New Years Resolutions

Happy New Year! Did you rest and relax and eat all sorts of goodies this holiday? I hope so (I sure know I did!). Since it’s the beginning of January everyone is thinking about resolutions and I have plenty of my own. One of mine is book-related and I think it deserves sharing.

Resolution: To Put My Money Where My Mouth Is

How often in the past year have industry folk and the general public alike heard how independent (and big box) bookstores are struggling? How ‘evil’ Amazon is? How Amazon doesn’t care about local booksellers? Lots and lots. And, on the flip side, how often is it discussed that local bookstores know books and their customers better than anyone else? And who hosts author events? Local bookstores—we hear about this all the time! Although these discussions are complicated they make one thing clear in my mind: If we want the wonderful institution of local, independent bookstores to remain, we need to support them over online retailers.

I have not been doing this. Buying books on Amazon is (often) cheaper and easier than from a physical store. 99% of my books come from the online retailer—I even have an Amazon.com credit card which gives me reward points that I turn around and use at Amazon. I’ve embraced Amazon as much as anyone else—even knowing its pitfalls better than the general public. And I’m beginning to feel horrible about it.

And so, my New Years Resolution is to buy more books—at least 50%—at a local store. This means the books I buy are going to cost more, and being on a budget such as I am, I’ll probably have to buy fewer books. But with my reading levels staying the same I’ll have to visit the library to get that additional reading material—and that’s another fine institution to be more actively supporting!

Do you have any book-related resolutions for 2012?

Holiday Hiatus and a New Schedule

Happy holidays again! Can you tell I like Christmas? I wish everyone a “Merry Christmas” from December 1^st until the day itself. And so I can enjoy the holidays with my family, which I start today with a long weekend, I’m going to be taking a bit of a break with the blog. I’ll be back in January!

…but on a slightly new schedule. Lately I’ve been a little overwhelmingly busy and the amount of time I’ve been able to spend on this blog has decreased. I loved writing Monday, Wednesday, and Friday…but I can’t keep it up! I’m tired and I’m not the only one suffering from blog fatigue. With those high expectations I was pressuring myself to always blog. I ended up writing about writing on the blog instead of writing my novel itself! That’s no good! And although I love this blog, there are better things to be doing than typing in front of a computer screen—I want to bake more. Cook more. Learn how to play the piano. My boyfriend and I want to take ballroom dancing classes. Get out. Enjoy the city. Learn things.

So I’ll still be here, and you can always reach me in the comments section or by email (theunemployedbooklover@gmail.com), just a little less often!

Enjoy—and relax—this holiday season.

Giving the Gift of Reading

It’s that most wonderful time of the year. I’m fresh off a weekend of hosting a holiday party and attending a choir concert, so it’s definitely Christmas here!

Having trouble thinking of gifts to give? Of course, I recommend something literary! I love picking out titles to give to my two little cousins and it was fun acquainting myself with Harper’s adult titles as I picked out books for other family members. My younger sister, soon to be graduating with a degree in the early childhood education, is getting a slew of picture books to get her career started the right way. Don’t want to give a book? How about one of these wonderful literary-themed items?

Happy gifting and happy reading!

Celebrate Easter!

Easter is just around the corner, and what better for the Easter Bunny to fill baskets with than books? Here are some of my favorite holiday or bunny-themed pictures books for the youngest readers.

 

The Easter Egg by Jan Brett

Here Comes T. Rex Cottontail by Lois G. Grambling and Jack E. Davis

Little White Rabbit by Kevin Henkes

Pat the Bunny by Dorothy Kunhardt

Bunny’s Easter Egg by Anne Mortimer

Fancy Nancy’s Elegant Easter by Jane O’Connor and Robin Preiss-Glasser

Rechenka’s Eggs by Patricia Polacco

Runaway Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown

The Story of the Easter Bunny by Katherine Tegen and Sally Anne Lambert

   

I hope some of these treats are hopped over to your house this Sunday!

Valentine's Day Treats

Happy (almost) Valentine’s Day! 

One of the best parts about Valentine’s Day are the sugary treats…conversation hearts, chocolate, any sweet, I love it!  One of my favorite ways to celebrate the holiday is to make these cookies.

 They’re so simple, but look impressive. To make, roll sugar cookie dough (homemade or store bought- I made this lemon sugar cookie dough) thinner than you normally would. Using two different sized heart-shaped cookie cutters, cut as many large hearts as you can. In half of the hearts, cut a smaller heart inside and remove, leaving a cutout. Reroll scraps or cook the small inside hearts separately. When the cookies are finished baking and have cooled, spread jam (strawberry or raspberry are the most seasonal), on the large hearts and place a cutout on top. Enjoy!

