Winner For RABF 01/31/09!

Congrats to Lauren from Shooting Stars Mag who recommended Possible Side Effects by Augusten Burroughs. I have never read anything by Burroughs but I have read Sedaris and thought he was okay. Trying a different funny essay author sounded good to me.

Becky - I hope you are feeling better. I didn't pick the Starry Rift because well it sci fi and I don't read sci fi mostly because it makes me feel dumb because I usually don't understand when technology is talked about or the names are two weird that I can't keep track who's who. Sometimes this happens to me in fantasy book as well. Maybe I haven't found the right sci fi yet. It does sounds like good authors and the first story sounds like a good one but sci fi is more my husband's thing.

Tamara - I didn't pick 20th Century Ghosts by Joe Hill. It is pretty much because the scary story. I can't do even a little bit scary. In fact one children's book that I read recently got dark and creepy and almost didn't finish and it was a great book. I would really love to try but I get nightmares from my husband telling me abou t his creepy books. lol

Thanks everyone for playing. Keep trying if you didn't get picked. :-)

Refer A Book Friday 1/30/09

Rules of Refer A Book Friday: To play all you have to do is recommend a book that you liked and post in the comments. Tell me why you liked the book or link to your review. I will pick a recommendation, then add it to my TBR pile and the person who recommended the book will get to win a book from this Pile of Free Books that I reviewed.
I usually post the Refer A Book Friday post at 12pm EST after I am done work. Each week I will post a new post for you to comment in.

Hint: This week maybe you could recommend me some Short Stories, Essay, or Poetry books.

Booking Through Thursday - Digital Age

I also posted my answer in the comments but if any one else wants to see...

First. Go read this great article from Time Magazine: Books Gone Wild: The Digital Age Reshapes Literature. (Well worth reading.)

Second. Stop and think about it for moment. Computers and digital media are changing everything we do these days, whether we realize it or not, and that includes our beloved books.

Third. DISCUSS!

Tell us what you think. Do you have an ebook reader? Do you read ebooks on your computer? Do you hate the very thought? How do you feel about the fact that book publishing is changing and facing much the same existential dilemma as the music industry upon the creation of MP3s?

I do not own a kindle or an ebook reader. I have bought and read some books in PDF format. I usually struggle with reading that format because while I like being on the computer reading digital format has it down fall on your eyes. I also love the feeling of actually paper bound books but while I love the smell the feel, I also know it is killing our trees. So maybe the digital age of book isn’t a bad thing because of that

Here’s what i can’t see buying digital books for kids. I think for kids they are always going to have the bound book. I can’t imagine a picture book in a kindle. But maybe they do do that.

On the self publishing note I think is great self publishing is doing so well. Give me hope if that is the direction I plan on going with my books.

Shannon's Review - Jesus Freak: Martyrs by DC Talk and Voice of the Martyrs

Title:: Jesus Freaks: Martyrs
Series:: None
Author(s):: DC Talk and Voice for the Martyrs
Genre:: Christian
Summary: Stories of those who stood for Jesus.
Finished: 01/20/2009
Pages:368
Challenges:20 Book in 2009(8),
Rating:










My Thoughts: I think with a book like this, you can't help but compare yourself to the people in the book. It is part of the purpose of the book. I wonder about myself; whether I would have faith strong enough to die for it. Right now, I don't think I would. So it's interesting to me that all the people in this book have died or lived for there faith. Part of me wants to strive to be like them—living for my faith. Another part is confused.
I think this is a interesting book for most Christians to read because we all want to strive to be more faithful in life. If you are not Christian, I am not sure it will interest you. It might but I think it is a little strong for non-Christians.

About the Authors: DC Talk is a Christian rock band made famous by their most popular song, "Jesus Freaks". Visit them at DCTalk.com

Voice of the Martyrs is an organization serving the persecuted church. Visit them at Persecution.com.

Write on Wednesday

(Click button to go to site)

The revision process continues to be on my mind this winter- notice I said “on my mind,” meaning I haven’t done much more than think about it. The whole process of novel revision seems terribly daunting. I’ve been collecting other writer’s thoughts on their process of revision, hoping to get inspired, and it worked to some degree. I’ve started revising a short story I wrote last winter, hoping that by “practicing” on something smaller, I’ll be less intimidated by the work involved in revising the novel.

Here’s some food for thought regarding the revision process…as you will see, every author approaches it completely differently!

