Bits and pieces

BOOKS

Today I had more than one reason to be cheerful. Spring is in full bloom. My day in work went by pretty fast. We had a fire drill, so we got to close a bit earlier...AND I had two books that I was looking for just waiting for me! One was *actually* for me. I had requested to scholastic one of their ARC of What I saw and how I lied by Judy Blundell and I finally got it! The second one was the first chapter of the new Sarah Water, which has being printed in a lovely red hard-back edition which simply reads "The New Sarah Waters". I'd rather have the whole thing, but what you gonna do. I've started it already, it's about 60 pages, but the second chapter is going to be up on her website on Friday 8th May. Which reminds me...Virago press is giving their readers a chance to win the proper signed book on their website! They don't say if it's open to any country, but you can always try:) Open till May 1st.

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READ-A-THON AFTERTHOUGHTS

Two days after the Read-a-thon, I'm still thinking about it. I had a great time, and I'd like to thank all the people who took their time to stop by and encourage me. I loved it. But also, I'm already thinking about the next time. I think I'm going to properly schedule my hours, not to get too distracted. I'm going to carefully choose the books beforehand. I'm going to have ready meals at hand. And I'm going to host a mini challenge. The first ideas I've had is this:
Get people to choose a quote from the book they're reading at the moment. Post it on their blog. They will have maybe 1 hour or 2 to do it. Then in the following couple of hours anybody posted a quote gets to choose their favourite quote from other bloggers' quotes and declare it in my blog's comments. I'll randomly pick one name from the comments, and I'll buy the winner that book. What you think? Too complicated? Anyway, if it's a crap idea I have lots of time to think of something better:p

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SEEDS UPDATE

Remember when I found that envelope with seeds inside? Well, now I'm growing those seeds, and look what they've become! I've taken this picture a week ago, now they're even taller! But now I don't know what I'm supposed to do. Should I put them in a bigger pot? Should I use little sticks to keep them straight. I'm so afraid to touch them, they look extremely fragile! I think the smartest idea would be to look in a gardening book, wouldn't it? lol

Read-a-thon: The end!

Pages read since last update: 24 + 108+ 14= 146
Total Pages read: 612
Books finished: 2 + 2 halves (which should make a whole one but, er, no)
Mini-challenges: 0
Mini-challenges total: 4
food and drinks consumed: more grapes and tucs.
Number of times I filled my hot water bottle since the start: still 5.
Random thoughts: I'll leave it for the final meme. The only thing I want to add is that I've realise just now that I've been counting the pages all wrong so I have to back and edit the posts!! jayzes...

1. Which hour was most daunting for you?
I don't know, it kind of flew by and I never thought I couldn't stay awake anymore. But I suppose hours 19-20, when I had my second cup of coffee, were the hardest.
2. Could you list a few high-interest books that you think could keep a Reader engaged for next year?
Loser by Jenny Spinelli. Such a charming book!
Also: Graphic novels, graphic novels, graphic novels. You'll feel you are cheating a bit, but it'll boost your page-count enormously!
3. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year?
I loved it just the way it was.
4. What do you think worked really well in this year’s Read-a-thon?
The feed blog was a great addition. And everything was so very well organized!
5. How many books did you read?
I finished 2 books, Loser by Jerry Spinelli and Embroideries by Marjane Satrapi. I read about 160 pages of The Poison Throne which I'm eager to finish (it's 468 pages long, but I had already started it before, so now I'm halfway throught it). The last hour I've read half of Laika by Nick Abadziz. Also I've read one short story by Charles de Lint "Big City Littles) and in the morning at the beginning, I finished the last 10 pages or so of Safe Area Goradze by Joe Sacco.
6. What were the names of the books you read?
Answered above.
7. Which book did you enjoy most?
I loved everything I've read, especially the two I've finished!
8. Which did you enjoy least?
See above.
9. If you were a Cheerleader, do you have any advice for next year’s Cheerleaders?
me no cheerleader.
10. How likely are you to participate in the Read-a-thon again? What role would you be likely to take next time?
If I can, I'll do it again and again and again...Next time I'd like to be a reader, but also host a mini-challenge.

