Book Blog Hop: Books in the Mail and Music

 

Hosted by Coffee Addicted Writer
Welcome everyone to another post of Book Blogger Hop (hosted by Coffee Addicted Writer). Each week there will be a new topic submit by a blogger and everyone can join in with their answers. You should join us! It's quite fun!

This Weeks Topic/Question

When you receive new books in the mail, do the older ones get moved to the bottom of your list or do go strictly "by the book" and keep your list with older books first and then the new ones? (submitted by Elizabeth)

Thoughtful Thrusday: Does Genre Pick Format?

Hosted by Reading Is Fun Again
Pam over at Reading Is Fun Again (great blog name) started the new meme to get a few thoughts on a few bookish things.  You know how much I love sharing my thoughts/opinions on stuff I thought it would be perfect to add my two cents in too!

I created Thoughtful Thursday, because bookish thoughts kept popping up in my mind while reading, and I wanted to explore these questions and get your opinions too! -From Reading Is Fun Again

Today's Thoughtful Thursday Question

Does the type of book (e.g., genre, demographic, page length) inspire you to read the book in a particular format (e.g., audio book, paperback, hardcover, e-book)?

#BookBlogWalkers Update

#BookBlogWalkers

 Hosted by Geeky Blogger Book Bag

I signed up awhile ago to join this 30 min a day walking challenge.  I know I was suppose to post my weekly updates on Friday but....I was lazy.  No not about walking.  Just posting.  

What is #BookBlogwalkers about?  Read this excerpt from Geeky Blogger Book Bag.

UPDATED: To reflect year long change!

Book Blog Walkers Unite! Book Blog Walkers is BACK

Alright! Here we go again. I am going to get a little fitness orientated for the month of
January2014. I thought it would be super cool if we could get a group together to keep each other on track again! Let’s start Jan with one small goal that could build a good foundation for the rest of the year.

• For the month of Jan 2014 I will be following the hashtag #bookblogwalkers on both Facebook and Twitter! If you decide to play along then just use that hashtag!

• Every Sunday in Jan I will be doing a shout out to all the blogs that participated (even if you do one day–you deserve to be recognized) on Twitter. Figure it will be fun to see who is getting their walk on!

• At the end of the month, I will put all the participants names in a hat and giveaway a book of your choice from Amazon/Book Depository up to a $10 value.

Help: I Need A Few Book Suggestions

Host:  Escape with Dollycas Into a Good Book

I need a few book suggestions for a few letters for this reading challenge.  I am really trying to read as many books this year from my bookcase for all the reading challenges.  The 2014 Alphabet Soup Reading Challenge will be a real reading challenge because I have a few letters missing from the huge TBR pile in my living room.  

So I thought I would throw it out there.  

I would love to get a few book recommendations for book titles starting with the following letters.

Mini Bloggiesta: Finish Line

 

I did it!  Yep! I completed another Bloggiesta!

OLE!

This time I got all of my goals done and more.  So much more!

 Goals

1.  Update and organize my Challenge Page

2.  Update Goodreads reviews

3.  Update Audible.com Reviews

4.  Clean up my Feedly reader and RSS reader.

Lord that is going to be a real project with 300+ blogs on it. This one is from my Book Blogging Goals and Resolutions 

I got all of the uncategorized blogs into categorizes.  Next Bloggiesta I'm going to get the Book Bloggers to less than 200.

Review: Tuesdays With Morrie

(Roll your cursor over the cover for more detail)

Tuesdays with Morrie: An Old Man, a Young Man, and Life's Greatest Lesson Author: Mitch Albom Genre: Self Help Publisher:  Doubleday Release Date: August 18, 1997 Hardcover:  224 pages Source: Purchased years ago

Sunday Delight: Starting Something New

 

I decided to do something a little different here at My Little Pocketbooks.  I'm thinking about about calling it Sunday Delight (the name is still a work in progress)  Basically, this will be like Sunday Salon and the Sunday Post.  This is still a work in progress, so bare with me.

Here and Now

Time: 9:55pm

Drinking: My first 24.7oz bottle of water and a cup of Green Tea with Honey

Eating:  Just finished Indian Dinner (yummy!)

