Stay Tuned - The Afro Blue Edition

Here's one of my favorite renditions of Christmas Time is Here. It's by my favorite group from Season 3 of The Sing-Off, Afro Blue. It's jazzy and soulful,and the best part -it's a capella! Put in your earphones for this one; you definitely don't want to miss the awesome bassist, Reggie.

What did you think? Be sure to tell me your favorites songs of the season in the comments.

Love and (a book) light,

~Dorothy

Christmas Gift Guide: Books by Interest

 There are always those few people that you don't quite know how to shop for. Here are some book recommendations that you can wrap for them.

For the WWII History Buff: Ghost Soldiers by Hampton Sides

This book tells of the rescue of American POWs imprisoned by the Japanese on Filipino soil. Any history buff would enjoy the in-depth look at the most successful prison raid in history.

For the Animal Lover: In the Shadow of Man by Jane Goodall

Treat the animal lover in your life to this wonderful account of Jane Goodall's journey in Gombe as she observes these wonderful creatures. Everyone will fall in love with the chimps in this book as they read about their life in the jungle.

For the Gamer: Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card

This is the one book that I can see a gamer putting down the controller for. This futuristic novel combines the excitement, action, and innovative technology of video games with the philosophy and rhetoric of good literature.

For the Grimm Lover: Fables by Bill Willingham

If someone you love is hooked on the new TV show Grimm like I am, they'll definitely enjoy this graphic novel series. It features characters from the fairy tales we know and love, and follows them in their modern day life in New York City.

For the Fashionista: Style by Lauren Conrad

Lauren Conrad's book offers different tips and tricks of the trade. There's sure to be something for every fashionista, whether it's hair secrets or makeup trends.

For the War Veteran: Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand

Unbroken tells the uplifting story of a World War II survivor that is sure to resonate with thousands of those who have witnessed the horrors of war.

For the Athlete: Born to Run by Christopher McDougall

This book explores the secrets of a tribe of superathletes, and will inspire and challenge the athlete in your life.

For the Science Geek: Genome by Matt Ridley

Any science geek, physicists, engineers, and biologists alike, will enjoy reading about the great strides humanity has made to map out its own genome and what they've found in the process.

For the Career Woman (or Man!): How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie

This classic is a must read for every career person looking to stand out and be successful in their industry.

Hope that helped you cross off some things on your Christmas list!

Love and (a book) light,

~Dorothy

Meet the Ornaments

One of the most frustrating things about decorating a Christmas tree is that no photo can do it justice. While I'm constantly fidgeting and experimenting with my camera to capture the perfect shot, I do want to share our tree with you. Our tree is covered with Hallmark ornaments from head to toe (courtesy of my mother-in-law who LOVES Hallmark), so they're better appreciated up close. I decided I would introduce the ornaments to you one by one.

All of these ornaments are adorable, but this one deserves a couple more "www"s in a prolonged "awwwwwww."

1997 Winnie the Pooh Hallmark Ornament

Well? "Awwww"-worthy, yes?

Share some of your ornaments in the comments!

Love and ( a book) light,

~Dorothy

Christmas Gifts for the Book Lover

As I keep saying (and will continue to say) in my posts, Christmas is my favorite time of the year. Shopping for the lovely people in your life can be fun but also intimidating if you don't know where to start. Do you have a book lover in your life that you're trying to Christmas shop for? You'll definitely find something in this post. If you're a book lover that wants to give someone a hint about what you'd like, send them over here! 

A Kindle Case

This adorable felt owl case is great for the someone you know who loves their Kindle. Find it on Etsy.

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Kindle Touch or Nook Simple Touch

                 

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-I'm partial to the Kindle just because I have one, but I hear the quality of either is great. It may just come down to whether you have a Barnes & Noble membership or Amazon Prime. If you're shopping for someone and you're not sure if they'll want an eReader, JUST GET IT. Chances are they'll fall in love with it just like countless others who had eReaders forced on them during last year's Christmas but now can't part with it. If not, you can always return it. Don't forget the gift receipt!

A box set of their favorite series

-I wouldn't buy a nice Harry Potter box set for myself, but I certainly would not object if someone gave it to me as a gift. If the HP Set is too steep for you, there's also The Hunger Games Trilogy, Lord of the Rings, A Game of Thrones, among many others.

