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Without further ado, here is my Summer Bookshelf....some of them are on their way to me right now from Amazon, some have been been sitting unread on my bookshelf for some time, some are suggestions from you (thank you so much!)....and a couple of them I feel like I am the only person in the world not to have read!
(Update, I just added these last two....a couple of you mentioned "The Glass Castle" and I had already started "The Book Thief" but did not finish it....even though everyone I know said it was one of their best reads ever. I shall return to it!)
I need to get reading!!
Thank you for all the suggestions and comments about what you are reading - to find out more about any of these books, click on the book and it will link you to Amazon....
As a mini-giveaway, I am offering three followers any paperback of their choice (via Amazon)....just leave a comment and I will pick a winner this Wednesday July 14.
....I run and go to the gym....
but I need to be more dedicated (and less easily diverted by other activities or jobs needed to be done!)
....I leave for my beach holiday in 30 days....
....I am therefore setting myself a challenge of losing 10-15 lbs in that time....
....please feel free to ask me....how I am doing/if I am sticking with the program/if I have eaten any cookies
.....or to encourage me and join me!
I will have my work cut out but I know how much better I will feel sitting on that beach....off to the gym first thing tomorrow morning :)
Just writing it down and saying it out loud makes me feel more motivated and focused....I should add that it might seem like a lot to lose in 30 days....but of course I have been hoping planning to lose it all year and now I am down to the wire....isn't it always the way!!
As some of you may know, I am running a 5K race in September in aid of Breast Cancer Campaign....I just wanted to update you and tell you that I have so far raised £580 (USD$873, CAN$902 & AUS$997).....thanks to donations and also by renting myself out as a babysitter (that has been extremely popular!!!!
Thank you SO much to those of you who have sponsored me...and if you would like donate and support this fantastic cause, you can do so here.....every pound, euro or dollar counts!
HAVE A GREAT WEEK!!
54 comments:
Great list of books, Simone! You will enjoy them! Good luck on your 15lbs...I'll definitely join you in that...though, I need to lose a *little ah hem, more than that!
I hope you have an awesome vacation and get tons of reading done! My favorite from your list is Joan Didions, Year of Magical Thinking. I love her writing style, and the story is so raw and insighful.
xoxo Beth
Good luck on your weight loss - I am too, trying to loose weight this summer. I have not read any of the books on your list - WOW - I am behind.
Oooh, how was Under the Duvet. I've read all of Marion Keye's books and love her style. Good luck with the diet!
Great list of books!! I have just read a few of them - I can always read Under the Tuscan Sun again and again!!! for me it has become something like Pride and Prejudice...
Have a wonderful vacation.
Such good choices Simone...but then I'd say that because I've read 7 of them! ABC TV here has a book club program and they had 'One Day' on it last week. The panel was divided, either loving it to bits, or not! I'd be very happy to join you on the weight loss trail as well...certainly need some motivation even though it's winter here and I'm long past being brave enough for a bikini!
Looks like a great selection of books - I've only just started reading 'Eat Pray Love' too :) What a generous giveaway of yours! Good luck with your weight loss plan - it's amazing how putting it in writing can make you feel more committed :)
I just found your wonderful blog, and I am loving it. If I WIN, you pick the book for me.
Good luck on the weight loss, I am doing Weight Watchers, and have lost 10 lbs, I have 30 more to go. Have a great vacation
chrylvictor@aol.com
Cheryl
Wow, there are certainly a lot of books to read, I better get moving myself. I will gladly cheer you on on your weight loss journey - I have been at a plateau for a while.
HAve a beautiful week.
Zizette
Love your book list. I have read most of them but want you to add The Book Thief AND The Glass Castle which I just finished reading today.
AND I love your giveaway. COunt me in fab girl. Hope you had a fantastic weekend.
Ooo you have all bases covered with this fab booklist honey, you must give some reviews once done.
Hol's countdown, goodluck at the gym ;)
xoxox
Hello Simone,
Best of luck with your exercise and weight loss and I wish you a fabulous holiday. You've a great list of books, too!
I love your reading list Simone ~ I have only read one ~ the Last Lecture and I did enjoy it ~ his story breaks my heart. I am total 22 lbs lost and feel good about it. I find summer hard even though I am eating fresher foods there are nasty things like wine, bbq and potato salads out there at every turn!! I know you will do great and you have been super motivated! xo
Oh, Simone, the lament of all females...to lose weight. For me, it has been a lifetime of thinking "I'm too fat." I wasn't fat, but I wanted to be thinner. Still do. I promise promise promise I will be with you on this 30-day summer ritual. Couldn't hurt. I have a Do Not Read List: Innocent (sequel of Presumed Innocent which was one of the best books ever published)- pointless & awful. sending love...
