The Book Muncher is giving away 5 copies of How to Buy a Love of Reading by Tanya Egan Gibson.
To enter visit the muncher and fill out the entry form.
Extra entries are given for:
Following (+1 for new followers, +2 for old followers)
Linking to the contest
Commenting on the review
Open to US mailing addresses.
Contest ends August 20th at 9:00 PM PST
Friday, July 30, 2010
The Friday 56, 99 Coffins
Rules:* Grab the book nearest you. Right now.
* Turn to page 56.
* Find the fifth sentence.
* Post that sentence (plus one or two others if you like) along with these instructions on your blog or (if you do not have your own blog) in the comments section of Storytime With Tonya and Friends.
*Post a link along with your post back to Storytime With Tonya and Friends.
* Don't dig for your favorite book, the coolest, the most intellectual. Use the CLOSEST.
The book this week is 99 Coffins by David Wellington. These are mean vampires. They tear people apart. No one is going to fall in love with them. At 90 pages in there isn’t too much gore yet but I assume that is coming soon.
The sentence:
“That’s good. Now, what we do next is –“
What we do next turned out to be chasing a vampire down the street with nothing for a weapon except for the car she is driving. Sound like fun?
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Come and Play
Down Under Views is hosting a Win a Book Wednesday.
If you win you get to choose any book from the giveaway page.
But to enter you have to play a little game.
The game works like this:
1. Each week you will be given a word and a book title that features that word.
2. Then it’s your turn to come up with book titles containing the same word, without duplication. Including the author would be nice, too.
That's it. There is a catch though. If they don't get 17 titles we have to start all over next week. Each person can submit 3 titles. I have my three in and am hoping for Remote Control by Jack Heath, so hands off. But definitely get over there and enter because if we can't get 17 titles nobody wins.
The word this week is FALL.
The contest goes from Wednesday to Wednesday so if you don't win this time you can always try again.
Come on, it's fun and easy and I know you want to help me out here so run on over right away.
If you win you get to choose any book from the giveaway page.
But to enter you have to play a little game.
The game works like this:
1. Each week you will be given a word and a book title that features that word.
2. Then it’s your turn to come up with book titles containing the same word, without duplication. Including the author would be nice, too.
That's it. There is a catch though. If they don't get 17 titles we have to start all over next week. Each person can submit 3 titles. I have my three in and am hoping for Remote Control by Jack Heath, so hands off. But definitely get over there and enter because if we can't get 17 titles nobody wins.
The word this week is FALL.
The contest goes from Wednesday to Wednesday so if you don't win this time you can always try again.
Come on, it's fun and easy and I know you want to help me out here so run on over right away.
Who was that Masked man?
Readaholic is giving away 2 copies of Masked edited by Lou Anders.
To get your name in the hat all you have to do is leave a comment but there are a boat load of extra entries to be had for following and blogging and tweeting, oh my. And many more. So make sure you read the list to get as many entries as you can.
Winners will be chosen on August 6th.
Open to the US only.
To get your name in the hat all you have to do is leave a comment but there are a boat load of extra entries to be had for following and blogging and tweeting, oh my. And many more. So make sure you read the list to get as many entries as you can.
Winners will be chosen on August 6th.
Open to the US only.
And it's all true...
A Sea of Books is giving away 5 copies of The Impostor's Daughter by Laurie Sandell.
All you have to do to enter is leave a comment with your email address.
Extra entries can be had for being a follower of, or subscribing to A Sea of Books, blogging, tweeting, or you can Stumble, Digg it, or Technorati Fave it
Make sure you leave a new comment for each entry.
Open until August 6th.
Open to the US and Canada, no PO boxes.
All you have to do to enter is leave a comment with your email address.
Extra entries can be had for being a follower of, or subscribing to A Sea of Books, blogging, tweeting, or you can Stumble, Digg it, or Technorati Fave it
Make sure you leave a new comment for each entry.
Open until August 6th.
Open to the US and Canada, no PO boxes.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
WWW Wednesdays (June 28th)
To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…
* What are you currently reading?
* What did you recently finish reading?
* What do you think you’ll read next?
Leave a link to your post (or the answers themselves if you do not have a blog) in the comments of Should Be Reading.
What are you currently reading?
The Reckoning by Kelley Armstrong
I like it and it moves very quickly. It’s the third in a trilogy and I’m happy about that as well because I feel like I am always starting a series or waiting for the next one to come out or something so I’m happy to be finishing one for once.
&
99 Coffins by David Wellington
I have not gotten very far so I have no opinion yet but I like the idea that the vampires are bad, really bad, not beautiful and friendly so I’m hoping it works out.
What did you recently finish reading?
One of Us is Wrong by Donald Westlake writing as Samuel Holt
Filled with Westlake’s humor and quirky characters. I almost always like Westlake and this was no exception.
&
Epic: The Story God Is Telling and the Role That Is Yours to Play by John Eldredge
I borrowed this from my church library more, I think, because I liked the looks of the book than anything else. I liked it and thought Eldredge made sense but the shear number of movie and book references threw me just a bit.
What do you think you’ll read next?
Well, what I should read is one of the library books I have so Walking Through Walls by Phillip Smith is a possibility. But what I will probably end up reading is one of my Doc Savage books by Kenneth Robeson because I haven’t read one in a while and I’m kind of in the mood for some pulpy goodness.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Sad Cake?
Bookin' With Bingo is giving away 2 copies of The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender.
To enter go visit Bingo and read all about the book and share what you think and why you want to win a copy.
Extra entries are available for blogging, tweeting and a few others that take a little more research so make sure you read the rules to increase your chances. And make sure that you put each entry in a new comment or they won't count.
This one is for the US only. No PO boxes.
You have until August 10th at 6 PM EST to get your entries in.
And while your there check out Bingo's other giveaways. You may even get an extra entry out of it.
To enter go visit Bingo and read all about the book and share what you think and why you want to win a copy.
Extra entries are available for blogging, tweeting and a few others that take a little more research so make sure you read the rules to increase your chances. And make sure that you put each entry in a new comment or they won't count.
This one is for the US only. No PO boxes.
You have until August 10th at 6 PM EST to get your entries in.
And while your there check out Bingo's other giveaways. You may even get an extra entry out of it.
The Dust of 100 Dogs Review
The Dust of 100 Dogs by A.S. King
(from the back of the book)
In the late seventeenth century, famed teenage pirate Emer Morrisey was on the cusp of escaping the pirate life with her one true love and unfathomable riches when she was slain and cursed with the dust of one hundred dogs, dooming her to one hundred lives as a dog before returning to a human body – with her memories intact.
Now she’s a contemporary American teenager and all she needs is a shovel and a ride to Jamaica.
