book club

IN A FIX arc tour

i first “met” linda on twitter. i quickly became enamored with her humor, but it was her generosity that impressed me the most. she consistently makes the blog rounds and comments on my (little) blog, even though she’s got bigger things to do and more important blogs to read. she knows how to make a girl feel special. and that’s all without ever having met me offline!

so when the call went out for participants for an ARC (advanced reader copy) tour,  i jumped up and down and waved my arms and flailed in what i hope was a flattering manner because, man, did i want to be a part of that. not only did i want to do whatever i could to support linda’s debut book, but selfishly, i really really really want to read that story.

she picked me! and when the book came my way, i took a deep breath and dove right on in.

you guys. you’re going to adore this book. it’s everything i hoped it’d be. it’s full of fascinating people, crazy situations, and even more hilarious solutions to get out of those situations.  but the best part of all is that despite her unusual abilities, ciel is completely relatable.

she’s just a girl who’s trying to get the job done while looking cute, remaining independent, and nursing a crush on an unattainable guy. she may not always look like herself, but her personality shines through and draws the guys (and the readers) in like any good magnet would.

don’t even try to resist.

the story is fast paced, complete, and yet leaves the door (and the readers’ hearts) open for more.

the only tragedy here? that we have to wait so long to see what awaits ciel next!

thanks for letting me be a part of the tour and thanks for acknowledging my status as a winner with the debutante ball’s own ARC contest.

oh, sheesh, i almost forgot the BEST PART OF THIS POST. you can buy linda’s book at the bookstore nearest you! TODAY. yup. it’s available right this very minute. what are you waiting for? go. Go. GO BUY IT. you won’t regret it.

 

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writing

guest post: david rakoff

david rakoff was an essayist, a journalist and a frequent contributer to NPR’s “this american life.” he passed away on august 9th.

as is wont to happen when someone passes away, their best moments are quickly strewn across the internet. like this post (yes, about writing. sorry to bore you all non-writers out there). i was blown away by the honesty. and the truth of it.

it’s pretty much how i feel, but thought i wasn’t allowed to feel that way.

*hopes*

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feelings

too much

having long distance family feels slightly less long distance with today’s technology.

facetime with baby mac

it’s quickly become a sunday afternoon tradition — spending time together via apple’s facetime — because life moves fast and the kids grow with each passing day and i’m just trying to keep up as best i can from afar.

when sister J overfills a bowl of cereal and mutters “oops, too much,” and baby mac counters, “but mommy, i want too much,” that’s what i’m going for.

too much of the screen getting flipped around, getting put on mute, staring at the ceiling while sister J lays the phone down to put shoes on her daughter, listening to bubba mac babble and coo, chatting with sister J while baby mac shuts the doors and windows of her play house, watching baby mac dance around, pour water from a bottle into a container, “feed” me swedish fish, and/or her (accidentally) hanging up on me because it’s all those little moments of every day silliness that make up the big picture of family.

i want too much, too.

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feelings

kids and books

(1) this is the way baby mac reads.

look at that posture! only someone totally absorbed by a story could strike that pose.

(2) this is the way my other niece, MMM, reads now.

(3) this is the way she began.

(4) this is the way MMM and i read together.

(5) this is the way my nephew L reads and shares and smiles.

nephew L is on the right.

(6) and this is the way i started reading. (the lack of joy on my face is, i can only presume, because i was annoyed at having my reading time interrupted.)

those straight legs! that straight back! what i wouldn’t give to be able to strike that pose now. (i can’t even touch my toes.)

how did YOU start reading? or, simply, what makes YOU smile?

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