tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25985795785573555452024-02-07T13:36:53.978-05:00A Writer's ReviewAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09155901294523627920noreply@blogger.comBlogger169125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2598579578557355545.post-67507129648609839342013-02-24T08:56:00.000-05:002013-02-24T08:56:26.265-05:00Review: A Whisper to a Scream by Karen Wojcik Berner<a href="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327094066l/11778949.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="A Whisper to a Scream (The Bibliophiles: Book One)" border="0" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327094066l/11778949.jpg" /></a><b>Published</b>: June 2011 by CreateSpace<br />
<b>Format</b>: E-book<br />
<b>Source: </b>Amazon<br />
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Ovulation detectors. Hormone surges. Anxiety-ridden dreams. This is the world in which Annie Jacobs is thrust when she and her husband John receive a diagnosis of unexplained infertility. A 37-year old PR executive, Annie has wanted to be a mother since she first cuddled her Baby Tenderlove at age five. She is dreading another Christmas of relatives asking when they will be hearing the pitter patter of little feet, and Uncle Joe slapping John on the back, telling him to relax and take a cruise. Lots of people get pregnant on vacation, you know. <br />
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Across town, stay-at-home mom of two, Sarah Anderson, attempts grocery shopping with a toddler intent on hurling items from the cart at passersby. She notices a box of rice heading straight for a gray-haired head. Leaping across the aisle, Sarah grabs it, saving the woman from certain doom, or at least a minor head injury. Little Alex screams at being thwarted. The unknowing octogenarian shakes her head and admonishes Sarah for not knowing how to keep her child quiet in public. <br />
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"A Whisper to a Scream" is the story of two women on opposite ends of the child-bearing spectrum who come to realize the grass is not necessarily greener on the other side of the fence. A vivid portrayal of contemporary marriage and its problems, the novel speaks to a longing in all of us, a yearning that might start as a vague notion, but eventually grows into an unbearable, vociferous cry.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>First Sentences</b></span></div>
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"At 35 years old, Sarah Anderson discovered something quite shocking. She had Attention Deficit Disorder - she didn't get any."</div>
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Sarah and Annie are experiencing exactly the opposite when it comes to babies. Annie has been focused on her career and is just now getting around to starting a family, while Sarah has two small boys and doesn't have a career going for her. While Annie and Sarah might be at opposite ends of the child bearing spectrum, you can see that the way it affects the family, marriage, etc is very similar. Annie and John found out they have unexplained infertility and are undergoing treatment to up their chances of having a child. The stress that is placed on them as a couple as well as the family is not something I really ever thought about. Not to say that I thought hormone treatments, IVF, blood test after blood test and millions of doctors appointments were easy...but Berner does a great job playing the scenario out so I could get a grasp on the struggles/pains that Annie and John went through. While reading, each time the phone would ring at Annie and John's I would almost hold my breath waiting to see what the results were. Unfortunately Annie became obsessed with wanting a child and it severely impacted her performance at work and her relationship with John. It is so important that couples have open lines of communication and I almost feel as though if John and Annie would just talk more they would have been able to make it through. </div>
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Sarah and Tom's relationship is on the fritz because Tom is never home. Sarah is left to do everything at home and is overwhelmed when Tom is never around. Again, I think this goes to show how important communication is -- there wasn't a lot of that in either one of these relationships. </div>
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I don't want to spoil anything, so the last thing I will say is -- what happens to Annie???? I can't stand when I'm left to my own devices when it comes to the ending of a book! My mind is spinning and I've come up with several different scenarios, but dang...</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">My Ratings</span></b></div>
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Cover: 5/5</div>
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Characters: 5/5</div>
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Plot: 5/5</div>
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Ending: 5/5</div>
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Overall: 5/5</div>
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Happy Reading!<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09155901294523627920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2598579578557355545.post-10928314641717609002013-02-16T21:34:00.001-05:002013-02-16T21:34:25.402-05:00Review: Party Crashers by Stephanie Bond<a href="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1328314483l/13027758.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Party Crashers (Body Movers 0.5)" border="0" height="200" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1328314483l/13027758.jpg" width="150" /></a><b>Published: </b>November 6, 2011 by NeedtoRead Books<br />
<b>Format: </b>E-book<br />
<b>Source</b>: <a href="http://amazon.com/">Amazon</a><br />
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Jolie Goodman is a perennial good girl - which is how she wound up selling shoes at Neiman Marcus during the holiday season: She walked out on her brokerage job because her boss asked her to do something unethical. Now she's trying to start her own brokerage firm in Atlanta at the worst possible time. Also pressing on her mind is the fact that her boyfriend of the last few months is missing...along with her car. With problems piling on, she manages to make a new friend at work, but too late she realizes her gal pal Carlotta Wren is a serial party crasher - which is fun...at first. But no one's laughing when a body turns up at an upscale party they've crashed and they're the only people who weren't suppose to be there! Jolie vows she'll never crash another party...if she gets out of this mess alive.</blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>First Sentence</b></span></div>
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"It's like, I can't decide between the Kate Spade sliders and the Via Spiga T-straps, you know?"</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>My Thoughts</b></span></div>
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As soon as I saw this was set in Atlanta I was pumped! A book about my hometown -- bring it! A murder mystery/romance to boot - SOLD! </div>
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I absolutely love Jolie - she's a well rounded character that I could totally relate to. She's just quit her job working for Realtor Barbie (HAH) as she was asked to do something that she just morally couldn't do. While working on building up her own brokerage company she gets a job selling shoes at Neiman's. Selling shoes has to be easier than selling houses...right?? The first sentence cracked me up -- make that, the first entire scene cracked me up. Gosh, I'd love to know what it'd be like to just buy three pairs of thousand dollar shoes, just because. A girl can dream!</div>
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Jolie has filed a missing persons report on her boyfriend Gary. She hasn't seen or heard from him, but finds out that his car was found at the bottom of the 'Hooch...with a woman's body inside. Jolie has not been dating Gary for very long, so she's not really 100% sure what is going on...but is determined to get to the bottom of it. </div>
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At work, she meets Carlotta who invites her to an exclusive party that night. Jolie doesn't know, but Carlotta wasn't exactly invited to this shindig...she crashes local events for fun with her friend Hannah. Once Jolie realizes what she's doing she instantly feels bad, but is getting somewhere in her investigation and doesn't want to give up yet.</div>
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The twists and turns in this book kept me hooked. I couldn't put the book down because I just had to know what was going to happen next. Go, get it -- NOW!</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Favorite Quotes</b></span></div>
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"Focusing on mundane details allowed her to get through difficult times because they were reminders that life went on."</div>
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"...the 'Buckhead Bubble' - a magic bubble, he said, that surrounded he country-club set that lived in he ritziest part of Atlanta." </div>
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"It's the South and most people don't really care who they are as long as they wipe their feet."</div>
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"Loneliness had a comfortable, insular quality that could lull a person into feeling secure in a distorted kind of way...secure in the knowledge that she'd never have to expose herself to another person's feelings. If she didn't trust, she'd never be betrayed, and if she didn't love, she'd never be rejected."</div>
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"...being rich was as much a state of mind as it was a state of bank account."</div>
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"Jolie suspected the animal rights activists subscribed to the belief that everyone south of the Mason-Dixon Line was armed and anyone who flung red paint on a Southern woman's coat might get themselves shot."</div>
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"To recognize someone, you had to first know them."</div>
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"...white was a prestigious color with the implication that one had to have money to maintain anything white."</div>
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"There are times in every person's life when they find out what they're made of."</div>
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"...the only thing that went away faster if a person ignored it was time."</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">My Ratings</span></b></div>
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Cover: 5/5</div>
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Characters: 5/5</div>
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Writing Style: 5/5</div>
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Plot: 5/5</div>
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Ending: 5/5</div>
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Overall: 5/5</div>
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Happy Reading!<br />
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<img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/338/EC8486DF05E8047DB74CC498B1D96B4B.png" /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09155901294523627920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2598579578557355545.post-53175860095449875742013-02-12T09:15:00.000-05:002013-02-12T09:15:21.092-05:00Teaser Tuesday (21)<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSS68eZKPL4vNDi-Ber2i4GOowNnisRodn6y0CJ06UnUrXCurf9jxakTR5Kt4Kmssr4-TwW2EvfjoVdcPN3jSF2n33-vwF5rn_Ny38eS0_RdSovZRl411E36okeBrJaLF8TtU0isfVjy4/s1600/TeaserTuesday.jpg" /></div>
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Teaser Tuesday is a weekly event held by MizB at <a href="http://shouldbereading.wordpress.com/">Should Be Reading</a>. I love this event and love giving you a little teaser into what I'm reading! This can either suck you in, and you will enjoy reading the book, or it can make you realize that this just isn't the book for you!</div>
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The rules are simple:</div>
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- Grab your current read</div>
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- Open to a random page</div>
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- Share two "teaser" sentences from somewhere on the page</div>
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- Please do not include spoilers!!!!! (Please be sure that what you post doesn't give too much away -- we want this to be fun for those who haven't read the book as well!)</div>
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- Make sure you share TITLE and AUTHOR so that other TT followers can add the book to their TBR pile.</div>
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- Always be sure to check out the host's blog and leave your Teaser Tuesday link!</div>
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<b><u>My Teaser</u></b></div>
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"According to the postcard, the attire was sleepwear, the guest list was exclusive, and invitations had to be presented at the door. Apparently Sammy had moved through the crowd tonight, picking and choosing her guests."</blockquote>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09155901294523627920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2598579578557355545.post-42713344664061532462013-02-08T21:36:00.001-05:002013-02-08T21:37:46.846-05:00Review: Orphan Flu by A. D. Bolivar<a href="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1352296846l/16134566.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Orphan Flu" border="0" height="320" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1352296846l/16134566.jpg" width="192" /></a><b>Published: </b>October 11, 2012 by A. D. Bolivar Books<br />
<b>Format:</b> E-Book<br />
<b>Source: </b>Received a complimentary copy of this book from <a href="http://www.bookrooster.com/">Bookrooster</a> in exchange for my review.<br />
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<i>When all of the adults start dying around the world from a unique strain of influenza, Sara's family is prepared. Her Dad is a survivalist computer geek who built a bunker of a house in the Philadelphia suburbs completely off grid. He taught his kids to hunt and gave them lessons on how to survive in the wilderness. With society collapsing under the strain of so much death, violence starts erupting around the country. All of their training isn't enough to keep them safe as strangers swarm the property and they find themselves under attack. </i></div>
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<i><i> Dad's instructions swirl in Sara's head as she leaves her family home with her younger sister Eve. They always promised him they would go right to his friend Mr. John's house in Denver if they ever had to evacuate. Sara just wants to make one small stop in Washington, DC to see if it's true that the government and all the authority that goes along with it is dead too. When she arrives she finds herself in the middle of a battle she doesn't want to fight, kidnapped by soldiers and living in the White House. </i></i></div>
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<i><i> Forced to work in the new army, Sara ends up making friends and right when she thinks she may have found a home, they give her a mission she's not sure she can complete. At this point, Sara isn't worried about getting lost. She's just wondering if she's going to survive. </i></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>First Sentence</b></span></div>
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"Two roads diverged in a mall and her Dad took the one only traveled by geeky older men."</div>
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The first sentence had me...hook, line and sinker. I love the Robert Frost poem this is a play on and I thought it was super cute! I could feel the characters embarrassment and couldn't help but laugh out loud at the reference. Oh to be a teenager again...</div>
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This book was extremely well written and a page turner. I didn't want to put it down, even when I knew I had to. This book is action packed and left me constantly wondering what was going to happen next! </div>
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The flu is definitely harder on the elderly, and it isn't uncommon for someone elderly to pass from the flu. That being said, the plot is not far fetched and the more you think about it --- kinda freaky! Can you really imagine what the world would be like if a widespread epidemic wiped out anyone over the age of 30?????? </div>
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Sara is an incredibly strong character that I fell in love with instantly. She has a geeky dad and an older brother that is just as geeky. While she may be slightly embarrassed of how geeky they are...it definitely pays off in the end. Sara has been taught all of the necessary tools to be able to survive any and every possible thing. </div>
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While Sara's family is prepared, there is no way to stop the progression and spread of the disease. It takes both her mother and father early on and leaves her, her brother Adam and her sister Eve to fend for themselves. With the society crumbling, looters are everywhere and will do anything to get what they need to survive. The cabin is well equipped and looters end up ransacking and taking over the house. </div>
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Sara knows that she has to make it to Denver to be with Mr. John, her father's best friend, and his family. Before she heads to Denver she needs to see for herself what is going on in Washington, DC. When she gets there, she is in for a big surprise. Sara will do anything to protect her family...but will she make it to Denver?</div>
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I really don't want to give too much away, as the book is fantastic and I don't want to ruin it! I highly recommend this book! Go, read it now!</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">My Ratings</span></b></div>
