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Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Books I Loved in 2010 Part 2


First off, thanks for your kind wishes about the book signing. It was awesome. I'll post a picture soon of the unbelievable crowd....we sold out of books! Well, not all of the books in Barnes and Noble...of course they had more books....just my books. Which was cool, except that we could have sold way, way more. Oh well. I was just happy that I was very busy and not having to direct people to the biography section or something.

It does happen sometimes.

Anyway, I wanted to let you know about another book I loved in 2010. This book has been around for a while. Actually, it has been in my house for a while. My daughter who is in college read it back when she was in 6th grade and I found it while going through the book case.





This is such a fun, sweet, and touching book. I recently found out that it is a movie, which is on video already, but I am not certain if I want to see it or not. You see, to me the brilliance of this book was its subtlety. This is a book that slowly warms your feet, your hands, all the way up to your heart and soul.

Wendelin Van Draanen masterfully weaves a story told from different perspectives, that of a boy and a girl, and how their lives intersect....and how they feel about it.

Just such a special book. I asked myself several times as I read it, "How did she do that? How did she do that?"

And the shift from boy to girl and back again just really worked. The setting is middle school, and Van Draanen captures the essence in such a unique and wonderful way.

Well done, Wendelin! (Say that three times fast if you can!)

Already in the comments, people are leaving me their favorite reads of the year, so keep them coming!

More soon!

hrh

17 comments:

Kelly H-Y said...

WAY TO GO on the book sales! So awesome! And, thanks for the book recommendation too!

Yat-Yee said...

Excellent news on your book signing. That's teach them not to stock enough of your books!

I will have to check out Flipped. Maybe it's the end of the year, but I have been doing a lot of book browsing lately.

Shannon Messenger said...

I have not had a chance to read this yet. Sounds like I need to.

And yay for selling out. So wish I could have been there!

L. T. Host said...

Another on my TBR. Thanks :)

Susan R. Mills said...

The cover alone makes me want to buy it! Congrats on the book sales.

Tricia J. O'Brien said...

Yay for the enthusiastic crowd at the booksigning!!!
A couple of my crit partners rave about Flipped, too. I shall have to read it.

Jessie Oliveros said...

Congratulations on the book sales. I just saw your website. Maybe I'm way behind but I didn't realize you had authored other books (other than your forthcoming book) besides your Good Knight books. You are just so cool.

MG Higgins said...

Oh, I can just imagine myself sitting alone at a book signing, answering people's questions about where the restroom is. Good for you!! Haven't read Flipped. I will now. I'm not sure if I have a favorite book of 2010. I'll have to take a look at my list to jog my memory.

Shannon O'Donnell said...

That is awesome, Shelley - how exciting!!

I have Flipped but haven't read it yet. I'm getting there, though. :-)

Unknown said...

Congrats on your wonderful book signing and sales! I wish I could have brought my girls, they love your Good Knight books and would be excited to find your latest books (and they are very patient in the B&N book signing lines lol!)

Will have to add Flipped to my wish list... that's the second one today!:)

Sharon K. Mayhew said...

I haven't read Flipped yet. But it sounds super. I'm loving the Wimpy Kid books. They are roll on the floor funny. I don't usually read funny books, so it's quite a change for me.

Jackee said...

Sold out is awesome! Congrats!

I haven't read Flipped, so I'll have to go and check it out. I read so many good books this year, but a few that came to mind are Mockingjay, The Red Pyramid, The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate, and Charles and Emma: A Leap of Faith. Awsome, all four.

Have a great day, Shelley!

Laura Pauling said...

Sounds like an awesome signing! Sold out! Wow. I love some older books, like way older. A good story never goes out of style. I've read the first couple of chapters of Steph's book and plan to read the rest at some point.

Stina said...

Great news about the book signing. Okay, not so much about them running out of the book, but that's better than having no one show up. Right? :)

lisa and laura said...

Hoorah for selling out at B&N! You are a rock star! Can you please come to Ohio already so we can stalk you in person? I'm dying for my kids to attend one of your readings. What part of California are you in? We're thinking of taking a family vacay to San Diego in the summer and it would be great for them to attend one of your readings then. Your books are some of their favorites!

storyqueen said...

Kelly-Thank you. I was quite happy, just a bit bummed we didn't have more!

Yat-Yee-Welcome back! Yes, I hope we'll have more books next time.

Shannon-You HAVE to read it. It's a quick read, but I just really liked it.

LT-You are welcome!

Susan-It IS an adorable cover, isn't it?

TRicia-I think you will like it. There is just something special about it.

Jessie-Well, yes, I am so cool. Hahahaha. Not really, more lucky than cool!

MG-I have been to those signings myself....as the author. It is lame. So, it's extra nice to have a great turn-out.

Shannon-You have to read it. I'll be interested to hear what you think.

Lindsay-Tell your girls thank you for liking my books. They are going to love the next one. The pictures are hilarious! Jennifer did such a good job.

Sharon-Curse that Wimpy Kid!! I had a similar idea about 5 years ago, but I didn't act on it......and now Jeff Kinney is a rock star!

Jackee-I love the cover of Calpurnia Tate. It is my favorite middle grade cover of the year!

Laura-I know! Some books really stand the test of time.

Stina-Yes! Far better than standing around looking desperate.

L and L- Come to San Diego!!! I'll probably do a signing sometime down at Yellow Book Road in SD when the A Good KNight's Rest relases. And I might be in Chicago in mid June for a public library mini tour. It's in the planning stages....But That is the closest I am coming to Cleveland so far....

Myrna Foster said...

I loved Flipped. I think I read it about six years ago, when my sis and her family were living with us. It was her book.

Congrats on the book sales!