tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6834960759795689132024-02-19T04:03:57.474-05:00A library is a hospital for the mind...~ Anonymous ~Sarah M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08658247100019831005noreply@blogger.comBlogger721125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-683496075979568913.post-9273559913952679812012-10-03T14:55:00.003-04:002013-04-26T14:14:19.149-04:00Closed Until Further Notice
I can delay no longer. It is official A Library is a Hospital for the Mind blog is now closed and will remain closed until further notice. You can still follow me through my Facebook page. Thank you for your faithful readership over the last few years. Happy reading! ~ SMSarah M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08658247100019831005noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-683496075979568913.post-54575944480990887152012-08-28T17:16:00.000-04:002012-08-28T17:17:11.119-04:00What's On My Nightstand: August 2012
The end of the month and in a way, the end of Summer. I didn't get as much reading in this month as I had hoped, but then I was setting the bar pretty high.
By the month's end I hope to say I finished TWO books! I quickly read Agatha Christie's A Caribbean Mystery before tackling my big read of the month -- Alexander Dumas' The Man in the Iron Mask. Which, by the way, I shouldSarah M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08658247100019831005noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-683496075979568913.post-1046748918740984342012-08-24T14:33:00.002-04:002012-08-24T14:33:42.939-04:00Best Opening Lines
One of my favorite moments when I read is the moment I first pick up a book, open it and read the opening lines. Those opening lines can often make or break the "mood" set by the story. If it's a good or great opening line, I press on with my reading, excited. If it isn't... well I find myself trudging along in my reading until either the story grabs me or I give up and move on to another Sarah M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08658247100019831005noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-683496075979568913.post-23000240355912825672012-08-05T00:30:00.000-04:002012-08-05T00:30:00.932-04:00Happy Sister's Day!
Today is national Sister's Day (I know, a holiday for sisters? They think of everything don't they?)... Anyway, to celebrate this day Scholastic put together a list of favorite literary sisters, which you can check out here. This list includes the much loved March sisters (Little Women), Bennet sisters (Pride & Prejudice), Dashwood sisters (Sense & Sensibility) and of course Beezus Sarah M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08658247100019831005noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-683496075979568913.post-57592214304624416952012-07-29T14:57:00.000-04:002012-07-29T15:17:35.632-04:00This Side of Paradise by F. Scott Fitzgerald
287 pages
Published by Scribner in 1920
New York, NY
This Side of Paradise was F. Scott Fitzgerald's first novel. He penned it with the sole purpose of and desire for success. It was his belief that if he wrote a novel and had it published he would become a successful author and it would cause his lost love to return to him. Interestingly enough that is exactly what happened. Sarah M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08658247100019831005noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-683496075979568913.post-52366994202348334932012-07-27T10:02:00.000-04:002012-07-27T10:17:17.064-04:00Coming Soon: The Secret Keeper
This morning I was so excited to learn that Kate Morton's new novel, The Secret Keeper is finally on its way! Currently at the typesetter, Kate reported on her website that the book will be available for purchase in the US this October. I cannot wait!
For those of you who do not recall, I have read and finished all three of Kate Morton's earlier novels and each time I was left with mixed Sarah M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08658247100019831005noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-683496075979568913.post-38550018493684785752012-07-25T15:33:00.000-04:002012-07-27T10:18:46.108-04:00A scent of literature...
I've always thought that Yankee Candle (or some candle maker) should market a candle that smells like a library, or at least a good set of books. I would definitely run out and buy one... or two... or a dozen. :)
Well, evidently I am not alone in finding the scent of books appealing. I just learned today (thanks to a fellow bibliophile's email) that you can now purchase Paper Sarah M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08658247100019831005noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-683496075979568913.post-59516303035270247202012-07-25T15:29:00.000-04:002012-07-25T15:29:22.292-04:00Best-Ever Teen Novels?
NPR has posted a poll online where readers can vote on their top 10 favorite teen novels. The list contains 235 novels as voted on in a previous poll. It's an interesting list to be sure. There are a few books I expected to be on this list, but were not and also some books that made the list that I honestly don't think should have... but I digress. I am excited to report that not only did theSarah M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08658247100019831005noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-683496075979568913.post-44284687450715228542012-07-24T11:04:00.002-04:002012-07-27T10:21:42.583-04:00What's On Your Nightstand: July 2012
The summer is more than half over (boo!) and I've not gotten in as much reading as I'd like; still, I am making some progress.
