31 August 2010

This Week's Feature: The First Line/Last Line Challenge

This is a Books for Walls Project original -one of our very first challenges and the inspiration for so many of the others- it is FUN, seriously, TRY IT! And yes, you can do more than one!

Take a book from your bookshelf. 
For this challenge you can select a book you have not read.

Write down the first line from the body of the book (skip the introduction.)
Then flip to the end and write down the last line.
Now read both lines together.
And make a quick judgement: will it be a good book or was it a good book?

30 August 2010

Book of the Week: Soul of a Chef


The soul of a chef : the journey toward perfection
Soul of a Chef
by Michael Ruhlman

I (The Mom) read Soul of a Chef several years ago and enjoyed every savory word  --the good, the amazing and the downright retched (anyone who has pulled their hair from a ponytail after the dinner shift --hoping to escape the fast paced work behind the line, only to realize that hair, skin, and clothes are completely saturated in restaurant --you cannot get away, even in dreams the orders, and the odors, of a chef's kitchen haunt.)

Our copy of Soul of a Chef is a magical one, we've loaned it countless times and somehow it always ends up back in our hands. Like the secret of  a passed down recipe, this book has a preciousness and whomever reads and truly digests it, understands why. Happily, this week the book found its way back, again --its been a few years and I have missed it-- we plan to read passages to the girls and share bits and pieces with them this week. Come back to Books for Walls Project on Wednesday and you will understand why!

Soul of a Chef is a yummy escape into the lives of those who choose food to be their lives. Ruhlman gives his readers an unreal glimpse into three culinary experiences, behind the scenes, at The Culinary Institute of America, Lola Restaurant in Cleveland and The French Laundry in California. Once you read Soul of a Chef you will never look at chefs, dining out, or restaurant life the same way!

27 August 2010

Is the Book Always Better Than the Movie?

We indulged in another trip to the local video store last Friday --movie night-- and The Sisters found Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian the movie!

The Dad saw Prince Caspian when it was first released in the theaters and recognized that it was a bit much for the girls, but that was two years ago! They were ready for it last Friday --the swords, the action, the evil Miraz.  All balanced perfectly with the Pevensie Four and the D.L.F. played by Peter Dinklage --a perfect Trumpkin. Even Reepicheep fulfills even the most imaginative child's hopes for a daring, respectful and chivalrous mouse and is voiced by Eddie Izzard. While certainly there were differences, the White Witch made an appearance and Susan and Prince Caspian exchange a chaste kiss --but this movie did very well for the work of C.S. Lewis.  As with the writing of Lewis, this movie is meant to be experienced more than once -we have read the book over a dozen times between us and have watched the movie twice and we find more with each visit to Narnia!

So which is better the book or the movie?
We will never tell!

We cannot wait until Christmas and the release of Voyage of the Dawn Treader:

26 August 2010

Wanna Give Your Favorite Librarian $5,000?



I Love My Librarian Award 2010
If your answer is Yes
then nominate them for this year's 
I Love My Librarian Award 
and they could win $5,000!
Click here for all the information.

Have you taken The Favorite Libraries Challenge? Help us create a comprehensive list of Books for Walls Project reader's favorite libraries -click here for details! 


To check out Fabulous Library List, click here 

--it just keeps on growing-- 

make sure to add yours!!


25 August 2010

Give Up? Challenge

Let's talk about what makes you give up (or stick with) a book.


Here is a little food for thought:
Remember Nancy Pearl? (Click here for a BFWP primer on beloved bibliophile Nancy.) When it comes to understanding the ins and outs of being a serious reader, it is important to know when to say "I give up" and put down that book --Nancy came up with the “Rule of Fifty”:
"People frequently ask me how many pages they should give a book before they give up on it. In response to that question, I came up with my “rule of fifty,”  which is based on the shortness of time and the immensity of the world of books.  If you’re fifty years of age or younger, give a book fifty pages before you decide to commit to reading it or give it up.  If you’re over fifty, which is when time gets even shorter, subtract your age from 100—the result is the number of pages you should read before making your decision to stay with it or quit.  Since that number gets smaller and smaller as we get older and older, our big reward is that when we turn 100, we can judge a book by its cover!" Want more Nancy wisdom?  Click here for her blog.
The Bean told us about this NPR segment "What Does It Take For You to Give Up on a Book?" on Talk of the Nation. If you have 17 minutes --and you love books-- it is definitely worth a listen. The Mom listened to it last night and giggled when Julia Keller mentioned our Book of the Week Anna Karenina... it is LONG!

Here is your Challenge:
What books have you given up on and which ones have you tried and tried and finally finished. What makes you give up on a book? Do you have a "Rule of 50" of your own? 
Tell us your story about giving up (or not) on a book!

24 August 2010

This Week's Feature: The Bookshelf Challenge




Take a book from your bookshelf, 
whether a favorite
 or a blind, random grab 
--we just want to know 
what's on your shelves!

In three sentences or less,
tell us why this particular 
book is on your shelf.

to take the challenge.