365 Days of Bliss – Day 20: bookworm
Hello! I’m Julie Billingsley and I’m a bookworm! LOL I know I’m not alone, because the Sweet Shoppe forum has frequent discussions of books and e-readers. In the craziness that plagues most of my days, there are few things that bring me bliss like quiet time with a good book.
My love of reading was definitely passed to me by my mom. I have fond memories of sitting together with a dozen Little Golden Books and her tirelessly reading them to me. She read for her pleasure too, often reading a couple books in a day. As I grew up I was never a big TV watcher, instead choosing to lose myself in a book. I read a little of everything these days. From crime drama to chick lit, to self help and how-to books. I read for pleasure and instruction. Reading is something I need to do… it soothes my soul and feeds my brain.
In the last year I’ve given up my page-flipping days for the technology of an e-reader. My current choice is using the Kindle app on my iPod Touch. If you have an iPhone or Touch or other smartphone, I highly recommend giving the Kindle app a try. There are lots of free books at Amazon.com to see if you like reading on your phone. They are small, extremely portable, and since I was already carrying it with me it is very convenient. At some point I would like to change to a larger e-reader like the Nook from Barnes and Noble or an actual Kindle from Amazon. Both have great features and you can read several threads on them in our forums like thesehere, or here, or search the threads for lots more! I’m leaning towards the Kindle since I already have a ton of Kindle books that I purchased for my iTouch, but those Nook features are very tempting! Jump into those discussions and maybe you can sway me one way or the other.
I almost always have a few books going at once and will choose from them depending on what I’m interested in at the moment. Most of my reading is done in the car while waiting to pick up my son from school or activities, but I always read for 30-60 minutes before bedtime too. Right now I am reading 3 books: Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen for the Sweet Reads Book Club, How to Raise the Perfect Dog by Cesar Millan to help me with my dream of having a puppy, but mostly I have been spending my time reading a series by Debbie Macomber. I stumbled upon her Cedar Cove 12 book series and quickly fell in love with it because surprisingly it is written about the small towns in Kitsap County where I grew up in Washington! It is a contemporary fiction series for women that focuses on the people of a small town. Each book builds upon the previous and the series is very much like watching a TV show with a large cast of characters and all the weaving of storylines and it’s slight soap-opera-ish drama. I am on book 7 right now, so it’s really captured my attention. It’s a nice enjoyable read and gives me an extra dose of bliss since I recognize places within the stories. When the characters go into the mall where I once worked or the yarn store that my sister worked at, it just brings a big smile to my face. And makes me miss living there a LOT!
Being a bookworm also makes me want to scrapbook about that, and luckily the designers at SSD have made some kits that focus on reading. There are kits for both you and your child’s love of reading! Here are a few of the kits-
click kit to see it in the shoppe.
Here is a layout that I did about my love of books using Kristin and Jenn’s new Me Time: Chick Lit kit shown above.
And here are some bookmarks that I made for my son to track his daily reading on! Sara inspired me to do this in her recent blog post. We are using it as a reward tracker, for every 20 days he reads for at least 20 minutes we will go to get an ice cream. It’s a great idea and will keep those kids reading all summer long! I used Penny’s 12 Months: Month Blocks and a few kits (click the image for the links to all) for this super fun and easy idea.
For a fun little surprise, I’ll be giving away a coupon for a free kit from my shoppe to 1 random person that links me up to the best book(s) they have read in the last 12 months. Contest ends midnight Pacific on May 22nd. Winner will be announced in the SSD forum. Comment here on the blog and link me up to some sweet reads! 🙂
Thanks for reading my novel blog post and I hope you are inspired to join our Sweet Reads discussions or scrap about your love of books! 🙂
~Julie Billingsley
Gemma said...
on May 20th, 2011 at 3:30 am
Best book(series) I’ve read in the past 12 months is The Hunger Games. I absolutely loved them!!
nancy79 said...
on May 20th, 2011 at 3:59 am
I tried to find the english title of the best book I’ve read this year (I’ve read it in dutch). It’s by Tatiana de Rosnay, I think it’s called Sarah’s Key. I did not want to stop reading it
Ingrid Fasquelle said...