Interesting concept. I thought that being cursed to live a 100 lives as a dog before being human again was a good way to get Emer into the future without really having to go into all the intervening years, what she was doing and why she didn’t act before and all of that. At the same time I also liked the dog facts that she puts in, explaining things she learned as a dog, so the reader doesn’t forget where all those years went. When she finally gets back into a human body she is still the same person she was all those years ago, with all her memories intact but having been able to witness all the changes since her death. And now she is wise beyond her seeming years and still bitter about the past plus she has regular adolescent problems too that make her life rather complex and puts a big spin on a unique coming of age tale. The story goes back and forth between her first life and her current one so you get to see how she became who and what she is while you watch her try to come to terms with it all in a whole new world. The way she became a pirate was well done so that it could be believed. It is of course terribly improbable but it didn’t stretch my credulity beyond the limit. You can have sympathy for the child Emer was and even for the rather blood thirsty pirate she became but unfortunately in her current incarnation I couldn’t stand her. I understand that life had made her bitter but she pushed me past the point of caring. She kept imaging doing horrible things to people who annoyed her and that started to annoy me. I often found myself just wishing she would shut up. I wanted to know about her past life, how she got cursed, how she died, how everything came out. But her new life? Not so much. It was mostly just Emer being bitter and angry and that wasn't very interesting to me. I didn’t love the book. I didn’t hate it. It was interesting, imaginative and quirky and I like pirates so it was worth reading but I wasn’t sad to see the story end.
(from the back of the book)
In the late seventeenth century, famed teenage pirate Emer Morrisey was on the cusp of escaping the pirate life with her one true love and unfathomable riches when she was slain and cursed with the dust of one hundred dogs, dooming her to one hundred lives as a dog before returning to a human body – with her memories intact.
Now she’s a contemporary American teenager and all she needs is a shovel and a ride to Jamaica.
Interesting concept. I thought that being cursed to live a 100 lives as a dog before being human again was a good way to get Emer into the future without really having to go into all the intervening years, what she was doing and why she didn’t act before and all of that. At the same time I also liked the dog facts that she puts in, explaining things she learned as a dog, so the reader doesn’t forget where all those years went. When she finally gets back into a human body she is still the same person she was all those years ago, with all her memories intact but having been able to witness all the changes since her death. And now she is wise beyond her seeming years and still bitter about the past plus she has regular adolescent problems too that make her life rather complex and puts a big spin on a unique coming of age tale. The story goes back and forth between her first life and her current one so you get to see how she became who and what she is while you watch her try to come to terms with it all in a whole new world. The way she became a pirate was well done so that it could be believed. It is of course terribly improbable but it didn’t stretch my credulity beyond the limit. You can have sympathy for the child Emer was and even for the rather blood thirsty pirate she became but unfortunately in her current incarnation I couldn’t stand her. I understand that life had made her bitter but she pushed me past the point of caring. She kept imaging doing horrible things to people who annoyed her and that started to annoy me. I often found myself just wishing she would shut up. I wanted to know about her past life, how she got cursed, how she died, how everything came out. But her new life? Not so much. It was mostly just Emer being bitter and angry and that wasn't very interesting to me. I didn’t love the book. I didn’t hate it. It was interesting, imaginative and quirky and I like pirates so it was worth reading but I wasn’t sad to see the story end.
Still on a Journey
Chocolate & Croissants is giving away 2 copies of The Hundred-Foot Journey by Richard Morais.
To enter: Each comment must be separate and include your email.
1. Leave a comment about your favorite food-it does not have to be Indian food.
For extra entries:
2. Feed the kitties-you will see what this means on Chocolate & Croissants but don't worry, it's easy and no actual cats are involved-this may be done daily
3. Tweet about the giveaway-this may be done daily
4. Blog about the giveaway
5. Leave the title of another book set in India that you have read or know of.
6. Post the giveaway on your fb page
Contest runs through August 3rd. Open to the US only.
To enter: Each comment must be separate and include your email.
1. Leave a comment about your favorite food-it does not have to be Indian food.
For extra entries:
2. Feed the kitties-you will see what this means on Chocolate & Croissants but don't worry, it's easy and no actual cats are involved-this may be done daily
3. Tweet about the giveaway-this may be done daily
4. Blog about the giveaway
5. Leave the title of another book set in India that you have read or know of.
6. Post the giveaway on your fb page
Contest runs through August 3rd. Open to the US only.
Monday, July 26, 2010
Disappearing Spoons!
The Disappearing Spoon: True Tales of Madness, Love and The History of The World From
The Periodic Table of The Elements by Sam Kean is being given away! There are several places you can go to try and get your hands on a copy.
Readaholic is giving away 2 copies. Open until August 4th.
Chick with Books is giving away a copy. Open until August 8th.
Bookin' With Bingo is giving away 2 copies. Open until August 11th at 6 PM EST.
I'm Booking It is giving away 2 copies. Open until August 12th.
A Bookworm's World is giving away 2 copies. Open until August 14th.
All contests are open to the US and Canada only. No PO boxes.
There are extra entries available so make sure you read the rules for each site.
The Periodic Table of The Elements by Sam Kean is being given away! There are several places you can go to try and get your hands on a copy.
Readaholic is giving away 2 copies. Open until August 4th.
Chick with Books is giving away a copy. Open until August 8th.
Bookin' With Bingo is giving away 2 copies. Open until August 11th at 6 PM EST.
I'm Booking It is giving away 2 copies. Open until August 12th.
A Bookworm's World is giving away 2 copies. Open until August 14th.
All contests are open to the US and Canada only. No PO boxes.
There are extra entries available so make sure you read the rules for each site.
Friday, July 23, 2010
The Friday 56, One of Us is Wrong
Rules:* Grab the book nearest you. Right now.
* Turn to page 56.
* Find the fifth sentence.
* Post that sentence (plus one or two others if you like) along with these instructions on your blog or (if you do not have your own blog) in the comments section of Storytime With Tonya and Friends.
*Post a link along with your post back to Storytime With Tonya and Friends.
* Don't dig for your favorite book, the coolest, the most intellectual. Use the CLOSEST.
The book this week is One Of Us Is Wrong by Samuel Holt. Well, it isn't really by Samuel Holt. It's by Donald Westlake. But you won't find Westlake's name anywhere on my copy. However Westlake is the reason I'm reading the book. The man writes under so many names it is hard to keep track of him. By the way, so far I really like it.
The sentence:
"We'll take lunch." And he hung up before I could ask him anything more. And just three days later four guys I didn't know did their level best to murder me.
Ah, what are friends for if not to get you murdered? I wonder what they had against lunch.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
The Reapers Are The Angels
The Cajun Book Lady is giving away 3 copies of The Reapers Are the Angels by Alden Bell.
