Women Reading (Nov. 16)


Women Reading (weekly)
*Every Wednesday*
Founder: Sasha Soren (Random Magic)
Come see what's news!
Edition: Nov. 16, 2011
Coverage through Nov. 22

Art and Quotes

[Title unknown], by Delphine Cossais
All books are either dreams or swords.
- Amy Lowell

Discussions and Book Chats


Bookie Brunch question: Does cover art influence what you read? If you aren't familiar with an author, and you don't like the cover art, would you try the book? Have you ever loved the cover art but didn't enjoy the book?

I think cover art has more influence on readers than some people think it does. If a book has an appealing cover, I think it gets picked up more. I see this all the time in my library - there are books with beautiful covers, and they get checked out, even if they aren't probably the most amazing read, and there are other books which get great reviews, and sound good, but because the cover art isn't too good, they just sit on the shelf. - Jo (host), The Fluidity of Time

*****Join this discussion*****

Events and Parties



Nov. 10-17: Visit: Escape from the everyday with a week-long trip to yesteryear, at this fun Prohibition-era party. Organized by @RandomMagicTour and featuring lots of great bloggers, Guys and Molls is a fabulous jaunt into the days of 1930s mobsters. Includes event goodies.



Nov. 14-19: Visit or Reply to RSVP: All lovers of Jane Austen or the Regency era are invited to attend this year's Pemberley Ball (shown above) held every November and hosted by vvb32reads (@vvb32reads).

More information on Pemberley Ball is available below:
Pre-event reading from Pride and Prejudice: Listen
Last season: The Party Scouts | Gallery of Gowns | Dance Card
RSVP: Reply to RSVP for this year's ball

Memes and Features
(Incl. reading challenges)


Take Five series: Nov. 1-30, 2011: Visit: The Take Five series is a month-long feature this November, featuring writing advice to help with NaNoWriMo. The series is curated by author Sasha Soren (Random Magic). Browse all posts



Home for the Holidays reading challenge: Nov. 28 - Dec. 31, 2011: Visit or Sign Up: A Blooming Spirit (@Marie_Chamorro) invites you take part in Home for the Holidays reading challenge. Message from the host: I am hoping you will join me and take on the challenge of reading your favorite winter holiday books, as well as some new ones.

Videos and Vloggers



Shown above: Live the Language - Beijing. From a charming set of four short films about the language of a particular city. This one is for Beijing, and displays words for various items a traveler might experience. The series of short films are an advertisement for a language learning school called Education First (EF), but they're cute and quirky on their own. We'll include one of each of the films in each edition of Women Reading. Previously covered: London.




Shown above: Video profile of artist Delphine Cossais - one of her works is shown under the art and quotes section of this issue of Women Reading.




Shown above: Vlogger Christina (@Booklover_622, of I Love Books, discusses a traditional mafia code of honor, in video feature, 'Mob Rules.' Part of Guys and Molls party.




Shown above: Vlogger Janine (@CurlyGirl11), of The Book Nerd, shares some of her five favorite things in books.




Shown above: Vlogger SableCaught shares a bit of a break for NaNoWriMo participants, in her brief video satire of a future writer at work. The madness! The madness! NaNoWriMo is the abbreviation for National Novel Writing Month, which runs from Nov. 1-30, 2011.

Book Adaptations and Media Marvels
(Incl. movies, music, games, tech, publishing news, other.)

Shown above: Derek Jacobi as Brother Cadfael
Well, here's an interesting spin on the concept of 'try before you buy' that might be welcome news for folks who enjoy British programming and costume drama.

Acorn Media, which owns the rights to detective series Cadfael, in addition to several other titles, is making full episodes of various shows available for a limited time, with an onscreen option to buy episodes in DVD format or have them available in streaming format as part of an Acorn TV subscription. Details: Register to watch free episodes, with option to upgrade to subscription.



Watch: 'The Virgin in the Ice' - Available Nov. 21, 2011
Preview clip shown above

About: Brother Cadfael is a 12th-century Benedictine monk and former Crusader who uses his worldly knowledge, apothecary skills, and keen intuition to solve crimes. Based on the bestselling novels by Ellis Peters, this series is a fascinating mix of costume drama, Middle Ages spirituality, and classic whodunit. In this episode, Cadfael revisits his secular past while investigating the death of a young woman found frozen at the bottom of a brook.




