Bonnie Jo Campbell | Ramblings of a Misguided Blonde

English: Photo of Bonnie Jo Campbell (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

As usual, I’m not sure where to begin. This summer has personally held some nasty surprises for what passes for my life. Then again, I suppose I have to start somewhere if I am going to achieve anything at all. I’ll spare everyone the details for now, so I’ll get right to the point.

Ramblings of a Misguided Blonde has unfortunately suffered as a result. I’m trying to get things back on track. It just may take a while. I’ve sorely neglected the feature that inspired so much this year: My Life In Pop Culture. I’ve also neglected to do my part for two new blogging award nominations I received as of late. Blogging awards are a wonderful way to show appreciation to those bloggers nearest and dearest to your heart. I’m honored to have received them. Thank you for the nominations! I’m looking forward to correcting this error on my part as soon as possible. Also, I’ve been haphazard in sharing some of my favorite bloggers here. I’m finding it difficult to balance my own blog posts with reblogging wonderful posts from the likes of Childhood Relived. I somehow have to strike a balance. I love creating my own content, of course; at the same time, I come across so many wonderful/funny/inspiring posts, I instinctively want to share it with the most wonderful audience of all: my readers. When I reblog, I do it out of sheer admiration. I just want everyone, readers and bloggers alike, to realize that fact.

And then there are books. I’m not sure if many of you’ve paid attention to my running reading list stuck to the top of my blog, but I’ve had my nose stuck in various books for the last two months. It can be blamed on learning how to borrow e-books for my Nook Color from the Bay County Library System. I’m getting a lot of mileage out of my Nook Color. I love it to the point where I’m seriously considering asking for a Kindle Fire for Christmas and/or my birthday. I love to compare/contrast. It isn’t that I favor e-books over hardcovers or well-loved paperbacks – nothing will ever replace the feel and heft of a physical book – I just read that much more with an e-reader. My next experiment: Audio books on my laptop and/or Nook Color. This may sound stupid, but at times I wish I could commute via Metro instead of having to personally drive 40 minutes each way to work every day. Think of the reading time I could get in if I lived in a large city! Ah well.

The books I’ve read so far this summer will have a lasting impact on me, my writing, everything. I love them that much! Each one deserves its own post and review. The problem is that I never feel I do a book justice when I review it. I always seem to leave something important unsaid – and that infuriates me. Just don’t be surprised if I finally establish a series of book reviews here.

I hope to soon create a flexible schedule/outline for content. Stay tuned, as always. I still plan a series on Linda McCartney’s photography, Paul McCartney himself, and more. That, of course, doesn’t even begin to cover politics. I also, regrettably, haven’t written a personal post about Turner Syndrome, outlined my thoughts on reproductive rights, and so much more. I just need to get organized and go for it. What saddens me is that people are clicking on those links to Turner Syndrome and Reproductive Rights only to find nothing there.

By the way, I’m well on the way to achieving my reading goals for the year. I’ve read 17 of the 25+ e-books I pledged to read in 2012. I’ve read a total of 28 books, both traditional and e-books, out of the 60 I hope to read in 2012. With five months to go, my goals are in sight! That is a wonderful feeling after coming so close to my goal of 48 in 2011. Oh, and congrats to Bonnie Jo Campbell, one my favorite Michigan authors and the author of one of my favorite books, Once Upon A River. Once Upon A River was selected as a 2012 Michigan Notable Book! Well deserved. I discuss Once Upon A River here.

Barnes & Noble launches Nook for Web (ubergizmo.com)

Image via Wikipedia

Bonnie Jo Campbell | Official Website

The Bone-eye: A Writer’s Adventures

Bonnie Jo Campbell | About

There are times I am led to believe books find me for a reason. It just so happens that I came across a book I can’t believe is already written. Once Upon A River: A Novel by Bonnie Jo Campbell, from the descriptions I’ve read thus far, takes off where my childhood dreams about rivers leave off.

As a child, I grew up on the banks of the Rifle River in Omer, Michigan. It is hard to overstate the role that river played in my childhood. Countless hours swimming and playing in the river, dozens of tubing and canoeing trips, and overnight canoe trips with my Dad and siblings are all prominent memories. I literally could see the river from my childhood bedroom window. That river is so intertwined with my life it is hard to separate it from my childhood.

As a result, I dreamed of conquering the entire Rifle River by myself via kayak. Five days of me versus the river from Grouse Haven Lake to Saginaw Bay. I can’t imagine ever actually pursuing that day dream, but as a child growing up on a river, it can’t help but capture your imagination. This is where the book comes in.

There are plenty of books of boys’ adventures on rivers; the most famous river rats, of course, are Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer, created by Mark Twain. It never seemed as though girls got into the action. Smaller rivers fitting into a much larger water system also never seemed to get the respect they deserve, despite their deadly power. Once Upon A River describes just such an adventure in northern Michigan. The very idea of a book focusing on a girl, a boat, a river, and her gun begged for me to pick it up. I cannot wait to read it. It also doesn’t hurt that the heroine, 16 year old Margo Crane, idolizes Annie Oakley. I may not be the huntress in my family, that title belongs to my little sister, but I respect any woman skilled with a gun.

More on growing up along the Rifle River:

Growing Up @ Russell Canoes | Ramblings of a Misguided Blonde

Back To The Future: Letters Into The Past | Ramblings of a Misguided Blonde