Tumblr Style Tuesday

This dainty little book corner is everything. From the Tiffany blue painted walls, to the shelves, to the comfy seat, to the leopard print, and finally rest your eyes on the tea cup sitting on the floor. Even the seat design resembles the letter "M." (Standing for Marie, of course.)

You are invited to walk on the books after kindly removing your shoes. If only I had hardwood floors...

If only I knew how to play piano...

This is how my staircase will look if I don't stop hoarding books.

Books, Beach, & BBQ

Books, Beach, and BBQ on deck. 

Have a safe, fun 4th of July! 

Pick Up The Pieces

Iyanla Vanzant is a woman of color with flaws, weaknesses, strengths, gifts, and a vision. You may recognize her from The Oprah Winfrey Show. You may already be familiar with her books. But Peace From Broken Pieces is different. It's not the typical self-help, preachy book filled with devotions and tips for women. It is more of a memoir. A look into Ms. Iyanla's life, her personal journey, her family struggles, and career path. It doesn't get more personal than this.


The prologue begins with Ms. Iyanla reliving Christmas Day in 2003. It is 1:00 a.m. and she's awake at her daughter Gemmia's house. The entire family is there reminiscing about the good 'ole days in Brooklyn. Gemmia was slipping in and out of consciousness before taking her last breath. Iyanla's beloved daughter wasn't the only one to die that Christmas morning. So did her marriage, her ministry, her career, her vision, and her life's purpose as she'd known it. Of course by losing all of this suddenly, a part of Iyanla herself died. This was the moment she realized her life had fallen apart.


Do you ever wake up one day and realize your life has fallen apart? Your dreams have fallen to the wayside. Life happened and screwed up your personal agenda. It's very hard to determine that one particular event that causes things to fall apart. Often times it doesn't happen suddenly, but instead piece by piece. Iyanla writes candidly about these pieces that broke her life.


Her friends and family encouraged her to write about it all. Leaving The Oprah Winfrey Show (her version), starting her own show and failing, ending her 37-year relationship through a divorce by e-mail, losing her mother to breast cancer, losing her daughter to colon cancer, ultimately losing her wits and contemplating suicide. She writes about becoming a New York Times bestselling author, but damn near homeless. And she also tells readers about friends, family, prayer, and faith that helped her through it all. Through her words, I felt her emotion through the e-pages. I felt her pain, struggle, joy, fear, anger, and urge to fight. Oh, I even felt her tears and then finally her peace.


Throughout the memoir-type book, Iyanla drops jewels of knowledge. The priestess writes lessons in a non-preachy way. Some lessons you pick up on your own through reading about the details of her life. I found myself thinking, "Okay, this a mistake I won't make." It's a book filled of cause-and-effect examples, along with karma. It also provides a great example of how people will put on a cute face and keep up appearances, when behind closed doors there is terror and turmoil. You're scared to ask for outside help. You're scared to reveal true feelings and let your struggle be known. Instead, you go broke keeping up with the Joneses and holding it all in. Sound familiar? We all know these kind of people; I may have even just described you. 


I took so many notes that I'm sure to review again when necessary. I can't recommend this book enough. Even if you think you aren't going through something in life, it is worthy of your time and brain space. I was never a fan of hers. I actually never paid that much attention to her books before. But I am definitely glad I tried this one. Check out the trailer below and add Peace from Broken Pieces to your reading pile.

Title: Peace from Broken Pieces: How to Get Through What You're Going Through
Author: Iyanla Vanzant
Published: November 2010
Pages: 305 pages
Edition: eBook
Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

Series Sunday

Series Sunday is a new bookish meme hosted by yours truly, Literary Marie of Precision Reviews. I encourage all of my fellow book bloggers and bookhearts to play along. 

• Read an installment of a series.
• Post a review/recommendation on your blog, FB, Twitter, Goodreads, or Shelfari pages.
• Share your review/recommendation by posting the link in the comments section below.
• Include the title, author, and name of the series so that other Series Sunday participants can add the book to their TBR Lists.

