Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Favorite Fictional Character (4)

Favorite Fictional Character
Thanks to the creative mind of Ryan at Wordsmithonia who started this on Wednesdays.



I am going to mix in the love of a wonderful movie with my Favorite Character today. Yes, this movie being The Princess Bride.




At the beginning of this movie I didn't care to much for the girl, Buttercup, though she did grow on me as the movie went. However I, like many girls, fell in love with Westley (although he is not my Favorite Character today). He was a caring, loving farm boy who truely loves Buttercup. Buttercup knows as well that Westley is her lifes one true love.


Buttercup is kidnapped by a small gang of men. This small crew seems unlikely. The tiny man at the bottom is the "leader" of the pack and he feels he is the genious. Then you have Inigo Montoya, this is one of my Favorite Characters this week. He is the one whose father was killed by a man with six fingers on one hand, and is looking to get revenge on this man. To me he is very determined and thinks things through well. He has it all planned out what he is going to say when he meets this man, Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die. And he is very calm while he says it. His personality is always very helpful and caring while always looking. Then we have the loving giant at the top of the picture. Even though he is big he is gentle. Have to love him, and the way he says My Lady to Buttercup.

Now, these are my Favorite Characters today! I love this old crazy couple, Valerie and Miracle Max. This couple is played by Carol Kane and Billy Crystal, and maybe there styles are part of the love I have for these two characters. They do not have a lot of scenes in the movie, actually it is just one scene. But I loved the whole thing from calling her the crazy old woman to using the air blower to push air into Westleys' lungs and the hilarious arguement between the two about if Westley said true love or not. I loved the crazy bickering between these two, but you could tell they were perfect for each other, and the love was there.

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

It's Tuesday...Where are you? (1)

This is hosted by An_Adventure_In_Reading

(I hope you all don't mind. I seem to always be stuck in the same book when Tuesday Teaser comes around. So, I am going to try to rotate weeks. One week I will do the Tuesday Teaser then the next I am going to do Where are you. I really like this idea as well to give you a little idea of what is going on where I am at in the book.)

I have just watched Bayaz the First of the Magi open a doorway that was not visible into the building known as The Makers House. This house has been locked up since the people have known, locked by Bayaz when he destroyed Kanedias the Maker himself. I am just taking the first step into this mysterious building called The Makers House with Bayaz, Ninefingers, Jezal, and Glokta after being warned by Bayaz that there are many dangers in here and to follow close behind him since the ways are not always the same.

The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie - page 433

Where are you?

Guest Exchange Blog

I would like to introduce you today to a new blogger, whom I am doing a blog exchange with SB Frank, Stephen, who has a new blog called Urban_Fantasy_Fan_Page. Stop by his blog and check out his reviews of some great Urban Fantasy books.

This blog uses a few books to give an interesting view on how religion plays into Urban Fantasy novels, or any fantasy novel at that. This topic could make for a very interesting discussion with fellow friends and readers just to hear different takes on it. I do have to say he has left me thinking.

Urban Fantasy, Christianity and the End of History - by SB Frank

First, let me clarify that I don’t normally go around baiting dead people, especially not transcendentalists. (Note: Except for that one time in college, when I thought I’d, you know, reached Samadhi). Also, if you don’t want to hear someone invoke the names Hegel, Marx, Hobbes, Mills and Thoreau in a blog about urban fantasy, then you should probably stop now.

By this point, you all probably think that I am reviewing Dan Brown’s latest International Best-Selling-Novel-of-All-Time-But-Only-When-We-Exclude-the-Harry-Potter-Series-Because-It-Doesn't-Count, The Lost Symbol. But if you think that, then, you would be wrong. I'm not. Besides, in The Lost Symbol, (sold out at a book store near you!), Brown takes on not the Christians but the Freemasons. Or so I’ve heard. I’ve not actually done thorough homework on it yet. Yeah.

Anyway, like I was saying, this is NOT a review of Dan Brown’s The Lost Symbol but a story about the role of ideas and ideologies in fantasy literature. Oh, yeah, and it’s also about the end of history (see blog title for evidence) that Marx predicted would occur when the Bolsheviks took over Spain and No Child Left Behind fixed American Education. (Note: close enough).

Like all stories (and religions), this blog article mixes truth with lies. And the more compellingly it convinces us that the lies are truth, the more powerful the story. So kudos once again to Dan Brown, a liar of great skill and talent, whose The Lost Symbol (buy now before books fly off the shelves!) is still not being reviewed in this blog.

But back to Karl Marx. Besides believing in socialism, Karl Marx also stupidly thought that wars were fought over money not ideas. (Note: This point is actually true). Marx is still famous for this theory, which is called dyspeptic materialism, or some such. He even held some famous debates with his mentor, Wolfgang Sebastian Hegel that went something like this.

Hegel (looking at a picture book of the crusades): “Idiot, clearly, war is caused by ideas. Men kill each other over religion. Ideas are the driving force behind all of human history.

Marx (grimacing at his nearly empty wallet, which was imported from some colonial province or other): “No, you dolt, wars are fought over money. Look at this wallet. I’m broke. Teachers need unions, I tell you. Mark my words, wars and history will not end until we have teachers unions.”

As one might expect from German academics, this vicious debate lasted many years. And while neither ideas nor money proved out as the sole cause of wars, the fistfights provided many hours of entertainment for the grad students who were otherwise severely oppressed. Some still speculate as to whether this is why Hobbes proposed that all nasty, brutish short people be bricked up into the Great Wall of China. Fortunately, Hobbes' frenemy, John Stuart Mills, proved that society would only progress if the government chillaxed and let people have the unrestricted right and privilege of arguing with each other – and excluding foreigners. (Lost documents - only accessibly by those proven worthy - suggest Mills won his point by citing French haute cult-yoor as evidence).