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Cover: 5/5</div>
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Characters: 5/5</div>
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Writing Style: 5/5</div>
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Plot: 5/5</div>
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Ending: 5/5</div>
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Overall: 5/5</div>
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Happy Reading!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09155901294523627920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2598579578557355545.post-72910212521905764512013-01-13T20:42:00.000-05:002013-01-13T20:42:55.603-05:00Review: Elephant Girl: A Human Story by Jane Devin<a href="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348348533l/12406117.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Elephant Girl: A Human Story" border="0" height="200" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348348533l/12406117.jpg" width="133" /></a><b>Published: </b>August 11, 2011 by Createspace<br />
<b>Format: </b>E-book<br />
<b>Source: </b>Purchased from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/">Amazon</a>, recommended by <a href="http://lendle.me/">Lendle</a><br />
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<i>Written in three distinct voices - child, teen and adult - Jane Devin takes readers on an intimate, imaginative and often harrowing life journey. Born unwanted and raised without love, the child-author invents a rich inner life to see her through years of trauma. Leaving home at 16, the teen-author struggles to find happiness and a sense of place in a world that feels confusing and unfamiliar. Then, years after stumbling into an adulthood mired in tragedy and broken dreams, the woman-author finds herself at a crossroads. The choice she ultimately makes is as stunning as it is brave. Told in unflinching and often lyrical prose, Elephant Girl goes beyond a singular life story to speak of powerful, universal truths and the ability of the human spirit to redeem itself. </i></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>First Sentence</b></span></div>
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"In Thailand, the practice of breaking an elephant's spirit is called <i>phajaan, </i>also known as "The Breaking Ceremony." </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>My Thoughts</b></span></div>
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Wow.</div>
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I don't even know where to begin.</div>
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To be honest, when I first started the book, I wasn't 100% sure I was going to like it. The intro seemed strange, and just didn't sound like something I would be interested in reading...</div>
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BUT I WAS <b>SO</b> WRONG!</div>
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This intricate tale is one that I completely felt like I was a part of. I could see it all playing out in my head. There were parts that made me laugh, parts that made me tear up, and parts that I just didn't know if I would be able to get through. </div>
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Jane is an incredible woman that has been through hell and back. I wouldn't wish half of the horrid things that happened to her on my worst enemy. But, through all of it, she kept pushing and kept pushing.</div>
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I would highly recommend this book to EVERYONE. If you've read <i>She's Come Undone </i>by Wally Lamb, and you enjoyed it- you will enjoy this. </div>
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It is a long read, but it is WELL worth it!</div>
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KUDOS Jane Devin, KUDOS!</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Favorite Quotes</b></span></div>
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A quick disclaimer: I found myself highlighting A LOT throughout this story. :)</div>
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"When it comes to my family, sometimes I don't know what's a lie and what's the truth, but I used to believe a whole lot of things that I don't believe anymore."</div>
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"She was the mother of three, not four, and that's just the way it's always been no matter what my birth certificate says."</div>
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"I think sometimes if a person thinks about too many sad things at once it's like getting buried alive. Everything comes rushing down like a heavy pile of dirt and rocks, and it takes a long time to get unburied and feel normal again."</div>
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"Maybe this is it, though, I thought - perhaps everyone spends their lives trying on one role after another until something fits. Maybe they never stop playing a role. Maybe, even if they never say it out loud or otherwise show it, everyone lives in their own fantasies, where they see themselves as wise, brave, good, or whatever else they need to be in order to carry on."</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"You are your thoughts. You become what you think about. Nobody can hold you back except yourself."</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"When you can tell each other everything and anything, even your worst secrets and fears, and there's no judgement - when you can just be you and they can be them, and all the imperfections somehow feel perfect - that's when you know. It's when the other person's happiness is as important to you as your own, and you'll do whatever it takes to help them make their dreams come true. It's like that with Calvin and me, Imperfectly perfect."</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"I have so many dreams and secrets that sometimes it feels like I'm a reservoir on the verge of busting open. Like I could fill a thousand spiral notebooks and it still wouldn't be enough to drain the words, thoughts, and feelings inside of me."</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"Everything seems so precarious and based on chance, and a whole life can change with one wrong or right turn, even if a person doesn't know what's wrong or right at the time."</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"How could anybody know what their life would be if only they'd made a different decision?"<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"How does anybody really know anything about another person when all we have are words and actions, either of which can be misunderstood?"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"People shouldn't have children they don't want or can't love. It just makes life harder for everyone..."</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"There are a thousand forks in the rod and every one of them is capable of changing something for the worse or the better."</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"Sometimes I think if there is a God, it's not a he or a she, but something just like this - a breathing gift that comes to provide what's needed at the time, even if you didn't know you needed it."</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"Maybe the truest danger doesn't come from human nature at all, but from all the bricks and rules we pile on top of it in order to feel like we're making advances."</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />"...and I often wondered if this was it - if there was really little else to life than the cycle of going to work, paying bills, doing chores and an occasional outing on the weekends."</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"Experiences leave their marks, and sometimes all the wishes in the world cannot undo what has been done."</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"Love means you never give up, no matter how hard or impossible things seem to be."</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"Poverty isn't just a state of being poor, or going without - it's an imminent threat that requires constant vigilance."</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"Love brings up everything unlike itself."</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"Jacques Costeau said 'From birth, man carries the weight of gravity on his shoulders. He is bolted to earth. But man has only to sink beneath the surface and he is free.'"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">My Ratings</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Cover: 5/5</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Characters: 5/5</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Writing Style: 5/5</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Plot: 5/5</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Ending: 5/5</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Overall: 5/5</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Happy Reading!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/338/EC8486DF05E8047DB74CC498B1D96B4B.png" /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09155901294523627920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2598579578557355545.post-15441626433478046982013-01-03T19:52:00.002-05:002013-01-03T19:52:38.888-05:00Review: Maternal Harbor by Marie F. Martin<a href="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348979830l/15995721.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Maternal Harbor" border="0" height="200" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348979830l/15995721.jpg" width="124" /></a><b>Published: </b>September 7, 2012<br />
<b>Format</b>: E-book<br />
<b>Source</b>: Purchased on Amazon<br />
<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>Pregnant and alone, Teagan O'Riley befriends three expectant mothers at an OBGYN clinic. Now, two of them are dead and the third is close on Teagan's heels, intent on eliminating the last obstacle in a monstrous plot. She cannot risk entrusting the police. Her finger prints are all over one crime scene and her foot print smeared into blood at another. Surely, the authorities would remove the babies from her care and place them with child protective services, making them easy targets. Teagan flees with the babies to the only refuge she can think of - the wilderness cabin belonging to the grandmother of her lost love. But is even this remote location safe?</i></blockquote>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>First Sentences</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"The dash clock bullied. Teagan O'Riley accelerated from Fishermen's Terminal, sped through an intersection on yellow and merged onto a street which shot straight to a busy Seattle OB/GYN clinic."</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>My Thoughts</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The story line is a great one, however I am a little disappointed in the delivery. Nothing irks me more than grammatical errors and I noticed more than my fair share. Typically that completely turns me away from a book, but I had to find out how it ended.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Teagan's character is somewhat bland, but you know that no matter what, she will do whatever it takes to protect her baby. I really liked Pai - she was quite and reserved and a little off, but probably my favorite! I didn't get a lot from Doretta, and felt like she was flat and just all around boring. I didn't feel the passion or anything from her like I did from the other characters. Erica is a COMPLETE whack job.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The four women meet in an OB/GYN office and find out that they are all having boys around the same time. They form a bond as they are all single mothers and promise to stay in touch and care for the babies if anything were to ever happen to them.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Pai is the first to have her baby, and the first to start getting paranoid. She knows something isn't right, but just doesn't know what it is. Shortly thereafter Doretta and Teagan have their baby boys.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Erica has been acting strange ... and trust me -- it gets even more strange...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I honestly felt bad for her at times. Is that weird? I mean she had a troubled past and I'm not saying that I condone her behavior, but as we say in the south "bless her heart".</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Anyway, while I enjoyed the story line I did feel like it could have sped up some. There were many times I just kept thinking "okay, get to the good stuff!" But don't worry, the good stuff came. I have to admit that the ending was a great one, and I'm glad I didn't completely give up on the book.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>My Ratings</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Cover: 3/5</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Characters: 3/5</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Writing Style: 2/5</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Plot: 4/5</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Ending: 4/5</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Overall: 3/5</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Happy Reading!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/338/EC8486DF05E8047DB74CC498B1D96B4B.png" /></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09155901294523627920noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2598579578557355545.post-89116931390623919502013-01-01T11:06:00.000-05:002013-01-01T11:06:22.184-05:00Review: Hopeless by Colleen Hoover<a href="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1353489892l/15717943.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Hopeless" border="0" height="200" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1353489892l/15717943.jpg" width="132" /></a><b>Published: </b>December 19, 2012<br />
<b>Format</b>: E-book<br />
<b>Source</b>: Purchased on Amazon<br />
<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Sometimes discovering the truth can leave you more hopeless than believing the lies... That's what seventeen-year-old Sky realizes after she meets Dean Holder. A guy with a reputation that rivals her own and an uncanny ability to invoke feelings in her she's never had before. He terrifies her and captivates her all in the span of just one encounter, and something about the way he makes her feel sparks buried memories from a past she wishes could stay buried. </i>
<i>Sky struggles to keep him at a distance knowing he's trouble, but Holder insists on learning everything about her. After finally caving to his unwavering pursuit, Sky soon finds that Holder isn't at all who he's been claiming to by. When the secrets he's been keeping are finally revealed, every single facet of Sky's life will change forever. </i></div>
</blockquote>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>First Sentences</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"I stand up and look down at the bed, holding my breath in fear of the sounds that are escalating deep within my throat.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I will not cry.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I will not cry."</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>My Thoughts</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
This book was recommended to my by my boss. We've been discussing books recently and she'd read this one and couldn't put it down. She warned me that it was probably for a younger age but said that it was just too good to skip. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Each chapter is dated, sort of like a diary, which I did think was a little strange at first. Honestly, once I got past that and got about 15% in, I was hooked. It isn't a childish book, or even really a book for a younger audience. The characters are teenagers, but the story line is a mature one. One I don't really even know if a teenager could relate to. Well, some parts, but not all.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Once I was hooked, it was all over. I had to sit and finish the whole thing - in one sitting. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Sky is a well-developed character that you love from the beginning, and your love just grows deeper as you read. Her mother, Karen seems a little off and "new-age"-y, but you warm up to her.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Holder - ah, Holder. In the beginning I was totally freaked out by him and just couldn't understand what the attraction was between him and Sky. He's quiet, reserved, and she mentions that in the span of a day she sees quite a few different Holder's. An angry Holder, a happy Holder, a sad Holder...He's very complex.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Without giving too much away, their connection is deep rooted, and Holder is definitely a character to love. This book is full of twists that you never saw coming and were very well delivered. The ending is shocking, amazing and full of love. My heart breaks a little for Sky, but I've got to give credit to Colleen for leaving us with a warm feeling at the end, and no loose ends.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Favorite Quotes</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>"It's real, Six. You can't get mad at a real ending. Some of them are ugly. It's the fake happily ever afters that should piss you off."</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>"Not everything is going to go my way and not everyone gets a happily ever after Life is real and sometimes it's ugly and you just have to learn how to cope."</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>"Sky, I'm not kissing you tonight but believe me when I tell you, I've never wanted to kiss a girl more. So stop thinking i'm not attracted to you because you have no idea just how much I am. You can hold my hand, you can run your fingers through my hair, you can straddle me while I feed you spaghetti, but you are not getting kissed tonight. And probably not tomorrow, either. I need this. I need to know for sure that you're feeling every single thing that I'm feeling the moment my lips touch yours. Because I want your first kiss to be the best first kiss in the history of first kisses."</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>"Being adopted isn't really a stigma I've ever had to overcome. I've never been embarrassed by it, ashamed of it, or felt the need to hid the fact."</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>"Like the purpose of the entire human race centers around this moment; around the two of us."</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>"If God's the type of guy that would damn you to Hell just for loving someone, then I wouldn't want to spend eternity with Him, anyway."</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>"And once again in my new world full of heartache and lies, this hopeless boy somehow finds a way to make me smile."</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>"The only thing that matters to me with you are the forevers."</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>"Whatever he goes through, I feel. Whatever I go through, he feels. It's what happens when two people become one: they no longer only share love. They also share all of the pain, heartache, sorrow and grief."</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>"Sometimes you have to choose between a bunch of wrong choices and no right ones. You just have to choose which wrong choice feels the least wrong."</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>My Ratings</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Cover: 5/5</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Characters: 5/5</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Writing Style: 5/5</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Plot: 5/5</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Ending: 5/5</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Overall: 5/5</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Happy Reading!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/338/EC8486DF05E8047DB74CC498B1D96B4B.png" /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09155901294523627920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2598579578557355545.post-89751945863578308672013-01-01T10:11:00.003-05:002013-01-01T10:11:49.450-05:00*Is this thing on?*Well, hello!<br />
