MY THOUGHTS FOR 2014

 

 

NEW WAY OF THINKING FOR NEW YEAR

Monday, December 30, 2013

Another year has ended and another begins....WELCOME 2014! 

I wanted to take a moment to just say some things that weigh on my heart and in my head.

People delude themselves into thinking that heaven on earth means acquiring, chasing, or obtaining things or people.... but they are sadly mistaken. 
HEAVEN, is not FAME, WEALTH , POWER nor does it belong to the person with the MOST BELONGINGS. 

As someone who has suffered their entire life with depression and a mood disorder, I can assure you that YOU CAN have money in the bank, but if you still want to die, then the attainment of wealth and fame is not the way to heaven for ANY ONE. 

LIFE is a walk, a journey...and NO ONE knows where their journey will END...all you can do is KEEP MOVING FORWARD, KEEP LOVING AND PEACEFUL COMPANY, run to those whose smiles warm your cold soul like a huge roaring fire, run from those who make you feel cold and lonely...even in their presence. 

FIND SHELTER wherever you can thru LIFE'S STORMS....but always remember, EVERY STORM WILL PASS....along the road on your journey.... try to plant smiles on the faces of those who need them most and give hugs to others who have been left out in the cold.....your kindness and love will create more kindness and love.....even if it takes longer than you like....even with one pair of shoes on your feet and barely a coat to keep you warm...always think of yourself as a GARDNER OF LOVE as you continue on your journey and when you find your heart is low on love, or a smile is hard to find...this is when someone on their journey will WATER you with love and kindness...and soon you will have the strength to continue on... 

NEVER WORRY about where your JOURNEY ENDS....focus every moment on making each step you take, each town you enter, each place you exit, every person you meet....LEAVE THEM ALL still feeling the sun from your smiles, the strength in your hand as you helped them up in when they were down, hearing your words of encouragement echo in their ears when no one had ever spoken them before, remembering the warmth in the embrace you gave them when their souls felt cold....THIS IS LIFE.....AND THIS IS WHAT JESUS DID time and time again...he worried not about the end of his journey but about the souls he could touch as he traveled....giving to those without, helping those unable to help themselves, bestowing kindness and hope to those who have never knew hope....this is what we all should do... 

HEAVEN IS NOT A PLACE OR A DESTINATION .....heaven is a gift to be received....and all of us have the ability to share some of it with someone else..... and it is FREE......

written by Felica Devers at 3:03 PM 

 

http://felicadevers.blogspot.com/2013/12/new-way-of-thinking-for-new-year.html

 

 

 

LOVE OF THE BOOK HUNT

Howdy,

This week I've been book hunting and while I found a few gems, I also found more than my share of duds.
I literally cannot stay my butt out of used book establishments, I just cannot. I LOVE gazing upon shelf after shelf of dusty or not so dusty books that someone at one time purchased/received as a gift/ read and now that book has been passed from their hands into the hands of someone new.

I love knowing that very book, no matter the age, genre, author etc. has a a story outside the obvious story written on it's pages, and I love imagining what story each book would tell about it's origins and it's travels and how it landed in  my hands.

I will admit, I am slowly moving into HOARDING territory as I reside in less than 900 sq ft with another living soul and an ever growing collection of books that quite poss. could be around 500 books that are now taking up one huge 5 ft bookcase, an entire corner of the living room which includes a large desk covered with stacks of books, stacks of books UNDER the desk, books stacked on books stacked on other flat surfaces, etc. I LOVE MY BOOKS!!!!!!! but I also love looking for books that one person once read and now another person wants the same book they once read long ago and fell in love with, and they want the same copy of their favorite book down to the exact edition, year published, and everything. I always say, I HOPE MY FIND  MAKES YOU HAPPY!!!