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Three Months of Audible.com

I would love to give audio books a try, and your loved-one might, too! Now you can try out Audible.com for $7.99 for 3 months.
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A Penguin Hardcover edition of their favorite classics

These beautifully bound books are a great gift for any classics lover. You can get them as a set or individually. Buy them here.

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A Cute Tote

This awesome tote definitely speaks for itself. Find this and other cute totes here.

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Invisible Floating Bookshelf

This cool bookshelf is perfect for the books we keep stacked on the bedside table. Keep your table clear of clutter and let your loved-one store their books in the air. Buy it here.

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Bookish Stocking Stuffers

Gift cards for bookstores or ebooks

A book light

A cute (or custom!) bookmark

A "This Book Belongs To:" stamp

Your favorite quotes from a book

I hope you found something that will brighten you loved-one's Christmas season. What bookish presents have you found in your hunt for the perfect gift that are not on this list? Let me know in the comments!

Love and (a book) light,

~Dorothy

2011 Reading Challenge Update

2011 Reading Challenge

Dorothy has read 49 books toward her goal of 50 books.

hide

49 of 50 (98%)

view books

I'm almost there, you guys! At the beginning of the year, my original goal was to read 24 books. It went to 30, and eventually I decided to go for a real challenge and make it 50. So far so good! Granted, one is a Kindle Single and two are graphic novels that went by really fast, but if Goodreads counts them as books then so be it! I also read my share of lengthier books and non-fiction, so I think it evens out in the end. 

Did you have a Goodreads goal this year? If not, you should make one for 2012. It's a great way to motivate yourself, not that I needed any motivation to read. Don't forget to add me on Goodreads!

I'll update you again when I reach 50, at which point I'll also set my goals for the coming year.

Love and (a book) light,

~Dorothy

Stay Tuned for Christmas

Hey, everyone!

Happy Friday.

As promised, I'm going to regularly post some of my favorite music here, so look out for the posts entitled "Stay Tuned."

Is there anything more magical than Vince Guaraldi Trio during the holiday season? Perhaps, but I can't think of it right now. One of my favorites is the playful and enchanting "Skating." This album will definitely get its share of play time on my iPod.

I hope you love it as much as I do.

Enjoy!

Love and (a book) light,

~Dorothy

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Thanks, Caitlin for sharing this! Christmas is my favorite. With everything signaling towards my favorite time of year, from the changing decor in stores to the fluke snowfalls we've had in Northern Virginia, I can't help but be excited for the coming holiday season. I had a blast answering these questions. Leave me a link in the comments if you decide to answer them, too.

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? I love them both! Do I really have to choose? If I can have salted caramel in the hot chocolate, I choose that.

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? I believe for my husband's family he would just set it up around the tree. I grew up in a very religious home, so Santa was not a part of Christmas for us. 

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? I love the clean, classy look of white lights around the house. But who doesn't love colored lights as well? We have those on the tree.

4. Do you hang mistletoe? We didn't last year, but we will this year! I know the perfect spot (or spots) for it.

5. When do you put your decorations up? Right after Thanksgiving.

6. What is your favorite holiday dish? I don't know that I have a favorite dish, but I do love many desserts associated with the holidays. I love gingerbread, different fruit pies, apple cider... I really miss lechon, which is a Filipino dish that's served during special occasions and Christmas (or pasko in Tagalog). It's basically a roasted pig, which looks a bit intimidating but tastes so good!

7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child? When I was about 10 years old, my sister and I decided we were going to sneak out of our bedrooms at night, open the presents, find out what they were, and wrap them up again thinking no one would be the wiser. That plan was obviously a bust, because we woke up our grandma and when she asked "who's there?" we ran straight to our room.

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? Santa was never encouraged in our family, so I always knew he wasn't real. Don't worry, I didn't ruin it for the other kids. 

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? Absolutely not.

10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree? I like to have a solid theme when it comes to the ornament balls. In addition to that, we have a bunch of Hallmark ornaments from my mother-in-law who is a Hallmark fanatic!

11. Snow! Love it or Dread it? I love it when I am in a cozy chair with hot tea and a good book. I hate it when I have to drive in it. 

12. Can you ice skate? Of course! My husband can't, though, so I am determined to teach him this year.

13. Do you remember your favorite gift? When we were dating my husband got me a personalized book about the two of us. It was the sweetest thing ever! 

14. What’s the most important thing about the Holidays for you? Being with the people you love and enjoying life. And the food. Always the food.

15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? Will someone make me pumpkin whoopie pies, please?