To Enter:
Tell her your favorite Zombie "thing." It can be a movie, a book, or whatever.
For one extra entry you can spread the word
Make sure you leave an email address
Ends July 31st
Open to US residents only
To Enter:
Tell her your favorite Zombie "thing." It can be a movie, a book, or whatever.
For one extra entry you can spread the word
Make sure you leave an email address
Ends July 31st
Open to US residents only
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
More Impostors
Luxury Reading is giving away 5 copies of The Impostor's Daughter by Laurie Sandell.
To enter leave a comment with your e-mail address.
Extra entries (make sure you post each entry separately):
- Subscribe via e-mail, follow or subscribe to the feed. You must verify the subscriptions. (1 entry each)
- Enter another current Luxury Reading giveaway (1 entry each)
- Share the giveaway on a social network of your choice. (1 entry each)
- Become a fan of Luxury Reading on Facebook (2 entries)
This giveaway is open to U.S. and Canada residents only. Deadline to enter is midnight on August 4th.
(Check out some other places to win The Impostor's Daughter here.)
To enter leave a comment with your e-mail address.
Extra entries (make sure you post each entry separately):
- Subscribe via e-mail, follow or subscribe to the feed. You must verify the subscriptions. (1 entry each)
- Enter another current Luxury Reading giveaway (1 entry each)
- Share the giveaway on a social network of your choice. (1 entry each)
- Become a fan of Luxury Reading on Facebook (2 entries)
This giveaway is open to U.S. and Canada residents only. Deadline to enter is midnight on August 4th.
(Check out some other places to win The Impostor's Daughter here.)
WWW Wednesdays (July 21st)
To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…
* What are you currently reading?
* What did you recently finish reading?
* What do you think you’ll read next?
Leave a link to your post (or the answers themselves if you do not have a blog) in the comments of Should Be Reading.
What are you currently reading?
Skin Deep by Mark Del Franco
I thought I would try this one because I like Del Franco’s other series. It’s alright but I’m kind of tired of hearing about how she wears clothes that are tight in all the right places.
&
The Dead-Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan
I haven’t really gotten any of the answers I was looking for but it looks like I might get some soon.
What did you recently finish reading?
The Templar Legacy by Steve Berry
I’m glad I finished this so I could move it to my second answer and not have to use it for my first answer 3 times in a row. Unfortunately I didn’t like this as much as I thought I would. Again, I bought it because I read one later in the series and liked it but if I had started with this one I don’t think it would have inspired me to make a trip to the bookstore.
What do you think you’ll read next?
Probably The Reckoning by Kelly Armstrong because it is a library book and there is a waiting list for it and I like to try to get them back as soon as possible if I know someone is waiting because I know how much I hate it when I’m the one waiting.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Mini Reviews
Assassin by Rye James
The writing seemed flat to me. Not much feeling behind it. There were also a lot of old western clichés. Something reminiscent of a western you would see on a Saturday afternoon and had pieces of other western plots you have probably heard before. He tried to build a lot on the characters and tricky plot points but at 100 pages there wasn’t much room for that so the characters just seemed to explain themselves a lot and they tell us stories more than we get to experience the story for ourselves. And at one point, to make the plot turn out, the character stepped out of character and the book lost some credibility. I was thinking ‘he can’t possibly make him that stupid, can he?’ But, unfortunately, he did and it played out like an easy fix to a tight plot point.
The Penelopiad: The Myth of Penelope and Odysseus by Margaret Atwood
I guess you have to give points for the idea of putting in a Greek chorus but after the first few had so many silly rhymes I was put off by the whole thing. As for the rest? Well, Penelope does tend to go on. Maybe I would be bitter too after her life and then how ever many years in the underworld. But I hope not because it turned Penelope into a terrible bore.
The writing seemed flat to me. Not much feeling behind it. There were also a lot of old western clichés. Something reminiscent of a western you would see on a Saturday afternoon and had pieces of other western plots you have probably heard before. He tried to build a lot on the characters and tricky plot points but at 100 pages there wasn’t much room for that so the characters just seemed to explain themselves a lot and they tell us stories more than we get to experience the story for ourselves. And at one point, to make the plot turn out, the character stepped out of character and the book lost some credibility. I was thinking ‘he can’t possibly make him that stupid, can he?’ But, unfortunately, he did and it played out like an easy fix to a tight plot point.
The Penelopiad: The Myth of Penelope and Odysseus by Margaret Atwood
I guess you have to give points for the idea of putting in a Greek chorus but after the first few had so many silly rhymes I was put off by the whole thing. As for the rest? Well, Penelope does tend to go on. Maybe I would be bitter too after her life and then how ever many years in the underworld. But I hope not because it turned Penelope into a terrible bore.
Going on a Journey
Or at least I hope to. Because Books are Like Candy Corn is giving away 2 copies of The Hundred-Foot Journey by Richard C. Morais. If you would like a chance to win one get on over there and leave a comment with your email address. For a second entry, share about the contest on the social network of your choice and leave another comment that you have done so.
The deadline in July 27th. Sorry, but this is open to the USA only.
The deadline in July 27th. Sorry, but this is open to the USA only.
Friday, July 16, 2010
Bless your heart!
Bless Their Hearts Mom is having a top shelf giveaway.
One winner will get their choice of the books listed below:
This One is Mine by Maria Semple
No Hope for Gomez by Graham Parke
Born in Death by Nora Roberts
This One is Mine by Maria Semple
Sundays at Tiffany's by James Patterson
Stripped by Brian Freeman
What to Wear for the Rest of Your life
The Overnight Socialite by Brodie Clark
Totally Toned Arms by Rylan Duggan
Someone to Love by Jude Devereaux
Benny and Shrimp by Katarina Mazetti
Knit, Purl and Die by Anne Canadeo
Hear No Evil by Matthew Turner
The Witness at the Wedding-Simon Brett
7th Heaven- James Patternson
Husband and Wife by Leah Stewart
Ice Child - Elizabeth McGregor
Malpractice in Magoody by Joan Hess
To The Nines- Janet Evanovich
Just Let Me Lie Down by Kristin von Ogtrop
Make sure you say which book you want and leave an email address.
For extra entries:
1. Subscribe to Bless Their Hearts Mom (2 entries)
2. Follow Bless Their Hearts Mom on Google Friend (2 entries)
3. Signed up for the New Year, New Self Program on Bless Their Hearts Mom (2 entries)
4. Follow Bless Their Hearts Mom on Twitter AND tweet about this contest (3 entries) (this can be done DAILY for 3 entries PER day)
5. Have the “New Year, New Self Program” Button on your blog (3 entries)
6. Put the "Bless Their Hearts Mom" Button on your blog or website (3 entries)
7. Blog about the giveaway (5 entries)
8. Enter the post link in a Giveaway Linky on another site (5 entries)
Please post each entry separately, i.e. 2 posts for Subscribing
Open until July 31st.
