My house is a biohazardous godforsaken mess of glitter, pine needles, bits of wrapping-papered tape, heaps of dirty laundry, crumpled electronic toy instruction manuals, sticky floors and the crumbs of a thousand relatives, everywhere.
Even more than usual.
Which can only mean two things:
1. Christmas is over.
2. It’s almost my birthday!
I decided that since so many people have been really nice to me over the past year, sharing my posts, giving me blog awards, telling their friends to “Like” me, supporting my writing, that I’m gonna celebrate my birthday a little differently this year.
I’m gonna give you the present.
Actually? I’m gonna give away two presents.
It’s a Birthday Giveaway!
Two of my favorite things are books & bags. I can’t think of anything more appropriate to give away than that.*
*Okay, fine. Cases of fine wine, fabulously capable free nannies, and luxurious spa vacations would be appropriate as well. But I don’t get paid to write (yet), so you get whatcha get, kids.
First is a copy of a super funny book of essays called Ketchup is a Vegetable, by Robin O’Bryant.
I bumped into Robin online a while ago, and she consistently amused me with her stories about raising 3 little girls at her blog Robin’s Chicks.
She published her first book, Ketchup is a Vegetable, in November 2011, which I ordered via Kindle on my iPad. I figured it would be some nice easy reading while I lay on the couch recovering from recent butt surgery.
Well. No one warned me that I’d laugh so hard it would cause me actual pain. I should have stopped reading, but I couldn’t. Once you read about the totally awkwardly hilarious scenarios her husband and mom used to put her in? You, too, will be hooked. I’m not the only one who thinks so: it already has a 5 star review on Amazon.
(Read my FULL REVIEW here)
I’m also throwing in a “Too much Whine. Not enough Wine.” tote bag from my store. Because I can.
Yes, I know this photo I took before finishing my coffee this morning isn't that great. But having a free bag big enough to take to the store and stock up on wine? Very, very great.
Now, the Rules of the Giveaway:
1. Comment below with a book I need to read in 2012.
2. Make sure you put your email address in the comment form so I can contact you if you win – don’t worry, that info isn’t made public.
3. One entry per person.
4. Continental US only. (Sorry, my international peeps!)
5. Winner will be randomly selected & announced on Friday, January 6th at 12noon EST. You can enter/comment until then.
Thanks to all of you who made my 2011 end on a great note. I look forward to making 2012 a year absolutely worth celebrating with you.
Cheers to you & Good Luck!
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Welcome to Let Me Start By Saying… Read All About Kim, Do Some Shopping, or for some funny, check out her Favorite Posts. Thanks for visiting!
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Hmmm..if you haven’t discovered Cake Wrecks, then one of their books is a must!
Cheers!
shadowsrider6749@yahoo.com
My daughter just read The Help. I have not read it yet but it is on my list. She loved the book and keeps telling me to read it.
If you have never read Suzanne’s Diary for Nicholas by James Patterson, it is an awesome book!
amber717@windstream.net
Stop Dressing Your Six Year-Old Like a Skank, by Celia Rivenbark. I love all her books… they are fabulously funny!
My daycare provider recommended The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls – it was really great! It’s amazing the crazy things kids can get subjected to, and still turn out to be intelligent, productive citizens!
That really was a wonderful memoir. Amazing and intelligent.
Oh, and Happy Pre-Birthday!
Sarah’s Key .. if you’re looking for a serious read — OR — I can send you my copy of “When did I get like this? The screamer, the worrier, the dinosaur-chicken-nugget buyer & other mothers I swore I’d never Be.” By Amy Wilson. Hilarious.
Tink041707@gmail.com
I want that bag…
Anyway, I wish we could give YOU a present! I suppose all these book recommendations will have to do, as honestly, I would love a bunch myself. I’ve done a lot of reading this year and can’t remember everything, but I’ll go with the last couple I’ve read/reread: “Mennonite in a Little Black Dress,” “Hypocrite in a Pooffy White Dress,” “Waltzing the Cat” and anything by Lorrie Moore.
Happy Birthday and happy reading!
I have to start by saying that my Granddad was the most influential person in my life. He was a man cut from a different cloth. He was raised by a single mom duing the Great Depression, served in WWII and was happily married to my Grandma for 52 years. He always told me stories about his life and somehow made it into a lesson. That is why I have to recommend Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand. I remember my Grandad talking about the man in the book. I hope you enjoy.
