The Sisterhood of The Traveling Book- Fangirl edition

I posted this list of the books I was planning on read in 2015 and then promptly didn't read any, that was until this past weekend when I finally read Fangirl in 3 days.

It was a good light read, I'm a little older than what the target market is being a young-adult novel, but it was the kind of read I needed, one that didn't require any thought and would leave me feeling warm and fuzzy.

And it did just that so that's where my idea to send it off to someone else so that they could experience the same warm and fuzzys and just enjoy a light read which is something that we all need sometimes.

So this is where the 'sisterhood of the traveling book' comes in.

All you have to do is comment below and then email me at amy @ andsewwecraft {dot} com to let me know your address and I'll post it off to you. Then you read the book and put a call out on social media for it to be passed on again. Please do pass it on after you've read it and then let me know that you've passed it on too as I'd love to keep track of where it is :)

I'd like us to write our names, Instagram handles and the date on the inside of the book too so we can all see where the book has been on its journey.

And please comment if you'd like to be included in future instalments of the sisterhood because I don't intend this to be the one and only.

UPDATE: I've decided to create a Facebook group to keep track of everything and so others can join in on the book swapping experience of the Sisterhood of the Traveling Book- Let's get books moving across the world! 

What I'm Reading

I haven't had much time to read lately but here are a few things that I have read in the past week. 

Books: 

How Eskimos Keep Their Babies Warm

Book 5 in the Outlander Series

Websites and Blogs:

We Don’t Do “Chores”… We Do “Family Service” Instead by Moments a Day
10 Ways to Raise a Self-Confident Child from How Does She
12 Things You Never Knew About The Gilmore Girls from The Huffington Post20 Free Printables to Organise Everything in Your Home  from Spaceships and Laser Beams 

What have you been reading? 

On my bedside table

This pile of books has been staring at me for weeks and saying read me, read me but I am still slogging my way through book 5 of the Outlander series, I don't know why, but this book is taking me for ever to read. 

The above pile includes:

The Rosie Effect- was bought by my Granny, she read it when she was here in November and then left it for me to read. Yep, I still haven't read it.

The Baby-Led Weaning Cookbook- I'm looking for some ideas for Darcy's meals as some night he can't eat what we are eating.

Baby-Led Weaning- I never did baby-led weaning with my other kids so it's all new to me and I really need to read this book fast. 

How Eskimos Keep Their Babies Warm- One of the mums in my online mothers group is reading it and it sounds really interesting so I can't wait to get started on it. 

Fangirl- This was on my list of books to read in 2015.

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland- Rachel suggested this in last months ASWC book club. I'm looking forward to reading it with the kids. 

We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves- Another that was on my list of books to read in 2015. 

What are you reading at the moment?

*This post contains affiliate links. 

Books for 8 year old boys

I put a call out on the Actually Amy facebook page recently to try and find some books for C to read. He doesn't particularly like reading, but it's something that I would like to encourage him to do more of.

Anyway, I received many great recommendations snd it reminded me of some authors names that I just couldn't for the life of me remember.

• Zac Powers series
• 52 Storey Treehouse
• 13 Storey Treehouse
• Percy Jackson series
• Artimus Fowl 
• Tom Gates series
• WeirDo series
• Goosebumps Series
• Any book ever written by Paul Jennings

Are there anymore books you would add to the list?

*This post contains affiliate links. 

15 Must Read Books in 2015

In 2014 I certainly slacked off in the reading stakes. I think I read about 5 books, which isn't normal for me, I am usually devouring a few a month. Well I'm going to change that in 2015!

Here is my 15 Must Read Books for 2015.

1. Outlander Series- I'm up to book five
2. The Rosie Effect
3. The Perks of Being a Wallflower
4. The Fault in Our Stars
5. Gone Girl (I know, I'm behind the times)
6. The Husbands Secret
7. If I Stay
8. Fangirl
9. Eleanor & Park
10. The Goldfinch
11. Paper Towns
12. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children
13. Party Girl
14. We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves
15. Isla and The Happily Ever After


What books are on your list? 

What I'm Reading

It's been about a month since I picked up a book and for me that is a LONG time between books.

But this week I picked up these:

And all for different reasons.

