Week In Review – 3/27/10
by Jenners • 03/28/2010 • Book Talk • 16 Comments
Before I start yapping about what I did this week and what I’ve been reading, I wanted to share some interesting things I came across and thought you might be interested in.
- Bookswim.com. I found this in the latest issue of Real Simple magazine. It is like Netflix for books! What you do is sign up for a monthly plan and pick out the books you want to read. They then ship them to you when available, you read them (with no deadlines), and then ship them back (free shipping with most plans). Isn’t that cool? Real Simple was offering its readers 50% off the first month of any monthly plan (prices range from $10 to $60). Simply enter the code REALSIMPLE50 at checkout. I’m seriously thinking about asking Mr. Jenners for a membership for my birthday. Anyone out there hear of this or use it already?
- Reading Challenge Page. Have you seen the list of reading challenges that Bibliobabe put together? It is a handy, easy-to-use list of current reading challenges. I was browsing through it (and checking out the listing for my Take Another Chance challenge) and found a Christopher Moore challenge that I’ll be joining. If you’re looking for a reading challenge, I loved the layout and the ease of reviewing all the different challenges out there
What I’m Reading Now
The Weed that Strings the Hangman’s Bag by Alan Bradley – Flavia is back! This follow-up to The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie once again chronicles the adventures of amateur detective Flavia de Luce. Only 11 years old but with the mind and attitude of a much older person, Flavia is devious, fun and precocious as all get out. As soon as it was released, I put the book on hold at the library, and I got my grubby little hands on it yesterday. I’m flying through it, and it is just as delightful as the first one. I’m hoping she’ll be back in another book before long. If you haven’t read been introduced to Flavia yet, check out my review of the first book here. This is a series not to be missed!
Whacked by Jules Asner – This is the book I was reading and tossed aside as soon as I heard that I could get the Flavia de Luce book. Written by former E! reporter Jules Asner (who happens to be married to director Steven Soderbergh), this book is set in Hollywood and tells the story of Dani who is dating Dave, until she finds out he has been cheating. To be honest, I had no problem putting it aside as it wasn’t all that good. I’ll finish it (if only to get credit for my A author for the A to Z Author Challenge), but it isn’t really thrilling me all that much. The most interesting part about it is the “insider” Hollywood stuff (Dani writes for a TV show).
I heard of Bookswim once but keep looking at my overflowing shelves and decide I shouldn't consider it yet. But it is a great idea to hold on to for the future since my library gets things kinda late sometimes.
And boo for Bibliobabe not having my challenge up there.
I can't wait to read The Girl Who PLayed with Fire. I LOVED Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. I had it on audio and it took forever to get through and I had to renew it from the library 3 times! But I liked it lots. I look forward to your double review. Or will it be a triple review now?
DANG, sorry to hear you're not liking Whacked. I read it about a year ago and really enjoyed it.
I've never heard of Book Swim before but it sounds like a book lovers dream! Thanks for bringing it to my attention.
Netflix for books??? Many of us will be in serious trouble (I fear). Glad you enjoyed The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag –fun series indeed.
Have a great Week!
I love Bibliobabe's Reading Challenge page…but I'm afraid to look at it too closely!
will check that site out andsee if it 's available in Canada. If it isn't, then it should be.
I know this is a book blog but I have a mathematical problem question for you.
I have a $20 gift card and a $5 dollar off coupon code. A book I want to buy is on sale for $10. What do I do with the rest of the gift card?
OH MY GOODNESS — I am so excited!! Do you know that I was in Half Priced Books today (no, I have no business being there, but I had a 50% off coupon!) and I had this book in my hand ready to check out. I put it back on the shelf at the last minute and now I am SO excited!!!!
I have often wondererd if a Netflix for Books would work — darn it all, someone beat me to it! I would love to hear how you like it, if Mr. Jenners honors your birthday request.
I've heard of Bookswim, but since I have access to such a great library system (18 libraries w/free inter-library loan) I can usually find anything I want. If I lived in a location with minimal access to good free books I would consider it though.
I haven't read the Sweetness book yet. I guess I've been skeptical of an 11 year old solving mysteries, but if you say it's that good I might give it a try eventually.
I've just started the audio of SWEETNESS, and I love it! I was laughing because at one point Flavia refers to something she discovered "when I was a child" … she's 11 years old! Precocious, smart … I'll be reading THE WEED THAT STRINGS (etc.) soon.
Congrats to Molly for winning EMPIRE FALLS, and to you, Jenners, on that lovely author note.
I've heard of Bookswim, but haven't tried it since I'm swimming in books already. I love all the author notes you're getting these days!
That bookswim site sounds interesting. I'll have to check it out! Kind of like a netflix for books?
Anxious to see your final review on the current "Flavia" book. I really enjoyed the first book.
What a great ides to have a book challenges listing – there seem to be so many challenges out there.
I somehow managed to miss FreeVerse this week, I love that poem – having mobility issues myself, it had great meaning to me.
I still haven't read The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie… now there is a second one out! I'm so behind.
Have a good week!
I've heard of Bookswim but didn't consider it. I need more ways to get the books read that I already have around instead of ways to get more books to read in here!
And yay for getting to revisit Flavia!
The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie is still at the Bottom of my Pile to be read. Not that I don't want to read it! But there is so much to read… I suppose I don't need "Real Simple," although it's a great idea!
Oh heavens, a Netflix for books? That is very tempting. My husband may freak out if I even mention it though. Perhaps if I get him in the right mood….?