tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78453503573838017322024-03-23T03:13:51.461-07:00Look At That BookEverything books! Reviews and more :)LisaMayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16327089752434421382noreply@blogger.comBlogger137125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7845350357383801732.post-74473371744043056962009-09-15T00:42:00.000-07:002009-09-15T01:01:33.975-07:00Review: Graceling by Kristin Cashore<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://davebrendon.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/graceling-uk.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 212px; height: 324px;" src="http://davebrendon.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/graceling-uk.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Katsa has been able to kill a man with her bare hands since she was eight - she's a Graceling, one of the rare people in her land born with an extreme skill. As niece of the king, she should be able to live a life of privilege, but Graced as she is with killing, she is forced to work as the king's thug. She never expects to fall in love with beautiful Prince Po. She never expects to learn the truth behind her Grace - or the terrible secret that lies hidden far away . . . a secret that could destroy all seven kingdoms wit</span><span style="font-style: italic;">h words alone.</span>..<br /><br />I really enjoyed <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Graceling </span>by <span style="font-weight: bold;">Kristin Cashore </span>because it was a fun exciting novel that, while it was relatively long, had enough action and suspense to keep me reading and to want to find out the ending quickly. I believe in Australia <span style="font-style: italic;">Graceling</span> is marketed as an adult book but is young adult overseas? I will have to confirm that but it definitely read as a young adult book in its simplicity and lack of an ultra-complicated storyline which I often find myself bogged down in with this type of fantasy-adventure genre adult novel but at the same time could definitely appeal to adult readers – the book is big!<br /><br />There was actually quite a lot of violence in this book though I wasn’t really aware of it until after I’d finished and read the backcover where there was a mention of ‘graphic violence’ or something similar. As a fan of pretty violent cinema I might just be desensitised but the content of this book didn’t really strike me as overly violent, at least not to any extent where I would warn readers to be cautious (age dependent of course).<br /><br />The medieval world were the story was set definitely intrigued me, along with the concept of people born with certain talents or ‘graces’. The two main characters, Katsa graced with killing, and Po graced with the ability to see things with his mind were very interesting and it’s very enjoyable to watch their talents develop. However, I do have the criticism that often there was a lot too much conversation going on with (often for chapters at a time) very little action to move the story along.<br /><br />Overall, I would definitely recommend <span style="font-style: italic;">Graceling </span>to anyone who’s looking for a fun, epic and adventurous journeys across fantastical lands with graced heroes leading the way.<br /></div><br /><br /><div><img style="float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 82px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2k_EU2oAQcBmrao8RSayxCqUFBQkmbXGDe692SwKm8JvMaB6MqYQVUnDHCdwLvEusCx7JvoZUmxmTO5t2O5UrxAxyZt8Andmd_Qc9KRxHGnZdppgh6syYtqBCdEnjLuRExPIpXOaf5Y8t/s200/ImagingService.ashx.png" /></div><!-- AddThis Button BEGIN --><script type="text/javascript">var addthis_pub="lisamay</script><a name="data:post.title" id="data:post.url" onmouseover="'return" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()"></a><div><script type="text/javascript" src="http://s7.addthis.com/js/152/addthis_widget.js"></script></div><a name="data:post.title" id="data:post.url" onmouseover="'return" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><img src="http://s7.addthis.com/static/btn/lg-share-en.gif" alt="" style="border: 0pt none ;" width="125" border="0" height="16" /></a><!-- AddThis Button END -->LisaMayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16327089752434421382noreply@blogger.com34tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7845350357383801732.post-56018333388242635382009-09-02T00:28:00.000-07:002009-09-02T00:28:00.273-07:00Check Out The Scene Of This Blog<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg02qW3HVZQgM-KhQ2k48srwQBZE9EGThA4IRkJ2EBNu2IehlBJmb5vcH9eAfXjnH9mkZJ120qHc6D3mcOfubKcsmGLmSoke3kuSmXzdcN1tRrztgVXmkyalM-Y3xt9ITL1EsOMaQpbl10/s1600-h/FINAL+Scene+of+the+Blog+Logo.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg02qW3HVZQgM-KhQ2k48srwQBZE9EGThA4IRkJ2EBNu2IehlBJmb5vcH9eAfXjnH9mkZJ120qHc6D3mcOfubKcsmGLmSoke3kuSmXzdcN1tRrztgVXmkyalM-Y3xt9ITL1EsOMaQpbl10/s320/FINAL+Scene+of+the+Blog+Logo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372993244040435762" border="0" /></a>I'm the weekly feature on <span style="font-weight: bold;">Scene Of The Blog</span> on Cathy's blog Kittling: Books - <a href="http://cathyskye.blogspot.com/">http://cathyskye.blogspot.com</a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>You're totally invited to go check out my desk space... though I think I may have redecorated my area since the photo was taken :) And while it is technically the scene of this blog it has recently become the scene of some seriously study and exam-revision.<br /><br />Only two months before I'm all done... at which point the blog will rise from the land of the dead.<br /><br /><br /><div><img style="float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 82px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2k_EU2oAQcBmrao8RSayxCqUFBQkmbXGDe692SwKm8JvMaB6MqYQVUnDHCdwLvEusCx7JvoZUmxmTO5t2O5UrxAxyZt8Andmd_Qc9KRxHGnZdppgh6syYtqBCdEnjLuRExPIpXOaf5Y8t/s200/ImagingService.ashx.png" /></div><!-- AddThis Button BEGIN --><script type="text/javascript">var addthis_pub="lisamay</script><a name="data:post.title" id="data:post.url" onmouseover="'return" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()"></a><div><script type="text/javascript" src="http://s7.addthis.com/js/152/addthis_widget.js"></script></div><a name="data:post.title" id="data:post.url" onmouseover="'return" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><img src="http://s7.addthis.com/static/btn/lg-share-en.gif" alt="" style="border: 0pt none ;" width="125" border="0" height="16" /></a><!-- AddThis Button END -->LisaMayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16327089752434421382noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7845350357383801732.post-16280924027816556602009-07-13T07:10:00.000-07:002009-07-13T07:10:00.719-07:00Judging A Book By It's Cover (In A Good Way)<div style="text-align: center;"><img style="cursor: -moz-zoom-in; width: 300px; height: 467px;" alt="http://www.textpublishing.com.au/static/files/assets/15e2dc39/9781921520570.jpg" src="http://www.textpublishing.com.au/static/files/assets/15e2dc39/9781921520570.jpg" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">I don't deny that I will often pick up and read a book based solely on its cover. Good cover design is important! A couple of days ago when it was already dark outside and pouring with rain I ventured out to check the mail and there was a big tough envelope which was getting a bit soggy in the rain. Once safely inside, I ripped it open and the first thing I saw was that elephant. And I immediately decided that I really wanted to read this book :)<br /><br />I have since found out a little more about it, as you can no doubt read it's called <span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Billionaire's Curse </span></span>(which is an intriguing title) and is written by <span style="font-weight: bold;">Richard Newsome</span>. The whole book is published as a result of <span style="font-style: italic;"></span><strong>The Text Prize for Young Adult and Children's Writing</strong> which is an annual prize awarded to an 'outstanding unpublished manuscript' with the aim to discover more wonderful new books for young readers, by Australian and New Zealand writers.<br /><br />If you are an Australian or New Zealand writer you still have until July 31st to enter your manuscript for thsi year's prize. <a href="http://www.textpublishing.com.au/about-text/the-text-prize">All the info is here</a>. Otherwise there's always next year!<br /><br />But back to <span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.textpublishing.com.au/books-and-authors/book/the-billionaire-s-curse/">The Billionaire's Curse</a></span></span>...<br /> <p style="font-style: italic;">Someone has stolen the world’s most valuable diamond and a constable lies unconscious in the British Museum, two sedative darts protruding from his backside. Not something Gerald Wilkins knows or cares anything about. Not until he finds himself on a private luxury jet heading for London to attend the funeral of a great aunt he has never met. Not until he inherits her estate, worth twenty billion pounds. Not until he opens a bundle of envelopes from his dead great aunt. Was she murdered? Who stole the diamond? And what is the mysterious casket that everyone seems to be looking for? With the help of the Valentine twins, the rat-fearing Sam and the gymnastic champ Ruby, Gerald’s got a mystery to solve. A mystery that will take them into secret passageways, a musty bookshop, an ancient crypt, a ruined tower and a colossal cavern where the secret of a priceless treasure lies protected by deadly booby traps.<em><br /></em></p><p style="font-style: italic;"><em>The Billionaire’s Curse</em> is an irresistible adventure story with an array of curious characters, ancient folklore and a whodunnit. Young and not-so-young adults, get ready to stay up late.</p><br />It's not out until August in Australia, so expect my review around then :)<br /><br /><br /></div></div><div><img style="float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 82px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2k_EU2oAQcBmrao8RSayxCqUFBQkmbXGDe692SwKm8JvMaB6MqYQVUnDHCdwLvEusCx7JvoZUmxmTO5t2O5UrxAxyZt8Andmd_Qc9KRxHGnZdppgh6syYtqBCdEnjLuRExPIpXOaf5Y8t/s200/ImagingService.ashx.png" /></div><!-- AddThis Button BEGIN --><script type="text/javascript">var addthis_pub="lisamay</script><a name="data:post.title" id="data:post.url" onmouseover="'return" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()"></a><div><script type="text/javascript" src="http://s7.addthis.com/js/152/addthis_widget.js"></script></div><a name="data:post.title" id="data:post.url" onmouseover="'return" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><img src="http://s7.addthis.com/static/btn/lg-share-en.gif" alt="" style="border: 0pt none ;" width="125" border="0" height="16" /></a><!-- AddThis Button END -->LisaMayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16327089752434421382noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7845350357383801732.post-50694100833756668832009-07-11T11:19:00.000-07:002009-07-11T11:19:00.783-07:00Great Australian YA Books That Are Also Great Australian Films (II)<div style="text-align: justify;">One of my all time favourite Australian films has to <span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Australian Rules </span></span>which in my opinion is seriously under appreciated. It's adapted from <span style="font-weight: bold;">Phillip Gwynne</span>'s YA book <span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Deadly, Unna?</span></span> and is set and filmed in country South Australia. The main character, Blacky, is played by one of my favourite Aussie actors Nathan Phillips who was fortunate enough to play the guy who was the reason all those snakes were on that plane in <span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Snakes On A Plane. </span></span>This film was made in 2002 so yeah, it was before he was famous haha. Definitely try and find this movie if you can, I'm not sure how easy it is to come by, though I'd be interested to see if you felt you needed subtitles though if you're not Australian, there's some great slang in here.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="width: 282px; height: 209px;" alt="http://www.auembassy.hr/zgrb/files/Australian%20rules.jpg" src="http://www.auembassy.hr/zgrb/files/Australian%20rules.jpg" /><br /><img style="width: 283px; height: 158px;" alt="http://thecia.com.au/reviews/a/images/australian-rules-1.jpg" src="http://thecia.com.au/reviews/a/images/australian-rules-1.jpg" /><br /><img style="width: 281px; height: 228px;" alt="http://www.eniar.org/img/AustralianRules.jpg" src="http://www.eniar.org/img/AustralianRules.jpg" /><br /><img style="width: 281px; height: 278px;" alt="http://archive.sensesofcinema.com/images/25/contents/australian_rules.jpg" src="http://archive.sensesofcinema.com/images/25/contents/australian_rules.jpg" /><br /><img style="width: 281px; height: 210px;" alt="http://media2.australianscreen.com.au/titles/ausrules/hero2.jpg" src="http://media2.australianscreen.com.au/titles/ausrules/hero2.jpg" /><br /><img style="width: 282px; height: 194px;" alt="http://bigscreen.afc.gov.au/images/~virtual/controls/filmimage/aust_rules.jpg" src="http://bigscreen.afc.gov.au/images/%7Evirtual/controls/filmimage/aust_rules.jpg" /><br /><img style="cursor: -moz-zoom-in; width: 285px; height: 400px;" alt="http://www.moviegoods.com/Assets/product_images/1020/297339.1020.A.jpg" src="http://www.moviegoods.com/Assets/product_images/1020/297339.1020.A.jpg" /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">In Prospect Bay, a remote outpost on the South Australian coast, two communities, the Goonyas (whites) and the Nungas (blacks), come together on the one field they have in common, the football field. But the underlying racism and class warfare threatens to make the team's greatest victories irrelevant. This holds particularly true for Blacky, a white teen who is more interested in books than sport, and his best friend, Dumby, the Aboriginal star of the team.