Open to the US and Canada.
One winner will get their choice of the books listed below:
This One is Mine by Maria Semple
No Hope for Gomez by Graham Parke
Born in Death by Nora Roberts
This One is Mine by Maria Semple
Sundays at Tiffany's by James Patterson
Stripped by Brian Freeman
What to Wear for the Rest of Your life
The Overnight Socialite by Brodie Clark
Totally Toned Arms by Rylan Duggan
Someone to Love by Jude Devereaux
Benny and Shrimp by Katarina Mazetti
Knit, Purl and Die by Anne Canadeo
Hear No Evil by Matthew Turner
The Witness at the Wedding-Simon Brett
7th Heaven- James Patternson
Husband and Wife by Leah Stewart
Ice Child - Elizabeth McGregor
Malpractice in Magoody by Joan Hess
To The Nines- Janet Evanovich
Just Let Me Lie Down by Kristin von Ogtrop
Make sure you say which book you want and leave an email address.
For extra entries:
1. Subscribe to Bless Their Hearts Mom (2 entries)
2. Follow Bless Their Hearts Mom on Google Friend (2 entries)
3. Signed up for the New Year, New Self Program on Bless Their Hearts Mom (2 entries)
4. Follow Bless Their Hearts Mom on Twitter AND tweet about this contest (3 entries) (this can be done DAILY for 3 entries PER day)
5. Have the “New Year, New Self Program” Button on your blog (3 entries)
6. Put the "Bless Their Hearts Mom" Button on your blog or website (3 entries)
7. Blog about the giveaway (5 entries)
8. Enter the post link in a Giveaway Linky on another site (5 entries)
Please post each entry separately, i.e. 2 posts for Subscribing
Open until July 31st.
Open to the US and Canada.
The Friday 56, Skin Deep
Rules:* Grab the book nearest you. Right now.
* Turn to page 56.
* Find the fifth sentence.
* Post that sentence (plus one or two others if you like) along with these instructions on your blog or (if you do not have your own blog) in the comments section of Storytime With Tonya and Friends.
*Post a link along with your post back to Storytime With Tonya and Friends.
* Don't dig for your favorite book, the coolest, the most intellectual. Use the CLOSEST.
The book this week is Skin Deep by Mark Del Franco. I like Mark’s Conner Grey series so I thought I’d give this one a try. I don’t like it as much as the others but I haven’t gotten very far in so I think I have to give it more of a chance before I decide.
The sentence:
If you made a career on a SWAT team in D.C., the odds were you would become a statistic.
Cheery thought. Good thing I have never had any thought of being on a SWAT team anywhere.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Impostor's Daughter
If you are interested in reading The Impostor's Daughter by Laurie Sandell there are several places that you can go to try and win a copy.
Under My Apple Tree is giving away 2 copies. Open until July 25th.
Chick With Books is giving away 3 copies. Open through July 25th.
She Reads and Reads is giving away 5 copies. Open through July 29th.
So Many Precious Books, So Little Time is giving away up to 5 copies. Open through July 30th.
A Bookworm's World is giving away 5 copies. Ends August 1st.
All contests are open to the US and Canada only. No PO boxes.
Makes sure you read the rules for entry at each site.
Good luck!
Under My Apple Tree is giving away 2 copies. Open until July 25th.
Chick With Books is giving away 3 copies. Open through July 25th.
She Reads and Reads is giving away 5 copies. Open through July 29th.
So Many Precious Books, So Little Time is giving away up to 5 copies. Open through July 30th.
A Bookworm's World is giving away 5 copies. Ends August 1st.
All contests are open to the US and Canada only. No PO boxes.
Makes sure you read the rules for entry at each site.
Good luck!
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
The Forest of Hands and Teeth Review
The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan
(from the back of the book)
In Mary’s world, there are simple truths.
The Sisterhood always knows best.
The Guardians will protect and serve.
The Unconsecrated will never relent.
And you must always mind the fence that surrounds the village. The fence that protects the village from the Forest of Hands and Teeth.
But slowly, Mary’s truths are failing her. She’s learning things she never wanted to know about the Sisterhood and its secrets, and the Guardians and their power. And, when the fence is breached and her world is thrown into chaos, about the Unconsecrated and their relentlessness.
Now she must chose between her village and her future, between the one she loves and the one who loves her. And she must face the truth about the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Could there be life outside a world surrounded by so much death?
I like that this book took a slightly different tack to go at the zombie genre. Instead of the beginning of the crisis it is many years later. By this time people have built villages and started their lives again but it is with the Unconsecrated just on the other side of a fence. The constant presence of the zombies paired with the everyday lives of the people in the village give the book an oppressive and creepy feel. In the main character, Mary, you can feel the desire for something more and you are frustrated along with her when she is alone in her feelings. You admire her resolve because she is the only one willing to look any father than the surface at all the things people have believed, without proof, for years. But I don’t like her. And as the book went along I liked her less and less. A lot of the time it seems she is the only one that matters in her world even though friends and family are in the same fight for their lives. I had trouble caring what happened to her and even felt that the group would fair better without her. I want to be able to like the heroine, and I couldn’t. The story itself seemed to be broken into two parts, the zombies and the romance. You would have scenes of action and then everything would stop to accommodate the love triangle, romance section. It bogged down the narrative and made some places in the middle drag. A few times I felt the book was making a point of some mystery, went to great lengths to draw our attention to it, but then it didn’t go anywhere and there was no resolution. I know there will be sequels, and I can only hope they explain, but after all the set-up to be left hanging on almost everything is a let down. Despite all of this it still managed to hold my attention. I thought there was potential there for something and I was waiting for it. Unfortunately I don’t think most of the potential was realized. There was something about the book that made me want to keep reading but there were also things that aggravated me too. It has its faults but it does manage to paint a very grim future and you have to wonder if there is any hope at all. I kept reading looking for the hope because if the fate of the human race rests with this group of kids bumbling through the Forest, we are all in a lot of trouble.
(from the back of the book)
In Mary’s world, there are simple truths.
The Sisterhood always knows best.
The Guardians will protect and serve.
The Unconsecrated will never relent.
And you must always mind the fence that surrounds the village. The fence that protects the village from the Forest of Hands and Teeth.
But slowly, Mary’s truths are failing her. She’s learning things she never wanted to know about the Sisterhood and its secrets, and the Guardians and their power. And, when the fence is breached and her world is thrown into chaos, about the Unconsecrated and their relentlessness.
