Friday Finds #35

Friday Finds is a book meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. Friday Finds is a chance to share and show off the books you discovered during the week and would like to add to your reading list...

Or a place to simply feature the books you've actually purchased throughout the week and have added to your to be read pile!

I once again visited the Audible website and have downloaded six unabridged audio books for the low price of $6.90! Gotta love their low prices and immediate delivery of the audio books to my Kindle for my listening pleasure!

So here's what I downloaded from Audible:

1. The Fault of the Stars by John Green
2. The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton
3. I'm Dreaming of an Undead Christmas by Molly Harper
4. The Booktaker: A Nameless Detective Mystery by Bill Pronzini
5. The Valentine Wedding Dress by Sherryl Woods
6. Oh Whistle and I'll Come to You, My Lad by M. R. James

So, which books did you add to your wishlist and/or reading list this week? Were any of them audio books?

Oh Whistle and I'll Come to You, My Lad by M. R. James

I really enjoyed listening to the unabridged short story Oh Whistle and I'll Come to You, My Lad by M. R. James and read by actor, David Suchet. I actually downloaded this audio short story from Audible recently. It's fifty minutes in length.

This is the first time I've read or listened to anything written by M. R. James and was impressed with his writing. Oh Whistle and I'll Come to You, My Lad is an engaging ghost story. I'm usually not into ghost stories (or the horror genre) in general, but this was a good one. It was well written and well read with good characters and nice story. I was pleasantly surprised by the story.

The plot summary for Oh Whistle and I'll Come to You, My Lad on Audible as follows:

The story tells the tale of an introverted academic who happens upon a strange whistle while exploring a cemetery on the East Anglian coast. When blown, the whistle unleashes a supernatural force that terrorises its discoverer. 

Montague Rhodes James was a noted British mediaeval scholar and provost of King's College, Cambridge (1905–1918) and of Eton College (1918–1936). He is best remembered for his ghost stories which are widely regarded as among the finest in English literature.
One of James' most important achievements was to redefine the ghost story for the new century by dispensing with many of the formal Gothic trappings of his predecessors, and replacing them with more realistic contemporary settings. 

"Montague Rhodes James has an intelligent and scientific knowledge of human nerves and feelings; and knows just how to apportion statement, imagery, and subtle suggestions in order to secure the best results with his readers." HP Lovecraft. 

Actor David Suchet is best known for his definitive portrayal of Hercule Poirot, the Belgian detective created by the legendary mystery author Agatha Christie, in a number of international television productions. He narrates his story in Poirot and Me.

I'm giving Oh Whistle and I'll Come to You, My Lad by M. R. James a rating of 8 stars out of 10 stars! 

Until my next post, happy reading!

The Valentine Wedding Dress by Sherryl Woods

Unabridged Short Story

I listened to 'The Valentine Wedding Dress' by Sherryl Woods and read by Elenna Stauffer. 'The Valentine Wedding Dress' is an unabridged short story and is 38 minutes in length.

I enjoyed listening to this short story. I thought it was well read by Ms. Stauffer. It was a simple story really and one about the destiny of love and the start of a budding romance.

Here is the plot summary of 'The Valentine Wedding Dress' from Audible:

Drawn to an old trunk in the attic, Lara Calhoun is unable to resist finding out what treasure her late, beloved mother had kept hidden away for all these years. Her unexpected discovery soon turns her world upside down and makes her second-guess everything she's ever believed about her mother and about love. Will it lead her straight into Dave Lafferty's arms, or make her turn away from the love of a lifetime?

Until my next post, happy reading!! 

I've been nominated for a Liebster Award!

To my sheer delight I have been nominated for the Liebster Award by Casey at Story Notions. Thank you so much, Casey for nominating my blog, Captivated Reader, for a Liebster Award!! I feel honored that another book blogging peer liked my blog enough to nominate it for this award! 

Quite frankly, I'd never even heard of the Liebster Award before. So, I did a little research of my own and discovered varying information about the Leibster Award, the origins of the Liebster Award & its rules.