</span><br /><br /><img style="width: 195px; height: 277px;" alt="http://www.middlemiss.org/matilda/australian_rules.jpg" src="http://www.middlemiss.org/matilda/australian_rules.jpg" /> <img style="width: 182px; height: 277px;" alt="http://www.westprint.com.au/images/Book%20Scans/Youth/deadly%20unna.jpg" src="http://www.westprint.com.au/images/Book%20Scans/Youth/deadly%20unna.jpg" /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">(Actually both book and film are available on amazon, you'll just have to</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" > ignore</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"> the film's sole review... it got one star haha - </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0141300493?ie=UTF8&tag=lemeloatthbo-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0141300493">book</a><span style="font-style: italic;"> | </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000LXH4GE?ie=UTF8&tag=lemeloatthbo-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000LXH4GE">film</a><span style="font-style: italic;">)</span></span><br /><br /></div><div><img style="float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 82px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2k_EU2oAQcBmrao8RSayxCqUFBQkmbXGDe692SwKm8JvMaB6MqYQVUnDHCdwLvEusCx7JvoZUmxmTO5t2O5UrxAxyZt8Andmd_Qc9KRxHGnZdppgh6syYtqBCdEnjLuRExPIpXOaf5Y8t/s200/ImagingService.ashx.png" /></div><!-- AddThis Button BEGIN --><script type="text/javascript">var addthis_pub="lisamay</script><a name="data:post.title" id="data:post.url" onmouseover="'return" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()"></a><div><script type="text/javascript" src="http://s7.addthis.com/js/152/addthis_widget.js"></script></div><a name="data:post.title" id="data:post.url" onmouseover="'return" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><img src="http://s7.addthis.com/static/btn/lg-share-en.gif" alt="" style="border: 0pt none ;" width="125" border="0" height="16" /></a><!-- AddThis Button END -->LisaMayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16327089752434421382noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7845350357383801732.post-7448030433382520602009-07-11T02:44:00.000-07:002009-07-11T04:45:13.696-07:00Great Australian YA Books That Are Also Great Australian Films (I)<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Looking For Alibrandi </span></span>by <span style="font-weight: bold;">Melina Marchetta</span> <span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></span>is an Australian YA book first published in 1992<span style="font-style: italic;"> </span>and made into a film, released in 2000.<span style="font-style: italic;"> </span> It's probably close to ten years since I've read<span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"> Looking For Alibrandi</span> but I watched the film again recently.<span style="font-style: italic;"> </span>The film's is a bit girly but well worth trying to get your hands on a copy to watch. The beginning and the end of the film are a bit slow but the middle is amazing! Definitely an example of a <span style="font-style: italic;">good </span>Australian film. It stars Pia Miranda as Josie Alibrandi as well as Anthony LaPaglia and Matthew Newton.<br /></div><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><a name="data:post.title" id="data:post.url" onmouseover="'return" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()"><img style="width: 300px; height: 192px;" alt="http://archive.sensesofcinema.com/images/alibrandi2.jpg" src="http://archive.sensesofcinema.com/images/alibrandi2.jpg" /></a><br /><img style="width: 301px; height: 166px;" alt="http://imcdb.org/images/203/623.jpg" src="http://imcdb.org/images/203/623.jpg" /><br /><img style="width: 301px; height: 168px;" alt="http://thecia.com.au/reviews/l/images/looking-for-alibrandi-1.jpg" src="http://thecia.com.au/reviews/l/images/looking-for-alibrandi-1.jpg" /><br /><img alt="http://www.hongkong.china.embassy.gov.au/hkng/files/AFF_Alibra1.jpg" src="http://www.hongkong.china.embassy.gov.au/hkng/files/AFF_Alibra1.jpg" /><a name="data:post.title" id="data:post.url" onmouseover="'return" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()"></a><br /><img style="width: 301px; height: 166px;" alt="http://media.sbs.com.au/films/upload_media/site_28_rand_698397210_looking_for_ali_brandi_maxed.jpg" src="http://media.sbs.com.au/films/upload_media/site_28_rand_698397210_looking_for_ali_brandi_maxed.jpg" /><br /><img style="width: 301px; height: 224px;" alt="http://media2.australianscreen.com.au/titles/lookalib/hero1.jpg" src="http://media2.australianscreen.com.au/titles/lookalib/hero1.jpg" /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">A teenage Australian girl deals with the traumas of everyday life. These include her difficult relationship with her single mother, the unexpected return of her long-lost father, the disapproving nuns at her strict Catholic school, the acceptance of her schoolmates,and romantic dilemmas over two very different boys.</span>..<br /><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><br /><a name="data:post.title" id="data:post.url" onmouseover="'return" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()"></a><img style="width: 195px; height: 238px;" alt="http://thecia.com.au/reviews/l/images/looking-for-alibrandi-poster-0.jpg" src="http://thecia.com.au/reviews/l/images/looking-for-alibrandi-poster-0.jpg" /> <img alt="http://www.booksloveme.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/lookingforali.jpg" src="http://www.booksloveme.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/lookingforali.jpg" /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">(Both the book are and the film are on amazon - </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0375836942?ie=UTF8&tag=lemeloatthbo-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0375836942">book</a><span style="font-style: italic;"> | </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000066CU3?ie=UTF8&tag=lemeloatthbo-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000066CU3">film</a><span style="font-style: italic;">)</span></span><br /><br /></div><img style="float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 82px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2k_EU2oAQcBmrao8RSayxCqUFBQkmbXGDe692SwKm8JvMaB6MqYQVUnDHCdwLvEusCx7JvoZUmxmTO5t2O5UrxAxyZt8Andmd_Qc9KRxHGnZdppgh6syYtqBCdEnjLuRExPIpXOaf5Y8t/s200/ImagingService.ashx.png" /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><!-- AddThis Button BEGIN --><script type="text/javascript">var addthis_pub="lisamay</script><a name="data:post.title" id="data:post.url" onmouseover="'return" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()"></a></div><div><script type="text/javascript" src="http://s7.addthis.com/js/152/addthis_widget.js"></script></div><a name="data:post.title" id="data:post.url" onmouseover="'return" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()"></a><br /><a name="data:post.title" id="data:post.url" onmouseover="'return" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()"></a><br /><a name="data:post.title" id="data:post.url" onmouseover="'return" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()"></a><br /><a name="data:post.title" id="data:post.url" onmouseover="'return" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()"></a><br /><a name="data:post.title" id="data:post.url" onmouseover="'return" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()"></a><br /><a name="data:post.title" id="data:post.url" onmouseover="'return" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()"></a><br /><a name="data:post.title" id="data:post.url" onmouseover="'return" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()"><img src="http://s7.addthis.com/static/btn/lg-share-en.gif" alt="" style="border: 0pt none ;" width="125" border="0" height="16" /></a><!-- AddThis Button END -->LisaMayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16327089752434421382noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7845350357383801732.post-43638500601907304312009-07-09T17:08:00.000-07:002009-07-11T04:56:34.189-07:00No Time Wasters + Beatle Meets Destiny<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6yrO0PYmGArG-VeXI3M75mxXMCln4uHW124Op_h4aT4p22ofCHA8ycmPQ8U4UcBKwuYxMCKeNvOLH08SBb_Y7IszeP4m8jokrAoplZHudw3qd4SkAZpzCGM4FsWKXDZ7MgKdl6iKNGRI_/s1600-h/stalker.bmp"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 306px; height: 111px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6yrO0PYmGArG-VeXI3M75mxXMCln4uHW124Op_h4aT4p22ofCHA8ycmPQ8U4UcBKwuYxMCKeNvOLH08SBb_Y7IszeP4m8jokrAoplZHudw3qd4SkAZpzCGM4FsWKXDZ7MgKdl6iKNGRI_/s200/stalker.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356618762157326466" border="0" /></a><br /><a style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;" href="http://notimewasters.blogspot.com/">No Time Wasters</a><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span>is a collection of all the fake ads that some friends from Melbourne put in their local paper each week. Some of them are pretty funny so it's well worth a read.. the one above is an ad for a stalker. Which is funny because it's a joke but what happens when you reply as a joke and it turns out it's not a joke? This exact scenario happens in <span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://www.penguin.com.au/lookinside/spotlight.cfm?home=" sbn="9780143011491">Beatle Meets Destiny</a> </span></span>by <span style="font-weight: bold;">Gabrielle Williams</span><span> (Penguin Australia, August 3 2009).</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span>Which should give you an indication of it's slightly quirky nature. It's a really adorable book... so more on that soon!<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://www.penguin.com.au/covers-jpg/9780143011491.jpg" alt="Beatle Meets Destiny" class="coverimage" border="0" /><br /></div> <p> </p><p style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;"><b>Imagine </b>your name is John Lennon, only everyone calls you Beatle.<br /><br />And then you meet your <b>Dream</b> girl and her name is Destiny McCartney.<br /><br />But what if you're already with the perfect girl?<br /><br />A novel about change, chance and everybody doing the wrong thing.</p><br /><div><img style="float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 82px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2k_EU2oAQcBmrao8RSayxCqUFBQkmbXGDe692SwKm8JvMaB6MqYQVUnDHCdwLvEusCx7JvoZUmxmTO5t2O5UrxAxyZt8Andmd_Qc9KRxHGnZdppgh6syYtqBCdEnjLuRExPIpXOaf5Y8t/s200/ImagingService.ashx.png" /></div><!-- AddThis Button BEGIN --><script type="text/javascript">var addthis_pub="lisamay</script><a name="data:post.title" id="data:post.url" onmouseover="'return" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()"></a><div><script type="text/javascript" src="http://s7.addthis.com/js/152/addthis_widget.js"></script></div><a name="data:post.title" id="data:post.url" onmouseover="'return" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><img src="http://s7.addthis.com/static/btn/lg-share-en.gif" alt="" style="border: 0pt none ;" width="125" border="0" height="16" /></a><!-- AddThis Button END -->LisaMayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16327089752434421382noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7845350357383801732.post-31255761912742072872009-06-24T17:41:00.000-07:002009-07-09T17:36:01.976-07:00Guest Post - The Geek Girl's Guide To Cheerleading<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrYgppLeOZqYwlMnSsv3xLndYzg44Mf2DWH-j6NfyAAtZlbdcgy8szhADBzHZv8b6YS4_9wDSSvsz7IZgfXAeeZ_WNipKYcKuTe8znpg8ocR5QnR8_nuhH9GsOMSTfD3wT02fG2yhbuEU/s1600-h/geekgirlcover.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 179px; height: 269px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrYgppLeOZqYwlMnSsv3xLndYzg44Mf2DWH-j6NfyAAtZlbdcgy8szhADBzHZv8b6YS4_9wDSSvsz7IZgfXAeeZ_WNipKYcKuTe8znpg8ocR5QnR8_nuhH9GsOMSTfD3wT02fG2yhbuEU/s200/geekgirlcover.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349967125195993314" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Today's guest post is written by Charity Tahmaseb and Darcy Vance, authors of The Geek Girl's Guide to Cheerleading, on their blog tour....</span><br /><br /><br />If writers wrote as carelessly as some people talk, then adhasdh asdglaseuyt[bn[ pasdlgkhasdfasdf.<br />— Lemony Snicket<br /><br />I have a confession to make: I have not read any of the Lemony Snicket books. I suspect this will make me not so popular with the fair Lisa May. In my defense: I have wanted to read them since The Bad Beginning. It’s just that I want to read so many other books too. And, when I go to a bookstore, my natural ADD tendencies kick in. I am likely to purchase the first armful of books that call out to me, ‘Ooh, look over here! I’m shiny! Pick me!’<br /><br />That is the essence of both what is horrible and wonderful about children’s and young adult book publishing these days. There are so many wonderful books out there that it is impossible to read them all.<br /><br />That is also the essence of the difference between writing for young people and writing for adults. The next time you walk into a bookstore, take a look around. The adult fiction is segregated, all neat and tidy. Mysteries over here. Romances over there. Sci-Fi on the left. Literary Fiction on the right. The boundaries between each section are carefully drawn, but within each genre those boundaries are even more explicit.<br /><br />Sci-Fi fanatics freak out if there is no actual science between the covers. Mystery readers are divided between those who prefer their stories hard boiled and the ones who expect their murders a tad cozier. The first group will be disappointed if a little blood isn’t spilled on the page. The second group might ask you to wipe your feet before you pull up a chair to discuss cats or casseroles or, ahem, the murder that has just occurred unseen, somewhere off the page, if you please.<br /><br />Romance readers, oh my, there a gabillion expectations in that genre. At least one semi-sexual encounter by page 30? Check. Hero and heroine must commit to a forever love by the end of the book? Check. Adult paranormal readers expect their werewolves to know their time (full moon only) and vampires to know their place (in the coffin by dawn, please). Each genre and subgenre has its own strict rules and woe to the author who attempts to pull at those restraints.