Maw Books

Maw Books – book reviews, book recommendations, book lists, author interviews and more!

Welcome to a new addition to the Maw Books Blog!  Each week I’ll be highlighting a different reader/blogger/commenter here on my blog!  I have loved all the comments I receive on my blog and this is my way of getting to know each of you better!  No rhyme or reason as to when I’ll post these.  Hopefully, once a week, if I can manage it.  I hope you enjoy these Reader Spotlights!

Welcome Jenn M. who takes the hot seat in the first Maw Books Reader Spotlight!

From what I can tell, Jenn’s first comment on my blog was when she was entering my awesome Stephenie Meyer contest back in June and I’ve been fortunate to have her be a loyal commenter ever since.  Sadly, she didn’t win that set of books but when I ran an additional contest for another set of Stephenie Meyer books, she did win! See what happens when you stick around?!  At the end of this interview I have a couple of my favorite comments from Jenn.  Jenn is awesome.  I loved getting to know her and I hope you do as well.

Maw Books:  So what do you want us to know about you?  Tell us all!

Jenn M.: Everything you ever (maybe never) wanted to know about me, Jenn M.  Well…hmmm…Where to start.  I live in Rocklin, California, just outside of Sacramento.  I have two daughters, Kaylee age 7, going on 17, and Lauren age 5.  Oh yeah…I have a husband too.  He’s pretty good most of the time.  Even when he makes me watch Hellboy II.

I used to teach Kindergarten and now I run my own in-home daycare.  Sadly, I make more money staying at home than I did as a teacher.  I love being able to be at home with my kids before and after school.  Although some days I want to pull my hair out and laugh at my van when I watch 7 kids pile out of it like a clown car, I really love my job now and I am finally happy.  Haha…after typing that I had to go clean up a peepee accident and convince a three year old boy that my daughter’s pants were not girl pants.

Let’s see, what else, I have 2 horses, a mother and son, 2 dogs, a german shorthair pointer named Fleck and a cavalier king charles spaniel named Edward.  They are my extra babies.  I think that’s about it…I love to read (obviously), walk outdoors, and spend time with my family.

Maw Books:  Okay.  Edward is to cute for words.  He totally reminds me of why I’m a dog person and not a cat person.  I want to give him a smooch!  Heart palpation’s.  So what do you do outside the world of books?

Jenn M.: What?!? There is a world outside of books????  I think I answered most of this in question 1.  If I am not at home, I am usually driving my children to their various extra-curricular activities.  Lauren takes TaeKwonDo, ballet, tap, and hip hop.  Kaylee takes TaeKwonDo, ballet, tap, hip hop, and jazz.  She is also involved with an American Doll Book Club through her school.  So I guess, short answer is: I am super-mommy.

Maw Books: Your girls are beautiful!!  Oh man.  They are going to be heartbreakers! What is your earliest reading memory?  And what were you like as a young reader?

Jenn M.: I remember my mom reading James and the Giant Peach to me every night before bed.  I still have that copy.  I also remember her reading from my bible.  My first ‘reading on my own memories’ are of reading Charlotte’s Web and crying, Bridge to Terabithia and crying.  I remember loving Anne of Green Gables.  I regularly got my allowance and went to the bookstore and bought a book on Friday and finished reading it by Sunday.

Maw Books: I know that you read with your two daughters.   How do you instill a love of reading in them and keep them excited about reading?

Jenn M.: My daughters seem to have a natural love of reading.  I think the biggest thing is giving them choice.  If I or any adult is telling them what to read and when to read it, they don’t enjoy it as much.  I know I didn’t as a kid.  Our weekly library trips are greeted with as much excitement as a visit to the park.  I read at least 1 book to my youngest nightly, at least 1 chapter of a book to my oldest daughter, and she reads anywhere from a few pages to a whole chapter to me (sometimes we are just too short on time to get too much reading in!)

Maw Books:  I know that you are reading through the Newberys with your daughter.  Care to share with us what that experience is like for both you and your daughter?

Jenn M.: We LOVE it.  I give Kaylee the list and sometimes we look up what the book is about and she makes her choice for our next read.  Right now she tends to lean towards books that have movie adaptations and she likes to compare.  She is actually a pretty funny little 7 year old.  It’s fantastic for me getting to re-read some of my old favorites.  We tend to share in the reading, for example, the two most recent books we read were Shiloh and Misty of Chincoteague both of which have heavy accented dialect.  I read the dialect and she read everything else.  The thing that is so fantastic is that it creates a desire for more learning.  She wanted to know where Chincoteague was, and why young children were allowed to shoot beebee guns at animals in South Carolina.

Maw Books:  What are some of your favorite books that you’ve read this last year?

Jenn M.: I loved Madapple, which was one of your reads/reviews.  I also read the whole Twilight series this year and The Host.  Hard to put my finger on what was the best.  I also enjoyed The Mysterious Benedict Society.  Oh yeah!  Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows came out this last year!  Excluding the epilogue, it was a good book.