The Rosie Project I picked up because I liked the cover.

And The Mountains Echoed because I like the authors previous work.

And Changing Habits Changing Lives because well I would like to change a few of our habits.

So what are you reading at the moment? 

Three Good Things

I have told you before the I love Hugh and the whole of River Cottage. (I have a soft spot for Gil too!)

My whole family know of my infatuation with Hugh and Co that every time time a new book is realised it finds its way into my hot little hands.

I have already started adding things to our menu plan.

And I can't wait to try them out.

So what about you? Do you love Hugh? Or do you find him a little blah?

 

 

Etsy Shop Love: Kids Books

We love books here, but our bookcases are bursting at the seams. We have a few hundred Childrens books, but there it always room for more, somewhere!

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Do you love books too?

Mrs Readalot's Book club- Of Mice and Men

So I mentioned the other day that I managed to read a fair bit over the last week or so, another book or rather novella that I consumed was Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck. Now this book was SAD, it follows the life of two men, George and Lennie, during the great depression of the 1930s in California as they travel from ranch to ranch in search of the much needed money they require to start a little place of their own. 

 'Guys like us, that work on ranches, are the loneliest guys in the world. They got no family. They don't belong no place'. George and his large, simple-minded friend Lennie are drifters, following wherever work leads them. Arriving in California's Salinas Valley, they get work on a ranch. If they can just stay out of trouble, George promises Lennie, then one day they might be able to get some land of their own and settle down some place. But kind-hearted, childlike Lennie is a victim of his own strength. Seen by others as a threat, he finds it impossible to control his emotions. And one day not even George will be able to save him from trouble. "Of Mice and Men" is a tragic and moving story of friendship, loneliness and the dispossessed.

And tragic it is! Themes of mental illness, racism and of course tragedy are covered in the book oh so well. This book left me so sad, but it made me think over the whole thing and tie sections together.

It will certainly stay with you long after you read it and have you thinking about it over and over again. Just like any great novel should.

Have you read it?





I am linking up with dear future me for Mrs Readalot's Book Club.

Mrs Readalots Book Club: To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee

As a child I always thought the title of this book was Tequila Mockingbird... don't ask me why, I have no idea! But anyway, I have been slowly working through a list of books I have always wanted to read and To Kill A Mockingbird is one of those books.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this too. It is a wonderful story and one that I think almost anyone would enjoy.

If you are one of the handful of people that have no idea what To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is about then here is a rundown:

"Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit 'em, but remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird." A lawyer's advice to his children as he defends the real mockingbird of Harper Lee's classic novel--a black man charged with the rape of a white girl.

Through the young eyes of Scout and Jem Finch, Harper Lee explores with rich humour and unswerving honesty the irrationality of adult attitudes toward race and class in the Deep South of the 1930s. The conscience of a town steeped in prejudice, violence, and hypocrisy is pricked by the stamina and quiet heroism of one man's struggle for justice--but the weight of history will only tolerate so much. One of the best-loved classics of all time,

"To Kill a Mockingbird" has earned many distinctions since its original publication in 1960. It has won the Pulitzer Prize, been translated into more than forty languages, sold more than forty million copies worldwide, and been made into an enormously popular movie. It was also named the best novel of the twentieth century by librarians across the country ("Library Journal").

Honestly, this is a book that I could read many times and probably come away with a different feeling each time, it is happy, it is sad, it is inspiring. If you haven't read it, do you shelf a favour and track a copy down.



I am linking up with dear future me for Mrs Readalot's Book Club.

He is one wise fellow,

that Cat in a Hat!

Dr Seuss books are pretty popular here in our house, and which such great quotes as

The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.

and

Today you are you, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is youer than you 

I am happy to read them as often as the kids like. Caden can ever read most of The Cat in a Hat by himself.

 

Book week ended today with a full school parade at Caden's school and all the kids got to get up on stage and show off their costumes.

Caden's costume was finished yesterday afternoon sans gloves, because he decided he didn't need them.

He also decided that he didn't want his face painted this morning.