<br /><br />Now take a look at the YA section of the bookstore. It’s a mess. Chances are, if any boundaries exist at all, the books might be divided between fiction and non, or between series and stand alone. Within just a shelf or two, you can find:<br /><br />A book about three nerdy boys and a preppy girl who head off to follow mysterious clues about a mysterious girl who is holed up in a mysterious town that doesn’t actually exist. (Paper Towns by John Green)<br /><br />A story where Death develops a soft spot for a young girl, then follows her around Nazi Germany (The Book Thief by Markus Zusak)<br /><br />Or the palooza of young adult fiction – a series where a girl falls in love with a vampire who sparkles, then a werewolf who morphs when he pleases (screw that full moon thing). She must choose between these unlikely love interests while coming of age, dealing with loss and making large life and (un)death decisions (The Twilight Saga by Stephanie Meyer)<br /><br />This is YA today. There are no boundaries, no rules and no limits for those who wish to write for young people. We are allowed to mix ‘n’ match genres and are encouraged to throw old conventions out the window.<br /><br />What’s the difference between and writing Adult Fiction or YA?<br /><br />Freedom.<br /><br /><br /><br /></div><img style="float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 82px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2k_EU2oAQcBmrao8RSayxCqUFBQkmbXGDe692SwKm8JvMaB6MqYQVUnDHCdwLvEusCx7JvoZUmxmTO5t2O5UrxAxyZt8Andmd_Qc9KRxHGnZdppgh6syYtqBCdEnjLuRExPIpXOaf5Y8t/s200/ImagingService.ashx.png" /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><!-- AddThis Button BEGIN --><script type="text/javascript">var addthis_pub="lisamay</script><a name="data:post.title" id="data:post.url" onmouseover="'return" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()"></a></div><div><script type="text/javascript" src="http://s7.addthis.com/js/152/addthis_widget.js"></script></div><a name="data:post.title" id="data:post.url" onmouseover="'return" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()"></a><br /><a name="data:post.title" id="data:post.url" onmouseover="'return" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()"></a><br /><a name="data:post.title" id="data:post.url" onmouseover="'return" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()"></a><br /><a name="data:post.title" id="data:post.url" onmouseover="'return" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()"></a><br /><a name="data:post.title" id="data:post.url" onmouseover="'return" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()"></a><br /><a name="data:post.title" id="data:post.url" onmouseover="'return" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()"></a><br /><a name="data:post.title" id="data:post.url" onmouseover="'return" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()"><img src="http://s7.addthis.com/static/btn/lg-share-en.gif" alt="" style="border: 0pt none ;" width="125" border="0" height="16" /></a><!-- AddThis Button END -->LisaMayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16327089752434421382noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7845350357383801732.post-23555598211355668872009-06-17T23:50:00.000-07:002009-06-17T23:57:08.382-07:00I'm 'Blog Of The Day' at Fuel My Blog<div style="text-align: justify;">In exciting and unexpected news Look At That Book is the blog of the day on the blog network site <a href="http://fuelmyblog.com/">Fuel My Blog</a> so Look At That Book is the big picture up the top of the page. I think it must just be a random thing to become blog of the day, but I think it's pretty cool regardless :)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3T8XqWzZFU7eh4saA6Mg7HNqwQWNcqVY72PDucHGBr6dg4iXh4tfeoi81xtAe4goNuXu8jfgOjtC4yzxTkOIdfSXBKKqKTABYosDIn4jDt7fTRDVBkVg4hOh08rPS0bUxEpSN6NPNx_yb/s1600-h/dayaward.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 123px; height: 172px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3T8XqWzZFU7eh4saA6Mg7HNqwQWNcqVY72PDucHGBr6dg4iXh4tfeoi81xtAe4goNuXu8jfgOjtC4yzxTkOIdfSXBKKqKTABYosDIn4jDt7fTRDVBkVg4hOh08rPS0bUxEpSN6NPNx_yb/s200/dayaward.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348557716397333682" border="0" /></a><br />If you linked here from Fuel My Blog, hello to you!<br />So yeah.. I should get to putting up some new content or something :)<br /></div><br /><div><img style="float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 82px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2k_EU2oAQcBmrao8RSayxCqUFBQkmbXGDe692SwKm8JvMaB6MqYQVUnDHCdwLvEusCx7JvoZUmxmTO5t2O5UrxAxyZt8Andmd_Qc9KRxHGnZdppgh6syYtqBCdEnjLuRExPIpXOaf5Y8t/s200/ImagingService.ashx.png" /></div><!-- AddThis Button BEGIN --><script type="text/javascript">var addthis_pub="lisamay</script><a name="data:post.title" id="data:post.url" onmouseover="'return" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()"></a><div><script type="text/javascript" src="http://s7.addthis.com/js/152/addthis_widget.js"></script></div><a name="data:post.title" id="data:post.url" onmouseover="'return" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><img src="http://s7.addthis.com/static/btn/lg-share-en.gif" alt="" style="border: 0pt none ;" width="125" border="0" height="16" /></a><!-- AddThis Button END -->LisaMayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16327089752434421382noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7845350357383801732.post-16177570136404944842009-06-14T07:16:00.000-07:002009-06-14T07:16:00.495-07:00Lemony Snicket Appreciation Post (Part 10)<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Like a church bell, a coffin, and a vat of melted chocolate, a supply closet is rarely a comfortable place to hide.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><span style="font-style: italic;">- Lemony Snicket</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/images/x3/x15308.jpg" src="http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/images/x3/x15308.jpg" /></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Criminals should be punished, not fed pastries.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">- Lemony Snicket</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="cursor: -moz-zoom-in; width: 298px; height: 428px;" alt="http://z.about.com/d/movies/1/0/Q/l/5/lemonysnicketsposter.jpg" src="http://z.about.com/d/movies/1/0/Q/l/5/lemonysnicketsposter.jpg" /></div> <br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">When some is crying, of course, the noble thing to do is to comfort them. But if someone is trying to hide their tears, it may also be noble to pretend you do not notice them.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">- Lemony Snicket</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="cursor: -moz-zoom-in; width: 325px; height: 456px;" alt="http://www.harpercollinschildrens.com/harperchildrens/harperchildrensimages/isbn/large/0/9780060586560.jpg" src="http://www.harpercollinschildrens.com/harperchildrens/harperchildrensimages/isbn/large/0/9780060586560.jpg" /><br /><br /></div><span style="font-weight: bold;">Just because you don't understand it doesn't mean it isn't so.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">- Lemony Snicket</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/42193000/jpg/_42193780_olaf203courtesy.jpg" src="http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/42193000/jpg/_42193780_olaf203courtesy.jpg" /><br /></div> <br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Entertaining a notion, like entertaining a baby cousin or entertaining a pack of hyenas, is a dangerous thing to refuse to do. If you refuse to entertain a baby cousin, the baby cousin may get bored and entertain itself by wandering off and falling down a well. If you refuse to entertain a pack of hyenas, they may become r</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">estless and entertain themselves by devouring you. But if you refuse to entertain a notion - which is just a fancy way of saying that you refuse to think about a certain</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> idea - you have t</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">o be much braver than someone who is merely facing some blood-thirsty animals, or some parents who are upset to find their little darling at the bottom of a well, because nobody knows what an idea will do when it goes off to entertain itself.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">- Lemony Snicket</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="width: 320px; height: 180px;" alt="http://www.bestoff.info/wp-content/gallery/video/movie_lemony_snicket.jpg" src="http://www.bestoff.info/wp-content/gallery/video/movie_lemony_snicket.jpg" /></div></div><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><div><img style="float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 82px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2k_EU2oAQcBmrao8RSayxCqUFBQkmbXGDe692SwKm8JvMaB6MqYQVUnDHCdwLvEusCx7JvoZUmxmTO5t2O5UrxAxyZt8Andmd_Qc9KRxHGnZdppgh6syYtqBCdEnjLuRExPIpXOaf5Y8t/s200/ImagingService.ashx.png" /></div><!-- AddThis Button BEGIN --><script type="text/javascript">var addthis_pub="lisamay</script><a name="data:post.title" id="data:post.url" onmouseover="'return" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()"></a><div><script type="text/javascript" src="http://s7.addthis.com/js/152/addthis_widget.js"></script></div><a name="data:post.title" id="data:post.url" onmouseover="'return" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><img src="http://s7.addthis.com/static/btn/lg-share-en.gif" alt="" style="border: 0pt none ;" width="125" border="0" height="16" /></a><!-- AddThis Button END -->LisaMayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16327089752434421382noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7845350357383801732.post-79341816845705204662009-06-12T20:02:00.000-07:002009-06-12T20:18:17.318-07:00Review: Red-Headed Stepchild by Jaye Wells<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i.ebayimg.com/19/%21BUS2F2g%21Wk%7E$%28KGrHgoOKi0EjlLmV1mnBKMw0%29QshQ%7E%7E_1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 189px; height: 312px;" src="http://i.ebayimg.com/19/%21BUS2F2g%21Wk%7E$%28KGrHgoOKi0EjlLmV1mnBKMw0%29QshQ%7E%7E_1.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a>I was intrigued by this book ever since I saw it mentioned somewhere online and was eager to read my own copy. <span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Red-Headed Stepchild </span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span>is about kick-ass mixed-blood, outcast vampire assassin Sabine Kane. She is put on a mission to infiltrate a cult that is threatening her vampire community which is where the story really starts with Sabina stuck with a demon who tried to kill her, being stalked by a hot <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">mage</span> and forced to let another vampire suck her blood, all while discovering some unsettling truths about things she had been told from birth. (Just a note this is <span style="font-style: italic;">not</span> young adult fiction - there's plenty of sexual happenings in this book (but no actual sex, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">heh</span>) plus swearing etc.)<br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><blockquote style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Things To Do:<br />1. Infiltrate rival vampire cult and assassinate leader.<br />2. Get rid of demon <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">houseguest</span>.<br />3. Ditch the hot <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">mage</span> stalker.<br />4. Betray family.</span></blockquote></div>This book is really sassy, Sabina is a sharp, witty leading lady. The banter in this book is hilarious, especially between Sabina and the demon. The action in this book is full on, Sabina is one tough half-vampire :) It's quite graphic, but not extremely so.<br /><br />I really enjoyed the storyline, apparently it's 'urban fantasy'. Heaps of mythical creatures all make appearances in the book; vampires, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">mages</span>, faeries, nymphs, demons etc. All living in secret surrounded by humans in a modern-day setting. It was really interesting, fast-paced reading. It raised plenty of questions and gladly supplied the answers, but there's still enough going on for a sequel, <span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Mage</span> In Black, </span></span>which I will be looking out for!<br /><br />Highly enjoyable, somewhat addictive reading. If you're still into vampires but don't want to go through the teen romance, this one is well worth a read.<br /></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Published by Orbit, <span style="font-style: italic;">Red-Headed Stepchild</span> by Jaye Wells is out now.</span><br /><br /><div><img style="float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 82px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2k_EU2oAQcBmrao8RSayxCqUFBQkmbXGDe692SwKm8JvMaB6MqYQVUnDHCdwLvEusCx7JvoZUmxmTO5t2O5UrxAxyZt8Andmd_Qc9KRxHGnZdppgh6syYtqBCdEnjLuRExPIpXOaf5Y8t/s200/ImagingService.ashx.png" /></div><!-- AddThis Button BEGIN --><script type="text/javascript">var addthis_pub="lisamay</script><a name="data:post.title" id="data:post.url" onmouseover="'return" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()"></a><div><script type="text/javascript" src="http://s7.addthis.com/js/152/addthis_widget.js"></script></div><a name="data:post.title" id="data:post.url" onmouseover="'return" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><img src="http://s7.addthis.com/static/btn/lg-share-en.gif" alt="" style="border: 0pt none ;" border="0" width="125" height="16" /></a><!-- AddThis Button END -->LisaMayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16327089752434421382noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7845350357383801732.post-32929129812924064452009-06-12T04:16:00.000-07:002009-06-12T04:20:54.788-07:00I'm Back + Meet My Dog!