After many years of good intentions I finally began reading Vanity Fair this month and have made a reasonable dent in the story. I have hopes of finishing it before the end of the summer, but we shall see since I also have another weighty tome awaiting me in August, Sarah M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08658247100019831005noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-683496075979568913.post-12814806129305247752012-06-26T20:31:00.000-04:002012-07-27T10:23:31.224-04:00What's On My Nightstand: June 2012
Another month gone, just like that. Summer is here and thankfully this year it does not mean too much rushing about, but rather my days are spent mostly juggling normal things like work, housekeeping, and life with my two little girls. Overall we are having a good summer.
Because life has quieted down I have managed to get a little more reading in during the last few weeks. Last month I Sarah M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08658247100019831005noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-683496075979568913.post-17136707755472524422012-06-24T14:02:00.002-04:002012-07-27T10:26:29.395-04:00A warm sweet June night... Gladys Taber Quote
"But it's June. At night the windows are open, fireflies flicker in the meadow, the stars are like apple blossoms, and the moon rides like a silver galleon in a deep wave of night. I stretch out in a deck chair under the shadowy trees, and tiredness goes out of my heart. It's a good world to be alive in, when it's a warm sweet June night."
- Harvest at Stillmeadow (June, pg 92)Sarah M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08658247100019831005noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-683496075979568913.post-21313433935750041612012-06-06T13:26:00.001-04:002012-06-06T13:26:56.735-04:00The House Pet - an exciting new style of fairytale and adventure
I am so excited about this book! It is a soon to be released "narrative adventure poem" by D. M. Lovic. I first Mr. Lovic over fifteen years ago and among other memories, I remember distinctly that he was always a very talented, imaginative, and amusing story teller. This novel sounds perfect as a read-aloud for young children, or to be enjoyed by young readers, young adults, and even adults Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08760916064330635782noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-683496075979568913.post-88752827368213160782012-05-22T07:27:00.000-04:002012-05-22T11:27:33.025-04:00What's On My Nightstand: May 2012
Another month has evaporated, but I am happy to report that this week marks the end of a LOT of commitments. I'm sure the next three months will fill up quickly, but for now we have next to nothing on our calendar and I am so ready for that!
In spite of the hectic life I've been leading for the last four weeks I did manage to fit in a little reading during the month of May. I finished OliverSarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08760916064330635782noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-683496075979568913.post-58358898113812845892012-05-11T15:08:00.000-04:002012-05-11T15:10:10.018-04:00Memorable Mothers in LiteratureIt's Mother's Day weekend, which brought to mind a question. Who is my favorite "mother" from literature? And why?
There a number of excellent mothers within literature and a number of bad mothers. I put together a list of ten that came to mind, but I'm sure there are many many more.
1. Mrs. Bennet (Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen)
2. Mrs. Dashwood (Sense & Sensibility by Jane Austen)
Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08760916064330635782noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-683496075979568913.post-44156445400184452952012-05-09T09:12:00.004-04:002012-05-09T09:12:47.619-04:00The Daunting List
One of the things I love about having a Facebook page is that I can follow so many different authors, publishers, and writing/book related pages and they often have such interesting posts or link-ups. Recently the "Charles Dickens" page had this link: 14 Daunting Books Every Man Must Read.
I can't say that I agree with all of his choices. While there are some that I have absolutely no desire Sarah M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08658247100019831005noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-683496075979568913.post-77711157419249267302012-05-03T10:55:00.001-04:002012-05-03T10:56:04.222-04:00A Random Bit From My Life
Check out these Old Curiosity Shop themed dishes I was gifted yesterday! The set isn't complete (I'm missing the clock plates) and a few were chipped, but they were perfect to use for dinner during my book club's meeting last night. And timely too! We met to discuss Charles Dickens' Oliver Twist. As always we had a delightful time of discussion and enjoyed some excellent food.Sarah M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08658247100019831005noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-683496075979568913.post-35862692322366247552012-04-27T20:51:00.001-04:002012-04-27T20:51:26.305-04:00
"When you wake up in the morning, Pooh,' said Piglet at last, 'what's the first thing you say to yourself?''What's for breakfast?' said Pooh. 'What do you say, Piglet?''I say, I wonder what's going to happen exciting today?' said Piglet.Pooh nodded thoughtfully. 'It's the same thing,' he said."