“I start on the first page. Then, I rewrite that page twenty or forty times until it’s right, and then it’s finished. Then, I go to page two and I do the same thing twenty or forty times.” Stephen Dixon

“I go over what I’ve written, but I’m not making major changes. I’m just fixing it by making minor changes that might have a big effect. I hardly throw anything out.” Jayne Ann Phillips

“I do twenty or thirty drafts. I’m a big reviser. I go back…and polish the beginning, then I force myself to go through page by page from beginning to end, over and over again.” Amy Bloom

“I go through with a very cold eye to cut out everything that can be cut without loss.” Thomas E. Kennedy

“I polish as I go along. My habit is to perfect individual sentences, individual paragraphs, and individual pages, and when I think they’re as good as I can make them, I feel free to go on to the next part. So when I write the last sentence of the last paragraph, I’m done with the book.” Kent Haruf

“I do a great many drafts, no matter what it is. This means letting it sit for a few days before looking at it again, then doing it again, then letting it sit and doing it again. I let my friends read drafts after the first ten or twelve. My early drafts are sketchy in the most important ways - everything vital is left out - and they’re wordy in other ways - there’s all this extraneous material that doesn’t matter. So the revisions are in both directions.” Andrea Barrett

“I do a lot of revisions in fits and starts. When I write, I barrel through from beginning to end, and then back up, and if the beginning isn’t working, start over. Once it works, I write through to the end, and start revising, and, if necessary, trash the whole thing, and start over.” Myla Goldberg

Writer Bug posted some great revision advice which she picked up at her last residency. She talks about picking 15 areas you want to work on in your manuscript, and then going through it 15 times, focusing on one area each time. Some things to work with include: verbs, redundancy, verbosity, vagueness. She also advises reading the story aloud, which is a great idea.

As I’ve begun revising my own work, I’ve been taking one paragraph at a time, revising each sentence, looking for better words, paring down wordiness, then going on to the next paragraph until I’ve finished the page. Then I re-read the page and see how it flows. Once I’ve done each page, I’ll go back and re-read the whole thing to see if I need to make structural changes.

So, how about you? Anyone else out there in the process of revisions? If so, how’s it going?

I am a little lucky with revisions. I have an editor who is also my husband. He will talk me through what he changes and why and encourages me to do more editing. I have gotten a little better. But he does revisions on most of my stories tweeking them and making the words cuter if it is a children's story. We work well together so I like writing with him. Then I will usually go over what he wrote and tell him what i liked and didn't like and we both work on fixing it.

It's Tuesday Where Are You?

Event takes place at An Adventures in Reading

I am a granddaughter watching my grandparents health fade away because they are not together in the same nursing home room. I fight with the director to get them to get them back together. It's a fight but it happens. My grandparents are sweetharts again. (Chicken Soup for the Women's Soul by Jack Canfield)

Joining Vampire Challenge

(Click the image to good to the Challenge Page)

What?For the Vampire Challenge you will read books with vampires - romance, YA, paranormal, mysteries - anything, as long as there's a or two (or more) vampire in it.
When?The challenge will start January 1, 2009 and end December 31, 2009.
How?The goal is to read 2+ books with vampires in 2009, that's it. It's fairly easy, I think.

For some inspiration check out my post on vampires in books.

My Tentative list that I plan on reading at least 2 or more from:
1. New Moon by Stephanie Meyer
2. Eclipse by Stephanie Meyer
3.Breaking Dawn by Stephanie Meyer
4. Blood And Gold by Anne Rice
5. The Vampire Journals by Traci Briery

Shannon's Review - The White Giraffe by Lauren St. John

Title:: The White Giraffe

Series:: The White Giraffe

Author(s):: Lauren St. John

Genre:: Children's Book

Summary: Martine recently suffered the loss of her parents, and now she must move to Africa with her grandmother. There she finds a connection with animals, especially a white giraffe that's only suppose to be a legend.

Finished: 01/17/2009

Pages: 192

Challenges: 20 Book in 2009(7),

Rating:









My Thoughts: There are good ideas in this story, like the mythology of the legend of the giraffe and the child, and Martine's powers over animals. But there were some things that just worked out to easily in the end. For example, all of a sudden the grandmother, who didn't seem to like Martine, says she knew everything that was going on and would help Martine save the giraffe. It just seemed very sudden for her to help in the end. So while I liked the ideas in this book, I think the story could have been done better in the end.

About the Author: Lauren St. John has written two other books in this series, with a fourth one due out soon.

Shannon's Review - The Knot Fairy by Bobbie Hinman

Title:: The Knot Fairy
Series:: None
Author(s):: Bobbie Hinman
Genre:: Children's Picture Book
Summary: A tale about a little fairy that ties knot in children's hair while they sleep.
Finished: 01/13/2009
Pages: 29
Challenges: 20 Books in 2009(6),
Rating:









My Thoughts: A sweet little tale of a fairy that ties knots in your hair while you sleep. The book comes with an audio CD of a reading of the story with a song at the end. I recommend listening to the CD while you read the book. The illustrations are just as adorable as the book, they fit it perfectly. I can see this as a books the kids will like to read or listen to again and again.