<div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiEUQN-08wq4ZEkHoPpopWhJDCJEieFUdEuCaK0MAa5ODm80L7ZNfy8Sesz_b0GuMvWpEAUyYugxlR9vjG-5cwP9hZmPp2nMUf0uWQL2E9YuVB3eav8AvlK8piG7_NJdTdspO-RGdjdNk/s320/Jack2!!2.bmp" /></span><br /></div><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span>Wow it has been ages since my last post, I have just been so busy but hopefully I will have some more time now! I've got plenty of reviews coming up :)<br /><br />And in cool news, my dog Jack is on this week Wagging on Wednesday, which is a weekly feature on A.S King's - the author of The Dust of 100 Dogs - blog.<br /><br />You can read it <a href="http://dogfact9.blogspot.com/2009/06/wagging-on-wednesday-with-jack.html">here!</a><br /></div><br /><div><img style="float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 82px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2k_EU2oAQcBmrao8RSayxCqUFBQkmbXGDe692SwKm8JvMaB6MqYQVUnDHCdwLvEusCx7JvoZUmxmTO5t2O5UrxAxyZt8Andmd_Qc9KRxHGnZdppgh6syYtqBCdEnjLuRExPIpXOaf5Y8t/s200/ImagingService.ashx.png" /></div><!-- AddThis Button BEGIN --><script type="text/javascript">var addthis_pub="lisamay</script><a name="data:post.title" id="data:post.url" onmouseover="'return" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()"></a><div><script type="text/javascript" src="http://s7.addthis.com/js/152/addthis_widget.js"></script></div><a name="data:post.title" id="data:post.url" onmouseover="'return" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><img src="http://s7.addthis.com/static/btn/lg-share-en.gif" alt="" style="border: 0pt none ;" width="125" border="0" height="16" /></a><!-- AddThis Button END -->LisaMayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16327089752434421382noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7845350357383801732.post-24910272463879129672009-06-07T07:15:00.000-07:002009-06-07T07:15:01.863-07:00Lemony Snicket Appreciation Post (Part 9)<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">A man of my acquaintance once wrote a poem called "The Road Less Traveled", describing a journey he took through the woods along a path most travelers never used. The poet found that the road less traveled was peaceful but quite lonely, and he was probably a bit nervous as he went along, because if anything happened on the road less traveled, the other travelers would be on the road more frequently traveled and so couldn't hear him as he cried for help. Sure enough, that poet is dead.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">- Lemony Snicket</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="width: 332px; height: 214px;" alt="http://images.allmoviephoto.com/2004_Lemony_Snicket%27s_A_Series_of_Unfortunate_Events/2004_unfortunate_events_037.jpg" src="http://images.allmoviephoto.com/2004_Lemony_Snicket%27s_A_Series_of_Unfortunate_Events/2004_unfortunate_events_037.jpg" /><br /><br /></div><span style="font-weight: bold;">A man of my acquaintance once wrote a poem called "The Road Less Traveled", des</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">cribing a journey he took through the woods along a path most travelers never used. The poet found that the road less traveled was peaceful but quite lonely, and he was probably a bit nervous as he went along, because if anything happened on the road less traveled, the other travelers would be on the road more frequently traveled and so couldn't hear him as he cried for help. Sure enough, that poet is dead.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">- Lemony Snicket</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="cursor: -moz-zoom-in; width: 260px; height: 384px;" alt="http://www.impawards.com/2004/posters/lemony_snickets_a_series_of_unfortunate_events_ver2.jpg" src="http://www.impawards.com/2004/posters/lemony_snickets_a_series_of_unfortunate_events_ver2.jpg" /><br /></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">One of the world's most popular entertainments is a deck of cards, which contains thirteen each of four suits, highlighted by kings, queens and jacks, who are possibly the queen's younger, more attractive boyfriends.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">- Lemony Snicket</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/42193000/jpg/_42193784_orphans203courtesy.jpg" src="http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/42193000/jpg/_42193784_orphans203courtesy.jpg" /><br /><br /></div><span style="font-weight: bold;">Stealing, of course, is a crime, and a very impolite thing to do. But like most impolite things, it is excusable under certain circumstances. Stealing is not excusable if, for instance, you are in a museum and you decide that a certain painting would look better in your house, and you simply grab the painting and take it there. But if you were very, very hungry, and you had no way of obtaining money, it would be excusable to grab the painting, take it to your house, and eat it.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">- Lemony Snicket</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="width: 417px; height: 218px;" alt="http://neatorama.cachefly.net/images/2009-02/lemony-snicket-cover-redesign.jpg" src="http://neatorama.cachefly.net/images/2009-02/lemony-snicket-cover-redesign.jpg" /><br /><br /></div><span style="font-weight: bold;">It is useless for me to describe to you how terrible Violet, Klaus, and even Sunny felt in the time that followed. If you have ever lost someone very important to you, then you already know how it feels, and if you haven't, you cannot possibly imagine it.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">- Lemony Snicket</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/images/n9/n47871.jpg" src="http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/images/n9/n47871.jpg" /></div></div><br /><div><img style="float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 82px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2k_EU2oAQcBmrao8RSayxCqUFBQkmbXGDe692SwKm8JvMaB6MqYQVUnDHCdwLvEusCx7JvoZUmxmTO5t2O5UrxAxyZt8Andmd_Qc9KRxHGnZdppgh6syYtqBCdEnjLuRExPIpXOaf5Y8t/s200/ImagingService.ashx.png" /></div><!-- AddThis Button BEGIN --><script type="text/javascript">var addthis_pub="lisamay</script><a name="data:post.title" id="data:post.url" onmouseover="'return" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()"></a><div><script type="text/javascript" src="http://s7.addthis.com/js/152/addthis_widget.js"></script></div><a name="data:post.title" id="data:post.url" onmouseover="'return" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><img src="http://s7.addthis.com/static/btn/lg-share-en.gif" alt="" style="border: 0pt none ;" width="125" border="0" height="16" /></a><!-- AddThis Button END -->LisaMayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16327089752434421382noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7845350357383801732.post-35873296720292766572009-05-31T07:09:00.000-07:002009-05-31T07:09:00.197-07:00Lemony Snicket Appreciation Post (Part 8)<div style="text-align: justify; font-weight: bold;">Love can change a person the way a parent can change a baby- awkwardly, and often with a great deal of mess.<br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: normal;">- Lemony Snicket</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="width: 348px; height: 261px;" alt="http://fc41.deviantart.com/images3/i/2004/152/f/3/deviantID.jpg" src="http://fc41.deviantart.com/images3/i/2004/152/f/3/deviantID.jpg" /><br /><br /></div>Pietrisycamollaviadelrechiotemexity.<br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: normal;">- Lemony Snicket</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="http://suebe2.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/composer.jpg" src="http://suebe2.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/composer.jpg" /><br /></div><br />I will love you as the iceberg loves the ship, and the passengers love the lifeboat and the lifeboat loves the teeth of the sperm whale, and the sperm whale loves the flavor of naval uniforms.<br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: normal;">- Lemony Snicket</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="http://www.webwombat.com.au/entertainment/movies/images/lemony-snicket.JPG" src="http://www.webwombat.com.au/entertainment/movies/images/lemony-snicket.JPG" /><br /></div><br />Assumptions are dangerous things to make, and like all dangerous things to make -- bombs, for instance, or strawberry shortcake -- if you make even the tiniest mistake you can find yourself in terrible trouble. Making assumptions simply means believing things are a certain way with little or no evidence that shows you are correct, and you can see at once how this can lead to terrible trouble. For instance, one morning you might wake up and make the assumption that your bed was in the same place that it always was, even though you would have no real evidence that this was so. But when you got out of your bed, you might discover that it had floated out to sea, and now you would be in terrible trouble all because of the incorrect assumption that you'd made. You can see that it is better not to make too many assumptions, particularly in the morning.<br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: normal;">- Lemony Snicket</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="http://www.stuartngbooks.com/helquist_series_unfor_13586.jpg" src="http://www.stuartngbooks.com/helquist_series_unfor_13586.jpg" /><br /></div><br />The key to good eavesdropping is not getting caught.<br /></div><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: normal;">- Lemony Snicket</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="http://www.stuartngbooks.com/helquist_count_olaf_unwante.jpg" src="http://www.stuartngbooks.com/helquist_count_olaf_unwante.jpg" /><br /><br /></div><div><img style="float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 82px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2k_EU2oAQcBmrao8RSayxCqUFBQkmbXGDe692SwKm8JvMaB6MqYQVUnDHCdwLvEusCx7JvoZUmxmTO5t2O5UrxAxyZt8Andmd_Qc9KRxHGnZdppgh6syYtqBCdEnjLuRExPIpXOaf5Y8t/s200/ImagingService.ashx.png" /></div><!-- AddThis Button BEGIN --><script type="text/javascript">var addthis_pub="lisamay</script><a name="data:post.title" id="data:post.url" onmouseover="'return" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()"></a><div><script type="text/javascript" src="http://s7.addthis.com/js/152/addthis_widget.js"></script></div><a name="data:post.title" id="data:post.url" onmouseover="'return" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><img src="http://s7.addthis.com/static/btn/lg-share-en.gif" alt="" style="border: 0pt none ;" width="125" border="0" height="16" /></a><!-- AddThis Button END -->LisaMayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16327089752434421382noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7845350357383801732.post-27603124938706201122009-05-24T07:56:00.000-07:002009-05-24T07:56:01.099-07:00Lemony Snicket Appreciation Post (Part 7)<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">One of the greatest myths in the world - & the phrase 'greatest myths' is just a fancy way of saying 'big fat lies' -- is that troublesome things get less & less troublesome if you do them more & more. People say this myth when they are teaching children to ride bicycles, for instance, as though falling off a bicycle & skinning your knee is less troublesome the fourteenth time you do it than it is the first time. The truth is that troublesome things tend to remain troublesome no matter how many times you do them, & that you should avoid doing them unless they are absolutely urgent.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">- Lemony Snicket</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><img style="cursor: -moz-zoom-in; width: 350px; height: 350px;" alt="http://subbooks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/lump-of-coal.jpg" src="http://subbooks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/lump-of-coal.jpg" /><br /><br /></div><span style="font-weight: bold;">The sad truth is the truth is sad</span>.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">- Lemony Snicket</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="http://www.lemonysnicket.com/sunny/images/games/slope.jpg" src="http://www.lemonysnicket.com/sunny/images/games/slope.jpg" /><br /></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Perhaps if we saw what was ahead of us, and glimpsed the follies, and misfortunes that would befall us later on, we would all stay in our mother's wombs, and then there would be nobody in the world but a great number of very fat, very irritated women.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">- Lemony Snicket<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="width: 190px; height: 298px;" alt="http://www.tarotpassages.com/images3/Lemony2.jpg" src="http://www.tarotpassages.com/images3/Lemony2.jpg" /><br /></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">There are two kinds of fears: rational and irrational- or in simpler terms, fears that make sense and fears that don't.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">- Lemony Snicket</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/images/n29/n146849.jpg" src="http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/images/n29/n146849.jpg" /><br /><br /></div><span style="font-weight: bold;">I don't know if you've ever noticed this, but first impressions are often entirely wrong.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">- Lemony Snicket, The Bad Beginning</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><img src="http://15.media.tumblr.com/X5T6oO3vnm6n37dyAAMjZ2iso1_400.jpg" alt="blooper" /><br /></div><br /></div><img style="float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 82px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2k_EU2oAQcBmrao8RSayxCqUFBQkmbXGDe692SwKm8JvMaB6MqYQVUnDHCdwLvEusCx7JvoZUmxmTO5t2O5UrxAxyZt8Andmd_Qc9KRxHGnZdppgh6syYtqBCdEnjLuRExPIpXOaf5Y8t/s200/ImagingService.ashx.png" /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><!