Wednesday Grab Bag

Now is a special time of year to remember shelter pets. Not only do animals generally eat a little more in winter, but during the holiday season, we're so wrapped up in our lives that we sometimes forget about people and animals who need our help.

A lot of groups and organizations see to it that we do remember other people. Not so many remind us of animals in need.

The top item in the right sidebar is a button for the Animal Rescue Site. Please click through and click again at the site to give about half a bowl of food for shelter animals. Two clicks, that's all it takes. It's free.You can click every day.

Somewhere, a shelter pet will say thank you.

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If a tree fell in the forest . . . who would write the book?

Which came first . . . Chicken Little or Eggplant Parmigiana?

Duck, Duck, Goose . . . will one be your Christmas dinner?

What's Santa's favorite cookie?

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I'm taking a Tiki Survey.

What is the title and author of the favorite novel you've read this year?

It doesn't need to be a new book. It can be a classic, brand new, or anywhere in between.

UPDATE: I realized I neglected to tell you my favorite book of the year. It was one from my TBR shelf. Breaking Point by Suzanne Brockmann from 2006.

Comments

Joanne said…
I re-read an Alice Hoffman book from a few years ago. The Ice Queen, I really enjoyed the journey in that story, the author did a great job.
Linda Kage said…
Favorite book read this year???? I'm going to have to go with "Ten Things I Love About You" by Julia Quinn. There were simply some hilarious scenes in this book.
Helen Ginger said…
That's a tough question. I'm going to detour around it and say, all the books I've edited this year. I'm always amazed at the plots, storylines and characters that writers come up with. Each time I start reading a new manuscript that's sent to me, I'm excited and feel blessed to get to read them before anyone else.

Now, I'm off to click the Animal Rescue button.
Hannah said…
I would probably say, Hater by David Moody. It was an unexpected story and pleasure to read.
Carol Kilgore said…
Joanne - I'm glad you included why you enjoyed it.

Linda - I love when humor pops out of the story, too.

Helen - Perfectly OK. It's cool you get to read them first. And thanks for clicking.

Hannah - I'll have to check into this one - it's new to me. Thanks.
Maryannwrites said…
I read a number of books this year that stayed with me for a long time, but perhaps the best was The Help by Kathryn Stockett. It is such an honest and frank look at racial issues, with nothing held back. Wonderful characters that I could really relate to.

Thanks for reminding me about shelter pets. I need to take some food to our local shelter.
Carol Kilgore said…
Maryann - I've heard a lot of good things about this book, but I haven't read it. Thanks.
Jennifer Shirk said…
Oh boy...that is a toughie. But I would have to say my favorite book this year was a YA book: HEX HALL by Rachel Hawkins.
Haley Sue said…
Just finished reading "Eating Animals" by Johnathan Safran Foer. Made me really think about the food industry and what I'm doing to influence it for better or worse. I would recommend it to anyone...this coming from a Republican haha
VR Barkowski said…
Some great books mentioned here! Loved HEX HALL and THE HELP, but my favorite was undoubtedly THE BOOK THIEF by Markus Zusak. Astonishing.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a button to click. :)
Elspeth Futcher said…
Thanks for the reminder about the animals at this time of year, what a good soul you are!

Best book I've read this year? Hmmm....well, I did finally get around to reading THE CAINE MUTINY. Utterly brilliant.
Carol Kilgore said…
Jennifer - I rarely read YA, but here lately I've been hearing a lot of good things about several YA books. Maybe it's time I added a few to my list.

Haley Sue - I've heard much about this book, too. It's time to repopulate my TBR shelf.

VR - One of my cousins was telling me about this book not too long ago. I haven't read it either. Are we seeing a trend?

Elspeth - Yes, it is. I read it a long time ago.
Santa's favorite cookie is any variety made by the Keebler Elves!
Anonymous said…
"The Duke of Shadows" by Meredith Duran. I *think* I read "The Road" by Cormac McCarthy the year before, but if I didn't it would be that one. :)
Unknown said…
My favorite from this year is called "Death of the Heart" by Elizabeth Bowen.
Thanks for the reminder to click! The furry ones need our help.

I enjoyed "The Help" this year. :)
Hi Carol - I clicked for the doggies.

My fav book this year was Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly. I was blown away by so many of her sentences. Her writing was amazing. The story was incredible.

Fav cookie - snickerdoodle.
Carol Kilgore said…
Alex - Of course :)

Kimberly - The Road is on my TBR shelf.

Clarissa - An oldie!

Elizabeth - The little four-legged ones appreciate any kindness.