<br />
I know, I know, I mentioned last year around this time that things had calmed down and I would be back. Obviously that was a HUGE understatement! 2012 was filled with lots of ups and downs and I had to take another break. The house is still wonderful, and I'm enjoying DIY-ing everything! Mom came up last week and we went honey-badger crazy! While everything is finally falling into place, I've realized that something is still missing. I couldn't figure out what exactly it was. I am still doing all of the things I love: reading, painting (when I get really inspired, but I should do this much more), and being with loved ones. The missing piece is this blog. I finish a book and still feel wrapped up in it and I really think that reviewing the books I read on this blog helps me let go of the characters and the story. I hold on to each character and have a sort of "book coma" and can't start reading another one until I've told someone all about it. I miss this blog, I miss my readers, and I miss the closure. It's a new year, and I'm going to do everything I can to make time and keep up with my blog. If you are still out there and will continue reading, THANK YOU. If you are new and just happened upon my blog - WELCOME! 2013 is going to be a GREAT year!!<br />
<br />
Happy Reading!<br />
<br />
<img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/338/EC8486DF05E8047DB74CC498B1D96B4B.png" />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09155901294523627920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2598579578557355545.post-23912601362329152962012-02-20T12:21:00.001-05:002012-02-20T12:21:20.560-05:00Review: Thinner - by Stephen King<b>Published</b>: January 1, 1984<br />
<b>Publisher: </b>Signet<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1309378635l/10605.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Thinner" border="0" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1309378635l/10605.jpg" width="121" /></a></div>
<b>Format: </b>Paperback<br />
<b>Source: </b>Purchased at GoodWill<br />
<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Billy Halleck, good husband, loving father, is both beneficiary and victim of the American Good Life: he has an expensive home, a nice family, and a rewarding career as a lawyer...but he is also fifty pounds overweight and as his doctor keeps reminding him edging into heart attack country.<br />
Then, in a moment of carelessness, Billy sideswipes an old gypsy woman as she is crossing the street -- and her ancient father passes a bizarre and terrible judgement on him.<br />
"Thinner," the old gypsy man whispers, and caresses his cheek, like a lover. Just one word...but six weeks later and ninety-three pounds lighter, Billy Halleck is more than worried. He's terrified. And desperate enoguh for one last gamble...that will lead him to a nightmare showdown with the forces of evil melting his flesh away. And away. And away...</blockquote>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>First Sentences</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"Thinner," the old Gypsy man with the rotting nose whispers to William Halleck as Halleck and his wife, Heidi, come out of the courthouse. Just that one word, sent on the wafting, cloying sweetness of his breath. "Thinner." And before Halleck can jerk away, the old Gypsy reaches out and caresses his cheek with one twisted finger. His lips spread open like a wound, showing a few tombstone stumps poking out of his gums. They are black and green. His tongue squirms between them and then slides out to slick his grinning, bitter lips. Thinner.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>My Thoughts</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I honestly didn't know what to expect with this book. I've avoided Stephen King books for the simple fact that I truly don't want nightmares. Well, this book will have me trying out more in the future, that's for sure. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I cannot remember the last time that while reading a book I was so scared/creeped out/disgusted/etc that my knuckles actually turned white while holding the book. I just wished that the story had moved along a little quicker. While there was a lot of detail, and that did help scare me more...I also thought it could have been a lot quicker.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
You meet Billy Halleck after the Gypsy has already placed this curse on him. I personally didn't find a deep connection to Billy -- it was like I was reading about him, but more fascinated by the other characters - especially the Gypsies. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
He is quickly dropping the pounds -- which is a good thing as he is extremely overweight...However it is falling off so quickly and no matter what he does it keeps coming off. His wife, Heidi, is terrified because she is sure that it is cancer, and doesn't believe in this "curse" that Billy keeps talking about. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
After a trip to find the Gypsy that has cursed Billy, I think he ends up with much more than he originally bargained for.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Just as a side note -- it was extremely strange...as soon as I finished this book (the exact same night) the movie <i>Thinner</i> was on TV. Of course, I am never really a huge fan of the movies after I've already read the book...but this was TERRIBLE. It was so extremely cheesy and just plain awful. James was in the room with me watching it and kept asking me how I could read something so incredibly dumb. I had to repeatedly tell him that the book was NOTHING like the movie, and that the movie was so terrible had I seen that first I never would have read the book.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">My Ratings</span></b></div>
</span></b></div>
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</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">
<b>Cover: </b>2/5 - The cover of my version is extremely boring and doesn't really fit the book</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">
<b>Characters:</b> 4/5</div>
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<b>Writing Style:</b> 5/5</div>
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<b>Plot:</b> 4/5</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">
<b>Ending</b>: 5/5</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">
<b>Overall</b>: 4.5</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">
Happy Reading! </div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">
<img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/338/EC8486DF05E8047DB74CC498B1D96B4B.png" /></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09155901294523627920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2598579578557355545.post-37468428594392811862012-01-29T08:48:00.001-05:002012-01-29T08:48:55.883-05:00Review: Lover Enshrined by J.R. Ward<a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51XAAyQewgL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Lover Enshrined (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #6)" border="0" height="200" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51XAAyQewgL.jpg" width="123" /></a><b style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">Published</b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">: June 2008</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;" /><b style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">Publisher</b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">: Signet</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;" /><b style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">Format</b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">: E-Book</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;" /><b style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">Source</b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">: Purchased on Amazon</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><br /></span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><i>In this "frighteningly addictive" paranormal romance sage there's a war raging between vampires and their slayers. Here are the stories of a secret band of brothers like no other - six vampire warriors, defenders of their race. And now a dutiful twin must choose between two lives...</i></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><i>Fiercely loyal to the Black Dagger Brotherhood, Phury has sacrificed himself for the good of the race, becoming the male responsible for keeping the Brotherhood's bloodlines alive. As Primale of the Chosen, he is obligated to father the sons and daughters who will ensure that the traditions of the race survive, and that there are warriors to fight those who want all vampires extinguished.</i></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><i>As his first mate, the Chosen Cormia wants to win not only his body, but his heart for herself. She is drawn to the noble responsibility behind the emotionally scarred male. But Phury has never allowed himself to know pleasure or joy. As the war with the Lessening Society grows grim, tragedy looms over the Brotherhood's mansion, and Phury must decide between duty and love.</i></span></blockquote>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>First Sentences</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"Twenty-five years, three months, four days, eleven hours, eight minutes and thirty-four seconds ago...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Time was not, in fact, a draining loss into the infinite. Up until the very second of the present, it was malleable, not fixed. Clay, not concrete."</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>My Thoughts</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So, another phenomenal read!! I've kind of always had a soft spot for Phury. I'm not sure why, but he has always been somewhat mysterious and intriguing. You know from the get-go that he's had a hard life -- with rescuing Z, loosing a limb, being celibate, and a drug addict...Maybe it's the "mother hen" in me, but I always wanted to help him...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Anyway, the war is getting much more intense, and now the young boys are getting involved. The book starts off with a huge shocker, but I won't spoil it for you. Let's just say...I KNEW IT! And here's a hint -- if I haven't already mentioned it 102320348234 times, I HATE LASH. :)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The Lessening Society has gone after all of the families in the <i>glymera</i> and is killing them off one by one. This is forcing many of the vampires in Caldwell to pack up and move out. There are a few that stay behind, but not many. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
This book is filled with horrible tragedies and was sometimes hard to read. I still get goosebumps thinking about some of the scenes of the war. Ward does an amazing job making you feel like you are actually part of the story, and can see and feel everything going on around you.</div>
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I can't wait to start the next book!!!</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Favorite Quotes</b></span></div>
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"Among the problems with shame was that it in fact did not make you shorter or quieter or less visible. You just felt like you were."</div>
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"As much as we have free choice, absolute destiny is immutable. What is meant to happen does, through one measure or another."</div>
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"If you make a deal with a copperhead, you can't be surprised you get bit."</div>
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"A house can be empty, even when it's full of people."</div>
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"But if you find yourself fighting an inner voice in your head all the time, then it's not where you're supposed to be. Being a good liar is not a virtue."</div>
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"Look, you didn't fail me. Because you can't fail at the impossible."</div>
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"'I love you forever' didn't always need to be spoken to be understood."</div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /><div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">My Ratings</span></b></div>
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<b>Cover: </b>5/5</div>
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<b>Characters:</b> 5/5</div>
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<b>Writing Style:</b> 5/5</div>
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<b>Plot:</b> 5/5</div>
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<b>Ending</b>: 5/5</div>
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<b>Overall</b>: 5</div>
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Happy Reading! </div>
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<img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/338/EC8486DF05E8047DB74CC498B1D96B4B.png" /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09155901294523627920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2598579578557355545.post-73087164946797439672012-01-08T11:09:00.000-05:002012-01-08T11:20:13.089-05:00Review: Lover Unbound by J.R. Ward<br />
<a href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1190538035l/304027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Lover Unbound (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #5)" border="0" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1190538035l/304027.jpg" width="123" /></a><br />
<b>Published</b>: September 25, 2007<br />
<b>Publisher</b>: Signet<br />
<b>Format</b>: Paperback<br />
<b>Source</b>: borrowed from my cousin<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="text-align: center;">
In Caldwell, New York, war rages between vampires and their slayers. There exists a secret band of brothers - six vampire warriors, defenders of their race. Now the cold heart of a cunning predator will be warned against its will...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Ruthless and brilliant, Vishous, son of the Bloodletter, possesses a destructive curse and a frightening ability to see the future. As a pretrans growing up in his father's war camp he was tormented and abused. As a member of the Brotherhood, he has no interest in love or emotion, only the battle with the Lessening Society. But when a mortal injury puts him in the care of human surgeon, Dr. Jane Whitcomb compels him to reveal his inner pain and taste true pleasure for the first time-until a destiny he didn't choose takes him into a future that cannot include her...</div>
</blockquote>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">First Sentences</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"Just take it, Jane."</div>
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Jane Whitcomb grabbed the backpack. "You're still coming, right?"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"I <i>told</i> you this morning. <i>Yes."</i></div>
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"Okay." Jane watched her friend head down the sidewalk until a horn beeped. Straightening her jacket, she squared her shoulders and turned toward a Mercedes-Benz. Her mother was staring out of the driver's side window, her eyebrows clenched.</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>My Thoughts</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
As I was finishing this book all I kept thinking was how difficult this review would be. I really want to just go on and on and on about how incredible these books are, and tell you all EVERYTHING...but I don't think that is fair.</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
This was Vishous' book and it was the first one I didn't really think I would like. Boy was I wrong. Each book of this series is someone's story, and I just wasn't really looking forward to Vishous' as I just didn't really feel like he was as well built as the other characters. I kind of felt like he was super secretive and just didn't really have a lot going on. What a joke. Ward -- you really got me!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