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? I don't get to do this anymore since I don't live in the Philippines, but my mom's family had the best tradition. During the family Christmas party, all the kids lined up single file behind each other. Then the adults would take turns giving out 10 pesos to each of the kids. At the end of the day, we would have almost 200 pesos! That's about $4, but it goes a long way in the Philippines, especially for a kid.

17. What tops your tree? A golden star.

18. Which do you prefer giving or receiving? Not to sound cliche, but I really do enjoy giving more. I love shopping for someone and trying to think of what the perfect gift would be for them. That's the fun part for me. 

19. Candy Canes: Yuck or Yum? Yum. But I can never manage to finish them.

20. Favorite Christmas show? A Charlie Brown Christmas. Is that a show? My favorite Christmas movies are It's A Wonderful Life, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and Home Alone.

21. Saddest Christmas Song? I'll be Home for Christmas performed by Bing Crosby. This song was popular during World War II, when countless soldiers were away from their loved ones. Just thinking about it makes me tear up.

22. What is your favorite Christmas song? The Christmas Song performed by Nat King Cole. My dad always loved him, so it brings back fond memories.


Merry Christmas! 


Love and (a book) light,


~Dorothy

Say Yes

Say yes. Say yes to good things in life. Grab them. Don't hesitate. Maybe there will be pain in the end, but there usually is anyway. Say yes.

~Joseph Monninger, Eternal on the Water

...these are a few of my favorite things

One of the posts I really enjoy reading on blogs is a list of favorites, especially Sarah's Loving Lately posts. I'm the type of person that goes on an on about something they love, so I've been itching to do a post like this. Now that the soundtrack of The Sound of Music is stuck in your head from reading the title, let's proceed, shall we?


Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate from Starbucks
A good number of my mornings begin with this heavenly beverage. I'm not a big coffee drinker, but I love hot chocolate. This salted caramel version helps me deal with the shorter days that come with fall.

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Benefit Watt's Up! face highlighter
Nowadays I hardly wear foundation. At most, I'll wear a light tinted moisturizer, but I've recently been skipping that altogether. What makes me fell polished throughout the day with minimal makeup is this wonderful highlighter. I use it on the top of my cheekbones to make my bone structure stand out and to give me a subtle glow.

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Clarisonic Mia

I ordered this from Sephora during their Friends & Family sale, and I've used it every night since I got it. My face feels so clean afterwards, and it makes my moisturizer so much more effective. My Mia is the main reason I don't feel like I have to hide behind a layer of foundation anymore. I got it in an adorable yellow, but there are plenty of colors to choose from. I think it's a really good investment! 

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Crocheting!

I started crocheting! My knew some basic stuff in high school, but one weekend I picked up a beginners book and started crocheting again. I finished my first dishcloth this week, and I'm excited to start a very simple pattern for a scarf.