-- AddThis Button BEGIN --><script type="text/javascript">var addthis_pub="lisamay</script><a name="data:post.title" id="data:post.url" onmouseover="'return" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()"></a></div><div><script type="text/javascript" src="http://s7.addthis.com/js/152/addthis_widget.js"></script></div><a name="data:post.title" id="data:post.url" onmouseover="'return" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()"></a><br /><a name="data:post.title" id="data:post.url" onmouseover="'return" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()"></a><br /><a name="data:post.title" id="data:post.url" onmouseover="'return" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()"></a><br /><a name="data:post.title" id="data:post.url" onmouseover="'return" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()"></a><br /><a name="data:post.title" id="data:post.url" onmouseover="'return" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()"></a><br /><a name="data:post.title" id="data:post.url" onmouseover="'return" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()"></a><br /><a name="data:post.title" id="data:post.url" onmouseover="'return" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()"><img src="http://s7.addthis.com/static/btn/lg-share-en.gif" alt="" style="border: 0pt none ;" width="125" border="0" height="16" /></a><!-- AddThis Button END -->LisaMayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16327089752434421382noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7845350357383801732.post-1822643919626514282009-05-21T23:58:00.000-07:002009-05-22T00:08:34.939-07:00Interview with Anne Osterlund, Author of Academy 7<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-style: italic;">I was fortunate enough to interview Anne Osterlund, author of </span><span style="font-style: italic;">Aurelia</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> and the just-released </span><span style="font-style: italic;">Academy 7</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> which came out in stores in the US on May 14th...</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">First off, what is <span style="font-style: italic;">Academy 7</span> about?</span><br /><br />It is the story of a girl, Aerin, who is fleeing a dangerous planet and trying to find a better life. And Dane, a young man fresh out of prison, who is determined to want absolutely nothing because that is what he has been trained to expect. And together they become the top new students at the most prestigious school in the universe. Think <span style="font-style: italic;">Star Wars</span> meets <span style="font-style: italic;">The Outsiders</span>.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://anneosterlund.com/Author%20Bio_files/hold_cat.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 211px; height: 242px;" src="http://anneosterlund.com/Author%20Bio_files/hold_cat.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Can you describe Dane in three words?</span><br /><br />Guts, self-destructive, trouble<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">How about Aerin?</span><br /><br />Defensive, kick-ass, brilliant<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">How would you describe your writing style?</span><br /><br />It is whatever the characters insist it should be. Generally swift YA with romance to taste and enough danger and death to keep the action going, even when stirred under a ream of— sometimes annoying—perfectionism.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Growing up, what sort of books did you read?</span><br /><br />Tons! Especially young adult fantasy and historical fiction. Tamora Pierce, Ann Rinaldi, Richard Peck’s Blossom Culp books, Sally Watson, L.M. Montgomery, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Louisa May Alcott, Walter Farley, Mark Twain, and, yes, I admit umpteen thousand Sweet Valley Twins and Babysitter’s Club books.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://anneosterlund.com/couple.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 179px; height: 279px;" src="http://anneosterlund.com/couple.gif" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Who is your favorite character you've created?</span><br /><br />A very loaded question. (They create themselves). I love Aurelia. She is very opinionated and stubborn, but her strength, passion, and agility within an argument are terrific fun. Dane is a blast! He is always tearing up everyone’s expectations, including mine; and there is really no getting around him because he is far too interesting to ignore. That said, I would go crazy trying to live in Aurelia’s or Dane’s heads all the time. There is definitely something to be said for Robert and Aerin and a wee bit of perspective, LOL. The truth is I love all my main characters, and if I didn’t I couldn’t do them justice.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What can we look forward to from you in the future?</span><br /><br />Time shall tell. I have submitted a couple projects and am waiting to hear what my publisher is the most interested in. Personally, Robert, Aurelia, and I are currently confronting Lord Lester on his estate in the middle of the Asyan Forest in Exile, which is the second book in a trilogy; however, Penguin (much to Aurelia’s ire) says they would like another book but that they don’t think there is enough interest in a sequel. So…I can tell you there is a thief called The Cat, a boy who would rather not be everyone else’s salvation, a slave girl who breaks things, a pioneer girl who prefers to go by Alex, and—Oh yes!—a snake. You’ll probably meet one of them sooner and the rest ultimately.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">You can find out more about Anne and her books at<br /></span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://anneosterlund.com/">anneosterlund.com</a><br /><br /><br /></div><img style="float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 82px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2k_EU2oAQcBmrao8RSayxCqUFBQkmbXGDe692SwKm8JvMaB6MqYQVUnDHCdwLvEusCx7JvoZUmxmTO5t2O5UrxAxyZt8Andmd_Qc9KRxHGnZdppgh6syYtqBCdEnjLuRExPIpXOaf5Y8t/s200/ImagingService.ashx.png" /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><!-- AddThis Button BEGIN --><script type="text/javascript">var addthis_pub="lisamay</script><a name="data:post.title" id="data:post.url" onmouseover="'return" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()"></a></div><div><script type="text/javascript" src="http://s7.addthis.com/js/152/addthis_widget.js"></script></div><a name="data:post.title" id="data:post.url" onmouseover="'return" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()"></a><br /><a name="data:post.title" id="data:post.url" onmouseover="'return" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()"></a><br /><a name="data:post.title" id="data:post.url" onmouseover="'return" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()"></a><br /><a name="data:post.title" id="data:post.url" onmouseover="'return" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()"></a><br /><a name="data:post.title" id="data:post.url" onmouseover="'return" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()"></a><br /><a name="data:post.title" id="data:post.url" onmouseover="'return" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()"></a><br /><a name="data:post.title" id="data:post.url" onmouseover="'return" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()"><img src="http://s7.addthis.com/static/btn/lg-share-en.gif" alt="" style="border: 0pt none ;" width="125" border="0" height="16" /></a><!-- AddThis Button END -->LisaMayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16327089752434421382noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7845350357383801732.post-2880438848122533632009-05-19T19:00:00.000-07:002009-05-19T19:00:05.132-07:00Waiting On Wednesday, May 20<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://theforestbeyond.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/splendor.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 157px; height: 233px;" src="http://theforestbeyond.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/splendor.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>After reading <span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Envy </span></span><span>by</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> Anna Godbersen </span>the other day (you can read my review <a href="http://lookatthatbook.blogspot.com/2009/05/review-envy-by-anna-godbersen.html">here</a>), I am eagerly anticipating the next book (which will be book four!) in the series.<br /><br />It's <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Splendour</span> (with a U!!) and I don't know too much about it, but I have been eyeing the cover. The dress is cool and all but the styling and everthing doesn't look like what I would expect for the 1900s. <span style="font-style: italic;">(More so for the picture that was in the backcover of <span style="font-weight: bold;">Envy </span>than the little picture I have in this post, it looked different, honest!)</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span>It's pretty, though :)<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">It’s a new year, and Manhattan’s favorite socialites are stirring up brand-new drama: Elizabeth uncovers a dangerous secret from her past; Diana has an opportunity to follow her heart—and claim her future, Lina discovers money can buy happiness…for a time, and Penelope finds that life without Henry brings unexpected pleasures. In this dramatic conclusion to the bestselling Luxe series, old ties are broken, fresh bonds are formed, and every decision comes at a cost.</span><br /><br />It's coming out in late October in the US. Not sure about Australia though as <span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Envy </span></span>was only just released here!<br /></div><br /><div><img style="float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 82px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2k_EU2oAQcBmrao8RSayxCqUFBQkmbXGDe692SwKm8JvMaB6MqYQVUnDHCdwLvEusCx7JvoZUmxmTO5t2O5UrxAxyZt8Andmd_Qc9KRxHGnZdppgh6syYtqBCdEnjLuRExPIpXOaf5Y8t/s200/ImagingService.ashx.png" /></div><!-- AddThis Button BEGIN --><script type="text/javascript">var addthis_pub="lisamay</script><a name="data:post.title" id="data:post.url" onmouseover="'return" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()"></a><div><script type="text/javascript" src="http://s7.addthis.com/js/152/addthis_widget.js"></script></div><a name="data:post.title" id="data:post.url" onmouseover="'return" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><img src="http://s7.addthis.com/static/btn/lg-share-en.gif" alt="" style="border: 0pt none ;" width="125" border="0" height="16" /></a><!-- AddThis Button END -->LisaMayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16327089752434421382noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7845350357383801732.post-17925850671898496832009-05-18T23:27:00.000-07:002009-05-19T02:06:07.088-07:00Review: Marked by P.C. and Kristin Cast<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.hachette.com.au/imagesweb/9781905654314.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 137px; height: 217px;" src="http://www.hachette.com.au/imagesweb/9781905654314.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Marked </span></span>by<span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> P.C. </span>and<span style="font-weight: bold;"> Kristin Cast</span></span> is (yet another, hehe) vampire book and while I have been reading a <span style="font-style: italic;">lot</span> of vampire books lately I am not getting bored of them! <span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Marked </span></span>is the first book in <span style="font-weight: bold;">The House of Night </span>series and is about Zoey Redbird, a 16 year old girl who is 'marked' to become a vampyre and must go to 'The House of Night' a school for fledgling vampyres... or else she will die. At her new school Zoey quickly finds out she is different than the others, she has great powers and a bloodlust well beyond her years. Taking a unique approach, the vampyres in <span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Marked </span></span>worship the goddess Nyx and focuses on the occult.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">The writing style of this book really appealed to me. It seemed quite opinionated and had a lot of attitude :) The book is written by P.C Cast and her daughter, Kristin Cast, and clearly the mother-and-daughter writing team works very well! I'd be very interested to find out more about their collaboration (they've gone on to write many more books in the series).<br /><br />The characters in <span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Marked </span></span>are very likeable (with the obvious exception of Aphrodite who we love to hate). Zoey is a smart, strong protagonist and her group of friends are varied and interesting.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Marked </span></span>has a fast moving pace which kept me very interesting, I found it very hard to put this book down. Though the final scenes in the book seemed to come about, and end, a little too fast. The book ended with a lot of purposely unanswered questions - so I'm definitely looking forward to finding out what will happen to Zoey in the future.<br /><br />Easily one of my favourite books of the year!<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Marked </span></span>is available now in Australia from Hachette - you can find out more <a href="http://www.hachette.com.au/books/9781905654314.html">here</a>.<br /></div><br /><br /><div><img style="float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 82px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2k_EU2oAQcBmrao8RSayxCqUFBQkmbXGDe692SwKm8JvMaB6MqYQVUnDHCdwLvEusCx7JvoZUmxmTO5t2O5UrxAxyZt8Andmd_Qc9KRxHGnZdppgh6syYtqBCdEnjLuRExPIpXOaf5Y8t/s200/ImagingService.ashx.png" /></div><!-- AddThis Button BEGIN --><script type="text/javascript">var addthis_pub="lisamay</script><a name="data:post.title" id="data:post.url" onmouseover="'return" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()"></a><div><script type="text/javascript" src="http://s7.addthis.com/js/152/addthis_widget.js"></script></div><a name="data:post.title" id="data:post.url" onmouseover="'return" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><img src="http://s7.addthis.com/static/btn/lg-share-en.gif" alt="" style="border: 0pt none ;" width="125" border="0" height="16" /></a><!