Easter Hop and a Giveaway

I can't resist saying "hoppy Easter"! Hosted by Jennifer from Crazy-for-Books, this brilliant BOOK PARTY lasts from April 22 until April 25. It's a fun way for book bloggers to socialize, connect with other book lovers, and discover new book blogs.

Each week, Jennifer presents a question from another blogger. This week's question is from Christina from The Paperback Princesses: If you find a book you love, do you hunt down other books by the same author?

I certainly do. If I love a book, if I truly love the style or content or characters of a book, I will look for other books by that same author. This started many years ago, when I first read J.D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye and then Franny and Zooey, and continues to this day.

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In celebration of having more than 500 followers, I'm hosting a giveaway for a $25 gift certificate to Amazon.com. Because I have readers around the world, my giveaway is international.

• To enter this giveaway, simply leave a comment.
• For another chance at winning, become a follower of this blog, or let me know that you're already a follower, or that you subscribe in Google Reader.
• For an additional chance, post about this contest on your blog, Facebook, or Twitter.

Enter by 5PM PDT on Monday, May 2. One winner will be chosen randomly and announced on Tuesday, May 3. Good luck!

If you're a Hop participant and would like me to stop by your blog, please let me know. If you're entering the giveaway please indicate that in your comment. Happy Easter!

The Winner, Other Giveaways, and Some Bookish Quotes

The winner of the $25 Amazon.com gift card, randomly chosen, is (drum roll, please):

MarthaE!

Congratulations, Martha! I will contact you by email and your prize will be on its way soon.

If you didn't win, don't despair! There are other giveaways on the right side of my blog. To enter them, simply click on the books or the underlined words (links).

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~BOOKISH QUOTES~

Several of you suggested bookish quotes for my blog. I really appreciate the thought that went into these quotes that I collected from readers during the contest:

"Books may well be the only true magic."
~Alice Hoffman
Submitted by Ally in WA

"What really knocks me out is a book that, when you're all done reading it, you wish the author that wrote it was a terrific friend of yours and you could call him up on the phone whenever you felt like it. That doesn't happen much, though."
~Holden Caulfield, The Catcher in the Rye, J.D. Salinger
Submitted by Shooting Stars Mag

"When I start on a printed page, I tend to eat it down like a peppermint stick."
~Preacher's Boy, Katherine Paterson
Submitted by Becky

"I find television to be very educating. Every time somebody turns on the set, I go in the other room and read a book."
~Groucho Marx
Submitted by Serena

"We are pieces of clay that forever show the fingerprints of everyone who has touched them."
~Memoirs of a Geisha, Arthur Golden
Submitted by Mee

"When you learn how to die, you learn how to live."
~Tuesdays with Morrie, Mitch Albom
Submitted by Mee

"Woe be to him who reads but one book."
~George Herbert
Submitted by Jezebelsk

"Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society."
~Mark Twain
Submitted by Renee

"What makes the desert beautiful", says the little prince, "is that somewhere it hides a well."
~The Little Prince, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Submitted by Windycindy

"It's such a big world. Something is always happening somewhere."
~For One More Day, Mitch Albom
Submitted by Michelle

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but the number of moments that take our breath away."
~Unknown author
Submitted by Cheryl C.

"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend; inside a dog is too dark to read."
~Groucho Marx
Submitted by Kaye

"You can never be too thin, too rich, or have too many books."
~Carter Burden
Submitted by Angie

"The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who can't read them."
~Mark Twain
Submitted by MarthaE

Aren't these wonderful? Special thanks to each of you for submitting them. They'll be featured on my blog in the future.

Lori's Comments

Today's post will be an easy one to write!  I'll simply respond to Lori's comments.  For some reason, she couldn't comment directly on the blog, so she sent me an email as follows:

"It has been too long since I read The Catcher in the Rye for me to comfortably comment on it. When I am ready for another serious book I might return to that. I will tell you, though, that I have frequently read two books at one time when one of those requires a lot of deep thought (or translating into current phrases). I have been reading Dicken's Bleak House. When I am tired or under the weather, I find myself putting it down for much lighter reading. The danger is sometimes I don't go back to it soon enough and have to reread the past chapter. Books, such as West From Home, I find are enjoyable to keep in the car when I am waiting for kids since each passage is small and simple. They can easily be interrupted without losing the train of thought. I find that I am more likely to share with the kids a fun fact or quote at that time. Most of my serious reading is at night and I find I don't share that as often. I read late into the night last night so could finish my current book because I am so excited to start the Mulvaney book. (And yes, feel free to call me Lori in your blog.)"

Thanks for taking the time to comment and share your thoughts, Lori!

Last night I tried to finish The Catcher in the Rye but my eyes just wouldn't cooperate--I was too tired. (This is a recurring problem; by the time I'm finally able to read, I'm ready for sleep.) I'm also excited to start reading something "lighter". West From Home is next on my list. I often bring a book in my car, too, to read while I'm waiting for my kids. It's a great way to do a little reading.

The Catcher in the Rye

Truth be told, I'll be a bit relieved to finish reading The Catcher in the Rye, because it is hard to read about someone else's anguish, although it's written in a sardonic manner and the brilliance of the writer is evident. According to Wikipedia, this book has been linked to the man who assassinated John Lennon, Mark David Chapman, who was carrying the book when he was arrested after the murder, and referred to it in his statement. John Hinckley, Jr., who attempted to assassinate President Reagan in 1981, was supposedly obsessed with this book. However, the book has sold over 65 million copies, so a few crimes "linked" to it do not mean that it should be banned. It just happens to be a popular book, assigned in many in high schools and colleges as required reading and therefore read by many over the years. The censorship it received only helped to popularize it, most likely. It does not advocate drinking and smoking or other "depraved" behaviors; if anything, Holden's "downward spiral" tells us not to follow his path.

Holden Caulfield

I am well into The Catcher in the Rye. I'm getting to know Holden Caulfield fairly well, as he expresses his innermost thoughts, including his dislike of many people, although he adores his younger sister, Phoebe, who is ten years old. About her he says, "You never saw a little kid so pretty and smart in your whole life. She's really smart. I mean she's had all A's ever since she's started school. As a matter of fact, I'm the only one who's dumb in the whole family." He also thinks she's a wonderful dancer. His affection for his sister is touching. Although Holden is a self-proclaimed liar, his thoughts are true and honest, and his feelings are real and complex. This novel is an attempt to present the unfiltered, uncensored thoughts of a young man. (There is some crude language and profanity in the book, which led to having it censored in high schools initially. After that, and maybe because of that, everyone wanted to read it.) As a female, it's interesting to be "inside" of a male brain. Very interesting.

Book Nerd

My blog will elicit many yawns, unless you really love reading and books. Then you'll understand, you' ll "get it". If you 're a book nerd like me, if you feel there's nothing better than to read a book, then we share this passion; I hope you' ll subscribe to this blog, or at least "visit" often.

I've been so happy that the days have been cool and gray lately, because that's perfect reading weather. (Of course, when it's sunny you can go out with a cap and sunglasses and enjoy some sun and prose at the same time.)

Today I went to the bookstore (my candy store) and found a great little reading light which clips onto your book for help with night reading. I can't wait to try it! I also bought a book for a friend, and a classic book for myself, The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger. I read it in high school and intend to read it again, as soon as I finish a couple of other books.