Free Book Give Away!!!!

So I was cruising around look for new book blogs and I found a really neat one called The Page Flipper. What makes it even better is that Chelsea is giving away SIX books! Here is what she wrote!

So, for March, we've got six awesome new books to give away, all provided by the amazing publishing house Simon&Schuster.To enter, send me an email at thepageflipper@yahoo.com with "March Contest" in the subject line. The email can say anything, but I'd really appreciate some book recommendations (or tell me whatever you're reading now -- I love chatting about books) I'll reply to let you know I got your entry, and that's it! You're entered! Contest ends March 31st at midnight. If you happen to be the lucky winner, I'll email you on or around April 1st for your address -- so make sure to check your email, or I'll end up having to pick another
winner.If you'd like to increase your odds of winning, blog about this contest and send me a link, and you'll earn an extra FIVE entries. (I really want to get the word out.)

Here is the link to her post about the contest.

The books begin offered are:

• Tweak by Nic Sheff
• Here, There Be Dragons by James A. Owen
• and it's sequel, In Search for the Red Dragon
• Three Little Words by Ashley Rhodes-Courter
• Fake Boyfriend by Kate Brian
• The Unspoken by Thomas Fahy

Friday Fill In

1. Contact may cause me to give you a kiss (if you're my husband).

2. The parties hereto do mutually agree to sleep in different beds until my foot doesn't hurt anymore.

3. Disney parks are very clean.

4. My pain pill sounds really good right about now! (can you tell I'm injured????)

5. I positively am going to read as many books as I can while I'm off my feet.

6. My pets (still) always makes me smile :-)

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to sleeping, tomorrow my plans include taking a drives, finding some antiques and eating at the place that catered our wedding and Sunday, I want to watch the Penguin game! Go Pens!!!!

Book Review: Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal

Author: Christopher Moore

Pages: 464

Genre: Fiction/Humor

Personal Rating: 5/5

From the back cover:

The birth of Jesus has been well chronicled, as have his glorious teachings, acts, and divine sacrifice after his thirtieth birthday. But no one knows about the early life of the Son of God, the missing years -- except Biff.

Ever since the day when he came upon six-year-old Joshua of Nazareth resurrecting lizards in the village square, Levi bar Alphaeus, called "Biff,"had the distinction of being the Messiah's best bud. That's why the angel Raziel has resurrected Biff from the dust of Jerusalem and brought him to America to write a new gospel, one that tells the real, untold story. Meanwhile, Raziel will order pizza, watch the WWF on TV, and aspire to become Spider-Man.

Verily, the story Biff has to tell is a miraculous one, filled with remarkable journeys, magic, healings, kung-fu, corpse reanimations, demons, and hot babes -- whose considerable charms fall to Biff to sample, since Josh is forbidden the pleasures of the flesh. (There are worse things than having a best friend who is chaste and a chick magnet!) And, of course, there is danger at every turn, since a young man struggling to understand his godhood, who is incapable of violence or telling anything less than the truth, is certain to piss some people off. Luckily Biff is a whiz at lying and cheating -- which helps get his divine pal and him out of more than one jam. And while Josh's great deeds and mission of peace will ultimately change the world, Biff is no slouch himself, blessing humanity with enduring contributions of his own, like sarcasm and café latte. Even the considerable wiles and devotion of the Savior's pal may not be enough to divert Joshua from his tragic destiny. But there's no one who loves Josh more -- except maybe "Maggie," Mary of Magdala -- and Biff isn't about to let his extraordinary pal suffer and ascend without a fight.

Lamb is the crowning achievement of Christopher Moore's storied career: fresh, wild, audacious, divinely hilarious, yet heartfelt, poignant, and alive, with a surprising reverence. Let there be rejoicing unto the world! Christopher Moore is come -- to bring truth, light, and big yuks to fans old and new with the Greatest Story Never Told!

Do you want to laugh out loud? I did…from page one. This book was completely unique. Biff was Joshua’s (Jesus) best friend. He is called back from the dead 200o years after Christ’s death to write another Gospel as he saw things. The story follows Biff and Joshua as they set out to find the 3 wisemen who appeared at Joshua’s birth to help him understand how to become the Messiah. (He’s having a little trouble). I simply couldn’t believe some of the situations and thing that happened to these two. It was too funny. To imagine these things happening to Jesus and his friend? At one point they sneak out at night (typical teenage stuff) to chop off the penis of a stone statue since it’s “against” their religion. Typical teenage rebellion but it isn’t!

