My favourite author

Alice Hoffman is undeniably my favourite author. I adore her writing style and the way she mixes supernatural and real life elements in a wonderful, believable way.

I read my first Hoffman book many years ago, after I discovered a copy of "Practical Magic" in a second hand bookstore. The book (which was made into a film, starring Sandra Bullock & Nicole Kidman) was truly beautiful and romantic.

Now, I am lucky enough to own a first edition, signed, hardcover version of "Practical Magic" (thanks to an old friend) and it is my favourite book (and the book I used in this blogs header picture)

Here's a few of her books I can highly recommend: The River King, Practical Magic, Here on Earth and Seventh Heaven.

Who is your favourite author?

Some things...

"Some things don't last forever, but some things do.

Like a good song, or a good book,

or a good memory you can take out

and unfold in your darkest times,

pressing down on the corners and peering in close,

hoping you still recognize the person you see there."

— Sarah Dessen

What will you be reading?

So, which book will you be reading for Feb/March?

Will you be reading something off the Feb/March book list (click HERE to see list)?

Time to read

Recently I've felt like I don't have enough to read - but I guess this is mainly due to the fact that Iv'e allowed reading to drop down to the bottom of my priorities list (naughty) and I tend to procrastinate alot.

This year one of my personal goals is to read more (which is one of the reasons I started this blog).

Here are a few tips on how to find more time to read:

* Go to bed a bit later. Spend fifteen minutes before bed reading a chapter or two of your favorite book. You may lose a little bit of sleep, but you'll get a chance to do some extra reading.
* Multi-task your reading. Carry a book with you so you can read whenever there's an opportunity, such as: in the doctor's waiting room, lunch times at the office.
* Turn off the TV. Most people watch hours and hours of TV each week. Turn off a sitcom to get thirty minutes of commercial-free reading.
* "Read" your books in the car. Instead of reading traditional books, consider audio books. You can listen to them in the car, so they're ideal for people with a long commute to work.

- above tips from E-how

The hardest thing...

Quote from: The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd.

(I really loved this book.)

Current book wants

Two books I'd really love on my bookshelf at the moment are:

1. Amys Bread by Amy Schreber - because I am totally addicted to bready things and this book has tons of wonderful bready recipes from New York's favourite bakery. yum.
2. The Anti 9 to 5 Guide by Michelle Goodman - because its a "practical guide for young women who are ready to abandon their cubicles and carve out their own dreams"...need I say more? (thanks for recommendation, Mish Mish)

What book/s do you currently want on your bookshelf?

The Feb/March book list

After much thought, here are the six books that made the Feb/March book list:

1. A Year on Ladybug Farm by Donna Ball

2. The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane (also known as "The Lost Book of Salem" - in UK & SA) by Katherine Howe

3. Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
4. The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery

5. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

6. Twenty Chickens for a Saddle by Robyn Scott

;

Im not sure which one I'm going to start reading at the end of this month...still thinking.

NOTES: The next list will go up by about the 27th March. Please see guidelines if you have forgotten how this will all work.

Happy reading!

Guidelines

THE BEING BRAZEN BOOK CLUB GUIDELINES:

First off,  I should mention that this is not your typical book club...we don't all have to read the same books and there is no set meeting date or any obligation to write a review.

Here is what I will be doing and what you can do:

* Every TWO months I will pick a list of books (4 to 6) - I will consider recommendations for books from anyone.
* Then, you can pick one or a couple to read from the book list
* you have TWO months to finish it/them - if you want to read along (Sometimes im a distracted reader, so i need plenty of time)* Then you may submit a review of what you read, if you want  to, and I may post it  (if there are a few reviews about the same book, I will probably only use one)
* IF you don't like any of the books on the list  - thats cool  - I dont mind hearing about anything you reading (so feel free to send a review in about any book you may have read).;

Want to write a review?

If you want to send me a book review, please send it to: beingbrazen@gmail.com

When sending a book review, please....

* do not forget to include title and author of book

* attach a JPEG Image of book cover (no bigger than 100KB)

* try not to write super, essay-long reviews

* Check for spelling mistakes (it will save me doing it)

* Please include your name AND a link to your twitter/blog or website

Thanks.

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I look forward to reading your review :)