Later, all of this arguing inspired the transcendentalists to form the Unitarian Universalist church, which accepts all creeds. The transcendentalists predicted (like Marx, actually) that fundamentalist religions were on the way out and would soon be replaced by science. Science and human progress in a democratic setting would (as Mills might have predicted) end faith-based intolerances and allow us all to collectively enjoy a kumbaya moment. The end of history. [Show of hands, who thought I could pull that end-of-history thing off? Oh ye of little, um, faith].

So how does all this relate to urban fantasy? My point, if I have one, is this: World setting is of critical importance in fantasy literature. It is, in fact, the defining characteristic of speculative fiction. And this is especially true in urban fantasy.

I can almost hear the shocked rumbles as some of you shake your heads and say, 'but don’t urban fantasists get off easy because they write about our own world. How hard is that?' And yet, in a paradox (note: or possibly an ironic twist), establishing a plausible justification for the existence of the magical in our contemporary world may require an even finer craft than it does in a medieval, futuristic, or otherworldly setting.

Like it or not, religion and ideas play an enormous role in the setting of any fantasy novel. From the sweepingly complex world settings of a Robert Jordan to the tongue-in-cheek made up religions of Kurt Vonnegut (whose Cat’s Cradle has the most pleasant depiction of the end of the world ever and the cutest religion), religion and ideologies are paramount in establishing a plausible world setting, especially when the supernatural is involved.

Many world-setting-seeking urban fantasy authors fall upon the two edged sword of relying on existing religion, particularly on Christianity. Two edges? On the one edge: the powerful faith-based feelings stab deep into the psyche of many readers and can resonate, imagine a bumblebee slicing through your ear canal. I think of: A Canticle for Liebowitz. The Da Vinci Code. Most anything by Orson Scott Card. Hyperion, for you Sci-Fi fans out there. You get the idea. Plus, recall that the most convincing lies are mixed with truth. And you'll see the attractiveness of seeing how Christianity plays out in a new setting.

Recently, though, I’ve noticed the other edge of the sword, the harikiri side as it were. I’ve seen a trend among urban fantasy authors to quickly quote a few apocryphal biblical passages to justify the existence of angels and demons and to assume reader acceptance of Nephilim or giants in the land and then say, thus my world setting has the weight of Christianity behind it. In the first place, a growing percentage of this country is not Christian.

Having said that, this can work well when the world setting is not as important as the characters in the novel. For instance, after years of being put off by the title, this summer I read and thoroughly enjoyed Richelle Mead’s Georgina Kincaid series, which has four books to date, starting with Succubus Blues. Mead (who just got engaged this last weekend, by the way, so congratulations to her!)'s warm-hearted, reluctant succubus protagonist is endearing. She is compelling enough to drive us through the story. And an angel who plays poker, drinks booze, and burns down Christmas trees makes Mead's setting depart sufficiently from fundamentalist Christian teachings that we can and must take her world setting as something other than an expression of her personal religious faith. It is while not, perhaps, a richly developed world setting, (though rich enough and that's not intended as a criticism) still an enjoyable and fun setting in which her characters can have their adventures - which is what it is meant to be.
Two other series I read were more deeply rooted in Christian ideology. These included the Rogue Mage Series by Faith Hunter and the Doomsday series by Lori Handeland. Both tell the story of the end of the world in an apocalypse that runs largely as predicted by Christian teachings, albeit with fanciful elements. Handeland’s book tells the story of a psychic who is tasked to save the world from Armageddon. Still, the world setting includes enough dhampirs and other fantastic creatures that, to me, it hardly qualifies as Christian literature, though to judge by some of the reviews I’ve read that view is not unanimous. Freely admitting that I am an enthusiast more than a critic, I felt that Handeland had a deft ear for language. And while her prose was not overly flowery, it was clear and precise and at times fun. More to the pointm, she crafted an interesting story with characters who agonized over real mistakes and betrayals. And the plot drove me right through the novel. Indeed given some of the details of the plot, which I will not reveal here, I supsect that the novel may not appeal to readers with certain hard-core Christian beliefs. I will say that I enjoyed the story and intend to read the next in the series.

The Faith Hunter novels were at once more intriguing and more disturbing. And by that I mean to imply neither that Christian literature is disturbing nor that this is Christian literature. Specifically, angels have returned to earth as prophesied in the Bible. Upon arrival, they kill most everyone on earth (the wicked one would hope). Now, they (the angels) segregate themselves in enclaves and periodically come forth to kill people (or demon spawn who bubble up from Hell). They do so without any reason discernible by the protagonist.

Several reviewers thought that only Christians would appreciate this novel because the metaphysics are (admittedly) deeply Christian. Clearly, if you have no Christian background, the setting will lack the power it will have if you believe this type of apocalypse will literally happen. On the other hand, I felt the author portrayed the apocalypse with a jaundiced or critical eye and left enough doubts about the angels (were they really aliens?) that for me the setting worked quite well and was thought provoking.
So, where does that leave us? With all due respect to the transcendentalists - who were clearly a great bunch of optimistic, happy campers - they were wrong. Ideological (read: religious) conflict has arisen phoenix-like and once again assumed its place as the predominent force for violence and bloodshed in the world today. And it is natural for fantasy authors to draw upon it when building world views. Given that the readers in the market are overwhelmingly Christian or at least steeped in Christian tradition, writers will (Marx would rejoice) compete for the money by writing settings that move a Christian audience. But personally, I give this round to Hegel.

Monday, September 28, 2009

Monday's Beginnings (6)

This is the beginning of a new week!

So, I am wondering:

Where you are in your books or are you starting a new book for the new week?

The beginning of the week always seems to be a great time to start anew. To me it seems to be the way Monday goes is a sign of how the week will follow. Have you been able to get much reading time in today? Or are you going to be rushed all week to get everything into the short 24 hour day?

I am still adding numerous books to my reading list. This week it has grown by TEN books. Some of these books are together in a series. This really is a wonderous thing! You are all helping to keep me out of trouble and these wonderful authors in work. I am kind of trying to make notes of books to read but the must, must reads are on the top of the list (that is what list these books are on).And once again I have finished no books this week.