I wish I still had this book with me but it was too good to hold onto. I needed to pass it on. If I did still have it I could share more of the hilarious scenes from it. This one simply needs to be read. At the end Moore gives a little afterward and says if you found the book offensive you need to pray more. I thought it was a good point. The book isn’t meant to be offensive or make fun of anything. It’s simply one man’s interpretation of events that there is very little documentation for, he just happened to put an amusing spin on it. I think its good to laugh.

Playing Editor (BTT)

Suggested by John :

How about a chance to play editor-in-chief? Fill in the blanks:

__________ would have been a much better book if __________.

Alright, lets see...

WHITE OLEANDER would have been a much better book if IT WOULD HAVE HAD 200 HUNDRED LESS PAGES!


MIDDLESEX would have been a much better book IF IT HAD TALKED MORE ABOUT THE MAIN CHARACTER AND LESS ABOUT HER FAMILY

LAST BOOK OF THE DARK TOWER SERIES BY STEPHEN KING would have been a much better book IF SOMEONE WOULD NOT HAVE GIVEN AWAY THE ENDING ON THEIR BLOG (SPOILER). I was soooooooooooooo mad. I had spent years reading that series and in one sentence it was undone! If I could have crawled through the screen and choked that person I would have. No warnings any where. The book had just been released--I should have known better.

OMNIVORE'S DILEMMA would have been a much better book IF HE DIDN'T TALK SO MUCH ABOUT CORN. Chapters and chapters about corn. I couldn't each corn for a month.

This was fun this week. I'm going to see if I can think of anymore.

Book Review: The Burn Journals

Author: Brent Runyon

Pages: 319

Genre: Non-Fiction/Memior

Personal Rating: 5/5

From the back cover:

In 1991, fourteen-year-old Brent Runyon came home from school, doused his bathrobe in gasoline, put it on, and lit a match.

He suffered third-degree burns over 85% of his body and spent the next year recovering in hospitals and rehab facilities. During that year of physical recovery, Runyon began to question what he'd done, undertaking the complicated journey from near-death back to high school, and from suicide back to the emotional mainstream of life.

In the tradition of Running with Scissors and Girl, Interrupted, The Burn Journals is a truly remarkable book about teenage despair and recovery.

Wow. I read this book in one day. Granted, I’m layed up with a broken foot but even so it wouldn’t have taken me long. Brent Runyon’s story is horrifically fascinating but yet not depressing.

“The Burn Jounrals describes a particular kind of youthful male desolation better than it has ever been described before, by anyone.” –Andrew Solomon author of the Noonday Demon.

That sounds about right. Brent allows you into the inner most aspects of his life and mind during the most difficult part of his life. I was embarrassed to be lying in bed feeling sorry for myself and the “pain” I felt in my ankle.

A very interesting aspect is the afterword where Brett discusses how he still struggles with depression and how he has still sometimes has had thought about killing himself (again). He goes on though to talk about how he has finally begun to realize he needs help, therapy and drug and that they are not signs of weakness or “bad things”. In reference to all those people who say “I don’t want to resort to drugs” as if some people have a choice. There is still so much ignorance about mental illness it make me sick!

I want to do this book justice with a FANTASTIC review but I just don’t know how. All I can say is that it is well worth the time to grab it and read it. You won’t be the same after reading it. I’m not.

Some things that stuck with me

• How good ice chips taste


• The look in the paramedic and his mom’s eyes and they took him out of the house after he lit himself on fire


• His struggles to go outside and have people look at him


• Joy at seeing his dog Rusty when he goes home


• He didn’t know why he did it

Non-Fiction Five Challenge

Read 5 non-fiction books during the months of May - September, 2008 (please link your reviews on Mister Linky)

Read at least one non-fiction book that is different from your other choices (i.e.: 4 memoirs and 1 self-help)

1. The $64 Tomato (William Alexander)
2. The Family That Couldn't Sleep (D. T. Max)
3. The Republican War on Science (Chris Mooney)
4. Parasite Rex (Carl Zimmer)
5. Sickened: The Memoir of a Munchausen by Proxy Childhood. (Julie Gregory)

Alternates

Evolutionary Wars: A Three-Billion-Year Arms Race (Charles Levy)

The Black Swan: The Impact of the Highly Improbably(Nassim Nicholas Taleb)

Go Ask Ogre: Letters from a Deathrock Cutter (Jolene Siana)

