Weekly Link Round-Up (March 8)

Here's what I was reading this week.

Conversations

Be sure to congratulate Amy of My Friend Amy on getting a book endorsement published! How cool is that? Then read her post and join in the discussion. Do jacket blurbs and book endorsements influence your decision to read a book? Yea or nay, don't forget to join in the conversation.

I want to be a kid in Carrie's house! She says, "I . . . fix the kids’ breakfast, and while they’re eating, I read aloud to them. It’s a daily ritual that we all love, and I hope will continue for a long time." Go see what she's reading. Then leave a comment at Books and Movies and share your favorite family books.

Things to Read

Did you know that each week Harper Perennial posts a short story on its blog Fifty-Two Stories? Sone of the authors are well known (to me) and other are not. This week the story is by "Carol Windley, from her new story collection, Home Schooling. 'What Saffi Knew' asks questions all children would if we could."

Peter Pnin's site Lilies Lakes and Lonely Lizards offers an audiovisual collection of poems. Poetry lovers should check this out.

Reviews

Jen at Devourer of Books almost didn't read America America by Ethan Canin. But once she started listening to this coming of age story, she found that "Cory was a great character, from an uncertain boy to man who has matured into his role in life." Don't forget to check out what she has to say about the narrator of the book (and don't tell her husband!)

"The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins is, in one word, fantastic," according to Trish of Hey! Lady Watcha Readin’? Read this review with your credit card in hand, because you will be placing an order for the book.

Giveaways

As you know this was the week of the Book Carnival Giveaway Tour. It's not too late to sign up for the contests at Marta's Meaderings. Marta has five (yep, five) books to give away. Look in her sidebar: three contests end tonight but two go for another couple of weeks.

Shelly at Write for a Reader is giving away a copy of Everyone Is Beautiful by Katherine Center. This sounds like an interesting look into contemporary life: "It's about what really happens in a marriage, the emotions that are out there, and the way women feel but are sometimes so afraid to talk about."
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Some of these links were part of a link-sharing group. To find out more, e-mail Amy of My Friend Amy. If you want to do this on your own, feel free to use my button.