Shown above: Author interview with Erica Bauermeister. You can win a copy of the book she's discussing here, at a November Bookie Brunch hosted at The Fluidity of Time. Browse details

Goodies and Giveaways
WIN: Enter: Through December 15, 2011: Win a great time - just add nibbles and a few buddies, to host your own 1930s mob movie marathon! Part of Guys and Molls party - win a cute prize pack of a multi-title DVD (shown above) and mobster-speak flashcard set (shown below).



Preview: Check out the deck
Win this: Details
Through Dec. 15, 2011


WIN: Enter: Through December 15, 2011: Win a delicious book and DVD set of a creepy classic, Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, as part of Bookie Brunch - Halloween edition. Interior artwork shown below. Browse details



Win: Enter: Through December 15, 2011: Win a charming book for a favorite foodie, or just a cozy read for chilly weather. Part of Bookie Brunch, host is The Fluidity of Time.
Preview book | Browse offer details


WIN this book at Bookie Brunch, offer open through December 15, 2011.
About: When publisher Thomas Cadell declined an unsolicited manuscript offered to him by a Hampshire clergyman in 1797, he made one of the biggest mistakes in publishing history, for the manuscript was an early version of Pride and Prejudice, and the clergyman's daughter was destined to become one of the most recognizable names in literature... (More)


WIN: Enter: Through December 3, 2011: Titles of your choice up to value of USD 20 from The Book Depository. Offered by Librarian Mouse (@Sontrei).


WIN: Enter: Through December 2, 2011: Win up to USD 500 of quirky Chronicle Books titles - plus a matching big box of the same titles you've selected, for one other person. There are a few rules, but they're all simple. (Details)


WIN: Enter: Through November 28, 2011: Lucy of Moonlight Gleam's Bookshelf (@MoonlightGleams) is celebrating her one-year blogoversary and offers three winners a Book Depository certificate up to USD 10 each.

WIN: Enter - Thru Nov. 21: Win this charming miniature of a late-20th-century perfume that wears like an older, more glamorous classic. Launched by design house Givenchy (founded by Hubert de Givenchy), Amarige is classified as a sharp, oriental, floral fragrance. Created by master perfumer Dominique Ropion. This timeless fragrances is a brunch gift, part of the Bookie Brunch discussion about favorite classic novels at This Miss Loves to Read (@MissIrenne)

Grapevine, Last-Minute News and Misc.




Seen around: Jodie at Books for Company (@BooksforCompany) also runs a cute site listing UK and international book giveaways. Here are some of her recent listings: Jane Austen title, book and DVD set, others.



Just for fun: Spend a few diverting moments finding out all kinds of 19th century synonyms or rough equivalents for all kinds of words, with the Jane Austen Thesaurus. Type in a word and the widget gives you a list of words that Regency-era writer Jane Austen might have used in her works. Try it (Tip credit: @JaneAustenLIVES)


Book Nooks

Source: Daily Dose

Upcoming



December 1-24, 2011: Visit or Sign up: Hosts Kailana from The Written World and Marg (@MargReads) from Adventures of an Intrepid Reader invite you to be part of the virtual Advent Tour for 2011. This is the sixth year for the event, and it has become part of the book blogging community's holiday tradition.

From the hosts: Each day anyone who wants to participate takes turns sharing a treat with our friends here in blogland. It could be something about your family traditions, recipes, your country's holiday traditions, or a favorite Christmas memory, movie, book, song...anything you like. Even if you don't celebrate Christmas, we would like to hear about what your family does during the holiday season, whether it be celebrating Hanukkah or Kwanzaa (or a pagan holiday, etc.) or whatever it is that you do during this time. Visit or Sign up



Dec. 1-31, 2011: Snowed In: Visit or Participate: What Book is That? (@whatbookemily) will be hosting an indie author event (shown above) in December. Event description provided by blogger: Every day in December, a different indie book will be reviewed. Each review will have a giveaway attached for e-books, print books or gift certificates. Stop by every day for a new chance to win!




Jan. 1- Dec. 31, 2012: Visit or Sign up: The Greek Classics reading challenge arrives in 2012. From the host: Take a look at the roots of Western civilization and ponder the great questions of existence by reading some ancient Greek literature. Participants will be reading from one to 12 classics of Greek literature. Host is Jean of Howling Frog Books and Musings of a Bookworm, no contact info available. Visit or Sign up

Participate in Women Reading
(Weekly, every Wednesday - or every Sunday, for weekend edition)

Notes
Header image: [Title unknown], by Delphine Cossais
Header image source: Lourania
More images by Delphine Cossais: Tumblr mentions
Bio info: Amy Lowell

Talk to Us
Are you planning something cool for your blog, or have you heard about something great that we might have missed this week? Tell us about it!: @RandomMagicTour





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