In The Times newspaper today, there is a report about how authors want cut of second-hand sales. Apparently the fact that consumers are able to purchase second-hand copies of books, including current bestsellers online or from charity bookshops is a concern for authors because they aren't getting the royalties from these sales.

If new rules were put into place to guarantee authors a share of the second-hand sales, it would take money away from charities such as Oxfam and Barnardo's, both of which do a considerable business from selling second-hand books. In fact, as the article mentions, Oxfam is the largest retailer of second-hand books in Europe.

Topic: Five People...in Heaven
The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom is a sweet, thought-provoking story. I think the basic premise though is too simplistic and I wasn't particularly impressed with the book. There has been so much hype about it that I was expecting much more from the story.

"Books are the carriers of civilizations. Without books, history is silent, literature dumb, science crippled, thought and speculation at a standstill." - Henry David Thoreau

A house without books is like a room without windows. No man has a right to bring up children without surrounding them with books.... Children learn to read being in the presence of books.
-- Heinrich MANN (1871-1950)

Topic: Nobody's Fool
I finished reading Nobody's Fool by Richard Russo. I could have finished it long before today but I enjoyed it so much that I deliberately slowed down so I could savour every word. The book is an absolute gem! Richard Russo has an incredible talent for portraying different characters and for writing very witty dialogue. Empire Falls by the same author is one of my favourite books so I was fairly confident that this one would be just as enjoyable and satisfying and it was. I looked forward to reading more each day because I knew I would soon be laughing out loud at the antics of Sully and the other misfits in the town of North Bank, New York.

Nobody's Fool is a wonderful heartwarming book, bursting with charm and unforgettable characters. Reading this book is guaranteed to make you smile and laugh.

Topic: The Shadow of the Wind
The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon is a novel that I believe is destined to become a classic. It was on the Spanish best-seller list for two years and it's no wonder. It is a wonderful story with incredible detail, chock-ful of amazing characters and a plot that is very intricate with plenty of different twists and turns. It's a thriller with romance, intrigue and comedy thrown in. The atmosphere is so thick you can feel it and the language is divine.

It begins in 1945, in Barcelona with a man and his ten-year old son, Daniel visiting a place called the 'Cemetery of Forgotten Books'. Daniel is invited to choose just one book and he pulls The Shadow of the Wind from the shelves. This intriguing start, a book within a book, will pull you into a thoroughly enchanting story.

I loved this novel. It's like reading a riddle that gets more and more complicated as the layers of subplots get more and more convoluted. It's a thick book ( 403 pages) and yet the story moves along at a fast pace and is always engrossing. I couldn't put it down and that's the ultimate honour to bestow upon a book. It's superb--a must-read!

Topic: Backstory
If you ever wonder where an author gets his/her idea from, then I recommend Backstory. It's a new site and I predict it will become a huge hit with readers and writers alike. It's a place where authors are invited to tell about what inspired them to write their book, in other words, the backstory.

Topic: Self-help books
I'm in the habit of reading self-help books fairly regularly. My criteria for the best ones are that they offer life affirming advice with potential to genuinely change a person's life. Here are some of my favourites:

LIFE STRATEGIES, STOP MAKING EXCUSES!Do what works, Do what matters
SELF MATTERS, Creating Your Life from the Inside Out
by Phillip C. McGraw

"Dr. Phil" became famous by helping Oprah win her legal battle in the beef trial (he's a legal analyst) and he became a regular guest on her show. His practical advice hits home. I have read and re-read these books and dip into them time and again. He offers very clear-cut lessons and solid guidance for creating a new way of thinking and a new way of living. His insight is always inspiring.

MAKE THE CONNECTION, Ten Steps to a Better Body and a Better Life by Bob Greene and Oprah Winfrey

This is an excellent book about how to change your life by recommending a sensible diet and advice about getting fit. It's a book that I recommend as a kick-start to a new fitness programme.

THE POWER of INTENTION, Change the Way You Look at Things and the Things You Look at Will Change by Dr. Wayne W. Dyer

I'm a big fan of Wayne Dyer and this book is one of his best.

THE FOUR AGREEMENTS by Don Miguel Ruiz

This is a fantastic book! I've read it many times and it never ceases to touch me with it's simple, inspiring lessons.

I'm currently reading, NOBODY'S FOOL by Richard Russo and THE SHADOW of the WIND by Carlos Ruiz Zafon.

The leaning tower in my url refers to my pile of books to be read (TBR) on my bedside table. It is indeed a leaning tower of books and it never gets smaller because I'm always adding more books to it! Such is the life of an avid bookworm. Reading isn't just a pastime for me, it's a passion.

First Page, New Blog
Topic: Introduction
Hello and welcome. Today is the first day of a new year and it's the perfect day to start a new blog as well. My name is Maureen Box and I read A LOT. This is my blog about books.

My intentions are simple. I will post regularly about books. This is my blog in a nutshell:

Personal reviews of books I've read.
News about books/authors.
Links to other sites/blogs about books.