Great list, Simone. There are so many of these I need to read as well!
love that last picture!
the purple flower is fabulous!
summer is perfect for reading..count me in!
i actually haven't read any of those books, so please add me to your giveaway. i plan to go to my library to check out a few off your list as well. having just returned from my own beach holiday, i suggest you cut out the carbs and sugar a few weeks before your trip. i read that is what the celebs do before awards season. thanks for sharing your book list and take care.
Simone ~
Thanks for sharing your fabulous reading list! I loved The Help! See a few on here that I need to jot down and add to my constantly expanding list.
The Glass Castle is another excellent one you should read.
And as for your 'on the way to South of France' weight loss goal....GO SIMONE GO! You can do it!
Bisous,
Melissa
What a wonderful list of books-A beach vacation how lovely. You should read Claude and Camille.
Reading novels is one of my favorite things about Summer. Good luck with the marathon!
Thank you so much for including your book list. I'm going to try to get underway shortly and haven't had a moment to put a list together. Having yours as a reference will get me going in the right direction.
And good luck w/the pre-vacation prep!! You can do it!!
xo-Carrie :)
What a great list of books! You've inspired me to put down the lap top and pick up one of the unread books sitting on my nightstand! Thanks again!
You're inspiring me to read more books Simone - blogging takes over everything. I am arming myself with a pile for the holiday and think I'd better leave the laptop at home! I've read Chocolat - it really was fantastic. And I think I have Under The Duvet lurking somewhere on my shelf - I love Marian Keyes. I would really like to read Eat, Pray, Love - I saw a trailer for it at the cinema a while back and it looked beautiful.
Good luck with your diet - I will join you as I really could do with dropping a few pounds before we go to Spain. Together we will stay motivated! xxx
Hi - good reading list - I might just mimic that as it looks like you have considered all angles! There are a couple on there that I have ready to read. And WOW good for you with the running and beach-body strategy! I am sure you will succeed, being the determined soul you are! I have just been for a run as I know chances will be fleeting once the kids break up...
Lou x
Great reading list Simone. I've read a few on it but always love to have some good recommendations up my sleeve. Reviews please. Make sure you read Eat Pray Love before you see the movie! It's great. And good luck with the weight loss. I'm hiding under a blanket of winter, and putting off the inevitable. 30 days is great motivation.
thankyou for that inspirational book list- a few on there i have read and loved- and some sit beside my bed- on my little table now- the others i am going to have a good look at and purchase.....once you start summer reading- it's hard to stop...don't you think...
{have you ever used the *Book Depository) -like amazon but they don't charge shipping TO ANYWHERE!!}...i have a very loooong account with them....!!!!
i am going to add to your fantastic *haul* for your september run this week...& although i think my kids would love to spend a few hours being babysat by you at yours...i will sponsor you for no other reason than i think you are wonderful!
p.s love that last motivational picture....one for the fridge....
hugs to you- goodluck near the cookie jar...
melissa x
Good summer reading pick, Enjoy them Simone.
What a list and great giveaway! I am currently reading The Help.
Eat, Pray, Love is AMAZING. My mom just read One Day and LOVED it.
Would LOOOVE to win this!!!
Oooooh, you have some GREAT books on your list. I'm currently listening to the audiobook for The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest (the last book in the Dragon Tattoo trilogy). I'll have to check out some of the others on your list that I haven't yet read.
I feel your pain on those pesky 10 - 15 pounds. Before kids I was ON POINT with my eating and workouts, and it's just HARDER now. Blech. I have been at the same weight (10 lbs from goal weight) forever now - guess it's good that I'm not really going up any, but I'm not losing either. I am going to make an effort to rededicate my healthy eating habits along with you. It's silly - it should be pretty easy to lose 10 pounds in 30 days, shouldn't it? Arrrggghhh!!!!
Good luck to you!
Merci,
Shannan
Me Talk Pretty One Day is Hilarious and made me an instant fan of David Sedaris. The Glass Castle was funny and sad at the same time but a great read none the less. What a fun giveaway! I am currently reading (5 pages in actually) The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. Happy Reading!
Thanks for the recommendations. I recently read The Help and loved it. Can't wait for more from that author.
And good luck on the weight loss...I have recently lost 40lbs and know it is hard work, but totally worth it. Nothing tastes as good as being thin feels!
Alison
Good luck on the wieght loss, I should be trying also, but the old saying "Everybody loves a fat man" is my motto!
I do love that picture at the top. Will that be you soon (plus a very large pile of paperbacks by your side)? There's a few on that list of 'am I the only one not to have read...' that I need to get through too. Recently found Eat, Pray, Love which is wonderful. I hope the film version does it justice!
