/5 stars (eGalley) (May-2013)
• Let's Take the Long Way Home; Gail Caldwell - 5/5 (my shelves) (Jan-2013) (NF)
• The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne; Brian Moore - 5/5 (my shelves) (Feb-2013) 
• American Psycho; Brett Easton Ellis 5/5 - (audio) - March-2013
• Benediction; Kent Haruf - 4.5/5 (eGalley/ARC) - April 2013
• Looking for Me; Beth Hoffman - 5/5  (review copy) May 2013
• The Dinner; Herman Koch (audio) - 5/5 May 2013
• The Other Typist; Suzanne Rindell - 4.5/5 - audio - library - June 2013    

Plans for remainder of 2013 -

• Read a few more books off my Bucket List.
• Pull and donate some more books off my shelves that I don't want to read
• Read some eGalleys that I was so happy to have received.
• Find a few books I just can't stop talking about after I finish them - That didn't happen yet in 2013, even though I did enjoy several quite a bit.

Happy Reading

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So Bibliophile By the Sea turned 5 this week. What I initially thought would be good way for me to track what I've read and what I want to read, turned out to be so much more.  

• 339,598 page views
• 2004 posts
• 37,185 comments

There is a lot I love about blogging....

• The friendships that I formed with so many sweet, caring book lovers, flower lovers, cat lovers and cooking fans

 But there are weeks when I just feel like walking away quietly as well.

• Spammers, endless requests to review books by individuals who do not even bother to read my review policy, self-imposed pressure to post, feeling bad about not responding to everyone who leaves a comment, and oftentimes, just not wanting to spend my evenings on the computer when I spend all day on it at work M-F.

The Giveaway

• I'd like to say thanks to my loyal readers by offering them a chance to win a new, Factory Sealed - MP3 player -- load audio books, download music, summer is the perfect time to enjoy a new gadget.
• Anyone who leaves a comment about this post will be entered in giveaway.
• Winner will be chosen next Sunday - July 7th.
• Good Luck to All

Weekend Update and December Giveaway Winner

The winner of my December Giveaway is Joyfully Retired! 

Congratulations to Margot
(thanks to all who entered)

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

On a separate note, this weekend began Friday with unspeakable tragedy echoed around the world.  Our hearts ache for the people of Newtown, Connecticut personally affected.  

I felt especially blessed to be able to spend time with family and loved ones this weekend. For me, it was bittersweet celebrating my milestone birthday, and honestly, every birthday that follows I will think of those little ones and adult heroes who lost their lives because of this senseless act.

December Holiday Giveaway

Happy Holidays

I've been thinking that it's been a while since I had a giveaway and December seems like the perfect month, since most everyone is busy buying others gifts, how about a chance to win something for yourself.  I'm giving away an unabridged book on cds of Barbara Kingsolver's wonderful new book, Flight Behavior.  (If interested you can checkout my review here. )

 

Flight Behavior; Barbara Kingsolver

 

(This giveaway is made possible thanks to the good people at Harper.)

 

TO WIN

• Open to US and International Readers
• Leave a comment with an email address to contact you.
• Tweet about it for an EXTRA entry
• Drawing will be on Sunday December 16th
• Good Luck to Everyone who Enters

Joanne Harris ~ Peaches for Father Francis Giveaway Package

 

The wonderful people at Viking have sent me a Giveaway package that (1) lucky winner will enjoy. (I am currently reading and really enjoying Peaches for Father Francis)

Many of you have probably read Joanne Harris’ best-seller Chocolat, (or maybe have fell in love with the movie). You will most likely remember wonderful character of Vianne Rocher. In Harris’ latest novel, PEACHES FOR FATHER FRANCIS (Viking;  On Sale: October 2, 2012; $26.95; ISBN: 978-0-670-02636-4), it’s eight years later and Vianne receives a letter from beyond the grave from her friend Armande, summoning her back from her life on a houseboat in Paris to the quaint village of Lansquenet where she used to run her chocolate shop.