Some quotes about books by folks who love them the same way I do:
“A room without books is like a body without a soul.”
~Marcus Tullius Cicero
“If you only read the books that everyone else is reading, you can only think what everyone else is thinking.”
~Haruki Murakami, Norwegian Wood
“Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers.”
~Charles William Eliot
“When I have a little money, I buy books; and if I have any left, I buy food and clothes.”
~Desiderius Erasmus Roterodamus
“I cannot live without books.”
~Thomas Jefferson
More awesome quotes about BOOKS at my 2nd fave home, GOODREADS.com

GEORGETTE HEYER: Original Regency Romance Author

I love old things, old British things and old British Victorian things ( is this redundant?), anyhoo, then one of the top authors who fits into all 3 of my odd categories is deceased, British historical romance and mystery writer, GEORGETTE HEYER.

Georgette began writing in the early 1900's and her  historical romance novels were set in upper class,18th century England, further broken down as the Regency era (1811-1820) and Victorian era (1830-1901) in British history. Georgette is also sometimes called the original Regency romance writer.

I first fell in love with her vintage paperbook novel covers and then with the author herself.

Further reading is a must on
HISTORICAL ROMANCE WRITING  & GEORGETTE HEYER herself.

Check out the vintage paperback copies I have available:

publ. 1981

publ. 1953

publ. 1948

publ. 1966

check out these titles at:  http://www.amazon.com/shops/HappyLittleSoul

IF YOU'RE GONNA TALK STUPID ON TV, MAKE SURE YOU LOOK GOOD

I thought I would just share a few thoughts how important READING is to a person's intellect and how a book gives insight into topics, people, places, issues, one might not come in contact with in their daily personal life. BOOKS FEED YOUR MIND & YOUR PERSONALITY!!!

With this being said, here we go:

1. (not specifically book related- but dang sure related to how important it is to Read) I watched the premiere episode of this new 1 hr reality show last night on LIFETIME, called PRETTY WICKED MOMS.

Due to the fact that I have worked in television production as a Researcher, Clearance Coordinator, Producer and Writer among other job titles, I will not give my true personal opinion of the show itself (mustn't bite the hand that you want to feed you again :)  However, I will say that a quote from one of the mom's to her BFF in front of TV cameras and the world was something I personally would never have revealed OUT LOUD at her age and in her position as a successful, business owner.

This lovely, slender, blonde mom of one 1yr old daughter, with perky breasts, perfect hair and dazzling white teeth told her BFF ( who ironically looks almost exactly like her), that quote " She had just found out the POPE ( yes, that one) was CATHOLIC."

Some kind soul had divulged this "top secret" info to her just last week she said. "Top Secret" is my phrase I added because obviously the knowledge that THE POPE IS CATHOLIC is information that is sooo top secret, it has been kept from this grown 32 year old woman, married to a Dentist and owning a very successful women's clothing boutique in the poshest spot of Atlanta FOR YEARS!!!!.
I have plenty more I could say and did say to her thru my televison screen last night, but I won't bother you guys with all that.

I'll just end this by saying, boys, girls, grown folks, the written word is your FRIEND.

Don't be scared of learning something new, even if you are NOT Catholic and never intend to visit the Vatican, IGNORANCE is NOT BLISS, nor is looking STUPID on national TV.

 But she did look GOOD, looking stupid :)

 And for her, I'm sure THAT is what is most important.

A TALE ABOUT A FAN AND HER FAVE AUTHOR

A few years back I happened to be working up in the Pacific Northwest at a large corporate entity and I would spend my lunch breaks sitting in my car reading book after book ( mostly true crime, historical crime, etc). Anyway, this one week at the library I came upon this book and it's cover pictures haunted me and the title grabbed me and I literally had to read it. Also, it was written by one of my other favorite Pacific Northwest crime writers besides the legendary Ann Rule.

So I checked this book out and I voraciously read thru it in 2 days, like one possessed. I LOVED IT and I couldn't escape the characters; just knowing they had actually lived and died just several hours away and several decades before me.

http://www.starvationheights.com/

Anyway, one day I was mentioning to a co-worker how I had LOVED LOVED LOVED this book called Starvation Heights: A True Story of Murder and Malice in the Woods of the Pacific Northwest written by bestselling author, Gregg Olsen, and she interrupted me to say, " Oh didn't you know, his "close family member of Gregg's" works here?"  I nearly had to reach for my hanky cause I felt a case of the vapors approaching. The co-worker then told me that THE Gregg Olsen would be in our workplace today or tomorrow to see his "family member".  I COULD NOT BELIEVE IT!!!.