on May 20th, 2011 at 5:29 am
The best (series of) book(s) i’ve ever read in the past 12 months is Les Yeux Jaunes des Crocodiles by Katherine Pancol. I absolutely loved this book and cannot put it down ! The author has managed to create a series of characters intertwined through complicated family ties that makes each single one evolve in quite unexpected ways. This book is a page turner, and the first in a series. The second one is “La Valse Lente des Tortues”, and the third one is “les Ecureuils de Central Park sont Tristes le Lundi”, which I’m reading right now. It’s one of those books that you are actually sad when it is over because you have become SO attached to the characters. I’m amazed that this hasn’t been translated to English yet… If you speak French, pick it up as soon as possible ! Highest recommendation ! 🙂
Julia said...
on May 20th, 2011 at 6:26 am
Great blog post! One of my fave books are The Bookseller of Kabul. It’s really a good book to read, that I definitely think is worth reading. Have a wonderful Friday 🙂
KateC said...
on May 20th, 2011 at 7:01 am
Oy. I’ve read so many awesome books in the last year! The Help, Mockingjay, Room, The Passage, The King Raven trilogy. I could go on and on…
Rachael said...
on May 20th, 2011 at 7:15 am
The best book I’ve read (it’s kinda old though) is Pieces of Me. It’s a true story and it’s just crazy what this guy goes through (especially having dental surgery without novicaine!!)
I haven’t given into the ereaders yet, but I’m dying to try one out, they look so cool! 🙂
Stephanie said...
on May 20th, 2011 at 7:32 am
I have been on an autobiography kick lately, the one I have been reading is amazing. Ashley Judd writes about her early life and moves it into her job as an ambassador for these amazing charities. I think you would enjoy it.
Kara said...
on May 20th, 2011 at 7:33 am
I’ve read so many good ones this year, but the best has to be the Treasure Principle by Randy Alcorn.
Ashley said...
on May 20th, 2011 at 8:08 am
I’ve read quite a bit of non-fiction this year for some reason. My favorite was Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand. Also – The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot is extremely interesting. It is about the woman whose cells (HELA cells) have been used around the world for medical research without her knowledge. Very thought provoking. As far as fiction I enjoyed Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese. Sorry I couldn’t limit to one!!!
Dee said...
on May 20th, 2011 at 8:33 am
Great post, Julie . . . I love anything that gets people reading more 🙂 The best I’ve read in the past year would probably be The Help, although it wasn’t easy to decide on just one!!
Elizabeth (mummytothree) said...
on May 20th, 2011 at 8:52 am
The best book I’ve read in the last 12 months has probably been The Hunger Game series!!! Love it!!!!
Stephanie said...
on May 20th, 2011 at 8:54 am
I will tell you my favorite books of the year. Its a trilogy starting with the Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. My nieces and sister in law told me about them and I was hooked at book one which i borrowed from a friend. My husband then bought me the trilogy, hard covers, for my birthday. Fun books and you get hooked into the characters. They are going to be making the movies soon, I hear. My teenage nieces keep up with these things.
Angie said...
on May 20th, 2011 at 9:16 am
I hasve read a few great books and living in WA I am totally gonn ahave to check out the Cedar Grove Series 🙂 But I read this ook, The Chili Queen, and really enjoyed it 🙂
http://www.amazon.com/Chili-Queen-Novel-Sandra-Dallas/dp/0312320264
Stacy said...
on May 20th, 2011 at 9:23 am
Well, I LOVE The Hunger Games, but I read that book over a year ago, and the other books aren’t quite as good. So I’m going to say Kristin Hannah’s Magic Hour is the best book I’ve read in the past year. It was the first book of hers I’d ever read, and I’m now working my way through her other novels 🙂
i.am.digiscrapper said...
on May 20th, 2011 at 9:56 am
I liked The Hunger Games as well, but I’m not so sure about the sequel!
Sarah8914 said...
on May 20th, 2011 at 10:19 am
Well, I want to add books not already on here… I too loved the Hunger Games (not so much the ending though) and I really enjoyed The Help. That was probably the best one I’ve read in the past year. But right now, I’m reading a cute little YA series… here’s the first book: http://www.amazon.com/Tell-Love-Then-Gallagher-Girls/dp/1423100042/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1305901477&sr=8-6 It’s a super quick, light read, but it’s fun and cute. Not the best book ever, but I’m really enjoying them and can’t put them down!