But he got up on stage and told the whole school that he was Cat in a Hat and that made me smile from ear to ear. We have been having some issues with him and school. Tears every morning and pronouncements of 'I hate school, Mum!'. Or simply him hiding under his covers crying his eyes out and simply saying he wasn't going. We having been working with his teacher to try and figure out what on earth was going on as he loved school and has been doing really well academically, socially is where his issues lay. And that is something we have been working on too, building his confidence, getting him into team sports...

Anyway, seeing him up on stage in front of the whole (rather large) school and hearing his voice announce that he was Cat in a Hat made me oh so proud!

Kids, they really do make your heart beat outside your chest from the moment they are born!

Mrs Readalots Book Club: Putting Alice Back Together

So it is my turn to host Mrs Readalots Book Club this month and since I haven't had much time to read these past few months I picked a book that I have already read and reviewed on the blog.

The book I choose is Putting Alice Back Together by Carol Marinelli. I loved this book so so much. So much in fact, I abandoned the housework for a few days and read it in pretty much one go.

If you judge this book by its cover you might be a little shocked indeed. I don't know what I would expect the cover to actually look like, but it wouldn't be what the publishers choose...

Putting Alice Back Together has been described as:

Alice is the friend you wish you had. The girl who makes a party more fun, pulls a funny face to make you feel better, drinks wine out of a mug and makes you laugh while you're crying over an ex.

Alice is totally happy, everything is amazing and there is nothing at all to worry about...except, well:

Her job was really great - 10 years ago.
The sexiest guy alive doesn't want her -because he's gay.
Her credit card bills are under her bed - unopened.

But maybe the biggest problem for Alice is that she has a secret. A secret so big she can't tell anyone. How do you keep a secret like that when everything is starting to fall apart? And once it's out there, how do you ever begin to put yourself back together again?

And that really does sum it up perfectly. It is a wonderful novel that sucks you in right from the beginning and doesn't let you go to well after you have turned the last page.

Putting Alice Back Together explores so many issues that are just to 'heavy' for your usual chick lit books. Issues like anxiety and depression and well her problematic relationship with prescription medications and wine...

You will laugh with Alice, you will cry with Alice and you will certainly grieve with Alice as you join her on her journey of self discovery.

What have you been reading lately? I am reading the Birth House which was last months book club book. It only just showed up late last week after a LONG time in transit.



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Please link up your reviews below.

 

Chorizo Carbonara

I have been feeling all uninspired in the kitchen of late. My love of cooking has disappeared and our dinners have become a boring meat and three (or four) vege with the occasional stir fry thrown in to mix it up a little.

I decided to order some new cook books try and inspire me a little. Well of course I decided to get some of Hugh's and I can't say that I am disappointed.

The River Cottage Everyday book arrived on my doorstep yesterday morning and I flicked through it during afternoon nap time to figure out what I could make for dinner. I had all the ingredients for the Chorizo Carbonara and it was a simple enough dinner for me to cook while I am still feeling sorry for myself in this sick state that I am in at the moment. (Yes I know, I am ALWAYS sick!)

Anyway, the recipe just required the following:

150g of spaghetti
1 tablespoon of rapeseed or olive oil
175g chorizo- chopped
2 large egg yolks
100ml double cream
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper (I omitted these as the find the spices in the Chorizo strong enough)

The above ingredients is to serve 2 people so I doubled the recipe to feed our family of 5. 

Simply add the pasta to a pot of salted boiling water (I did mine in my thermomix). Meanwhile heat oil in frying pan and add the chorizo. Fry it for about 10 minutes until crisp and cooked through.
Beat egg yolks and cream together, season lightly if desired.

When pasta is done, drain thoroughly and return it back to the hot pan. Tip in the chorizo and the egg mixture and mix well to coat it all in the egg mixture. The egg mixture will cook with the heat of the pasta and chorizo.

Serve straight away.

It was a hit with everyone here and will be made again, but maybe not until late next month as it is not the healthiest dinner choice about.

I am linking up here.

Living Simply, Living Deliberately

I wrote about my dreams for the future a little back here and here, but really I want to live a simple as possible now too and have recently started reading a wonderful book called Down to Earth by Rhonda Hetzel.

It is full of some wonderful resources and some great ideas on how everyone can live a little simpler in their everyday life.

Do you dream of a simple life?

