Bargain Book Bonanza (28): Before Green Gables

 Welcome to Bargain Book Bonanza!

A book haul linky party for bargain loving bookworms!

Want to join the party? Just visit the Bargain Book Bonanza page for the particulars.


Lesa is hosting this week!

Howdy, bargain loving kindred spirits! I have such a sweet little book to show you this week.





See, isn't the cover as sweet as can be?

And it is new! Yes, brand spankin' new! Didn't want you to think I was only obsessed with used bargain books. Oh no, I am an equal opportunity bargain book buyer.

Now, this book did cost a bit more than the one dollar each discounted paperbacks that I usually pick up at Books-a-Million (look for them in future BBB posts) but considering that this book is trade paperback size and the original price was fifteen dollars, $3.97 is quite the bargain. 

Really, I just couldn't resist. Sweet cover aside, Before Green Gables is a prequel to Anne of Green Gables!  

What kindred spirit of Anne could resist that?!

*giggle* I know you bookworms with a phobia for prequels/sequels written by anyone other than the original author are cringing right now. 

  Not me. Anne of Green Gables may be one of my top five beloved rereads but I'm not afraid to give this book a try. 

And of course, I don't expect this book to be a perfect reflection of L. M. Montgomery's style (that would be silly).  I am just excited to read about Anne's life before she was adopted by Marilla and Mathew-- even though it will likely have lots of sad bits. 

This prequel introduces Anne's parents who died when she was a baby-- and remember the references Anne made about the horrid foster homes she lived in before Green Gables? No doubt all the particulars will be revealed in Before Green Gables.  

So my lovely bookish ones, are you fans of Anne? And if so, would you read this book?
If you have already read this book, did you like it?

If you have a bargain book, please link up and share. We love to brag on bargains!

Gifts for teenage girls

Hello all,

Now I think you realise that Christmas is just around the corner, whether you want it to be or not. So I'm just going to dive straight into one of the hardest tasks of the season: gift-giving. For teenage girls, to be exact.

I have researched the topic a fair bit and come up with a list of universal present ideas (for example, if you have a very alternative teenage girl this list may not work for you). These are some items I would love to receive/have received and loved. 

1. Magazine subscription

 A failsafe idea, especially if it's only for six months. My all-time favourite magazine is Teen Vogue, I read it like it's the bible. I think most teenage girls would. Here's the website!

2. Books! Lots of books!

(From bottom: Emma by Jane Austen, The Clique by Lisi Harrison, The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot, another Clique book)

This little pile is some great girly reads with a bit of substance, so you don't feel like your brains are going to fall out of your head with every paragraph. And Emma, of course. I have been reading it lately and the plot is not too hardcore for my likings. Use this only for avid reader teenage girls.

3. Cosmetics

(Clockwise from bottom: Burt's Bees lip balm, lip shimmer and deep pore scrub, Prestige Soft Blend Kohl eyeliner in brown, Lucas' Pawpaw ointment, Palmers' Cocoa Butter)

Teenage girls love cosmetics. End of story. Not all of them like the same ones, though, so these are some general products I use for every day. And pretty much every other girl who goes to my school. 

TIP: When in doubt, go sample size! The smaller the better.

4. More books...

(From bottom: Fashionista: A century of style icons by Simone Werle, P.S. I made this by Erica Domesek, Fashion Illustration by Kolon books, What Shall I Wear Today by Fifi Lapin)

...Well this is a book blog. These are fashion/diy/hobby type books, not quite as universal as the other ones but I adore them. Find a hobby, find a book!

Hope these tips come in handy and you stress-less during the holiday season! Isabella X

http://viewsofnow.blogspot.com/ 

Paperback Partners

Do you read more than one book at a time?  I do, and sometimes it works and sometimes it just doesn't.  Recently I coincidentally happened to pair two tomes perfectly.  

My rousing cries of 'Vive la France' could be heard for kilometers.  Or at least the dogs came running....London doesn't speak French, but Paris does, of course. (Yes, my dogs are named after European cities.  Next I want a sausage dog named Vienna.)


