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Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Today is someone's 200th birthday!

I've mentioned my reading goal before. The one about reading all the Newbery medal and honor books from 1922 to the present. So far I've read 220 of the 374 books on the list. I've started another 4 that I have had to put down, because I lost interest in them. I'll get back to them one of these days.

Last Christmas when we were in the states I shopped for some new reading material. I brought quite a few books from my list back to Turkey with me. I read some and saved some. When it was time to come back to the states this time I packed up my books and shipped them back. I knew that shipment would take a couple of months to arrive, but I wasn't worried about not having my books. There are amazing bookstores in America! I could go buy some more books to add to my collection.


Enter this book. 1951 Newbery honor book. I found it at Barnes and Noble and had to have it. I put it on my bookshelf to save for a rainy day. I also bought a couple other books from my list as well as several that just looked interesting. Enough reading material to keep me occupied for awhile.

Two months later our shipment from Turkey arrived. I was so excited to put all my books on my bookshelves. Sorting them by author, genre, hardback, paperback, if I had read them already or not. You know typical book lover stuff. As I was unpacking I came across this book.


Yes, evidently I had already purchased this book. A full year before. It sat on my bookshelf in Turkey unread, completely forgotten. I really don't even remember buying it!

I certainly don't need two copies of a book about Abraham Lincoln. This is where you come in. I have decided to give my extra copy to one of my lucky readers. This month does mark the 200th birthday of President Lincoln and what better way to celebrate it than by giving away an account of his life?!? I know! How exciting! I'll even throw in a Turkish bookmark for you to mark your page! You know you can't resist now!

To enter this fabulous contest all you have to do is leave me a comment. I've tried to come up with a clever question for you to answer, but I got nothing. So tell me anything...why you need this book, what you think Lincoln would think of the USA today, or what you ate for dinner. It really doesn't matter. Any comment could be the winning comment as I'm employing the pick-a-name-out-of-a-hat method for choosing my winner.

(And I already know I'm a nerd for giving away a book about Lincoln in a contest so you don't have to mention that in the comments. Unless you got nothing else. Then I guess it's ok.)

16 comments:

WakeGrace said...

why you need this book,
I need it because he is one of my heros. to come from nothing to become a president and one of the most loved ones at that.


what you think Lincoln would think of the USA today,
i think he would be proud of what we have accomplished ( we DO have a black president now) but shocked at alot of how we behave now.

or what you ate for dinner.
I had IHOP. study time! haha

love reading the blog. i stumbled upon you and find it interesting to hear your experiences. i hope i dont sound like a creeper. ha ha but ive moved alot in my life so its nice to hear of other peoples experiences. :)

Cassie said...

I am a book/reading ho so I would LOVE to have it, and a Turkish bookmark that would rock.

Mamadallama said...

I love books for their own sakes, too. And Lincoln was a pretty cool president. And a Newberry award winner. What else could a girl ask for?

Also, I had grilled shrimp, guacamole, brown rice and green beans for dinner last night. I'm coming up blank on what to make for dinner tonight. I'm hoping to be inspired some time today or else it will be eggs for tonight's dinner.

heatfan said...

I LOVE books, they are my passion and would love to have this to add to my library!!

SP said...

It seems I'm not the first book addict to stop by.

Since it's random, I won't beg. What other treasures did you find when you unpacked your book boxes?

Sra said...

Cool. I'd like to read it because I always say I think Abraham Lincoln was probably our best president, but quite honestly, aside from Emancipation, the Gettysburg Address, the Stove Pipe Hats and chin scruffs, rumors of Log Cabins, and the fact that he's on the penny and the 5 dollar bill, I actually know precious little about him. If I'm going to claim he's the best president, I ought to back that up with knowledge, don't you think?

Anyway, I should make a point of reading about him and several other presidents whether I'm the lucky name or not.

Anonymous said...

I'd like to join the crowd of people who love to read. I love biographies and I'd like a new bookmark too please. :)

Anonymous said...

I think you should send me this book because my paternal grandma shared his birthday!!

Christy

Sara Campbell said...

I think you should send me this book so it can find its personal home in Turkey.

I can't find my blog said...

I'll throw my hat in the ring-My boys love, love, love learning about Lincoln. They'd dig it.

Anonymous said...

What an amazing reading goal! I am duly impressed.

I'd love to have a book about Lincoln because my 5 year old has been coming home from school, educating me about our former presidents and I honestly don't remember 95% of that stuff. I'd like to appear knowledgeable (without the help of Wikipedia) for once!

Joy said...

Throw my name in the hat Natalie.
I showed Leah your blog and Anna Grace's picture. She couldn't believe it.
I connected with Tiffany this week on facebook. I asked her about GA's. She said she's still directing it. She's amazing. Leah and Paige miss it.

I'm thinking about doing the same thing for a book I got two of at Christmas.

Joy

Anonymous said...

ah...just commenting...so DON'T throw my name in the hat...whatever that is...I think it's cool but I kid you not I have about 20 books on my please read list. Must...not...give...in! Hope to see you sometime soon!

Sharon said...

I probably need this to distract me from the 15 7th grade boys inhabiting my house all weekend for D-Now. Let's see a show of hands of who wants to trade places with me this weekend. No one?

Lynn - the piggy bank painter said...

I don't buy books, I always go to the library and borrow them. And after I check my books out and go home and start reading, I realize I checked out the same books last year. *sigh* If I bought books, I'd have enough duplicates to start my own library.

Natalie said...

wakegrace - thanks for playing along and reading! i love new readers!

cassie - i have quite a few turkish bookmarks. stay tuned for the next contest for your chance to win one! and thanks for the visit!

mamadallama - you were the big winner. your name was chosen by will! email me and i'll get the book to you!

heatfan - thanks for playing and visiting my blog!

sp - hi! thanks for playing! there were all kinds of books in those boxes. some favorites...the thief by megan whalen, the wizard of oz series. good stuff!

sra - i agree! you need to get yourself a book about lincoln!

barefoot gypsy girl - hi! thanks for stopping by!

la cousin - that's a good reason! sorry you didn't win!

sara - i guess i should have left some of my books with the library there. oh wait...i did! i did bring back quite a few though!

headless mom - thanks for playing! jacob loves lincoln too!

andrea - i love the goal, but i don't think i'll be able to meet it completely. some of those books are out of print and a few of them are thousands of dollars for the copies you can find. i might have to skip those!

joy - anna grace keeps telling me i need to change her picture on the sidebar since her hair has grown out so much! i just haven't taken the time to do it yet.

emily - i know! and besides if you ever want to read this book i have a copy you can borrow! i think we may be back at cfbc. after much looking around and discussions about it all i think we've decided to stay. you are the first person i've told!

sharon - i'm not sure a book about lincoln can distract you from any number of 7th grade boys. good luck!

lynn - i must admit this is the second time i've done this. the first time i wasn't sure and called my husband from the bookstore. i directed him to exactly where the book would be on the bookshelf and he claimed i didn't have it. i came home and there is was. exactly where i said it would be if i owned it. i need to read the ones i have before i buy more. that way there will be less of a chance of me actually spending money on the same book twice!