P.S This isn't a sponsored post. I am just really enjoying this book.

Must Read Books...

as chosen by you!

Source: papermaestro.deviantart.com via Andy on Pinterest

Remember the give away a few weeks ago where I asked to you recommend me a book? Well you guys certainly did and here is the list:

Sister by Rosamund Lupton
The secret ingredient,  by Diane Blacklock
Lone Wolf by Jodi Picoult
The Help
The Road of Lost Innoncence, by Somaly Mam
At Home With The Templetons, by Monica McInerny
Water for Elephants, by Sara Gruen
Anonymums
The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein
The Berlin Syndrome by Melanie Joosten
GAMES OF THRONES by George RR Martin
Snow child, by Eowyn Ivey
The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo" by Steig Larsson
Bossypants by Tina Fey
Sisters by Danielle Steel
Go Ask Alice by Anonymous
Refuse to Choose - what do I do when I want to do everything by Barbara Sher!
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

I have read a few of those listed and have put a load more into my wish list over at The Book Depository.

What are you reading at the moment? 

Putting Alice Back Together- A review and giveaway

Putting Alice Back Together is the brand spanking new book by Carol Marinelli and I have to tell you it is superb. So great in fact, I abandoned the housework last week and read it in pretty much one go.

And if you do judge this book by its cover you might be a little shocked indeed. I don't know what I would expect the cover to actually look like, but it wouldn't be what the publishers choose...

Putting Alice Back Together has been described as:

Alice is the friend you wish you had. The girl who makes a party more fun, pulls a funny face to make you feel better, drinks wine out of a mug and makes you laugh while you're crying over an ex.

Alice is totally happy, everything is amazing and there is nothing at all to worry about...except, well:

Her job was really great - 10 years ago.
The sexiest guy alive doesn't want her -because he's gay.
Her credit card bills are under her bed - unopened.

But maybe the biggest problem for Alice is that she has a secret. A secret so big she can't tell anyone. How do you keep a secret like that when everything is starting to fall apart? And once it's out there, how do you ever begin to put yourself back together again?

And that really does sum it up perfectly. It is a wonderful novel that sucks you in right from the beginning and doesn't let you go to well after you have turned the last page.

Putting Alice Back Together explores so many issues that are just to 'heavy' for your usual chick lit books. Issues like anxiety and depression and well her problematic relationship with prescription medications and wine...

You will laugh with Alice, you will cry with Alice and you will certainly grieve with Alice as you join her on her journey of self discovery.

And guess what?! I have one copy of Putting Alice Back Together to giveaway. Simply complete the details in the Rafflecopter widget below to be in the running.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Oh and you could also go here and read the first chapter about Alice and answer a simple question for a chance to win a $500 preloaded debit card.

Putting Alice Back Together by MIRA is available for purchase now - online at Harlequin books or in store nationally RRP AU$29.99.

Disclaimer: No money was offered or received for this review, but I did receive this fabulous book for review purposes.

Book Review: Animal People + Giveaway

The review is a part of Product Talk by Nuffnang

I have really been getting into my reading lately. In the past few months I have read a huge pile of books and I have reviewed most of them here on the blog. This week I received a book for the purpose of review. To tell you the truth, I hadn't heard of the author before or her previous novels, so I was going into this review completely blind. I had no idea what to expect. 

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The book was Animal People by Charlotte Wood. To be completely honest with you, it took me a while to get into the book. For the first two days I only read about 40 pages. You see, it follows the life of one person, Stephen Connolly, for a day. Yep, only one day. But you know what, after I got through those first 40 pages I could not put it down. I had to finish it. And I am still thinking about it now. I have even bought another of Charlottes' books today.

As I said before Animal People follows the life of Stephen Connolly for an almost 24hr period on a hot December day as he decides to break up with his girlfriend. At first you have no idea why he is breaking up with her at all. He has simply made this decision and is going with it. I found myself willing him to change his mind, I was really rooting for Fiona in the end, even though I really didn't know much about her. 

Stephens day really just goes from bad to worse and I kind of started to feel sorry for the poor guy but at the same time I didn't. I can't really explain it... I am still trying to wrap my head around some of the things in the book, but what I do know is that I really enjoyed reading it. As I said before I am still thinking about the characters now. And really for me that is a marker for a really good read. If I can't forget about it after I put it down then it's a winner in my book!