Patricia Highsmith's Ripley novel, Ripley Under Water (fiction) was a bit disturbing to me, but I couldn't stop reading.  It was like being stuck in a traffic jam you know was caused by an accident, and, when you finally draw even with it being unable to look away despite your best intentions.  


Set in France and francophone Magreb, the prose is lyrical, with references to  smirking camels and yellow silk sofas and Brahms and the pattern of light reflected from a pond.


Ripley is concerned about the domestic business of a beautiful life--sketching, cutting flowers from the garden, playing the harpsichord, planning dinner, preparing for house guests and discussing the neighbours' lack of taste.  To his elegant French wife he describes with a shudder the decor of Pritchards next door as 'Style rustique. From the supermarket. Truly heavy.' 


He's also concerned about getting blamed for an old murder he thought was long buried (punny, eh?).  And so he ruthlessly, coldly goes about protecting himself and his adored wife.


I read it at the same time as Pardon My French  (non-fiction) by Charles Timoney, who absolutely charmed me and even taught me a thing or two.  An Englishman in Paris, he works in a French firm and shares what he learns about the culture and language.  

Now, without blowing my own horn, my French is pretty good and I've spent quite a bit of time in a French family.  So I'm pretty confident (read smug) in these matters.  What a surprise when Timoney both entertained and enlightened me in great measure. 


So, wherever you live you can grab these two books, pour yourself a glass of red wine or brew a pot of tisane and loose yourself in a francophile world.

Wishing For Books! By Adele, Our Newest Contributor!

Hello! I am Adele. I am 10 years old. You may have seen my guest review: English Roses by Madonna. I am extremely happy to become an official contributor!

 So, here is my first official Baja post.

I am soooooo excited at the moment!

My favourite author (or at least ONE of my favourites), Lauren Child, has a new book out!

You see, Clarice Bean is a book I am absolutely CRAZY about, and in the books Clarice is CRAZY about a book called Ruby Redfort. Clarice Bean has TV shows, badges and all sorts of things about Ruby Redfort.

Lauren Child FINALLY made a book of the book within the book! It's called, 'Ruby Redfort, Look Into My Eyes'.  I collect Lauren Child's books and I just have to have it!


Another one of my favourites is Alice Miranda by Jacqueline Harvey.

 I have all the books apart from that last one with the green cover. Its a new one and I'm trying to find it. 

So many books to buy!

**************************

Are there any books you are wishing for?  Please share. And to see more wishlists, please visit these linky parties:

Wishlist Wednesday hosted by Pen to Paper
On My Wishlist hosted by Book Chick City (Saturday link-up)

Bargain Book Bonanza (27): More Newbery Books!

 Welcome to Bargain Book Bonanza!

A book haul linky party for bargain loving bookworms!

Want to join the party? Just visit the Bargain Book Bonanza page for the particulars.


Lesa is hosting this week!


Welcome, bargain loving friends!

If you've been thinking: That lazy, Lesa! Where is BBB? Didn't she photograph all her bargain books for future BBB posts into infinity?

Well, yes and yes. I am lazy and I did photograph all my bargain books. But the computer had to be wiped. Thank goodness, my photos are safe on an external harddrive, whew! Still such a pain since everything had to be reloaded including my photo editing programs ect. Hub handles all that and it takes awhile (he is on the lazy side too).

Anyhoo, I'm now back in BBB biz.

So this week selection adds to my growing collection of Newbery winners and honor books...




Two paperbacks (.20 each) and one hardback (.50) from Goodwill 


Have you read any of these?

The only one I've read is Charlotte's Web. It is a fave from my childhood and I can't wait to read it to my little boy.

UH OH! He just ran in, saw the photo and said: Charlotte's Web! My teacher read that to us!

That is okay. He enjoys a reread as much as his mama and I'm thrilled he has such a wonderful bookloving teacher. I liked my first grade teacher but she didn't read cool books like that to the class. Did yours?  Actually, I only remember the school librarian reading picture books to the class. Hmm... I'm thinking my early education was deprived! 


If you have a bargain book, please link up and share. We love to brag on bargains!