Upon returning with her daughters Anouk and Rosette, Vianne discovers that everything and nothing has changed in the small village. Her adversary, Father Francis Reynaud, still feels persecuted and misunderstood—only this time he needs Vianne’s help. Her one-time best friend, Josephine, still has an ambiguous relationship with Vianne’s lover Roux, and, unbeknownst to Vianne, has an eight-year-old son born just days after Rosette. And Lansquenet itself has changed with the arrival of a large number of Moroccans. The cultural mix is welcomed by some and resented by others.

Ultimately, Vianne is left to unravel the mystery of newcomer Inés Bencharki, who is part of the new Muslim community and is stirring up things. Inés insists on dressing in the traditional full black veil, under which “she seems as impervious to hostility as she is to gossip, scandal or offers of friendship.” Tensions between these two communities reach a fever pitch and it’s up to Vianne to rescue Father Francis and to discover what’s really going on in Lansquenet before it’s too late.

About the Author:

Joanne Harris  is the author of the Whitbread Award-shortlisted Chocolat, which was made into an Oscar-nominated feature film, and eleven other bestselling novels.   She is published world-wide, in approximately 50 countries, and is the winner of several international and UK awards.  She is an Honorary Fellow at St Catharine’s College, Cambridge and lives with her husband in Yorkshire .

I am delighted to be able to offer one lucky reader (US ONLY SORRY), copies of both Peaches for Father Francis and Chocolat along with peach truffles!  

To enter, leave a comment with your email address. Link your Tweet about it for an extra entry. 


Winner will be selected on Sunday, October 14, 2012. Good luck!

We Have a Giveaway Winner ~~~~~~~~~

The WINNER is......Melissa ~ Moos Crossing

Hope you enjoy the book as much as I did.

Thanks to all who entered.

Time for a Giveaway - A Book I Loved!

It's been a while since I did a giveaway, and yesterday came across my like-new hardcover copy of Translation of the Bones by Francesca Kay.  In case you haven't read this one, it's really very very good.  Want to throw your name into the hat and try to win?  Look at the awesome dust jacket.

 The Translation of the Bones; Francesca Kay

A profound novel about the nature of faith and motherhood that “begins as the small mystery of one woman’s vision (or delusion) and explodes into a deeper story” (The Washington Post).

Mary-Margaret O’Reilly is seemingly a harmless enough young woman, ready and willing to help out Father Diamond in the Sacred Heart church in Battersea. She may not be very bright, and she is sadly overweight, but she can certainly clean, and is very good with children.

It is the statue of Jesus on the cross Mary-Margaret is especially drawn to, and one day she decides to give Him a thorough and loving cleansing. But then moments later she lies unconscious, a great gash in her head, blood on the floor. Word gets out that she has witnessed a miracle and soon a full-scale religious mania descends on the quiet church, and everyone, from Father Diamond to his small but loyal band of parishioners, is affected by it. After recovering, Mary-Margaret returns to the church, and obsessively, back to the statue of Jesus. He has told her things, things she must act on, and urgently. The act she decides on is a shocking one, making The Translation of the Bones a riveting story of passion gone tragically wrong.

• US and International entries eligible
  
  • Leave a comment with a way to contact you
  • Drawing will be held on Sunday, September 16th - 2012
  • Good Luck Readers!

Blogiversary Giveaway Winner is.....

Congratulations

to

Meg at A Bookish Affair

Winner of a $25.00 gift Certificate to  

Amazon or Book Depository

Thanks to all who took the time to send well wishes and entered the Giveaway.

Bibliophile By the Sea turns 4 - GIVEAWAY

Bibliophile By the Sea

turns 4 on June 28th!

Don't get me wrong, I enjoy blogging (most of the time), but there are times when if feels like another job, and I think about closing up shop, but then I come back to my senses and realize how much I would miss not having this avenue to talk and post about books.  It's also in part a partial journal of pieces of my life. I've interacted with so many great people though blogging, and although we've never met, I feel a kind of friendship with many of you.Thanks go out to all of my readers.

I'd also like to thank the many publicists that have been kind enough to pass along some wonderful review books my way, and I love the fact that eGalleys are becoming readily available, because deep down, I'm a tree-hugger, and love the movement away from physical books.

