Brag Book (Not About Me)

I am thrilled to announce that Matthew Desmond has won a non-fiction Pulitzer Prize for his book Evicted: Profit in the American City. This award is very much deserved and I am overjoyed Mr. Desmond.

 

Brag Book

Today is the premiere of my new blog, Popcorn In My Bra. 

Brag Book (Not About Me)

I’m a fan of the TV show Criminal Minds and one of my friends runs a Criminal Minds blog. She got to interview the lovely Paget Brewster who plays Emily Prentiss on Criminal Minds and here is the post. Enjoy!!!

Paget Brewster interview.

Writer’s Block (With a Dash of Brag Book)

Once again, we’re in the thick of autumn, and Bookish Jen is busier than ever. I’m back to teaching RE at my church and our film series started earlier this month. I’m on the film selection committee and I also write all the marketing materials.

What else? Well, the Xmas holiday will be here soon so I’m going to be busy making everything from baked goods to jewelry to bath and beauty products. A local charity is hosting a craft fair and I want to donate some handmade beaded earrings. I already made a couple of pairs that are quite lovely.

And of course, there is this blog. I just finished reading a terrific memoir by a very talented British writer, and my review should be posted sometime next week. I’m also taking another one for a team and a book by a couple of conservative female pundits should be up before election day. I also have a couple of novels I want to read and review.

As for the dash of brag book? Well, this month marks my third year of blogging at The Book Self. It’s been a thrilling ride. Thanks to everyone who reads this blog and follows me. I also have to thank the publishers and authors who have sent me books to read and review, and my guest reviewers who have shared their thoughts on the books they read. I also want to thank Milwaukee’s library system and to book stores, both indie and larger outlets, for all the great reads. I can’t make it without any of you!!!!

Brag Book

I sent a link my review of You Got to Be Dirty to both the publisher, Badger Wordsmith, located here in Wisconsin, who sent me a copy of the book. Thank you by the way, Badger Wordsmith.

I also sent a link to author Michael Grogan and he loved it and glad I got an education on a lifestyle I’m very unfamiliar with. He sent a link to 100 people on his email list, and posted a link to my review on his Facebook page.

Brag Book

I posed a link to my review of How to Be a Redhead to the Vendetti sisters and they gave me a shout out thanking me via Facebook. Thanks ladies!

 

Brag Book

I sent a link of my review of Robert Reich’s Saving Capitalism, and quickly received this response from Mr. Reich:

Thanks for your kind words, Jennifer.

Robert Reich

Needless to say, I’m quite thrilled and can’t help feeling a wee bit smug.

Also, Alexis Bloomer, Fox News wannabe and Internet-famous for her “Elders, I’m Sorry” cri de cœur has banned me from leaving comments at her social media. She also scrubbed my existing measured and well-mannered comments from her feeds.

And Janet Bloomfield (née Andrea Hardie) self-described beauty of the ever-charming blog Judgy Bitch has also blocked me from leaving comments at her blog.

Oh ladies, if you can dish it out, you got to learn to take it. If you can take the Internet heat, get out of the kitchen. Oh, wait a minute. Janet/Andrea never gets out of her kitchen where she posts hateful screeds against women (especially those who identify as feminists), Muslims, people of color, the list goes on.

Brag Book (Yes, Another One!)

The lovely Robert Kelsey, author of The Outside Edge, posted my review in its entirety at his website. I am absolutely thrilled!!!!!

Brag Book

I sent a link of my review of Robert Kelsey’s book The Outside Edge and he loved it. Here is the e-mail he sent me:

Hi Jennifer,

This is an amazing review and I’m really pleased you like the book – thank you so much! Of the four books I’ve written I’ve found this one the strangest in terms of people’s reactions. It’s not resonated with reviewers that well (insiders I assume) and not sold as widely as the others. Yet it’s generated more responses like yours than any of the previous books. Many people have been put off by the premise – and the fact a white, heterosexual, middle-class, male could be an outsider (without seeing that that’s the point – it’s not about vertical divides such as gender/race). Yet those that have found resonance have found a deep affinity with their own (often contradictory and confused) feelings. So we are perhaps a more select group than I realised – although we’re most definitely “select”.  

Thanks again and warmest regards,

Robert 

ps: quick question – as you ‘re in the States, how did you come across the book? I wasn’t aware of a US release. 

The lovely Mr. Kelsey also provided a link to my review via the book’s Facebook page. Yay, me!!!!

Brag Book (Not About Me)

My friend Kristine is a wonderful food, drink and travel writer who often tries her talents at other subjects like book reviews. Here is her review of Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City.