The other best part of Valentine’s Day is spending it with a special someone.  Well, no matter what your in-real-life relationship status is, there are plenty of swoon-worthy fictional love interests to choose from:

Fitzwilliam Darcy, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.  The romantic interest of all romantic interests.

Jesse, Mediator series by Meg Cabot.  Who knew a ghost could be so sexy?

Corlath, The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley.  Mysterious and strong.

Prince Char, Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine.  Who doesn’t love a real prince?

Prince Jonathan and George, Song of the Lioness series by Tamora Piece.  Best love triangle ever.  How could Alanna just choose one?

Jace, Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare. A fierce demon-killer. 

Sir Percival “Percy” Blakeney aka The Scarlet Pimpernel, The Scarlet Pimpernel by Emmuska Orczy.  Incognito hero who is secretly in love with his wife.

Sir Hugh of Harrowfield, aka “Red”, Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier. The strong, silent type with an irrefutable moral compass.

(Thanks to my best friend, Heather, for her hot-fictional-guy knowledge!)

Enjoy the treats today!

Birthday Books

My birthday is this weekend, and to celebrate (mine and yours and everyone’s birthdays), check out this website which will show you what books were New York Times Bestsellers the week of your birthday.  I hate to say it but I haven’t read any of mine (I had planned on reading Beloved by Toni Morrison, which has been on my TBR list for forever, so I didn’t have to admit publically that I haven’t read it, but time got away from me!).   What books were popular when you were born? Check it out…and then check them out!

Confession

Here is a confession and a resolution wrapped into one: I have not written or edited a single word in any story of mine since the second weekend in November.   *GASP*

No, seriously, this is bad.  Life got in the way.  And granted, I’ve accomplished a lot and I can be very grateful for that this year: I’ve gotten both a job and an apartment, plus traveled to CT/NH for Thanksgiving and Christmas.  I’ve been busy and understandably so. 

Understandable, yes.  Acceptable, no. 

Why? Because it’s SOOOOO easy to make up excuses as to why you can’t get something done.  This applies to everyone and anything: it could be doing the laundry, going to the gym, or calling a long lost friend.   But I cannot let life and excuses get in my way of writing.  I will not.

When I have a routine (like I did over the summer and part of the fall), my writing went wonderfully.  It was more fun than work.  I was productive and creative and I looked forward to my moments I had set aside to write.  I respected this time just as if it was written in my planner and unrescheduleable. I wouldn’t schedule a doctor’s or hair appointment in the morning.  My family respected this time too; my mom knew that I couldn’t go shopping with her before noon on the weekend because I was writing; I made plans around my designated writing time.  This worked.  Really well. 

So, my resolution for 2011 is to set up a special writing time again and not let anything- social events, my boyfriend making me a three course meal (*hint* starting and ending with dessert, please *hint*), napping, etc. - to get in the way.  I know that with a full time job I won’t have as much time to write as I did when I was basically doing nothing over the summer, but…

Starting January 1^st, I WILL WRITE REGULARLY.  

Got it? I hope you guys will help keep me on track ;-) 

Merry Christmas Eve!

Fact:

It’s the night before Christmas, and all through the house,

everyone was stirring, even the mouse. 

It’s just one o’clock and everyone's here,

sharing wrapped presents and good Christmas cheer.

I’ll be with family, and hope you are too,

Merry Christmas to all, you, you and you!

Literary Gift Ideas

Need a last minute present?  There’s plenty of literary options, other than books- although those should obviously be high on your list!

For Hunger Games fans, check out this slideshow from EW highlighting the best themed gifts: http://www.ew.com/ew/gallery/0,,20317203_20449625_20888216,00.html

Or, for the more paranormal romance interested teen, get a bite out of this: http://www.squidoo.com/twilight-themed-gifts-for-teenage-girls and http://www.highschoolbites.com/creator

And, if you want to get into the Christmas spirit by being charitable and spreading the joy of reading, Room to Read has a great program. http://www.roomtoread.org/Page.aspx?pid=780

Hope this ideas were inspiring- or if you were good and got your shopping down in August- at least interesting.  I know I have my eye on some Hunger Games paraphernalia for a future purchase! 

Christmas Countdown

Fact: There are only eight days until Christmas.  Seven if you start celebrating like my family on the 24^th.  That’s ONE WEEK!

For the time being, I won’t go into how awesome Christmas is or my favorite Christmas traditions.  Those can be saved for later.  Right now, here’s a Christmas book countdown…seven books for seven more days!

