A book is a great gift and so appreciated, it takes you away, puts a smile on your face and can be enjoyed or shared over and over again.  Very few things in life have that pedigree and the amazing price point is too good to be true.

 For the Modern Mom:

For the mom on the go who’s clutching a loaded calendar, Amy Tiemann’s Mojo Mom (Gotham Books; On Sale: April 7, 2009; $16.00) is the perfect gift. Chock full of advice on how to balance the career, the husband and the kids, Mojo is the perfect companion for the mom on the run. 

For Any Mother Who’s Ever Had a Friend:

Wall Street Journalwriter Jeffrey Zaslow’s heartwarming true story of eleven longtime friends from Ames, Iowa will tug at the heart of any mother whose close confidantes may be far away or down the street. The Girls from Ames (Gotham Books; On Sale: April 21, 2009; $26.00) will remind any mother of her near and dear friends.

For the Mom With a Wild Side:

Hilarious NPR commentator Lauretta Hannon will have any sharp-tongued mother rolling on the floor laughing after they come in contact with their alter ego in Cracker Queen (Gotham Books; On Sale: April 16, 2009; $24.00). From tales of southern heathens to twisted sisters and anti-southern belles, Hannon’s inspiring and hilarious memoir will put a smile on any mother’s face. 

For the Curious Mom:

 Discover the fascinating facts behind your child’s development by reading about their play patterns in Stuart Brown’s latest Play (Avery Books; On Sale: March 5, 2009; $24.95). Covering everything from Legos to playground antics, Play is a truly engaging read that’s sure to bring every mother closer to their child.

For Mom, the Bookworm:

Engage your little one with the joy of reading by learning the importance of children’s literacy in Pam Allyn’s new book What to Read When (Avery Books; On Sale: April 20, 2009, $16.95). Everything from Dr. Seuss to J.K. Rowling, Allyn prescribes a book for every stage in your child’s development while simultaneously helping you become a better teacher for your child.

For the Fashion-Forward Mom:

Kick up your style with Kendall Farr’s Style Evolution (Gotham Books, On Sale: April 7, 2009, $22.50), the how-to handbook that shows how to transform your style well beyond your years. Leaving you feeling confident, immortalized and cool, Style is the perfect gift for the style-conscious mom.

For the Tennis-Loving Mom:

Learn the gripping true story of your favorite champion Monica Seles in her new memoir Getting a Grip (Avery Books; April 21, 2009; $26.00). Go beyond the net to an inside look at the star’s rise to fame at the young age of 16, her horrible stabbing by a crazed fan, a secret eating disorder and how she battled her demons and got back on top. Getting will remind every mother of what truly matters. 

For the Health-Conscious Mom:

Whip your body into shape with Lou Schuler’s The New Rules of Lifting for Women (Avery Books; January 1, 2009; $15.95). The ultimate guide to muscle toning, eating right and staying fit, New Rules will help every mother reach her goal of living a healthier life.

For the Elegant Mom:

Juice up your etiquette skills in more ways than one with The Real Housewives of New York Citystar LuAnn de Lesseps’s Class with the Countess (Gotham Books; On Sale: April 16, 2009; $24..00). Everything from the art of seduction to making others comfortable to the simple art of being yourself, Class will teach women everywhere how to become savvier moms.

To view the other prize winners in other categories view the link,  http://www.pulitzer.org/node/7887.

Perhaps one of the winners will be an old friend or will be a new discovery.  Either way be sure to check the news, however you get it to see the winners.   To learn more about the PP go to, http://www.pulitzer.org/.

Luckily, thanks to my sister in law I know have a copy and I in turn gave her my copy of  BELONG TO ME.  I hope that Marisa is listening to these characters because they are not done talking yet.  I do know I look forward to reading the next offering for Marisa whether in this series or something completely new.

FJP

It is wonderful when books are the basis for small or big screen productions, hopefully it ensures the future for authors and not just screenplay writers.  In my case, I was not sure about the books when I saw them.  I kept picking them up but they never really spoke to me, even with all of praise. But now I am going to start to read them as I am interested in the adaptation of these to the small screen.

What did everyone else think?  What about those of you few million that have read the books?  Bravo Andrew McCall Smith and thanks HBO.

Enjoy

Falise

Mma (aka Precious) Ramotswe, Botswana’s one and only lady private detective.  This book has been heralded by many for its entertainment as well as its highlight of the conditions in Botswana.  With a detective manual and Agatha Christie to guide her Mma Ramotswe is ready for cases.

Alexandar McCall Smith has been delighting readers with this series for years and many of the series fans hoped it would hit the big or small screen.  Well those wishes have been heard and HBO is the vehicle bringing this to life,  http://www.hbo.com/no1ladiesdetectiveagency/index.html.

To learn more about THE NO. 1 LADIES DETECTIVE AGENCY from the author himself you can visit this page on his website, http://www.randomhouse.com/features/mccallsmith/main.php.  Along with the HBO launch Alexander is back in the United States be sure to visit his site to see if you are able to catch one of his rare personal appearances, http://www.randomhouse.com/features/mccallsmith/main.php.

Many believe this will be the most sold DVD ever.  It will be interesting to stay tuned.  But for all of you fans out there the wait is almost over so there is no sense in skipping school or meals it is just business as usual until Friday night.

EAT,PRAY, LOVE has been optioned for a movie starring Julia Roberts.  Word is Julia Roberts wanted this role, not bad to have Julia Roberts looking to star in one of the stories of your life.

Join 24/8 in welcoming Elizabeth Gilbert to Chicago, okay she was here for Oprah but you know how hard to those tickets are to snag. These are easier, www.ticketmaster.com.

24/8 thanks to Random House has movie edition copies to give away.  Don’t forget to send in your entry for a copy.  There is still time to sign up to win a copy  so walk do not run to the home page of the 24/8 site, www.248bookclub.com and simply click on the Confessions link for all of the details.

Thanks to Hollywood Blvd. Cinema, Bar and Eatery in Woodridge , IL and my good friend Shari, I saw a sneek preview of the upcoming film Confessions of a Shopaholic.  The film stars Isla Fisher, Hugh Dancy and a great supporting cast. 

This film was inspired from the pages of #1 Best Selling NY Times  author Sophie Kinsella’s Shopaholic series.  Although, I have not had the pleasure of reading Sophie’s book prior to  the movie I am now a fan and can’t wait to get to them.  The fact that I hadn’t read the books did not diminish from my enjoyment of the movie.   I recommend this for a girls night out or a date night movie.

24/8 is going to be unveiling a book giveaway this week for the movie tie in edition.  Don’t forget to stop back if you want to read the book as much as I do and be sure to bring a friend.   A special thanks to our friends at Random House for making this possible.

There is a really creative movie site on Blue Fly for this movie you will not want to miss,  http://www.bluefly.com/media/promotions/flash/shopaholic/main/shopaholic.html.  Kudos to the designer of this page.   You can learn more about the movie and the cast and crew.  Shop for the lead character’s looks too. Remember Hollywood there is a reason you need authors to write these wonderful books because they are certainly the basis for many a blockbuster. 

For everyone else not lucky enough to see an early screening of the movie it will be at your local theater this coming Friday, February 13, 2009.

Falise