Amanda P (apphotos) said...
on May 20th, 2011 at 10:54 am
Sadly, I don’t make the time to read like I should. It is something I do enjoy though. Last summer I read this book: http://www.amazon.com/Matters-Heart-Novel-Danielle-Steel/dp/0440243319/ref=sr_1_60?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1305903531&sr=1-60
Matters of the Heart, by Danielle Steel in about 3 days.
I purchased another book about 2 months ago, & haven’t gotten to it yet, but I’m hoping to soon,
A Creed In Stone Creek, by Linda Lael Miller (book 1 in a trilogy).
Holly Ann said...
on May 20th, 2011 at 11:15 am
I’m not really a book reader these days…I used to be a pretty big bookworm but for some reason I just can’t get into any lately.
The last thing I read was the Twilight Series which I absolutely LOVE! (Like every other female in the world lol)
Scrapsandsass said...
on May 20th, 2011 at 12:11 pm
I’ve read too many to post, but probably the top three are…
The Financial Lives of the Poets by Jess Walter, The Lincoln Lawyer (better than the movie), Killer by Stephen Carpenter, The Filter Bubble: What the Internet is Hiding from You by Eli Parser, and if you like poetry… Starting Today: 100 Poems for Obama’s First 100 Days (an amazing look at daily life in our country written by 100 different poets).
Adrianka [helenvader] said...
on May 20th, 2011 at 12:30 pm
Best reads of mine in the past 12 months included:
The Help by Kathryn Stokes – a story featuring the life of black servants in Jackson, Mississippi in the 60s) – told from the POV of a young white woman and two black women – a page-turner and food for thought at the same time;
The Cider House Rules by John Irving – a fantastically written novel on choices (of having a child or not, but not only about this), some people may find parts of disturbing, but it’s definitely masterfully written;
The Suitcase Kid, The Lottie Project and The Illustrated Mum by Jacqueline Wilson – these are books aimed at pre-teen kids, but with wonderfully written kiddo POV and handling uneasy subject s like divorce, parents finding new partners or even a mother suffering from bi-polar disease – it’s totally interesting to read these from a child’s point of view, and definitely a great way of explaining these topics to kids.
Pam said...
on May 20th, 2011 at 1:37 pm
I am in the process of reading The Lakeshore Chronicle Series by Susan Wiggs. As of now, there are 8 books in the series. If you enjoy the Cedar Cove series, I think you would enjoy this one. I also watch for price reductions in Kindle books on this web site http://www.ereaderiq.com/pricewatch/
It has saved me quite a bit of money.
Leslie (lhaslem) said...
on May 20th, 2011 at 2:45 pm
I am loving the Dragon Tattoo series – I liked The Girl Who Played With Fire better than the first one for sure and can’t wait to read the third. Also, a lesser well known author – Andrew Gross (who sometimes writes with James Patterson) writes some good ones too – I loved The Blue Zone.
RKSP said...
on May 20th, 2011 at 3:41 pm
Like others, I really like The Hunger Games!
http://www.amazon.com/The-Hunger-Games-ebook/dp/B002MQYOFW/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1305920846&sr=8-3
NeverendingJen said...
on May 20th, 2011 at 4:30 pm
The In Death series is amazing
http://www.amazon.com/gp/search/ref=sr_kk_1?rh=i%3Adigital-text%2Ck%3Ain+death+series+in+chronological+order&keywords=in+death+series+in+chronological+order&ie=UTF8&qid=1305923826
Amanda (mkcdaisy) said...
on May 20th, 2011 at 4:31 pm
I read so many in a year its hard to keep track but one that I read recently that I really liked was Completely Smitten by Susan Mallrry
Liz (carriesmom) said...
on May 20th, 2011 at 5:48 pm
Eat Pray Love for sure: http://www.amazon.com/Eat-Pray-Love-Everything-Indonesia/dp/0143038419/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1305928383&sr=1-1
I read it at a time when I was lost and it really helped me get some clarity on my life.