The Basic Rules of the Leibster Award are as follows:

1. Thank the person who nominated you and post a link to their blog in your blog post. 

2. Display an image of the Liebster Award in your blog post.

2. Share 11 random facts about yourself.

3. Answer 11 questions provided to you by the person who nominated you.

4. Nominate 5-11 blogs that you feel deserve the award and have less than 300 followers.

5. Create a new list of 11 questions for the bloggers you've nominated to answer.

6. Let the bloggers you've nominated know you've nominated them.

7. List the rules for the Leibster Award in your post.


11 Facts About Me:

1. My love for reading books began as a toddler when my mom use to read Babar the Elephant stories to me and other children's books. I thank my mom for my love of reading!
2. I was born, raised and have lived most of my life in California.
3. I have a BA in Russian from the University of Iowa.
4. I've been an active member of Bookcrossing since 2008 and actively participate in the Bookcrossing forums. I've enjoyed exchanging books with readers around the world.
5. I've been a World Book Night Giver the past three years in a row and have enjoyed passing out books to other people in my local community.
6. I'm happily married to the love of life and we have been married for 12 years now.
7. I'm an only child and have no children of my own. I'm close to my family.
8. My most exotic vacation was one I took with my husband in 2012 for our 10 year wedding anniversary. We sailed through the Panama Canal and had a blast visiting cities in Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Panama, and Colombia.
9. My husband & I started geocaching together in May 2005 and it's a hobby we enjoy doing together.
10. I've lived near the Pacific Ocean most of my life.
11. I enjoy visiting zoos, aquariums, museums, historical sites, botanical gardens, parks, beaches and cultural/theatrical events (like plays, musical events, symphony performances, ballet performances, etc.)


Casey's Questions For Me:


1. When did you start blogging? And why did you start?

I began my book blog on January 1, 2012! 

I've been a life long lover of reading books and wanted to share my passion for books and reading with the world at large. But I didn't want my blog to be solely filled with book reviews of the books I've read. So, I have included posts about the independent bookstores I visit, author signing events I've attend, book related quotes, book memes, and anything book related I came across from literary awards, book news, etc. 

Another reason I started my book blog was to connect with other readers and bloggers... Little did I know how much fun it would be to interact with other readers and bloggers around the world. I've really enjoyed discovering new book blogs as well as participating in book memes, read-a-thons, reading challenges and so on! 


2. What's the last book you reread? And why did you reread it? 

Well, I recently listened to the audio version of a short story written by Guy De Maupassant titled 'The Necklace' that I had originally read in high school for an English class. I had decided to listen to the audio version as I had remembered liking this short story when I'd first read it all those years ago.... Too many years ago to count!

3. Favorite TV/movie? (that isn't based on a book)

I like lot of different movies and television shows, but my recent favorite television show is 'Breaking Bad'. I've seen the entire series and loved watching it!! Too bad it's over as it was a fabulous series!!

4. Book/series that changed/influenced your life the most.

A tough question, but a good one at that... Which book has changed or influenced my life the most??? There are so many books that I've read over the years that have changed or influenced my life and my thinking for the better in some way, large or small.

However, I'd have to say that Mind Over Medicine: Scientific Proof That You Can Heal Yourself by Lissa Rankin MD, has made the most impact on my life recently. I listened to the unabridged audio version of 'Mind Over Medicine' late last year and it became one of my favorite books of 2013. I've been having some health related issues for almost a year now and it has been one scary, daunting journey for me to deal with my symptoms. Overcoming the stress, fear, and anxiety that come along with dealing with a health issue and how to move forward in a positive direction has been a big issue for me personally.

After reading 'Mind Over Medicine' by Lissa Rankin MD, I felt empowered and have a new perspective of the healing process/journey. Now moving forward doesn't seem quite so scary or overwhelming. I'm currently taking small, baby steps to move forward towards optimal health. Life is good!!

5. Fandoms you're apart of and your 'favorite'.

Sure, I'm a fan of certain genres, authors, books and many other things aside from reading.... But I am not part if any fan clubs if that is what you mean. 

6. Hogwarts house.

Gryffindor!!