~ Winnie-The-Pooh by A. A. Milne
Sarah M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08658247100019831005noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-683496075979568913.post-16914187355143540502012-04-25T10:20:00.001-04:002012-04-25T10:20:20.606-04:00Happy birthday Maud!
Happy birthday to one of my all-time favorite authors! If you haven't
read a book by Maud Hart Lovelace you are missing out! I would of course recommend both the
Betsy-Tacy and Deep Valley series and for adults, Gentlemen From England as these are personal favorites of mine.
But you can learn more about her books by reading my reviews and checking out the past Maud Hart Lovelace Reading Sarah M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08658247100019831005noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-683496075979568913.post-53725014289859054492012-04-24T07:19:00.000-04:002012-04-24T09:20:01.611-04:00What's On My Nightstand: April 2012
It's been a long while since I participated in the monthly What's On Your Nightstand postings. It's also been a while since I posted anything in general on this blog. For the most part I consider this blog "inactive" -- with the exception that as time allows (and as I feel inspired) I shall post. This said, I am still reading, though not as often as I have in years past. With two little ones, Sarah M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08658247100019831005noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-683496075979568913.post-54618992101387301012012-03-07T16:28:00.000-05:002012-03-07T16:28:54.752-05:00A Bit About My Personal LibraryBooks to the ceiling,
Books to the sky,
My pile of books is a mile high.
How I love them! How I need them!
I’ll have a long beard by the time I read them
–Arnold Lobel
We moved three weeks ago and this morning I finally unpacked the last of the boxes, which only waited this long because they contained our personal library. Being an avid bibliophile it has pained me to leave the books boxed up Sarah M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08658247100019831005noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-683496075979568913.post-13988335194179759392012-01-10T12:22:00.000-05:002012-01-10T12:22:27.698-05:00Tuesday Teaser: Wildflower Hill by Kimberley Freeman"One you've read a book, you and it belong to each other for life. Did you not know that?" Wildflower Hill by Kimberley Freeman(Chapter 6, pg 70)Sarah M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08658247100019831005noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-683496075979568913.post-91798442641733466342012-01-07T11:27:00.000-05:002012-01-07T11:27:42.960-05:00Quoting: Walt Disney
"There is more treasure in books than in all the pirate's loot on Treasure Island." ~ Walt DisneySarah M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08658247100019831005noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-683496075979568913.post-50384775458147092202011-12-31T12:00:00.003-05:002011-12-31T12:02:47.915-05:002011: A Reading Year in Review
So here we are at the end of the year and as I reflect back I am amazed at all that has occurred. I wonder how I even found time to read. Between my pregnancy and our traveling I had little attention span and even less time. I guess that accounts for all the "light" reading I did (lots and lots of "cozy-mystery" stories). In fact, I find it interesting to note that my reading total for 2011 is Sarah M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08658247100019831005noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-683496075979568913.post-47309989115680352532011-12-18T15:00:00.000-05:002011-12-18T15:04:34.318-05:00The Penderwicks at Point Mouette by Jeanne Birdsall
304 pages
Published 2011
by Knopf Books for Young Readers
The Penderwicks at Point Mouette is the third in a coming-of-age series about the Penderwick family (a widower dad and his five daughters) by Jeanne Birdsall.
I first discovered the series in 2008 when I read (and thoroughly enjoyed) The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Sarah M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08658247100019831005noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-683496075979568913.post-84591872992113323622011-12-17T15:12:00.000-05:002011-12-17T15:12:06.114-05:00Holiday Reads
Looking for a cozy or festive book to read this holiday season? Might I offer up a few recomendations?
In 2008 and 2010 I posted several titles that I have read and enjoyed and wanted to recommend for other reader's enjoyment. You can find the the 2008 list here at: Christmas Stories and the 2010 list here at: Recommended Reading for the Holidays. Titles include: A Christmas Carol, The Story ofSarah M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08658247100019831005noreply@blogger.com3