Philippa Gregory 2

I finally got time to take pictures of my night with Philippa Gregory. Because I ended up going alone, my friend who was suppose to come with me had to take a stray kitten she found to the vet, I didnt take any pictures because I was too shy. Phillipa was wonderfully funny and nice and she shook my hand when I nervously told her what a big fan of hers I was. I was able to get three books signed, My copy of The White Queen, a copy of The White Queen for my friend, and my copy of The Constant Princess (my second favorite of hers after The Other Boleyn Girl which I was unable to locate) I very much enjoyed meeting her and hope to meet her again in the future as well as attend other talks by writers I like.

Here is my reminder that I did indeed meet the fabulous Philippa Gregory

Booking Through Thursday

Booking Through Thursday asks "Whats the most enjoyable, most fun, most darn entertaining book you've read recently?"

Hmmm I guess I would have to say The Luxe series. I read both Luxe and Rumors and am awaiting the end of the month for Envy to come out on paperback to start that. While I thought I wouldn't care for the series too much as its young adult I find myself captivated by the ever moving plot as well as truly getting attached to certain characters. I am actually very anxious to read the next book Envy but am making myself wait for the paperback so I don't have 2 paperbacks and 1 hardcover as I hate mixing the two. I find myself anxious to know the fate of two specific characters and feel a bit like a child having to wait. The books are certainly light and fluffy but the intrigue and gossip make the experience a lot of fun. I dont even want to talk about the wait for the 4th and final book Splendor which will be released at the end of October but wont be coming to paperback for a year after that.

BBAW- Reading Meme

Do you snack while you read? If so, favorite reading snack?
No I like to read in bed so no food.

Do you tend to mark your books as you read, or does the idea ofwriting in books horrify you?
I would never write in my book willingly, that's sacrilege

How do you keep your place while reading a book? Bookmark? Dog-ears?Laying the book flat open?
Most of the time I just memorize the page number though I do use book marks at times and even lay it open (*gasp*) if I know Ill be back quickly

Fiction, Non-fiction, or both?
Fiction. The only non-fiction I like is cute animal stories.

Hard copy or audiobooks?
Hard copy. I think reading and listening require different skills and I prefer to read so I have time to visualize, digest, and reread if need be.

Are you a person who tends to read to the end of chapters, or are youable to put a book down at any point?
It depends on the book. Some books I can put down others I can't.

If you come across an unfamiliar word, do you stop to look it up right away?
I usually try to reason it out but I have been known to look things up later.

What are you currently reading?
Rhett Butler's People by Donald McCaig

What is the last book you bought?
The White Queen by Philippa Gregory which I got signed when I met her and which I still need to take a picture of

Are you the type of person that only reads one book at a time or can you read more than one at a time?
I really like to finish one book before starting another. If I pick up another while reading another book it usually means I am about to quit the first book.

Do you have a favorite time of day and/or place to read?
I like to read in bed snuggled up under the covers with pillows and pets around me. I don't have a specific time though I do a lot of reading at night.

Do you prefer series books or stand alone books?
I like them both.

Is there a specific book or author that you find yourself recommending over and over?
Philippa Gregory is one of my favorites. My favorite book is Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte and I encourage everyone has tried to read it to get through the first fifty pages and the book gets better.

How do you organize your books? (By genre, title, author’s last name, etc.?)
By size of how they look together on my bookshelves though I do try my best to keep series together. The only time I cant is when some are paperback and some are hardcover. I hate that and usually try to stick with one or the other.

Wordless Wednesday

As a birthday present (25th is my birthday) my husband and I took some pictures together. This is my favorite shot.

Philippa Gregory

I met Philippa Gregory tonight! I went to see her in Princeton and I got two books signed; The White Queen and The Constant Princess. I will take pictures of the signatures tomorrow Im exhausted after a super long day and getting lost on my way home from the event. Phillipa was funny and informative and I loved her British accent and jokes about the monarchy. This was my first book signing event and I really had a good time so I might have to look out for other authors I like now. The people running it are very efficient and I waited less then half an hour in line to get my books signed and shake hands with the brilliant Philippa. I was alone so no pictures sadly but hopefully next time. She said that The White Queen is the first of six books based on the Plantagents and the War of Roses. After that she is thinking of revisiting the Tudors again as she said she has had her eye on a certain person though she did not mention who it was. Im beat but what a great night.

Historical Fiction Round Table

An amazing event being held for all historical fiction lovers is coming September 14-18. To read more click here! I can't wait for the fun to begin!

Friday Finds

Being Chinese I am attracted to books dealing with Asian culture. Though I am the child of two immigrants I see myself as firmly American being born and raised in this country in a town where I was one of the few minorities. Growing up I never appreciated my culture, wanting to be Caucasian like all my peers and thus scoffed at learning Chinese and Chinese school as well as all the little tidbits and things my family would try to impart on me. Only as I grew did I learn to appreciate the culture and history of the country my family is from. I look back regrettably at the years I wasted not wanting to be bothered learning more about the culture I come from. Though I can carry a conversation in Chinese reading and writing are lost on me and probably always will be. I'm sad at the idea that my family's heritage might die with me as I lack the skills to pass on anything meaningful to my own children. I hope that my children will come to embrace and love their heritage at a younger age then I did. So it is with a natural curiosity that I have come to enjoy books written about Asian culture and by Asian writers. I very much enjoy Amy Tan and Lisa See's books as they teach me more about my heritage as well as incidences that I can relate well to in my own life. This week I found two new books based on Asian culture that have sparked my interest and I will be adding to my TBR pile.

The first is Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet about a Chinese boy falling in love with a Japanese girl right before the start of World War II. When the war starts the little girl's family is taken away to interment camps and the little boy promises to wait for her in Seattle. After recently reading Lisa See's Shanghai Girls it touches a bit about the war and how Chinese immigrants feared being taken away to interment camps and trying to distinguish themselves from Japanese American

The second is The Calligrapher's Daughter which is based on Korean history, that of which I admit I know very little about but am eager to learn more about. It deals with Korea during the time of Japanese occupation and the struggles of one girl trying to seek her own path while her father pushes her to stay on the traditional one.