Well, for me today: I am still in the process of reading The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie. I am currently on page 406 out of 527 pages. Yep, I told you, I really am a slow reader. I am hoping since today was just a nice day all around with work, family, and friends that the week will be as relaxing as today. If the week keeps going on this path I hope to have The Blade Itself finished before the end of the week and into my next book. I will have to wait and see what it will be, although I do have a very good idea of what it will be. I feel I havn't been reading as much of my books as I would like. I think I am going to try to keep up with everyones blogs and comment as much as I can, but I am going to try to steer my time to reading a little more. I do hope no one gets to greatly upset with me. I just would like to give you more reviews than what I am able to do, which means more reading time with my books.

So... this leaves us with one question left... Where are you?

Quick Review of my Shelf (2)...

The series I have which I am waiting on the second book for is:


Street Magic


By: Caitlin Kittredge


Book Synopsis:
Her name is Pete Caldecott. She was just sixteen when she met Jack Winter, a gorgeous, larger-than-life mage who thrilled her with his witchcraft. Then a spirit Jack summoned killed him before Pite's eyes-or so she thought. Now a detective, Pete is investigating the kidnapping of a young girl from the streets of London...a case that brings her face to face with Jack.

Strung out on heroin, Jack is a shadow of his former self. But he's able to tell Pete exactly where Bridget's kidnappers are hiding: in the supernatural shadow-world of the fey. Pete follows Jack into the fey underworld, where she hopes to discover the truth about what happened to Bridget-and what happened to Jack on that dark day so long ago...

My Thoughts:
I really enjoyed this book, so much so I was not able to put it down until I was through the whole thing. I really enjoyed the banter between the two main characters, Pete & Jack. They really have one heck of a love/hate relationship. The British slang was a great touch as well. It took me a little bit to get what they ment, but when I caught on to the meanings I absolutely loved it. I got such a kick out of the slang even when it was in anger.

There where a few moments I got slightly confused with the flashes to the dreams that Pete was having then to reality. It took me a moment to catch on to what was going on, then to switch my thinking. But, it didn't take me long as I went through the book to catch on and know what to look for, and in learning the authors writting style it became easier for me to pick the dreams out.

I really liked Jack's character more from the beginning. To me there seemed to be more layers to him than appeared to the others in the story. To me I thought he out shined Pete through most of the book, but by the end of the book Pete had taken her place right up there by/with Jack. In the end of the book I realized how much Pete had grown as a character through the book, and loved her for it. Jack's character grew as well but not by the leaps and bounds that Pete did.

I know there is a short story of Jack in the book Huntress, which hold a few short stories by four different authors. I have this book on my shelf in my to be read pile. But, the second book in the Black London Novel series is Demon Bound. Based on the preview at the back of the book, Street Magic, it looks as it is to be released December 2009. I will be watching the shelves for this on in December. Or maybe a nice Christmas gift... If I can wait that long.

Sunday, September 27, 2009

Quick Review of my Shelf...

I have just a few books I have been watching for the second one to come out. So I thought I would mention them here over the next few days. There is not many but since I have been thinking of them and they were before I started blogging I thought I would share them.



Unclean Spirits

By: M.L.N. Hanover

Synopsis on the cover:

Jayne Heller thinks of herself as a realist, until she discovers reality isn't quite what she thought it was. When her uncle Eric is murdered, Jayne travels to Denver to settle his estate, only to learn that it's all hers-and vaster than she ever imagined. And along with properties across the world and an inexhaustible fortune, Eric left her a legacy of a different kind: his unfinished business with a cabal of wizards known as the Invisible College.

Led by the ruthless Randolph Coin, the Invisible College harnesses demon spirits for their own ends of power and domination. Jayne finds it difficult to believe magic and demons can even exist, let alone be responsible for the death of her uncle. But Coin sees Eric's heir as a threat to be eliminated by any means-magical or mundane-so Jayne had better start believing in something to save her own life.

Aided in her mission by a group of unlikely companions-Aubrey, Eric's devastatingly attractive assistant; Ex, a former Jesuit with a lethal agenda; Midian, a two-hundred-year-old man who claims to be under a curse of Randolph Coin himself; and Chogyi Jake, a self-styled Buddhist with mystical abilities-Jayne finds that her new reality is not only unexpected, but often unexplainable. And if she hopes to survive, she'll have to learn the new rules fast-or break them completely...

My thoughts:

Jayne is a 22 year old college student who finds out her uncle has passed away. Jayne is not all that close to her family, and there was something between her father and uncle-so they didn't talk. Jayne is surprised to learn her uncle, who helped her out a time or two, has left everything to her in his passing. She goes to check out some of his properties and is attacked. To her astonishment she can really kick some butt.

Jayne is clueless as to what her uncle even did for a living. Eventually, she finds his comrades, whom he worked with, and learns there is a demon out there that needs to be stopped. Unaware of what her uncle had planned, besides some notes with rifles and specially made bullets in a storage unit, she needs to decide to take action or leave and let the others tend to it.

I do have to say the scenery descriptions were a little short. All the details are found in the actions and planning of the actions. This book is placed in our world so there is no great new world setup needed here. The character development was a great start to a first book in a series. I love how the characters are real, in they are not perfect in their choices and make mistakes. They are not a Superman who is always doing the right thing at the right time.

I am waiting for the second book to come out. Which should be out in a few days.

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Balderdash (6)

Word Verification Balderdash is a weekly meme hosted by Sheila at One Person's Journey Through a World of Books.

This is very easy to do.

If you comment on blogs you can do this too.
Write down all the word verifications you get while posting comments on other peoples blogs.
You then play Balderdash with them.


In case you don't know how to play, you take the made up word and come up with an authentic sounding definition for it.


Do this for a week and then post your best or favorite ones every Thursday.


Here are mine for this week:

bikerse - the sore bottom you get after bike riding for an hour or so with the stiff bycicle seat that comes on the bike.


hidyea - this is how we try to hide behind that rack of clothes at the store or disappear into a crowd of people when you see that person you have been avoiding out in public.


bandul - the mismash of several bands to make up a concert for charity to help raise money.


reallif - this is the life we see on t.v. when we "think" we are watching the real life on these surreal shows.