Now she must chose between her village and her future, between the one she loves and the one who loves her. And she must face the truth about the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Could there be life outside a world surrounded by so much death?
I like that this book took a slightly different tack to go at the zombie genre. Instead of the beginning of the crisis it is many years later. By this time people have built villages and started their lives again but it is with the Unconsecrated just on the other side of a fence. The constant presence of the zombies paired with the everyday lives of the people in the village give the book an oppressive and creepy feel. In the main character, Mary, you can feel the desire for something more and you are frustrated along with her when she is alone in her feelings. You admire her resolve because she is the only one willing to look any father than the surface at all the things people have believed, without proof, for years. But I don’t like her. And as the book went along I liked her less and less. A lot of the time it seems she is the only one that matters in her world even though friends and family are in the same fight for their lives. I had trouble caring what happened to her and even felt that the group would fair better without her. I want to be able to like the heroine, and I couldn’t. The story itself seemed to be broken into two parts, the zombies and the romance. You would have scenes of action and then everything would stop to accommodate the love triangle, romance section. It bogged down the narrative and made some places in the middle drag. A few times I felt the book was making a point of some mystery, went to great lengths to draw our attention to it, but then it didn’t go anywhere and there was no resolution. I know there will be sequels, and I can only hope they explain, but after all the set-up to be left hanging on almost everything is a let down. Despite all of this it still managed to hold my attention. I thought there was potential there for something and I was waiting for it. Unfortunately I don’t think most of the potential was realized. There was something about the book that made me want to keep reading but there were also things that aggravated me too. It has its faults but it does manage to paint a very grim future and you have to wonder if there is any hope at all. I kept reading looking for the hope because if the fate of the human race rests with this group of kids bumbling through the Forest, we are all in a lot of trouble.
Mockingjay
The Good, The Bad and The Ugly Reviews is giving away a copy of Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins.
Fill out the form to enter.
You can get extra entries for be a follower of The Good, the Bad and the Ugly Reviews and also for sharing about the contest. There is a maximum of 4 entries.
Rules:
You must be 13 years or older
Contest is for US Residents only
You must fill out the form to enter, comments ARE NOT entries
Contest ends July 31st (7/31/10) at 11:59 PM EST
Winner will be posted on The Good the Bad and the Ugly Reviews by August 3rd, winner will be emailed and have 1 week to respond.
Book will be shipped on August 24, 2010 (8/24/10)
Fill out the form to enter.
You can get extra entries for be a follower of The Good, the Bad and the Ugly Reviews and also for sharing about the contest. There is a maximum of 4 entries.
Rules:
You must be 13 years or older
Contest is for US Residents only
You must fill out the form to enter, comments ARE NOT entries
Contest ends July 31st (7/31/10) at 11:59 PM EST
Winner will be posted on The Good the Bad and the Ugly Reviews by August 3rd, winner will be emailed and have 1 week to respond.
Book will be shipped on August 24, 2010 (8/24/10)
WWW Wednesdays (July 14th)
To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…
* What are you currently reading?
* What did you recently finish reading?
* What do you think you’ll read next?
Leave a link to your post (or the answer themselves, if you don’t have a blog) at Should Be Reading.
What are you currently reading?
Okay, so I’m still reading The Templar Legacy by Steve Berry. Wow, I’ve been reading that for a long time. But while I’ve been reading it I have also managed to finish two other books which is the answer to…
What did you recently finish reading?
Another Faust by Daniel Nayeri
I was tired of this book before it was over. And that is never a good thing.
&
Boneshaker by Cherie Priest
Kind of a post-apocalyptic feel with zombies and sky pirates. I liked it but I definitely think it is more about the action than about the characters and the world they inhabit.
What do you think you’ll read next?
You mean when I finally finish The Templar Legacy? Probably The Dead-Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan. I read the first one, The Forest of Hands and Teeth, a while ago and was a little upset because it left me with so many questions and no answers. So I hope there are answers in this one.
Huh, the three books I listed for the third answer last week don’t appear anywhere this week. It looks like I’ll be renewing all my library books again.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Another Journey
Luxury Reading is giving away 3 copies of The Hundred-Foot Journey by Richard Morais.
Mandatory entry: Please comment on this post with your e-mail address.
Extra entries (post each entry separately):
- Subscribe via e-mail, follow or subscribe to the feed. You must verify the subscriptions. (1 entry each)
- Enter another current giveaway and say which one you entered (1 entry each)
- Share this giveaway on a social network of your choice. (1 entry each)
- Become a fan on Facebook (2 entries)
This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only. Deadline to enter is midnight on July 27th.
Mandatory entry: Please comment on this post with your e-mail address.
Extra entries (post each entry separately):
- Subscribe via e-mail, follow or subscribe to the feed. You must verify the subscriptions. (1 entry each)
- Enter another current giveaway and say which one you entered (1 entry each)
- Share this giveaway on a social network of your choice. (1 entry each)
- Become a fan on Facebook (2 entries)
This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only. Deadline to enter is midnight on July 27th.
Are you a Readaholic?
Well, if you are you should head on over to Readaholic and try to win some of the many books being given away.
For the audiobook The Broom of the System by David Foster Wallace go here. Winners chosen July 16th. Open to the US and Canada, no PO boxes.
For This Must Be the Place by Kate Racculia go here. Winners chosen July 17th. Open to the US and Canada.
For the audiobook Private by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro go here. Winners chosen July 18th. Open to the US and Canada, no PO boxes.
For Justice in June by Barbara Levenson go here. Winners chosen July 19th. Open to the US and Canada.
For The Bourne Objective by Eric van Lustbader go here. Winners chosen July 20th. Open to the US and Canada, no PO boxes.
For The Calligrapher’s Daughter by Eugenia Kim go here. Winners chosen July 21st. Open to the US and Canada.
For Both Ways is the Only Way I Want it by Maile Meloy go here. Winners chosen July 22nd. Open to the US and Canada, no PO boxes.
For The Blind Contessa’s New Machine by Carey Wallace go here. Winners chosen July 23rd. Open to the US and Canada.
For the audiobook The Broom of the System by David Foster Wallace go here. Winners chosen July 16th. Open to the US and Canada, no PO boxes.
For This Must Be the Place by Kate Racculia go here. Winners chosen July 17th. Open to the US and Canada.
For the audiobook Private by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro go here. Winners chosen July 18th. Open to the US and Canada, no PO boxes.
For Justice in June by Barbara Levenson go here. Winners chosen July 19th. Open to the US and Canada.
For The Bourne Objective by Eric van Lustbader go here. Winners chosen July 20th. Open to the US and Canada, no PO boxes.
For The Calligrapher’s Daughter by Eugenia Kim go here. Winners chosen July 21st. Open to the US and Canada.
