Weekly Geeks# 27: for Dewey

Even though I've only known Dewey through her popular blog and even though we weren't the closest of friends, I was deeply shocked and moved when I heard the sad news. It still feels really strange to think that she is not here anymore. Hers was a blog I would visit almost every day, to check on the new weekly geeks, to read her insightful reviews and her sunday coveting. I remember being envious of her beautiful house by the woods, not knowing what was going on behind the walls. I thought she was some kind of superwoman. Managing her reviews, her challenges, and building the blog community. She recently participated in Nanowrimo, and still kept posting reviews. I thought she was amazing. Now I think she was phenomenal. I can't imagine what kind of pain she was going through, but to us, she always managed to be the usual ultra-organised, motherly, kind, and funny Dewey.
The Read-a-thon was one of the best thing I've ever done this year, it was incredibly fun, and it was all her idea. It started off with few people and went on becoming a huge event. I hope, next time, we will manage to keep her legacy alive, and have a Read-a-thon in her memory, although it will never be the same without her.

It's only a coincidence, but I'm reading Toni Morrison for the first time now, and it's absolutely amazing. I've always loved her quote that gave Dewey's website its name, and now I'm glad to discover the writer behind it.
Also, Dewey was reading or had read "The Elegance of the Hedgehog" Another coincidence. A friend of mine just finished it and left it for me to read it. It's supposed to be incredibly funny and witty. Just like Dewey.

Weekly Geeks: Best of 2008 so far, Read-a-thon coming up and a big THANK YOU!

This week WG is about our favourite books published in 2008. I've just checked and honestly, I haven't read that many new books. That's because my ever-growing pile of books is, of course, ever-growing and I always tend to delay the reading of new books in a miserable attempt to diminish that leaning tower...but the ones I've read I liked, mostly. I would definitely recommend the following to any book lover.
Also I love the idea of having a end-of-the-year book bloggers favourites. I'm really curious to know what's gonna make the list, I'm sure I'll find some to add to my wish list:)

Ok, The first I have here is Confessions of a fallen angel by Ronan O'Brien. It's an Irish novel, and it's a debut. It was surprisingly gripping, and totally heartbreaking, but funny too. It's coming out in paperback in October with a brand new cover, completely different from the hardback, have a look!

The second is Odd and the Frost Giant by Neil Gaiman.
How can you not love this little book. It was published for the World Book Day, so it's tiny and short. It makes a perfect bedtime story, and it introduces children to Norse Mythology, which is always good. Cosy and adventurous at the same time. Great Fun!

The third and last, for now hopefully, is The Book of a thousand days by Shannon Hale.
It's the first Shannon Hale's book I've read. Everyone raves about The Goose Girl, which I haven't read yet, but this was a fantastic read for me to start with. It has everything: humour, smart heroine, non-sappy romance, great writing, original development of a fairy-tale. Go read it!

Also, how can I not mention my wonderful picture books? I adore very single picture book I've reviewed, but I have two favourites:
The odd egg by Emily Gravett.
and
The girl in the castle inside the museum by Kate Bernheimer and Nicoletta Ceccoli.






I've been meaning to post about the Read-a-thon for a while now, but I've still haven't made out my mind yet. I'd love to read, just to take a day off from everything else and read till I'm sick of it. Only, I don't know if I can bring myself to do it. I'm worried I'll feel horribly guilty for not doing all the other things I should/want to do. I haven't written anything in ages, and that would be my biggest guilty feeling. Wouldn't it be great to have a writ-a-thon as well? That way I could join the readers happily if I knew I would write another day for 24 hours!!! Just an idea...Anyway, I'm more for the yes than for the no, but still very undecided.
If you don't have a clue what I'm talking about (which I doubt) go read about it HERE!

And finally, but not less importantly, I have to give a BIG hug to Melody and Darla
for saying such nice things about my blog, I love their blogs just as much.
Thanks girls, you rock!

Weekly Geeks #2 wrap up!

I'm late again, I don't think I'll never be able to post my weekly geek on time...
I've really enjoyed this experiment and I'm gonna keep it for the future, too. I think it's a simple and fun way of connecting us all, and give us the opportunity to read more points of view. I do sometimes choose to read a book just because of one review, but more it's always better. The first few days I've gone through some blogs and looked for common reviews, but as much fun as it is, this links-crossing takes a lot of time, so I won't do it that much in the future.
I've also come across Maw's great idea of a Blog reviews' database! It sounds like a lot of work, but I do hope that it will become a starting point for anybody looking for non-professional reviews of a particular book or author. Whenever I will feel like I'll go there and search for common reviews or just look for some possible good reads.

I won't participate this week though. I don't feel the need to go and revisit my childhood's reads because I feel like I do that every day in work. Looking after the kids sections and giving recommendations, I usually choose the books I enjoyed as a child. I also read way too many YA and children's books so, let's face it, I've never left childhood...Or maybe I have for a while,but now I'm back there, and I don't have much intention of leaving it again:)

Weekly Geeks #1 and #2

So I'm really late here. Weekly Geeks has started and I haven't had the time to post anything about it!
But I have been reading new blogs and I want to write something about them:

In the Louvre it's a lovely blog. It has a gorgeous graphic design, and the blogger, Michelle, is a very eclectic artist. She has a section for her artistic creations and some stuff is amazing! I loved the modified book and the house.

Bottle of Shine aka The Deus Ex machina complex (and other theories) is a hilarious and crazy blog. I love it! She is also the creator of the tl;dr challenge.

where troubles melt like lemon drops has a delicious title, first of all. And a beautiful header. Her rating system is brilliant too. She doesn't have exactly the same taste in books as me, but it's interesting to read different perspective.

That's it. I plan on keep discovering new blogs by going through the list of of participants, you can never know too many booking bloggers:)


Now for Week #2:
If you've reviewed a book that I have written about you can leave a comment here, or on the specific review and I'll add a link to it. Easy Peasy.
I really like this idea, and I think I would be adopting it in the future, as long as people will let me know they've also reviewed that book.
On my right sidebar you can see the list of books I've read and reviewed. There's also a link to the books I've read in 2007, so feel free to have a look and come back here to tell me if you've reviewed any of those!