Special mention: I've won one prize at Bart's for guessing the covers. Yuppi! Also I think I might have been assigned a book at Debbie's but I'm not sure now.

And that's it. I got to Mabon now.

Read-a-thon: hour 22

Pages read since last update:104
Total Pages read: 430
Books finished: 2
Mini-challenges: 0.
Mini-challenges total: still 4
food and drinks consumed: finished my 2nd cup of coffee.
Number of times I filled my hot water bottle since the start: still 5.
Random thoughts: Finished Loser by Jerry Spinelli! I never realised I'm such a slow reader. I shouldn't have counted the pages :P But I read the right book at the right time. It was all about redefining the concept of losing and winning so there you go. Now I have to rush to the final stretch!!!

Read-a-thon: hour 19

Pages read since last update:34
Total Pages read: 326
Books finished: 1
Mini-challenges: 0.
Mini-challenges total: still 4
food and drinks consumed: breakfast with grapes and cheese nachos. I shouldn't have had those nachos, I feel a bit funny now. Cup of coffee waiting to be consumed.
Number of times I filled my hot water bottle since the start: still 5.
Random thoughts: I was blown away by the sun rising at 6.30 am. A bright orange sphere on the horizon that appeared so suddenly I literally gasped. It looks like it's going to be the most beautiful day of the year. The book is still good. Me not so good, but holding on. Coffee ready at hand.
It's 7.27 now.

Read-a-thon update: hour 18

Pages read since last update:20
Total Pages read: 292
Books finished: 1
Mini-challenges: 0.
Mini-challenges total: still 4
food and drinks consumed: Just water.
Number of times I filled my hot water bottle since the start: still 5
Random thoughts: I'm so glad I've picked Loser! It's so funny and heartwarming, it's hard to get tired of it. The sky has turned a pale pink, and lilac in the distance. I'm feeling peckish, maybe I should have breakfast!

Read-a-thon update: hour 17

Pages read since last update: 60
Total Pages read: 272
Books finished: 1
Mini-challenges: 0.
Mini-challenges total: still 4
food and drinks consumed: Just water.
Number of times I filled my hot water bottle since the start: 5
Random thoughts: It's 5 am. It looks I've no intention to sleep this time.I've picked a completely unexpected book to read after Embroideries: Loser by Jerry Spinelli (=>big font, short book). Saying I'm loving it would be an understatement. One hour ago the birds started singing. Now they are wide awake. Still pitched dark outside. I'm not hungry. Is it worrying?

Oh Nymeth is on now! I love the picture she posted. I have to steal it.

Duvet still not tempting.

Read-a-thon update - hour 14 - Mid-Event Survey

Pages read since last update: 110
Total Pages read: 212
Books finished: 1
Mini-challenges: 2 (Debbies) + Mid-event survey.
Mini-challenges total: 4
food and drinks consumed: A cup of coffee.
Number of times I filled my hot water bottle since the start: still 3, I'm warm now.

Time for the Mid-Event Survey!

1. What are you reading right now?
I've just finished Embroideries. It was effing brilliant!!!I was in stitches at almost every page. Now I want to dig up anything Marjane Satrapi has done (beside Persepolis, which I've loved too).
Still pondering on what should I read next.

2. How many books have you read so far?

Finished 1, in the midst of another.

3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-thon?

Anything!I'm already very happy I'm still alive and kicking.

4. Did you have to make any special arrangements to free up your whole day?

Yes. I asked for the weekend off at work :D

5. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those?

LOTS. But they were all voluntary breaks so all my doings.

6. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon, so far?

How time flies when I'm enjoying myself. I know, old news.

7. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year?

No, it's great!

8. What would you do differently, as a Reader or a Cheerleader, if you were to do this again next year?

Try to clear my head before starting. At first my thoughts were drifting away to other things too much.

Also I'd love to host a mini-challenge!

9. Are you getting tired yet?

A wee bit. Coffee is making me kind of hyper.