For Both Ways is the Only Way I Want it by Maile Meloy go here. Winners chosen July 22nd. Open to the US and Canada, no PO boxes.
For The Blind Contessa’s New Machine by Carey Wallace go here. Winners chosen July 23rd. Open to the US and Canada.
Friday, July 9, 2010
The White Mary Review
The White Mary by Kira Salak
(from the book jacket)
Marika Vecera, a seasoned war reporter at thirty-two, is on assignment in the Congo when she’s captured by rebel solders and nearly killed. Making it home to Boston, she finds herself drawn into a relationship with Seb, a psychologist who offers her glimpses of a kinder world. But when she learns about the suicide of her hero, Robert Lewis, the famous Pulitzer-winning journalist, she doesn’t know if she’ll ever recover from the loss. She begins writing his biography, only to receive a shocking letter from a missionary who claims to have seen Lewis alive in a remote jungle in Papua New Guinea. She can only wonder, What if Lewis isn’t really dead?
Marika is determined to find out if the letter is true. Leaving Seb, she embarks on a grueling journey through one of the most dangerous places on earth. She is guided by Tobo, a witch doctor who shows her a magical world of tribal customs and taboo, where people live in fear of spirits coming for them in the night. A powerful and riveting tale, The White Mary carries the reader not only into the heart of a strange new world but into the depths of the human spirit.
The White Mary is more a story about self discovery than it is about a trip to Papua New Guinea. In fact most of the first half of the book has nothing to do with Papua New Guinea. You do get to know Marika and see all of the things that have happened to her and all of the things she has seen (some of them told in horrifying detail) that have led her to this place, both emotionally and physically. Unfortunately I never found her a very sympathetic character. She often seemed more petulant and selfish than damaged and hurt to me and I had a hard time liking her at all. Her boyfriend, Seb, is caring, loving, understanding and the most patient guy in the world and I want to like him but he starts to get annoying with his self help mantras and tendency to make long preachy speeches. I think the story gets better when she makes it to Papua New Guinea. Not only because there are no more awkward conversations between Marika and Seb but she is now on her quest across an inhospitable but interesting terrain and led by Tobo, who is by far my favorite character. Although there had been action before it turns into more of the adventure story I was expecting here where she has to fight against the jungle among a culture she does not understand amid conditions that she is not used to. But my dislike for Marika shifts my focus and instead of rooting for her to make it through I find myself, instead, feeling sorry for Tobo because this insensitive ‘white mary’ forced her way into his life and sticks to him like a burr no matter what he does. There were things that I liked here. I liked Tobo, he is an interesting character with depth and layers and it is fun to listen in on his thoughts. I like the way the perspective changes slightly throughout the book so you see things from different perspectives and get to hear the thoughts of all of the characters. I liked learning a little about Papua New Guinea, the culture and the land. And I liked the idea of the book, how Marika went on a physical journey to mirror the internal one she was making. But a lot of things seemed forced somehow. Seb’s message was too blunt and pushy. Marika’s obsession with Lewis too strong, her faith that finding him will save her and the world, too blind. Marika’s ‘ah-ha’ moment is a little too abrupt. I didn’t dislike the book but I didn’t exactly like it either. I did keep reading because I wanted to find out how it all turned out but was slightly disappointed when I did.
(from the book jacket)
Marika Vecera, a seasoned war reporter at thirty-two, is on assignment in the Congo when she’s captured by rebel solders and nearly killed. Making it home to Boston, she finds herself drawn into a relationship with Seb, a psychologist who offers her glimpses of a kinder world. But when she learns about the suicide of her hero, Robert Lewis, the famous Pulitzer-winning journalist, she doesn’t know if she’ll ever recover from the loss. She begins writing his biography, only to receive a shocking letter from a missionary who claims to have seen Lewis alive in a remote jungle in Papua New Guinea. She can only wonder, What if Lewis isn’t really dead?
Marika is determined to find out if the letter is true. Leaving Seb, she embarks on a grueling journey through one of the most dangerous places on earth. She is guided by Tobo, a witch doctor who shows her a magical world of tribal customs and taboo, where people live in fear of spirits coming for them in the night. A powerful and riveting tale, The White Mary carries the reader not only into the heart of a strange new world but into the depths of the human spirit.
The White Mary is more a story about self discovery than it is about a trip to Papua New Guinea. In fact most of the first half of the book has nothing to do with Papua New Guinea. You do get to know Marika and see all of the things that have happened to her and all of the things she has seen (some of them told in horrifying detail) that have led her to this place, both emotionally and physically. Unfortunately I never found her a very sympathetic character. She often seemed more petulant and selfish than damaged and hurt to me and I had a hard time liking her at all. Her boyfriend, Seb, is caring, loving, understanding and the most patient guy in the world and I want to like him but he starts to get annoying with his self help mantras and tendency to make long preachy speeches. I think the story gets better when she makes it to Papua New Guinea. Not only because there are no more awkward conversations between Marika and Seb but she is now on her quest across an inhospitable but interesting terrain and led by Tobo, who is by far my favorite character. Although there had been action before it turns into more of the adventure story I was expecting here where she has to fight against the jungle among a culture she does not understand amid conditions that she is not used to. But my dislike for Marika shifts my focus and instead of rooting for her to make it through I find myself, instead, feeling sorry for Tobo because this insensitive ‘white mary’ forced her way into his life and sticks to him like a burr no matter what he does. There were things that I liked here. I liked Tobo, he is an interesting character with depth and layers and it is fun to listen in on his thoughts. I like the way the perspective changes slightly throughout the book so you see things from different perspectives and get to hear the thoughts of all of the characters. I liked learning a little about Papua New Guinea, the culture and the land. And I liked the idea of the book, how Marika went on a physical journey to mirror the internal one she was making. But a lot of things seemed forced somehow. Seb’s message was too blunt and pushy. Marika’s obsession with Lewis too strong, her faith that finding him will save her and the world, too blind. Marika’s ‘ah-ha’ moment is a little too abrupt. I didn’t dislike the book but I didn’t exactly like it either. I did keep reading because I wanted to find out how it all turned out but was slightly disappointed when I did.
Take a Hundred-Foot Journey
Jo-Jo loves to Read is giving away The Hundred-Foot Journey by Richard C. Morais.
One book will be given away for every 10 entries with a maximum of three books to give away.
To enter this contest you must be at least 18 and live in the U.S.
For one entry leave a comment including your email address
For one additional entry tell Jo-Jo the name of a French or Indian dish that you enjoy. If you haven't ever had french or indian food you can say what you would like to try in the future.
For two additional entries, blog about this contest or add the link to your sidebar.
Remember to include your email.
You will have until July 23rd to enter.
One book will be given away for every 10 entries with a maximum of three books to give away.