Good, good selections. Point of observation: I'm not sure I understand how they're going to make a movie of "eat, pray, love" and deliver with imagery and dialogue what I (and others) got mostly from Elizabeth Gilbert's ruminations. But then what I know about movies you can fit into a small bag of extra-butter popcorn. Hope your computer woes are coming to an end. Love the atmosphere of your blog. I think you must be a truly good-hearted and generous person in life because your posts always reflect that. Have a joyful holiday.
Good books, Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, and THe Help, I read last summer, great reads, great characters, and I've lived in the Seattle Tacoma area. Good luck on the weight loss, I put on a lot this winter with my dad's cancer diagnosis, now it needs to come off.
well done Simone on the race!!
Great reading list!!
Beautiful post hun. That is wonderful reading list. I don't know how many times I've started Eat Pray & Love over and over. Not that I don't love it, which I do, especially since the movie will be out soon. I hope I can complete it by then.
Kudos to you on your future goals. So proud of you and am confident you will do fine.
Have a great day...oxox
great choices!
mp
Hey! You're reading list is fabulous! I love it! I heard The Help was good! I definitely will be adding some of these titles to my list as well!
I also have a blog award for you!! Just stop by and see!
xoxo,
Allison
Renting yourself out as a babysitter is the BEST idea! So wonderful that you're doing that. It's a cause near and dear to my heart!
bikinis & books -- i've had the same things on my mind!
re: bikinis ... do you think it's possible to have a virtual "workout buddy"? have decided i need to be a regular at yoga and swimming, but it would be so much more fun with a girlfriend to keep me company.
re: books ... i recently asked my readers for suggestions to fill my beach book bag and they came up with some great ones (a few of which you also listed). but i'm always always on the lookout for more good books to read so very happy to come upon your selections.
eat half whatever you usually eat and body brush, morning and night....too easy? It works believe me but nobody tells you cos it would make a very thin diet book!! The Year Of Magical Thinking is an increadibly honest account of the maddness of grief, a brilliant read....
I just loved, loved, loved The Help & Eat, Pray, Love. A few of your picks are on my to-read list! Am gonna check out a few others! Who knows? Maybe I'll win 'em...!
So many good books on your list! Enjoy all that reading. I have to take a huge exam in 2 weeks (yikes!) and then I am going to read fun stuff instead of technical, lame-o stuff and I would love a new book! Thanks for sharing!
That's quite a summer reading list! I have Girl With the Dragon Tattoo on mine as well. I did finsh The Help, and it is one of my favorite read in a long time!!
As for the no cookie rule, I too am on the wagon. Here's to a great 30 days!!!
I love reading ... and have read a few on your list and want to read the others!!
please enter me in the book giveaway. :) I've read quite a few of these wonderful books but there are some on the list that I've never even heard of. They look so good!
Here's to 10 lbs in 30 days. You can do it! (So can I) ;)
Ooo, a lot of those books are on my list, too! I adored Me Talk Pretty One Day, and I love Marian Keyes. Wonderful summer reading, and a nice giveaway :)
Love your list...I'm going away next week and you gave me some great ideas on what to read on the beach =)
I'm reading eat, pray, love! I like it, even though I don't agree with some things! Loved the Italy part (which I read when I was in Italy:) It was funny too! Good luck with your reading and with your campaign! Enjoy lovely summer days!
Kristin XO
Nothing like a holiday in France to motivate, right? What foods are you loving right now? Luckily, your favourite drink of Earl Grey tea is healthy....can you imagine if your favourite drink was hot chocolate or full-fat fruit smoothies?
Love your book list. Persist with The Book Thief if you can, it really is worth it. I've read alot of these, but there's a few there I'd love to investigate. Hotel on the Corner of Bitter & Sweet was on my "to read" list. I can't read Jodi Picoult though, I find her subjects too traumatising! (I know I'm in the vast minority here) Could be that I'm a complete wimp.
Hope you and your lovely ones are having a wonderful week as you countdown to the holiday! Meredy xo.
The Glass Castle is one of my all time fav books....it is a lot like the story of my childhood. I just love to read!! I hope you do well with your weight loss & your run. Goals are so important in our life! Go Girl!!!
I am leaving the same time you are and have the same motivation to lose about the same as you. When I went to Vegas this weekend I made sure that I worked out in the gym and I got up and swam laps in the pool in the morning and did some water aerobics too!
I have read some of your books listed and a few I have not...am I too late to enter the giveaway? :)
i'm adding some of those books to my to-read list..hope i'm not too late for the giveaway :)
Good selection...love reading anyway!!! I always find lovely tour "magic touch"....have a nice reading for me as well!!! Baci,Monica
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