Saturday, September 17, 2011

Sunday Stealing: The Lower 40 Meme, Part Two

Cheers to all of us thieves!

21) Have you ever flown a kite? Yes - it's lots of fun.

22) Do you wish on your fallen lashes? No, just those dandelion things in the summer.

23) Do you consider yourself successful? Didn't I answer this last week? Not really but I feel like my kids are.

24) When was the last time that you made an obscene phone call? Well I wouldn't really call it obscene but when I was a teenager I crank called a couple of people pretending to be from our local adult bookstore about certain late movies...one guy got really upset because he swore he returned them! We laughed our butts off and decided to quit while we were ahead.

25) Have you ever asked for a pony? Yes, have I ever gotten one? no...

26) Plans for tomorrow? Work for friends in the AM, church, then the Andersons for Chris' birthday dinner. C is getting him a cake.

27) Can you juggle? we learned to juggle the light scarves in high school, it would take practice to do even that much now.

28) Missing someone now? Yes, always.

29) When was the last time you told someone "I love you"? I think last night.

30) And truly meant it? Last night. I never say it if I don't feel it.

31) How often do you drink alcohol? daily...most days I have just a shot of rum in a big glass of juice. If we have it on hand.

32) How are you feeling today? slightly sickish, definitely tired.

33) Have you every tried to write a meme? No, I can't even think of interview questions for authors, that's why I just tell them to write anything.

34) Have you ever been fired from a job? Once but it was because I quit. Yeah, figure that one out!

35) What are you looking forward to? A hot bubble bath

36) Have you ever crawled through a window? Yup, many, many times. And yet I still forget my keys.

37) What's the most recent bad meal that you had to endure? I remember in college I went home with a friend and her mom made pig's feet for dinner. It was so GROSS...I chocked down a few bites, said I really wasn't hungry as we ate a big meal earlier in the day and then after dinner made my friend take me to Burger King because I was starving.

38) Can you handle the truth? yes, but can you?

39) Whose to blame for what's going on? Probably Satan, doesn't he do all the bad stuff?

40) What will it take to fix it all up? Kill Satan? Oh no that's not possible. I know, everyone quick, grow up and be respectful and responsible!

Friday, September 16, 2011

The Mockingbirds

by: Daisy Whitney

Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble

Synopsis:
Some schools have honor codes.
Others have handbooks.
Themis Academy has the Mockingbirds.

Themis Academy is a quiet boarding school with an exceptional student body that the administration trusts to always behave the honorable way--the Themis Way. So when Alex is date raped during her junior year, she has two options: stay silent and hope someone helps her, or enlist the Mockingbirds--a secret society of students dedicated to righting the wrongs of their fellow peers.

In this honest, page-turning account of a teen girl's struggle to stand up for herself, debut author Daisy Whitney reminds readers that if you love something or someone--especially yourself--you fight for it.


Funny little story - you all know I do reviews here, hunting down publishers to get review copies. I'm at the Salvation Army with my boys and I find an "Advanced Reading Copy - NOT FOR SALE" for $0.49. The title reminded me of To Kill a Mockingbird, and this is referenced in this book quite often. My cover has a redish tint to it, and I have to say I like that better than the blue. But that's the only difference.

One reviewer at Amazon criticized the quote on the cover which says "Hush little students, don't say a word..." and says that this made him expect a thriller. So not too surprising to see where his disappointment came from. And I think he makes a valid point, it takes away from the actual plot of the story.

Alex wakes up in a boys room, with no idea how she got there, where her clothes went or even who the boy is. It does come to her slowly through the story. But basically she got really drunk and was date raped. I loved how Alex's friends gave her unwavering support and helped her get help.

I hated that the school was useless. The teachers want the school to be full of the best of the best so they ignore anything bad that happens. The students take matters into their own hands by creating a group that doles out justice among the students. It has amazing checks and balances and both parties agree to take the punishment whatever the outcome.

I really, really loved the teacher that told her that it didn't matter if she had the time of her life with Carter, she was too drunk to give consent and what he did was wrong. I don't think teenage girls should read this, I think ALL teenagers should read this. I don't think we do enough to teach personal responsibility. Carter thought since they were making out prior that she wanted it. Even though she said she wanted to go home, even when she tried to push him off. She was too drunk to fight back and his only defense was that she didn't say "no." Well she didn't say anything, she was mostly sleeping.

