Waiting on Wednesday - Summer And the City (The Carrie Diaries 2) by Candace Bushnell

"Waiting On Wednesday"(WOW) is a weekly event, hosted by Jill from Breaking The Spine that spotlights upcoming releases eagerly anticipated. This is my first week joining the 100 plus book bloggers who participate in the weekly meme and I am very excited to be a part of it. I hope to hear from you and your own WOW so that I can add some more books to my TBR shelf.

Last week, the country celebrated Groundhog Day and Pennsylvania’s forecasting furry friend, Puxatwaney Phil, did not see his shadow. According to legend, then, Spring is right around the corner. I know I am ready for the longer, warmer days of Spring and Summer – enough with all this cold and snow, already!! Fitting with the warming trend, my pick this week for Waiting on Wednesday is the second book in a long awaited young adult/teen lit series, Summer and the City (The Carrie Diaries #2) by chick lit queen, Candace Bushnell. Summer in the City is the second story in the saga of Carrie Bradshaw’s life before her days as the glamazon, fashionista and women’s columnist we know and love from Sex and the City.

I absolutely adored the first novel in this series, aptly titled The Carrie Diaries, in which readers got a sneak peek at the life of Carrie Bradshaw in her high school days. In the second release, Candace Bushnell reveals how Carrie met bffs, Samantha and Miranda. Just like Carrie and her limitless styles of designer shoes and handbags, there are multiple, fashionable covers designed for book two of  The Carrie Diaries (see below). I literally, CANNOT WAIT for this one!!

Summer and the City (The Carrie Diaries #2) by Candace Bushnell

Meet teenage Carrie Bradshaw as she hits the bright lights, big city of New York for the very first time! Find out how Carrie transforms from country girl to super-cool fashionista in the second explosive CARRIE DIARIES novel from the globally bestselling author of SEX AND THE CITY. Summer is a magical time in New York City and Carrie is in love with all of it -- the crazy characters in her neighborhood, the vintage-clothing boutiques, the wild parties and the glamorous man who has swept her off her feet. Best of all, she's finally in a real writing class, taking her first steps toward fulfilling her dream. This sequel to THE CARRIE DIARIES brings surprising revelations as Carrie learns to navigate her way around the Big Apple, going from being a country "sparrow" -- as Samantha Jones dubs her -- to the person she always wanted to be. But as it becomes increasingly difficult to reconcile her past with her future, Carrie realizes that making it in New York is much more complicated than she ever imagined. With her signature wit and sparkling humor, Candace Bushnell reveals the irresistible story of how Carrie met Samantha and Miranda, and what turned a small-town girl into one of the New York City's most unforgettable women.

The above synopsis was found on Goodreads via the Hardcover edition.

Summer and the City by Candace Bushnell will be released April 26, 2011

If you visit her web site, you can see an Author video of The Carrie Diaries, Candace Bushnell’s bio, previous media releases and publications and more!!

Damsels Behind Books: Celebrate Reading! October is National Book Group Month!!

October is National Reading Group Month!

     In its Third Annual celebration of Reading Groups Across the Country, Women’s National Book Association is going strong with its National Reading Group Month (NRGM) in the month of October. See all the events, member benefits and fun here:

http://www.nationalreadinggroupmonth.org/

     I have always loved reading since I was a little girl and could pronounce the words I saw on a page and I have always envied other women when I hear they are part of a social, active book group because I have never found a live group that reads the kind of books that I want to read. Then, early this year, January 2010, I found Goodreads. I have never been big on social networking sites like Facebook, MySpace or the like, but since joining Goodreads, a social networking web site dedicated to linking people across the globe based on their love of reading and writing and books in general, I have been hooked! Finally, I have met so many women who share my love of Chick Lit. We read all kinds of different books each month, motivate each other with reading challenges and share the latest releases with each other, contributing to an ever growing to-be-read list and overflowing bookshelf at home. Since I have been more active in organizing the Chick Lit Book Club on Goodreads, I have also begun to notice more and more the high numbers of authors who include Reading Question Guides specifically for book groups either at the end of their novels or on their websites or both.

     

     I even found a web site where you can register your Book Group and search for reading guides from Tolstoy to Shakespeare to Stephen King and Jennifer Weiner…it just seems to be limitless and FREE! Not only does the site offer questions that might help your group converse with one another but it also gives suggestions and tips on how to run a successful group, whether you’re a novice group leader or a veteran.

http://www.readinggroupguides.com/content/index.asp

*** Just a note: I AM NOT AFFILIATED WITH EITHER WEB SITE MENTIONED IN THIS POST. I just came across them in my search for books. ***

     No matter who you are or where you’re from, reading is an activity that can create bonds between people. It’s fun, healthy, enriching no matter what language you speak or read! I mean just look at all the novels that you like to read – have you ever noticed how many countries they get released in and the number of different languages and covers that get printed?

      Are you a member of any book groups? If so, what made you join it? What’s your favorite part of being involved in a book group? Please feel free to comment, vent or discuss anything else related to book groups or reading, in general.