To enter this contest you must be at least 18 and live in the U.S.
For one entry leave a comment including your email address
For one additional entry tell Jo-Jo the name of a French or Indian dish that you enjoy. If you haven't ever had french or indian food you can say what you would like to try in the future.
For two additional entries, blog about this contest or add the link to your sidebar.
Remember to include your email.
You will have until July 23rd to enter.
The Friday 56, The Templar Legacy
Rules:* Grab the book nearest you. Right now.
* Turn to page 56.
* Find the fifth sentence.
* Post that sentence (plus one or two others if you like) along with these instructions on your blog or (if you do not have your own blog) in the comments section of Storytime With Tonya and Friends.
*Post a link along with your post back to Storytime With Tonya and Friends.
* Don't dig for your favorite book, the coolest, the most intellectual. Use the CLOSEST.
The book this week is The Templar Legacy by Steve Berry. It is the first book in his Cotton Malone series. I read one later on in the series and liked it so I thought I would go back and start from the beginning.
The sentence:
History had not been kind to the Order. Though they captured the imagination of poets and chroniclers - the Knights of the Grail in Parzival were Templars, as were the demonic antiheroes in Ivanhoe - as the Crusades acquired the label of European aggression and imperialism, the Templars became an integral part of their brutal fanaticism.
Although it may not look like it here, this is a fiction book. It just happens to have a lot of history in it too.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
The Land That Time Forgot movie vs. book
The Land that Time Forget by Edgar Rice Burroughs
The Land that Time Forgot with Doug McClure
I think the movie was pretty close to the book this time. Most of the major pieces were all the same, how they came to be there, the kinds of people and animals they bumped into, how they planned to get out, how Tyler’s message got out of Caspak, and the ending was even very close. The movie made the German captain much more personable. You could like him in the movie whereas you really couldn’t in the book. The woman was more annoying in the movie. I think they were trying to make her a stronger character by making her a scientist and having her contribute more but I was left to roll my eyes when the native drew stick figures in the dirt and she comes out with ‘what he means is’ and continues to postulate some involved theory of evolution. I just wanted her to shut up. They also were able to figure out more stuff in the movie then they were able to in the first book of the trilogy but nothing they didn’t figure out eventually. Both the book and the movie are good, campy fun. And the annoyance of the woman is balanced out by the fact that I do like the German captain better in the movie. I think this one might be a tie.
The People that Time Forgot by Edgar Rice Burroughs
The People that Time Forgot with Patrick Wayne
They are not even telling the same story. In the movie they head out to find Bowen Tyler, and the woman they meet when they get there is named Ajor but that is the last thing that even resembles the book. Except for the dinosaurs. There are dinosaurs. I can’t even say where it went different from the book because there are no common points of reference. At first I wanted to give the movie the benefit of the doubt, so when they had a whole team of people go in instead of Thomas Billings being there all alone, or when Ajor spoke English, I just chalked it up to those differences that movies always make to make filming easier or to add drama. But then it went widely off base and there was no way to pretend it was even remotely following the book. And as a movie I didn’t even think it was cheesy fun like I had hoped. Again the woman was annoying with her ‘I can do a man’s job’ attitude that always comes off as arrogance instead of confidence. The hero of the sorry tale is a bit of a jerk too. And then when the guys in what looked like samurai armor show up it was too much even for me. It was cheesy to be sure. It just wasn’t fun. And I didn’t like the ending. The book is certainly better and I can’t even say that the movie was okay if you don’t compare it to the book. It isn’t. Don’t bother.
The Land that Time Forgot with Doug McClure
I think the movie was pretty close to the book this time. Most of the major pieces were all the same, how they came to be there, the kinds of people and animals they bumped into, how they planned to get out, how Tyler’s message got out of Caspak, and the ending was even very close. The movie made the German captain much more personable. You could like him in the movie whereas you really couldn’t in the book. The woman was more annoying in the movie. I think they were trying to make her a stronger character by making her a scientist and having her contribute more but I was left to roll my eyes when the native drew stick figures in the dirt and she comes out with ‘what he means is’ and continues to postulate some involved theory of evolution. I just wanted her to shut up. They also were able to figure out more stuff in the movie then they were able to in the first book of the trilogy but nothing they didn’t figure out eventually. Both the book and the movie are good, campy fun. And the annoyance of the woman is balanced out by the fact that I do like the German captain better in the movie. I think this one might be a tie.
The People that Time Forgot by Edgar Rice Burroughs
The People that Time Forgot with Patrick Wayne
They are not even telling the same story. In the movie they head out to find Bowen Tyler, and the woman they meet when they get there is named Ajor but that is the last thing that even resembles the book. Except for the dinosaurs. There are dinosaurs. I can’t even say where it went different from the book because there are no common points of reference. At first I wanted to give the movie the benefit of the doubt, so when they had a whole team of people go in instead of Thomas Billings being there all alone, or when Ajor spoke English, I just chalked it up to those differences that movies always make to make filming easier or to add drama. But then it went widely off base and there was no way to pretend it was even remotely following the book. And as a movie I didn’t even think it was cheesy fun like I had hoped. Again the woman was annoying with her ‘I can do a man’s job’ attitude that always comes off as arrogance instead of confidence. The hero of the sorry tale is a bit of a jerk too. And then when the guys in what looked like samurai armor show up it was too much even for me. It was cheesy to be sure. It just wasn’t fun. And I didn’t like the ending. The book is certainly better and I can’t even say that the movie was okay if you don’t compare it to the book. It isn’t. Don’t bother.
Library Girl's July 2010 Giveaway!
Library Girl Reads is having a July 2010 Giveaway!
At the end of the month she will pick at least one winner. What does that mean? I don't know. Maybe there will be more than one. But there will be at least one, so why not you?
The books to choose from:
1. One Amazing Thing by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
2. Mr. Darcy Broke My Heart by Beth Pattillo
3. Girls in Trucks by Katie Crouch
4. The Lumby Lines by Gail Fraser
5. Longbourn's Unexpected Matchmaker by Emma Hox
6. The Tale of Halcyon Crane by Wendy Webb
7. The Poison Eaters and Other Stories by Holly Black
8. Kin (The Good Neighbors 1) by Holly Black
9. By Accident by Susan Kelly
To enter head on over and let her know which book you would like to win. You can also get extra entries for following or subscribing to her blog, or promoting the giveaway on your blog or Twitter or someplace else.
Remember to leave an email address and any applicable links.
Deadline for entries is July 26, 2010.
Open to the USA only.
At the end of the month she will pick at least one winner. What does that mean? I don't know. Maybe there will be more than one. But there will be at least one, so why not you?