My Series Sunday pick is Smokin' Seventeen, the 17th book in the Stephanie Plum series. The New Jersey bounty hunter and friends are back. Dead bodies keep turning up at the empty construction lot of the Vincent Plum Bail Bonds office. Between finding the identity of the killer, Stephanie of course has to capture two FTA's (Failure to Appears). The difference in this installment is Stephanie's family and friends urge her to finally choose between the two men in her life. Trenton cop, Joe Morelli is her on-again-off-again boyfriend. Security expert Ranger is her mysterious protector. A third man enters her life: a high school classmate who just moved back to town. 

I could read this with my eyes closed it was so predictable. I don't even laugh at the jokes anymore but just roll my eyes. The only thing smokin' about this book were my tires driving back to the library so I could return it. The same events happen in the same order. Stephanie still can't choose between Morelli and Ranger. Connie and Lula are still working, eating donuts and fried chicken in a bucket. Grandma Mazur still hangs out at the funeral home. And Grandma Bella casts the eye. Readers figure out the obvious killer early on, while the characters are still baffled. Although, this book attempted to incorporate a vampire too. Failed attempt!

The back of the hardcover has two purple stickers: "I ♡ Morelli" and "I ♡ Ranger." There is also an ad for the 18th installment which is releasing this November. How far is this series going to run??? I haven't decided yet whether I'll continue this series. On one hand, I'm interested to know who Stephanie finally chooses. But I am not willing to wait until Final Forty. According to the video interview below, Janet Evanovich doesn't plan to end the series anytime soon. Ma'am, wrap it up!

Title: Smokin' Seventeen: A Stephanie Plum Novel
Author: Janet Evanovich
Published: June 2011
Pages: 320 pages
Edition: Hardcover
Rating: ♥♡

US vs. UK

Everyone knows I'm completely obsessed with the UK. "US vs. UK" was created by Jenny from Wondrous Reads and it compares covers from books released in the two countries. In the spirit of Independence Weekend, there are several comparisons today.

US

UK

US

UK

Today's first comparisons are Holly's Inbox and Holly's Inbox: Scandal in the City by Holly Denham. Both of the US covers show a receptionist sitting at her desk, presumably typing or browsing in her e-mail inbox. Both of the UK covers just have fancy pretty script writing for the titles. I'm going to split the baby on this one. For the first cover, I favor the US version because it is true to the plot. For the second cover, I favour the UK version just because of the colors and city backdrop.  

US

UK

Next, let's compare Then Came You: A Novel by Jennifer Weiner. The US cover features a sitting young woman dressed business casual viewing the city. She appears to be waiting for someone or something. Or maybe she's just daydreaming about her future. The UK cover also features a woman dressed business casual carrying either a briefcase or handbag. She appears to be overlooking the city as well and walking forward. Not really sure why there are random birds flying. Hands down, I favor the US cover. It's modern, like it's story line.

US

UK

The next comparison is The Jane Austen Book Club by Karen Joy Fowler. The US version is quite plain and boring. While the UK version has six different styled chairs for each of the book club members. How cute and appropriate. I fancy the UK cover.


Which covers do you favor?
Total: US 5, UK 4

News You Can Use about Borders - Part 4

Borders announced it accepted a $215 million offer from Direct Brands (owners of Book of the Month Club and Columbia House). Direct Brands will also assume $220 million of Border's liabilities. I wonder if more stores are going to close. While it is sad, my inner bibliophile is geeked up for more book liquidation sales.

Source: GalleyCat

First Lines Friday

First Lines Friday is a new bookish meme hosted by yours truly, Literary Marie of Precision Reviews. I encourage all of my fellow book bloggers and bookhearts to play along. 

• Grab your current read(s).
• Share the first line(s).
• Include the title and author so that other FLF participants can add the book to their TBR Lists.

"The man in the suit was watching me again."

~ Then Came You: A Novel by Jennifer Weiner