7. Weird reading habits or needs to be able to read?

No weird reading habits for me. I just like to be sitting in a comfortable place/position with adequate lighting and have the temperature be just right... Not too hot or too cold. So, reading at home in bed, sitting on the sofa, on a bench at the park or beach... Or even a coffee/tea house all work for me. 

In the past, I've enjoyed drinking hot tea (preferably organic jasmine green tea sweetened with stevia) or coffee with sweetened hazelnut creamer.... These days, however, I simply focus on my reading and skip the beverages!

8. Favorite book that was, at some point, 'required reading' for any reason.

'A Hero of Our Time' by Mikhail Lermontov. I had to read this novel for a Russian Literature class in college and it is now one of my favorite books of all time... I've read it 3 or 4 times now.

9. What is your OTP (couple you most like/want together)? And what is your NOTP (two characters you should never be together romantically, in your opinion)?

Not sure about this question... I couldn't come up with an answer for it.

10. Do you like ebooks? How often do you read one? Do you have an ereader?

Yes, I like eBooks! I've owned and used a Kindle quite regularly since 2008 and have upgraded to newer Kindles as time has gone by over the years. I vary my Kindle use though as I still read physical books and also still listen to books on compact disc... I'm also beginning to listen to more books from Audible.com this year as well. 

As a side note, I've become quite addicted to audio books the past few years and have actually listened to more books this year than read books.

11. What author, whose alive, do you most wish to meet and why?

Oh, that's a difficult question to answer! Let's see, there are three authors I'd really like to meet that come to mind immediately --- Diana Gabaldon, Maya Angelou, and Sherman Alexie. 

I've read many of Diana Gabaldon's novels and have enjoyed them very much. I think she'd be a neat person to meet. 

I love Maya Angelou's poetry and memoirs. I've heard Maya Angelou speak before a live audience twice in my life and enjoyed hearing her speak. She's filled with so much wisdom and knowledge that I'd love to meet her in person.

I loved reading Sherman Alexie's novel The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian and fell in love with his writing. I'd love to met the person behind the writing.

I Nominate the Following Book Blogs for the Liebster Award:

Bookish Realm
Cold Tea & Crumbs
Geeky Chiquitas
Literature Martini
My Reading List


Here are my 11 questions for you:

When did your love for reading books begin?

Where's your favorite place to read? Do you have any favorite foods/snacks or beverages that you eat or drink while reading?? Or do you solely focus on the book you're reading?

Nostalgic question for you! What was your favorite book growing up?

Do you have an all time favorite book & why is it special to you?

Name the last book you reread!

Do you like attending literary events (book signings/book festivals, etc.)? If so, share with us a favorite literary event you've attended!

If you were to host a dinner party and could invite any author(s) to attend your dinner party, from the past or present, who would you invite and why?

Which fictional character (from a novel) would you most like to meet in real life?

What has been the best experience you've had as a book blogger?

Do you participate in weekly book memes, online read-a-thons, reading challenges, etc? If so, which one is your favorite one to participate in?

What do you enjoy doing for fun when you aren't blogging and reading?

Good luck and have fun with the Liebster Award!! I look forward to reading your comments below!

Which Books Changed How We Feel About Ourselves As Women?

Huffington Post always has some excellent articles on books and reading... In fact, I came across one such article last weekend titled 18 Books That Changed How We Felt About Ourselves As Women by Alanna Vagianos. In her article, Ms. Vagianos writes:

As any book lover knows, reading provides an ability to escape. Whether it's for a few minutes before bed, on the hour-long bus ride to work or even a full day under the sun -- books and the stories they hold are a driving force for creativity, growth and (almost always) relaxation.

Novels allow us to visit places, time periods and states of mind we never thought possible. Often these stories and their characters change how we see ourselves and put us on a completely new path.

It's no surprise that women are big readers, contributing to 64 percent of book sales. With these statistics in mind (and our own healthy addiction to reading), we asked the HuffPost editors and our Facebook audience which books shaped the way they thought about themselves as young women. And while we couldn't fit all of the amazing books on this list, we've rounded up 18 that have made life-changing impressions on our community. 

Click on the link at the top of this post to read which books changed how women feel about themselves! 