The book is a couple years old but very good “The Time Traveler’s Wife”. I am not one for romance stories but I love this one. Or “The Lovely Bones” is another oldie but goodie!
Both fabulous!!
Little Bee is a book I read this year that has stayed with me. Others above I also like- Time Traveler’s Wife, The Lovely Bones, The Help. I have never been a romance person, but someone suggested I read Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. It’s got romance but also history and science fiction. I’m now on the second sequal. Happy Birthday!
Delirium, by Lauren Oliver. It’s actually going to be part of a trilogy. A friend suggested it to me, and I couldn’t put it down!
Happy early Birthday!
I just started Gregory Maguire’s new book in the Wicked series, so maybe that one? Or Room by Emma Donoghue.
Which one??? I thought I had read them all!!!
“The Girls from Ames” if you’re looking for something serious. Or for a twist “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies”. While I have not YET read it, I simply must read -and think you should too- just for the sake of the title alone “The Idiot Girl and the Flaming Tantrum of Death: Reflections on Revenge, Germaphobia and Laser Hair Removal”
Zombies is the best ever!! Don’t waste your time w sense and sensibility and sea monsters, though, it was awful
Oh. And Happy and Happy Birthday!!!!!
Chelsea Handler, Are you There Vodka, Its Me. It is on my reading list too for 2012. Ii am currently reading The Zookeeper’s Wife by Diane Ackerman.It is about WWII Warsaw zoo that was a part of the Anti-Nazi underground.
Def going to read The Bloggess new release in April 2012. “Lets Pretend This Never Happened” by Jenny Lawson. That should be a great read and many laughs!
and Happy Birthday to you!! Enjoy YOUR day!
also just checked out “Kethchup is a Vegetable” Adding this to my must read list for 2012!!
You have to read A Modern Witch by Debora Geary It’s the first book in the series. I don’t even remember where I stumbled upon it originally but she’s a great author. You can find her books on amazon and they’re pretty inexpensive for the Kindle if you have an e-reader.
Happy Birthday!
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<3
A discovery of witches by Deborah harkens is the first in a series and is likewise cannotbeputdownable
Sam’s letters to Jennifer, by James Patterson or ANYTHING by Kristin Hannah…(you will need tissues)
I read an WIDE assortment of books so here’s a couple that stuck with me this past year…”Gods on Alabama” By Joshilyn Jackson, She has a few other books, (“Between, GA” is her second) but this one is by far the best. “Lisey’s Story” By Stephen King, I know not one of your usual “romance” writers, but this book is one of the best romantic stories of relationships and love i’ve read in a long time. Even if your not a big SK fan give it a try, it’s only half as “out there” as some of his other books.
And “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies” as one of the previous ladies said, it’s quite funny especially is you know the original.
Ha! I’m not the best proof reader! That should have been “Gods IN Alabama”!
Oh, and Happy Birthday!!
Well, ya gotta read Celia Rivenbark. All of her books are wonderful, but I would suggest “We’re
Just Like You Only Prettier: Confessions of a Southern Tarnished Belle”. I’ve read all of her books and I laughed so hard that I pee a little during each!
If you haven’t already, you must read, “I Was a Really Good Mom Before I Had Kids”. I just started following your blog, and I love it! Happy Birthday to you!
I have a few, the first one is actually pretty old, but I haven’t talked to very many people who have read it, The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky. It is an amazing book that I couldn’t put down and one of those ones that you can never get out of your head. The other is a series that starts with Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card, it is a SiFi book with an amazing story about a kid who is forced to grow up way too fast. My husband even got it into the curriculum at the high school he teaches at! Sorry I haven’t really had time to catch up on anything new (other than my mindless vampire crap, but judging from your book reviews I doubt you’re into those) so I’m just going with the old standbys that I make sure I tell everyone I know to read
cheryl.lerma@gmail.com
Oh also they’re FINALLY making Perks into a movie this year!
I really love the Mercy Thompson books by Patricia Briggs. The first book in the series is Moon Called. It has mystery, adventure, hot werewolves and a vampire. There are about 6 books in the series. These books are good as well as an easy read. Happy Birthday!
For some reason, when I read each of Marisa de los Santos, “Love Walked In,” “Belong to Me” and now “Falling Together,” they reminded me of you and your writing, with beautiful flowerly language. (And, I’m also glad that you updated your “What I’m Reading” since I’m looking for new stuff for my new Kindle Fire!)
How bummed am I that I live in Australia? Anyways Happy Birthday! (Turned old myself only two days ago) and you should read the fantasy series the Axis trilogy and the Wayfarer Redemption by Sara Douglass (but I think the whole series was just called the Wayfarer Redemption in the US).