Okay, share yours!

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Favorite Fictional Character (3)

Favorite Fictional Character
Thanks to the creative mind of Ryan at Wordsmithonia who started this on Wednesdays.

I have choosen this film from 1968 which started Dick Van Dyke. I have always loved this movie. But for years I never got to see the whole thing straight through. My parents are divorsed, I lived with my mom and visited my dad on weekends. Disney use to run a disney movie every sunday starting at 7:00pm (I think, I could be an hour off though - its been a long time now). But what would happen is we would start watching this and then my father would have to take me home to my mothers. By the time we got home, got our showers and calmed down the movie was long over.


We did in time get to watch the whole movie, and I just loved it! Other than the personal connection with the movie and time with my dad this movie was always very fun for me.

Now, I am going to tell you my favorite character of this book and don't get mad at me... It is Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, yes the car.

Okay, if you aren't going to let me slide with this car I will have to pick - Caractacus Potts, played by Dick Van Dyke. Caractacus is an inventor of just about anything and everything and lives with his two children and his father. This car gets rescued from the junkyard and Caractacus feels he can get the car running and make it an amazing thing. And after lots of hard work and taking many items out of the house to use he has this wonderous vehicle.

Caractacus decides to take his children on a picnic at the shore and on their way accidently runs Truly Scrumptious, played by Sally Ann Howes, into a pond. Truly Scrumptious's father owns a candy factory (wonder where the name came from?). Well, they quickly make friends and all go to the shore for a lovely picnic. On the way to the picnic the kids decide to name the car. The name they pick is, as you have probably guessed, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. This name is for the sounds the car makes as they are driving along. Now, the children want to hear a story. Caractacus starts to tell a story of pirates and the next thing you know... they are living it! This is where the whole wonderous, dreamy story starts. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang has various hidden talents which Caractacus has built in and even a few that Caractacus was not aware of.

Their are different worlds that are visited by them in their travels and many dangers and exciting moments to go with these travels. One of my most favorite parts of the movie is when Caractacus and Truly dress up as a doll and a wind-up ballarina and do a little dance together for the King that has the car held captive along with the children who are not aloud in the town. This dance routine is just wonderous and the whole scene is funny in the end.

As you can tell the names are a nice catch as well in the whole story. I truely feel if you have not watched this movie or your children have not watched this movie it is a definite must see for a good family movie night. (Do keep in mind the movie is a little long too.)

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Book Review


The Hunger Games



By: Suzanne Collins



Genre: Fiction, Young Adult



Publisher: Scholastic Press



Publication Date: October 2008



Recommendation: YES! YES!



Book Summary:



Could you survive on your own, in the wild, with every one out to make sure you don't live to see the morning?



In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV.



Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister's place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before - and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that weigh survival against humanity and life against love.



My Review and Synopsis:

I almost did not read this book because of the idea of people hunting people, let alone kids being forced to do this. So, I have to thank Krista for convincing me to read this book. If it was not for her I would not have picked this book up at all. Once I started reading this book I realized it is not as harsh as I had anticipated, which I am thankful for, and was not able to put it down. (I read this book of 374 pages in two and a half days, which is extremely fast for me.) Most of the book is not even set in the actual arena of the fighting. This book is more of the survival of Katniss and Peeta who are on the defensive and trying to stay alive. There is no cannibalism nor is it gory or brutal. I am very glad I did not pass this book up any longer.

I know there is a lot of talk of this book currently, which may be due to the second book recently being released. So with all this amazing praise I had to read it. Which was also a fear to me that with all the hype I would have higher expectations and the book would not measure up. Well, the book exceeded my expectations tremendously. Let me just say the praise is well deserved.

You meet Katniss here in the beginning right away. She sneaks past the fence around District 12 ment to "keep the animals of flesh eating out" and the citizens are not aloud to go outside the fence. Katniss has a spot she sneaks out and meets her friend Gale to hunt. See, they don't get caught or in trouble because the Peacekeepers of the city look the other way, as they like to eat meat too. Katniss has been trained at a young age by her father to hunt, and this is what Katniss has done to help keep her family alive after her father passes away in a mine accident years before.

Also, in the beginning you learn of the history of Panem, and how the Capitol has a gripping control over the 12 different Districts. As a lesson for trying to over throw the Capitol years past the Hunger Games came to exist. All the people are forced to have their children entered in the contest starting at age twelve through to eighteen, no matter stature or standing in the District. However, the poor children could very well have more entries than the richer. See, if the family is in need of food rations the child can enter an extra name in the drawing for this and you can do so for each person in your family. So with Katniss, she has a sister and a mother along with herself - this would be three more entries along with the one for this year. Oh yes, the entries are cumulative, so they carry over each year. That would get scary after a while.

On the day of the drawing all the people of the District are required to be there to witness this, and as a reminder. Katniss is shocked when her twelve year old sister who only has one entry gets picked as the girl to go to the games. What would you do for your sister? Would you sacrifice yourself to take her place? Well, that is just what Katniss does, volunteers to go in her spot.

I am surprised with the extent the Capitol goes to, to try and make this an exciting game to watch. The Capitol actually seem to enjoy this. The publicity the winners of the drawing get is unbelievable. There is lavish foods, complete make-overs, parades, and interviews. They are treated like royalty. People chant for these poor kids and bet on them. All this before they are sent to the arena to fight for their lives. The suspence is held through this section and there are peaks and valleys through here. My heart felt for Katniss and Peeta (the boy who won the drawing in District 12 with Katniss). Even the interview has a shocker to it. They need to win the love of the people in order to have sponsers to supply them "gifts" while they are in the arena when needed. The contenders all have to go through a training session for a few days then show their skills to the Gamemakers, which results in a scoring that could win them sponsers as well. All of these have their own peaks to them which keep you interested and driving forward in the book.