-- AddThis Button END -->LisaMayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16327089752434421382noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7845350357383801732.post-17472253690553765752009-05-17T07:44:00.000-07:002009-05-17T07:44:01.235-07:00Lemony Snicket Appreciation Post (Part 6)<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">It is always sad when someone leaves home, unless they are simply going around the corner and will return in a few minutes with ice-cream sandwiches.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">- Lemony Snicket</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="width: 287px; height: 471px;" src="http://8.media.tumblr.com/X5T6oO3vnm6pijgqsbCbHPzko1_400.jpg" alt="The Wide Window" /><br /><br /></div><span style="font-weight: bold;">All the secrets of the world are contained in books. Read at your own risk.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">- Lemony Snicket</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://23.media.tumblr.com/X5T6oO3vnm6nfwq3zHdd3LJ1o1_400.jpg" alt="" /><br /><br /></div><a name="data:post.title" id="data:post.url" onmouseover="'return" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()"><span style="font-weight: bold;">I suppose I'll have to add the force of gravity to my list of enemies.</span></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">- Lemony Snicket</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://4.media.tumblr.com/X5T6oO3vnm6n31ui31lfZ1ZJo1_400.jpg" alt="Duncan Quagmire" /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Duncan Quagmire</span></span><br /><br /></div><span style="font-weight: bold;">This is my knife. It is very sharp and very eager to hurt you.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">- Lemony Snicket</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://11.media.tumblr.com/X5T6oO3vnm6m8ub2f5hhT05co1_250.jpg" alt="The Hook Handed Man" /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">The Hook Handed Man</span></span><br /><br /></div><span style="font-weight: bold;">...you know that a good, long session of weeping can often make you feel better, even if your circumstances have not changed one bit.<br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;">- Lemony Snicket</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><img alt="http://cghub.com/files/Image/19639/image.jpg" src="http://cghub.com/files/Image/19639/image.jpg" /><br /><br /></div></div><img style="float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 82px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2k_EU2oAQcBmrao8RSayxCqUFBQkmbXGDe692SwKm8JvMaB6MqYQVUnDHCdwLvEusCx7JvoZUmxmTO5t2O5UrxAxyZt8Andmd_Qc9KRxHGnZdppgh6syYtqBCdEnjLuRExPIpXOaf5Y8t/s200/ImagingService.ashx.png" /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><!-- AddThis Button BEGIN --><script type="text/javascript">var addthis_pub="lisamay</script><a name="data:post.title" id="data:post.url" onmouseover="'return" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()"></a></div><div><script type="text/javascript" src="http://s7.addthis.com/js/152/addthis_widget.js"></script></div><a name="data:post.title" id="data:post.url" onmouseover="'return" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()"></a><br /><a name="data:post.title" id="data:post.url" onmouseover="'return" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()"></a><a name="data:post.title" id="data:post.url" onmouseover="'return" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()"></a><br /><a name="data:post.title" id="data:post.url" onmouseover="'return" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()"></a><br /><a name="data:post.title" id="data:post.url" onmouseover="'return" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()"></a><br /><a name="data:post.title" id="data:post.url" onmouseover="'return" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()"></a><br /><a name="data:post.title" id="data:post.url" onmouseover="'return" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()"></a><br /><a name="data:post.title" id="data:post.url" onmouseover="'return" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()"><img src="http://s7.addthis.com/static/btn/lg-share-en.gif" alt="" style="border: 0pt none ;" width="125" border="0" height="16" /></a><!-- AddThis Button END -->LisaMayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16327089752434421382noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7845350357383801732.post-76389941355091880382009-05-16T14:18:00.000-07:002009-05-16T14:18:01.714-07:00Review: If I Stay by Gayle Forman<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.randomhouse.com.au/system%20pictures/9780385616218.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 170px; height: 275px;" src="http://www.randomhouse.com.au/system%20pictures/9780385616218.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">If I Stay </span></span></span>by <span style="font-weight: bold;">Gayle Forman </span>is probably the book I have been looking forward to the most this year because there has been so much hype! I have heard so many people say how good it is and it's already got a movie deal so when my copy came I somewhat prioritized it and read it really quickly :) I wasn't really sure what to expect because after I decide that I want to read a book I don't really want to find out more about it because I'm going to read it anyway! It's like if I've already decided I want to see a movie I don't want to watch trailers for it because they're just going to give things away! Getting back on track, my point is that for me a lot of reading <span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">If I Stay </span></span>was balancing what I actually thought of the book with this super-best-book-ever-ever-ever idea I had framed in my mind. And did it live up to the hype?<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />It was a good book, I was definitely absorbed in it because I read it very quickly which is always a good sign with me. The story is about Mia who is in a coma but sort of outside her body and able to see what is going on in a kind of spirit-way. She has to make a choice, 'to stay' - to fight and try to survive - or else die! W(hich is actually quite morbid.) I didn't find myself as emotionally involved as I thought I might have been, I didn't cry for one and I got the impression that I should have! <span style="font-style: italic;">(Thought I might be getting cold-hearted in my old age as I watched Titanic the other day and I didn't shed a tear!)</span> The book is told in a combination of the present with Mia seeing what's going on when people come visit her at the hospital and in flash-backs as Mia remembers things about her family and the people that are coming to see her.<br /><br />As a bit of a side note, <span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">If I Stay</span> </span>is going to be made into a film. I'm really interested to see how they will do this as it wasn't the sort of book I read and could really envision as a film because a lot of the action is really just going with Mia's thoughts I guess. I suppose there will be a lot of flash-backs?! I will definitely go see it at any rate.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">If I Stay </span></span>was the sort of book that raises a lots of questions and hopefully will make you think about yourself and the sort of decisions you would make in these kind of impossible situations. While I may not have been entirely taken in with the characters, the story itself was an extremely thought-provoking one and I am glad to have read it.<br /></div><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">If I Stay</span></span> by <span style="font-weight: bold;">Gayle Forman </span>is published by <span style="font-weight: bold;">Random House</span> in Australia and is out now. You can find out more <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.randomhouse.com.au/Books/Default.aspx?Page=" id="9780385616218">here</a></span>.<br /><br /><div><img style="float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 82px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2k_EU2oAQcBmrao8RSayxCqUFBQkmbXGDe692SwKm8JvMaB6MqYQVUnDHCdwLvEusCx7JvoZUmxmTO5t2O5UrxAxyZt8Andmd_Qc9KRxHGnZdppgh6syYtqBCdEnjLuRExPIpXOaf5Y8t/s200/ImagingService.ashx.png" /></div><!-- AddThis Button BEGIN --><script type="text/javascript">var addthis_pub="lisamay</script><a name="data:post.title" id="data:post.url" onmouseover="'return" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()"></a><div><script type="text/javascript" src="http://s7.addthis.com/js/152/addthis_widget.js"></script></div><a name="data:post.title" id="data:post.url" onmouseover="'return" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><img src="http://s7.addthis.com/static/btn/lg-share-en.gif" alt="" style="border: 0pt none ;" width="125" border="0" height="16" /></a><!-- AddThis Button END -->LisaMayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16327089752434421382noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7845350357383801732.post-14436632597386286922009-05-16T00:25:00.000-07:002009-05-16T02:12:59.530-07:00Review: Envy by Anna Godbersen<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.penguin.com.au/covers-jpg/9780141323381.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 197px; height: 300px;" src="http://www.penguin.com.au/covers-jpg/9780141323381.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Envy</span> by <span style="font-weight: bold;">Anna <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Godbersen</span></span> is the third book in the <span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Luxe</span> series</span>, which is all about a group of beautiful, young, incredibly wealthy people living in New York City at the start of the 20<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">th</span> century. <span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Envy</span></span><span style="font-style: italic;">, </span>is probably my favourite book so far in the series (I didn't really enjoy the first book (<span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Luxe</span></span>) </span>but I liked <span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Rumours</span></span> and this one is even better).<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />To keep things fresh and interesting, <span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Envy</span></span> sees most of the characters go down to Florida for a holiday. I think the change of setting was a good move and made for interesting reading. The whole <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Luxe</span> series is quite reminiscent of <span style="font-weight: bold;">Gossip Girl</span> (even down to the 'society columns' which could easily be interchanged to Gossip Girl's modern blog-posts) it has a set of characters who all know each other but are all doing their own things with each chapter focusing on one of the characters. However, I think the historical aspects of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Luxe</span> series keep the books from feeling 'trashy' like the Gossip Girl books, even though admittedly the story-lines are at times a little trashy, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">hehe</span>. It's all good!<br /><br />I always have mixed feelings about books where the story only focuses on one character at a time. It's great in one way because the different story lines are interesting and it means that the plot doesn't have to be racing along to keep the story moving. It does annoy me a little sometimes though when I'm really interested in finding out about a certain character and I know I'm going to have to read a lot of other stories before I can find out more.<br /><br />The character and storyline that I really enjoyed was Carolina's; she used to be a maid for Elizabeth Holland (another main character in the story) but is now trying to make a name for herself as a society girl. This storyline began in <span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Rumours </span><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span> and to me was made the difference between not really enjoying <span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Luxe</span> </span></span>and to making <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Rumours</span> highly enjoyable. I would have been happy to read an entire book about this one storyline!<br /><br />The cover art of <span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Envy </span></span>is gorgeous with the decadent dress and the pretty flowers and font. Although of course I would have loved the girl on the cover to be wearing a green dress to suit 'envy'! Often in the book the author described the dresses the girls were wearing in EXTREME detail which felt a little clunky to me but was interesting nonetheless.<br /><br />The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Luxe</span> series is continuing with the next book, <span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Splendour.</span></span></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Envy </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">by Anna Godbersen (more info <a href="http://www.penguin.com.au/lookinside/spotlight.cfm?SBN=" 9780141323381="">here</a>) is published by Penguin and is out now in Australia!</span></span></span><br /></div><br /><br /><div><img style="float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 82px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2k_EU2oAQcBmrao8RSayxCqUFBQkmbXGDe692SwKm8JvMaB6MqYQVUnDHCdwLvEusCx7JvoZUmxmTO5t2O5UrxAxyZt8Andmd_Qc9KRxHGnZdppgh6syYtqBCdEnjLuRExPIpXOaf5Y8t/s200/ImagingService.ashx.png" /></div><!-- AddThis Button BEGIN --><script type="text/javascript">var addthis_pub="lisamay</script><a name="data:post.title" id="data:post.url" onmouseover="'return" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()"></a><div><script type="text/javascript" src="http://s7.addthis.com/js/152/addthis_widget.js"></script></div><a name="data:post.title" id="data:post.url" onmouseover="'return" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><img src="http://s7.addthis.com/static/btn/lg-share-en.gif" alt="" style="border: 0pt none ;" width="125" border="0" height="16" /></a><!