Going To Visit My Sisters

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I will be offline and may pop in, but I will be enjoying some sister time from May 24 until the first week in June.

Scheduled posts will publish, but I may not be replying or visiting blogs.

I also may not be participating in the weekly memes that haven't been pre-scheduled.

Happy Reading and Blogging!!

Giveaway and Spotlight of Touch by Courtney Maum

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ALL INFORMATION IN THIS POST IS COURTESY OF THE PUBLISHER

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QUICK TAKE ON THE BOOK

Sloane Jacobsen is a leading trend forecaster. Fashion, lifestyle, tech, and other global companies pay to hear her opinions on the future of everything from clothes to gadgets, food and families. But not far into her current contract with the tech-giant Mammoth, she finds herself wanting to overturn her own predications. Sloane begins to sense a growing movement against electronics that will see people embracing compassion, empathy, and "in-personism" again. While hopelessly out of sync with her employer's mission (and her partner’s opinion), Sloane becomes convinced that her instincts are the right ones, and goes on a quest to bring humanism and compassion to others, while finally allowing the love and connectedness she's long been denying herself. TOUCH is a poignant reminder to keep our heads up and our hearts open in our modern lives – and is a thoughtful, of-the-moment exploration of real-life concerns that explores prescient issues of technology, family, and artificial intelligence with Courtney Maum’s signature biting wit and keen eye.

Courtney Maum is the author of the novel I Am Having So Much Fun Here Without You and the chapbook “Notes from Mexico.” Her short fiction, book reviews, and essays on the writing life have been widely published in outlets such as The New York Times, Tin House, Electric Literature, and Buzzfeed, and she has co-written films that have debuted at Sundance and won awards at Cannes. At various points in her life, she has been a trend forecaster, a fashion publicist, and a party promoter for Corona Extra. She currently works as a product namer for M·A·C cosmetics from her home in Litchfield County, CT.

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WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT THE BOOK

"Sweet and funny. . . A sharp yet feeling satire, Touch bristles with insights into the longing for warm, messy, inefficient, and imperfect human life buried in our increasingly streamlined, disembodied now."—Interview

"A satirical but sincere look at our thirst for 'in-personism.”—Departures

”[A] trenchant satirical novel . . . Maum has such an incisive grasp of where tech and culture meet that she could add sociologist to her resume . . . A perceptive, thought-provoking read.”

—Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

“With a weirdly nurturing driverless car, a family emergency, a sexy art director, and wrenching and hilarious confrontations and meltdowns, Maum’s incisive, charming, and funny novel ebulliently champions the healing powers of touch, the living world, and love in all its crazy risks, surprises, and sustaining radiance.” —Booklist, Starred Review

"Maum perfectly captures the zeitgeist of our era as technology battles with humanity. Her thought-provoking, humorous book will inspire readers to forgo the electronics and get back to basics as simple as human touch."—Library Journal

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Drawing on her own professional experience as a trend forecaster and product namer for M·A·C cosmetics, Courtney Maum (I Am Having So Much Fun Here Without You) brings enormous authenticity, humor, and timeliness to her story, examining the salient issues of technology, family, and artificial intelligence in a sophisticated and entertaining way. Among the most pressing questions Maum raises is: Can our humanity save our inhumanity? The idea that personal electronics have allowed us to distance ourselves from what matters most—our relationships with our families, friends, co-workers, neighbors, and fellow human beings—is now widespread. But how do we break the electronic chains that have come to shackle us? More importantly, why should we want to? Displaying the same blend of wit, compassion, and sincerity that won Maum’s debut novel so many fans, TOUCH will only enhance her growing reputation as a radiant new literary voice—a natural storyteller with a distinctive perspective and a hilariously keen eye for social observation.

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Courtney maum on tour for touch

Washington, DC – East City Bookshop, in-conversation with Jennifer Close, author of The Hopefuls – Tuesday, 5/30 at 6:30 PM

Houston, TX – Brazos Bookstore, in-conversation with Alyson Ward, Books Editor at The Houston Chronicle – Wednesday, 5/31 at 7 PM

Wichita, KS – Watermark Books & Cafe – Thursday, 6/1 at 6 PM

Saint Paul, MN – SubText Books – Friday, 6/2 at 7 PM

Corte Madera, CA – Book Passage –Saturday, 6/3 at 7:00 PM

Oakland, CA – DIESEL, A Bookstore – Sunday, 6/4 at 3 PM

Seattle, WA – Elliott Bay Book Company – Monday, 6/5 at 12:00 PM

Portland, OR – Powell’s City of Books, in-conversation with Samantha Hess, professional cuddler – Monday, 6/5 at 7:30 PM