10. Do you have any tips for other Readers or Cheerleaders, something you think is working well for you that others may not have discovered?

Not really. I'm the one who needs tips :P

Oh wait, I forgot I haven't taken my Eye Burrito out of the freezer yet!! It might come in handy.

Read-a-thon update - hour 12

Pages read since last update: 46
Total Pages read: 102
Books finished: 0
Mini-challenges: 0
Mini-challenges total: 2
food and drinks consumed: burger. Very filling, don't think I'll have anything else for a long time. Lots of water. Gonna make my first cup of coffee soon 'cause I'm faltering a bit. But it's only 12.
Number of times I filled my hot water bottle since the start: 3
Random thoughts: Oh I wish I were faster. The Poison Throne gets better and better the more I read. I've passed the first half just at about midnight! Very simbolic. But if I want a feeling of accomplishment I'll have to abandon it and get something short. Yes, I think I'll tackle Embroideries next. Accompanied by a cup of coffee with lots of honey!

Read-a-thon update - hour 8 almost 9

Pages read since last update: 36
Total Pages read: 92
Books finished: 0
Mini-challenges since last update: 0
total mini-challenges: 2
Prizes won: 1
food and drinks consumed: Tucs, apple juice. Gonna make a burger soon.
Random thoughts: Gotta speed up! I'm loving this book, but the pages are loooong so it doesn't look like I've read much. Also there's 278 pages to go and at this rate doesn't look like I can finish it. Ah well. Tucs are yummi cream crackers which I should stop eating cause they're very very fat. Instead I'm planning a home-made burger, to stay on the healthy side:P
Oh and I've won a prize at Bart's!! So awesome! Dunno what yet.

Read-a-thon update - hour 5 and 1/2

Pages read since last update: 40
Total Pages read: 56
Books finished: 0
Mini-challenges: 2 (intro and Bart's)
food and drinks consumed: Tucs, apple juice, more ham,cheese and tomatoes on bread. Full for now!
Random thoughts: Starting to enjoy The Poison Throne. Lots of mystery and intrigues at court, with some fantasy elements thrown in. Must go for a walk before it get's dark. It's 17.40 pm now.

It's Read-a-thon time!

I'm so excited! This morning I've taken my time in bed, trying to sleep as much as possible so that tonight I won't be knackered at midnight as usual :P
And then I've made myself a yummi breakfast with honey tea, ham cream cheese and tomatoes on toasted bread, and apple juice, and I had it on bed surrounded by books. That put me right in the mood.

So after a couple of hours of reading here and there I figured it was time to do my intro-meme:

Where are you reading from today?

My house in Dublin. Probably mostly from bed cause it's comfy, but I'll move to the couch at some point. It's a sunny day so I'm thinking of going to the nearest park, but I'm afraid it'll be too cold, so I might just as well stay in :D

3 facts about me …

I can't wait for the summer.
Love swimming and sunbathing
and reading on the beach. That's 4 already...

How many books do you have in your TBR pile for the next 24 hours?

Potentially all the ones on my shelves, they are mostly unread books so I only need to choose. I'm leaning toward the following for now:
The Poison Throne
Embroideries (for when I get tired of little words with no pictures)
The House at pooh corner (when I get tired of the adult world)
The shadow of the wind (if I feel ambitious and not tired after reading The poison throne)
I've used "tired" too much. Must be more optimistic.

Do you have any goals for the read-a-thon (i.e. number of books, number of pages, number of hours, or number of comments on blogs)?

Yes, read lots! Blog less. Last October I reviewed books as soon I finished. But as much fun as that was, it took a lot of time from my reading so I won't do it.

If you’re a veteran read-a-thoner, Any advice for people doing this for the first time?

I'm not a veteran, only done it once as a reader. If you're doing for the first time my advice is not to set too many goals because they might take the fun out of it and stress you out too much. Also, check out all the mini challenges that are on. It's great for when you want to do something different and it makes you feel part of a big group of (crazy) people even more!