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The Big Bang Theory

I love this show! Why did I not start watching it sooner? It makes me laugh out loud a lot. I love Sheldon, and I find myself quoting him more and more. Any other fans out there?

~~~

Slatkin & Co Candles

I bought these candles online when Bath and Body Works was having a sale, and I was hooked. They fill up the whole room and make our home feel so cozy. My favorite scents are Autumn and Creamy Nutmeg.

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Golden Mojito Tea from Teavana

I've been a Teavana drinker for a while, but I recently discovered this flavor. It is absolutely divine. Every lady should drink loose leaf tea, I think. 


That's all for now. What are some of your favorites? 


Love and (a book) light,


~Dorothy

Happy Veterans Day

Source: Uploaded by user via James on Pinterest

To the men and women who have served and to those who serve today,

and to their families who have sacrificed more than we'll ever know,

THANK YOU

from the bottom of our hearts.

Stepping Out of My Reading Comfort Zone

A man grows most tired when standing still.

~Chinese Proverb

For me, reading is all about experiencing and learning new things and perspectives. That's a little hard to do when I stay completely in my comfort zone, which not too long ago consisted only of legal thrillers. I have since grown, but here's a list of books that were completely outside my radius of comfort when I read them.

Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese

In terms of content, this was right up my alley. What I wasn't comfortable with was the length. Its 600+ pages is almost double the length that I am used to. However, this was assigned for book club, and I took a chance. Boy am I glad that I did. This is now one of my all-time favorites.

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I, Mona Lisa by Jeanne Kalogridis

Again another long one, but what was really outside my comfort zone was the genre. I don't read much historical fiction, so this was a bit intimidating. I'm glad I read it, though, because I really liked the storyline. I've been meaning to get back into historical fiction, but never got around to it. What should I read next from this genre?

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Something Borrowed and Something Blue by Emily Giffin

I don't typically have a good overall impression of chick lit. I usually discount it as shallow, lacking substance, and below my reading level. (I know, I can be such a snob.) Often times I would be right (did I mention I was a snob?), but this time I was very pleased. Yes, the writing is far from lyrical, but it wasn't horrible either. We all deserve a break now and then, and while this was a very pleasant and quick read, the content and plot was far from shallow. Giffin took on the daunting task of making us see infidelity as anything but unacceptable, and she succeeded.

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Ghost Soldiers by Hampton Sides

I currently read non-fiction regularly. I usually have at least one non-fiction book going alongside my fiction read. When I read this book a while back, I was utterly intimidated by non-fiction. This was a huge step, but I'm so glad I stepped out of my normal routine. This account of the POWs of WWII was very moving and eye-opening. It also paved the way for my current interest in a wide array of non-fiction genres.

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The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

I've gotten over my fear of non-fiction, but I am still intimidated by the classics. This, Jane Eyre, and Little Women (though the last one not in its entirety) are the only ones I've read. My goal next year is to read more of the classics that are so well-loved.

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Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card

I suppose this is the first sci-fi book I've ever read, and I absolutely loved it. End of story.
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Fables by Bill Willingham


Like sci-fi, I always thought graphic novels were for an entirely different crowd. I haven't actually read it yet, but the concept of Fables really appealed to me. I also got some great recommendations for other graphic novels, and I can't wait to start!
~~~

How about you? When's the last time you stepped out of your comfort zone when it comes to your reading list? Also, do leave me some recommendations for other books in the genres mentioned above.

Love and (a book) light,

~Dorothy

Reading Recap

Here's a quick recap of the reading I've done in the past few weeks. 

I recently finished:

I'm Currently Reading:

Up Next:

I can't wait to review Ender's Game. I really, really enjoyed it.

A friend recently recommended the graphic series Fables to me based on my interest in the Grimm TV series. It will be my first experience with a graphic novel/series!

What other graphic novels do you all recommend?

Or any books, for that matter?

Head over to Book Journey to see what others are reading.

Love and (a book) light,

~Dorothy

Be Brilliant

Source: whereisthecool.com via Kyle on Pinterest

Humanity does not ask us to be happy. 

It merely asks us to be brilliant on its behalf.

-Orson Scott Card, Ender's Game

Stay Tuned...

Another one of my passions is music.
I want to start sharing more of that with you through a series titled "Stay Tuned".

I listen to a very eclectic selection of artists, genres, and eras.

Here's a favorite of mine that's perfect for this season.

It reminds me of sitting in a comfy chair with a warm blanket and a hot cup of tea.

What's your favorite music to listen to during this season?
Until next time, stay tuned.

Love and (a book) light,

~Dorothy

New Beginnings

Notice anything different? Or perhaps you think you clicked on the wrong link? Well don't worry; you're in the right place. My blog just got an AWESOME makeover, thanks to Elisabeth from Thimbles + Things. Didn't she do a fantastic job? It's exactly what I wanted and more.

My blog isn't the only thing that's going through some changes. I love Virginia, especially in the fall. I've never seen such rich and vibrant colors on one tree. One of these days I'll brave the cold and snap more photos to share with you, but in the meantime, here's one I took last week.

To go along with the awesome design change, I also have some fun, new posts planned, so stay tuned!

Also, while you're here, why not enter my giveaway?

Look for the "Current Giveaway" button on the right.

Love and (a book) light,

~Dorothy

And the next book up for grabs is...

Hello lovely readers! I will have a new blog design in the near future, and I have some great post ideas to go with the changes. In the meantime, here's a giveaway to help you bear with me. 

Up for grabs is a used copy of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon. It's in great condition, and looks almost brand new except for the price sticker on the upper-right corner. I know a lot of you would enjoy this book. It's a quick read, and it's quite unique. 

Please use the clever widget from Rafflecopter below to enter the giveaway. You must be a follower of The Kindled Scholar here on Blogger for your entry to be counted. You can earn extra entries by following on Twitter and tweeting about the giveaway! 

Winner of The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie

And the winner of The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie is...