I also found it amazing to find the author herself is a victim of date rape. Something that is really the hardest form of rape to prove and prosecute. I think this book is a great addition to the fight.

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

The Sniffles for Bear

Story by: Bonny Becker
Illustrated by: Kady MacDonald Denton

Available from Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Synopsis:
Bear has a terrible cold. In fact, Bear is quite sure that no one has ever been as sick as he is. So when Mouse comes tap, tap, tapping on his front door eager to make Bear "as good as new" by reading a sunny story, singing a rousing chorus, and plinking a twangy tune on his banjo, the pitifully coughing Bear—growing weaker by the minute—is convinced that his tiny friend does not appreciate the gravity of the situation. Can there be any saving Bear from his certain demise? Welcome the world’ s most lovable curmudgeon and his endearing, unstoppable sidekick in a wry new comedy sure to have even red-eyed, sniffly nosed readers rolling with laughter.

I was so excited when I received this book in the mail. The Andersons bought A Visitor for Bear when CW had his tonsils taken out and it is one of our favorite books now. We checked out A Sleepover for Bear from the library and enjoyed that too. I saw this (due out September 13) I hunted down the publisher.

The Bear books are great at demonstrating how to be a good friend. They show that it takes hard work and determination. It also shows that it's not always perfect. Bear can be downright cranky at times, but Mouse doesn't waver.

In this story Bear is sick and convinced he is dying. Well we've all been there. It does get silly when he asks mouse to help him to bed (up stairs! lol) and then has Mouse take down his will. Mouse doesn't leave Bear's side, except to make him some soup. He does everything Bear asks and does his best to cheer him up.

I love the writing, it's a very comfortable flow that never feels awkward being read out loud. The pictures are muted in color and just so pretty. It's the other reason I like the books so much. The pictures have a calming sensation, the kids enjoy looking through them on their own. When I read this book for the first time, the kids looked like they were watching TV. lol

So yes, if you have young children you need to add this to the library.

Monday, September 12, 2011

Foxy's Tale: The Relunctant Vampire, Book One

by: LB Gschwandtner and Karen Fraunfelder Cantwell

Available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Smashwords.

Synopsis:
A comic, chick lit tale wherein former beauty queen Foxy Anders has fallen on hard times and rents an apartment to mysterious, bumbling Myron Standlish who’s arrived in the city looking for a long lost trunk containing who knows what. When Foxy’s teenage daughter, Amanda hooks up with Nick, a cute guy at school, while getting cooking lessons from Foxy's new assistant Knot, they’re all in for some romance with a dash of suspense and a sprinkle of supernatural. And laughs ... as an added bonus.

Let's see, cover has that cute cartoon thing going on again. It's a paranormal novel but it's so unique. Really that's the best word I can think to use here. I've read so many over the last two years that sometimes I cringe for the first few pages. Thank God for the good paranormal writers out there - you know who you are!

There is just a hint of vampires in this book, nothing out in the open. Foxy is running an antique business, luckily one of the first tenants Knot Knudsen (pronounce the Ks) has a flair for her business and really she would have been lost without him. Next comes in this old Jewish man Myron Standlish. You know I spent half the book reading Standish until a character pointed out that Standlish was a little off if he was hoping to sound more American. I almost went back to re-read the book. I probably will someday. LOL

Amanda hates the new house, living with strangers and mostly her mother. I don't blame her. Foxy gets on my last nerve. She spends money as fast as she gets it and doesn't try to connect to her daughter and just tries to change her. Amanda has this Goth thing going on and I love the point made in the story that Amanda is hiding her true self, not trying to make some obnoxious statement. I'll never look at a strange teen the same again.

She becomes friends...and a little more...with Nick, a normal teen boy. Until we find out some crazy lady vampire and her sisters are trying to make him a vampire and have been feeding off him. The only person he can trust is Amanda.

Well you'll never believe how this works out. First I was in shock...it was so unexpected...I mean you'll never ever guess. And then after I got over my shock I laughed and laughed. It's a different book, very quirky, very fun.
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