A Life Bound By Books

Yep, it's time for a contest!! I figured since I've hit 150+ followers.... As a big Thank You to each of you, I thought I'd hold a contest! This time it's going to be different. For now, there will be TWO winners and if I get enough new followers and entries I MIGHT add in another winner. So here's the contest info.

The First Place winner will win $15 and The Second Place Winner will win $10 to use at The Book Depository. If The Book Depository ships to you, feel free to enter.

Back in December I asked you guys to fill out a form and let me know what 3 books you'd like to win. I mentioned that those who filled out the form would get an extra entry into a contest and this is it. So, if you haven't filled out the form by now, sorry! And if you have, those entries have been added in for you already.

- Rules to follow for this contest are pretty simple:


Once the winners are chosen - they will be contacted via email and have 72 hours to respond before another winner or winners are selected. Each will need to be able to tell me what book or books they'd like sent to them from the Book Depository. As a winner if you can find 2 or 3 books at or under the $15 or $10 amount - then they will be yours!

Contest is open to anyone and everyone The Book Despository Ships to.

Contest ends on March 15th, 2010.

Winner(s) will be picked at random using random.org.

Please no entries in comments, those will not count. Filling out the form is manditory.

You MUST be at least 13 years old to enter. Since I have no way to check this, I'm counting on everyone to be honest. Anyone under 18 please have your parents permission. Thanks.

Any other questions, email and ask away. Thanks to all who enter and GOOD LUCK!

So, I just choose my winner, via random.org for the ARC contest I was holding that ended last night for "The Good Girl's Guide To Getting Kidnapped".

The lucky winner is..............



Congrats Robin!!!

I've emailed and she has 72 hours to respond before I pick another winner.

Keep an eye out here, another couple contests are coming up VERY SOON!

Title: The Green Bronze Mirror
Author: Lynne Patricial Newark
Publisher: CnPosner Books, 128 Pages (August 30th 2009)
From: CnPosner Books

Synopsis: A schoolgirl looks into an old bronze mirror and finds herself transported in the Rome of Emperor Nero.

Review: 2 Stars - The Green Bronze mirror is a reprint of a YA title that was originally printed back in 1966. This new version comes to us with illustrations By: Philip Smiley.

The story takes place in what would be current times. Our main character – a fifteen year old girl by the name of Karen is wandering around a beach in England and comes across a Green Bronze Mirror that magically takes her back in time over 2000 years to when Nero ruled Rome. She’s found by some Roman soldiers and is mistaken to be a slave. She’s force to travel back with them to Rome and be sold to the highest bidder.

This book was sometimes confusing as to who was speaking during many conversations and I found it hard to believe that even a 15 year old, no matter the year – 1966 or 2010 wouldn’t be freaking out by not only the HUGE difference in year, but to be forced to live as a slave and really not be worried or do much about it. It was just not something I could see any one taking as easily as Karen did. It frustrated me that she just lived this way for months before showing any sign of wanting to find a way back and finally when she did show interest in going home, the ending felt rushed.

I think I would have enjoyed this story further if we would have been told more of the adventure our main character had while traveling back to find the mirror. The little glimpse we did get to see of this journey as Karen and her companion, a slave boy name Kleon was the most interesting parts of the story. I have to say that he – Kleon was the also a better part of this book. I wish the author would have let us see a little more into who he really was.

The copy I have has many printing errors and I’m not sure if this is an ARC/Galley printing or if this is a completed version, however this also took away from the story. I think that might have added to the confusion as mentioned above.

The idea for this book is a good one. Not lacking from adventure and would give younger readers a chance to use their imagination throughout the story. I think this book might be for to young of a read for me to be able to connect with any of the characters. I could see a younger audience liking this for the adventure that this story was. I would suggest this as a book for anyone around 10-14, boys or girls. It’s a read that would give any younger reader an idea of life and times in Rome some 2000+ years ago.
 
FTC Disclaimer: I did not pay for this book, nor have I been compensated at all in any way or means for reading and writing this review.

Title: Catching Fire
Author: Suzanne Collins
Publisher: Scholastic Press, 391 Pages (September 1st 2009)
From: Amazon

Synopsis: Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has won the annual Hunger Games with fellow district tribute Peeta Mellark. But it was a victory won by defiance of the Capitol and their harsh rules. Katniss and Peeta should be happy. After all, they have just won for themselves and their families a life of safety and plenty.

But there are rumors of rebellion among the subjects, and Katniss and Peeta, to their horror, are the faces of that rebellion. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge.


Review: 5 Stars - AMAZING! This series just keeps getting better and better. It’s even more interesting and entertaining with now the second book in a Trilogy and the turn of each page! I didn’t know where Collins would take us in the second installment and was shocked and shocked some more as I read. As like with The Hunger Games I couldn’t get enough. The twists and turns were written perfectly. The characters all seemed to grow even before my eyes. The things that each character has to endure just were heartbreaking and breathtaking all rolled into a nice & shiny pretty orange book.

The way Collins writes is as if painting a picture or developing film before my eyes. The scenery is so easy to imagine as our hero’s face unimaginable and unbeatable odds over and over. The strength comes through in huge amounts as these people are faced to live in such a hard time. Each district is so vastly different from the other, however they are all faced with the same troubles.