As a way of saying thank you to my readers,  I am giving away a $25.00 Amazon gift certificate or a Book Depository Gift Certificate - winners choice.

 Eligibility Rules:

• Open to US and International followers
• Current readers and followers just need to leave a comment with an email address.
• If you are NEW to this blog, or this is your first time commenting, you MUST become a follower to be entered in the giveaway drawing. Once you become a follower, then simply leave your first comment with your email address.
• Tweets qualify for an additional entry
• Drawing will take place on Sunday, July 8th
• Good Luck Everyone!

John Irving Giveaway Winner is.......

(25) entries but just (1) winner

MetroReader 

is the Winner of

In One Person; John Irving

(audiobook)

Congratulations to the winner and thanks to all who entered

Hope all the moms out there had a wonderful

Mother's Day.

Audio Book GIVEAWAY - John Irving's, In One Person

Thanks to the good people at Simon and Schuster, I am able host a giveaway for John Irving's new book: In One Person.

• (The is an audio book on cds). 
• Drawing will be on May 13th - Mother's Day.
• Shipping to US only on this one (sorry)
• To enter - Leave (1) comment with a way to contact you if you win.
• For an extra entry Tweet about the Giveaway
• Good Luck to All

Publication Date: May 8, 2012

 

His most political novel since The Cider House Rules and A Prayer for Owen Meany, John Irving’s In One Person is an intimate and unforgettable portrait of the solitariness of a bisexual man who is dedicated to making himself “worthwhile.”

 

Advance praise for John Irving’s In One Person:

“This tender exploration of nascent desire, of love and loss, manages to be sweeping, brilliant, political, provocative, tragic, and funny—it is precisely the kind of astonishing alchemy we associate with a John Irving novel. The unfolding of the AIDS epidemic in the United States in the ’80s was the defining moment for me as a physician. With my patients’ deaths, almost always occurring in the prime of life, I would find myself cataloging the other losses—namely, what these people might have offered society had they lived the full measure of their days: their art, their literature, the children they might have raised. In One Person is the novel that for me will define that era. A profound truth is arrived at in these pages. It is Irving at his most daring, at his most ambitious. It is America and American writing, both at their very best.” —Abraham 

Verghese, author of Cutting for Stone and My Own Country
“In One Person is a novel that makes you proud to be human. It is a book that not only accepts but also loves our differences. From the beginning of his career, Irving has always cherished our peculiarities—in a fierce, not a saccharine, way. Now he has extended his sympathies—and ours—still further into areas that even the misfits eschew. Anthropologists say that the interstitial—whatever lies between two familiar opposites—is usually declared either taboo or sacred. John Irving in this magnificent novel—his best and most passionate since The World According to Garp—has sacralized what lies between polarizing genders and orientations. And have I mentioned it is also a gripping page-turner and a beautifully constructed work of art?” —Edmund White, author of City Boy and Genet: A Biography

Book Giveaway Winners

Winner is  Sara - Congratulations

Winner is pburt - Congratulations

Thanks to all who entered!

April Book Giveaways

The truth is, I've been a slacker as far as completing book reviews.  I'm reading, but just not writing.  Since I wanted something to post, I decided to give away a couple of new review books (I found myself with double copies of these).

The Uninvited Guests; Sadie Jones
May 1st - Harper

Calico Joe; John Grisham 

April 10th - Doubleday

US and International giveaway - If you want a chance to win one or both:

• Leave a comment with your 1st choice if you win and a way to contact you
• If you'd like an extra entry, you can follow me on Twitter and Tweet about the giveaway using: @Bibliophile_Sea in your tweet
• Drawing will be held on Sunday April 15th.
• Good Luck.

Literary Giveaway Winner is.......

Thank you to the (90) individuals who took the time to enter my literary giveaway.  Your response was overwhelming.  It was so much fun to visit some new blogs in the process. Unfortunately, there can be just (1) winner.

 It's  Debbie Rodgers/Exurbanis, and the book she selected was:

 

Congratulations Debbie!

the Winner of Lion at Lambs House is......

Congratulations

Alyce - At Home with Books