About the Author: Bobbie Hinman co-authored a couple of cookbooks before she began writing children's books. She has two others: The Sock Fairy and the Belly Button Fairy (due out in April 2009). You can visit her website KnotFairy.com

Weekly Geek - Classics

In the third Weekly Geeks of 2009, let's have fun with the classics. For our purposes, I'm defining a classic as anything written over 100 years ago and still in print. (If your memory needs jogging, see: Classic Literature Library for examples.)

For your assignment this week, choose two or more of the following questions:

1) How do you feel about classic literature? Are you intimidated by it? Love it? Not sure because you never actually tried it? Don't get why anyone reads anything else? Which classics, if any, have you truly loved? Which would you recommend for someone who has very little experience reading older books? Go all out, sell us on it!
I am a little intimidated by classics mostly because when I read them I don't remember them. They just don't stick in my brain like more recent books do. That does not mean it stops me from trying to read them. Ones I remember that I do love.
1) Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
2)Dracula by Bram Stoker
3) A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
4) Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
5) Les Misrables by Victor Hugo
6) Dead Souls by Nicolai Gogol
7) Little Woman by Lousia May Alcott

I also at on point in my life was a fan of Edgar Allan Poe. I can't really read too much scary stuff now though. I still have a collection of his work that hopefully I will read again someday.
I would recommend for someone starting on classic Little Women, or Treasure Island.


2) A challenge, should you choose to accept it: Read at least one chapter of a classic novel, preferably by an author you're not familiar with. Did you know you can find lots of classics in the public domain on the web? Check out The Popular Classic Book Corner, for example. Write a mini-review based on this chapter: what are your first impressions? Would you read further? (For a larger selection of authors, try The Complete Classic Literature Library).

I read the first chapter in Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie. I have never read Peter Pan by I have read the Disney versions of the stories. Peter Pan is so differently written. It is almost I hate to use the word but it is a little scatter brained or maybe a better explanation because scatter brained makes it sound bad, but it like a child's thought process it starts in one place goes to another and ends where it started out again. I like that it capture's something so child like.

3) Let's say you're vacationing with your dear cousin Myrtle, and she forgot to bring a book. The two of you venture into the hip independent bookstore around the corner, where she primly announces that she only reads classic literature. If you don't find her a book, she'll never let you get any reading done! What contemporary book/s with classic appeal would you pull off the shelf for her? I tend to stick to children books so I would have to go with Charlotte's Web by E.B. White which I can't believe but was only published in 1952.

4) As you explore the other Weekly Geeks posts: Did any inspire you to want to read a book you've never read before—or reread one to give it another chance? Tell us all about it, including a link to the post or posts that sparked your interest. If you end up reading the book, be sure to include a link to your post about it in a future Weekly Geeks post!
Alessandra at Out of the Blue wrote about reading the first chapter of Wizard of Oz also something I have never read. Go here to see the post.

Winner For RABF 01/24/08

Congrats to our Winner for this week which is Paradox who recommended The Girl With the Silver Eyes by Willo Davis Roberts. This one just called to me. It is the type of book I would have read in the 80's but must have missed this one when came out.

Jessica - I almost picked The Mysterious Benedict Society, by Trenton Lee Stewart but I was on the fence whether I would like it or not. Something about it reminded me of another book I tried to read but I couldn't get through it. Doesn't mean I didn't want to give it shot though.

Shooting Star Mag - Number the Stars by Lois Lowry and Stuck in Neutral sound like good books but seem a little dark to what I am into reading right now. I am still trying to get through the Book Thief and having a hard time.

Becky - Moxy Maxwell Does Not Love Stuart Little This sounds like a cute book and one maybe for another time. Paradox psychic powers book won me over.


Thanks for playing . Same time next week

Refer A Book Friday 1/23/09

Rules of Refer A Book Friday: To play all you have to do is recommend a book that you liked and post in the comments. Tell me why you liked the book or link to your review. I will pick a recommendation, then add it to my TBR pile and the person who recommended the book will get to win a book from this Pile of Free Books that I reviewed.
I usually post the Refer A Book Friday post at 12pm EST after I am done work. Each week I will post a new post for you to comment in.

HINT: What Are some of your favorite children's books to recommend? Picture Books, chapter books, whatever let see them.

Booking Through Thursday - What Inspires...?

Since “Inspiration” is (or should) the theme this week … what is your reading inspired by?

