Writer’s Block

I hope everyone is having a fun March. I know I am. My birthday was on the second, and I spent my day treating myself. Also, my friends Nora and Elaine treated me to a mini-vacay and it couldn’t have been better. I just adore my friends, and I can’t thank them enough for making my birthday extra special.

I’ve also been dealing with some busyness in my off-line life both professionally and personally. And I also have to brag, my film-related blog, Popcorn In My Bra, is doing well, and I’m gaining followers and fans.

But don’t worry, The Book Self, is still close to my heart, so look for more reviews shortly. I just finished the latest book from Caitlin Moran, Moranifesto, and it is a knock-out! You might remember me reviewing her novel How to Build a Girl a while back.

I’m also in the middle of a delicious novel that I can’t wait to review, too. It’s film-related so I’ll also post my review to Popcorn In My Bra.

Just so happy for great books and great writers!!!

Book Marks

Mom has issues with Good Night, Moon. And I, too, am perplexed by the size of the kid’s bedroom. My entire apartment could fit into that thing.

Thinking sexism no longer exists? Read this woman’s story of submitting her manuscript under her own name and then under a male pseudonym. Notice the difference. Yes. Sexism still exists. Ugh. I could write a huge rant on the sexism that goes on the world of writing.

Barber gives free haircuts to children who read to him. What a great idea!

Author, publisher and journalist, Adria J. Cimino shares her thoughts on dealing with good and bad reviews (other than putting on your big kid underpants and dealing with it).

Twelve books to make you happy when you’re feeling blue.

#TenThingsNotToSayToAWriter. Seriously, do not say these things if you value your life.

New book explores bias against redheads. Hmm, I’ll have to read this book.

The first black James Bond, well, on book audio.

Here are the most anticipated books coming out this fall.

This is truly horrifying. The amount of people who think we should ban books is increasing.

Brag Book! It’s My One Year Blogoversary!!!

I can barely contain myself. I one year ago I published my first review at the Book Self, Joe Muto’s memoir, An Atheist in the Foxhole: A Liberal’s Eight-Year Odyssey Inside the Heart of the Right Wing Media. Since those humble beginnings, I’ve read and reviewed some really great books (and some not so great ones), gained followers and likes, received wonderful messages from the authors I’ve reviewed and have gotten involved in some really cool things like the giveaway for the movie “This Is Where I Leave You” based on the Jonathan Tropper novel of the same name.

I initially started this blog because I had gone through a horrific writing situation in the professional sense, and I needed an ego boost to prove to myself I still had the chops as a writer. I figured a blog might do the trick, but I wasn’t quite sure what I wanted to write about. Writer and artist Austin Kleon once advised don’t write what you know; write what you love. What wise advice. I love books and I just knew I had to write about them. And now look where I am! Wow!

I want to thank my readers for joining me on this journey, and we have so many more miles to go. I’m working on a couple of book reviews. A publisher sent me a galley of a novel to be published in mid-November, which I am reading now and will probably post a review around the publishing date. I’m open to guest reviewers. And there are just so many books I want to read and review. I have a list as long Shaquille O’Neill.

I’m really looking forward to starting my second year of the Blog Self, and I hope my readers are, too. Thanks so much.

Brag Book (With Some Lovin’ from the Oven)

Just checked the email account I have for this blog, and Emily Matchar, author of Homeward Bound, emailed me back to say she loved the review and she re-tweeted a link to my review. Here it is (scroll down):

Tweets by EmilyMatchar

Ms. Matchar also mentioned in her email that my sugar mint cookies sound amazing. Well, they are! Here is the recipe.

Sugar Mint Cookies

1 cup butter
1/2 cup of sugar
2 cups of flour
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp of peppermint extract
2 tbsp of crushed dry mint leaves (or 4 tbsp of crushed fresh mint leaves)*
Additional sugar

In a mixing bowl, cream butter and the 1/2 cup of sugar. Add flour, salt, extract and mint. Chill dough for at least an hour. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.

