We are so excited to be a part of this meme, called In My Mailbox, originally started on The Story Siren book blog.

Basically, each week we will post what goodies, give-a-ways, ARCs, etc we received in the mail, books we purchased, or checked out from the library.

To learn more about how the In My Mailbox meme works, check out the original post on The Story Siren.

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While I am sure there are others out there who do a Friday Five, it was one of our favorite authors, Cheryl Renee Herbsman who inspired us to start one of our own. Check out her amazing blog.

The way this works is each Friday morning we will post a prompt, question, topic, idea, etc that we will respond to. We will try to keep it general, anything related to movies, music, and books, however from time to time it may be a more specific topic.

We encourage you to post your own response in the comments section, too.

If you decide to start your own Friday Five, please credit it back to Cheryl Renee Herbsman’s blog.

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HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!! All of us at Eve’s Fan Garden want to wish you the very best in 2011! To get things started, we want to know what 5 books are you most looking forward to in 2011?

Donna

1. Forever, Maggie Stiefvater

2. Prom & Prejudice, Elizabeth Eulberg (this book is made of awesome!)

3. City of Fallen Angels, Cassandra Clare

4. Delirium, by Lauren Oliver (amazing book!)

5. Dead Reckoning, Charlaine Harris (SOOKIE!)

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HAPPY NEW YEAR!

We are so excited to be a part of this meme, called In My Mailbox, originally started on The Story Siren book blog.

Basically, each week we will post what goodies, give-a-ways, ARCs, etc we received in the mail, books we purchased, or checked out from the library.

To learn more about how the In My Mailbox meme works, check out the original post on The Story Siren.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

While I am sure there are others out there who do a Friday Five, it was one of our favorite authors, Cheryl Renee Herbsman who inspired us to start one of our own. Check out her amazing blog.

The way this works is each Friday morning we will post a prompt, question, topic, idea, etc that we will respond to. We will try to keep it general, anything related to movies, music, and books, however from time to time it may be a more specific topic.

We encourage you to post your own response in the comments section, too.

If you decide to start your own Friday Five, please credit it back to Cheryl Renee Herbsman’s blog.

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This week we are going to make you think!!! What were the FIVE BEST BOOKS you read this year? (and no cheating and listing more than five!!)

Donna – (in no particular order – all are equally great!) HOLY CROW! This was hard to pick just 5!

1.  Before I Fall, Lauren Oliver – OMG… go read this book NOW

2. The Global Achievement Gap, Wagner – this book literally changed me as a professional! I am a different teacher because of it.

3. Wintergirls, Laurie Halse Anderson

4. Crank, Ellen Hopkins

5. Linger, Maggie Stiefvater

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Maryanne -

Oh, where to start?I read over 100 books in 2010 – by a huge variety of authors. I loved so many of them – Ellen Hopkins Crank series,  Simone Elkeles How to Ruin series,  Alex Flinn’s updated fairy tales (Beastly, A Kiss In Time, Cloaked). How can I pick just five?  Here’s my attempt to pick my five top books of 2010.

1) Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

This was the first ARC (Advance Reading Copy) I received from a publisher since becoming part of the book club team. It holds a special place in my heart for that reason. But, the main reason I pick this book as my number one is because it is beautifully written and thought provoking.

2) Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Although this book doesn’t actually release until February 2o11, I had the pleasure of reading an advance copy. It blew me away. It is so different than Before I Fall, Lauren’s debut novel (and my pick for number 1 book of 2010).  It’s a dystopian novel about an alternate present where love is a disease that must be prevented. Amazing story, beautiful writing.  While it makes for a great stand-alone, it’s actually the first book in a trilogy.

3) Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan

I loved this story of two teenaged boys named Will Grayson. One Will is straight with a gay best friend, Tiny Cooper. The other Will is gay, trying to figure out how to come out and be accepted, not just by his family but also by himself.  I loved this book.

4) Stolen by Lucy Christopher

Wow! This story of a teenager kidnapped and taken to a remote cabin in the Australian outback takes you through a breathtaking range of emotions and keeps you thinking about it long after you’re finished.

5) Where She Went by Gayle Forman

This is another book that doesn’t release until 2011. I received an advance copy at the National Council of Teachers of English Convention in November. It’s the sequel to If I Stay, the story of 17 year old Mia. Where She Went follows Mia’s boyfriend Adam, five years later and explores the wide reaching effects of grief.

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Kate- I could come up with way more then 5- but here we go!

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver- I think this one is going to be on all of our lists. It’s fabulous, go get it…now.

Delirium by Lauren Oliver- This one isn’t out yet, but it is amazing!

Stolen by Lucy Christopher- This book is terrifying and wonderful and heartbreaking all at the same time.

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare- I hadn’t read any of Clare’s books before I picked this one up and I was instantly hooked!

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins- even though this had been out for awhile, I didn’t pick it up until this year. Amazing book- amazing series!

If you read a book this coming year  by a debut author – let us know what you think!

For a list of “rules” and a listing of upcoming debut novels, check out this link on The Story Siren.

Happy Reading!