Listening To: The Brand New Heavies Radio on Pandora

Watching: Nothing

Adding More Reading Challenges 2014

I have completely lost my mind and for some crazy reason I am adding a few more reading challenges to my list of 2014 Reading Challenges.  I just love them so and I always have high hopes for myself each year.  So without further adieu!  Here are the new additions to my 2014 Reading Challenges.  And yes there is one (or two) more I am eyeing.  *shhh!*

What I Am Reading....

The Night Circus

What I Am Listening To...

Divergent

Book Blogger Hop: TBR Pile and Ethnic Characters

Hosted by Coffee Addicted Writer
Welcome everyone to another post of Book Blogger Hop (hosted by Coffee Addicted Writer). Each week there will be a new topic submit by a blogger and everyone can join in with their answers. You should join us! It's quite fun!

This Weeks Topic/Question

January 24th - 30th: Do you think you will ever read every book in your TBR stack? (submitted by Elizabeth)

Thoughtful Thrusday: What Draws You into a Book?

Hosted by Reading Is Fun Again
Pam over at Reading Is Fun Again (great blog name) started the new meme to get a few thoughts on a few bookish things.  You know how much I love sharing my thoughts/opinions on stuff I thought it would be perfect to add my two cents in too!

I created Thoughtful Thursday, because bookish thoughts kept popping up in my mind while reading, and I wanted to explore these questions and get your opinions too! -From Reading Is Fun Again

Today's Thoughtful Thursday Question

Does anything besides the text (and price) draw you into a book? Some books have covers that glow-in-the-dark. Some books have different colored text to differentiate POV characters. Some books have drawings intermixed with the text.

Mini Bloggiesta: Goals

I posted about 2 weeks ago, another Bloggiesta is coming.  This is my post for my mini-Bloggiesta goals.  Oh what?!  You don't know about Bloggiesta.  OMG!  Where have you been?  Ok!  Now that my shock is over, let me tell you about the amazing Bloggiesta.

In short, Bloggiesta is a blogging marathon revolving around ticking off those items on your to-do list and improving your blog while in the good company of other awesome bloggers doing the same thing. Our awesome mascot Pedro (Plan. Edit. Develop. Review. Organize) is ready to break out the nachos, enchiladas, drinks, mariachi music and whack a pinata or two! It’s nothing short of an awesome fiesta!     -From Bloggiesta About Page

Quicky Review #14: Army of One

Welcome to the first Quicky Review for 2014.  Here at My Little Pocketbooks Quicky Reviews are for shot stories mostly and children books.  Basically, the short stories get short reviews.
Here are just a few sentences on an audiobook (about 2 hours or less) I got free from Audible.com

There are other Quicky Reviews for you to check out too and don't worry there will be more to come. I like short stories because most of them are FREE and I can get in and out of one in no time.

Below are the links to the other Quicky Reviews from last year. 

Quicky Review #11: Riding the Bullet and Vampire Short Stories
Quicky Review #12: My Soul to Lose and The Booktaker
Quicky Review #13: Santa is Coming to California, Tallulah's Nutcracker and Hello Ninja 

Free Listens for January 2014

After noticing most bloggers post a list of free or really close to free e-books, every week, month or just once in awhile I decided to post a few free audiobooks.  I love free books. I mean who doesn't.

Yes, there is a such thing as a free audiobooks, and they are not just boring old classics either.  I seem to run across a few new ones here and there.  Some of them are short and sweet while others are prequels to popular series. 

When I run across a couple of free audiobooks, I will post them for you to check out as well.

If you are new to audiobooks this is a great way to try one or two without spending any money.

Happy Birthday Martin L. King Jr!

Happy Birthday Martin!

On everyone's calendar, today is marked Martin Luther King Jr Day.  But in fact his birthday was a week ago.  Martin Luther King Jr was born on January 15, 1929.  
Today, I wanted to let you know about a few books about him for adult and young readers alike.
There are so many great books out there to pick from and here are just a few notable and award winning reads.  Click here to see last years list of books. 