Form chilled dough into 1 inch balls and roll in additional sugar. Place the balls on an ungreased cookie sheet. Press each ball with your thumb. Bake for 12-15 minutes.

*The original recipe (which I believe I found in the Milwaukee Journal’s “Food” Section)  calls for dried or fresh mint leaves, but you can also use chocolate chips (Nestle makes a great dark chocolate/mint chips combo), Andie’s Candies chips or mint M & M’s. They’re all good!!!!

 

Brag Book

A few weeks ago I sent Melanie Thorne, author of the amazing Hand-Me Down and email telling her how much I enjoyed her novel and provided her a link to my review. Today I received an answer back from the lovely Ms. Thorne. She was delighted by my review and even gave me a shout out on her Twitter feed (scroll down).

Tweets by mthorneauthor

To say I’m thrilled Ms. Thorne answered email and tweeted my review is an understatement. What wonderful news to get. Thanks Melanie Thorne. I look forward to reading more of your books. You are an amazing writer!

Writer’s Block

Once again I’m back in the land of the crazy, busy. We got a bunch of last minute work at the office so that means I’ll be working lots of overtime for the next few weeks, lots of 12-hour days (including Saturdays).

So needless to say I might be a bit absent from this blog for a while. I do have a draft that I’m going to publish shortly in honor of Earth Day. And I have a couple of reviews I’m going to work on in the brief pockets of time I do have. One is a memoir and the other is a novel, both quite good.

And of course, I’m always on the prowl for more books to read, so that is one of my goals.

What else? Well, I’d like to thank Wes from the blog VOICES: FILM & TV | PART II. He left a pingback to my review of Charles R. Cross’s book Cobain: Unseen. And Wes also wrote a very heartfelt tribute to Cobain at his blog. Please read it. I highly recommend it.

Brag Book

When I write a review, or anything for this blog, I always wonder how it’s going to be received. It’s nice to know people like my reviews and are following my blog.

However, it is quite another to have the actual author of a book you reviewed leave a comment at you blog. Mike Adelberg who wrote the wonderful novel Thinking Man’s Bully left a comment thanking me for writing a review. And I am kvelling, KVELLING!!!

Here is a link to the comment:
https://thebookselfblog.wordpress.com/2014/02/01/thinking-mans-bully-by-michael-adelberg/

I really enjoy supporting talented writers and to get that support right back is truly heart-warming. So thank you Mr. Adelberg.

Book Marks

Michelle Cottle of the Daily Best writes an epic review of Sarah Palin’s latest tome, Dreck the Halls. Oops, I mean, Good Tidings and Great Joy: Protecting the Heart of Christmas.

The cleanse the palate of Palin’s spew, the fine folks at Good Reads offer up their favorite Christmas-related books.

More cleansing, here is a list of the 2013 National Book Award Winners.

Margaret Atwood writes a wonderful tribute to the recently deceased Doris Lessing.

Awesome California 4^th-grader sending 3,000 books to start library in Botswana. Zane Pickus, you are amazing!!!

Book Marks

MacKenzie Bezos’, wife of Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos, isn’t exactly too fond on a book about her husband and the Internet giant. And she’s letting everyone know about it, on where else? Amazon.com!

Cosmo’s sex and relationship advice is complete bullshit. Hmm, who knew?

Entertainment Weekly asks, “What is your favorite YA novel of all time?” There will always be a special place in my heart for Judy Blume’s work in my adolescent heart. I also like SE Hinton, Paul Zindel and Naomi Klein. But one of the best YA novels I read as an actual adult is Steven Chbosky’s The Perks of Being a Wallflower. Hmm, do I smell a retro review?

Are book covers better with googly eyes? Discuss.

British writer and all-around badass , Caitlin Moran, on why libraries are so important to individuals and communities.

Brag Book

Aww, so sweet. I just took a look at my blog’s e-mail and found out I’m gaining followers and my posts are gathering a few likes. Thank you so much. Many of these people have blogs of their own so I’m definitely going to check them out when I have more time. Right now I’m finishing up some copy for a client, helping him with his fledgling non-profit.

Once again, thanks so much!