Non-Fiction Five Challenge hosted by Joy at Thoughts of Joy

Book Review: Red Prophet (Tales of Alvin Maker II)

Author: Orson Scott Card

Pages: 320

Genre: Fiction/Sci Fi. & Fantasy/Epic/Series

Personal Rating: 2.5/5

From the back cover:

It's the 19th century, and Napoleon is in command of an army in Detroit. Andrew Jackson is a lawyer from Tenezzy, and William Henry Harrison is the self-appointed governor of Wobbish just east of the Mizzipy River. And somewhere up north, in a small town called Vigor Church, is a young boy named Alvin who is the seventh son of a seventh son, with the power to shape the world around him. These are the tales of Orson Scott Card's Alvin Maker, which takes place in an alternate American history where folk magic really works. And this is the story of the Red Prophet, where Alvin finds himself caught in a war between the Red men and the Whites on the American frontier.

Book II from Tales of Alvin Maker was not my cup of tea. If it wasn't the second book in a series for the Series Challenge and if I had not enjoyed Book I, I probably would have stopped reading. It's not that it was a terrible story, or horribly written (quite the opposite actually). It just wasn't my thing.

The focus of Book II is Alvin's relationship with the Red Prophet and Ta-Kumsaw (the Prophet's brother) and the impending war between the Whites and the Reds. I'm sure it is important for the foundation of the series but as a stand alone novel I found it boring. There was a lot of foreshadowing involved so I'm pretty sure you couldn't just skip this book and move on with the novel.

There were sections I found very interesting and hope to find more sections like those in the upcoming books. Alvin using his knack for healing, references to the Torch, who pulled the caul from Calvin's face when he was born. The prophet's visions of Alvin's future with the crystal towers were all topics i found interesting and wished were covered in more detailed.

I wouldn't abandon the series based on this book alone. It seems that many people really enjoyed book II. I'm however ready to move onto Book III.

New Additions to "The Library"

• Messenger: Lois Lowry
• We Thought You Would Be Prettier: Laurie Notaro
• The Club Dumas: Arturo Perez-Reverte
• Ender's Game: Orson Scott Card
• Daniel Isn't Talking: Marti Leimbach
• The Birth of Venus: Sarah Dunant

Book Review: Flowers for Algernon

Author: Daniel Keyes

Pages: 311

Genre: Fiction/Sci Fi. & Fantasy

Personal Rating: 4/5

Awards: Nebula & Hugo

From the back cover:

Charlie Gordon is about to embark upon an unprecedented journey. Born with an unusually low IQ, he has been chosen as the perfect subject for an experimental surgery that researchers hope will increase his intelligence-a procedure that has already been highly successful when tested on a lab mouse named Algernon.

As the treatment takes effect, Charlie's intelligence expands until it surpasses that of the doctors who engineered his metamorphosis. The experiment appears to be a scientific breakthrough of paramount importance, until Algernon suddenly deteriorates. Will the same happen to Charlie?

What a unique and interesting book! This story follows Charlie, a mentally retarded 30 something who has an operation performed (on his brain) to increase his intelligence. Most of the story is related through Charlie's progress reports as he sees events unfolding.

As Charlie's intelligence increases, so does his memory. He begins to remember his childhood and how he came to be "abandoned" by his family and to understand why he has sexual issues. He also starts to questions the friends he used to have since they used to laugh at him and make him do silly things (since he didn't know better). This part of the story is sad. The realization of how we/some treat mentally retarded individuals.

This book opens up so many ethical and moral questions related to experimentation, the betterment of society and the worth of an individual. Who determines that worth?

If you haven't read this one I would definitely add it to your list!

Book Review: The Silver Rose

Author: Susan Carroll

Pages: 515

Genre: Fiction/Historical Romance

Personal Rating: 3.5/5

From the back cover:

From Brittany’s fog-shrouded forests to the elegant dark heart of Paris’s royal court, one woman must challenge a country’s destiny–and her own dangerous fate.

France, 1585. She is the youngest and most powerful of the “Sisters of Faire Isle,” women known far and wide for their extraordinary mystical abilities. Skilled in healing and able to forecast the future of those around her, Miri Cheney has returned to her ancestral home to take refuge from a land devastated by civil war–and to grieve for her family, driven to exile. But she cannot hide from the formidable new power threatening to seize control of France from the dread “Dark Queen,” Catherine de Medici–a diabolical woman known only as the Silver Rose. Miri has no choice but to turn to the one man she distrusts as much as she desires: Simon Aristide, the charismatic witch-finder who is now himself the hunted, and who has reluctantly made an unholy pact with Catherine. Miri must defy throne and family to save all that she loves most–and command a future greater than she could ever imagine.

