Wonder Book is Wunderbar!

Today after my sister got home from work we went to Wonder Books (Book Alcove). I love to visit used book stores in other states and it was nice of my sister to let me spend a couple of hours rummaging around the books looking for certain books...as they, like all good used book stores, do not keep a computerized inventory and my sister complained about the smell (old books...ie. mildewy).

It's kind of hard to find because it's in a building behind a strip mall and down and hill.

They were having a buy one get one of children's and young adult books...um...so, I bought several *cough, cough* books...here's a list:

1] Henry and Ribsy by Beverly Cleary...it was on my mind because of last weeks BTT.
2] Final Friends Book 1: Then Party by Christopher Pike...I've been missing it for years, I mean since the 90s.
3] OK, so I got on a memory lane kick and bought several thrillers from my youth, including...Secret, Silent, Screams by Joan Lowery Nixon.
4] Chinese Handcuffs by Chris Crutcher...it's one of those great teenage boy coming of age in the midst of tragedy books like Ordinary People.
5] Danny The Champion of the World by Roald Dahl...a book I've been wanting to read since I saw the movie with Jeremy Irons and his son.
6] Cat Ate My Gymsuit by Paula Danziger...a book I read with my niece, a book that really touched me as a student and, now as a teacher and parent.

And, we'll have to go back again...soon!

PS...I just typed this on my sisters iPad and will add links and such later! Update: links and pic added 7/17/11

50 Books in a Year: Book #3 Alice I Have Been

          There is nothing better in the world, than nonchalantly browsing through a book store.

          My friends and I spent our first Friday back from break bumming around B&N--after a much needed pants excursion (I hate shopping), I needed something relaxing.

          We split up and roamed around, but all ended up converging at the 'new in paperback' section looking at and commenting on the covers--Lord knows a cover can make or break a book. All of us (husband and tiny tot included) stopped at the cover of the book Alice I Have Been.

           Now, you have to remember that, at the time, I was reading another book...but, I couldn't help that I wanted to start this book right away...it's got a recommendation from the lady author who won't stop writing her friggin' book series; it must be good. I mean look at the cover, you can tell it's going to be about the REAL Alice; Alice Liddell and her family, especially sister Lorina (Ina).
            I enjoy when authors take a fiction story and make it real or give it a twist like Wicked, and other books by Gregory Macguire, Beastly, and A Kiss in Time by Alex Finn, The Wide Sargasso Sea,  Beauty, Ella Enchanted, The Stinky Cheese Man, Pemberley and those silly monster books using Jane Austen novels (Pride and Prejuide and Zombies and Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters). And, I enjoy those stories that take something that's real and add, what some believe to be the truth, like Becoming Jane, From Hell, all those books by Phillipa Gregory, especially The Other Boleyn Girl, and The White Queen, Finding Neverland (The Man Who Was Peter Pan) and this book by Melanie Benjamin.

           My friend got the book for her Kindle several days ago and has been talking about it so much that finally we got it on the Nook. I've also recommended that my cousin and I start reading it together, I'm so glad she is (you know who you are!).

           What happens when Alice grows up? That's the question, right?

           So, far I have not been disappointed with how Benjamin is choosing to answer.