-- AddThis Button END -->LisaMayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16327089752434421382noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7845350357383801732.post-11135213524669073102009-05-13T05:00:00.000-07:002009-05-13T05:00:28.264-07:00Waiting On Wednesday, May 13<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.laurawiess.com/images/how-it-ends-uk.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 163px; height: 251px;" src="http://www.laurawiess.com/images/how-it-ends-uk.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>I'm really looking forward to <span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">How It Ends </span></span>by <span style="font-weight: bold;">Laura Wiess. </span>Laura is the author of <span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Such A Pretty Girl </span></span>and <span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Leftovers</span></span> both of which were aaaaaamazing. So I have very high expectations for this one too... it's not out until August though :(<br /><br />And here's what it's about...<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-style: italic;">All Hanna's wanted since sophomore year is Seth. She's gone out with other guys, even gained a rep for being a flirt, all the while hoping cool, guitar-playing Seth will choose her. Then she gets him – but their relationship is hurtful, stormy and critical, not at all what Hanna thinks a perfect love should be.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Bewildered by Seth's treatment of her and in need of understanding, Hanna decides to fulfill her school's community service requirement by spending time with Helen, her terminally ill neighbor, who she's turned to for comfort and wisdom throughout her life. But illness has changed Helen into someone Hanna hardly knows, and her home is not the refuge it once was.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Feeling more alone than ever, Hanna gets drawn into an audio book the older woman is listening to, a fierce, unsettling love story of passion, sacrifice and devotion. Hanna's fascinated by the idea that such all-encompassing love can truly exist, and without even realizing it, the story begins to change her.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Until the day when the story becomes all too real...and Hanna's world is spun off its axis by its shattering irrevocable conclusion.</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="cursor: -moz-zoom-in; width: 236px; height: 325px;" alt="http://www.laurawiess.com/images/how-it-ends_lu6p.jpg" src="http://www.laurawiess.com/images/how-it-ends_lu6p.jpg" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">This is the US cover, I prefer it to the UK cover (above). It's in the same style as the covers of Laura Wiess's other two books so I hope we get this one in Australia! Which one do you like better?</span><br /><br /></div></div><div><img style="float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 82px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2k_EU2oAQcBmrao8RSayxCqUFBQkmbXGDe692SwKm8JvMaB6MqYQVUnDHCdwLvEusCx7JvoZUmxmTO5t2O5UrxAxyZt8Andmd_Qc9KRxHGnZdppgh6syYtqBCdEnjLuRExPIpXOaf5Y8t/s200/ImagingService.ashx.png" /></div><!-- AddThis Button BEGIN --><script type="text/javascript">var addthis_pub="lisamay</script><a name="data:post.title" id="data:post.url" onmouseover="'return" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()"></a><div><script type="text/javascript" src="http://s7.addthis.com/js/152/addthis_widget.js"></script></div><a name="data:post.title" id="data:post.url" onmouseover="'return" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><img src="http://s7.addthis.com/static/btn/lg-share-en.gif" alt="" style="border: 0pt none ;" width="125" border="0" height="16" /></a><!-- AddThis Button END -->LisaMayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16327089752434421382noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7845350357383801732.post-78078372970911542042009-05-10T07:31:00.000-07:002009-05-10T07:31:01.397-07:00Lemony Snicket Appreciation Post (Part 5)<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">People aren't either wicked or noble. They're like chef's salads, with good things and bad things chopped and mixed together in a vinaigrette of confusion and conflict.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">- Lemony Snicket, The Grim Grotto</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="width: 281px; height: 407px;" src="http://7.media.tumblr.com/X5T6oO3vnm6nvka7crzGauUto1_400.jpg" alt="Damocles Dock" /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;" class="quote"> <div style="font-weight: bold;" class="quote_text"><span class="short">Right temporarily defeated is stronger than evil triumphant.</span></div> <div style="font-style: italic;" class="source">— Lemony Snicket, The Penultimate Peril<br /></div> </div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://2.media.tumblr.com/X5T6oO3vnm6oan7v96ENHj6oo1_400.jpg" alt="Evidence desk" /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >Evidence Desk</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify; font-weight: bold;">No matter who you are, no matter where you live, and no matter how many people are chasing you, what you don't read is often as important as what you do read.<br /><span style="font-weight: normal; font-style: italic;">- Lemony Snicket</span></div></div><div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://20.media.tumblr.com/X5T6oO3vnm6n5nw0b7qRlYcWo1_400.jpg" alt="Imposter" /><br /></div><br /></div><!-- AddThis Button BEGIN --><script type="text/javascript">var addthis_pub="lisamay</script><a name="data:post.title" id="data:post.url" onmouseover="'return" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()"></a><div><script type="text/javascript" src="http://s7.addthis.com/js/152/addthis_widget.js"></script></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a name="data:post.title" id="data:post.url" onmouseover="'return" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Well-read people are less likely to be criminals.</span></a><br /><a name="data:post.title" id="data:post.url" onmouseover="'return" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()"><span style="font-style: italic;">- Lemony Snicket</span></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a name="data:post.title" id="data:post.url" onmouseover="'return" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()"></a><img style="width: 291px; height: 409px;" src="http://4.media.tumblr.com/IiKfuBfRDlv48t51kLKFAY5to1_400.jpg" alt="potterhead: The bad beginning to a phenominal series!" /><br /><br /></div><span style="font-weight: bold;">Strange as it may seem, I still hope for the best, even though the best, like an interesting piece of mail, so rarely arrives, and even when it does it can be lost so easily.</span><br /><a name="data:post.title" id="data:post.url" onmouseover="'return" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></a><a name="data:post.title" id="data:post.url" onmouseover="'return" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><span style="font-style: italic;">- Lemony Snicket</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="width: 413px; height: 275px;" alt="http://www.koreafilm.co.kr/movie/today_movie2/lemony_snicket_8.jpg" src="http://www.koreafilm.co.kr/movie/today_movie2/lemony_snicket_8.jpg" /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Olaf</span></span><br /></div><a name="data:post.title" id="data:post.url" onmouseover="'return" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></a></div><a style="font-weight: bold;" name="data:post.title" id="data:post.url" onmouseover="'return" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()"></a><a style="font-weight: bold;" name="data:post.title" id="data:post.url" onmouseover="'return" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()"><img style="float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 82px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2k_EU2oAQcBmrao8RSayxCqUFBQkmbXGDe692SwKm8JvMaB6MqYQVUnDHCdwLvEusCx7JvoZUmxmTO5t2O5UrxAxyZt8Andmd_Qc9KRxHGnZdppgh6syYtqBCdEnjLuRExPIpXOaf5Y8t/s200/ImagingService.ashx.png" /></a><a name="data:post.title" id="data:post.url" onmouseover="'return" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()"><br /></a><a name="data:post.title" id="data:post.url" onmouseover="'return" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()"></a><a name="data:post.title" id="data:post.url" onmouseover="'return" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()"><br /></a><a name="data:post.title" id="data:post.url" onmouseover="'return" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()"></a><a name="data:post.title" id="data:post.url" onmouseover="'return" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()"><br /><br /><br /><br /><img src="http://s7.addthis.com/static/btn/lg-share-en.gif" alt="" style="border: 0pt none ;" width="125" border="0" height="16" /></a><!-- AddThis Button END -->LisaMayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16327089752434421382noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7845350357383801732.post-48651155657404969192009-05-10T00:29:00.000-07:002009-05-10T00:36:08.048-07:00Love The Cover, Ash by Malinda Lo<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;">I love the cover of the as-yet unreleased<span style="font-weight: bold;"> <span style="font-style: italic;">Ash </span></span>by<span style="font-style: italic;"> </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Malinda Lo</span>. When I saw it for the first time, I only saw a small picture and it looked like some kind of pretty flower or shell but then I saw it bigger and <span style="font-style: italic;">wow</span> it is a fantastic cover! <span style="font-style: italic;">(You can click on it to enlarge)</span><br /></div><br /><a href="http://www.malindalo.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/ash_malindalo_500.jpg" target="blank_"><img style="width: 227px; height: 344px;" src="http://www.malindalo.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/ash_malindalo_500.jpg" /></a><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Here's what <span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ash </span></span>is about:<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">In the wake of her father’s death, Ash is left alone to pay off his debts in the service of her own step mother. Consumed with grief, her only joy comes by the light of the dying hearth fire, re-reading the fairy tales her mother once told her. In her dreams, someday the fairies will steal her away, as they are said to do. When she meets the dark and dangerous fairy Sidhean, she begins to believe that her wish may be granted.</span> </div><p style="font-style: italic; text-align: justify;">The day that Ash meets Kaisa, the King’s Huntress, her heart begins to change. Instead of chasing fairies, Ash learns to hunt with Kaisa. Though their friendship is as delicate as a new bloom, it reawakens Ash’s capacity for love—and her desire to live. But Sidhean has already claimed Ash for his own, and she must make a choice between fairy tale dreams and true love.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-style: italic; text-align: justify;">Entrancing and romantic, Ash is an empowering retelling of Cinderella about the connection between life and love, and solitude and death, where transformation can come from even the deepest grief.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">It's not out until September. You can find out more </span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.malindalo.com/ash/" target="'blank_'">here</a><span style="font-weight: bold;">.</span><br /></div><p></p><div><img style="float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 82px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2k_EU2oAQcBmrao8RSayxCqUFBQkmbXGDe692SwKm8JvMaB6MqYQVUnDHCdwLvEusCx7JvoZUmxmTO5t2O5UrxAxyZt8Andmd_Qc9KRxHGnZdppgh6syYtqBCdEnjLuRExPIpXOaf5Y8t/s200/ImagingService.ashx.png" /></div><!-- AddThis Button BEGIN --><script type="text/javascript">var addthis_pub="lisamay</script><a name="data:post.title" id="data:post.url" onmouseover="'return" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()"></a><div><script type="text/javascript" src="http://s7.addthis.com/js/152/addthis_widget.js"></script></div><a name="data:post.title" id="data:post.url" onmouseover="'return" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><img src="http://s7.addthis.com/static/btn/lg-share-en.gif" alt="" style="border: 0pt none ;" width="125" border="0" height="16" /></a><!-- AddThis Button END -->LisaMayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16327089752434421382noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7845350357383801732.post-8563094803846546642009-05-09T10:00:00.000-07:002009-05-09T10:00:05.764-07:00In My Mailbox (11)<div style="text-align: justify;">Lots to report on again this week... even though 'In My Mailbox' is actually a deceptive lie since my postpeople rarely actually put my parcels in my mailbox they usually arrange them artfully around the front door. It's actually quite interesting to find them sometimes when I get home because every now and again the postman will do something totally crazy. Like propping a package against the wall and then lifting up the doormat to sort of disguise it... which works fine if you consider a doormat shaped mound a disguise. Or wedging them between the frontdoor and the flyscreen door. Crazy :) I digress..<br /></div><br /> <div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;"><a href="http://www.randomhouse.com.au/systempicts/9780385616201.jpg"><img id="rBodyModule_ctl00_imgBook" class="bookImageSm" src="http://www.randomhouse.com.au/System%20Standard%20Pictures/9780385616201.jpg" style="border: 1px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); width: 170px;" /></a><br />17-year-old Mia narrates the story of one crucial day in her life, when a perfect morning with her family turns to tragedy, leaving her on the edge of death. As she lies in a coma, she contemplates her relationship with her family, her boyfriend Adam and all the complexities of life, love, and loss. Clinging to life, and contemplating the devastation of everything she held dear, she must decide if she should die, or if she should stay.