This question kinda stumped me at first I had to read a couple of answers before i came up with my own. I guess what inspires me right now to read is writing. I just bought books for research on a hopeful book I would like to write. This blog inspires me to read more then I ever have even though I have always been a reader. If really get down to it I my reading is inspired sometimes by competition. Yup that right I sometimes I read just to see how many books I can read or how fast I can read. Sometimes I am just inspired by the the feeling reading just gives me. It is exciting, thrilling and it a book. Just being a book to me means so much that I can't describe. If that makes any sense and you can't think of anything to post then just post in comments I got it or I didn't.

EDITED: I forgot other bloggers inspire me to read. With there post on there blogs and on Refer a Friday Posts. Oopsie. Sorry peoples.

Shannon's Review - Ralphina the Roly - Poly

Title:: Ralphina the Roly-Poly
Series:: None
Author(s):: Claudia Chandler
Genre:: Children's Picture Book
Summary: Ralphina the Roly-Poly bug wants to play with the neighborhood boy. She tries to get his attention, and teaches him about Roly-Poly bugs along the way.

Pages: 26
Challenges:20 Books in 2009(5)
Finished: 01/13/2009
Rating:









My Thoughts: Wonderful and colorful illustrations. Cute story. I am just not sure how interesting a story about a roly-poly bug is. I did learn some things about roly-polies that I didn't know. (For example, roly-poly bugs are related to crustaceans.) But the way the story was told didn't really flow right; it starts with no oomph and ends abruptly.

About the Author: Claudia Chandler is illustrator and educator of elementary students. I believe this to be the first book by her. To see more about her and her creations you may go to Claudiascustomcreations.com

Writing Meme

Taken from this blog Write on Wednesday

What’s your favourite genre of writing? Fantasy
How often do you get writer’s block? All the time
How do you fix it? I don't know yet
Do you type or write by hand? both
Do you save everything you write? no
Do you ever go back to an old idea long after you abandoned it? yes
Do you have a constructive critic? I don't know
Did you ever write a novel? No but I want to. I have ideas for one
What genre would you love to write but haven’t? Young Adults maybe
What’s one genre you have never written, and probably never will? business
How many writing projects are you working on right now? about 4
Do you write for a living? Do you want to? I would like to but don't at the moment.
Have you ever written something for a magazine or newspaper? I have written for an online magazine before for Wizard Entertainment.
Have you ever won an award for your writing? noo
What are your five favourite words? I like confuzzled even though it is offically not a word. lol
Do you ever write based on your dreams? All the time
Do you favour happy endings, sad endings, or cliff-hangers? all of them
Have you ever written based on an artwork you’ve seen? No. that would be interesting though.

Shannon's Review - The Bomb That Followed Me Home by Cevin Soling

Title:: The Bomb That Followed Me Home
Series:: Rumpleville Chronicles
Author(s):: Cevin Soling
Genre:: Humor,

Summary: Like a puppy dog, a bomb follows a young child home. The child hopes to keep it.


Pages: 32
Challenges: 20 Books in 2009(4)
Finished: 01/13/2009
Rating:









My Thoughts: Strange but humorous little book. Written out like a children's picture book, it's pretty absurd. I am not sure how I feel about it really. Yes, it was funny in some places, but also a little frightening to think about in others. I think for fact that a kid could mistake this for a children's book, and that could be confusing.
About the Author: Cevin Soling has written a number of books in the Rumpleville Chronicles, including The Jolly Elf and The Disciples of Trotsky. There will be at least 7 more books in the series.

Where Are You Tuesday?

I am in Israel. In 65 AD with Peter, one of the Apostles of Jesus. Peter sees Jesus and takes his meeting as a forthcoming of his own death. (Jesus Freaks: Martyrs by DC Talk and Voice of the Martyrs)

Shannon's Review - When Wishes Come True by Gail Herman

Title:: When Wishes Come True
Series:: Fairy School
Author(s):: Gail Herman
Genre:: Children's Chapter Book

Summary: Dorrie Windmist is a fairy, but she just happens to be a very clumsy fairy. She accidentally falls and breaks her wing as her parents are planning a six-inch birthday party for her older sister, Arianna. Because everyone is getting ready for the party, no one is paying attention to Dorrie. She is so jealous of her sister that she wishes she didn't exist, and her fairy godmother shows her just what that would be like.
Pages: 71
Challenges: 20 Books in 2009
Finished: 01/13/2009
Rating:










My Thoughts: This shows improvement from Herman's first book, Tooth Fairy Travels. The story is creative in showing what it would be like for Dorrie to have never had a older sister. The words flow nicely through out the book, and the characters are ones kids can relate to.

About the Author: Gail Herman has written many children's books, including a couple of the Disney fairies books. The fairy school series was her first original series of books.

I Suck At Challenges Challenge

Click the image to go to the challenges' site.

Here is another challenge I am going to join The I Suck At Challenges Challenge.

Here are the rules:

Categories?

