Week in Review (April 25-May 1) and Author Love-a-Thon #6

Week in Review and Author Love-a-Thon

So my week has been pretty much the same has always.

Coffee, Kiddo, Play, Eat, Read, Work, Cuddle, Sleep. Repeat.

BUT this week I went to visit my parents with the kiddo to give my husband the night to "let loose" for his birthday. Though before I left I did the motherly thing and said "For Goodness Sakes, behave, you are 35 years old now, old man!".

Anyhoo, he did behave and I had a fabulous time with my mom going to their annual Book Fair in my hometown. We went on Saturday morning when it was $4 to fill a bag. I know! $4!

Can you believe it? Well, I , of course, said I would only fill one bag because, really, I was going to BEA and I would have plenty of books to fill my reading lists until 2014.

As I got going, though, I could not stop. I gathered Kids books, Religious books, Biographies, History, Mystery, Literature, you name it, I grabbed it!

I got some pretty neat books and so did my mom.

But, the most exciting of them all, were all of the Sweet Valley High and Sweet Valley Twins books I found!

This leads to me to my May installment of my Author Love-a-Thon.

Francine Pascal

So, Francine Pascal did not write every single Sweet Valley High or Twins book but she did create the world in which I devoured as a child.

DEVOURED people!

As you all know by now, I was NOT the pretty blonde blue eyed "perfect" girl growing up. Far from it. I was more like the Wakefield twins' awkward inbred cousin with clothes too big and hair even bigger.

I had begun collecting the series again a few years back but hadn't really come across a lot for sale, though I was only looking at a few bookstores here and there. When I saw the bounty of books at this sale, I had to scoop them up!

I probably still have about 60+ books to still collect, with all of the Special Editions and what not. I will! I will!

I was also so excited to discover a fellow blogger, Connie from Constance Reader who has a sidebar blog dedicated to all things Sweet Valley High! I'm hooked.

So, folks, as you can tell, the highlight from my week was my book discoveries and a trip down memory lane. If you have not seen or heard of Sweet Valley, shame on you! Just Kidding.

I will tell you the basics. Jessica and Elisabeth Wakefield are twins: blonde, blue eyed, size 6 perfect. They live in Sweet Valley, CA and are different as night and day. Jessica is the wild one. Elizabeth is the good one. The books are all about their life, friends, family and ups and downs. SO addicting to a teenager who is living through it all too! Sweet Valley Twins is the same, only they are younger.

This was young adult when young adult was well, all about being a young adult. No vampires. No werewolves. No crazy powers. Just boys and girls. And, you know, some drinking, jealously, bad grades, bad hair days, etc. (sigh) Ahh, good ol' highschool.

I am thinking that possibly...maybe...of creating a Sweet Valley Challenge. What at trip it would be to read them all again. Oh the drama....!

Stay tuned.

Happy Reading, and as always, thanks for stopping by!

red headed book child

Now try not to be upset...

...but there will be no Author Love-a-Thon this month. So sorry. No April fools joke.

I'm just plum tuckered out. :(

I know. Try not to cry. It'll be back next month.

'til then, Happy Reading!

red headed book child

Author Love-a-Thon #5: A.M. Homes

Author Love-a-Thon #5:

A.M. Homes

March 2010

Why I love A.M. Homes by Red Headed Book Child

First off, she's gorgeous. Yes, that can be a reason. Second, her books are outstanding. I discovered her way back in my Boston book selling days. The bookstore I worked at there was established and successful so we got a lot of ARCs and Review Copies. I was brand new to the book biz :) and was floored by the fact that I could read all of these books that were not released yet for free! During my time living in Boston I read a ton, thanks to the train ride I had into the city. I was voracious and open minded. I would read anything and take any recommendation. I stumbled across the ARC of Music For Torching and read it within a day, a total of 3 train rides.

I then raced off to read her others. I had time then and reading the entire works of an author took but a week for me! (ahh, good times). So I read The Safety of Objects, Jack, In the Country of Mothers and The End of Alice. I soon discovered I had another favorite author. Her writing is exceptional. She explores every day life and tragedies; discovering a lost mother, your own sexuality, suburban family drama, and depression.

Why you should love A.M. Homes

She is one of those authors that continue to produce such powerful fiction; raw, intense, emotional and real. Never a "bestseller" but deserving of such recognition. I am a fan of human novels, of characters that are written as if i knew them, as if they live inside of me. It would be hard to compare her to another. But if you are looking for unique stories, complex and rich characters, look no further. You will walk away with an imprint of her and her style on you. She would be a fantastic choice for a book club. All of her books stir up plenty of conversation.

The list:

This book will save your life

Things you should know

Los Angeles

Music for Torching +

The End of Alice +

Appendix A

In the Country of Mothers + *

The Safety of Objects +

Jack +

A Mistress's Daughter

+= I've read

* = My favorite

A Mistress's Daughter is her most recent. It is a memoir of her adoption and her definition of family. I can't wait to read it! I would start out with either Music for Torching or In a Country of Mothers.

A few of her novels have been made into movies as well. She was also a writer/producer for the TV show, The L Word. Check out her website for more info.

A.M Homes

Thanks for stopping by and hopefully discovering a new author for your list!

Happy Reading!

red headed book child