2011 August

Who Reads Books?

August 30, 2011 by Mocha Girl Alysia Leave a Comment

Vintage Woman with a Book

Do you sometimes feel like the only person in your group of friends who reads? The only person that has a library card and uses it? The only person that actually reads books off paper?

I mean in the age of e-readers, nooks, kindles and ipads, and audio books, book readers are few and far between. If you asked, let’s say 5 random people on the street “When was the last time you completely read a book? From cover to cover.” What do you think the answers would be?

I ran across an article on Mental Floss. You have to read this. This article confirms you, the book reader are a dying breed. What do you think?

Mental_Floss Blog » Who Reads Books?.

Filed Under: Home Tagged With: black women, Books, good question, hot topics, Read, women

New Monday’s Memory

August 29, 2011 by Mocha Girl Alysia Leave a Comment

Happy Monday Everyone

I know your inbox, Facebook, blogs, Twitter accounts are full of affirmations and happy thoughts to get your week started off right. Take a look at Monday Memory and write a comment or review on the new book from your childhood.

Have a great week and keep the pages turning!

Filed Under: Home Tagged With: black women, book club, Books, children's books, Comments, kid books, Monday, Read, women

Sad news but Yeahhhhhh me!!

August 28, 2011 by Mocha Girl Alysia 2 Comments

Good news and bad news! First the bad news…Boarders in El Segundo, Ca is closing. There are soo few bookstore besides Barnes and Nobles left on the westside. No more stores full of books, music playing in the background, and a cappuccino in a to go cup with unattended two year old running around.

Good news!!! When a bookstore closes, everything goes on sale. They are selling everything for 50% to 60% off today.

So far I have bought
The Story of Beautiful Girl (hardcover) by Rachel Simon for $6.00
One Fifth Ave by Candace Bushnell (hardcover) for $3.00
Two blank journals for $2.00
Bridge of Sand (Hardcover)by Janet Burroway for $1.50
The Monsters of Templeton (Audio) for $4.00

Second trip in the same day (I know, I know) I picked up
Aloha quilt (paperback) by Jennifer Chiaverini for $6.00
Viola in the Spotlight (hardcover) by Adriana Trigiani for $8.49
Secret Lives of Dresses (paperback) by Erin McKean for $5.60.

The last Boarders store closing I went to was in the Valley and $75.00 and 3 hours later, I walked out wanting more books.

Lord help me to not spend the whole rent check in here.

The clerk says the store will be closed the last week in September.

Filed Under: Home Tagged With: Books, Bookstore, sale

Upcoming Giveaway!

August 27, 2011 by Mocha Girl Alysia Leave a Comment

Sunday (the first Sunday in September) will be the 1st First Sunday Book review. So, to kick it off with Mocha Girl style we are going to have a GIVE A WAY for the 5th review anyone (member or non-member) posts. Here are the rules.

1. Go to First Sunday in the menu column on the right and click.

2. Read about the book we are reviewing.

3. At the bottom of the article will be a comment section . Leave a review.

(It has to be clean and more than 10 words.)

TIPS: Here are some tips for writing the review.

a.) Why did you read it? Why?

b.) What about the book you loved? Why?

c.) Would you recommend the book to your BFF? Why?

If you are number 5 then you win an Amazon.com gift card from Mocha Girls Read.

Check back and see what the inspirational book for September will be.

Good Luck!!

Filed Under: Giveaways, Home Tagged With: Amazon, Comments, First Sunday, Giveaway, Read, September, Sunday

Would You Buy Your Kid a Diet Book?

August 25, 2011 by Mocha Girl Alysia 2 Comments

Ok, this is a crazy one. A diet book aimed at…wait for it..kids! According to the article below, the book is aimed at 14-year-old girls and older. But the cover and the language are for a younger audience.

If you are a parent of an overweight child, by the time you think you need this book, it might be…let’s just say… toooo late! Her self-esteem is looking up at the bottom. She would have endured you, family, friends and complete strangers comments, questions and just meanness (aka bullies). All young girls starting out in elementary school and up deal with one thing more than anything else. FITTING IN!!

Do you think the Black Community will embrace this idea? Share your thoughts.

Article below by MomFinds,

Yes, this is serious. Maggie Goes on a Diet is a new children’s diet book that’s slated to arrive in bookstores this October.

The story is simple enough. Maggie is 14 and overweight. “Through time, exercise and hard work, Maggie becomes more and more confident and develops a positive self image” the book description reads.

Seems harmless enough, right? Obesity is a sad reality that some of our children have to deal with, so why not offer a book that puts it all in perspective for them? Call me crazy, but I’m not opposed to children’s diet books. I just think choosing the target audience is critical. And this is where I think Maggie Goes on a Diet fails. The story’s heroine is 14 but the book is written at the reading level of children ages 4-8. Why the disparity?

The fact remains, Maggie is breaking new ground in the world of children’s books and as scary as it is to have to talk to kids about dieting, it’s a reality for some parents. So why not have a book that makes it a little easier?

I haven’t read this one yet, but it sounds like it offers a healthy, balanced plan for weight loss and healthy living. It may be sad that we even need books like this, but isn’t is better to have a book the deals with the topic responsibly rather than having children starve themselves… or remain dangerously overweight because no one wants to face reality.

What do you think? Do you think children’s diet books are a bad idea? Would you buy one for your kids? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.