Search Results for: book club

I have to admit this: I have a girl crush on Alisa Valdes. She is the author of The Dirty Girls Social Club, a book that came out in 2004 but I was just recently introduced to. In fact, I met Alisa at the Lifestyle Bloggers Conference in April and I was smitten. She is one of those women you meet and you instantly want to be her best friend. The reason she was at the Conference was to share her passion for bringing her best-selling book to the movie screen. Not an easy task.

First… about the book. The Dirty Girls Social Club is the story of 6 friends, all Latinas, who met in college and developed a long-lasting friendship over the years. As with any group of women, there are troubled relationships, rising (and falling) careers, and a variety of family dynamics. The women are all from different backgrounds, and the fact that they are all Latina mirrors the melting pot that is America. Dark skin, light skin, religious differences and socio-economic differences go far in illustrating that stereotypes are just that… stereotypes.

The story of bringing this amazing book to screen is a movie in of itself. Although many Hollywood producers were interested, they all had their own ideas of what a group of Latina women should be portrayed as. None of them had the same vision as Alisa, who stuck to her guns and was determined to make the movie SHE wanted.

Her vision is strong and the characters in the book deserve to be portrayed as they were written. The descriptions are so vivid that it’s hard not to visually see them standing before you. This is a book that deserves to be a movie. It’s a book that demands to be.

So, Alisa is doing what any great writer would do… she has started a Kickstarter Campaign to raise funds to make the kind of movie the book deserves. I know, I know… who has extra money to throw at someone making a movie? Well, think about what it’s like to have a passion for something and really (REALLY) need the money to make it happen. Wouldn’t you want someone to take a chance on you? Believe in your dream? If you could meet Alisa and hear her story, I know you would believe in it as well.

If you haven’t read the book yet, I recommend you do. It’s now on my list of favorites. And I’d love if you consider donating to the Kickstarter campaign. I’m donating because I really want to see these characters on the big screen. I’m also donating because I want Alisa to be able to realize her dream. And because I have a girl crush. She’s all that and a bag of chips.

Want to learn more about Alisa and her campaign to turn The Dirty Girls Social Club into a movie? You can listen online on Friday, June 21 at 12:30pm for The Lifestyle Bloggers Talk Show when Alisa will be the first guest.

 

Is it really only Thursday? I was hoping I’d wake up this morning and it would magically be Friday. This has been a rough week - lots of stress. Things are dying down but I was getting that overwhelming feeling again and decided I had to unplug for a while.

Last night, I turned off the laptop and cell phone and crawled into my bed to read a book. I love to read. I love books. No Kindle or Nook or iPad for me. I need paper in my hands in order to be happy. There is nothing like reading a good book, turning the paper pages and smelling the binding. It’s the single most relaxing thing I do. For me, a cup of coffee (or glass of wine) and a book is heaven.

Blogging has definitely put a kink into my reading. I find that if I have a few minutes I end up writing instead of reading. A valuable way to spend time for sure, but I really miss reading. There is something about becoming completely absorbed in a story that isn’t your own that brings your own life into perspective.

I’ve been fortunate to belong to a book club for 8 years. We take turns each month suggesting a book. This month the selection was “The Story of Beautiful Girl” by Rachel Simon. I read half of the book last night because I couldn’t put it down. This isn’t a book review since I haven’t finished it yet, but as I look at the stack of books piling up that I want to read… I need to remember how much we all need to unplug every now and then. Turn off the computers and cell phones and TV and just do something that makes us forget all the stress of daily life.

Want a good book to read? I’d be happy to suggest one. And if you have a book you loved and would recommend to me, I’d really love to hear about it.

 

Another book review. But not just any book review. This is a book I actively tracked down. Wrote the author and begged for a chance to read it. I did. I LOVED IT!

Picture Los Angeles far into the future. The United States no longer exists. It’s the Republic of America now. Picture two teenagers, both highly intelligent, one a military prodigy and the other a wanted criminal. They are heading on a collision course and when they meet, the Country will never again be the same.

There is a funny story about how I came across the book Legend, by Marie Lu. I am part of a book club that I started 8 years ago and is still going strong. At one of our monthly meetings, a friend was telling me about an author she recently emailed. She was so excited that she had gotten a return email from her that she wanted to share her news. That author was Marie Lu. Now, I have a huge respect for authors… probably because I’ll never be one… and I happen to think they are some of the nicest people around. I looked her up.

Marie had just written a new Young Adult book called Legend, the first in a trilogy, not unlike The Hunger Games trilogy. From what I could read it was destined to be the hottest new thing on the horizon. I had to read it.

I emailed Marie myself and she graciously allowed me to read and review the book.

As excited as I was reading the Twilight series and as excited I was about reading The Hunger Games… I was just as excited reading Legend. I was drawn in from page one. Legend has everything that makes a great book series. Intrigue, illness, murder, rich v. poor, politics. Reading about the state of our Country in the future hit a nerve with the events that are going on with our political system today.

I love the reaction I get when I tell people I’m reading a “Young Adult” novel. They look at me like I’m crazy. I look at them and laugh because they don’t know what they’re missing. This is the description of the book from the website, Legend The Series.

The flooded coast of former Los Angeles. Two warring nations of North America—the Republic and the Colonies.

Born into an elite family in one of the Republic’s wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy. Obedient, passionate, and committed to her country, she is being groomed for success in the Republic’s highest military circles.

Born into the slums of the Republic’s Lake Sector, fifteen-year-old Day is the country’s most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious
as they seem.

From different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths—until the day June’s brother is murdered. And Day becomes the prime suspect. Now, caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family’s survival while June tries desperately to avenge her brother’s death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together and the sinister lengths their country will go to in order to keep its secrets.

I was so giddy reading this book. One, because it’s fabulous. Two, because I was reading something that I know is destined to be a huge success. And just in case you are jumping 10 steps ahead (like I am), the book is going to be made into a movie. But don’t wait for the film… pre-order your copy and READ IT! Marie is already working on Book #2 and I am jumping up and down hoping she’ll let me read this as well.

Yes, it’s going on my Favorite Books list.

It’s not often I get so excited about a book, much less a series. This is it! I’m hooked!

I received an advanced copy of Legend to review. I was not compensated in any other way and all opinions are entirely my own.