I found out for sure he was coming in later that week and I had another copy of his latest bestseller entitled, Heart of Ice at home, so I brought it to work, and later that day I happened to walk past his " family member's" work area and there he was!!!!! To make a long story longer, I stopped and talked that poor man's ear off for at least half an hour and he was as sweet and gracious as the lovely Southern Librarian ladies who worked at my favorite public library branch back in my hometown.

Gregg Olsen autographed my book, and we became "friends" on Facebook and I have his autographed book up in a place of honor in my poor cramped abode full of hundreds of books that also wish to be honored.

Anyway, keep an eye out for Gregg Olsen's newest book, he's an awesome true crime writer and lovely human being.

Vintage PAN LONDON Flying Books

I know I have it before, but here I am again stating, I LOVE OLD BOOKS!

Now granted these two PAN LONDON paperbacks publ circa 1956-57 are NOT super old, but they are still old enough to have given me goose bumps when I first laid eyes on them.... I'm all about book p-orn ( I get turned on looking for and collecting groovy books).

Anyway, here they are: click on title if you want more info

Squadron Airborne (Novel of the Battle of Britain) by Elleston Trevor, publ. in 1957 by PAN BOOKS LONDON.

THE DANGEROUS SKIES: A test pilot's adventures in peace and war by A.E Clouston & publ. in 1956 by PAN BOOKS LONDON.

MEMOIRS OF A SUPER FREAK by Rick James

I found this pristine softcover edition of RICK JAMES' 2007 autobiography entitled,  MEMOIRS OF A SUPER FREAK, published by Colossus Publishing.

I'm afraid to read it because I've already heard about his intense drug use and sexual activities and I'm not sure if I want to hear these scenarios described in detail by Rick himself.  Hey, but if YOU do, clink on the book title link below and go see.......

The Confessions of Rick James: Memoirs of a Super Freak publ in 2007.

For the ROMANCE JUNKIES OUT THERE....

I haven't read a "romance novel" in decades, seriously. But my marriage failed, I read hundreds of them and I came across several titles and covers that reminded me of why I and so many other people pick up a romance novel to be transported to a far off place or a place right in the next state over. And there we meet the man, men, women, vampires, etc. of our dreams, and when the books finally ends, we get to pick up another book and again get to fall in love with a new guy or gal in another new locale.

I must confess, that looking at some of these uber historical thick romance books, makes me giggle like a school girl at the overwrought, passionate lovers  on the cover underneath titles that now, might not be as politically correct as they were 20 years ago :)

FYI, if there any titles or authors you are looking for and just cannot find on your own, let me know, I LOVE TO SEARCH, if I wasn't a human being I would have been a canine CSI or an internationally known police bloodhound.

Anyway, here are some books I found that you might enjoy reading again and again and again......
IF YOU WANT TO CHECK OUT THE BOOK FURTHER, REMEMBER TO CLICK ON THE BOOT TITLE........


1. Sybelle by Roberta Gellis publ. in 1983 by JOVE.
ROBERTA GELLIS AUTHOR INFO

also by author Roberta Gellis is

2. Siren Song (The Royal Dynasty) by Roberta Gellis publ. in 1981 by PLAYBOY PRESS.

and for historical romance purists, I found this lovely little book:


3. The Scapegoat by Daphne due Maurier publ. in 1958 by Pocket Books.

MORE TO COME..... KEEP CHECKING BACK!!!

MY FAVORITE BOOK AS A LITTLE GIRL was written by RUTHANNA LONG

I have always been a person who was most comfortable alone with a great book. So when I was about 8 yrs old, my mom came home one day with this large ( to me) book with lovely colorful illustrations and chapter after chapter of exciting adventures!!!!