The Slackers(Aka "I will finish the Canadian Reading Challenge, I swear")

I am a Slacker

I try not to sign up for too many reading challenges but even when I commit to one or two I can't seem to complete them. Last year, I failed miserably at the 1st Canadian Reading Challenge. It appears I'm heading down the same path. Are you like me? Then you are a Slacker.Join The Slackers if there are a couple particular challenges you are having trouble completing or you know you'll have trouble completing due to your track record. (Only count ongoing challenges that have deadlines of more than 3 months away, you are waaaaaay behind and you are particularly lazy. There's no shame in admitting it.)

The 12 Steppers(Aka "I can stop whenever I want.")

There's a challenge. You see it. Your palms start to sweat. Mr Linky mocks you. You try to stop yourself but it's too late. You've committed yourself to Books That Start With Q Challenge and you know you'll do it again when the next challenge comes along. The only thing is, how are you ever going to complete them all? Sound like you? Then you are a 12 Stepper. No program is going to help you though; you're addicted.

Join The 12 Steppers if you've signed up for more reading challenges than you can handle.

When?

Sign up anytime between now and February 1, 2009. The challenge ends July 1, 2009.

How?

Leave a comment on this post with a link to your challenge post. Tell me if you are a Slacker or a 12 Stepper and list your challenges.

Then what?

At the end of the month, starting in February, I'll put up a post calling for your progress. Leave a comment telling us if you've completed a challenge (link to your completed challenge post), if you're struggling with any and what ones, or if the challenge deadline came and went and you never finished.At the first of every month I'll put up a post to record your progress. I'll encourage everyone to visit each other and cheer you on.

Any incentives?

Sure, why not? If you sign up by February 1st, I'll pick a name in a drawing for a little something, like a cute bookmark or something along that line. On July 1st, I'll once again draw once again from the sign in post for a "Surprise" package (it's a surprise to me too since I'll be collecting things throughout the months) of book related do-dads. No penalties if you don't complete all your challenges but please at least try!

Okay, so procrastinators unite! Together we will finish challenges we commit to. Join and add the button to your blog. Have fun!

Shannon's Review - Undone by Rachel Caine

Title:: Undone
Series:: Outcast Season
Author(s):: Rachel Caine
Genre:: Fantasy

Summary: Cassiel was one of the old Djinn, but she was unmade and is now human with the powers of a Earth Warden. Along with dealing with being humans, she must solve the mystery of who wants to hurt her and her friends.
Pages: 305 (ARC Copy)
Challenges: 20 Books in 2009
Finished: 01/13/2009
Rating:









My Thoughts: The Location gave a realistic feeling to the characters. There was always a new twist in the plot and that kept it exciting. I liked the way Cassiel and other Djinn where described as being different. Cassiel - with white, powder-puff hair and green eyes - was probably described as the most unusual.
I like Cassiel as a character. She was some times cold and violent, then other times vulnerable and kind. She had her quirks too, being a little vain with her clothing and motorcycle.
I went through this book in a 3 days, which is pretty quick for me. I enjoyed it all. Even though this was a spin off from Caine's other series about the Weather Wardens, it stands well on its own. This was the first time I read anything by this author, and I think I would pick up her other series given the chance. It was an interesting story with interesting characters and just enough magic thrown in.

About the Author: Rachel Caine is the author of two other fantasy series, one about the Weather Warden and the other a YA series about the Morganville Vampires. To find out more about her, you can visit her website RachelCaine.com

What it Means to Be A Weekly Geek!

For those who have been with the group, either from the start or joined within recent months, what does being a member mean to you? What do you enjoy about the group? What are some of your more memorable Weekly Geeks that we might could do again? What could be improved as we continue the legacy that Dewey gave us?

For those just joining us, why did you sign up for Weekly Geeks? What would you like to see here?

For me being a member of Weekly Geek... I don't know really. I know why I started participating and let's just say that I don't always show up every week but this was the first event I ever joined. I joined to say "HELLO HERE I AM GEEKY AND PROUD!" It started out as a intro to the blogging world and something fun to do. It still is.

One I think memorable Weekly Geek I think was when Dewey had a list of first lines from books and we where suppose find the title. I don't think it worked out so well but I thought it was nice try she just maybe had to many. I think this was a weekly geek thing I hope I am not getting it confuzzled with something else but I might be.

Edit : I just read someone else post and it was the Scavenger hunt I was thinking of .... silly me.

Winner for 01/17/08

The winner this week is Becky who recommended LarkLight by Philip Reeve. I picked this one and rather the one Paradox recommend because I don't normally read fantasy books with Science Fiction in them ...not even a little bit. So I thought I would give this one a shot.