Which books changed how you felt about yourself as a woman?

Clair De Lune & The Necklace by Guy de Maupassant

Short Stories

I had fun listening to two short stories recently titled Clair De Lune and The Necklace by Guy de Maupassant & read by Josie Jackson.

Both stories were enjoyable to listen to although, I enjoyed The Necklace more than Clair De Lune.

My only complaint with this audio recording is that the audio quality wasn't great. The recording kind of sounded like the reader was speaking through a tin can. As far as the reader goes, I thought Josie Jackson was so-so. She wasn't a poor reader, nor great. Just middle of road as far as readers go. The stories were good, but would have been better had the recording quality was better and perhaps a different reader as well.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

The Body in the Library by Agatha Christie

Unabridged Audiobook

I've been an Agatha Christie fan for most of my life. I started reading her novels and short stories while in high school and continues to read some of her novels in my early twenties.

Somehow, I must have missed reading The Body in the Library by Agatha Christie... But then again, I've always been more of a Hercule Poirot fan than a Miss Marple fan.... Don't get me wrong, I like Miss Marple, but I've always liked Hercule Poirot much more. Anyway, I listened to the unabridged audio version of The Body in the Library by Agatha Christie and read by Stephanie Cole.

I really enjoyed the storyline and characters in The Body in the Library. I didn't guess the killer or why they did the murder until the ending when the details were unfolded. Agatha Christie is the undisputed queen of misdirection! She truly has a knack for storytelling and how to present mystery stories in an engaging fashion that captivate readers young and old. I also felt that Stephanie Cole did a nice job of reading The Body in the Library as she brought the characters and story to life.

Here's the plot summary as follows from Audible website:

It's seven in the morning. The Bantrys wake to find the body of a young woman in their library.She is wearing an evening dress and heavy makeup, which is now smeared across her cheeks. But who is she? How did she get there? And what is the connection with another dead girl, whose charred remains are later discovered in an abandoned quarry? The respectable Bantrys invite Miss Marple to solve the mystery... before tongues start to wag.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Happy California Bookstore Day!!

Calling all Californians..... Today Is the Day to Celebrate California Bookstore Day!!

Just what are we celebrating?

Independent bookstores are not just stores, they’re community centers and local anchors run by passionate readers. They are entire universes of ideas that contain the possibility of real serendipity. They are lively performance spaces and quiet places where aimless perusal is a day well spent.

Indie bookstores, whether dusty and labyrinthine or clean and well-lighted, are not just stores, they are solutions. They hold the key to your love life, your career, and your passions. Walking the aisles of a good bookstore means stumbling upon a novel from India that expands your heart. It’s encountering an art book that changes the direction of your life. It’s the joy of having a perfect stranger steer you toward the perfect book.

In a world of tweets and algorithms and pageless digital downloads, bookstores are not a dying anachronism.  They are living, breathing organisms that continue to grow and expand. In fact, there are more of them this year than there were last year. And they are at your service.
Find the nearest California Bookstore Day event to you.

Friday Finds #34

Friday Finds is a book meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. Friday Finds is a chance to share and show off the books you discovered during the week and would like to add to your reading list...

Or a place to simply feature the books you've actually purchased throughout the week and have added to your to be read pile!

This week I received a $10 Audible.com coupon, so I used it to buy the unabridged version of Agatha Christie's novel The Body in the Library. I look forward to listening to this audiobook as I'm an Agatha Christie fan.

Until my next post, happy reading!

Quiz: Who Wrote It First?

I found an article in the LA Times titled Quiz: Who Wrote It First? by Carolyn Kellogg. In her article, Kellogg writes:

In the new book "Authorisms: Words Wrought by Writers" (Bloomsbury, 240 pages, $18) Paul Dickson provides a glossary of familiar terms -- more than 1,700 -- all coined by literary figures. Do you know your bookish etymology? Take our quiz.

Click on the above link to test your knowledge! I didn't do so well and only scored 40% on the quiz. 

I'm interested in checking out Paul Dickson's book "Authorisms: Words Wrought by Writers" to find out which familiar terms were coined by which famous literary figures.