Then you get to the Arena where the game begins. Now, you are going to have to read the book to see what happens here. Just remember the people of the Capitol like a show and will do anything to get it... There are a few twists that get added along with new rules as they go.

By the end of this book I loved Peeta and Katniss. My heart burst, swelled, and broke with them through all their tribulations. Will they both live? Will one die? Will they both die? I am ready to dive into the next book Catching Fire. This book has told a story and set up for the next book at the same time, very well written in that respect. I also feel I understand the characters very well.

I have to say, for a Young Adult book I would suggest it to any and all adults to read.

Teaser Tuesdays (7)



Teaser Tuesday is a weekly event.Sponsored by MizB of Should be Reading.

Here's how it works:


Grab the book you are currently reading (anything at all)

Open the book to any random pageShare 2 "teaser" sentences from anywhere on the page.

Please Make Sure They Are Not Spoilers!(Don't Give Too Much Away)

Just enough to pique our interests.

List the book and author so other participants can get their hand on it if they choose to read it as well.


This Week:


(Okay, I just finished this book last night but I just have to do a teaser with this today. I know many of you have read this book, but there are many who also have not yet. So here is a little reminder of what you read and a teaser for those who haven't read it. Let me flip the pages and see where we stop...)


Thank goodness, I had the foresight to belt myself in. I've rolled sideways off the fork and I'm facing the ground, held in place by the belt, one hand, and my feet straddling the pack inside my sleeping bag, braced against the trunk. There must have been some rustling when I tipped sideways, but the Careers have been too caught up in their own argument to catch it.


The Hunger Games
By Suzanne Collins

Monday, September 21, 2009

Monday's Beginnings (5)

This is the beginning of a new week!

So, I am wondering: Where you are in your books or are you starting a new book for the new week? The beginning of the week always seems to be a great time to start anew. To me it seems to be the way Monday goes is a sign of how the week will follow. Have you been able to get much reading time in today? Or are you going to be rushed all week to get everything into the short 24 hour day?

I am still adding numerous books to my reading list. This week it has grown by only two books. This really is a wonderous thing! You are all helping to keep me out of trouble and these wonderful authors in work. I am kind of trying to make notes of books to read but the must, must reads are on the top of the list (that is what list these books are on).

And once again I have finished no books this week, but now I have 2 going.

Well, for me today: I am still in the process of reading The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie. I am currently on page 160 out of 527 pages. Yep, I told you, I really am a slow reader. I picked up The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins this weekend when I got to my stopping point for the bookclub. Now, I havn't been able to put it down all weekend. I am hoping to get The Hunger Games finished today, or tomorrow at the latest, depending on how life goes today. So far this morning all looks clear...I shall see where the day goes from here.

Let me know...Where are you?

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Book Giveaway: North or Be Eaten By Andrew Peterson


One_Persons_Journey_Through_A_World_of_Books has 2 copies of this book to giveaway in a contest!




YES 2 COPIES!!


Now this contest ends October 5, 2009. So click on the link above to hop over and sign up!

Now, for a little about the book as mentioned over at One Persons Journey Through A World of Books:


Janner, Tink, and Leeli Igiby thought they were normal children with normal lives and a normal past. But now they know they’re really the Lost Jewels of Anniera, heirs to a legendary kingdom across the sea, and suddenly everyone wants to kill them.


Their escape brings readers to the very brink of Fingap Falls, over the Stony Mountains, and across the Ice Prairies, while villains galore try to stop the Igibys permanently. Fearsome toothy cows and horned hounds return, along with new dangers: a mad man running a fork factory, a den of rockroaches, and majestic talking sea dragons.


Andrew Peterson’s lovable characters create what FantasyBookCritic.com says made Book One “one of the best fantasy novels in a very long time,” and Book Two contains even more thrills, exploring “themes universal in nature, ranging from the classic good versus evil, to the importance of family, and burdens of responsibility.”

Book Giveaway: Lucan By Susan Kearney


Bookin_with_Bingo has 5, yes 5, copies of this book to giveaway in her contest. Click on the link here or on my side bar to jump over to enter!

All entries due in by 6:00 pm, est on October 3, 2009

I do have one request, please... If you have found this contest with the help of my blog could you please note that in a comment for the contest? I will get extra entries with you help in this. Thank you all for your help.

Now a little about the book:

THEIR LOVE IS FORBIDDEN!

Healer and high priestess of her people, Lady Cael is fated to life without a mate. But a mysterious explorer named Lucan Rourke doesn't know her secrets, and his touch makes her crave a future that her extraordinary birthright has forbidden her. . .

BUT DANGER IS NO MATCH FOR DESIRE!

Lucan has just one mission on Pendragon: to find the mythical Holy Grail, Earth's only hope for survival. His powerful attraction to Cael is a distraction he can't afford, unless he convinces her to join forces with him. Yet working so closely together only heightens their passion . . . even when the terrifying truth of Cael's heritage threatens to shatter Lucan's every belief-and the galaxy itself

What do you think? Jump over to Bookin_With_Bingo to enter!

Balderdash (5)



Word Verification Balderdash is a weekly meme hosted by Sheila at One Person's Journey Through a World of Books.


This is very easy to do.
If you comment on blogs you can do this too.

Write down all the word verifications you get while posting comments on other peoples blogs.

You then play Balderdash with them.


In case you don't know how to play, you take the made up word and come up with an authentic sounding definition for it.

Do this for a week and then post your best or favorite ones every Thursday.


Here are mine for this week:


Elfeinel - the land far off protected by mountains, forests, and a waterfall which are safe from the touches of the impure world of creatures which the elf children are sent to learn to keen their senses of nature and use the magical flow of nature.


Ythhes - the name used by the Elves for the inner magic of all things natural, and found in nature in the world, a type of dar, charma, inner magic that can be shared with others.


Hyledis - a rare pale yellow/brownish colored flower found in Elfeinel, which the children learn has a very powerful Ythhes, which can last longer than most other plants.


hanudgie - the small piece of brownie that was left stuck in the pan, which you pick out with your fingers and pop into your mouth just because you can NOT let any piece of brownie go to waste.