Paradox your vampire pick would have been definitely one I would have picked but I want to go with something I may not have picked myself. Thank you though. It sounds like another good one.

Becky you know the drill email me with your picks ;-) lavenderagate(at)yahoo(dot)com

Refer A Book Friday!

Rules of Refer A Book Friday: To play all you have to do is recommend a book that you liked and post in the comments. Tell me why you liked the book or link to your review. I will pick a recommendation, then add it to my TBR pile and the person who recommended the book will get to win a book from this Pile of Free Books that I reviewed.
I usually post the Refer A Book Friday post at 12pm EST after I am done work. Each week I will post a new post for you to comment in.

Hint : This week I am into fantasy books. I just finished up Undone by Rachel Caine I would love to read some else similiar.

Booking Through Thursday

If you’re anything like me, there are songs that you love because of their lyrics; writers you admire because their songs have depth, meaning, or just a sheer playfulness that has nothing to do with the tunes.
So, today’s question?
What songs … either specific songs, or songs in general by a specific group or writer … have words that you love?
Why?
And … do the tunes that go with the fantastic lyrics live up to them?

I like songs by Steven Sondheim especially the anything in the play Into the Woods and Sunday in the Park with George.

Another play with great lyrics in it's songs is Once on This Island lyrics by Lynn Ahrens.

They both have songs with deep meaning and you can relate to them. They also stand the test of time. For example, Into the Woods is a lot about growing up.

Shannon's Review - Fairy School: Tooth Fairy Travel by Gail Herman

Title:: Tooth Fairy Travels

Series:: Fairy School

Author(s):: Gail Herman

Genre:: Children's Chapter Book

Summary: BelindaDentalette wants to be a tooth fairy like ever other member of herfamily. Only trouble is, she tends to get lost. even in fairyland. Howwill she ever learn to find her way in the human world?

Finished: 01/10/2009

Pages: 85

Challenges:20 Books in 2009,

Rating:

My Thoughts: Cute book. I like pretty much anything with fairies, and thisone remind me of a story I wrote. Characters are a little cliche - onesmart fairy, one fairy who gets lost, one fairy who is clumsy andanother who is mean. I like that there arefairy crafts that you can make in the back of the book - magic wands or a star necklace. Thisauthor, Gail Herman, now writes some of the Disney Fairies chapter books, but this seriescame out before them. As a writer, you can see how she has improved with the newer Disney Fairies books. As a chapter book for young kids, Tooth Fairy Travel isn't bad, but I see it more for younger kids who read chapterbooks, maybe ages 4 to 6.

About the Author: Gail Herman has writtenmany books for children, including some of the Disney fairies chapterbooks. She lives in Boston with her family.

Where Are You Tuesday?

Picture taken from FunontheNet.in

I am in New Mexico. Where a dust storm takes over the area while I am looking for a young girl that may not be family but sure feel like she is. I am about to ride my motorcycle into the dust storm to get to the girl. Using my powers to see through the storm. (Undone by Rachel Caine)

20 books in 2009 Challenge

I decided to sign up for challenged this year and hoping I will do better with it then I did last year, which was that I completely forgot I signed up for any. Doh!

Here are the Rules for this one. Click on the button to go to the site.


-You must have a website since you have to keep an online progress page. You can get free ones from wordpress.com or blogspot.com if you need to.
-You must create a progress page, which will be updated each time you complete one of your 20 books. For more information about progress pages and an example of how you can do them, click here.
-You can read as many books as you want by an author or in the same series.
-If the book is a re-read, it must be from a year ago.
-If you begin the book in 2008 and finish it in 2009, it does count for this challenge.
-The following do not count: comics, catalogs, manga, journals.
-You must link back to this challenge with the button provided or one that you make for your own personal use, or even a text link.
-If you intend to participate, leave a comment on the main entry stating so. You will then be added to the participants list.
-Everyone who successfully completes the 20 in 2009 challenge will win a small award graphic to display on their website

Weekly Geek !

In the spirit of the amazing community building that Dewey was so good at, tell us about your favorite blogs, the ones you have bookmarked or subscribe to in your Google Reader, that you visit on a regular basis. Tell us what it is about these blogs that you love, that inspire or educate you or make you laugh. Be sure to link to them so we can find them too.

At the moment I use google dashboard to visit the blogs I like. Here are the five top ones.

1. Becky's Book Reviews - This was one of the first site that got me wanting to start a book blog that and Dewey's site.

2. J. Kaye's Book Blog - J. Kaye is fun and always updated frequently. She always coming up with new ideas to promote others.

3. Fantasy Book Critic - This blog keeps me updated on the newest Fantasy book and graphic novels coming out.

4. An Adventure in Reading - I really enjoy reading this blog and I enjoy the event that raidergirl3 holds every Tuesday- Where are you now?