Ann Arbor, MI – Literati Bookstore, in-conversation with Callie Collins, Co-Director of A Strange Object independent press – Tuesday, 6/6 at 7:00 PM

New York, NY – Summer Reads Panel at the Bryant Park Reading Room – Wednesday, 6/7 at 12:30 PM

Brooklyn, NY – WORD at Villain, panel discussion – Wednesday, 6/7 at 7:00 PM

Madison, CT – R.J. Julia Booksellers, joint event with Julia Fierro, author of The Gypsy Moth Summer – Thursday, 6/8 at 7:00 PM

Chattanooga, TN – Starline Books – Friday, 6/9 at 6:00 PM

Norfolk, CT – The Norfolk Library with Oblong Books, in-conversation with Jane Larkworthy, beauty expert – Sunday, 6/18 at 2:00 PM

 

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GIVEAWAY

**Partnering with Putnam Books to give away a copy of TOUCH**

USA ONLY

May 23 to May 30

Enter Here 

Off The Topic of Books - Delicious Rolls

I made these delicious rolls today.  

Oh my...they are soft with a bit of a crusty top.

I just wish I could figure out how to get them to turn out this way all the time.

I actually think it depends on the weather.

I ate one hot out of the oven with butter.  YUM.

It's Monday! What Are YOU Reading? - 5/22/2017

   

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I hope you had a great reading week.  

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This is a weekly meme hosted by Kathryn at BOOK DATE!

Post the books completed, the books you are currently reading, and the books you hope to finish at some point.

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Books Completed

YOU'LL NEVER KNOW, DEAR by Hallie Ephron - review will be on June 6 - finished May 18.

A good mystery.

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BEFORE THE RAIN FALLS by Camille Di Maio - a BEAUTIFUL BOOK.  

Review is in the book's title. Finished May 12.

I saw this book on Suzy Approved Book Reviews and knew I HAD to read it.  LOVED this book.

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NOT A SOUND by Heather Gudenkauf - review is in the book's title - finished May 8.

Suspense fans won't want to miss this book.

 

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Book Currently Reading:

THE SUNSHINE SISTERS by Jane Green - review will be on June 15.

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Books Up Next:

THE CHILD by Fiona Barton - review will be on June 22

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A RULE AGAINST MURDER by Louise Penny - review will be on June 28.

 

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SECRET SISTERS by Joy Callaway - review will be on July 6

 

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THE ALMOST SISTERS by Joshilyn Jackson - review will be on July 11
 

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HELLO SUNSHINE by Laura Dave - review will be on July 12.

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THE BOOK OF POLLY by Kathy Hepinstall - review will be on July 27. 

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THE COTTINGLEY SECRET by Hazel Gaynor - review will be on August 1

 

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THE DAUGHTERS OF IRELAND by Santa Montefiore - review will be on August 15

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BEST INTENTIONS by Erika Raskin - review will be on August 29.

 

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How was your reading week?

THANKS for stopping. 

Mailbox Monday - 5/22/2017

 

Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week.

Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles, and humongous wish lists!

Mailbox Monday, created by Marcia @ A Girl and Her Books, has a permanent home now at Mailbox Monday.

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Here’s a shout out to the administrators:

Leslie of Under My Apple Tree 
Serena @ Savvy Verse And Wit
Martha of Reviews By Martha's Bookshelf

THANKS to everyone for keeping Mailbox Monday alive.

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I hope you had a good mailbox. 

Slow book week, but I have PLENTY of books to keep me busy.

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On Thursday, May 18, I received:

1.  BEST INTENTIONS by Erika Raskin, courtesy of Katie Bassel of St. Martin's.

A SURPRISE...thanks, Katie.

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Book Beginnings - 5/19/2017

 

*Please join Rose City Reader every Friday to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you are reading, along with your initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires. Please remember to include the title of the book and the author's name.  *Taken directly from Rose City Reader's Blog Page. 

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My book beginnings is taken from YOU'LL NEVER KNOW, DEAR by Hallie Ephron:

"Elisabeth Strenger peeled three boiled eggs under running water, dropped them into a chipped Blue Willow china bowl, and began to mash them with a fork. She took a quick puff on her cigarette, blew smoke out through the back window, and tapped ashes in to the drain."

This book is a mystery even though this beginning doesn't indicate such.  :)

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Books Finished:
 BEFORE THE RAIN FALLS by Camille Di Maio

I found this book on Suzy Approved Book Reviews - so glad I did.  It was a beautiful, mesmerizing book with wonderful characters.

Review is in the book's title.

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COCOA BEACH by Beatriz Williams

Review will be on June 27.

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