Fledneu - the feel of the damn breaking in your mind when all the sudden you have a strong powerful flow of ideas and thoughts that you can't even write or type them down fast enough to keep up with the rushing thoughts.


(Sorry, I think I may be in a story telling mood. I may have to write these down for my short stories.)


Okay, your turn. What do you have?

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Favorite Fictional Character (2)

Favorite Fictional Character

Thanks to Ryan at Wordsmithonia who started this for Wednesday.







Who here has heard of or watched He-Man and the Masters of the Universe? I know, I know. It's a boy thing. Well, I have a brother and he loved this cartoon when we were growing up. Soooo, I got the privilege of watching it as well. The worst part about it was, I will admit it but don't tell anyone else (let alone my brother), I actually enjoyed watching it with him.


Now, you are probably asking who are these two women on the side, they are definitely not a man let alone He-Man. Well, no they aren't. These two women are the two women in He-man's life. I liked the show because of these two women. The first on Teela, on the left, was my favorite to start with. She was adopted by Man-at-Arms and grew up to be the Warrior Goddess. Teela is the captain of the Royal Gaurd for the Prince Adam. Teela was responsible for training and protecting the Prince. Teela also always helped He-Man in his battles agains evil and Skeletor. However, Teela was never aware that Prince Adam had an alternate identity, He-Man.


I think I enjoyed Teela's character because she was tomboyish and not afraid to speak her mind. Teela would pick up a weapon and be in battle next to any man and showed no fear at all. She was a very strong woman, both mentally and physically. I think in growing up these were things I looked forward to being myself, very independent and capable to handle my own.


Now, in the same show there was the Sorceress. This woman was softer spoken and was the one who gave He-Man his powers. The Sorceress lived in Castle Grayskull. The Sorceress was always very wise and knew the right way of things. Prince Adam (He-Man) always looked the the Sorceress for wisdom and guidence in his times of need. I always loved the wisdom she held, and wanted to be smart like her.


Now, I have cheated in mentioning two characters this week and you are probably asking what is the connection between these two. Well, I always thought of these two as mother and daughter, although Teela did not know it. The Sorceress gave her daughter to Man-at-Arms knowing he was a good man and along with teaching Teela the right way he would also protect her. However, in looking for the pictures to put in this post I found that depending on what you watched or read depended on the relationship between The Sorceress and Teela. They were either mother and daughter or clones.

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Teaser Tuesdays (6)


Teaser Tuesday is a weekly event.
Sponsored by
MizB of Should be Reading.


Here's how it works:


Grab the book you are currently reading (anything at all)
Open the book to any random page
Share 2 "teaser" sentences from anywhere on the page.
Please Make Sure They Are Not Spoilers!
(Don't Give Too Much Away) Just enought to pique our interests.
List the book and author so other participants can get their hand on it if they choose to read it as well.


This Week:


As Logen picked his way carefully across the slippery stone he found himself wondering, through force of habit, how you could storm this place. You couldn't. Not with a thousand picked men. There was only a narrow shelf of rock before the door, no room to set a ladder or swing a ram.


The Blade Itself
the first law: book one


By Joe Abercrombie

Monday, September 14, 2009

Monday's Beginnings (4)

This is the beginning of a new week!

So, I am wondering: Where you are in your books or are you starting a new book for the new week? The beginning of the week always seems to be a great time to start anew. To me it seems to be the way Monday goes is a sign of how the week will follow. Have you been able to get much reading time in today? Or are you going to be rushed all week to get everything into the short 24 hour day?

I am still adding numerous books to my reading list. This week it has grown by only seven books. Well, six for me and one for my son, which I may pick up and read as well. This really is a wonderful thing! You are all helping to keep me out of trouble and these wonderful authors in work. I am kind of trying to make notes of books to read but the must, must reads are on the top of the list (that is what list these books are on). The funny thing is I have finished no books this week. This sounds a little loop sided... Gained 7 books to read and finished 0. Oh well, some day I will catch up... (maybe?)

Well, for me today: I am still in the process of reading The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie. I am currently on page 160 out of 527 pages. Yep, I told you, I really am a slow reader. Then add these lovely blogs I visit and the ones I write, twitter, Barnes & Nobles site, work, and family. Well, needless to say its a wonder I get to read at all. LOL! That is okay, its my escape time. But, I really don't have an excuse as to why I have not got any reading done today. Yesterday I did okay, but today not so well. I went shopping for the accessories for the bathroom. Yes, we are still not completely done with this stinking bathroom. That is what we get for working opposite shifts, kids and sleep. Why does anyone sleep???

I will be playing the catch up game this week. The book will be chasing the clock this week, or as it seems with the way today has played out.

So, how does the week look for you? Let me know...

Aftershock, Contest Winnings

I just have to share this little bit of information, since I am extremely excited.

I WON A CONTEST!!!!

Thank you Froggy!

Okay, now that that is out of the way I will move on and tell you about this fabulous looking book and how I won it.

Froggy at Froggaritaville's_Bookcase had a contest starting on Friday and ending on Sunday for just her current followers, Book Candy Quickie. She drew a winner today and I was the lucky number.

I have not read this book yet but will be watching the mailbox for this one to come.


Aftershock

This book has 3 different stories in it.


(I have copied over the stories and summaries from Froggy for you to check them out...)


Penance by New York Times bestselling author Sharon Sala
After being shot, Nicole Masters's "penance" for cheating death dictates that she must help others--even if it means putting herself in danger. Now she and Detective Dominic Tucci-- a neighbor determined to make Nicole accept her new gift-- team up to rescue an innocent child before time runs out....

After the Lightning by Janis Reams Hudson
Hailey Cameron fears she's fried more than a few brain cells after she's struck by lightning and begins hearing voices. Experience has made former police detective Aaron Trent more accepting of this newfound ability than Hailey is. Especially since her gift might help him stop an underground child-smuggling ring. But has fate brought them together for another reason as well?