We are so excited to be a part of this meme, called In My Mailbox, originally started on The Story Siren book blog.

Basically, each week we will post what goodies, give-a-ways, ARCs, etc we received in the mail, books we purchased, or checked out from the library.

To learn more about how the In My Mailbox meme works, check out the original post on The Story Siren.

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Maryanne

My mailbox was filled with great cards from my cohorts at Eve’s Fan Garden.  Plus, we did a Secret Santa Exchange and my Secret Santa knows that I love shopping for books at Borders. So, she sent me a Borders gift card along with two bookmarks.

I also got bookmarks from a good friend. I guess everyone knows I love to read!

Merry Christmas to you and your family!

Thank you for your support!

EFG Staff

Georgia

Kirsten

Donna

Maryanne

Sara

Kate

Janicca

While I am sure there are others out there who do a Friday Five, it was one of our favorite authors, Cheryl Renee Herbsman who inspired us to start one of our own. Check out her amazing blog.

The way this works is each Friday morning we will post a prompt, question, topic, idea, etc that we will respond to. We will try to keep it general, anything related to movies, music, and books, however from time to time it may be a more specific topic.

We encourage you to post your own response in the comments section, too.

If you decide to start your own Friday Five, please credit it back to Cheryl Renee Herbsman’s blog.

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It’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

This week we want to know what are 5 of your favorite Christmas traditions?

Donna

1. For the past couple years we have gone to see The Polar Express in 3-D at the IMax on Christmas Eve. It really psyches up the kids for Christmas Eve! Unfortunately, they have quit playing it… so we made this an at home tradition.

2. Homemade peanut butter cups – my mouth is watering as I type this! My mom taught me years ago how to make the best homemade peanut butter cups! I make a ton and freeze them so they last as long as possible.

3. Watching Christmas movies – our family favorite is Elf and my favorite is Love Actually

4. Listening to Christmas music – I am a Christmas music junkie… I fill my iTunes with all my Christmas music right after Thanksgiving! By New Years Day I am so sick of Christmas music! LOL Last year my favorite Christmas song was Baby It’s Cold Outside (from Elf)

5. Decorating the house and putting up the tree – for us, this is a 3-4 day experience. We are ornament collectors, so we have lots to put on the tree. Not only that but *someone* in my house who shall remain nameless likes to pose and organize the ornaments. For example, Yoda has to be posed to be fighting Darth… that kind of thing! LOL PLEASE make me feel better and tell me I am not the only one who has to deal with that kind of thing! ; )

Merry Christmas from my family to yours! ~Donna

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Maryanne’s favorite Christmas traditions:

1) Walt Disney World:

Since I only live a little over an hour from Walt Disney World,  it’s a tradition for us to visit at least once over the Christmas holiday.  Sometimes we just visit the hotels to see their decorations. Or we have a meal in Downtown Disney. This year I we have annual passes and I think we’ll be visiting the Magic Kingdom on Sunday.

2) Disney Disney Christmas Parade and taping:

This is related to #1, but I’m going to separate it  out. Every year on Christmas Day ABC broadcasts the Disney Parks Christmas parade. What most people don’t know is that the parade is actually taped weeks in advance. Some segments are taped in Disneyland California and others are taped in Disney World. For the past 3 years my family has been a part of the Disney World taping. Disney gives out complimentary tickets to audience members who agree to put in at least a 3 hour shift.  This year we were able to watch Mariah Carey perform two songs, Darius Rucker and Sean Kingston.  Plus, Ryan Seacrest winked at us and made my older daughter’s life complete.  I think he winked at ME, but she insists it was at her. LOL  Parade preview

3) Spritz cookies -

Every year I make spritz cookies from one of my mom’s old cookbooks. The book is tattered and falling apart and opens automatically to the recipe I’ve been using since I was a kid. I do have a spiffy new cookie press from Pampered Chef now, instead of the temperamental metal one my mom used to use. I remember making them when I was a kid and hiding them in the freezer so my dad wouldn’t eat them. But, that never stopped him – he’d eat them frozen! LOL

4) Italian food -

(Disclaimer – I stole this picture from Photobucket)

My mom was a first generation American. Both of her parents came to America from Italy.  So, it has always been my family tradition to eat Italian food on Christmas. My mom used to make homemade manicotti – little crepes filled with ricotta and mozzarella cheese. I’m not quite as ambitious, so instead we’ll have baked rigatoni. Yum!

5) Family -

My family is smaller these days.  My parents are both gone. So, now it’s me and my husband and our two daughters. But, we spend as much time together as we can. My older daughter’s best friend is always amused by the “random” things our family does – whether it’s going to a flea market or an art show or going to see manatees .   Who knows what adventures we might go on in the coming week!?

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Georgia

1.  Growing up my family always read the story of Jesus’s birth on Christmas Eve, then we would open up 1 gift before bed.  Usually it was pajamas.