RaShelle - Thanks. There will be tail wagging going on. Another YA, I see. I've gotta get more in touch with that. Snickerdoodle...not only yummy, but fun to say!
if I tell you my memory is shot to pieces will you let me off? The last book I read tho' was The Society Wife by India Grey. she had me hooked from the very first sentence
Lydia Kang said…
My favorite was probably the Hunger Games.

Thanks for the reminder to click. Will do!
Anonymous said…
One of my favorite novels: The Year My Son and I Were Born by Kathryn Soper.

Animals ARE often neglected. Thanks for the reminder!!
G. J. Jolly said…
My favorite for this year is Demons and Angels by Dan Brown. I know, he's kind of generic, you can find him every place.
I will go and click after commenting, and come back to click daily. Thanks for the reminder...

Hmmmm, I've been a slacker this year as far as reading. I read IT and loved it. I also loved CassaStar and The Hating Game.

I gotta say, though, that Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman has to be it...I've read it three times this year....
Mason Canyon said…
Too many good books to try and pick just one. Thanks for the reminder.

Mason
Thoughts in Progress
Carol Kilgore said…
Joanna - No problem. Did I ask a question? LOL!

Lydia - I've heard of that. YA again...

Ann - Thanks for clicking.

Glynis - I saw that movie.

Words Crafter - IT scared me too bad. I closed it somewhere around page six.

Mason - I've read several good ones this year, too.
Hart Johnson said…
Excellent to have a charity link that doesn't cost! (and animals are a favorite)--I hate not having the resources to help financially, so thank you for a way to help ANYWAY.

The Book Thief and Hunger Games would both make my list too, along with Bad Things Happen by Harry Dolan and possibly The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson.

FROSTED SUGAR COOKIES!
Colette Martin said…
I have to say my favorite book(s) this year were the Millenium Series (The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Played With Fire, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest) by Stieg Larsson. By page two of book one I was soooo hooked. Yup, I'm cheating cause I picked three, but they are one in my mind.
Carol Kilgore said…
Hart - And thank you for clicking. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is also on my TBR shelf.

Colette - See my note to Hart. One day I'll read at least the first of Stieg Larsson's books. It's good to see them here because I've heard pros and cons. If I fall in love with the first one, I'll read them all.
notesfromnadir said…
Thanks for the shout out to shelter animals. Yes, all animals eat more in the winter especially if they're in a freezing environment. Think of the poor, homeless animals in Minnesota & those parts. Brrrr, I get cold thinking about it.
Arlee Bird said…
Whoa, now you're asking me to remember things!
The favorite novel I remember reading this year was from fellow blogger Stephen Tremp, Breakthrough. I really liked his novel. Next was Under The Dome by Stephen King. I can't remember what other novels I read this year.

Lee
Tossing It Out
I've read so many, but I have to say the one that really stuck with me was Dave Farland's In the Company of Angels. Great question. Made me go look at my library shelf and realize there were some awesome books come out last year. :)
Carol Kilgore said…
Lisa - Yes, it's extremely cold up there.

Arlee - Someone else had a Stephen King favorite, too.

Kathi - Looking through my own books prompted my question :)
Anonymous said…
My favorite book this year was The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson. All the elements--style, characterization, dialogue, plot--are gorgeous.
Carol Kilgore said…
I've heard of this book, too, but again haven't read it. I need to look harder at broadening my reading into more YA.
LR said…
That's nice that you support animals, Carol. My nephew shunned college to work with dogs and it's his absolute dream job. And he's really good at it.

Favorite book of the year? That's a really difficult one. Read several I liked. But I have to choose so I will say: Tobias Wolff "This Boy's Life" Was a page-turner for me because I like his style so much.
Talli Roland said…
Hmmm! Funny, whenever anyone asks me this, I can never remember.

I'm going to say 'Befpre I Fall' by Lauren Olivier. Loved that book!
Carol Kilgore said…
LR - How wonderful that your nephew is doing his dream job ... and that it's working with dogs! They're amazing creatures.

Talli - I'm sort of that way, unless the book is one that REALLY stays with me. In my entire reading experience I can count those on one hand, I think. For sure I wouldn't need to use any toes :) I wouldn't have thought to ask this if I hadn't been looking through my books the other day.
After my reading binge last week, I can finally pick my favorite: A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini. It's a story of the women of Afghanistan, and it's an eye opener. I give Hosseini a lot of credit for writing a women's POV novel and doing it so well.
Carol Kilgore said…
One of my cousins raved about that book. I haven't read it yet. Thanks for responding.

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