We went to the bookstore twice this weekend so the first time I just hung out reading a bunch of magazines. I was so glad to see the latest issue of Venus Zine. I was sure it had gone out of print as I hadn’t seen a new issue in a long time but luckily they are still around and with another great issue.

On our next trip to the bookstore while my husband spent time in the Art section, I wandered over to the fiction shelves. I go to the bookstore at least once a week but usually I’m reading my own books, checking out magazines, etc. but this time I wanted to pet the new books.

Lots of books looked interesting but these are the ones I wrote down:

• Miss Harper Can Do It by Jane Berentson. A story about a young woman who feels like her life is on hold when her boyfriend is deployed overseas. How does she cope? Does she stay loyal? Does she stay in love?
• Kiss the Sky by Farai Chideya. A book about a would be rock star? This isn’t my typical read but I loved listening to Farai Chideya when she was an NPR commentator so I’m curious to see what she comes up with for her debut novel.
• Frida’s Bed by Slavenka Drakulic. I’m fascinated by Frida Kahlo’s life and art so this fictional account of the last days of her life goes on my list.
• The Ingenious Edgar Jones by Elizabeth Garner. An inventor, Oxford and Victorian England. How could I not put this one on my list.
• How to Buy A Love of Reading by Tana Egan Gibson. Honestly, I didn’t even read the description of this one (it was too high on the shelves for me) but I liked the title. The description though makes it sound like a fun read. The parents of Carley commission a book to be written just for her so she’ll love to read.
• Songs For the Butcher’s Daughter by Peter Manseu. From the cover: Summer, sweltering, 1996. A book warehouse in western Massachusetts. A man at the beginning of his adult life — and the end of his career rope — becomes involved with a woman, a language, and a great lie that will define his future. Sounds good doesn’t it?

I only got as far as the “M’s” so hopefully on my next visit I’ll make my way through the rest of the alphabet. Heh. So have you read any of these? Any thoughts?

Thanks again to everyone who commented on my bloggiversary post. Now for the big moment, five of my beaded journals are going out to: Carrie K., Dana H., Litlove, Karen and Stefanie!

Of course I needed some bookish goodies for me as well to celebrate so when we stopped in at Barnes & Noble on Friday I used up my gift card to get two books.

The first one is Independent People by Halldor Laxness. From the back cover: Having spent eighteen years in humiliating servitude, Bjartur wants nothing more than to raise his flocks unbeholden to any man. But Bjartur’s spirited daughter wants to live unbeholden to him. What ensues is a battle of wills that is by turns harsh and touching, elemental in its emotional intensity and intimate in its homely detail. This novel secured for its author the 1955 Nobel Prize in Literature.

My other choice is the bestselling novel, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson. This is a combination of murder mystery, family saga, love story and financial intrigue. I’ve heard so much about this one from a lot of mystery blogs and magazines that I’m hoping to be in for a thrill.

Have you guys read these books? What did you think?

Alright, now I think we may go back to the bookstore this evening. My husband wants to look for one book he couldn’t find at B&N the other day and I never pass up a chance to go back to the bookstore so off we go.

Thank you so much everyone for all of your sweet comments. I was smiling the whole time I was reading these (laughing at some) and of course taking note of your Summer reads. I think I need to print this out for when I need a little spark in my day I can read them again. A big hug to all of you!

So now, what? What have I been doing this week? Well, the heat is still leaving me like mush here. Yesterday we were up to 107. My energy has been really low but I’ve been doing my yoga and just trying to take it easy with some good reads.

Remember I mentioned I was weeding the stacks recently? Thanks to that I’ve unearthed a lot of books that have been hidden from me for a while and so a bit out of mind. Isn’t it funny how many books we are excited about but sometimes they get to our shelves and stay there for a while? I guess we can never keep up given that shiny, new books are being published all the time but it’s nice to go back to those older books that at one point we were just thrilled to have added to our libraries.

Anyway, the first book I’m reading is The Woman Who Painted Her Dreams by Isla Dewar. I’ve read one of her books before and really liked her women characters. Young women who are trying to find their path in life. I know, sounds like chick lit right? Well maybe not serious literature but these women characters care more for following their dreams than finding a good pair of shoes.

In this book Madeline has grown up without a mom but that didn’t seem to affect her. Her entire world was her dad and when he dies she doesn’t know what to do. She wants to paint but can she? Her dad, the artist, isn’t there to guide her anymore. Missteps, acceptance and all await Madeline as she learns to trust her instincts. I can’t wait to see what happens next.

My other read is The Keys to the Street by Ruth Rendell. I don’t know if it’s because I know what to expect from a Rendell novel that from the very beginning while she describes the neighborhood of London Regent’s park I just know that no matter how beautiful the scene is, danger and menace await.

Several characters have been described, the good, the bad and the strange so how she will bring them all together is what is making it hard for me to put down this novel. The main character, Mary Jago, has recently separated from her lover and is housesitting. He still wants to stay in her life but Mary is more interested in finding the man who’s life she saved via a bone marrow donation. Oh Mary, I think you are being a bit naive my dear but let’s see what happens to you.

Anyway, that’s what I’ve been doing. And, now I’m off to the bookstore with my husband. I’ve got a gift card to use and as I’m still in a celebratory mood with my blog’s anniversary then this is the perfect time to use that right? Hope everyone has a great weekend and more book talk soon.