Thursday, October 29, 2009

Rainy Day Reading--Suggestions Welcome!

I have two gift certificates for two different bookstores, and I really could use your help.

One of these is for a local store that sells general market books. It’s located in the quaint, historical section of my town. I’ve always loved going downstairs to the children’s section. The store owners have made it cozy, colorful, and inviting. Upstairs they have a little bit of everything. I'm already thinking of a few books I've spotted there during past perusals that I hoped to read someday.

The other certificate I have is for Barnes & Noble. I can spend hours browsing their shelves. Which book should I get? Or is there something new I've never thought of?

Rainy days are here, and aren't those some of the best days to spend with a good book? But I’d love to get your ideas on how to use my gift certificates.

To make it more interesting, I've turned this into a give-away.

Here's how it works:

Leave a comment with your book idea and a creative reason why I should read it on one of my rainy days. Be sure to include your e-mail address so I can contact you if you win. Include it with extra spaces or brackets so those creepy spiders don't phish your address.

One winner will receive a rainy day package of your choice.

My women’s devotional, Take A Closer Look—for Women, accompanied with rainy day surprises.

OR

More teen oriented: Live Free Journey—Small Group Study and God Allows U-Turns for Teens, with some fun rainy day surprises in this one as well.


Oh, just so you know--I love fiction and nonfiction. My interests are all over the place, so don’t hesitate to suggest something that is either the latest must-read or something unusual or uncommon. Feel free to offer more than one book suggestion, but each must have its own creative reason why I should read it on a rainy day.

Can't wait to hear your suggestions!

Jan

12 comments:

adge said...

I'd love the Take a closer look- for Women one. Let's see, a book on a rainy day...
Front Page Love by Paige Lee Elliston will make you grateful for rain and it's a nice read too.
You could get you something to laugh through the rainy days, such as Calm, Cool, and Adjusted by Kristin Billerbeck or A perfect Mess by Lisa Harper(which is nonfiction).
Or you could just read something that will take your mind away from your surroundings completely, such as a Yvonne Lehman book, and I'd recommend the Carolina 4-in-1s she has.
Good luck in your search for good books.
gasweetheart211[at]netscape[dot]net

Stephanie Morrill said...

The River King by Alice Hoffman is an awesome read. I think it's perfect for a rainy day because it has a haunting quality to it, and there's a lot of water :)

Unknown said...

I would highly recommend the Secret of the Rose series by Michael Phillips for your rainy day reading. This historical fiction series will have you so absorbed in its pages, that you'll scarcely notice the rhythmic pitter-patter of rain on your roof! In fact, when the sun begins to shine again, you'll wish for more rain so you can finish this fascinating series!

If you're looking for a rainy-day Bible study, I'd give two thumbs-up for the following: Lies Women Believe and the Truth that Sets Them Free by Nancy Leigh DeMoss (being set free allows the Sonshine to light up your soul!), Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World/Having a Mary Spirit, 2 excellent books by Joanna Weaver -they are sure to dispel the rain drops and let the Son shine in!! This contest is a great idea! Thanks for the opportunity to participate! Bring on the rain!!

Unknown said...

Oops! Forgot to include my e-mail address:
morgan(.)maria(dot)i@gmail(dot)com

Jan Kern said...

Great suggestions so far. Some are in the running.

I'm hoping visitors are picking up ideas for their own reading too!

Keep them coming!

Kristy said...

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen is the perfect book to get completely lost in. It's set during the Great Depression Era (historical fiction!). It tells the story of Jacob who is currently living in nursing home and looking back on his early life when he literally ran away and joined the circus. Who doesn't wish they could do that? It's one of those books that grabs you from the first page and keeps you turning them. Hope this helps with your search.

Kristy

princess_familiar100[at]yahoo.com

Jan Kern said...

Loving the suggestions and the creative reasons. This is fun!

Thanks for participating.

Jan

Jan Kern said...

By the way, this isn't closed yet. I'll give it until the 8th of November, so keep leaving those suggestions!

CeruleanCharm said...

I actually got a few good book recommendations from friends who are begging me to pick them up.
I haven't cracked it open yet, but have heard a very looong facebook discussion how wonderful
"Redeeming Love" By Francine Rivers is, and when I went to Barnes and Noble to pick it up, event the lady on the floor, and the cashier both were excited to talk about it. Christian Fiction, I'm not a fan of historic settings, but I am assured I will love it and other Francine Rivers books.
If you've got a good sense of humor, and like the bridget jones stories, Jane Green is a wonderfully hilarious author. I've read and reread several of her books. She has that great British wit about her.

Lady Araujo said...

Welcome Home Woodhouse Family is a wonderful read. It's perfect for a rainy day because Kimberley Woodhouse writes in a funny way. Sometimes, we laugh so hard. And we get involved in Woodhouse's story. and the most important this is that we discover laughter from pain and how God is great.

marthanadnny(at)hotmail(dot)com

Jan Kern said...

Okay, it's the 9th of November. Time for me to take a look at all your suggestions and choose a rainy day book.

I so appreciate you taking time to offer your ideas!

I'll contact you if I select your book, and I'll also announce it in my next blog post, on the 29th.

Happy rainy day reading (or whatever weather you're getting where you live)!

Jan

Jan Kern said...

Contest results:

This wasn't easy because I wanted to read ALL the books that I hadn't yet. And you had some really great rainy-day creativity going on there.

I involved my daughter in the selection since I had such a hard time narrowing it down.

I've chosen Maria Morgan . . . and quite honestly, I'm still trying to decide which books. When I walk into the bookstore I'll know. I may go for the fiction, by Micahel Phillips or in nonfiction, one of Joanna Weaver's boooks, which my daughter highly recommended.

Again, thanks everyone for participating. I enjoyed the suggestions!