5. The Thrillionth Page- I may have much books that I read in common with her but Carolyn Jean makes me laugh.

Shannon's Review - The Crown of Zeus by Christine Norris

The Crown of Zeus by Christine Norris

Summary: Megan and her father move into a strange Manor in London. Making friends is easy for Megan. But keeping them alive is the challenge, after they are all magically stuck in a book of Greek Mythology and must find the Crown of Zeus to get out.



My Thoughts: The book is action packed and flows pretty smoothly. Megan and her friends are thrown quickly into a world of adventure. I like that it was about mythology, but I'm more interested in what the other books in the series will be like because a lot of people have done the Greek theme, and those other books promise to explore less traveled territory.

I am giving this 4 stars. Not five because in some places it rushed the scenes together a little. If I could I would give 4.5 stars. Overall the adventure is very well thought out, and the setting is interesting. The characters are likable, and the creatures they meet connect in a imaginative way. I am excited to see how the rest of the series will be.


About the Author: Christine Norris is the author of three other books: Talisman of Zandria, Return to Zandria and The Ankh of Isis, the soon-to-be-released second book in the Library of Athena series.

Giveaway! If you would like to win a signed copy of this book then post in the comments in this post.

Winner for 01/10/09!

Congrats Kristina! Kristina Recommended Skeleton Creek by Patrick Carman which sounds like a really interest concept. A book that will first have a chapter to read and then a chapter to watch a video on the internet. Sounds cool!

It was a really hard choice this week I know I say that all the time but it really was.

Carmen you asked if I had read manga and I have read some usually ones that I have watched as anime like Ranma 1/2 and Chobits. I do know the story of Kingdom Hearts because I have played the game. Still haven't beaten it yet but I know most of the story. It is a cute series.

Becky I have seen Dragon Slippers and I know that one must be good and is one I want to read but I can only pick one. :-/

Yan - Cracked Up To Be by Courtney Summers sounds like an okay read. I know you said it is deeper then most Ya novels but I don't usually delve into drama doesn't mean I wouldn't, it just did not grab me.

Darby - I think you meant the The Spy who came for Christmas by David Morrell not The Spy Who Came to Dinner by David Morrell. Unless there was another one he wrote that i couldn't find. Could be interesting for another time.


Thanks everyone who posted a recommendations. See you next week. Hey and let me know if you like me giving feedback to why I didn't pick or does make not want to know then I won't do it.

Refer A Book Friday!

Rules of Refer A Book Friday: To play all you have to do is recommend a book that you liked and post in the comments. Tell me why you liked the book or link to your review. I will pick a recommendation, then add it to my TBR pile and the person who recommended the book will get to win a book from this Pile of Free Books that I reviewed.

I usually post the Refer A Book Friday post at 12pm EST after I am done work. Each week I will post a new post for you to comment in.

This is the post for Fri Jan 8th!

Post in the comments your recommendations!

Booking Through Thursday

what were your favorite books from 2008?

Ones that come to mind right away would be The Fire Eternal by Chris Delacey, The Battle of the Labrinyth by Rick Riordan, and Steinbeck Ghost by Lewis Buzbee.

They are all children books I can't think of any grown up fiction that I liked that much... no drawing a blank on that subject.

Shannon's Review - I'm with Stupid by Elaine Szewczyk

I'm with Stupid by Elaine Szewczyk

Summary: After a bad breakup, Kas goes on a trip with friends to South Africa. While there, she meets hotel worker William, who is model-like, and ends up having a one night stand with him before she returns to the states. Life almost gets back to normal until she receives an email from William that he's coming to New York, where she lives! William, who seemed beautiful and smart on the safaris, now seems childish and dumb, and he's living with Kas, and she's about snap.


My Thoughts: The book was interesting in the beginning, when they first made the trip to South Africa. Once they got to New York again, it became a little predicable. I have seen this storyline in tv shows, and to me it is an unrealistic story. I can't see it ever happening to someone. This book had it's humorous moments, but it just didn't have enough story or plot for me. It had it serious moments too. In fact, one moment about Kas and her brother Henryk had me tearing up. I think had the book mixed the serious and funny better, instead of trying to be so humorous all the time, it would have balanced out better. As it was, the book tried so hard to stay funny all the time that it became boring. It has moments similar to Sex and the City, which is a show I have never been a fan of. So if you like Sex and the City, you will probably like this book. Overall, I thought it was funny at times but boring at others.


About the Author: This is the first novel by Elaine Szewczyk, and it was inspired from a trip she took to South Africa. She was born in Poland and now lives in New York.