Tina said...
on May 20th, 2011 at 5:56 pm
I have recently started reading more than I ever have after I downloaded the Nook app on my Blackberry. I’ve even picked up by Blackberry a couple of times to read in the middle of the night, since I didn’t have to get up and turn the lights on or off!!
I’ve enjoyed several books, including Prayers for Sale and The Bride’s House by Sandra Dallas. They are both set in the 18 and early 1900’s in Colorado (my home state) mountain mining towns from the perspective of several different women living there.
Natalie said...
on May 20th, 2011 at 7:22 pm
Here’s my favorite that I read last August: http://www.undaunted-thenovel.com/
Happy Now said...
on May 20th, 2011 at 7:58 pm
My personal reading has definitely taken a back seat to raising my young kiddos, but I do enjoy Jodi Piccoult and Dan Brown… Most of my reading these days is to 2 and 5 year olds, though, and we love the Magic Tree House series and Cam Jansen books! 🙂
taracotta7 said...
on May 20th, 2011 at 8:00 pm
I have read many books over the last year. I have found that I love Kristin Hannah. Many of her books rank high on my list. I just finished the Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs. I really enjoyed it. 🙂 Oh and I am a fellow Kindle lover! 🙂
jengerbread88 said...
on May 20th, 2011 at 8:22 pm
This one definitely doesn’t translate well to an E-Reader, but it is an awesome book, filled with twists, turns, puzzles, and more. It’s a book within a book and has a lot of weird stuff going on in it. It has hidden messages in the words, and everything!
http://www.amazon.com/House-Leaves-Mark-Z-Danielewski/dp/0375703764/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1305937699&sr=8-1
Kate said...
on May 20th, 2011 at 8:51 pm
I just finished ‘The Girl Who Played with FIre’ (sequel to ‘The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo’) and I really enjoyed it. I’ve also read some good books by Kristin Hannah.
Rachel (rach3975) said...
on May 20th, 2011 at 8:55 pm
Great topic and thanks for the chance to win! I was a book a day reader from the time I was young until I had kids, then I stopped reading for almost 5 years. About 2 years ago I started again, and I’ve read so many wonderful books in that time. In the last year I’ve discovered a new favorite author, Richelle Mead. She writes the Georgina Kincaid series starting with Succubus Blues and the Vampire Academy series. She has a 3rd series, but I heard the 3rd book ended on a cliff hanger that it’s hard to wait out, so I’m waiting to start the series until the 4th book comes out. I’m in the middle of Jodi Picoult’s Sing You Home right now, and that may join my favorites from the past year if the second half is as good as the first half.
Lani said...
on May 20th, 2011 at 8:55 pm
I’ve been terribly hooked on the black dagger brotherhood series by jr ward. I love them,the characters are so easy to fall in love with, but be warned, they are a bit steamy in parts! I also read thru an app (stanza) on my iPhone. Love that I always have a book with me, without lugging around and dog earing a paperback.
LauraM said...
on May 20th, 2011 at 9:06 pm
Now that I have a Kindle I am a reading fool and the best book(s) were the Hunger Games trilogy.
http://www.amazon.com/Hunger-Games-Suzanne-Collins/dp/0439023521/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1305940421&sr=1-1
Laura said...
on May 20th, 2011 at 9:15 pm
i am a total book nerd. i’ve been on a kristin hannah kick lately but i really, really loved Still Alice (http://www.amazon.com/Still-Alice-Lisa-Genova/dp/0595440096). it was sort of a tough read, but omg, SO touching.
Calvina said...
on May 20th, 2011 at 9:33 pm
The most enjoyable recent book I’ve read was The Help. Great insight and enjoyable read.
Davita said...
on May 20th, 2011 at 10:53 pm
What a great blog post Julie. I love to read and one of my favs is Bright and Shiny Morning (http://www.amazon.com/Bright-Shiny-Morning-James-Frey/dp/B002XULY0K/ref=pd_sim_b_2) by James Frey. I just love the way he writes, they way he pulls the reader in.
