Barbara's blog

I always like Penelope Lively's work. The Photograph, Making It Up, Family Album, Consequences, and her over 20 other fiction and nonfiction titles. She is a great children's books writer, as well, -- over 25 titles. But my favorite is Moon Tiger, winner of the Booker Prize, first released in 1987. Great characters and many lively topics to discuss in a reading group.

Around the Bend is an On the Bookcase Feature bringing attention to upcoming reading group-appropriate titles.

Such a Pretty Face by Cathy Lamb. (Kensington Books, August 2010)

In this warm, funny, thoroughly candid novel, acclaimed author Cathy Lamb introduces an unforgettable heroine who’s half the woman she used to be, and about to find herself for the first time. 

Two years and 170 pounds ago, Stevie Barrett was wheeled into an operating room for surgery that most likely saved her life. Since that day, a new Stevie has emerged, one who walks without wheezing, plants a garden for self-therapy, and builds and paints fantastical wooden chairs. At thirty-five, Stevie is the one thing she never thought she’d be: thin.

Booking Through Thursday is a weekly meme about (mostly) books and reading. 

Today's  Questions: What’s the most useful book you’ve ever read? And, why?

I have two books that constantly "work" for me.

The Chicago Manual of Style is always open on my desk. The book (or tome!) is filled with useful little rules and regulations of grammer, spelling, punctuation, abbreviations, editing tools, and just good and correct ways of writing. I used it more when I was an editor. My style of writing today is much more relaxed and casual but I still like the book by my side.

I love bookmobiles and this one is a humdinger! The Weapon of Mass Instruction. Check it out.

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along!

Just got back from sunny Sarasota! We went to a wedding of our friends' son. The bride and grooming were beaming and a good time was had by all.

Being in Sarasota reminded me of John D. MacDonald, the author of the great character, Travis McGee.

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along!

Meet my friend, Julie Robinson! She runs Literary Affairs, an awesome reading group resource. Literary Affairs offers meetings with authors, conversations with experts relating to books being discussed, and even nationwide and overseas tours!

Booking Through Thursday

The question today:

"So ... you're halfway through a book and you're hating it. It's boring. It's trite. It's badly written.

But ...