2.  NOW my husband and I watch A Christmas Story every Christmas Eve with our kids and whomever can come over to watch with us.  Then we let the kids open 1 gift each before bed.  Usually it is pajamas

3.  Tarts.  My Great Grandmother made the most AMAZING tarts you have ever tasted and she shared her recipe with my aunt and my mom.  Now every Christmas my mom makes a whole bunch of the tarts.  And I gain at least 15 pounds in 1 day from eating them.  It is not possible to stop once you start, NOT.Possible.

4.  A Christmas tradition that came from my husbands family and we now do is to have beef jerky in the stockings.  The first time I witnessed this I thought it was weird.  First of all, his family woke up at about 4 AM to open gifts…  my family always made us wait till my parents woke up.  One year we did not open gifts till almost 11AM.  So, beef jerky at 4 AM just felt wrong to me.  But they LOVED it, and so we do this with our kids stockings now.  And they love it too!

5.  Tamale’s and Chili.  Another tradition that came from my husbands family is to have Tamales and Chili on Christmas Eve…  right before we watch A Christmas Story  Tonight we are having some FANTASTIC tamales my friend Mimi made and my mother in law is making both red and white chili.  Mmmm…  White chili!

I hope everyone has a wonderful Holiday weekend!

]]> http://evesfangarden.com/beta/2010/12/24/friday-five-25/feed/ 1 http://evesfangarden.com/beta/2010/12/23/cloaked-by-alex-flinn/ http://evesfangarden.com/beta/2010/12/23/cloaked-by-alex-flinn/#comments Thu, 23 Dec 2010 16:22:11 +0000 Maryanne http://evesfangarden.com/blog/?p=4888 As a fan of Alex Flinn’s previous books, especially Beastly and A Kiss in Time, I was ecstatic to receive an  advance reading copy (ARC) of Cloaked. Even better, I received it directly from Alex at an author signing at the National Conference of Teachers of English convention in Orlando in November.

Cloaked starts out in Miami Beach – South Beach.  Johnny is a 17 year boy who fixes shoes at his family’s shoe repair counter in a posh South Beach hotel. His dad disappeared years ago. Now, Johnny and his mom are barely scraping by –  oops,  their electric got turned off – but they don’t want to give up the family business.  Besides, Johnny loves shoes. He collects quotes about them. He has a portfolio of shoe designs. And, he’s even made a prototype of one of his designs from parts scavenged from the shoe repair.

Meg is Johnny’s best friend. Her family runs the coffee shop in the hotel. Meg is a cleaning genius – or does she have a secret?  Ryan is the lifeguard who worries more about his muscles than his job. Mr. Farnesworth is the hotel manager who worries more about the six swans swimming in the hotel lobby than the people who work there.  It’s an eclectic cast of characters.

The arrival of a European princess gets everyone excited. The Princess Victoriana is a Paris Hilton type celebrity – more famous for her drunken escapades than anything else. But, is she truly a party animal or is that a front? Is she only giving the paparazzi what they’re looking for? Is there more behind the surface? She befriends Johnny and sends him on a quest. And, if he is successful on his mission?  Victoriana will marry him and his financial woes will be over forever!

Before he knows it, Johnny is sucked into a world he didn’t know existed – a world of magic cloaks, talking animals and really smelly giants. Meg tags along to help keep him out of danger. Along the way he makes new friends and learns a lesson or two – about friendship and  true love – but is it too late?

Cloaked takes the reader on a tour of South Florida – from Miami Beach’s South Beach to the Big Pine Key National Key Deer Refuge to Key West. As a Floridian, I really enjoyed reading about places I know and love. Plus, there’s a quick side trip to New York City – my birthplace and another of my favorite places!

Like in Beastly and A Kiss In Time, Alex Flinn takes classic fairy tales and updates them in a modern setting. However, Cloaked uses more than half a dozen different fairy tales – some more obscure than others – and weaves them together. As a Floridian, I enjoyed the setting, the quirky characters, the familiar places. As an English teacher,  I enjoyed the use of classic fairy tales. And, as a reader? I enjoyed it all.

Look for Cloaked on February 8, 2011.  Visit Alex Flinn’s official site for more details.

Wintergirls really struck a chord with several of us here at Eve’s Fan Garden either through a personal experience or through someone we know and love. Wintergirls is a fictional book about a teen girl with an eating disorder, specifically anorexia. Check out Georgia’s review here. Eating disorders are a huge problem in our country and many people don’t understand much about them. There have been many times when I have heard someone say “Oh I wish I could just be anorexic so I can be skinny” or “I ate too much, I wish I could make myself puke”. There are so many jokes and misunderstandings about something so deadly!

That bring us to the contest; we have some beautiful bookplates signed by  Laurie Halse Anderson to give away!

To enter all you have to do is:

1. (Main entry) Post a comment below with a fact about eating disorders (please include where you found the info so others can find it).

2. (Extra Chance) Post a fact, with a link to the source, about eating disorders on your Facebook, Myspace, or twitter and tag Eves Fan Garden in that post. Tell us where to find that post in your main entry.

3. (Extra Chance) In the comments below share your personal story of an experience with an eating disorder.

Winners will be randomly drawn from all entries on Dec 31st. Please make sure we know how to contact you. Thanks