From the first page to the last page, this book was amazing. I was so shocked at Vishous' past, and couldn't believe what was in store for him. There are a ton of shockers in this book - as there are in all the others. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />I truly started to worry as the end neared, because unlike the other books it didn't seem like there would be much of a happy ending. Now the happy ending wasn't really what I expected, but I'll take it. </div>
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<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">My Ratings</span></b></div>
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<b>Cover: </b>5/5</div>
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<b>Characters:</b> 5/5</div>
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<b>Writing Style:</b> 5/5</div>
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<b>Plot:</b> 5/5</div>
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<b>Ending</b>: 5/5</div>
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<b>Overall</b>: 5</div>
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<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">
Happy Reading! </div>
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<img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/338/EC8486DF05E8047DB74CC498B1D96B4B.png" /></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09155901294523627920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2598579578557355545.post-25188310999207941532011-12-26T09:12:00.001-05:002011-12-26T09:12:52.653-05:00Did you miss me?Okay, I've got some 'splanin to do...<br />
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A ton has gone on since I last wrote -- which has kept me extra busy. I've still managed to find time to read now and again, but this has been one heck of a busy year. A great year, but a busy one. <br />
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We purchased our first house! It is truly amazing. I am so happy about it all, and slowly but surely we are making it our own. Most everything is relatively finished, but the more I play on <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/">pinterest</a> the more I realize there is left to do. I've gotten extremely crafty, and frequently call my mother to tell her "move over Martha...guess what I made now!" (side note -- Pinterest is extremely addicting -- if you aren't already on there, I highly suggest it!)<br />
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My promotion at work has been great! I'm really enjoying what I'm doing, although it keeps me extremely busy (which is a good thing...we know I can't sit still...). <br />
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I've really missed posting on here -- I'm really ready to come back this time -- PROMISE!<br />
<br />
I've been reading some great books recently that my cousin lent me - The Black Dagger Brotherhood series by J. R. Ward. I really didn't think I would be able to get into them, but WOW. That is really all I can say. I'm currently reading the 5th book, <i>Lover Unbound</i><b style="font-style: italic;"> </b>and I just can't get enough. I wish there were more hours in the day!<br />
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Well anyway, I've got a semi-busy day at work today, but trust me ... I will keep you posted!<br />
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Missed you!<br />
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Happy Reading!<br />
<img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/338/EC8486DF05E8047DB74CC498B1D96B4B.png" />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09155901294523627920noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2598579578557355545.post-36979676023311852882011-07-23T15:01:00.000-04:002011-07-23T15:01:13.233-04:00Review: Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><b>Published</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">: September 1, 2009</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><b>Publisher</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"> Scholastic Press</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><b><br /></b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><b>Format</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">: E-book</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><b>Source</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">: <a href="http://www.lendle.me/">Lendle</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><b>Challenge: </b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://brandiheathersreviews.blogspot.com/2011/01/2011-e-book-challenge.html" style="color: #ff3243; text-decoration: underline;">2011 E-book Challenge</a> </b></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">&</span></span></span></span><div>
<a href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1266682238l/6405758.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Catching Fire (Hunger Games, #2)" border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1266682238l/6405758.jpg" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><a href="http://brandiheathersreviews.blogspot.com/2011/01/100-books-in-year.html" style="color: #993333; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;">100 Books in a Year</a></span></span></span><div>
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<blockquote style="border-bottom-color: rgb(178, 34, 34); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 3px; border-left-color: rgb(178, 34, 34); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 3px; border-right-color: rgb(178, 34, 34); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 3px; border-top-color: rgb(178, 34, 34); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 3px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 40px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"> Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has won the annual Hunger Games with fellow district tribute Peeta Mellark. But it was a victory won by defiance of the Capitol and their harsh rules. Katniss and Peeta should be happy. After all, they have just won for themselves and their families a life of safety and plenty. But there are rumors of rebellion among the subjects, and Katniss and Peeta, to their horror, are the faces of that rebellion. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge. </span></span></blockquote>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">First Sentences</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">"I clasp the flask between my hands even though the warmth from the tea has long since leached into the frozen air. My muscles are clenched tight against the cold. If a pack of wild dogs were to appear at this moment, the odds of scaling a tree before they attacked are not in my favor."</span><br /><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">My Thoughts</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
SUCH a fantastic sequel!!! I absolutely loved the first book, and I've now devoured the second book! I cannot wait until I get my hands on the last book -- I'm dying to know what's going on!</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Let me just say -- maybe I'm a little slow -- but I did not see that coming! My prediction was that the second book would just be about Katniss and Peeta living in the Victor's Village . . . but whoa. The first half was just as I expected . . . and then BOOM. I was SO wrong. No spoilers if I can help it. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Of course I still love Katniss, and after this book, I think I love her a little more. She gets on my nerves sometimes with the whole Peeta/Gale love triangle thing, but you know . . . she's just a girl. And an awesome kick-butt girl, too! Everyone is up in arms about the poisonous berries that she used during the end of the Hunger Games, and the Capitol (specifically President Snow) are now saying that they believe there will be a rebellion because Katniss has defied the Capitol. Now, the Capitol is furious, and will seek revenge.</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
This year is the Third Quarter Quell, which is a big deal. The Capitol always does something "special" for these events . . . like for the Second Quarter Quell they double the number of players. The "special" something for the Third Quarter Quell is enough to make you sick, again. </div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
A definite must read, I'm so loving this series!! <br /><br /><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Favorite Quotes</span></b><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">"I wish I could freeze this moment, right here, right now and live in it forever."</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">"I always channel my emotions into my work. That way, I don't hurt anyone but myself."</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">"My nightmares are usually about losing you. I'm okay once I realize you're here."</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">"At some point, you have to stop running and turn around and face whoever wants you dead. The hard thing is finding the courage to do it."</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">"Tick, Tock."</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">"Because I can count on my fingers the number of sunsets I have left, and I don't want to miss any of them."</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">"Because I'm selfish. I'm a coward. I'm the kind of girl who, when she might actually be of use, would run to stay alive and leave those who couldn't follow to suffer and die."</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">"Whatever it takes to break you."</span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">My Ratings</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><b>Cover: </b>5/5</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 22px;"><b>Characters:</b> 5/5</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 22px;"><b>Writing Style:</b> 5/5</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 22px;"><b>Plot:</b> 5/5</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 22px;"><b>Ending</b>: 5/5</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 22px;"><b>Overall</b>: 5</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 22px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 22px;">Happy Reading! </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 22px;"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/338/EC8486DF05E8047DB74CC498B1D96B4B.png" /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"></span><div>
</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09155901294523627920noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2598579578557355545.post-71170037596557709902011-07-23T13:55:00.002-04:002011-07-23T13:55:35.790-04:00Review: The Art Of Racing In The Rain by Garth Stein<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><b>Published</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">: May 5, 2008</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><b>Publisher</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"> Harper Collins</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><b><br />
</b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><b>Format</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">: Audiobook</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><b>Source</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">: <a href="http://www.audible.com/">Audible</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><b>Challenge: </b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><a href="http://brandiheathersreviews.blogspot.com/2011/01/100-books-in-year.html" style="color: #993333; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;">100 Books in a Year</a></span></span><br />
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/416e8KyVWUL._SL500_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="The Art of Racing in the Rain" border="0" height="320" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/416e8KyVWUL._SL500_.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
<br />
<blockquote>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">Enzo knows he is different from other dogs: a philosopher with a nearly human soul (an an obsession with opposable thumbs), he has educated himself by watching television extensively, and by listening very closely to the words of his master, Denny Swift, an up-and-coming race car driver. Through Denny, Enzo has gained tremendous insight into the human condition, and he sees that life, like racing, isn't simply about going fast. Using the techniques needed on the race track, one can successfully navigate all of life's ordeals. <br />
<br />
On the eve of his death, Enzo takes stock of his life, recalling all that he and his family have been through. In the end, despite what he sees as his own limitations, Enzo comes through heroically to preserve the Swift family, holding in his heart the dream that Denny will become a racing champion with Zoe at his side. <br />
<br />
A heart-wrenching but deeply funny and ultimately uplifting story of family, love, loyalty, and hope, The Art of Racing in the Rain is a beautifully crafted and captivating look at the wonders and absurdities of human life . . . as only a dog could tell it. ((From <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/">Goodreads</a>))</span></blockquote>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b>My Thoughts</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;">I just finished listening to this and I am at a complete loss of words. Congrats Stein, not many people are able to shut me up!! If you recall -- I tried the whole audiobook thing on the drive to my parents house last year, and I just couldn't get into it. I really wanted to give it another shot, and I'm so glad that I did.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;">I got a free audiobook from Audible.com for joining, and my membership gets me 1 free book a month! I'm still a little torn though. While I enjoyed listening to this book, I still feel like I want to read it myself. I'm afraid I might have missed something!!</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;">Enzo is such a loveable and amazingly loyal dog. I am such a big dog fan that as soon as Enzo started talking I knew I was in love! I found myself constantly listening to Enzo recall all of the events he was a part of with the Swift family, and looking over at my pup wondering "<i>whatcha thinkin??"</i></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;">With only the capability of using gestures as communication, Enzo often has to think outside of the box to get his point across. My favorite scene was when Denny was getting ready to sign some important papers, and Enzo knew it wasn't a good idea. Instead of just barking or nudging Denny, Enzo grabbed the papers and ran outside to bury them! </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;">I highly recommend this book to animal lovers everywhere -- especially those that have had to go through some rough patches but have had a loyal companion with them for the ride.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><b>Favorite Quotes</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;">"There is no dishonor in losing the race. There is only dishonor in not racing because you are afraid to lose."</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><br />"He died that day because his body had served its purpose. His soul had done what it came to do, learned what it came to learn, and then was free to leave."</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;">"The true hero is flawed. The true test of a champion is not whether he can triumph, but whether he can overcome obstacles - preferably of his own making - in order to triumph."</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;">"To live every day as if it had been stolen from death, that is how I would like to live. To feel the joy of life, as Eve felt the joy of life. To separate oneself from the burden, the angst, the anguish that we all encounter everyday. To say I am alive, I am wonderful, I am. I am. That is something to aspire to."</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;">"The race is long - to finish first, first you must finish."</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;">"People and their rituals. They cling to things so hard sometimes."</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;">"I beg of you, pretend you are a dog like me and LISTEN to other people rather than steal their stories."</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;">"People are always worried about what's happening next. They often find it difficult to stand still, to occupy the now without worrying about the future. People are generally not satisfied with what they have; they are very concerned with what they are going to have."</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 22px;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">My Ratings</span></b></div>
<div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><b>Cover: </b>5/5</span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 22px;"><b>Characters:</b> 5/5</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 22px;"><b>Writing Style:</b> 5/5</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 22px;"><b>Plot:</b> 5/5</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 22px;"><b>Ending</b>: 5/5</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 22px;"><b>Overall</b>: 5</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 22px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 22px;">Happy Reading! </span></div>
