Armchair BEA- Friday

by Carol3 Comments
Today's Armchair BEA topic is: Blogging about Blogging Blogging for me needs to be a pleasure, not a source of stress. I tend to keep my schedule fairly loose, probably too much so. Actually I saw a post earlier today about how she keeps her calendar that I think I might borrow from, a little more organization could certainly help me. But I do blog for enjoyment. I love reading and like to share my thoughts. I'm just pleased that others take the time to read them and comment. My blog, I will admit, tends to veer off course fairly often into un-book-related territory. I post pictures, talk about things like shoes or my family, write bits of fiction. In a way, I guess, it's a reflection of my life. Books are a part of it, the part I share the most often, but I can't keep out the rest. Since this is the last day of Armchair BEA, I want to thank...
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Friday’s Tale: The Fountain of Youth (Japan)

by Carol4 Comments
Image credit: Baxley Stamps My husband and daughter went to see the new Pirates of the Caribbean last weekend. I passed because, to be honest, the fish people in the last two ust freaked me out, and I had heard there were zombies in this, another creature I'm not very found. Apparently I should have gone, but that's beside the point. From what I understand, part of the movie involves the Fountain of Youth, which is what made me choose this Japanese fairy tale to feature today. "The Fountain of Youth" opens with a fairy stale standard, an poor, elderly, childless couple. One day the old man goes out into the forest, another staple in fairy tales, but finds a little spring he has never seen before. After drinking from it, he becomes a young man again, strong with a full head of hair. He rushes home. His wife is at first afraid of him, a stranger, but he eventually convinces her...
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Review: Sweethearts of Rhythm by Marilyn Nelson

by Carol4 Comments
(Suggested reading level: Grade 4 and up) Sweetheart of Rhythm by Marilyn Nelson had such potential, but I just can't bring myself to say I loved it. The subject matter is fantastic - the first integrated all women band in America. The Sweethearts of Rhythm played jazz and swing nationwide during the 1940s and were some of the best female musicians of the day. Not only does the book tell the story of the women, it explores the historical backdrop, from Jim Crow laws and segregation to the effects of the war. The writing style is perfect. The story is told through series of poems, each with the title of a song from that era. The rhythmic nature of the poetry fits with the topic and they simply beg to be read aloud. The illustrations, done by Jerry Pinkney, evoke the era and enhance the story dramatically. The images of the harsh lives people led, contrasted with the jeweled toned music really made me...
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Armchair BEA- Giveaway

by Carol1 Comment
In celebration of Armchair BEA, I have a few books to giveaway. Sorry, I have to limit this to US addresses only. Here's the list. All are ARCs. Fallen by Lauren Kate Dracula in Love by Karen Essex Jamrach's Menagerie by Carol Birch The Anatomy of Ghosts by Andrew Taylor To enter, just fill out the form below.  In the comment section, please include which book(s) you want to be entered for. The deadline to enter is May 28. I will announce the random winners on June 1. [contact-form] [contact-field label="Name" type="name" required="true" /] [contact-field label="Email" type="email" required="true" /] [contact-field label="Website" type="url" /] [contact-field label="Comment" type="textarea" required="true" /] [/contact-form]...
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