Thanks to Alessandra who recommend this on one Refer A Book Friday! Sorry I didn't enjoy it more. :-)

New Signed Book Giveaway - The Crown of Zeus by Christine Norris

Mystery book revealed ! This is the new signed book giveaway The Crown of Zeus by Christine Norris.

If you have been following on Twitter you will see that so far I am half way through the book and it is full of adventure!

Maybe some of you have read the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series by Rick Riordan well this reminds me of that series.

I saw Christine the end of last month and she says that this a first book in a series. The rest of the books in the series will be about different Mythology from around the world, like Chinese, Irish, and Egyptian Mythology!

I plan on reviewing the book , The Crown of Zeus, on Sunday.

I also did a review of one of Christine's book before , a book called the Tailsman of Zandria

So if you would like the chance to win the copy of this signed book The Crown of Zeus by Chirstine Norris post in the Comments. Say something like "I would like a copy" or "Sign me up" or anything of that nature.

This Giveaway end FEB. 2nd

READ MY REVIEW OF THE BOOK HERE

Winner of the Faerie Door by B.E. Maxwell!

I was so happy to see so many people wanted this book! We had 20 people sign up! That is the most I have had so far! Since we had 20 people I got to roll our giant 20 sided dice. And the winner was numbe 3. Who was.....

Congrats Janel! Email me with you mailing address at lavenderagate(at)yahoo(dot)com

If you would like to be a part of the next signed book giveaway keep eyes on Twitter today and Confuzzled Books tomorrow!

Musing Mondays

Today’s MUSING MONDAYS post is about library books…
Do you have a system for borrowing out books from the library? Do you know what you're going to borrow before you get there? How often do you borrow out books?

I don't borrow from the library that often. They usually don't have many things I am interested in at my library. I have been borrowing audio book from them lately though. Which reminds me that The Book Thief is late and due back ASAP. I still haven't finished it. Oh well. ..

Shannon's Review - The Faerie Door by B.E. Maxwell

The Faerie Door by B.E. Maxwell

Summary: A young girl named Victoria, living in the 1800s finds a secret passageway and a special ring that take her to another time and place. A young boy from the 1960s, Elliot, also finds a ring and befriends Victoria. And they both discover their destinies are entangled with the rings and the Faeries and who made them. They are meant to go on a quest to find two magic orbs, separately, where each child discovers their own strengths and weaknesses while they fight the evil sorceress and Ice Dragon.

My Thoughts: The settings in this book are described beautifully. There is such care to the details that it's not overwhelming but just right. Victoria and Elliot, characters who wouldn't normally meet, but under the circumstances do, go well together. They have fun, and you have fun reading about them. I thought the story might be loosely based on a ballet which is mentioned in it, but after researching that, I believe this is the author's own creation, which leaves me liking it all the more.

I find the story original even while, yes, it starts as a quest with rings. It is unlike the Lord of the rings trilogy and stands on it's own. Only thing I didn't like was there were times when I had to put the book down. For a children's book, I thought it got a little dark, but that could be me mirroring my own dark times in it. I was frustrated in a good way, because the reason I put it down was that the book would get so dark and end a chapter where I did not know how it was going to end. I worried whether I would get a nice ending or a sad ending. Overall, I would say that makes it a great book, and I think kids will love it.

About the Author: B.E. Maxwell lives in Connecticut with his wife. He is influenced by many British authors like Tolkien and others.

Confuzzled Books is having a Giveaway of a signed copy of this book. Go here and post in the comments if you would like a copy! style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Ends Jan 5th!

Winner of RBF for 01/03/09!

Congrats to Mari, who recommended Bel Canto by Ann Patchett. I think what made me decide was that you mention it could be a movie directed by Robert Altman. I have seen only a few of Altman movies but I am a fan of how he make a movie memorable and smart (all except Popeye with Robin Williams...blech).
Mari please email me at lavenderagate(at)yahoo(dot)com with which book you would like. :-D

Refer A Book Friday!

Well here we go the first Refer A Book Friday of the New Year! If you haven't played before you recommend a book in the comments. I then choose a book and add it to my TBR Mt and review sometime later. If you are picked you get to pick a book from Refer A Book Friday Free Book Pile.
I decided to take the the part about getting a book from your wishlist out.
WE WILL NOT HAVE THE WISHLIST CHOICE ANY LONGER.

I hope to see you guys still recommending though!!

Booking Through Thursday

So … any Reading Resolutions? Say, specific books you plan to read? A plan to read more ____? Anything at all?

Name me at least ONE thing you’re looking forward to reading this year!

I plan on reading more and posting more often on my site and others. I am looking forward to finishing New Moon by Stephanie Meyers. There are alot I am looking forward to reading I just can't remember the exact titles. And since I am starting off the New Year with a cold I don't feel like looking at the TBR Mt.