From the horrible misuse of power within the Capitol and its ruthless President to each person living within the districts this book is something that shouldn’t be missed by any reader. As I’m sure just about everyone on the planet has read the first two books, I have to say if you haven’t you are missing out on something that’s more then a story, but a thrill ride from start to end. You won’t be disappointed. Go TEAM Peeta!

(This review has been kept short and to the point so I don’t give anything away.)

FTC Disclaimer: I DID pay for this book and have NOT been compensated at all in any way or means for reading and writing this review.

Title: I Don't Want To Be Crazy
Auhor: Samantha Shutz
Publisher: Push, 288 Pages (July 1st, 2006)
From: Crownbook Outlet

Synopsis: This is a true story of growing up, breaking down, and coming to grips with a psychological disorder. When Samantha Schutz first left home for college, she was excited by the possibilities -- freedom from parents, freedom from a boyfriend who was reckless with her affections, freedom from the person she was supposed to be.


At first, she revelled in the independence ... but as pressures increased , she began to suffer anxiety attacks that would leave her mentally shaken and physically incapacitated. Thus began a hard road of discovery and coping, powerfully rendered in this poetry memoir.

Review: 3 Stars - I picked up this book after reading it was about a girl heading to college and starts having trouble with anxiety. I've suffered with anxiety since I was 6 years old, so it's nothing new to me. It's always something that's hard to explain to people who don't suffer with it themselves. It’s always an easier said then done thing.

However this author - Samantha Shutz does a great job writing this affliction and her experiences as she suffered through her college years. It gives everyone who suffers, or not, such insight into the world of anxiety.

At times I found myself frustrated for the various drinking and drugs. It's never great to do either of those things, especially if you have anxiety or on medication. It frustrated how she should have known better. I wish I could say it's because this is another Fictional story, but it's not. As I mentioned above, it's based on the author’s experiences after leaving for college.

The aspects of the story when it comes to the anxiety were pretty spot on, however I didn't understand how she could travel. Maybe that's me drawing from my own travel problems due to anxiety, but being stuck in a classroom in college and being stuck in a plane... I'd think that the smaller plane would cause more trouble when you compare the two.

However, there's no rhyme or reason to how anyone person gets stuck with this horrible illness and there's no rhyme or reason as to what you'll feel like from one day to the next. Each person is different in how they see and feel things, so it's right to say that each person with anxiety would be affected differently when it comes to some things. This book showed me just how similar yet how different people with anxiety are afflicted.

If your someone who has anxiety or know someone who does, this is a great book to read to get a better understanding of things, if not just to know your not alone out there and to feel like it's not only you.

FTC Disclaimer: I DID pay for this book and have NOT been compensated at all in any way or means for reading and writing this review.

Steph Su Reads is holding a contest to celebrate her Blogoversary!! And talk about a giveaway!! Head on over to check out the great books and prizes she's offering. Contest is open International and closes on Feb. 28th, 2010.

Title: Jerk, California
Author: Jonathan Friesen
Publisher: Puffin/Speak, 352 Pages (September 4th 2008)
From: Crownbook Outlet

Synopsis: Twitch, Jerk, Freak, Sam Carrier has been called them all. Because of his Tourette's syndrome, Sam is in near constant motion with tics and twitches and verbal outbursts. So, of course, high school is nothing but torment. Forget friends; forget even hoping that beautiful, perfect Naomi will look his way. And home isn't much better with his domineering stepfather reminding him that the only person who was more useless than Sam was his dead father, Jack.

But then an unexpected turn of events unearths the truth about his father. And suddenly Sam doesn't know who he is, or even where he'll go next. What he does know is that the only girl in the world who can make him happy and nervous at the same time is everywhere he turns . . . and he'd give anything just to be still.

Review: 4 Stars - Jerk, California took us on a journey of Sam, a teenager with Tourett’s syndrome. The beginning of the book shows us just how hard Sam had things at home and just how misunderstood the condition was during the time. His step father is the worst of all. Treated Sam as badly as anyone could be treated, tourrets or not. Sam enjoys going on long runs because it’s one of the only things he can do and count on where he’s in full control of his body.

As soon as he graduates he’s left more or less to fend for himself and chooses to leave home. His mother is helpless and pretty scared of her new husband that she doesn’t do or say anything to help Sam out when it comes to his stepfather. He finds solace in the town hermit and takes a job and moves in with him. This hermit, who turns out to know more about Sam – or Jack then he can even believe. He also knows quiet a bit about his father and his death. It’s a great twist to the story as we see and follow Sam’s changes in and about life, as he learns more and finds out some truths that turn out to be exactly the opposite he’s been told growing up his whole life.

Sam does have a crush throughout the book, Naomi and with yet again another turn of events finds himself on a journey, with Naomi - which his father left for him to take. A trip that will take him to see his dad’s work in the windmills he’s built all over the country and the people who knew who his dad really was.

It was great to see how freeing the truth is and just how much all this was needed to fit the pieces of Sam’s, or rather Jack’s life together. At times the story was bitter sweet however it all worked perfectly with the flow of things. In the end it’s really all about the mental and emotional journey we see Sam/Jack go through. The ending fit perfectly. I could see how this ending would bother some people, but I really liked this - where you could see just how okay Sam/Jack was going to be, showing just how far he had come through everything. I would suggest just about anyone to read this… from mid to late teens on up. For me it had some great messages to it, I’m sure others would get as well.

FTC Disclaimer: I DID pay for this book and have NOT been compensated at all in any way or means for reading and writing this review.