The Fixer Upper by Mary Kay Andrews
why Did You That? By David S Rains attempts to answer all those issues that we all face as parents but can’t figure out why our kids would really do this that and everything else… Yes, it’s a self help book and I’m somewhere between step two and step three: laughter and drinking. Has Thr book helped me understand my kids? Not really. I do enjoy hearing about other parents with problems though…..
Happy Birthday! If you are looking for a book that will make you laugh out loud, I would go with My Fair Lazy by Jen Lancaster. Really, anything by Jen Lancaster makes me laugh until I snort. If you are looking for a more serious read, try Loving Frank by Nancy Horan. Love your blog and your facebook posts!
Okay. I have a laundry list of books but the first two that came to mind are The Night Circus (which was actually written in a month during NaNoWriMo – B! -) but is SOOOO good and The Kitchen House which I literally read in 12 hours even while staying home, feeding and hanging out with Z. Best book I have read in AGES!
Night Circus is on my to read list.
“Boneshaker” is a fun read with a strong, believable main character, and I’m reading “The Tiger’s Wife” right now and loving it. Love Robin too, thanks for doing this!
Being a full-time working Mom of 3 boys including 1 set of very mischievious 3-year old twins and working full-time as a Nurse Practitioner, I get few moments to myself, BUT I did read “The Hunger Games” over Christmas and I loved it! I am now on the 2nd book in the series. Very, very good, but be warned, if you love to read, prepare for some sleep deprivation because I can’t stop reading it!!! ~Carla
Great b’day gift for me. Bday Jan.5th
Read “Forgiving Sam” by Powell Clark.
Every parent should.
I assume that you read it already, but Bel Canto is an oldy but goody that I recently learned that many people missed. For something fun and easy, Potato Peel Society. I am pretty sure I am just going to Kindle this book because it sounds awesome, but winning a copy will make me an awesome neighbor as I pass it around the houses!!
I just read the Hunger Games and then devoured the 2 sequels. Carla is right, I also stayed up all night reading it and realized with books 2 and 3 that there was no way I was going to start it at bedtime if I wanted to get any sleep! I have 4 kids so no sleep is not a good way to go during the week! Happy Birthday!!!
The Borrower by Rebecca Makkai. About a children’s librarian who kidnaps/is kidnapped by one of her unhappy patrons. Lots of references to good children’s literature. Writer has a good sense of humor and is great at making you see her characters clearly.
51/50 by Kristen McGuiness
The History of Love by Nicole Krauss. It’s devastatingly beautiful.
momfog@yahoo.com
I’m recommending an entire book series: Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series. They are absolute mental cotton candy escapist reading, and although I’ve read them repeatedly, I still laugh out loud while reading them.
I enjoyed Christopher Moore’s book “Fool” ( I actually love all his books, they make me giggle). If you have not read any his books yet… run, don’t walk…. and Happy Birthday! Your blog has been entertaining me for a couple months now, and I appreciate it muchly.
I’m going all old-school on you and saying you must re-read Pride and Prejudice sometime soon. Love those crazy Brits.
You MUST read anything by Laurie Notaro. She is hilarious and will make you wet yourself.
Book you need to read: Burning Rainbow Farm: How a Stoner Utopia Went Up in Smoke (Dean Kuipers)
Everyone should read this book. EVERYONE.
The Black Dagger Brotherhood, by J.R. Ward
The Pillow Books of Cordelia Kenn, by Widen Chambers
Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley
ally.sweet@rocketmail.com
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Let’s pretend this never happened is available for pre-order. Jenny Lawson is a fellow blogger and her and you both are my required blog reading. I also second anything by Cecila riverbanks.
The burning soul is by John Connolly and is the latest in his awesome kick ass series. Not a mommy book but a book for mommies and daddies. The main character is a soft hearted hard ass if that’s possible, and my husband and I are not sure who we would choose for the hero on screen. The first in the series is Every Dead Thing and it hooked us from the start. Tad violent and gory, though. Nonetheless genius, and I have only used that word for 3 other authors thus far.
I enjoyed Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See and A Cup of Friendship by Deborah Rodriguez. Night Circus is on my to read list.
If you’re looking for Funny then read Bossypants by Tina Fey. For suspense and a thrill read Dead of Night by Jonathan Maberry.
