And the Oscar Goes To...

The 84th Academy Awards aired on Sunday, February 26.  What a show!  I was eagerly anticipating this famous awards show and I certainly was not disappointed.  It's no secret that I am a huge fan of "The Help."  I greatly enjoyed the book and the movie.  I was pleasantly surprised at how well the movie represented the book.  I was delighted when I found out that the movie received several Oscar nominations including Best Picture.

Octavia Spencer won the Oscar in the category of best Actress in a Supporting Role.  Congratulations, Octavia!  I truly believe she earned that Oscar with her stellar performance.  Viola Davis was nominated for best Actress in a Leading Role.  Sadly, she did not win.  I must admit, I was disappointed that she didn't win.  I think she deserved it.

The fact that "The Help" received such recognition at the Oscars is a testimony to the impact a book can have on modern society.  If the book hadn't been written, the movie would not exist.  The fine actors brought the characters of the book to life.  People from all walks of life were able to relate to this story.  The message was eye-opening and touching.

CouponChief.com

CouponChief.com is one of the fastest growing coupon sites, with over 250,000 visitors per month.   They have one of the largest databases of online coupons on the net.  The site features over 50,000 coupons for over 15,000 stores.  No matter what you are looking to buy online, chances are you will find a coupon for it at CouponChief.com.

The site is very easy to use.  It even has a video that explains how to use the coupons step-by-step.  I found coupons for every store I searched for on this site, including some of the largest online retailers like eBay, Amazon and Barnes & Noble.  Of course, I was interested in the coupons that were available for books.  They have coupons for all types of books - textbooks, books in print and ebooks.  You can use the following links to find coupons specifically for books -

http://www.couponchief.com/tags/books

http://www.couponchief.com/textbooks

http://www.couponchief.com/ebooks

Online retailers can increase their exposure with CouponChief.com.  A merchant account is free and it is very easy to sign up for an account.

With today's economy, the coupon industry has exploded.  Digital coupons are becoming increasingly popular.  The ease of use can't be beat.  I hate clipping coupons, so digital coupons work great for me.  Who doesn't like to save money?  Check out CouponChief.com for significant savings. 

The Vow

The Vow, starring Rachel McAdams and Channing Tatum, hits theatres on February 10.  I can't wait!  It sounds like an amazing movie.  The movie is based on a true story.  The Vow:  True Events That Inspired the Movie is a book that will hit shelves the same day the movie is released.  Here is the publisher's synopsis of the book:

Life as Kim and Krickitt Carpenter knew it was shattered beyond recognition on November 24, 1993. Two months after their marriage, a devastating car wreck left Krickitt with a massive head injury and in a coma for weeks.  When she finally awoke, she had no idea who Kim was. With no recollection of their relationship and while Krickitt experienced personality changes common to those who suffer head injuries, Kim realized the woman he had married essentially died in the accident. And yet, against all odds, Kim and Krickitt fell in love all over again. Even though Kim stood by Krickitt through the darkest times a husband can ever imagine, he insists, "I'm no hero. I made a vow."

Doesn't that sound good?!  To put a visual with it, here is the movie trailer -




Click here to order the book from B&N.com

"Ali in Wonderland" by Ali Wentworth

Acclaimed actress and comedian, Ali Wentworth, released her memoir, "Ali in Wonderland" today. Here is the publisher's synopsis -

"Growing up in a family of political journalists--and daughter of President Reagan's White House social secretary--Ali Wentworth rebelled against her blue-blood upbringing, embracing Hollywood, motorcycles, even a few wildly inappropriate marriage proposals. Today she is an acclaimed comedic actress and writer, former "Oprah" regular, wife of political and media star George Stephanopoulos, and a mother who lets her two girls eat cotton candy before bed. Though she's settled down, her rebellious nature thrives in her comedy and her view of her crazy world.

In this addictively funny and warm memoir, she takes us through the looking glass and into the wonderland of her life, from a childhood among Washington's elite to a stint in the psych ward they called a New England prep school; days doing L.A. sketch comedy (with then-aspiring artists Will Ferrell and Lisa Kudrow) to a series of spectacularly failed loves (that eventually led her to Mr. Right). Constant throughout is her mother, Muffie--a flawlessly elegant yet firm, no-nonsense force of nature and pure WASP convictions.

As charming and off-the-wall as Ali herself, "Ali in Wonderland" is an entertaining look at life that is both intimate and hilarious."

Wentworth has received rave reviews -

"Everything that comes out of Ali Wentworth's mouth is funny!"--Jerry Seinfeld

"Ali Wentworth is funny and warm and crazy all at once."--Alec Baldwin

"Ali has written a truly hilarious book"--Chelsea Handler

"Wentworth is amusing and frank, often frenetic, with sharp intelligence underneath the sassy wackiness; passages about her struggle with depression, falling in love with her husband, and her daughter's baptism have funny moments, but they're thoughtful and touching, too.... Highly entertaining memoir."--Publishers Weekly

"Ali Wentworth tumbles comically through Ali in Wonderland."--Vanity Fair

"[H]ilarious..."--Food & Wine

Available at Barnes & Noble in Hardcover or Nook

or Click on the eBookstore tab above to find it on iTunes!