Vibrant with stunning historical detail, alive with characters as richly passionate as they are compelling, The Silver Rose is a sweeping, exquisitely wrought tale from a mesmerizing storyteller.

This novel was different from what I would normally choose to read for myself. I was expecting something along the lines of “The Other Boleyn Girl” but it was different from that. Not bad different, just different. I also found the back cover description to be not quite accurate to what actually happens in the book. Doesn’t change that I really liked the story but it alludes to a story that doesn’t really happen “that way”. It states that Miri will “command a future greater than she could ever imagine.” Huh??? Where? What commanding future did I miss? A little melodramatic on the back cover in my opinion.

It turns out that I started with the 3rd book in the series. So I may have enjoyed this book even more had I read the two prior to this one. Those books would be “The Dark Queen” and “The Courtesan”. Both of which I have, I just didn’t realize they were a series until it was too late. Bummer.

This novel had a little bit of everything; magic, romance, history, action, animals, family, different cities, betrayal, witches, queens. It was a simple, quick, interesting read. Something nice and light to read between those heavier more serious reads. A good recommendation for the type of book it is. Don’t try to make it something more. I’m looking forward to going backward and reading the two books that came before this one.

Books Read in March

Since I can't update the bottom of my page I'll keep my updates here for now.

1. The Silver Rose: Susan Carroll
2. Flowers for Algernon: Daniel Keyes
3. Red Prophet: Orson Scott Card
4. The Burn Journals: Brent Runyon
5. Cruel & Unusual: Patricia Cornwell
6. Rosemary's Baby: Ira Levin
7. The Boy in the Striped Pajamas: John Boyne
8. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn: Betty Smith

I Broke My Foot

I fell down my attic stairs Tuesday night and chipped the bone on the top of my foot. I can't work until 3-17. Even though I've been home I've been too drugged and sleepy to read or post! Hopefully I'll start feeling better soon & I'll be able to enjoy being home and get some reading done.

Now I'm going back to sleep. Again.

I figured who wouldn't wan't to see pictures of my nasty foot?!?!?

Spring Reading Challenge

CHALLENGE COMPLETED 4.12.08

1. The Silver Rose (Susan Carroll)
2. Flowers for Algernon (Daniel Keyes)
3. Rosemary's Baby (Ira Levin)
4. The Messenger (Lois Lowry)
5. Cruel and Unusual (Patricia Cornwell)
6. God of Small Things (Arundhati Roy)
7. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (Betty Smith)
8. The Boy In Striped Pajamas (John Boyne)
9. The Burn Journals (Brent Runyon)

These are all from one series (Tales of Alvin Maker: Orson Scott Card) for the Series Challenge. I think she is going to add on more months to the challenge so I won't need to read ALL of these! (yet)

10. Red Prophet (Orson Scott Card)
11. Prentice Alvin (Orson Scott Card)

Alvin Journeyman
Heartfire
The Crystal City

Spring Reading Challenge

The Eponymous Challenge

COMPLETED: 3.17.08

The challenge will run from 1 March to 31 May, 2008.

During that time your mission should you choose to accept it is to read 4 books whose titles are the name of one or more of the characters (e.g. Evelina, Oscar and Lucinda); or a description of one or more of the characters (e.g. The Merchant of Venice, Sylvia’s Lovers).

Non-fiction books and overlaps with other challenges are welcome, as are books named after four-legged characters.

1. The Silver Rose (Susan Carroll) completed 3.5.08
2. Flowers for Algernon (Daniel Keyes) completed 3.8.08
3. Rosemary's Baby (Ira Levin) completed 3.17.08
4. Red Prophet (Orson Scott Card) completed 3.11.08

Eponymous Challenge

HELP! Are you able to leave me a comment?

When I click on the comment link the window doesn't open.

If you've been here and tried to leave a comment somewhere could you RIGHT CLICK ON THE COMMENT LINK, to leave a comment and let me know?

Also, if anyone knows how to fix this I would really appreciate it!

I couldn't figure out why I wasn't getting ANY comments. :(


Edited To Add--I think I figured it out. They were never previously opening in a pop up window but on a different page. When i switched to the three column layout the "pop up window button" somehow was selected but was not supposed to be.

I would still be curious to know if you tried to leave a comment previously and couldn't. Anyone? Anyone? ;)

~~Juli