<div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 22px;"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/338/EC8486DF05E8047DB74CC498B1D96B4B.png" /></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09155901294523627920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2598579578557355545.post-26414873488656824852011-07-23T12:27:00.000-04:002011-07-23T12:27:11.216-04:00Review: Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher<a href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1181958465l/1217100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Thirteen Reasons Why" border="0" height="320" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1181958465l/1217100.jpg" width="209" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><b>Published</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">: October 18, 2007</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><b>Publisher</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"> Razorbill</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><b><br />
</b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><b>Format</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">: E-book</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><b>Source</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">: Amazon</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><b>Challenge: </b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://brandiheathersreviews.blogspot.com/2011/01/2011-e-book-challenge.html" style="color: #ff3243; text-decoration: underline;">2011 E-book Challenge</a> </b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">& </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><a href="http://brandiheathersreviews.blogspot.com/2011/01/100-books-in-year.html" style="color: #993333; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;">100 Books in a Year</a></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><b>Finished: </b>7/14/11</span><br />
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</div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><br /></span></div>
<blockquote>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">Clay Jenkins returns home from school to find a mysterious box with his name on it lying on his porch. Inside he discovers, thirteen cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker, his classmate and crush who committed suicide two weeks earlier.</span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon';"><div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><br /></span></div>
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 22px;">On tape, Hannah explai</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;">ns that there are thirteen reasons why she decided to end her life. Clay is one of them. If he listens, he'll find out how he made the list.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;">
Through Hannah and Clay's dual narratives, debut author Jay Asher weaves an intricate and heartrending story of confusion and desperation that will deeply affect teen readers. ((From <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/">GoodReads</a>))</span></span></blockquote>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 22px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">First Sentences</span></b>
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">"Sir?" she repeats. "How soon do you want it to get there?" </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I rub two fingers, hard, over my left eyebrow. The throbbing has become intense. "It doesn't matter," I say. </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The clerk takes the package. The same shoebox that sat on my porch less than twenty-four hours ago; rewrapped in a brown paper bag, sealed with clear packing tape, exactly as I had received it.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large; line-height: 22px;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large; line-height: 22px;"><b>My Thoughts</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #181818; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I literally could not put this book down. Read it all in about three hours!</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #181818; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #181818;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">Clay receives a set of cassette tapes that contain the thirteen reasons why Hannah has committed suicide. Hannah created these tapes as a sort of explanation of why she felt like she had no escape other than death. There are seven tapes, and each side of the tape is devoted to one person, and their actions that led to Hannah's death. When Clay receives the tapes he has no idea what they are or who they are from, as there is no return label on the plain brown package. Once he starts listening to the tapes he cannot stop. He must figure out what part he played in driving his high school crush to death.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #181818; line-height: 18px;">This is an incredible story that had me hooked from the first line. I felt like the back and forth narration between Hannah and Clay was the perfect way to write this! Honestly, when I found out what the spark was that started the snowball effect leading to Hannah's death I thought it was so stupid! Who would be so upset about something so seemingly harmless? But that is exactly the point!</span></div>
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #181818; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #181818; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I thought that Asher's choice in characters was fantastic. Hannah is a new kid in high school, which is every teens dream! You get a second chance to be whomever you want. People don't have to know about your past and you can start fresh! I know there were plenty of times in high school that I wished I could start over. . .but Asher just goes to show us that second chances aren't always what they seem.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #181818; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #181818; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Clay was the perfect character to follow through the tapes with. He has a crush on Hannah but has never given himself the opportunity to get to know her because he was scared of being rejected. He had heard all the rumors about her, and figured he would never have a chance with her. He finally got to talk to her at a party one night, the night that everything came together and Hannah made up her mind. Clay is full of raw emotion, which left me feeling like I knew Hannah as well and I was listening to the tapes trying to figure out what I did wrong.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #181818; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I don't want to give anything away, but I will tell you that this is a book that will change you. When I read the last lines I just sat there, stunned and silenced. Suicide is such a sensitive topic to write about, but Asher has done so well in this book. I hope that not only do people enjoy reading this book, but also that they become more aware of how they make others feel. You never truly know how someone else is feeling</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #181818; line-height: 18px;">.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">"Maybe it's best to get through the day half-asleep. Maybe that's the only way to get through today."</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br />"<i>Now, the truth is the one you won't forget."</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><i>"The wonderful thing about a yearbook photo is that everyone shares a moment with you . . . forever."</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><i>"Right then, in that office, with the realization that no one knew the truth about my life, my thoughts about the world were shaken."</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><i>"I wanted them to know me. Not the stuff they thought they knew about me. No, the real me. I wanted them to get past the rumors. To see beyond the relationships I once had, or maybe still had but that they didn't agree with. And if I wanted people to treat me that way, then I had to do the same for them, right?"</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><i>"No one knows for certain how much impact they have on the lives of other people. Oftentimes, we have no clue. Yet we push it just the same."</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><i>"If my love were an ocean, </i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><i>there would be no more land.</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><i>If my love were a desert, </i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i>you would see only sand.</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i>If my love were a star --</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i>late at night, only light.</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i>And if my love could grow wings,</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i>I'd be soaring in flight."</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i>"Looking back, I stopped writing in my notebook when I stopped wanting to know myself anymore."</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i>"If you hear a song that makes you cry, and you don't want to cry anymore, you don't listen to that song anymore. But you can't get away from yourself. You can't decide not to see yourself anymore. You can't decide to turn off the noise in your head."</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i>"You don't know what goes on in anyone's life but your own. And when you mess with one part of a person's life, you're not messing with just that part. Unfortunately, you can't be that precise and selective. When you mess with one part of a persons life, you're messing with their entire life. </i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i>Everything . . .affects everything."</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i>"You can't go back to how things were. How you thought they were. </i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i>All you really have . . . is now."</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span">My Ratings</span></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><b>Cover: </b>5/5</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 22px;"><b>Writing Style:</b> 5/5</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 22px;"><b>Plot:</b> 5/5</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 22px;"><b>Ending</b>: 5/5</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 22px;"><b>Overall</b>: 5</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 22px;">Happy Reading! </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 22px;"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/338/EC8486DF05E8047DB74CC498B1D96B4B.png" /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #181818; line-height: 18px;"><a href="http://draft.blogger.com/"></a><span id="goog_239015237"></span><span id="goog_239015238"></span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09155901294523627920noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2598579578557355545.post-67440878035858914342011-07-12T08:10:00.000-04:002011-07-12T08:10:00.685-04:00Top Ten Tuesday<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieKZFNlRzNDxO-zaFTNZdrIgDUYnpCLjYg26AiKuH0H93tPYQBYxnylZxEKmMFbn5BoOazn-PuJS3qcDqMYRbCNKgEMzR6A2cfCHov3OXeESYHh-FCxPoJWStoynurZZDv1oPd6nVMFX89/s200/TTT3W.jpg" /></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature over at </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><a href="http://brokeandbookish.blogspot.com/" style="color: #993333; text-decoration: none;">The Broke and The Bookish</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">, they love lists...and so do I! So, each week they will feature a new Top Ten List from a reader and we get to make our own lists! </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Top Ten Authors I Would DIE to Meet (living/dead)</b></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.spl.org/images/Features/Author%20Readings_Lectures/jodi_picoult_0407.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.spl.org/images/Features/Author%20Readings_Lectures/jodi_picoult_0407.jpg" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">1. My number one author would be <b>Jodi Picoult</b> -- however, I've had the honor of going to two of her book signings. Reason I'm including her on my list today -- I'm talking about actually getting to sit down and have a meal with these authors! So by default, she counts!</span></div>
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<a href="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2008/02/20/books/james-patterson-190.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2008/02/20/books/james-patterson-190.jpg" width="132" /></a><a href="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2008/02/20/books/james-patterson-190.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">2. I would love to meet <b>James Patterson</b> for so many reasons. Obviously I love his books, but I am so intrigued by how he can write such amazing stories so quickly. I would also ask him to go back in time and unwrite </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i>Toys</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">, just sayin...</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal;"></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.orionbooks.co.uk/var/orion_site/storage/images/authors/interviews/harlan-coben-q-a/246240-1-eng-GB/harlan-coben-q-a_medium.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.orionbooks.co.uk/var/orion_site/storage/images/authors/interviews/harlan-coben-q-a/246240-1-eng-GB/harlan-coben-q-a_medium.jpg" width="133" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">3. I've never picked up a <b>Harlan Coben </b>book I didn't love. In a creepy way I want a look inside his brain -- I'm thinking with the stuff he comes up with, it's gotta be chock full of weird. </span></div>
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<a href="http://www.nndb.com/people/794/000044662/patricia-cornwell-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.nndb.com/people/794/000044662/patricia-cornwell-4.jpg" width="156" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">4. <b>Patricia Cornwell</b> is another author whom I love. I'm still working my way through all of her books, but I've enjoyed all of her books that I have read!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">5. <b>Lauren Oliver</b> is so completely talented I can't even begin to describe my love for her!! I read <i>Delirium </i>and loved it -- then went back and read <i>Before I Fall</i>. Both were completely un-put-down-able.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">6. Not only am I obsessed with <b>Charlaine Harris' </b>Sookie Stackhouse books, I'm also now obsessed with <i>Trueblood</i> on HBO. How can you not be? Eric Northman anyone? </span></div>
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<a href="http://www.wordriot.org/images/chbosky.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.wordriot.org/images/chbosky.jpg" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">7. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Stephen Chbosky</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> - all I can say is - </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i>The Perks of Being a Wallflower.</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> I'm pretty sure I read this book about a million years ago -- but to this day it sticks with me. Well done Stephen, well done.</span></div>
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<a href="http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTG2HETo8NEqrie0zXtU9RL5LuoAOVLP9EirVJdtM4duDr9kbIXMA" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTG2HETo8NEqrie0zXtU9RL5LuoAOVLP9EirVJdtM4duDr9kbIXMA" width="133" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">8. If for nothing other than to say "what the hell has happened to you in your life?" I would like to meet <b>Alice Sebold.</b> While she's definitely a talented writer, her stuff usually leans a little further to the weird than anything else. Just from a psych major's point of view, I'm thinking she's seen a lot in her day...</span></div>
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<a href="http://img1.fantasticfiction.co.uk/images/4/20004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://img1.fantasticfiction.co.uk/images/4/20004.jpg" width="166" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">9. I think that <b>Mitch Albom</b> probably should have been higher on the list, but here he is. His work is so well written, and so inspirational that even just a 15 minute chat with him would suffice. I feel like he could teach me a lot about life.</span></div>
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<a href="http://ginavivinetto.files.wordpress.com/2008/09/chelsea-handler.jpg?w=315&h=397" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://ginavivinetto.files.wordpress.com/2008/09/chelsea-handler.jpg?w=315&h=397" width="158" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">10. I'm not really sure if you would count her, but <b>Chelsea Handler</b> cracks me up, and I've enjoyed all of her books thus far...I guess she's </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">more of a comedian, but I would still love to meet her!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal;"></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09155901294523627920noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2598579578557355545.post-2258784141114318532011-07-10T15:41:00.002-04:002011-07-10T15:41:45.642-04:00Review: Lies That Chelsea Handler Told Me - Chelsea's Family, Friends and Other Victims<a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51UMGLAaNvL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Lies that Chelsea Handler Told Me" border="0" height="320" id="coverImage" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51UMGLAaNvL.jpg" width="216" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><b>Published</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">: May 10, 2011</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><b>Publisher</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"> Borderline Amazing</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><b><br />