Leslie said...
on May 20th, 2011 at 11:26 pm
The best book I’ve read in the last 6 months is a non-fiction book A Race Like No Other by Liz Robbins, which chronicles different racers experiences during the NYC Marathon – very inspiring!
AmyG said...
on May 21st, 2011 at 12:45 am
I love to read too but sadly haven’t been to the library since we moved to a new city. I read so quickly it’s just a waste to buy books. That’s what’s holding me back from an ereader. If only the library would let us download books for free!
Milmomma said...
on May 21st, 2011 at 3:58 am
I read a lot of Youth stuff, with my short attention span. From the Twilight series to the Brother hood Dagger series to The NoteBook and Dear John. 🙂 I also read a lot of Dr. Seuss as that is what my kids love. 🙂
Trina H said...
on May 21st, 2011 at 7:16 am
In the last year my favourite book would have to be Breaking Dawn – loved finding out how the Bella/Edward story finished. I’m now reading Water for Elephants so it may beat that – its really good also.
Kellie said...
on May 21st, 2011 at 7:21 am
I so very much love The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell; he makes me see the world and my experiences through different eyes. http://www.amazon.com/Tipping-Point-Little-Things-Difference/dp/0316346624
I also am a HUGE fan of Liz Curtis Higgs: http://www.lizcurtishiggs.com/. I read Here Burns My Candle last year and cannot wait to get the sequel!
Claire said...
on May 21st, 2011 at 7:22 am
I LOVE reading, can’t go anywhere without at least one book to keep me company…I brush my teeth – toothbrush in one hand book in the other! My favourite travel book is Bill Bryson’s Neither Here Nor There, I also love his book Shakespeare and Mother Tongue (among others). I am an avid James Patterson, Kathy Reichs, Patricia Cornwell, Tami Hoag and the couple Kellerman (Faye and Jonathan) reader and also indulge in the occasional humorous romance – usually written by a British authoress. As a teacher, my all time favourite books to read aloud to my class are Barbara Park’s Junie B. Jones series and I love searching out and buying books for my learners to read – they are on a few different levels. Currently I am reading a few books about the British Royal Family – no guessed why! And I have nine ‘new’ books from the library which I cannot wait to sink my teeth into! I adore travel books – the more humorous the better and have a weekeness for recipe books too! I ave books in every room of my home and they are my favourite gift to give (especially to chilren) 🙂
Anna said...
on May 21st, 2011 at 7:34 am
Gah my kindle is full of hundreds of books just waiting for me to read them! I read Water for Elephants lately and found it brilliant. My favourite ever book? Angela’s Ashes. I don’t know what it is about that book that makes me love it so. My Sister’s Keeper is amazing also! Loving the comments on this post, its helping me find some great books to read! (And hating it too because I’ve already got so many on my to-read list :P)
Dianne said...
on May 21st, 2011 at 8:31 am
I love my kindle app for my tablet as well and with Kindle’s free books I’ve renewed my love affair with the classics. Pinning down a “favorite” for an avid reader such as myself (and I’m sure you can agree) is almost impossible. I’m currently re reading Pride and Prejudice. Have always been a big Jane Austen fan!! I also love Sidney Sheldon’s The Giving Tree – it was the first book I read to my daughter and the first book she read on her own <3
Helen said...
on May 21st, 2011 at 8:33 am
I’ve been mostly reading with my daughter lately so we’ve been reading Understood Betsy, the original Winnie the Pooh books and the Betsy-Tacy books. Love reliving my childhood books with my daughter!
Deb said...
on May 21st, 2011 at 9:47 am
Until Tuesday. Hands down.
Kate (knlchevys) said...
on May 21st, 2011 at 10:19 am
I have to say I really liked Change of Heart. I’ve become quite a sucker for Jodi Picoult though! http://www.amazon.com/Change-Heart-Novel-Jodi-Picoult/dp/0743496752/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1305988036&sr=8-1
Majda (pomi) said...
on May 21st, 2011 at 10:23 am
I enjoyed two books most in the last 12 months: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith and Miss Smilla’s Sense of Snow by Peter Hoeg.
And, I’ve also read a Cesar Millan book (it was Member of the Family) and it was one that has helped me most after getting our dog last year. 🙂