The books to choose from:
1. One Amazing Thing by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
2. Mr. Darcy Broke My Heart by Beth Pattillo
3. Girls in Trucks by Katie Crouch
4. The Lumby Lines by Gail Fraser
5. Longbourn's Unexpected Matchmaker by Emma Hox
6. The Tale of Halcyon Crane by Wendy Webb
7. The Poison Eaters and Other Stories by Holly Black
8. Kin (The Good Neighbors 1) by Holly Black
9. By Accident by Susan Kelly
To enter head on over and let her know which book you would like to win. You can also get extra entries for following or subscribing to her blog, or promoting the giveaway on your blog or Twitter or someplace else.
Remember to leave an email address and any applicable links.
Deadline for entries is July 26, 2010.
Open to the USA only.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
WWW Wednesdays (July 7th)
To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…
* What are you currently reading?
* What did you recently finish reading?
* What do you think you’ll read next?
Leave a link to your post (or the answer themselves, if you don’t have a blog) at Should Be Reading.
What are you currently reading?
The Templar Legacy by Steve Berry
I read another book in the Cotton Malone series and liked it so I went out and bought the first one and have just now gotten around to reading it. So far I’m liking this one too.
And…
Another Faust by Daniel Nayeri
I’m hoping this picks up soon because so far it isn’t doing much for me.
What did you recently finish reading?
The White Mary by Kira Salak
It was alright but I was hoping for better.
What do you think you’ll read next?
Not sure. But I do have a couple of books from the library so probably one of those. They are…
Walking Through Walls by Philip Rand Smith
Skin Deep by Mark del Franco
Fantastic Mr. Fox by Roald Dahl
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Shiver & Linger
Peeking Between the Pages is giving away Shiver and Linger by Maggie Stiefvater. One winner will get both books.
•For 1 entry leave a comment with a way to contact you.
•For 2 entries follow Peeking Between the Pages.
•For 3 entries, blog or tweet the giveaway and spread the word.
The winner will be drawn on July 10th so hurry and get in your entries before then.
This giveaway is open to the US and Canada, no PO boxes.
•For 1 entry leave a comment with a way to contact you.
•For 2 entries follow Peeking Between the Pages.
•For 3 entries, blog or tweet the giveaway and spread the word.
The winner will be drawn on July 10th so hurry and get in your entries before then.
This giveaway is open to the US and Canada, no PO boxes.
Friday, July 2, 2010
The Friday 56, The White Mary
Rules:* Grab the book nearest you. Right now.
* Turn to page 56.
* Find the fifth sentence.
* Post that sentence (plus one or two others if you like) along with these instructions on your blog or (if you do not have your own blog) in the comments section of Storytime With Tonya and Friends.
*Post a link along with your post back to Storytime With Tonya and Friends.
* Don't dig for your favorite book, the coolest, the most intellectual. Use the CLOSEST.
The book this week is The White Mary by Kira Salak. It is about Marika's trip to Papua New Guinea to search for her hero who may or may not be dead. I hope it is as exciting as it sounds. I just picked it up to start it today so I have no idea if it will be or not.
The sentence:
Marika walked closely beside Seb - as closely as she could without touching. Then, as they climbed up a hillside, his hand reached out casually, innocently, and took hold of hers.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Books I Finished in June
I felt like I was slacking off in June and I was blaming it on the heat. I have trouble concentrating when I’m hot so sometimes, even if I’m holding a book, I’m not actually reading it and I often found myself staring mindlessly at the TV wishing I wasn’t so freaking hot. But I still managed to finish 8 which is much better than I expected.
The Man Who Ate the World by Jay Rayner
Interesting look at the different approaches to restaurants and food around the world.
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
This is dark and sad. I liked it though.
Under the Western Acacia by Christian Jacq
It's the fifth and final book in the Ramses series. I liked the series, I think the characters are well written but it isn't what I would call historically accurate. It has a lot of fantasy to it. And some people might not like the fact that Moses does not come off well. It bothered me a bit at first but it is a story, not history, so I was able to put that aside and just enjoy it.
Dracula by Bram Stoker
Being a vampire fan I couldn’t believe I had never read this before. It is suspenseful in parts and tedious in parts. The characters are long winded and addicted to unnecessary detail. I liked it but I like a lot of classics. If you are not a fan of classics, if, say, Jane Austen leaves you in tears because you find her dreadfully dull I think you will have the same reaction to this book. Vampires or no.
My French Whore by Gene Wilder
Short and quick to read. A bitter sweet story. I liked it enough that I went and got Wilder’s other book out of the library without even knowing what it was about just because I wanted to read something else he wrote.
Gun, With Occasional Music by Jonathan Lethem
A mystery set in a sad, rather depressing future. Sort of a noir feel, but with talking kangaroos. The tough guy detective with a good heart type of thing but it manages not to be cliché. If you like dark detective stories then you should take a look. And don’t let the talking kangaroos scare you. It is obviously the future but I wouldn’t call the book science fiction.
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll
Cute and fun but I’m not in love with them.
Cruel and Unusual by Patricia Cornwell
An okay crime thriller that got better as it went along. I’ll probably read more Cornwell but I’m not in any rush.
The Man Who Ate the World by Jay Rayner
Interesting look at the different approaches to restaurants and food around the world.
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
This is dark and sad. I liked it though.
Under the Western Acacia by Christian Jacq
It's the fifth and final book in the Ramses series. I liked the series, I think the characters are well written but it isn't what I would call historically accurate. It has a lot of fantasy to it. And some people might not like the fact that Moses does not come off well. It bothered me a bit at first but it is a story, not history, so I was able to put that aside and just enjoy it.
Dracula by Bram Stoker
Being a vampire fan I couldn’t believe I had never read this before. It is suspenseful in parts and tedious in parts. The characters are long winded and addicted to unnecessary detail. I liked it but I like a lot of classics. If you are not a fan of classics, if, say, Jane Austen leaves you in tears because you find her dreadfully dull I think you will have the same reaction to this book. Vampires or no.
My French Whore by Gene Wilder
Short and quick to read. A bitter sweet story. I liked it enough that I went and got Wilder’s other book out of the library without even knowing what it was about just because I wanted to read something else he wrote.
Gun, With Occasional Music by Jonathan Lethem
A mystery set in a sad, rather depressing future. Sort of a noir feel, but with talking kangaroos. The tough guy detective with a good heart type of thing but it manages not to be cliché. If you like dark detective stories then you should take a look. And don’t let the talking kangaroos scare you. It is obviously the future but I wouldn’t call the book science fiction.
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll
Cute and fun but I’m not in love with them.
Cruel and Unusual by Patricia Cornwell
An okay crime thriller that got better as it went along. I’ll probably read more Cornwell but I’m not in any rush.
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