</b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><b>Format</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">: E-book</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><b>Source</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">: Amazon</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><b>Challenge: </b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://brandiheathersreviews.blogspot.com/2011/01/2011-e-book-challenge.html" style="color: #ff3243; text-decoration: underline;">2011 E-book Challenge</a> </b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">& </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><a href="http://brandiheathersreviews.blogspot.com/2011/01/100-books-in-year.html" style="color: #993333; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;">100 Books in a Year</a></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<blockquote>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"> "My tendency to make up stories and lie compulsively for the sake of my own amusement takes up a good portion of my day and provides me with a peace of mind not easily attainable in this economic climate." - Chelsea Handler, from Chapter 10 of <i>Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang </i><br />
It's no lie: Chelsea Handler loves to smoke out "dumbassness", the condition people suffer from that allows them to fall prey to her brand of complete and utter nonsense. Friends, family, co-workers -- they've all been tricked by Chelsea into believing stories of total foolishness and into behaving like total fools. Luckily, they've lived to tell the tales and, for the first time, write about them.</span></span></span></blockquote>
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">First Sentences</span></b><br />
"My name is Chelsea Handler and I'm not proud of myself. I have made a career out of being a misanthrope with the maturity level of an eight-year-old who had to repeat the third grade several times."<br />
<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">My Thoughts</span></b><br />
Oh lord Chelsea and her victims have completely made my day. What a fantastic read! Chelsea, you are my hero --- honestly, if I could be just like you and get away with it...I WOULD!<br />
Chelsea doesn't let anyone get away unscathed. Everyone at one point or another has been scorned by Chelsea and it is amazing. These stories had me "pulling a Chelsea" -- I just made that up...it means I peed in my pants...read the book, she's almost famous for it.<br />
If you've read any of her other books, this is a must read. There were many times that some of her victims were recounting things that she wrote about in previous books, and wow, their stories were <b>much</b> different....so in a way...I'VE been lied to by Chelsea Handler...we have ALL been lied to by Chelsea Handler. Well played Chelsea, well played.<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Favorite Quotes</span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"Even when it's at the expense of others, it's important to laugh. Laugh loudly, laugh often, and most important, laugh at yourself."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"Chelsea Handler is a hypocrite. The one thing she hates more than anything in life is a liar, and yet Chelsea lies more than anyone else."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"I don't know why or when she learned to type like that, but my guess is that in high school someone said, 'We're giving free abortions to the fastest typist in the room.'"</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"You think Tina Turner didn't jump every time Ike reached for the salt?"</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span">My Ratings</span></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><b>Cover: </b>5/5</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 22px;"><b>Characters:</b> 5/5</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 22px;"><b>Writing Style:</b> 5/5</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 22px;"><b>Plot:</b> 5/5</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 22px;"><b>Ending</b>: 5/5</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 22px;"><b>Overall</b>: 5</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 22px;">Happy Reading! </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 22px;"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/338/EC8486DF05E8047DB74CC498B1D96B4B.png" /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"> </span></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09155901294523627920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2598579578557355545.post-44960479850936787262011-07-10T15:25:00.000-04:002011-07-10T15:25:06.112-04:00Review: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins<b>Published:</b> September 1, 2009<br />
<a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41BUbX1b-AL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="The Hunger Games" border="0" height="320" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41BUbX1b-AL.jpg" width="232" /></a><b>Publisher</b>: Scholastic<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><b>Format</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">: E-book</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><b>Source</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">: <a href="http://lendle.me/">Lendle</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><b>Challenge: </b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://brandiheathersreviews.blogspot.com/2011/01/2011-e-book-challenge.html" style="color: #ff3243; text-decoration: underline;">2011 E-book Challenge</a> </b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">& </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><a href="http://brandiheathersreviews.blogspot.com/2011/01/100-books-in-year.html" style="color: #993333; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;">100 Books in a Year</a></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"></span><br />
<blockquote>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">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 is forced to represent her district 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.</span></blockquote>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b>First Sentences</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">"When I wake up, the other side of the bed is cold. My fingers stretch out, seeking Prim's warmth but finding only the rough canvas cover of the mattress. She must have had bad dreams and climbed in with our mother."</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><b>My Thoughts</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;">Wow, I have no idea why I waited so long to get my hands on this book. Once I did though, I couldn't put it down. I didn't really know what to expect. I got a run down of it from a friend that read it and it sounded interesting, but I didn't really think much of it. Boy did she forget to mention just how awesome this book really is!! I cannot wait until I get my hands on the second book, <i>Catching Fire</i>. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;">Anyway, I don't want to give too much away, so I will just say that the story is suspenseful, but also pulls on your heart strings. I cried, several times...not that it is really that hard to make me cry, but dang...</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;">I instantly fell in love with Katniss -- I mean it seems almost impossible not to like her. I think her only flaw is the fact that she doesn't always see things that are right in front of her eyes...</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;">I knew that Katniss had to survive the Hunger Games one way or another, as I knew that there were two more books in the series. I just was amazed at the way it happened. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;">If you don't listen to any of my other suggestions, please listen to this one. Seriously.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Favorite Quotes</b></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b> </b></span><span style="font-size: large;">"District Twelve. Where you can starve to death in safety."</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><span style="font-size: large;">"The Treaty of Treason gave us the new laws to guarantee peace and, as our yearly reminder that the Dark Days must never be repeated, it gave us the Hunger Games.</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><span style="font-size: large;">The rules of the Hunger Games are simple. In punishment for the uprising, each of the twelve districts mus provide one girl and one boy, called tributes, to participate. The twenty-four tributes will be imprisoned in a vast outdoor arena that could hold anything from a burning desert to a frozen wasteland. Over a period of several weeks, the competitors must fight to the death. The last tribute standing wins."</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Look how we take your children and sacrifice them and there's nothing you can do. If you lift a finger, we will destroy every last one of you."</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><span style="font-size: large;">"<i>Here your dreams are sweet and tomorrow brings them true</i></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Here is the place where I love you." </i> </span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /> </span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><span style="font-size: large;">"I know I'll never marry, never risk bringing a child into the world. Because if there's one thing being a victor doesn't guarantee, it's your children's safety. My kids' names would go right into the reaping balls with everyone else's. And I swear I'll never let that happen."</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /> </span></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">My Ratings</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><b>Cover: </b>5/5</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 22px;"><b>Characters:</b> 5/5</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 22px;"><b>Writing Style:</b> 5/5</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 22px;"><b>Plot:</b> 5/5</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 22px;"><b>Ending</b>: 5/5</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 22px;"><b>Overall</b>: 5</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 22px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 22px;">Happy Reading! </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 22px;"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/338/EC8486DF05E8047DB74CC498B1D96B4B.png" /></span></div>
</div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09155901294523627920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2598579578557355545.post-45801821368229754922011-07-02T20:28:00.001-04:002011-07-02T20:28:52.017-04:00Review: Bossypants by Tina Fey<a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41t2qXV%2BRLL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Bossypants" border="0" height="320" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41t2qXV%2BRLL.jpg" width="206" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><b>Published</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">: March 17, 2011</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><b>Publisher</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"> Reagan Arthur Books</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><b><br /></b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><b>Format</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">: E-book</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><b>Source</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">: Amazon</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><b>Challenge: </b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://brandiheathersreviews.blogspot.com/2011/01/2011-e-book-challenge.html" style="color: #ff3243; text-decoration: underline;">2011 E-book Challenge</a> </b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">& </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><a href="http://brandiheathersreviews.blogspot.com/2011/01/100-books-in-year.html" style="color: #993333; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;">100 Books in a Year</a></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><br /></span></span><br />
<blockquote>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">"Tina Fey's new book Bossypants is short, messy, and impossibly funny (an apt description of the comedian herself). From her humble roots growing up in Pennsylvania to her days doing amateur improv in Chicago to her early sketches on Saturday Night Live, Fey gives us a fascinating glimpse behind the curtain of modern comedy with equal doses of wit, candor, and self-deprecation. Some of the funnies chapters feature the differences between male and female comedy writers ("men urinate in cups"), her cruise ship honeymoon ("it's very Poseidon Adventure") and advice about breast feeding ("I had an obligation to my child to pretend to try"). But the chaos of Fey's life is best detailed when she's dividing her efforts equally between rehearsing her Sarah Palin impression, trying to get Oprah to appear on 30 Rock, and planning her daughter's Peter Pan-themed birthday party. Bossypants gets to the heart of why Tina Fey remains universally adored: she embodies the hectic, too-many-things-to-juggle lifestyle we all have, but instead of complaining about it, she can just laugh it off." - Kevin Nguyen</span></blockquote>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b>First Sentence</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">"Welcome Friend, </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Congratulations on your purchase of this American-made genuine book. Each component of this book was selected to provide you with maximum book performance, whatever your reading needs may be."</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b>My Thoughts</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I absolutely adore Tina Fey -- she's just all around awesome! I was so excited when this came out, and I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. There were so many fantastically funny quotes and many times that I just wished I could be more like Tina. I was a little disappointed however, I expected it to be <b>a lot</b> funnier. Not that it wasn't funny -- it was -- or parts of it were...I just expected a lot of quick one-liners. It was definitely a quick and light read, which is great, and it definitely had a ton of funny parts...but overall I felt like there was something lacking. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The front cover cracks me up! I'm hoping those are Alec Baldwin's arms...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Favorite Quotes</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"Some people say 'Never let them see you cry.' I say, if you're so mad you could just cry, then cry. It terrifies everyone."</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"Two peanuts were walking down the street and one was a salted."</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"Because I am nothing if not an amazing businesswoman, I researched what kind of content makes for bestselling books. It turns out the answer is "one-night stands", drug addictions and recipes."</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"Now every girl is expected to have: </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: center;">Caucasian blue eyes</li>
<li style="text-align: center;">full Spanish lips</li>
<li style="text-align: center;">a classic button nose</li>
<li style="text-align: center;">hairless Asian skin with a California tan</li>
<li style="text-align: center;">a Jamaican dance hall ass</li>
<li style="text-align: center;">long Swedish legs</li>
<li style="text-align: center;">small Japanese feet</li>
<li style="text-align: center;">the abs of a lesbian gym owner</li>
<li style="text-align: center;">the hips of a nine-year-old boy</li>
<li style="text-align: center;">the arms of Michelle Obama</li>
<li style="text-align: center;">and doll tits</li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The person closest to actually achieving this look is Kim Kardashian, who, as we know, was made by Russian scientists trying to sabotage our athletes. Everyone else is struggling."</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
"Gay people don't actually try to convert people. That's Jehovah's Witnesses you're thinking of."</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"I'll be ready for it to happen and that way it won't happen. It's a burden, being able to control situations with my hyper-vigilance, but it's my lot in life."</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"I was a little excited but mostly blorft. 'Blorft' is an adjective I just made up that means 'Completely overwhelmed but proceeding as if everything is fine and reacting to the stress with the torpor of a possum.' I have been blorft every day for the past seven years."</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"A pedophile walks through the woods with a child. The child says, 'These woods are scary.' The pedophile says, 'Tell me about it. I have to walk back through here alone.'"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"Lesson learned? When people say, 'You really, really <i>must</i>" do something, it means you don't really have to. No one ever says, 'You really, really <i>must</i> deliver the baby during labor.' When it's true, it doesn't need to be said."</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"One of the best-kept secrets of 'country life' is that people accidentally crush their own pets a lot."</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"I learned quickly that trying to force Country Folk to love the Big City is like telling your gay cousin, 'You just haven't met the right girl yet.' They just don't like big cities. It's okay. It's natural. They were born that way."</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">My Ratings</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><b>Cover: </b>5/5</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 22px;"><b>Characters:</b> 5/5</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 22px;"><b>Writing Style:</b> 4/5</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 22px;"><b>Plot:</b> 4/5</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 22px;"><b>Ending</b>: 3/5</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 22px;"><b>Overall</b>: 4.2</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 22px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 22px;">Happy Reading! </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 22px;"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/338/EC8486DF05E8047DB74CC498B1D96B4B.png" /></span></div>