Source: etsy.com via Flight on Pinterest

A Non-Fiction Read for the Fiction Lover

I'm a reader of both fiction and non-fiction, and I usually have one of each going at the same time. However, I know that not everyone enjoys reading non-fiction, and understandably so. The purpose and delivery are often so different from that of fiction, that it's hard to appreciate when you're not used to it. It's hard enough going between different genres of fiction, and it's an even greater leap to cross the fiction/non-fiction barrier.

If you're the fiction lover that's apprehensive about non-fiction books, I highly suggest you start with The Poisoner's Handbook by Deborah Blum. The various components in the writing and content work smoothly together to produce a piece of work that a wide variety of readers can enjoy. Like a science book, it lectures and informs about the properties and dangers of different poisons. Like a reverent biography, it follows the careers of two men who forged and shaped the path of forensic medicine and toxicology in this country, Charles Norris and Alexander Gettler. Like a thoughtful piece of sociopolitical commentary, it criticizes the choices of the American government during the Prohibition years, from the ratification of the 18th amendment to its undoing in the 21st amendment. Like an unputdownable thriller, this book takes you on a journey filled with poisoners, suspicious deaths, and dramatic courtroom scenes, and like a properly-written whodunnit it keeps you guessing until the very last minute.

This book reads just like a novel, but another reason I think it's a good first step towards non fiction is its great potential for pointing you in a new direction of interest. Part of the reason non-fiction can be so intimidating is the wide array of topics and the diverse levels of detail within those topics that are available to you. After reading The Poisoner's Handbook, you may discover you have an interest in poisons, or ever chemistry in general. You may also be drawn in by the history and find yourself wanting to know more about The Prohibition. The possibilites are endless, but at the very least, you will have walked away with a pleasant first encounter with non-fiction.

I do hope you pick this book up and give it a try. If you do, come back and let me know how it went!

Love and (a book) light,

~Dorothy

A Life Post: What to Wear to the Happiest Place on Earth

Some of you know that I spent a week at Disney World not too long ago. I had the most magical time! One of the things that can help you make the most out of your Disney trip is being comfortable attire wise. Being the girly-girl that I am, I wasn't about to go galavanting around Magic Kingdom in my work-out attire (or, I should say, what I would wear if I actually worked out). Unfortunately, I was not extremely prepared with the most comfortable attire, and after the first day I had to give up wearing my cute jeans. I ended up having to go to Wal-Mart to buy hideous cargo pants.

Hence, I decided to write this post so you don't have to suffer the same fate I did. Here's what you need to be prepared while also looking like the dainty lady you are.

Disney World Attire by thekindledscholar featuring flat heels

• A loose-fitting top is great for the Florida humidity.
• Wear shorts that aren't too short and that won't ride up or chafe your legs after 10 hours of walking and standing in line.
• A flowy romper is also comfortable and chic at the same time.
• Both of the shoes above are Crocs; yes, ladies, it's time to get over the ugly Crocs stigma and accept that they do have some cute shoes in their line-up; plus, they are incredibly comfortable and are exactly what you need when you are going to be walking for hours. You can thank me later.
• Hair ties -if you don't believe me and you insist on leaving the hotel with your hair down, promise me you'll at least bring a hair tie with you. The humidity will turn your head into a ball of cotton candy if sweat and water rides don't ruin it first. 
• Don't forget to protect your eyes! Always bring sunglasses.
• Bring a small bag for essentials like some of the small items listed here. If you can get away with just your pockets, go for it! If you do bring a bag, make sure it sits on both of your shoulders so you don't put too much strain on one side. Pack lightly!

As far as makeup goes, I would go minimal at the most. 

• I would definitely advise against wearing any kind of foundation. It will slide around your face all day. You should always protect your skin, so do wear sunblock even if it's not going to be a sunny day.
• Mascara is ok, but be sure to wear the waterproof or water resistant kind unless you want to look like a raccoon by the end of the day. ;)
• I wouldn't bother with lipstick or lipgloss -who wants to worry about reapplying? However, just like your eyes and skin, your lips should also be protected. Wear a lip balm with SPF. 

I know not wearing any makeup at all may seem like a challenge for some of you already, but I'm going to up the ante: I challenge you to not bring your phone. Oh yes, I went there. 