Review: Bless Me Ultima

 

(Roll your cursor over the cover for more information)

Bless Me Ultima Author: Rudolfo Anaya Genre: Fiction Publisher: Recorded Books Release Date: September 17, 2007 Audiobook: 11 hours and 16 minutes Narrator: Robert Ramirez Source: Free from Audiobooksync

Sunday Best #57

Hosted by Tanya at Girlxoxo.com
  So what is Sunday Best?
Every Sunday, we are going to share the best post on our blogs and other blogs we visited from the past week and link them up. Join us in showing off your Sunday Best and leave a comment or two.  

My Favorite Post from Me 

I'm Featured Today

Diversity on the Shelf: Approved Books
I Want to Talk About: Page Views
Golden Globe Pocketbooks

What I Am Reading...

Tuesdays With Morrie

What I Am Listening To...

Bless Me Ultima

I'm Featured Today

 

Just wanted to let you all know the wonder DeeJay at The Masquerade Crew does weekly interviews of book bloggers.  

Book Blogger Hop: Fun Blogging and Trees

Hosted by Coffee Addicted Writer
Welcome everyone to another post of Book Blogger Hop (hosted by Coffee Addicted Writer). Each week there will be a new topic submit by a blogger and everyone can join in with their answers. You should join us! It's quite fun!

This Weeks Topic/Question

 January 17th - 23rd: Do you blog for a living or for fun? (submitted by Judy)

It's Time for Winners!

It's that time to announce some of the winners of a couple of the giveaways I held so far.  The very first giveaway this year was the Best of 2013 Blog Hop hosted by The Book Nympho, Hot Listens, and Geeky Bloggers Book Blog.

Diversity on the Shelf: Approved Books

Inspired by POC Reading Challenge

I love a great story and before I started blogging I never really payed much attention to authors.  But when I started book blogging, the lack of diversity was...overwhelming.  One of the reasons I wanted to do this reading challenge was to give book bloggers an opportunity to experience a few new authors and try something new.  I understand the mind set of going for what you know but diversity brings such a deep understanding into a culture and it's people and that spreads tolerance.  

I thought it was odd that so many book bloggers and readers would sign up for a reading challenge with an outside your box theme and they would never ever read a book by an author outside their race.  Reading a non-fiction book and a graphic novel all by authors within their own race was not (in my eyes) outside their box.  

To help the participates of the Diversity on the Shelf 2014 Reading Challenge (and to spread some diverse book love), I thought I would give you all a few titles each month to check out.  All of these books will fit perfectly into this reading challenge.  I will try to add a variety of genres (YA, Non-fiction, Historical Fiction, Mystery) for you to cross challenges as well.

~ Approved Diversity Books ~  

No Strings Attached Giveaway Hop

 

Hosted by I Am A Reader Not A Writer

There are no strings attached on this one just leave your email address in the comment section.  

The Prize

I Want to Talk About: Page Views

Page Views are sooo Addictive!

I started out blogging two years ago and I had no idea anyone would be around or even care to read my blog.  So I said to myself..."We are blogging for the purpose of keeping track of the books I am reading and to have fun on a few memes, giveaways, mini-challenges and read-a-thons.  It not about being popular."

Review: A Cup of Friendship

 

(Roll your cursor over the cover for more information)

A Cup of Friendship Author: Deborah Rodriguez Genre: Fiction Publisher:  Random House Audio Release Date: January 25, 2011 Audiobook:  9 hours and 30 minutes Narrator: Mozhan Marno Source: From e-Library Buy the Book: Amazon

Golden Globe Pocketbooks

Did you see the Golden Globes last night?  I have to confess, I did not watch most of it.  But I did see the wonderful dresses come down the red carpet and I was amazed there were very few hot messes this year.  I can spot a hot mess coming a mile away.  This year I was really happy to see most of the starlets have a good sense of wearing flattering and gorgeous gowns this year.  And as always I was curious to see what they are holding in their right hands.  Petite Pocketbooks of course.  What did you think I was talking about?  LOL!

Here are a few great pocketbooks from last nights red carpet.  

All pics from AP Press.

Sunday Best #56

Hosted by Tanya at Girlxoxo.com
Welcome to Sunday Best, where I post the best blog post from me and you and all around the web.  Or at least the best of what I have read this week.  I hope you all had a wonderful week full of warm moments and warmer places.
 

  So what is Sunday Best?
Every Sunday, we are going to share the best post on our blogs and other blogs we visited from the past week and link them up. Join us in showing off your Sunday Best and leave a comment or two.  

