My Favorite Summer Reads

The Daily Beast has a terrific gallery/article on the topic of My Favorite Summer Read....Ever in which several notable authors share their own choices. Last summer, I would have to say Jayne Pupek's Tomato Girl was my favorite hot-weather read. This summer it's a toss up between The Paris Wife by Paula McLaine and Chris Cleave's haunting debut, Incendiary.(Although I'm currently reading The Wizard of Oz to my daughters and, well, it may well be a lasting memory for all three of us summer bibliophiles!) If I was forced to pick a favorite of all-time, I might have to choose Where The Red Fern Grows. I still remember being called out of my room for dinner, still sobbing and sobbing into my plate.

What is your favorite summer read?

Caught Planking

Friday Five

1. It's only supposed to be 103 degrees today.

2. Despite the heat, I've actually gotten a surprising amount of writing done this week. I'm using the index card method for the first time. It makes it easier to rearrange scenes and ideas. Who knew!

3. Though I've lived in my current house for 8 years, my old dog never once tried to go upstairs. For reasons unknown, she is now roaming about up there and from what I can tell, believes it's her own personal bathroom. Maybe you can't teach an old dog new tricks, but an old dog can certainly perform new tricks if she chooses.

4. Is it odd that, when I opened a birthday gift from my hubby this week, I at first thought it was a new vacuum cleaner and upon discovering it wasn't - was disappointed? Surely a sign of some kind of old age. (For the record, I did like the actual present a lot.)

5. I may be the last living reader to read Stieg Larson's GIRL WITH A DRAGON TATOO. Almost finished with it.

Hope you have a great weekend and find yourself lost in a good book!

Wordless Wednesday: Snow in July

It's so hot here in Texas I thought I'd pull out some of last year's snow pictures. This one is from my backyard. Trivia Question: What famous book features this statue on its cover? (It's the reason I had to have it!) 

Friday Finds

THE BARE WHO PLAYED WITH FIRE
by Molly, age 6

Critics Comment: This inspiring nature story is filled with hope and imagination.


OTHER FRIDAY FINDS...
This is a Book by Demetri Martin
If you like Martin's sketch comedy, you will love his book. For example, there's an entire story about a bee sting that shows the events from the perspective of the bee, the stingee, the squirrel on the fence and a cell phone. Hilarious!

What are you reading this week?

Two Things. One Funny. One Nice.

THING ONE: If you need this cookbook, please do not invite me for dinner. Then again, I'd love to see what you can do with opossum, so....

THING TWO: A nice review "J is for Janeology" from My Two Blessings Blog. Thank you, Robin!

"...I really wanted to read her book, but had some trepidation about it, because of the subject matter.  The stories in the news like Susan Smith and other women who have killed their own children have always been hard to stomach, especially when you have children...Janeology is excellent, will keep you riveted, plus gets you thinking about our genetics and if our ancestors past actions really do affect our current actions..." Read more.

Wordless Wednesday: Celebrating the 4th

We spent our 4th of July holiday at White Rock Lake. How was your holiday?

Sailing at sunset

My little firecrackers

Treats!

Saturday Snapshot

Happy Saturday! I'm still in vacation mind-set, even though we've been back from the beaches in South Carolina for a week. That's the true test of a great vacation. See more pics from my previous post.

Pier at our vacation beach house leading to Folly Beach. I must have taken 20
different pictures of this view! 

Saturday Snapshot is hosted by Alyce @ AT Home With Books.