<br />
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"></span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09155901294523627920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2598579578557355545.post-22391173334503880912011-07-02T11:50:00.001-04:002011-07-02T11:50:32.413-04:00Better Late Than Never: Book Blogger Hop (21)<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.crazy-for-books.com/"><img alt="Book Blogger Hop" height="150" src="http://i595.photobucket.com/albums/tt34/crazybookblog/cfbmemebutton-2.png" width="150" /></a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.crazy-for-books.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"></span></span></a></div>
<div style="line-height: 22px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.crazy-for-books.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;">I love love, love, love the Book Blogger Hop that is hosted by Jennifer at </span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.crazy-for-books.com/" style="color: #993333; text-decoration: none;">Crazy For Books</a>. The rules are simple, and this is am awesome opportunity to get your blog out there! Post the hop on your blog, then make sure to include a link in the Mr. Linky on Crazy For Books's blog...and then -- GET TO HOPPING!</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 22px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="line-height: 22px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;">RULES:<br /><br />Your blog should have content related to books, including, but not limited to book reviews.<br /><br />1. Enter your book blog link in the Linky List at <a href="http://www.crazy-for-books.com/" style="color: #993333; text-decoration: none;">Crazy For Books</a><br /> (In your link, please state the main genre that you review: eclectic, contemp. fiction, ya, paranormal, mystery, non-fiction, etc.)<br />2. Post about the Hop on your blog. Spread the word about the book party! The more the merrier! In your blog post, answer the following question (new question each week!)</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 22px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #181910;">This week’s question comes from Sue who blogs at<strong> <a href="http://cookiesbookclub.blogspot.com/" style="color: #f22183; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Cookie’s Book Club</a></strong><a href="http://booksandreviews.wordpress.com/" style="color: #f22183; text-decoration: underline;"><strong> </strong></a>!</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #181910;"> </span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #181910;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #181910; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;">"What keeps you reading beyond the first few pages of a book, and what makes you want to stop reading a book and put it back on the shelf?"</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #181910; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #181910;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><b>My Answer: </b>Honestly, if you know me, you know I suffer from severe OCD when it comes to my books. I've finally started to let up on that, but I used to feel as though if I started even the first few pages of a book I had to keep going until the end. I've bagged that theory -- it's not like the author is going to know I started reading it and decided to read something else. Now, no matter how bad the book starts off I will still put it back neatly on the shelf so that I can give it another try later on down the road. </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #181910;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;">Here's what really makes me close a book after the first few pages:</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #181910;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"> - I have found that I really have to be in the mood for certain books, and if I start reading it and my ADD kicks in, I know it's time to put the book away and go find a new one. </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #181910;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;">- If the spelling and grammar are even a little off, or the writing style is "weird" to me...back on the shelf.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #181910;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;">I really think that all of this just depends on my mood. I can't tell you how many times I've started reading a book and put it down only to come back to it a month later and think it was the best thing ever written. I can glance over at my bookshelf now though and tell you that I do see a few books that I don't have any intention of picking up any time soon....but you never know.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #181910;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"></span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Coming Soon';">
What about you? </div>
<div style="font-family: 'Coming Soon';">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Coming Soon';">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><div style="font-family: 'Coming Soon';">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;">Thank you so much for stopping by! I hope you are having a great week! A very warm welcome to my new followers, and a huge thanks to my old followers for sticking around! </span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Coming Soon';">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Coming Soon';">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;">Happy Reading!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Coming Soon';">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/338/EC8486DF05E8047DB74CC498B1D96B4B.png" /></span></span></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09155901294523627920noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2598579578557355545.post-31982110886877384642011-06-29T13:26:00.002-04:002011-06-29T13:26:40.276-04:00Review: The Almost Moon by Alice Sebold<a href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1295715523l/2949878.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="The Almost Moon" border="0" height="320" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1295715523l/2949878.jpg" width="210" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><b>Published:</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"> September 8, 2008</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><b>Publisher: </b>Back Bay Books UK</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><b>Format:</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"> Paperback</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><b>Number of Pages:</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"> 320</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><b>Source:</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"> Purchased</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><b>Challenge:</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><a href="http://brandiheathersreviews.blogspot.com/2011/01/100-books-in-year.html" style="color: #993333; text-decoration: none;">100 Books in a Year</a></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<blockquote>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">A woman steps over the line into the unthinkable in this brilliant, powerful, and unforgettable new novel by the auther of The Lovely Bones and Lucky. <br />
For years Helen Knightly has given her life to others: to her haunted mother, to her enigmatic father, to her husband and now grown children. When she finally crosses a terrible boundary, her life comes rushing in at her in a way she never could have imagined. Unfolding over the next twenty-four hours, this searing, fast-paced novel explores the complex ties between mothers and daughters, wives and lovers, the meaning of devotion, and the line between love and hate. It is a challenging, moving, gripping story, written with the fluidity and strength of voice that only Alice Sebold can bring to the page.</span></blockquote>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b>First Sentences</b></span>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">"When all is said and done, killing my mother came easily. Dementia, as it descends, has a way of revealing the core of the person affected by it."</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"></span><b style="font-size: xx-large;">My Thoughts</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 22px;">Honestly, I've heard a lot of bad things about this book, which is probably why it sat unread on my shelf for so long. <i>Lucky </i>and <i>The Lovely Bones</i> were both great books, so I was expecting a lot when I purchased the book. After hearing how awful people thought it was I didn't want to ruin Alice Sebold for myself, so I just left it on the shelf. I don't know what made me pick it up this time, but I did and was pleasantly surprised. Clearly, this book is a little strange...it is very dark, and very depressing, but I thought it was well written and I thought it was quite the page-turner. While most people would read that first sentence and probably think "WTF", I was extremely intrigued. Please understand that I have <u>the most amazing</u><b style="text-decoration: underline;"> </b>mother in the world. Honestly, I don't know what I would do with out my mommy! I'm not demented, nor am I a crazy psycho killer, and I harbor no ill feelings towards my mother -- I just was drawn into the first line -- and maybe because I have such a great relationship with my mom and I can't understand someone actually going through with something so absurd. Maybe it was just like a train wreck...I saw it, and I couldn't stop watching (or reading)...</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 22px;">Anyway, the book starts off with Helen killing her mother. I was expecting the death to be because Helen had to take her mother off life support or something...not because I was about to read 20 pages about an old woman with dementia that just crapped her pants...but alas, I digress.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 22px;">After I got past the crappy pants, and mother killing it was quite an interesting read. Again, maybe that is because it is just so weird to me that I just couldn't stop, but either way. I still think that Alice Sebold's writing style is incredible, and even a story as morbid and horrifying as this can be well written and keep my attention.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 22px;">If you really liked <i>The Lovely Bones</i> and <i>Lucky</i> I would recommend this to you as well -- but know that you must go in with an open mind...If you have not read anything by Alice Sebold before, this might not be a good starting point, so go grab <i>The Lovely Bones</i> instead (and please don't cheat by watching the movie---they are nothing alike...).</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 22px;"><b style="font-size: xx-large;">Favorite Quotes</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 22px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">"The thing about dementia is that sometimes you feel like the afflicted person has a trip wire to the truth, as if they can see beneath the skin you hide in."</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">"How can you apologize for the mother you love? The mother you, too, hate. The only thing I could hope was that Mrs. Murdoch would have plenty of people to console her and listen to the story of how she lost her son. My mother would have only my father. Then she would have me."</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">"The moon is whole all the time, but we can't always see it. What we see is an almost moon or a not-quite moon. The rest is hiding just out of view, but there's only one moon so we follow it in the sky. We plan our lives based on its rhythms and tides."</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 22px;"><b style="font-size: xx-large;">My Ratings</b></span></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 22px;"></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 22px;"><b>Cover: </b>4/5</span></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 22px;"></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 22px;"><b>Characters: </b>3/5</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 22px;"><b>Writing Style: </b>3/5</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 22px;"><b>Plot: </b>3/5</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 22px;"><b>Ending: </b>4/5</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 22px;"><b>Overall: </b>3.4<b> </b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 22px;">Happy Reading!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 22px;"><b><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/338/EC8486DF05E8047DB74CC498B1D96B4B.png" /></b></span></div>
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</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09155901294523627920noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2598579578557355545.post-7552294562502052462011-06-26T19:12:00.002-04:002011-06-26T19:12:43.968-04:00In My Mailbox (7)<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">In My Mailbox is a weekly meme brought to you by <a href="http://www.thestorysiren.com/" style="color: #993333; text-decoration: none;">The Story Siren</a>. It is a fun little way to share what books you've received over the last week, whether you bought them, borrowed them or were sent them!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">This week I'm getting back into the swing of things, and had some fun on Amazon. I've still got some credit on there so I figured I would get myself a few books! Here's what I got!</span></div>
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<a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41-IhtPD4oL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Dating A Cougar (Never Too Late Series)" border="0" height="200" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41-IhtPD4oL.jpg" width="133" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">After several decades of looking for true love and never finding it, aging model and lingerie designer, Alexa Ranger, had finally given up the search. A couple of years ago, she got tired of the game and just stopped dating. Friends and family keep her mostly content, so it's shocking at 50 years old to find herself suddenly wanting a sex life again. It's even more shocking to be attracted to a much younger man this time. She definitely thinks Casey Carter is incredibly sexy, but not handling her own age well, Alexa just can't get passed their twelve year age difference to even consider a fling. Though she figures it doesn't matter anyway. Anything resembling a normal dating relationship is totally out of the question because Casey is related to and living with her daughter's boyfriend. The last thing Alexa needs is another talk-show worthy drama in her already complicated life, no matter how amazing Casey's kisses make her feel. </span></div>
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It was true 38 year old retired Marine, Casey Carter, believed for a couple of years that his military injury had made him impotent. Having lost his wife to cancer, he hadn't exactly been worried about the problem. Most days walking with a cane was enough of a challenge for him. But now that he was ready to move on with his life, he had become slightly more worried when none of the females his cousin brought around held any interest for him. The last woman in the world he expected to start his engine revving again was the mother of his cousin's girlfriend. Even at fifty, Alexa is drop-dead gorgeous, and his libido keeps reminding him she is the first woman he has wanted in a long, long time. Ironically, the more Casey gets to know and like Alexa, he finds out desiring the older woman is the easiest part. Jaded and cynical about love, Alexa is a difficult woman to convince of anything, but her kisses are enough for him. The former Marine decides his next mission is figuring out how to fit himself into her life.</div>
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<a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/413gjiXnjkL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Forever Young" border="0" height="200" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/413gjiXnjkL.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">A non-erotic tale of how a single moment in time can change a life forever; that the joy of love is worth the sorrow of losing it one day; and that allowing yourself to love again is what makes life worth living.</span></div>
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<a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41t2qXV%2BRLL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Bossypants" border="0" height="200" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41t2qXV%2BRLL.jpg" width="127" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">"Tina Fey's new book Bossypants is short, messy, and impossibly funny (an apt description of the comedian herself). From her humble roots growing up in Pennsylvania to her days doing amateur improv in Chicago to her early sketches on Saturday Night Live, Fey gives us a fascinating glimpse behind the curtain of modern comedy with equal doses of wit, candor, and self-deprecation. Some of the funnies chapters feature the differences between male and female comedy writers ("men urinate in cups"), her cruise ship honeymoon ("it's very Poseidon Adventure") and advice about breast feeding ("I had an obligation to my child to pretend to try"). But the chaos of Fey's life is best detailed when she's dividing her efforts equally between rehearsing her Sarah Palin impression, trying to get Oprah to appear on 30 Rock, and planning her daughter's Peter Pan-themed birthday party. Bossypants gets to the heart of why Tina Fey remains universally adored: she embodies the hectic, too-many-things-to-juggle lifestyle we all have, but instead of complaining about it, she can just laugh it off." - Kevin Nguyen</span></div>