Maw Books:  Who are some of your favorite authors?

Jenn M.: J.K. Rowling, Shannon Hale, Dianna Wynne Jones, Marguerite Henry, Jane Austen, Roald Dahl…So many I could list….

Maw Books:  Where are your favorite places to go online to get book recommendations, share your love of reading, etc?  And yes, that would be besides here!

Jenn M.: I like www.goodreads.com just to keep track of my own TBR list.  I do get a lot of my recommendations from you.  I also am a silent observer on several other blogs you visit as well.  I love my library website to find books as well.

Maw Books:  Where would you go on your dream vacation?  And what would you eat while you were there?

Jenn M.: Haha…you and food.  I’m surprised you didn’t ask me for a recipe.  My husband and I have several dream vacations we have planned.  He is British and has seen most of Europe and doesn’t want to go there…I told you he was a spoilsport!  I would like to go to Australia, but I think my dream vacation would be somewhere in the Caribbean.  I am can be adventurous with some foods….but I refuse to eat organs or things still alive.  (Long story…I refuse to eat or make steak and kidney pie…kidneys are a filtering organ.  They get bad stuff out, why would you want to eat that?)  I think I would like to eat food that I don’t have to cook.

Maw Books:  Oh my gosh!  A recipe!  Of course, I do this for authors, but this would be a great addition to this series.  Yes, please share a recipe!

Jenn M.: Super yummy and easy to make.

French Market Soup

1 Bag of 16/15 bean soup mix (16 oz)
1 large onion
2 cloves of garlic, chopped
2 16 oz cans of chopped, diced tomatoes (you can use fresh, but you have to poach them first)
½-1 fresh diced Jalapeno (depending upon how spicy you like it)
2 Ham Shanks or Ham Hocks, your preference (I like the shanks…more meaty)
½ c Lemon juice

Soak beans overnight. Drain and rinse beans, add to a large stock pot with 4 quarts of water, add ham shanks, packet of seasoning that usually comes with the soup mix and salt and pepper.  The packet tends to be a bit salty, so be careful not to add too much salt.

Bring to a boil then cover and allow to simmer for 1 ½ hours or until beans are tender. Add the rest of the ingredients. Simmer 45 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Remove shanks, cut off meat and add back into the soup.  This soup tastes best the longer it cooks.  I usually start it in the morning for a late afternoon, early dinner.  I usually remove the seeds from the jalapeno and use half.  If I add more my kids wont eat it.  The soup will become really thick.  Tastes great with buttered French bread.I have served this to people who claim to not like beans and they still like it.

Maw Books:  Sounds delicious.  Thank you!  You desperately wish you knew how to…

Jenn M: Dance.  Well…I used to be able to.  I did ballet for years.  But I seem to have lost my rhythm.  I think I am afraid of looking like a fool.

Maw Books:  If you had a free day with no responsibilities and your only charge was to enjoy yourself, what would you do?

Jenn M.: I would spend a morning at the beach (someone would have to zap me there because it would be too long of a drive) then ooooh maybe have a spa day.  I’ve never had one before.  Massages, facials, pedicures.  I want to be pampered.

Maw Books:  I had my first ever massage this past month.  It was fun to finally know what the fuss was all about!  Tell your husband you want couple massages for your next anniversary.  I know you are super busy raising your family, running a day care, and that you do write reviews on that site, but do you think you’ll ever start a blog?  Because really.  I would be your first commenter if you did.

Jenn M.: Well, I have actually tried, and failed.  I’m not sure where to start.  I wanted to set up a blog to link to my website, but I’m just lost.  Funny because I designed my whole website myself and I took so many computer classes in college as fillers.  I think my honest answer is that I am too lazy/busy/tired to figure out where to start.  I’d love to have feedback on my thoughts on books.  I have a lot of reviews up.  But you can only get my opinion.    You don’t get to have one.

Maw Books:  He, he.  If you would like any help just let me know.  I’m a WordPress girl though, can’t help you with blogger that much, although I try.  What’s the one thing that you wish people knew about you but you don’t brag about?

Jenn M.: Well if I told you, that would be bragging about it wouldn’t it?  Let’s see…I am a really good cook, but I think my reasons for not bragging are not innocent.  If I told everyone then I’d end up cooking way more than I already do.  Don’t get me wrong, I love to do it, but I cook every Easter, Christmas, Thanksgiving, birthday party, social get-together.  Now my family just shows up.  Whipping up a whole meal for 12-16 people isn’t as enjoyable as doing a small family meal. Wow.  That’s a lot about me.  I’m pretty boring in general.  I’m adding some pictures.  You have to see my cute kids and pets.  I might have gone a bit overboard with the pictures….but aren’t they cute?!?

Maw Books:  I love, love the photos!  A great addition.  I’m so happy that you included them. Thank you for being in the spotlight!