How to Rock Radiant Orchid

If you missed it, the Gods of Color at Pantone have announced the new it color for 2014. Yes there is a color for the new year. Last year was all about Emerald Green and this year it is Radiant Orchid. Think of this bold color as purple with a hint of red. Just a touch but not to much.  

I love color and unlike most people I don't have one favorite over another.  I love them all equally for different reasons.  But I understand that most people shy away from color and are like deers in headlights when it comes to putting colors together.  Here is a complete non-professional opinion on adding Radiant Orchid to your wardrobe.   Disclaimer time.  I am not a professional stylist I just like to pick, mix and match and I did not deffer to anyone about this. 
Ok??   Ok!

In my humble opinion you don't want to wear this color from head to toe because you might run the risk of looking like one of the following...

What I Am Listening To...

A Cup of Friendship 

Book Blogger Hop: Blog Purist and Stars

Hosted by Coffee Addicted Writer

Welcome everyone to another post of Book Blogger Hop (hosted by Coffee Addicted Writer). Each week there will be a new topic submit by a blogger and everyone can join in with their answers. You should join us! It's quite fun!

This weeks Topic/Question

January 10th - 16th: Are you a book blogger purist? Do you only have book related posts or do you review/post on anything/everything that catches your eye? (submitted by Judy)

January Reading Queue

I am back with my Reading Queue for the month January.  Reading Queue is hosted by Book Tasty and Books: A true story.  What is the reading queue all about? 

Reading Queue is a monthly meme where you share what books you plan to read for the month. You can hop to other blogs and see what others are reading and maybe find someone reading the same thing as you! Or you can ask for people to vote on what you should read next if you can’t decide.

 

Book:  My first book of 2014 is a purchase my trainer told me to get and read so we can take my training to the next level.  I am finding this to be a interesting book.  I will review it once I get done and start using it. (Click the cover to read more about the book)

January is National Blood Donor Month

I know you are a bit freaked out about that post title, but it's true. January has a few odd official names for it, one being National Blood Donor Month. Some of the others are:
National Bath Safety Month
National Braille Literacy Month
National Hobby Month
Hot Tea Month
National Oatmeal Month
National Soup Month 

So out of this list I picked National  Blood Donor Month because it seemed like the easiest one to do a post on.  LOL! 

I know a few characters that are a bit thrilled over this one.

So today I am going to give you a few books about BLOOD!
yep.  Blood Books!

Google Celebrates an Author of Color

Google completely surprised me today.  If you haven't noticed, when you use Google.com to search there is usually a new Google icon in the upper left hand corner.  The icons change in celebration of holidays, famous events, and did you know kind of things.  They also celebrate famous people too.  Today, Google is celebrating a famous African American Author's birthday.  

Zora Neale Hurston

It's My 2nd Blog Birthday!!

 

Now that everyone is here.  Are you all ready?  Glasses raised high!

 

To me and My Little Pocketbooks!  We made it passed a year and we are on to some really cool adventures.  But this is all because of you (not Leo) but you the readers.  I didn't think anyone would care, read, or even stop by when I first started.  But you all have made this amazingly fun.  I love blogging because of each and everyone of you.

Cheers! 

Winter 2014 Mini Bloggiesta!

Guess what is coming up?

My most favorite blogging event.

This year there is going to be a mini Winter Bloggiesta.  And I sooo need this challenge.  I am getting my to do list together now. 

Review: Dashing Through the Snow

Dashing Through the Snow Author: Mary and Carol Higgins Clark Genre: Mystery Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio Release Date: November 18, 2008 Audiobook: 5 hours and 12 minutes Narrator: Carol Higgins Clark Source: Purchased from Audible.com Buy the Book: Amazon

Sunday Best #55

Hosted by Tanya at Girlxoxo.com
  So what is Sunday Best?
Every Sunday, we are going to share the best post on our blogs and other blogs we visited from the past week and link them up. Join us in showing off your Sunday Best and leave a comment or two.  

My Favorite Post from Me

I'm hosting my first reading challenge for 2014.  

Sign ups are open.  Diversity on the Shelf 2014

Diversity on the Shelf Reading Challenge Post

Links and Resources
January Review Link Up & Giveaway