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot is a great non-fiction read. Also, Stiff: The Curious Life of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach was good non-fiction. Mary Roach is a humorist so there is a lighthearted feeling about a pretty morbid subject without feeling irreverent.
Speak, by Laurie Halse Anderson is a good one. Full of high school bullying/heartache. A good Young Adult fiction that’s also good for we grown-ups.
My very favorite book when I need some whoopass power reading….Women Who Run with the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estes. It’s about the wild woman archetype, based on indian folklore. Deeply spiritual and so worth reading!
A book you should read….oh (snaps fingers) is Madame Bovary. It’s a bit controversial but a good read
Bossypants by Tina Fey had me giggling more than I thought I would. Or anything Nicholas Sparks.
Happy Birthday…celebrate it all week!
An oldie that I recently discovered, The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood.
Love your blog! The best book I read this year was probably “Sarah’s Key” by de Rosney. The characters stick with you long after you close the cover (which to me, is always a sign of a good story). It’s also being made into a movie, which just sickens me. Anyway…
I’m a wee bit of a high fantasy gal myself so I’d recommend anything by Brandon Sanderson.
Hi there! love the blog very much! I loved The School of Essential Ingredients by erica bauermeister. It’s about a bunch of people who take a cooking class together and how their lives come together. and food porn. yes. please.
I’m just about to read The Night Circus. it sounds dreamy and magical and I’m already daydreaming about it and I haven’t even started reading it yet. who couldn’t use more of that?
happy new year birthday! I wish for you a garden of cakes to pick from daily.
Your blog keeps me laughing especially when I find myself drowning in mundane household tasks–thank you!
“Cathedral of the Sea” by Ildefonso Falcones is so wonderful! It’s takes place in 14th century Barcelona. The main characters escape the feudal system and flee to Barcelona to make a better life for themselves. From there, the story centers on the construction of a church in the city. It has it all–friendship, love, revenge, the Inquisition, It’s hefty at 604 pages, but I am flying through it.
Happy Birthday!
I haven’t been having much luck in finding must read books this year, and I think most of the books I’ve liked, you’ve also read. Someone is lending me a copy of Amy Sedaris’s book tomorrow. It’s a good laugh I’m told. Sorry no must read here. If I could only get the elephant song out of my head long enough to remember…. They were visiting some friends in Machu Piechu. They were elephants so they were big too. ….
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot!
Thanks so much!
Anything by Jen Lancaster… her memoirs are a riot!
I “third” the rec for “Bossypants” and on a more serious note recommend “Cutting for Stone.” best book I’ve read in years. Happy Birthday!
Nancy
I’m surprised at the number of people who have never read The Hobbit. With the movie coming out next December, I’m going to pull out my copy over the summer to read to my son (he’s only 7, so we’ll see how he does with it, but I’m pretty sure I was 7 or 8 when my mom read it to me). I’m also a big fan of Jane Austen. Sometimes, when I’m feeling in need of some lighter reading on parenthood, I pull out my For Better or For Worse comic books. If you’re in the mood for an awesome (but incredibly long) classic revenge story, I recommend Count of Monte Cristo (make sure you’re not getting an abridged version). Haven’t read anything new in a while, so it’s great to see all the recommendations!
You should read Boys of.my Youth. A great book
I’ve heard STFU And Go To Sleep Already is a good book also, but I haven’t had the pleasure of reading it yet
An old fave of mine is: ‘ Why Men Don’t Listen and Women Can’t Read Maps’ by Alan Pease. It’s a must read for anyone in a relationship
Hunger Games triology….great read! Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday! I recently came across your blog and I absolutely love it! I’d recommend “Prozac Nation” by Elizabeth Wurtzel. I also loved reading “Wizard’s Frist Rule” by Terry Goodkind. It’s the first in a series (Sword of Truth series) and an amazing read. I’ve just started re-reading the series myself. Hope your birthday is fantastic!
The Stupidest Angel: A Heartwarming Tale of Christmas Terror by Christopher Moore. It is about an angel who screws up his Christmas mission and completely wrecks a small town’s Christmas. All of his books are hilarious, and they are short, too.
Anything Michael Connelly for good crime fiction. The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak or The Confession by John Grisham for more intense fiction. Loved today’s post about your bosses!
I liked the Help! Don’t get to read much serious things:-)
I really enjoyed The Book Thief. Also, Bossypants by Tina Fey. Thanks for ur suggestions as well! Happy Birthday!
NO MORE ENTRIES AS OF THIS POINT.
WINNER TO BE ANNOUNCED SOON!