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<a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51dR%2BZzViXL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Lies that Chelsea Handler Told Me" border="0" height="200" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51dR%2BZzViXL.jpg" width="177" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">"My tendency to make up stories and lie compulsively for the sake of my own amusement takes up a good portion of my day and provides me with a peace of mind not easily attainable in this economic climate." - Chelsea Handler, from Chapter 10 of Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang. It's no lie: Chelsea Handler loves to smoke out "dubmassness," the condition people suffer from that allows them to fall prey to her brand of complete and utter nonsense. Friends, family, co-workers - they've all been tricked by Chelsea into believing stories of total foolishness and into behaving like total fools. Luckily, they've lived to tell the tales, and for the very first time, write about them.</span></div>
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<a href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1287519819l/6645989.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Easily Amused" border="0" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1287519819l/6645989.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Twenty-nine year-old Lola Watson has two best friends, a dream job editing a parenting magazine, and a charming old house inherited from a great-aunt she barely knew. Life would be perfect if only she could avoid her intrusive neighbors. And for that matter, she also wouldn't mind being happily married like her friend Piper, or even engaged like her younger sister Mindy. </span></div>
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Lola's peaceful existence is shattered when high school buddy Hubert moves in with her after a break-up, her sister changes her wedding date to Lola's 30th birthday, and the nosy neighbors take Hubert under their wing. Life gets more complicated when Piper sets Lola up with a good-looking stranger who turns out to be the talk of her neighborhood - the mystery man from across the street.</div>
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<a href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1308350564l/8099228.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A Whisper To A Scream" border="0" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1308350564l/8099228.jpg" width="128" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Ovulation detectors. Hormone surges. Anxiety-ridden dreams. This is the world in which Annie Jacobs is thrust when she and her husband John receive a diagnosis of unexplained infertility. A 37-year old PR executive, Annie has wanted to be a mother since she first cuddled her Baby Tenderlove at age five. She is dreading another Christmas of relatives asking when they will be hearing the pitter patter of little feet, and Uncle Joe slapping John on the back, telling him to relax and take a cruise. Lots of people get pregnant on vacation, you know.</span></div>
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Across town, stay-at-home mom of two, Sarah Anderson, attempts grocery shopping with a toddler intent on hurling items from the cart at passersby. She notices a box of rice heading straight for a gray-haired head. Leaping across the aisle, Sarah grabs it, saving the woman from certain doom, or at least a minor head injury. Little Alex screams at being thwarted. The unknowing octogenarian shakes her head and admonishes Sarah for not knowing how to keep her child quiet in public.</div>
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A Whisper to a Scream is the story of two women on opposite ends of the child-bearing spectrum who come to realize the grass is not necessarily greener on the other side of the fence. A vivid portrayal of contemporary marriage and it's problems, the novel speaks to a longing in all of us, a yearning that might start as a vague notion, but eventually grows into an unbearable, vociferous cry. </div>
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<a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41fBeCcf3SL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="A Scattered Life" border="0" height="200" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41fBeCcf3SL.jpg" width="140" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">When free-spirited Skyla marries proper and predictable Thomas Plinka, she finally finds the love and stability she's craved since childhood. She also acquires a new family: mother in law Audrey, disapproving and suspicious of Skyla's nomadic past; father in law Walt, gruff but kind; and Thomas' brothers, sofa-bound Jeffrey, and Dennis who moved across the country seemingly to avoid the family. <br />
Skyla settles into marriage and motherhood, but quiet life in small-town Wisconsin can't quell feelings of restlessness. Then into her life comes Madame Picard, and new neighbor, Roxanne, whose goal in life is to have twelve kids even though she can't manage the five she has. Despite her family's objections, Skyla befriends Roxanne and gets a job at the bookstore, and life gets fuller and more complicated than she ever imagined.<br />
Exceptionally heartwarming and inevitably bittersweet, A Scattered Life is a story that will stay with the reader long after the last page is read.</span></blockquote>
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<a href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1178544978l/804742.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Romantically Challenged" border="0" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1178544978l/804742.jpg" width="127" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">When L.A. entertainment lawyer Julie Burns becomes convinced that finding The One is "just a numbers game," she sets out on a dating frenzy. From chance meetings and blind dates to dating services and the wonderful world of the internet, Julie will try anything to meet her man. And in the process, she discovers a secret or two about the single life: Sometimes love sneaks up on you when you least expect it - and even the worst first impressions can have surprising results. </span></div>
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<a href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1303585163l/7519659.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Life on Hold" border="0" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1303585163l/7519659.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Fifteen-year-old Rae Maddox just wants to stay in one place like everyone else, but there's no chance of that happening - not with a free-spirited mother who thrives on cross-country moves. When the two of them land in Wisconsin sophomore year, things are off to a great start: her mom promises they'll stay until graduation, Rae makes two good friends and finally gets a chance at love. Her newfound happiness is jeopardized when the vice-principal at the high school pairs her with Allison Daly, a new girl with a bad attitude. As Allison's secrets unravel, and Rae's mother gets involved, Rae is forced to take charge of her own life, or risk losing everything important to her.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Happy Reading!
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09155901294523627920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2598579578557355545.post-31278323675946770892011-06-24T09:45:00.001-04:002011-06-24T09:45:57.209-04:00Book Blogger Hop (20)<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><a href="http://www.crazy-for-books.com/"><img alt="Book Blogger Hop" height="150" src="http://i595.photobucket.com/albums/tt34/crazybookblog/cfbmemebutton-2.png" width="150" /></a></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.crazy-for-books.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">I love love, love, love the Book Blogger Hop that is hosted by Jennifer at </span></a><a href="http://www.crazy-for-books.com/" style="color: #993333; text-decoration: none;">Crazy For Books</a>. The rules are simple, and this is am awesome opportunity to get your blog out there! Post the hop on your blog, then make sure to include a link in the Mr. Linky on Crazy For Books's blog...and then -- GET TO HOPPING!</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">RULES:<br /><br />Your blog should have content related to books, including, but not limited to book reviews.<br /><br />1. Enter your book blog link in the Linky List at <a href="http://www.crazy-for-books.com/" style="color: #993333; text-decoration: none;">Crazy For Books</a><br /> (In your link, please state the main genre that you review: eclectic, contemp. fiction, ya, paranormal, mystery, non-fiction, etc.)<br />2. Post about the Hop on your blog. Spread the word about the book party! The more the merrier! In your blog post, answer the following question (new question each week!)</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">This weeks question come from Elena who blogs at <a href="http://booksandreviews.wordpress.com/">Books and Reviews!</a></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>When did you realize reading was your passion and a truly important part of your life?</b></span></div>
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<u style="font-style: italic;">My Answer</u>: This is such a difficult question. I know that as a young child I was always reading, but I remember hating required reading in school. I always felt like they picked the most boring books possible and then made you read them really quickly. For a while, I know that turned me off from reading, so once I was no longer required to read, I didn't. I remember a summer about 5 years ago when a friend lent me a book by Sophie Kinsella and told me how cute it was and that I had to read it. I thought about it for a while, but finally gave it a shot, and I ended up finishing the book within an hour and had the whole series completed that weekend. I guess that is when my extreme obsession with reading started, although like I said, I was an avid reader as a child, before required reading. </div>
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What about you? </div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;">Thank you so much for stopping by! I hope you are having a great week! A very warm welcome to my new followers, and a huge thanks to my old followers for sticking around! </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;">Happy Reading!</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09155901294523627920noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2598579578557355545.post-87214229394107883192011-06-23T20:08:00.003-04:002011-06-23T20:10:47.562-04:00Review: The Rest of Her Life by Laura Moriarty<a href="http://www.curledup.com/books/restlife.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.curledup.com/books/restlife.jpg" width="134" /></a><b>Published</b>: August 7, 2007<br />
<b>Publisher: </b>Hyperion<br />
<b>Format:</b> Hardback<br />
<b>Source:</b> Purchased<br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><b>Challenge: </b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><a href="http://brandiheathersreviews.blogspot.com/2011/01/100-books-in-year.html" style="color: #993333; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;">100 Books in a Year</a></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">In The Rest of Her Life, Laura Moriarty delivers a luminous, compassionate and provocative look at how mothers and daughters with the best intentions can be blind to the harm they do to one another.<br />
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Leigh is the mother of high-achieving, popular high school senior Kara. Their relationship is already strained for reasons Leigh does not fully understand when, in a moment of carelessness, Kara makes a mistake that ends in tragedy -- the effects of which not only divide Leigh's family, but polarize the entire community. We see the story from Leigh's perspective, as she grapples with the hard reality of what her daughter has done and the devastating consequences her actions have on the family of another teenage girl in town, all while struggling to protect Kara in the face of rising public outcry. <br />
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Like the best works of Jane Hamilton, Jodi Picoult, and Alice Sebold, Laura Moriarty's The Rest of Her Life is a novel of complex moral dilemma, filled with nuanced characters and a page-turning plot that makes readers ask themselves, "What would I do?"</span></span></b></blockquote>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b>My Thoughts</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 22px;">I'm sure you can tell exactly why I picked this book out, as the cover likens Moriarty to Jodi Picoult, and we all know about my love for Jodi. Anyway, I really expected a lot from this book, and had really high hopes for Moriarty to be on my top 5 favorite authors list. Now, I'm not saying this was a terrible book by any stretch, I just felt like comparing it to something Jodi Picoult wrote was a little misleading.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;">About halfway through the book, I really started disliking the main character, Leigh, although I don't think that was Moriarty's intention. She was nagging, self centered and annoying. I know that part of the reason she was that way was so that she could come to the great realization that she ended up just like the one person she didn't want to be like -- her mother. I was also annoyed with the fact that there were large chunks of the book that would go back in time to let the reader better understand Leigh's perspective on things, but honestly....I just wanted to know what was going on with Kara and what was going to happen. </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;">I can see the relation between this plot and the plot of a Jodi Picoult book, however the writing style just isn't quite up to par. Jodi's books are very emotional, and I felt that through this book as well, I just wasn't interested in it I guess. Like I said, I really wanted to know what was going on with Kara, not what happened to Leigh when she was 16. </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;">The storyline was somewhat jumpy, but I think the main idea of the book was a good one. I really enjoyed Kara's character and I did ask myself a few times what I would do in that situation. I honestly can't tell you. I think that Kara was wise beyond her years and did what was best for everyone in the end. </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><b>Favorite Quotes</b></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;">"Maybe, Leigh considered, children just want whatever it is they don't get. And then they grow up and give their children what they wanted, be it silence or information, affection or independence -- so that child, in turn, craves something else. With every generation, the pendulum swings from opposite to opposite, stillness and peace so elusive."</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;">"This was perhaps what it was like to mother anyone, Leigh decided, far away or close. You could only try your best, then wait to see if what you sent was needed or even wanted. If it wasn't, then you packed a new box, and tried again."</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><b>My Ratings</b></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><b>Cover: </b>5/5</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 22px;"><b>Characters:</b> 3/5</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 22px;"><b>Ending</b>: 3/5</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 22px;"><b>Overall</b>: 3.6</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 22px;">Happy Reading! </span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09155901294523627920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2598579578557355545.post-56985268284736389672011-06-21T22:01:00.003-04:002011-06-21T22:04:49.572-04:00Teaser Tuesday (20)<div style="text-align: center;">
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Teaser Tuesday is a weekly event held by MizB at <a href="http://shouldbereading.wordpress.com/" style="color: #993333; text-decoration: none;">Should Be Reading</a>. I <b>love</b> this event and love giving you a little teaser into what I'm reading! This can either suck you in, and you will enjoy reading the book, or it can make you realize that this just isn't the book for you!</div>
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The rules are simple:</div>
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- Grab your current read</div>
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- Open to a random page</div>
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- Share two "teaser" sentences from somewhere on the page</div>
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- <b>Please do not include spoilers!!!!!</b> (Please be sure that what you post doesn't give too much away -- we want this to be fun for those who haven't read the book as well!)</div>
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- Make sure you share <b>TITLE and AUTHOR</b> so that other TT followers can add the book to their TBR pile.</div>
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- Always be sure to check out the host's blog and leave your Teaser Tuesday link!</div>
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<a href="http://overflowingheartreviews.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/therestofherlife.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://overflowingheartreviews.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/therestofherlife.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="131" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b><u>My Teaser</u></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">"It was one thing to have a friend who made you feel as if you had microphones planted all over town so you could listen in on other people's pain and tell yourself it made you kinder. It was quite another, Leigh understood now, to look across your table and see that same microphone, waiting, absolutely silent, and pointed directly at you."</span></blockquote>
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Happy Reading!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09155901294523627920noreply@blogger.com0