"Hilarious, tender and heartbreaking, Animal People is a portrait of urban life, a meditation on the conflicted nature of human-animal relationships, and a masterpiece of storytelling. "

And guess what?! I have one copy to give away to one lucky reader. Simply comment below telling me if you are an animal person and why/why not?

For additional entries feel free to tweet and share on facebook. (1 entry for each) 

Entries will close Monday 21st of November 2011 and the winners will be drawn via random.org on Tuesday 22nd of November and announced on the blog.

Mrs Readalots Book Club: The Help

I recently read 'The Help' by  Kathryn Stockett recently for Mrs Readalots Book Club.

If you haven't heard of The Help before, I am not quite sure what planet you have been living on. Actually I was recently speaking to someone and mentioned I had just finished reading it and they had no idea about the book or the movie! I was shocked.

Well anyway, if you know nothing about the book it follows the lives of three women in Jackson, Mississippi in the 1960s. The thing is though that the three women include one white women fresh out of college and two black maids. It follows their journey as they seek to change the way they are all seen in their community. Without realising it, they start a movement of their own that forever changes a town, and the way women--mothers, daughters, caregivers, friends--view one another.

I loved this book. I found it hard to get into at first, but after the first chapter or so, I devoured it. B actually woke up at 2am one morning and got cranky at me and turned my light off! He had a point, I was cranky that day from lack of sleep. But I just had to finish it!

It will make you laugh, cry and cringe too! Just wait until you hear about the unspeakable act that Minny did to Miss Hilly! Just make sure you aren't eating when you get to that part!


There was one thing I didn't like. And I'll warn you this is a slight spoiler so if you haven't read it and you want to just skip over this part. I was really miffed when Stuart walked away from Skeeter! I mean really miffed. It made me cranky. I don't really know why though, I mean Skeeter still got her happy ending! I just wanted it to include Stuart.


So have you read The Help? Did you like it? Love it? or Hate it?


I am linking up with CactusChatter for Mrs Readalots Book Club pop on over and see what everyone else thinks about the Help.

Must Read Books + winners

Thank you to everyone who entered my novel giveaway. You guys recommended me a HUGE amount of books and I plan on reading every one of them! It may take me a while as I am also trying to work my way through the BBC Big Read.


Here is the list of all the books you guys suggested:

Mum's the word- The Time Travellers Wife (I have read this and loved it!)

Veronica Foale- The Castings Trilogy by Pamela Freeman 

operationhotmother- Running with Scissors and also White Oleander  

Jess@Diary of a SAHM -Treading on Dreams by Kristin

MichVee-"Room", by Emma Donoghue

The Aussie Mommy- Barefoot by Elin Hilderbrand.

Cate-The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, which I read many years ago and picked up again more recently.

Bec- The Hunger Games, and the sequels - Catching Fire and the Mockingjay

Sif -Sleepers Almanac No.6

MardyMax-Anh Do's The Happiest Refugee.

emma @ frog, goose and bear anything by John Irving 

Madam Bipolar-The White Queen by Phillipa Gregory & The Red Queen  

Pam - A 1000 Splendid Suns and The Kite Runner both by Khaled Hoseini (these are both currently on my bedside table!)

Liz- Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood  

Lauren xox - The Anne books 

Fiona -Unberable lightness - Portia De Rossi's

Liz -Last Summer by Kylie Ladd.  

Elise-The White Queen by Phillipa Gregory (two suggestions, this must be good!) 

           the Anne books 

           Pollyanna

Linda, Mum of Three-the Tiger's Wife at the moment

marybelle- Neil Gaiman's NEVERWHERE.

Jessie - Pride and Prejudice 

Paula Johnson- Lee Child's series with Jack Reacher

Do you have any more to suggest? Let me know if you do and I will update the list!

So without further ado, the mighty random.org gods have declared the winner of The Secret Life of Bees to be Emma.

And the winner of The Book Thief is Veronica.

I will be in touch with you two lovely ladies soon.

Thanks again entering and all the recommendations.