Listen, I know you want to tweet all those fantastic pictures of you with Princess Jasmine, or the one with you thrusting your arms towards the sky with Cinderella's castle in the backdrop. But having to tweet and text and tweet some more takes some of the fun out of it. Just enjoy your time at Disney and be truly present in the moment. When you get back to the hotel and put your feet up, you can tweet all you want. :)

I hope this will help those of you that are planning a Disney trip in the future, or a trip to any theme park for that matter.

Love and (a book) light,

~Dorothy

Giveaway #3: Win one of my favorite books!

Thanks to everyone that entered my previous giveaways! I'm so excited to announce the latest one. I really enjoyed this book and fell in love with the young sleuth.

Up for grabs is a gently-used copy of The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley. It's a great mystery with an 11-year-old girl as our heroine. Mind you, she's no typical pre-teen either. If you've already read The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, you should still enter! If you win, just pass it along to a friend that you know will enjoy a good book.

As always, the only rule is that you must be a follower of The Kindled Scholar through Blogger. If you're not already a follower, just scroll to the top of the page and click on the "Follow" link. You can earn extra entries for following on Twitter and tweeting about the giveaway. Please use the clever widget below provided by Rafflecopter.

Good luck!

Love and (a book) light,

~Dorothy

Winner of The Art of Racing in the Rain

Congratulations to Micaela from Dolce Vita! You will receive a copy of The Art of Racing in the Rain.

Thanks to everyone that entered my giveaway. Stay tuned for the next one; we're keeping with the theme of my favorite titles. Here's a hint: this book has a pastry in the title, but it has nothing to do with your love of baking and everything to do with your appreciation for a good mystery.

Love and (a book) light,

~Dorothy

NEW GIVEAWAY + Last Week's Winner

UPDATE:

There are only a few entries so far, so your chances of winning a great! Enter now; giveaway ends Saturday. :)

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Hi everyone!

I know I have been MIA lately, but there's always time for giveaways!

The winner of last week's giveaway for a copy of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is Hannah from Culture Connoisseur. Congratulations! Do check out her lovely blog.

Now for the next giveaway:

This is the second of a series of giveaways for gently used copies of my favorite books that I picked up at the used book sale. All these books are in great condition. The next book up for grabs is The Art of Racing in the Rain. This book is dear to my heart; check out my review here.

Go ahead and submit your entry using the form below! It will guide you step-by-step. The only rule is that you must be a follower of The Kindled Scholar here on Blogger. You can earn an extra entry by being a follower on Twitter. Earn up to one extra entry per day by tweeting about the giveaway. Thanks to Rafflecopter for making this giveaway super easy!

Good luck!

Love and (a book) light,

~Dorothy

Books I Want to Re-Read

**I originally used this topic as my freebie, but alas, it's this week's topic as well! I decided to re-post it with a few edits.**

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

There are books that you love, and may even be your favorite, but you know re-reading them won't be the same. And then there are those books that you know will only be better the second time around. These are some of those books:

1. People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks
2. The Help by Kathryn Stockett
3. Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese
4. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer (Want to read this? Enter my giveaway to win a previously read copy!)
5. The Red Tent by Anita Diamant
6. The Harry Potter Series by J. K. Rowling
7. And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
8. The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis
9. The Hunger Games Series  by Suzanne Collins
10. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

All of these books have great plots, but I think the reason I really want to re-read them is because I miss the characters.

Which books do you want to read over and over again?

Love and (a book) light,

~Dorothy

Birthday Month Giveaways!

UPDATE: Thanks to all of you who entered my giveaway! I promised I would choose and end date soon, and since there have been many entries I will choose a winner this Saturday at 12:00 PM noon, Eastern time. Until then, you still have time to enter!

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It has been a while since I had my first giveaway for a signed copy of Finny by Justin Kramon.

I think another giveaway is well overdue, as I have several things to celebrate.

The first is The Kindled Scholar reaching 100 followers. Hooray! 

September is also my birthday month, so I want to celebrate by giving you the opportunity to read some of my favorites. I recently made a trip to the semi-annual library sale and got a bit carried away when I was looking for prizes.

Rather than having one big giveaway, I wanted to spread the wealth a little more and have multiple prizes. I'll be posting these books up over the next several weeks. They are not brand new, but they are in great condition. 

Here's the first book up for grabs!

I absolutely adored this book. See here for my review.

Fill out the form below to enter the giveaway. A winner will be chosen randomly. The only rule is that you must be a follower of The Kindled Scholar on Blogger to enter. And just for fun, please answer the book question on the form. Do keep in mind that the giveaway is for a gently used copy. Good luck!