And to this day, I still have my very worn copy of this book, my dear treasured friend, entitled WITCHES, GHOSTS & GOBLINS :A Spooky Search for Miranda's Cat written by Ruthanna Long, publ in 1976 by Golden Books.

You need to check it out if you have kids, because everywhere I have traveled, since I was 8 yrs old , my friend, written by Ruthanna Long has followed me everywhere, which is why it is soooo worn.

VINTAGE SPANISH TITLES

I love vintage books and I especially love vintage books in foreign languages, I found this lovely paperback and had the hardest time finding any info it, but since I love nothing more than the hunt, I found some info after a few hours of searching....

This book is so groovy, it's called Las Abandonadas (a novela by Rafael Baron) publ. in 1969.
( click on title for more info)

AMERICAN COURTESANS on Erotic Tuesday....

In honor of EROTIC TUESDAY here at Happy Little Soul books, I invite you to please go check out my friend, Writer/Producer Kristen DiAngelo's, amazing new trailer, 

for her eye-opening and provocative documentary entitled, 

 AMERICAN COURTESANS

"A Different Kind of American Story"

CHECK OUT TRAILER HERE

TODAY IS EROTIC TUESDAY......

I found a few erotic titles that might tickle your fancy :)  CLICK on the title of the book for more information!


1.  The Way of a Man with a Maid by Anonymous publ. in 1997

2. The Teacher's Favorite (Rear Window Series-Liverpool Book) by Elizabeth Watson publ. in 1971.

3. Madame Solario publ. in 1956, author listed as Anonymous.

4. Women by John Philip Lundin, Ph D publ. in 1968.

  

3 Autographed Books- by Spiegelman, Stich & Rudman

I have several lovely and very RARE AUTOGRAPHED books that I just have to share with you: ( click on title of book to be transported to my online bookstore where you can find more info on the books as well as the option to purchase, if you so choose :)

1. THE TREE Tales in psycho-mythology by  J. Marvin Spiegelman 

2. DEFRAUDING AMERICA BY RODNEY STICH 

3. COMBAT: TWELVE YEARS IN THE SENATE- BY WARREN B. RUDMAN

Today I found.... TOTAL RECALL 1ST EDITION/ 1ST PRINTING HARDCOVER BY PIERS ANTHONY

Total Recall 1ST Edition/1st printing- #'s 1 thru 10 displayed on copyright page ISBN 0-688-05209-6 [Hardcover] [Jan 01, 1989] Anthony, Piers And this autographed book by Ken Anderson that has a weird little twist to the book itself, The Gallery [Paperback] [Jul 23, 2009] Anderson, Robin Used from $19.99 CHECK OUT THESE 2 "GROOVY BOOK FINDS" AND MORE AT MY  HAPPY-LITTLE-SOUL storefront!!!

Just a small sample of books available at HappyLittleSoul storefront

HappyLittleSoul 

http://www.amazon.com/shops/HappyLittleSoul

Clockwork Orange [Paperback] [Jan 01, 1973] Burgess, Anthony Used from $9.99 Jean Anouilh (Classiques du XXe Siecle) (French Edition) [Mass Market Paperback] [May 01, 1959] Robert de Luppe Used from $12.99 Appiontment in Dallas the Final Solution to the Assassination of Jfk [Paperback] [Jan 01, 1975] HUGH C McDONALD Used from $14.00

I found this lovely RARE COLLECTIBLE FRENCH 1986 Winnie the Pooh Book

This is a lovely softcover, like new, in FRENCH COLLECTIBLE book of Winnie The Pooh called, Winnie l'ourson. This particular copy was published in 1962, but was re-published again in 1986. I could barely find any info on this specific copy.


This French book website has the French publishing info:
Titre original :Winnie-the-Pooh, 1926
Traduction de PIERRE MARTIN
Illustration de Ernest Howard SHEPARD
LIVRE POCHE JEUNESSE coll. Jeunesse n° 240, dépôt légal : septembre 1986
192 pages, ISBN : 2-253-03982-9

If you would like to buy it or just check it out further CLICK HERE