Fresh Meat for the Wolves

Some of you may know that my daughter has been sick in the last week and I wasn’t sure if she’d start school today.  She’s going to junior high now, which of course is a VERY BIG DEAL.  I just wanted you to know that she has improved tremendously and was able to start 7th [...]

Guest Post: Allyson Roy, author(s) of Babydoll!

Please welcome Allyson Roy, author(s) of the new book, Babydoll, to Books on the Brain!  Allyson Roy is actually Alice & Roy, husband and wife collaborating authors.  Did you know laughter makes you healthy? Literally. Studies have shown it enhances the cellular immune system and produces disease-fighting anti-bodies. “Wait a sec,” you say, “isn’t this supposed [...]

Sunday Salon

Weird weekend.  The Hub and my youngest are in Vegas at the Excalibur Hotel for my friend’s 40th birthday party.  My youngest called Friday night..  “Mom!  Mommy!  It’s 100 degrees, at night!  Mom, it was 110 in Baker!  Mom, Mom, I can see the pyramid from my room!  We are in a castle tower.  I’m [...]

Review: The Art of Racing in the Rain

If you ever wondered what your dog is really thinking.. if you ever wanted to get inside the head of the family pet.. this may be the book for you.  The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein is a tragic and touching family drama told through the eyes of the family dog.  [...]

Review and Giveaway: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

I recently had the pleasure of reading The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Annie Barrows and her aunt, the late Mary Ann Shaffer.  Where do I start in reviewing a book that has become a modern day classic in such a very short time?  A book that is almost universally loved?  A [...]

Summer Reading Series: Two Years, No Rain Discussion Questions

Hello Summer Readers! Our August Summer Reading Series selection is Two Years, No Rain by Shawn Klomparens.  Shawn will be popping in to answer any questions you might have, so leave your questions in the comments.  Here is a synopsis of the book, and following are discussion questions that I’ve dreamed up. Please feel free to leave [...]

Teaser Tuesday – August 11, 2009

Miz B and Teaser Tuesdays asks you to: Grab your current read. Let the book fall open to a random page. Share with us two (2) sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12. You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people [...]

The Period Blog

Like me, Sheri from the super-fabulous blog A Novel Menagerie has two preteen daughters.  Inspired by My Little Red Book, we recently chatted about periods:  Lisa:  I got mine when I was 11, the summer before 6th grade.  How old were you?  Sheri:  You know, since my brain fell out of my va-jay-jay after I had [...]

Review: My Little Red Book

The Curse, Aunt Flow,  That Time of the Month, My Monthly Friend.  Whatever you call it, it’s a universal experience for women, and the first time is usually memorable.  My Little Red Book, edited by 18 year old Rachel Kauder Nalebuff, is a wonderfully diverse collection of nearly 100 short essays written by women of [...]

Leaving On a Jet Plane

We are off for 10 days on our annual trip to God’s Country (my husband’s description of his beloved Pennsylvania) where we’ll be visiting friends and family, grilling hot dogs, drinking beer, attending our niece’s graduation party, and hanging out at a beautiful, remote lake in a cabin with spotty cell phone reception.  Yes, we’ll [...]