Native Son by Richard Wright

Native Son is truly a classic. It has been widely acclaimed as one of the finest books ever written on race and class divisions in America. This powerful novel reflects the forces of poverty, injustice, and hopelessness that continue to shape society.  A customer recently requested a copy of this book.  I fondly remember watching the movie years ago.  Here is the trailer of the 1986 theatrical rendition of Native Son -  






Click here to purchase the book at Barnes & Noble - Native Son

New James Patterson - "Private: #1 Suspect"

James Patterson's latest book, Private: #1 Suspect is on top of the New York Times Best Sellers list in the Hardcover Fiction and the Combined Print & E-Book Fiction categories.  Here is a synopsis of this hit -

"Since former Marine Jack Morgan started Private, it has become the world's most effective investigation firm ... Private's investigators are the smartest, the fastest, and the most technologically advanced in the world--and they always uncover the truth. When his former lover is found murdered in Jack's bed, he is instantly the number-one suspect. While Jack is under police investigation, the mob strong-arms him into recovering $30 million in stolen pharmaceuticals for them."--Jacket flap.

Acclaim for Private: #1 Suspect -

"PRIVATE mixes action, mystery and personal drama...Patterson and Paetro may well be on their way to rivaling--and possibly surpassing--the popularity of their Women's Murder Club series."--BookReporter.com

"Slick and suspenseful."--BookLoons.com

"Private will grab you from page one and force you to sit there until you turn the very last page. A great start to new a series from the master of fast-paced thrill rides."--lorisreadingcorner.com

Buy it in hardcover or ebook format at Barnes&Noble.com

Buy Textbooks at Barnes&Noble.com

Textbook season is in full swing!  Barnes & Noble has some great promotions -

Get B&N Membership for $1 when you spend $200 on new Textbooks at BN.com!


Enjoy these Great Membership Benefits all year long:

1. Free Express Shipping
2. $25 Off NOOK Color™ or NOOK Tablet™, or $10 off Any Other NOOK™
3. 40% Off Hardcover Bestsellers, 10% Off Almost Everything Else 

Save up to 90% off textbooks at BarnesandNoble.com! Available in ALL formats – Used, Rental, Digital, and New!

Barnes&Noble.com Marketplace

Barnes & Noble has added new categories including home products and consumer electronics to its online marketplace, the latest move by the retailer to compete with e-commerce rivals such as Amazon.com and eBay.

Barnes & Noble, the largest U.S. bookstore chain, has largely focused on books for its marketplace. Members will now also be able to buy and sell items such as rugs, cooking utensils, games and items for babies on its website from third-party sellers.

Sales on bn.com - aided by its Nook e-reader and digital books - have soared. Sales rose 36.9 percent to $198 million in its most recent quarter and now makes up 14 percent of overall sales. eBay's online marketplace still leads the pack, but bn.com is working it's way up.

Shop Barnes&Noble.com - Why Not?

Barnes & Noble, Inc. is the largest book retailer in the United States. It operates mainly through its chain of bookstores headquartered in New York City. The company is known for large, upscale retail outlets, many of which contain cafes serving Starbuck's Coffee, and for deeply discounted bestsellers. The company operates over 700 stores (as of October 2010) in all 50 US states in addition to over 600 college bookstores.


Barnes & Noble originated in 1873 when Charles Barnes opened a book-printing business in Illinois. The first true bookstore was set up in 1917 in New York City. Before creating its website, the company sold books directly to customers through mail-order catalogs. It first began selling books online in the late 1980's, but the company's website was not launched until 1997. The site now carries over 2 million titles.


I first fell in love with Barnes & Noble bookstores in the late '90s. I was living in a small town at the time and when the store opened up, it was a BIG deal. The atmosphere was so appealing. I was immediately lured in. Reading has always been a hobby of mine, so I would go there and spend hours looking at the latest releases and sipping on a latte. I still enjoy doing that.


Even though Barnes & Nobles is technically my competitor (since I own an online bookstore, too) I still shop there. I think they have an amazing business model. I have tried to implement some of their strategies. I have learned from them. I know The Quality Corner will never be as big as Barnes & Noble. I don't even hope to. I've only wanted to have a small piece of the business. However, I firmly believe in the saying, "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em." So, I have become an affiliate of Barnes&Noble.com. You will see links to their products on my blog. Since B&N is such a large company, they are able to offer some great prices. Honestly, it's hard for me to have competitive prices. I want my readers to get the best possible deals. As an affiliate, I will pass on the best deals to you. Enjoy!