Fragment Friday + Book Blogger Hop + Follow Friday

This is our first time participating in Book Chic Club's Fragment Friday meme which involves sharing an excerpt of the book you are currently reading (or a favorite book) with your followers.  My 'fragment' is from Margaret Mahy's The Tricksters.  Earlier this year, I fell in love with Margaret Mahy's The Changeover (my review), and when I noticed that Kristin Cashore's blog title ("This is My Secret") was inspired by Margaret Mahy's The Tricksters, I couldn't wait to read it.  

I'd hoped to record this fragment outside in our backyard, but the birds noisily chirped about what a foolish idea that had been the second I set foot outside.  So instead, I brought a little bit of the outside inside, and since the sound seems to be terrible on my webcam, I recorded this on my regular camera (which is just as well, since I am camera shy when it comes to posting photos or videos on the blog anyway).  If we participate in this meme again next week, I promise to choose a shorter passage to read since I may have bored you all to tears with this longish excerpt.  *Sorry!*  If you would like to participate in Fragment Friday, please head over to Book Chic Club to share your fragment.  :-)

Buy The Tricksters:  The Book Depository | IndieBound | Amazon 

Add The Tricksters to your:  Goodreads | Shelfari | LibraryThing | Visual Bookshelf

 

The Book Blogger Hop is hosted by Jennifer at Crazy for Books, and it is a terrific way to connect with other book bloggers and readers. You can join the Hop by clicking on the image above. This week's question is:

1.  How many blogs do you follow?

I haven't checked the exact number recently, but I follow between two and three hundred.  Do I check each one daily?  Sadly, no.  But I wish there were more hours in the day to devote to catching up on my Google Reader because I love checking in with all the fun blogs!  I am thankful for memes like the Book Blogger Hop, Teaser Tuesdays, and Waiting on Wednesday that remind me to stop by and see what everyone has been up to lately.  :)

This is our first time participating in Follow Friday hosted by Parajunkee's View.  If you'd like to participate, please stop by her site and share your blog link. 

If you found The Eager Readers through one of these memes today, hello and welcome!  *waves*  :-)  Thank you for stopping by and be sure to enter our Richelle Mead & Stupid Shiny Designs contests while you are here!

Happy Reading!  :-)

It's Monday, What Are You Reading?

Currently Reading:

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Brief thoughts:  We are rereading the first two books in this series to get ready for the release of Mockingjay, and I am amazed by how intense this book is even when I know exactly what is coming.  I am reading it aloud to my husband (who also LOVES this series) and every time a certain character appears on the page, I can't stop thinking about that character's fate in Catching Fire and I've have to stop myself from getting misty-eyed and trembly-voiced several times already.  It is kind of ridiculous how much I love this series!

The Tricksters by Margaret Mahy

Brief thoughts:  Saturday seemed to disappear in the blink of an eye and we spent most of Sunday at my husband's company picnic, so I am only a few chapters into this book, but I have read the line that inspired Kristin Cashore's blog title ("This Is My Secret") and that made me very happy.  Margaret Mahy's characters are incredibly realistic in such a beautiful, un-airbrushed way, and she quietly gives everything (from the wallpaper to the wind) personality and life.  The paranormal elements are woven into her stories with a natural and eerie frankness.  I already feel that tantalizing buzz of wondering where in the world this story is going to go.  It feels perfectly set up for so many different possibilities, and I love that I have no idea where it is headed.

The Silver Crown by Robert O'Brien

Brief thoughts:  Primrose is reading this aloud to me right now.  It captured her interest within the first two chapters, and she read ahead on her own while I was busy with other projects over the weekend, so she has been bringing me up to speed today.  At this point, she likes it significantly more than I do.

Swoon by Nina Malkin

Brief thoughts:  I started this book just before getting swept into rereading The Hunger Games, so I am only about ten chapters into it.  It is a bit racier than I expected, and I suspect I am not even to the raciest part yet.  Sinclair definitely has a strong reason to be violently angry about the way his life ended in Swoon, Connecticut.  I am curious to see exactly how he will exact his revenge, and it is looking more and more like Pen and Dice are going to be pulled into his quest for retribution.

Recently Finished Reading:

Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

Brief thoughts:  Nora drove me crazy, Patch acted like an arrogant, libido-driven teenager (who just happens to have been that way for five hundred years), and Vee irritated me to the point of anger, but I still found myself inexplicably absorbed by this book. 

Read my full review here.

Willow by Julia Hoban

Brief thoughts:  This was an eye-opening book about a girl who turns to self-destructive behavior after her parents' tragic death.  It is a revealing portrayal of a grief-stricken girl and the boy who desperately wants to help her.

Read my full review here.

Up Next in my TBR (to-be-read) pile:  

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Brief thoughts:  I can't wait to reread this book, but I know it is going to make the wait for Mockingjay even more stressful.

What are you reading today?  What's up next in your TBR pile?

This fun meme is hosted by Sheila at One Person's Journey Through a World of Books.

A quick contest reminder:  

We have two contests running right now, one is for a signed copy of Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy ENTER HERE  and the other is for a book thong of your choice from our favorite Etsy shop - Stupid Shiny Designs! ENTER HERE.