Seeing Red by Debra Cowan
A near-death experience has firefighter Cass Holister witnessing fires before they happen. But it's proving harder to deal with Ben Wyrick--a man she once walked away from who is now investigating the blazes--than it is to handle her new talent!


I am so excited to get this book. These stories sound great and they are perfect for when I get to my stopping points in my current book for discussions. I can pick this book up and read a story one by one when I need to fill the void of a day or two while talking over another book. Very Cool!!!

Sunday, September 13, 2009

I have received this rock'n award from Deb at Bookmagic.
If you have not visited her site yet, you just don't know what you are missing... Stop by and check it out!
Okay. I have come across some pretty rock'n blogs here in this lovely little space I like to call the Blogosphere.
I would like to award 'Your Blog Rocks Award' to the following:

Krista at Life_or_Something_Like_It...

The Writer at The_Writers_Notebook

Rachy at Parajunkee's_View

I just want to say your really need to check out these sites. They are really awesome with the information they share along with the book reviews. Take a minute and check out what these people have to share, it is wonderful.

Top Blog Commentators Award

I would love to Thank Ryan over at Wordsmithonia for this wonderful award.
Please take the time and stop by his amazing blog!

Top Blog Commentators Award!!

I find commenting just as much fun as doing the blogs themselves, okay maybe more fun.

The people whom have been with me since the beginning and comment on about every blog I do have already been awarded this award by others.

So I am going to award this award to followers who have just started following me with in the last month or two and have visited and commented a great deal.

Thank you all for visiting!!

Soooo, the winners are:

Alexia at Alexia's_Books_and_Such...

Celi.a at Adventures_of_Cecelia_Bedelia

Froggy at Froggaritaville's_Bookcase

La Coccinelle at The_Ladybug_reads

Please take the time to stop by these delightful blogs, you may just like them... (I do!)

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Balderdash (4)


Word Verification Balderdash is a weekly meme hosted by Sheila at One Person's Journey Through a World of Books.
This is very easy to do.

If you comment on blogs you can do this too.
Write down all the word verifications you get while posting comments on other peoples blogs.
You then play Balderdash with them.

In case you don't know how to play, you take the made up word and come up with an authentic sounding definition for it. Do this for a week and then post your best or favorite ones every Thursday.

Here are mine for this week:
cheraph - the name of the water fountain that has the 2 or 3 little cherubs "flying" around and spitting water out their mouths.
millyste - this is the term used in place of "milling around" or taking your time to slowly get to something not wanting to do.
astoric - the ash color you get to your face when you are about to get sick.
squendo - the thoughts of when you are carrying a conversation with someone and hear a word that you write down to remember thinking it would be a great word to use in a game of Scrabble that will get you the extra letter score and a large amount of points.
pertell - the kind, classy way to ask someone to please tell what you know and I can't wait to hear.
Let's hear your words!

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

BookShelf GiveAway!!



BookShelf Giveaway!!

Check out these beauties on the side here.

Wouldn't you love to have these?

Well, now is your chance! Over at Park-Avenue_Princess she is giving them away!

You get to pick the one you want if your name is drawn as the winner.

These shelves are supplied by CSN Office Furniture.

All entries must be made by September 24, 2009.

Winner will be announced September 25, 2009.
Good Luck to you all!


Who Loves Your Blog Award



I was presented this award from Froggy at Froggaritavilles_Bookcase. Thank you Froggy!!
Please jump over and visit with Froggy. (That is a wonderful blog going there!)
This award is designed with one purpose in mind.

Pass this on to other bloggers who have awarded you in the past.


Now, I do have to say I have received many Awards and have many friend out here.


I would like to present this Award to the fellow bloggers whom have been with me since the start and still find time to visit me along with all their many other followees.


So, I want to say thank you to you all for following me and to these great friends:

Ryan at Wordsmithonia

Deb at Bookmagic

Michelle at The_Book_Addict
Thanks Guys, It really means a lot to have wonderful friends around!!

Favorite Fictional Character (1)

Favorite Fictional Character


Ryan at Wordsmithonia started this on every Wednesday.




So, thanks to Ryan I thought I would join him in this fun walk down memory lane - Remembering all the great characters I have come across in books, movies, television series, cartoons, comics, or any other source you can name.



Great American Hero


Okay, so some of you young pups out there probably wont know who this is. This hero had a television series that played on ABC from 1981 through 1983.
Here is a little background of the show for you:


Ralph Hinkley, the characters name, is a school teacher who takes his students on a field trip and the bus breaks down. Ralph starts to walk back looking for help with the broken down school bus and in doing so a car stops. The driver of the car is an FBI agent. To both of their surprise blue lights appear in the sky. Yep, you guessed it...Aliens. The aliens tell Ralph and the FBI agent they are to work together to save the world and give Ralph a case. Later when Ralph opens the case he finds a red suit which gives him superhuman powers.


Now that is said the show can get going. Ralph becomes the Great American Hero. Yet this is more than just another superhero show on the television, it is a comedy of a superhero. See, Ralph has lost the operating manual for the suit in the desert where the aliens found them. Ralph clumsily rescues all in need of rescuing with the help of his partner (the FBI agent).


The humor of the whole show takes the superhero theme to a whole new level. You knew with every rescue you would have a good laugh and know it was an accident that the rescue even worked out.


The actor/actress choices were wonderful. They all played their parts off of each other very well. This just added to the humor in the show as well.


I have to say when I was growing up I looked forward to this show every week. It was enjoyable, and hilarious. You couldn't help but crack a smile when it came on. I can still see Ralph trying to land after flying. HA HA!!! He never did get that down, did he...

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Teaser Tuesdays (5)


Teaser Tuesday is a weekly event.

Sponsored by MizB of Should be Reading.


Here's how it works:

Grab the book you are currently reading (anything at all)

Open the book to any random page

Share 2 "teaser" sentences from anywhere on the page.

Please Make Sure They Are Not Spoilers!

(Don't Give Too Much Away) Just enought to pique our interests.

List the book and author so other participants can get their hand on it if they choose to read it as well.

