The Book that Made Me edited by Judith Ridge

Title: The Book that Made Me: A Collection of 32 Personal Stories

Edited By: Judith Ridge

Publisher: Candlewick Press 2016

Genre: Nonfiction - About Books

Pages: 241

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: 

What if you could look inside your favorite authors’ heads and see the book that led them to become who they are today? What was the book that made them fall in love, or made them understand something for the first time? What was the book that made them feel challenged in ways they never knew they could be, emotionally, intellectually, or politically? What book made them readers, or made them writers, or made them laugh, think, or cry? Join thirty-one top children’s and young adult authors as they explore the books, stories, and experiences that changed them as readers — for good.

Like most essay collections, there are some really good ones in here and there are some more boring ones in here. Overall, I was a bit disappointed in the collection. I don’t think the good essays outweighed the less interesting ones. Oh well. Not every book is going to be 5 stars.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Voracious by Cara Nicoletti

Title: Voracious: A Hungry Reader Cooks Her Way Through Great Books

Author: Cara Nicoletti

Publisher: Little, Brown and Company 2015

Genre: Cooking

Pages: 283

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Popsugar - About Food

As a young bookworm reading in her grandfather's butcher shop, Cara Nicoletti saw how books and food bring people to life. Now a butcher, cook, and talented writer, she serves up stories and recipes inspired by beloved books and the food that gives their characters depth and personality.

I was listening to What Should I Read Next the other week, and this book came up. The guests, Rikki and Michaela, are the amazing creators of The Ardent Biblio and mentioned this great volume as a marriage between two of their favorite things, books and food. Imagine my delight when I randomly saw it on the shelf at the library. I had to check it out! I loved reading about how various books have affected Nicoletti throughout her life. I think every reader has their own life of impactful books. Nicoletti makes a coneection between all those great books and some amazing food. I loved reading the essays and perusing the recipes. I'm not really big into cooking, but I do love good food. I may jsut have to notate a few of these recipes before I return the book to the lubrary.

Next up on the TBR pile:

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Highlight of the Week -- Books, books, and more books!

I've haven't done one of these in the last couple of weeks, so I thought I would get back into the swing of things this week.  So... what was my highlight of the week? Lately, I have been thinking a lot about books.  I signed up for many reading challenges for the year, have been reading blogs about books, added to my "To Be Read" list, and went to the library multiple times.  I love wandering the stacks finding interesting books.  Sometimes I have a list, sometimes i just choose an aisle and look at the shelves, and sometimes I let covers catch my eye.  On Friday afternoon, I had the urge to go book shopping.  I don't have much extra money lying around, but I thought I would just go look at the used book stores.  I went to Half Price Books and what did I find?  A whole ton of awesome $1 clearance books.  I love it when I find bargains.  So I went a little crazy.  I bought 13 books and it cost me a total of $20 (two books were a bit more than $1, but they are on my reading challenges list).  I got up to the register and the clerk had a surprised look on her face when I plopped them all down.  But she just rang of my books and then said, "I bet you want a bag today."  Yes, yes I did.  Usually I request no bag if it's just a few books, but 13 was pushing the limit.  Add my ridiculous clumsiness and snow on the ground, and I got a bag.  As I hauled my loot out of the store, I started thinking, which one am I going to read first? Very difficult question... but as it turns out I chose to read a library book instead of my new treasures.  They will have to wait until next week.