Book Blogger Hop -Guilty Pleasures!

Be sure to check out the host of Book Blogger Hop, Crazy for Books.

This week's question is:

Outside of books, what is your guilty pleasure?
When I read guilty pleasure, I instantly though of Air Supply. That's right, the ballads that your parents used to listen to. "All Out of Love", "Two Less Lonely People in the World", "Here I am (the One that You Love)", and other song dreched in tears and served with a side of heartache. I LOVE listening to these songs.

Anyway, what's your guilty pleasure?

Love and (a book) light,

~Dorothy

Spring Library Book Sale -Part 2!

As promised, I went back for round 2 of the Spring Library Book Sale. (See part 1 here.) Again, I got great  finds! 

Haul Part 2:

1. The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley

2. The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield

3. Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

4. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

5. Love the One You're With by Emily Giffin

This time, I got some books that I wouldn't normally have picked up. I've heard mixed reviews about Eat, Pray, Love, but I decided to formulate my own opinion on it (and for $2 a book, why not?). I've also heard great things about The Alchemist, but I got this more for my husband, B. He doesn't read a lot of fiction, but Herman Hesse's Siddhartha is one of his favorite books. I thought he might like The Alchemist, as they are both about journeys of self discovery. I'm sure I'll eventually get to it as well.

The Thirteenth Tale has been on my to-read list for a while now, so I was incredibly excited to see it at the sale. Of course, everyone needs some guilty pleasures -thus Love the One You're With. ;)

The one I'm most excited about is probably The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie. I love mysteries, and with a 11-year-old female heroine, this one is bound to be a good read.

There you have it -my 2-day library book haul. I enjoyed it so much that I may be back tomorrow for part 3. (Teehee!) 

Love and (a book) light,

~Dorothy

Follow Friday

I've joined Follow Friday hosted by Parajunkee. It's another great way to meet other book bloggers. This week's Follow Friday question is:

Do you judge a book by its cover?
To some extent, yes. First impressions last, and the same goes for books. This doesn't mean I won't read anything with an ugly cover, it just means that there have been many times where the artwork draws me to the book before anything else does. Sometimes I'll look at a book at Barnes & Noble because the cover caught my eye. I may not buy that book that day, but I will inevitably pick it up every time during the next couple visits to BN, at which point I eventually cave and get it. The same thing happens when I'm browsing through Amazon eBooks for my Kindle. An aesthetically pleasing cover makes the book that much more enjoyable. It doesn't have to be beautiful necessarily; it just has to have a element of intrigue. Below are a couple examples of covers that drew me in before I even knew what the book was about.



{I was drawn to the textured cover of this one}




{intriguing, yes?}



{the unconventional font and placement of the letters tell a story in and of themselves}

Happy Friday!!!

Love and (a book) light,

~Dorothy

Spring Library Book Sale!

The only Semi-annual sale that evokes more excitement from me than the Victoria's Secret Semi-annual sale is the book sale at our local library.

The Spring sale started today and goes until Sunday. During my lunch break, I snuck over to the library and picked up some great finds. Each fiction paperback cost $2. They usually reduce the price to $1 during the last two days of the sale, but it's best to go early on to get a chance at the best books. Don't worry, I will definitely be back on Saturday for part 2 (and possibly Sunday, too!).

Here's part 1 of my haul:
1. The Shack by Wm. Paul Young
2. The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
3. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
4. The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
5. Wicked by Gregory McGuire

{one thing I miss having on the Kindle is the cover artwork}

{I was immediately drawn to the artwork of this book}

Like you saw in one of my previous posts, I LOVE my Kindle, but I still buy paperbacks from time to time. Plus, who can resist a good deal?

Love and (a book) light,

~Dorothy

Throwback Thursday -Encyclopedia Brown -Boy Detective

It's that time of the week! This week's Throwback Thursday features Encyclopedia Brown -Boy Detective.

I loved this series! Encyclopedia Brown was the son of the local police chief who would often solve mysteries for his father. What I loved most about it was that the reader had an opportunity to solve the mysteries and check them in the "Answers" section. This may have been where my love for mystery books blossomed; I've moved on to Agatha Christie and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, but Encyclopedia Brown is where it all started. I highly recommend this series to any of you who have kids.

I am loving the Throwback Thursday series so far. I've really enjoyed digging into the memories of my childhood and finding something to share with you all.

Love and (a book) light,

~Dorothy

A Reflection on Snow Flower and the Secret Fan

Spoiler Rating: 3/5 No major spoilers, but read at your own risk.


As I mentioned in the Introductions post, I don't like to view these blurbs as reviews but as reflections. Such a commitment is that much easier when the writing is flawless, brilliant, and above critique. (Okay, that did sound a bit like a review, but that's as much as I'll ever say.) That being said, I was absolutely moved by this novel. 


You know how there are characters that you get attached to in a book, and by the end you feel like they're your best friend? Lily is that character. You follow her as she recounts her life of sorrow and tragedy, friendship and betrayal. She takes you to 19th century China with vivid images of the culture and society and the secret language of Nushu. You find yourself stepping into a different time and place with such ease and familiarity that we all seek in a book. 
Lily's friendship with Snow Flower is one of the most highly regarded relationships that one could have in their culture. They were matched at a young age, and their lives are forever intertwined. Together, they encounter deaths of loved ones, footbinding, marriage, famines, and war. 


My heart broke many times during this novel. I usually get emotionally invested in whatever book I'm reading, but the tragedy and sorrow of reality in this piece was especially moving. It is written as Lily's reflection of her whole life (which you learn within the first couple pages), and this perspective added another emotional element. It made me think of what I would say when I'm old and trying to write a story about my life. What things would stand out? What events would matter? What would I regret? I'm glad that I was able to take a step back, and see my life through Lily's eyes.


This book is for you if: you like learning about different times and cultures, and if you are moved by the power of friendship.

Introducing Sublime Sunday -Chocolate Anyone?

Here comes another new weekly series: Sublime Sundays. Here, you can glimpse a part of my life that does not necessarily involve books. I decided at the start of this year that I was going to look for the sublime in every day, whether it's in the beauty of a sunset or a sassy 7.5 oz. can of Coke Zero.

This Sunday, I found the sublime in 100 calorie dark chocolate bars from Trader Joe's. I am trying to eat healthier these days, which is not easy since I have a HUGE sweet tooth. These dark chocolate bars satisfy my sweet cravings in just a couple bites without the processed junk that comes in cupcakes and donuts.

{find these at your local Trader Joe's}

Plus, what it said on the back is perfect for Sublime Sunday.

{exquisite pleasures come in small packages}

I hope you try to find the sublime in each day!

Love and (a book) light,

~Dorothy