Monday, September 24, 2012

MMGM in Real Life!

Well, I had every intention of e-mailing Shannon with my MMGM pick for this week but I started reading a new book and soon it was too late. Missed the boat. And I have to admit I was pampering myself a bit. Today at the library I grabbed a 2012 release by Harlen Coben. Yes, an adult book! This is only the second adult book I have read this year, but I do like this author's writing and his books are always quick reads for me.

So I'll just post a MG-related anecdote instead.

I don't actually get to Barnes and Noble very often, but my husband and I were out last night and dropped by for the last 10 minutes they were open. Of course I headed to the childrens' section and browsed the new releases. I was surprised to see how many books I recognised by the cover and/or title and/or author from the past couple months of participating in MMGM and blogging in general. I should have taken a picture! There was The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls by Claire Legrand, What Came from the Stars by Gary D. Schmidt, One Year in Coal Harbor by Polly Horvath, Third Grade Angels by Jerry Spinelli , Malcom at Midnight by W. H. Beck, and Mira's Diary: Lost in Paris by Marissa Moss. Just to name a few! They looked so pretty sitting there, smug little rectangles of perfection. Yes, they know they look cool. MG book covers are the best and (since in the new release section the books face outward) it is a treat to see them all together. I was sad not to have more time to admire them.

I was also slightly jealous. I realized that for people to have blogged about these books they must have had an ARC. I have yet to read an ARC and think it would be fun to be one of the first. One of the first to (hopefully) enjoy and then spread the word. For now I will put these on my mental TBR list and look for them at the library (I have a very low, if not non-existent book budget.) We did decide to let the kids order from the Scholastic Book Clubs but they have to put up half the price. Unfortunately there is no one to put up half for me when I am salivating in the book store!

Happy Monday everyone!

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Marvelous Middle Grade Monday (MMGM) was created by Shannon Messenger. To find other bloggers participating in MMGM go to her blog for a list of links.

20 comments:

  1. I hear you on the book budget. Sigh.

    Last time I was in Barnes and Noble I saw a bunch of books I knew from blogging. It was so exciting. I kept wanting to grab the person next to me and say "I know this author!"

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    1. Maybe one day you will grab the person next to you and say "this is MY book!"

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  2. I only read adult books when I am on vacation, and I tend to read Pulitzer prize winners and such, just to keep up. Evidently among non-writers that's not "beach reading" but whatever, it is to me.

    I recently got my first ARC from a writer friend, but I also will be getting a book from an author I don't know as well but I am interviewing her on my blog. A lot of the MMGM people get ARC's from writers once they've been doing it a while, is my guess. I don't know if they ask for them or not, though...I think it depends on the author.

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    1. Yes well, adult books are my "beach reading" material even when not at the beach!

      That will be fun to get an ARC and interview an author you don't know... will be looking forward to that!

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  3. Hey hey! Great post...and what a nice line up of books to have seen at the store! I too know what you mean re the book budget. Although, now that my kids are grown I have been know to sacrifice new shoes, pants etc etc to buy a few more books, lol.

    And---speaking of books. You won a copy of Tilly's Midnight Garden from me. If you email me your address I will get it in the mail straight away. my email address is justdeb AT debamarshall dot com Congrats!

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    1. Just now catching up for the week. So Yay for me! I will be emailing you shortly. Thanks so much Deb!

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  4. MG covers are awesome. Just yesterday I was browsing the Target ad and saw JK Rowling's new cover for her adult novel. My daughter and I talked about her new book being for adults, and I asked, "What do you think of the cover?" She replied, "Covers of adult books are so boring." I agreed wholeheartedly.

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    1. It is kind of "blah" compared to the exciting covers of the HP books... but who knows, it might be the perfect cover for that book... except if it doesn't attract readers and no one buys it. Well that won't happen, she is J.K. Rowling afterall.

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  5. I used to have a virtually bottomless book budget... until I became a mom. Now when I see a new release I'm salivating on I just put it on hold at my library until it becomes available.

    Of course I've been lucky with winning a few ARCs from following MG debut authors and some MG writers group blog.

    And talking about covers, you are absolutely right. I always make a bee line for children's section at BN before going through YA and adult sections.

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    1. Winning books has been a plesant surprise on this blogging adventure. I have won six books this year, and am starting to have a few giveaways myself. So much fun!

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  6. Yay for the new release shelf! I recognize those titles you mention. :) And yes, those covers are always the best. YA covers can be more dramatic, with clean, simple lines, but MG covers always attract me the most. (And I second Barbara's veto of J.K. Rowling's new adult book cover - ugh!)

    That IS a conundrum, wanting to read all those lovely books, but not having the budget. My supply of arcs will be dwindling now, since I'm no longer working at the bookstore (and I'm going to start going to the library once my TBR stack disappears), but a few publishers have agreed to continue sending me arcs. Of course, I've also been blogging for three years.

    But gosh darn it, Julie, you're making me feel guilty. If you respond to me privately (I'm subscribing to comments so you should be able to email me directly), I'll see what I can do to get you an arc or two. You can also sign up for netgalley (but I still prefer reading actual paper books).

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    1. You are so sweet Joanne! I prefer actual paper books too, not only for the reading experience but to be able to pass the book on via MMGM! :-)

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  7. Thanks for sharing! I'm off to put as many of these books on my library hold shelf as I can.

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    1. Thanks for stopping by Jenn! I haven't actually read any of these books, but I hope you find a few good ones! :-)

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  8. Yes, isn't it cool to see books by authors you know! I've only gotten a few arcs in my first year of blogging, just keep at it, you'll be surprised at the connections you make over time.

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    1. I've already made a lot of great connections and am looking forward to seeing where this blogging adventure takes me. Hopefully to some ARCs. LOL!

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  9. I know what you mean about the book budget thing. Such a bummer! I always have to hold back in bookstores when I just want to go crazy and buy a million things. *sigh*

    I did receive an ARC of Caroline Starr Rose's MAY B. I think that's the only ARC I've read. It was awesome!! I felt so honored and Olivia was so excited she was one of the first ones to read that book IN THE WHOLE WORLD. ha!

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    1. Yes, that is exactly how I felt (probably a little less giddy though) when a friend set a bunch of ladies up to see the first Twilight movie (I know, I know) the day BEFORE it opened. It was fun!

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  10. I'm continuing to love your blog :)
    So true, my money-train is running on empty , so to the library's waiting list I go :) I miss buying and owning books though.
    In the meantime, all those your mentioned will be on my TBR list....I am actually quite overwhelmed with HOW much I want to read. TOo many to read :)
    And super excited about the Gary D. Schmidt novel you mentioned above. I hadn't realized he had a new one coming out. I fell in love with The Wednsday Wars and Okay For Now last winter and loved those books so much.

    Also, I tend to fly between genres when reading (MG, YA, Adult fiction, nonfiction). In a way I worry this hinders my focus on writing in one genre, but the reader in me can't help it :)

    Oh, and I was meaning to mention to you (since you mentioned a fondness for the Clementine books before), have you ever read the scholastic books "Dear Dumb Diary" ...they are so fun and hilarious really (and yes, I'm 31 years old , oops). But you might get a laugh from them :)

    Jill

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    1. Thanks so much for your comments Jill. I am glad you are enjoying it here!

      I think reading MG and YA would help you distiguish what does belong in each genre. MG characters talk and interact in very different ways than YA characters and by reading both you get a better understanding of that. Good reasoning, right?!

      I have not read the Dear Dumb Diary books, but my 10-year-old (son) read one recently and seemed to enjoy it! :-)

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