This Week:

If Logen had been the one clinging to the Shanka's foot, he would most likely have thought, "My life depends on this leg I'm hanging from-best not take any chances." A man would rather save himself than kill his enemy. Trouble was that the Shanka didn't think that way, and Logen knew it. So it wasn't much of a surprise when it opened its big mouth and sank its teeth into his calf.

The Blade Itself

the first law: book one

By Joe Abercrombie

Monday, September 7, 2009

Book Giveaway: Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick


Dani at Reading_is_like_Breathing...it_has_to_be_done is GIVING AWAY the book Hush, Hush by Becca Firzpatrick.
The last day to enter is September 21, 2009.
So hurry over...

Spread the Love Award




I have to thank Froggy over at Froggaritaville's_Bookcase for Spreading the Love.

We all have been sharing the love a lot with these awards lately, so I am going to spread some more...

I love this award and I just have to say thank you to all my friends here in the Blogosphere. You are all wonderful people and help make the days that much brighter. I love how everyone takes the time to read and comment on the blogs.



I am going to award this award to a few people.



They are:


Michelle at The_Book_Addict

Ryan at Wordsmithonia

I am going to name a few new followees also:

Lady Bug at The_Lady_Bug_Reads

Monday's Beginnings (3)

This is the beginning of a new week!

So, I am wondering: Where you are in your books or are you starting a new book for the new week? The beginning of the week always seems to be a great time to start anew. To me it seems to be the way Monday goes is a sign of how the week will follow. Have you been able to get much reading time in today? Or are you going to be rushed all week to get everything into the short 24 hour day?

I am still adding numerous books to my reading list. I think this week it has only grown by two or three books. This really is a wonderful thing! You are all helping to keep me out of trouble and these wonderful authors in work. I am kind of trying to make notes of books to read but the must, must reads are on the top of the list (that is what the 2 or 3 books are on).

Well, for me today:

Well, last night I finally got done with The Name of the Wind. It is not that the book was bad, on the contrary it was really good. I am just a slow read whom rereads lines paragraphs and even pages at times to make sure I understand everything. I am starting to think it is a disorder of mine. LOL! And I was discussing it with a group of friends at the bookclub. Oh well, on to the next book. The next book being The Blade Itself by Joe Abrocrombie. I am currently 14 pages into the book and can't wait to get rolling with it.

This week seems to have started off well on the reading angle. I think it may be another great week to read...

The Name of the Wind By Patrick Rothfuss


The Name of the Wind

Author: Patrick Rothfuss

Genre: Fantasy

Publisher: DAW

Publication Date: 2007

Recommendation: Oh Yes, you must pick this one up!





Book Cover Synopsis:
MY NAME IS KVOTHE

I have stolen princesses back from sleeping barrow kings. I burned down the town of Trebon. I have spent the night with Felurian and left with both my sanity and my life. I was expelled from the University at a younger age than most people are allowed in. I tread paths by moonlight that others fear to speak of during day. I have talked to Gods, loved women, and written songs that make the minstrels weep.

You may have heard of me.

So begins a tale unequaled in fantasy literature - the story of a hero told in his own voice. It is a tale of sorrow, a tale of survival, a tale of one man's search for meaning in his universe, and how that search, and the indomitable will that drove it, gave birth to a legend.

My Review and Summary:
In this story you actually get two stories for one. There is a current time period and the story time period. In some books this blending is at times hard to keep separate. However, in this book it is very distinctly divided and there is no confusion as to what time period you are reading in.

The story starts off with an Inn Keeper, named Kote, tending his customers and maintaining his Inn. Kote is listening to all the talk at his inn for something... Some information as to how the world is doing, see there is a war currently being fought. Then a man named Chronicler comes in looking for Kvothe. Chronicler recognizes Kvothe as the Inn Keeper, and requests him to tell his life story so he can record it.

Kvothe comes up with some guidlines for the recording of his lifes history and Chronicler reluctantly agrees to them. As the story starts Kvothe takes you all the way back to when he was a happy, go lucky child with his family and troupe, and how he meet and was intreged by an Arcanist. Kvothe learned many things from this Arcanist, Ben, along with touching on Sympathy, or as we may call magic. Kvothe was very interested in the sympathy and after watching Ben call upon the wind Kvothe wanted to learn the name of the Wind in the worst way possible. With the many things Ben taught Kvothe, Ben learned that Kvothe was an exceptionally brilliant child. Ben told Kvothe and his parents of the University, the place for learning all there is to learn to be a guilded Arcanist.

Kvothe is not sure if he wants to leave the life style he currently has to go to the University, though it does sound wonderful to him. However, as you know in books there is sometimes not a choice, life leads the way for you. There are many unfortunate things that happen to Kvothe here as he is growing up and he losses his way for a few years. But, when Kvothe comes out of the state of shock he had been in for three years he makes the decision to go to the University. Kvothe is one of the youngest and poorest kids to sit for the admissions of the University. Kvothe is accepted in with a tuition he needs to figure out how to pay.

Kvothe has many trials and tribulations he needs to over come and surpass to keep going throughout the book. You are probably asking, what sets this book apart from others or makes it special. Aside from the troubles Kvothe gets into and the unique resolutions, the writing style holds you attention. You are left wondering what analogy Patrick is going to use next. Or what discriptive words he will rhythmically link together to make the perfect visual, sound, touch or taste. The descriptions of all the senses are so detailed you can visualize with ease what is being told. The story itself has a rise and fall like poems or music do. There is a flow to the way of the story that you just follow along very smoothly.

You get to hear what happens from Kvothe then you get to hear the stories that are spread and told by the other students and towns people. It is funny to hear the legendary stories and compare them to what really happened, amazing how a story can get changed around depending on what people thought they saw then mix in their believes.

Do I recommend this book? Whole heartedly! You may think the story is just the simple story of another poor boy, but I have to say this story is anything but simple. The uniqueness of the problem solving used, along with the descriptive writing should be shared with all.

Do enjoy this book.

CymLowell