The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg.

(PB) The Christmas book of all Christmas books.  A few years ago my mom gave my sister and I each a silver bell ornament to remind us to always feel the magic of the season.  Can you still hear it ringing?

The Wild Christmas Reindeer by Jan Brett

 (PB) Jan Brett’s illustrations are so fantastically detailed.  And while The Mitten might be a better known (and classic) children’s book, I always related to the protagonist in this one.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss

(PB) A family favorite that has inspired several movies and even a popular song, you have to love the Grinch…and the lesson both he and the Whos in Whoville learn.

The Story of Holly & Ivy by Rumer Godden and Barbara Cooney

(PB) A sweet story about wishing, dreaming and belonging.  Plus the doll in the story is really pretty; perfect for my (non-so-inner) girly girl-ness.

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson

 (MG) It takes a family of unruly children to teach the (religious) meaning of Christmas in this book, which has a special importance to me as the first play I was ever in was an adaptation of this classic.

Dash and Lily’s Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

(YA) I have to admit, I haven’t quite read this one yet (because I’m in NYC and left it in CT…boo), but how can you not like a teenage love story set in Manhattan during Christmas time? Next year it will be the first holiday book I read!

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

(Adult) Although Scrooge may be an old man, the lesson he learns is one every teen should know…so they don’t end up having three ghosts visit them on Christmas Eve!   And besides, the

beloved Muppets version of this classic definitely appeals to kids…and adults!

So take a moment to relax away from the got-to-find-the-perfect-gift-and-fit-in-all-these-holiday-parties-and-cooking-baking-and-decorating-andeverything-else to sit down by the fireplace with a cup of cocoa and start reading one of these books, or your own favorite.  The season really is magical.

eReaders

The holidays are quickly approaching, and Black Friday is this Friday…which means one thing: SHOPPING!

I’ll be the first to admit it: I love shopping.  Books, clothes, random kitchen gadgets that I’ll never need, you name it.  One of the biggest items on everyone’s radar this holiday season are eReaders.  If you’re on the market for one, this list is a really helpful way to make a decision on which eReader is best for you.

I don’t own an eReader.  Not yet, anyways.  I like, okay, love books.  Physical, hold them and smell them and watch them sit prettily on your overflowing bookshelf books.  A friend or family member can’t personalize an eBook.  An author can’t sign an eBook. eBooks don’t have pretty covers.  Most eBooks can’t have special fonts.  As of right now, eBooks just can’t do what physical books can do.

But…and there always is a but…eBooks are great, too.  eBooks are cheaper than physical books.  That means MORE BOOKS- there is nothing more awesome than that! Although, of course, you have to factor in the cost of the eReader.  Depending on your eReader, you can download eBooks anywhere you can get an internet connection.  eBooks only weigh as much as the eReader- a big plus for the girl who has been carrying anywhere from two to six books in her purse for the past three weeks.  This is HUGE for traveling purposes.  And I already exclaimed my joy for borrowing eBooks from the library. 

So there we have it; my list of pros and cons for eBooks and eReaders.   I don’t think Santa is going to be bringing me an eReader this Christmas, but it’s definitely something that’s on my radar for a later date.  What are your thoughts?  Do you own an eReader?  How do you like it? Will you purchase one this holiday season?

Halloween

Halloween is this weekend!  Yay!  For anyone who doesn’t know me (because everyone who knows me already knows this) I have the biggest sweet tooth in the world (Reese’s! Skittles! Candy corn! I love them all!).  I also love dressing up.  Question: What is there not to like about Halloween?  Answer: Nothing. 

The most difficult part of Halloween, though, is figuring out what you’re going to be.  If you need last minute costume inspiration, check out this link (Thanks to Mediabistro for sending it my way).   As a Book Lover, I LOVE these ideas.  Sometimes it’s difficult to be a literary character because they’re not as recognizable as a movie/tv character (as in, don’t dress up as Beauty from Beauty and the Beast if you don’t wear one of the Disney recognizable gowns).  In third grade I dressed up as Jo March from Little Women for a Halloween-themed birthday party.  Everyone thought I was a cook because I wore an apron and carried around a journal (those uneducated eight-year-olds!).  Yet, the suggested costumes are so creative and easy to make (a big plus in my book!).  And a unique costume is a great conversation starter!  I wish I had seen this article sooner (my boyfriend and I have already settled on Popeye and Olive Oyl) but maybe next year I’ll be Elizabeth Bennett…the empire waist dress is a piece of cake to make!

Hope you all have a Happy Halloween…rock those costumes and eat lots of candy!