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.randomhouse.com.au/systempicts/9780385609722.jpg"><img id="rBodyModule_ctl00_imgBook" class="bookImageSm" src="http://www.randomhouse.com.au/System%20Standard%20Pictures/9780385609722.jpg" alt="SOLACE OF THE ROAD" style="border: 1px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); width: 170px;" /></a><br />Memories of Mum are the only thing that make Holly Hogan happy. She hates her foster family with their too-nice ways and their false sympathy. And she hates her life, her stupid school and the way everyone is always on at her. Then she finds the wig, and everything changes. Wearing the long, flowing blonde locks she feels transformed. She's not Holly any more, she's Solace: the girl with the slinkster walk and the super-sharp talk. She's older, more confident - the kind of girl who can walk right out of her humdrum life, hitch to Ireland and find her mum. The kind of girl who can face the world head on.<br /><br /></div> <div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;"><a target="_blank" href="http://www.randomhouse.com.au/systempicts/9781741663044.jpg"><img id="rBodyModule_ctl00_imgBook" class="bookImageSm" src="http://www.randomhouse.com.au/System%20Standard%20Pictures/9781741663044.jpg" alt="FATE" style="border: 1px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); width: 170px;" /></a><br />It's been a year since Bailey, Delia, Annabelle, and Zo bought a set of enchanted temporary tattoos at the mall, and life is proceeding as usual. Almost. As the third Fate, Bailey has the lives of the world in her hands, and even though she's gotten used to weaving lives, she's not at all prepared when her own life - and the lives of her friends - take some unexpected turns. Delia sets out on a crusade to find a geeky boyfriend, and for the first time in her life, she finds herself being turned down. Meanwhile, Zo's mother reappears after a twelve year absence, and Bailey, suddenly immersed in a world in which the Furies are catty Sidhe teenagers and Aphrodite, the Love Sidhe has a strange obsession with Annabelle, is helpless to get her friends' lives back on track. But when Aphrodite possesses Annabelle, the friends must set aside their individual problems and work together to save their world - and their friend - once more.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.randomhouse.com.au/systempicts/9781741663358.jpg"><img id="rBodyModule_ctl00_imgBook" class="bookImageSm" src="http://www.randomhouse.com.au/System%20Standard%20Pictures/9781741663358.jpg" alt="POSSE" style="border: 1px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); width: 170px;" /></a><br />Amy and her best friends - the Posse - are at year 11 camp and they're bored. In the scorching summer heat, sparks start to fly. Clare and Amy might be best friends, but they're sniping as if they're enemies. Camp leader Bevan is singling Amy out for attention, and Clare's jealous. Amy's feeling reckless enough to do something major . . .<br />In one night everything will change. Friendships will be tested and broken; careers will hang in the balance; and everything Amy knows about her friends and her family will be ripped away. What really happened when Clare disappeared that night? Who's telling the truth? And when things go too far, should you save your friends - or save yourself?<br /><br /><img style="width: 186px; height: 275px;" src="http://www.penguin.com.au/covers-jpg/9780143304388.jpg" alt="Siggy and Amber: A boy. A girl. A ghostly puzzle" class="coverimage" border="0" /><br />There is something strange at Tallis Point.<span> </span>Siggy knows, because he's seen it.<span> </span>And now the mysterious, non-blonde Amber want to see it too.<br />Should Siggy take Amber to Tallis Point?<span> </span>On the good side, he might end up with a girlfriend.<span> </span>On the bad side, he might explode.<span> </span>It's a tough decision.<br />Funny, touching, and outrageous, Siggy and Amber is Doug MacLeod at his very best.<br /><br /><img style="width: 179px; height: 272px;" src="http://www.penguin.com.au/covers-jpg/9780141325170.jpg" alt="Angel Cake" class="coverimage" border="0" /><br />Anya used to dream of moving to Britain to start a brand-new life. But as she sits in a school where nobody understands her, she dreams of Polish summer skies and the place where she once belonged.Then Anya meets bad boy Dan. He's no angel, but she's sure there's a sweeter side to him. And when things begin to fall apart, Anya realizes she's not alone - how can Dan be such bad news when being with him feels like heaven?<br /><br /><img src="http://www.penguin.com.au/covers-jpg/9780143006275.jpg" alt="Halfway to Good" class="coverimage" border="0" /><br />It's the first day of Term One, and Luke and Anna are on opposite sides of the student-teacher divide. School is the last thing Luke feels like - how can he feel halfway to good when his father is sick, his mother is sad and his older brother is painfully present?Anna's life still revolves around love, friendship and homework, but she's a graduate teacher now. Can she cope with a bullying co-worker, a persistent ex-boyfriend and a class of unforgiving Year Elevens, and still find time to help Luke?<br /><br /><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6438943-the-red-queen-s-daughter"><img style="width: 197px; height: 295px;" alt="The Red Queen's Daughter" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1241233853l/6438943.jpg" /></a><br />Mary Seymour is the daughter of the great Katherine Parr--the last Queen of Henry VIII. Orphaned at a young age because of her mother's bad marriage to Thomas Seymour, Mary determines early on that love is a sentiment that causes foolishness at best, and death at worst. She is sent to be raised by Lady Strange, a mysterious noblewoman who informs her of her destiny: Mary is to be a white magician who will join Queen Elizabeth's court and ensure her safe reign.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.jacquelinekolosov.com/images/disorder-cover.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 177px; height: 266px;" src="http://www.jacquelinekolosov.com/images/disorder-cover.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Sixteen-year old Miranda has no idea how much her life is going to change upon hearing the news of her father's death. Left with little dowry to offer, Miranda faces a broken engagement, and is sent to live with her father's cousin, the Count John Hardwood, and his wife whose primary goal is to take her to Court and marry her off to the insufferable Lord Seagrave for their own profit.<br /><br /> <img style="width: 182px; height: 272px;" src="http://www.claudiagray.com/img/evernight_cover.jpg" alt="" /><br />When the story begins in <b><i>Evernight</i></b>, Bianca has just left the small town where she's spent her whole life. She's a new student at Evernight Academy, a creepily Gothic boarding school where her classmates are somehow too perfect: smart, sleek and almost predatory. Bianca knows she doesn't fit in.Then she meets Lucas, another loner, who seems fiercely determined not to be the "Evernight type." There's a connection between Bianca and Lucas that can't be denied. She would risk anything to be with him—but dark secrets are fated to tear them apart... and to make Bianca question everything she's ever believed to be true.<br /><br /><br /><img style="float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 82px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2k_EU2oAQcBmrao8RSayxCqUFBQkmbXGDe692SwKm8JvMaB6MqYQVUnDHCdwLvEusCx7JvoZUmxmTO5t2O5UrxAxyZt8Andmd_Qc9KRxHGnZdppgh6syYtqBCdEnjLuRExPIpXOaf5Y8t/s200/ImagingService.ashx.png" /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><!-- AddThis Button BEGIN --><script type="text/javascript">var addthis_pub="lisamay</script><a style="font-style: italic;" name="data:post.title" id="data:post.url" onmouseover="'return" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()"></a><div style="font-style: italic;"><script type="text/javascript" src="http://s7.addthis.com/js/152/addthis_widget.js"></script></div><a style="font-style: italic;" name="data:post.title" id="data:post.url" onmouseover="'return" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()"></a> <a style="font-style: italic;" name="data:post.title" id="data:post.url" onmouseover="'return" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()"></a> <a style="font-style: italic;" name="data:post.title" id="data:post.url" onmouseover="'return" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()"></a> <a style="font-style: italic;" name="data:post.title" id="data:post.url" onmouseover="'return" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()"></a> <a style="font-style: italic;" name="data:post.title" id="data:post.url" onmouseover="'return" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()"></a> <a style="font-style: italic;" name="data:post.title" id="data:post.url" onmouseover="'return" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()"></a> <a style="font-style: italic;" name="data:post.title" id="data:post.url" onmouseover="'return" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()"><img src="http://s7.addthis.com/static/btn/lg-share-en.gif" alt="" style="border: 0pt none ;" width="125" border="0" height="16" /></a><!-- AddThis Button END -->LisaMayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16327089752434421382noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7845350357383801732.post-76429429483121453892009-05-08T23:44:00.000-07:002009-05-09T00:15:00.515-07:00Review: Evernight by Claudia Gray<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.harpercollins.com/harperimages/isbn/large/6/9780732289676.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 178px; height: 274px;" src="http://www.harpercollins.com/harperimages/isbn/large/6/9780732289676.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>This book really drew me in. At first I was slightly sceptical, after all it is <span style="font-style: italic;">another </span>vampire book and after <span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Twilight</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span>there YA vampire market has exploded so I was hoping that <span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Evernight </span></span>would bring something interesting and different to the table. And it did, it was great! I devoured it.... actually I pretty much inhaled it :)<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Bianca is starting school at Evernight Academy‚ a prestigious boarding school deep in the countryside‚ and from the first day‚ she can′t wait to escape. Her parents‚ who are teachers there‚ are sure she′ll be happy‚ but Bianca has a feeling there′s something seriously wrong with the place. Something evil lurking in the shadowy woods at the edge of the school grounds...</span><br /><br />So the boarding school setting has this awesome Harry Potter-esque vibe which I thought was very cool. With the whole old, stone building and dorm rooms and things like that. I thought <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Claudia Gray </span>created this very spooky atmosphere, which is a perfect setting for vampires, and the school castle was a major part of that, as well as the creepy surrounding woods.<br /><br />I felt the book was sort of in two parts, as there is a major plot twist in the middle which totally turns everything around. It was a good one too! So much so that I really didn't see it coming and felt a little cheated when it was revealed, but then I thought back and there were a lot of clever hints and things (that I totally missed) and it was actually really well done.<br /><br />In fact, the whole plot and storyline was impressive; it was very detailed (but not in a confusing way) and when it came to the end and things started to get explained it was very satisfying to see all the bits and pieces start to fall in to place.<br /><br />The main character, Bianca, was interesting and fresh although she was supposed to be shy but I didn't really see that too much! It's a pretty small thing, really, but I liked how Bianca thought of herself as beautiful, not in a full-of-herself kind of way, just in that she appreciated herself - it really stuck out for me. The secondary characters were also great, so much so that I'd be really interested to read about some of the other student's stories. (There was one character - Ranulf - who was barely in it but everytime he was mentioned I laughed out loud, it was a bit of a running joke)<br /><br />I am <span style="font-style: italic;">so</span> looking forward to the sequel, <span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Stargazer</span></span>, which isn't out in Australia until July. There is so much more that needs to happen and I can't wait to read about it. You can read more about <span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Evernight </span></span><a href="http://www.harpercollins.com.au/books/9780732289676/Evernight/index.aspx" target="'blank_'">here</a>.<br /></div><br /><div><img style="float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 82px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2k_EU2oAQcBmrao8RSayxCqUFBQkmbXGDe692SwKm8JvMaB6MqYQVUnDHCdwLvEusCx7JvoZUmxmTO5t2O5UrxAxyZt8Andmd_Qc9KRxHGnZdppgh6syYtqBCdEnjLuRExPIpXOaf5Y8t/s200/ImagingService.ashx.png" /></div><!-- AddThis Button BEGIN --><script type="text/javascript">var addthis_pub="lisamay</script><a name="data:post.title" id="data:post.url" onmouseover="'return" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()"></a><div><script type="text/javascript" src="http://s7.addthis.com/js/152/addthis_widget.js"></script></div><a name="data:post.title" id="data:post.url" onmouseover="'return" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><img src="http://s7.addthis.com/static/btn/lg-share-en.gif" alt="" style="border: 0pt none ;" width="125" border="0" height="16" /></a><!-- AddThis Button END -->LisaMayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16327089752434421382noreply@blogger.com9