I love Jenn’s comments, she’s always brings a smile to my face.  I’ve picked out a couple that stand out:

Jenn’s thought’s about the Twilight movie before it came out:

I know that the movie will never be able to be EXACTLY like the book, but I think, so far from what I have seen it isn’t too far off. I am looking forward to it and enjoy all of the little snippets I get. I think the actor playing James (Cam something isn’t it?) is cast perfectly. He makes a good bad guy. My hopes for this movie are high. I just hope, hope, hope that it isn’t another one where I can’t help but comment, “that’s not how it happened in the book” and totally annoy my husband. After all he said he would quit watching movies with me if I kept comparing them to the books. I just hope I don’t feel cheated.

And Jenn’s thoughts about the movie after it came out:

I liked it overall. I was terrified that they were going to ruin it completely…but it stuck mostly to the book. I’m sure they will make New Moon, and this movie will be pretty successful. I thought that there were parts, that if you hadn’t read the book, you wouldn’t get. It was exciting to get out of the house and hang out with the girls to see a movie I was really looking forward too! . . . I think my favorite overall in this movie was a tie between James and Charlie. James played his role very well, and Charlie was just the way I pictured him. I was surprised the most by Bella, or rather Kristen Stewart’s portrayal of Bella. From some of the interviews I had seen before the movie I wasn’t excited about her. I was pleasantly surprised. I also think that Robert Pattinson got the half-smile that Edward has in the book perfectly. I am NOT excited about Jacob in the next movie UNLESS they recast him. I loved the character development of Jacob in New Moon and how he grows to be actual competition for Edward. I’m not seeing that happen with current casting.

On awful character names:

Here is a short list of the ones who come to mind; 1. Brick (of course he had red-hair as well) 2. JoJo (Is he destined to become a clown) 3. Damion (You are just asking for problems) 4. Berry (c’mon…seriously) 5. Blayse (Pronounced Blaze…a name for a horse) 6. Daria (maybe I watched to much Beavis and Butthead in HS) 7. Braxton (just makes me think of contractions) I’m sure if I sat here I’d think of more….but Maxie is pretty bad too.

On movies:

I’d like to nominate one for the worst movie of all time “The Perfect Storm”. I waited and waited through all that crap of almost dying and almost sinking and then….what happens….THEY SINK ANYWAYS AND ALL DIE! My husband disagrees with me and thinks it wasn’t that bad…but it will always rank HIGH on my list of worst movies ever.

And Jenn is super, super nice. If you need a self-esteem boost, she’s the perfect remedy:

If no one else has told you this…you are amazing, for being a mommy, a reader and a blogger, a person who gets behind something and is truly passionate about it!

On big boobs:

Natasha you are not alone. Mine shrunk a cup size after each child. However, i was kind of glad. I started out a 34DD went to a 36G whilst nursing both and nearly cried at the sight of myself. I actually had to special order bras. Then after my first child was born and I was done nursing I went down to a 34D. Then after I was through nursing my second child I can now wear either a 34C or a 32D. Much more manageable! I too remember reading this book and all those awkward feelings of adolescence. In 6th grade I was 5?5? and wore a B cup. I was that freak show with the boobs Not to mention I was a foot taller than ALL of the boys. And I agree with Chris….big boobs are overrated.

On donating for Darfur:

My daughter decided to donate her piggy bank savings of $10.98 and I told her I would match it (I wish I could do more…no job=poor) We decided we are going to donate to The International Rescue Committe, Donae for Darfur. . . . Her $10.98 makes my heart melt. I think I am raising a little humanitarian…she is only 7! I credit her school which is VERY actively teaching about the world.

Short and sweet:

HA! HA! HA! Nether regions! Haven’t read this one.

On meeting her husband:

He was here on vacation and we met by chance. He was with friends and I was with friends and we just went around to a few places around town. He was an electrician working on Starbucks installations in England and was learning some of it here. We were just friends. He went back to England and I was here. I was at a bad point in my life. I had a 3 month old baby I was raising on my own and wasn’t looking for a relationship. Just so happens, my baby who didn’t sleep all night, kept me to England time, so he and I spent a lot of time on the phone and chatting online. Silly, but we were really good friends. Then finally we decided maybe there was something more to it, and he came out here for the sole purpose of visiting us. We connected immediately and it was truly like having my best friend as my boyfriend. This went on for a while, back and forth where I would go there and he would come here and then one day he proposed in San Francisco and here we are married with 2 kids, and a very trusting relationship. There is Jennifer’s life saga wrapped up into a short summary.

Whew!  I should have cut those qoutes down but I loved them.  I get excited every time  a comment comes in from Jenn because I know it’s going to be something interesting. I also enjoy how Jenn interacts with the other commenters, so make sure you say hi when you see her around.

Check out Jenn’s book reviews at the book corner at the Knowledge Tree website.  And I’m sure Jenn would be happy to chat in the comments here! 

Thanks Jenn!

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