Read-a-thon: Final Meme

Ahhhh. I'm after shower, I washed up and tidied a bit around and now it's time to do a wrap up of these very intense 24 hours of reading and blogging. I really enjoyed myself but if there's something I want to improve next time is the amount of reading. I think I took too many breaks and could have read another book easily. Also I should probably drink more coffee so I could stay awake more. I did 19 hours, I could have done all of them if I were a bit more caffeinated! I loved blogging about my reading straight after finishing a book. It helped to process what I had read and to prepare the ground for the next one. I think I should do that more often! Now for the questions...

1. Which hour was most daunting for you?

Hour 15. It was 3 a.m., didn't have enough caffeine in me and decided it was time to sleep a bit. I set the alarm for 9 a.m. but I was already awake at 8!

2. Could you list a few high-interest books that you think could keep a Reader engaged for next year?

Definitely Coraline by Neil Gaiman, all the Dangerous Angels series by Francesca Lia Block, and also Oranges in no man's land by Elizabeth Laird, because it's very short but satisfying.

3. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year?

It was perfect the way it was.

4. What do you think worked really well in this year’s Read-a-thon?

I was amaze how quick the new posts for each hour went up. There were prizes for everything which was great, and the support from the bloggers was always there. Loved it.

5. How many books did you read?

Four, but the first I had already started before the read-a-thon. So 3 and a half.

6. What were the names of the books you read?

The white tiger by Aravind Adiga, Oranges in no man's land by Elizabeth Laird, Cherokee Bat and the goat guys by Francesca Lia Block and Coraline by Neil Gaiman.

7. Which book did you enjoy most?

Cherokee Bat and the goat guys. But the rest were good too.

8. Which did you enjoy least?

The white tiger, for various reasons, but it kept my interest up so I didn't hate it.

9. If you were a Cheerleader, do you have any advice for next year’s Cheerleaders?

I wasn't one but I think Nymeth had a good idea about having a cheerleader assigned for certain blogs, although you will probably need a lot more cheerleaders to cover all the blogs the whole time. I wouldn't mind being one next time even for one hour!

10. How likely are you to participate in the Read-a-thon again? What role would you be likely to take next time?

Very likely! If I can I will. I want to be a reader, but I could do some cheerleading as well, for an hour or two.

Read-a-thon: and the fourth book is down too! (Coraline)

I couldn't have asked for a better fourth book. Neil Gaiman has yet to disappoint me and I hope he never will.
I started this late last night and it was just the right amount of creepiness for the hour. Then I had to take a little break and kept going in the morning. But the kind of day I woke up into was still perfect for the atmosphere. It was grey and cloudy and the wind made rustling noises through the leaves in the garden. It kept me in the right mood the whole way through.
Coraline is the tale of a brave young girl who has just moved in to a old big house with her parents. She loves to explore the unknown surroundings and discover new hidden places. But one day, when the rain is lashing outside, and there's absolutely nothing to do at home, she decides to open the door in the dusty drawing room, ignoring the warnings of the circus mice and the message in the tea leaves. The door should only open into a brick wall, but this time it shows a dark corridor. The moment she steps in, Coraline falls into the trap of a mysterious creature...
Coraline is an adventurer though, and is ready to accepts the challenge, when her other mother, with buttons for eyes and bony long hands wants to keep her in her house forever. With the help of a sarcastic cat and her sharp intuition Coraline fights back with all her strength in this dreamlike, deceptive and truly creepy parallel world.
The initial quote at the beginning of the book tells us what this is all about:
Fairy tales are more than true: not because they tell us than dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten.

G.K. Chesterton

So, although scary and dangerous, Coraline's adventure is also an encouragement to *not* to be afraid of monsters in the dark. Monsters want you to be afraid, so that they can control you. The moment you challenge them, you're already a step ahead.
I know that if I had read this when I was a child I would have been frightened to death. But it's likely I would identify with Coraline and try to be brave against the shadows in the cupboards or under the bed. After all she is only a little girl, small for her age, like I was, and she made it.
Of course now I'm not afraid anymore, I'm all grown up and rational now...yes, of course...sure.

Being brave against monsters is not the only lesson to learn from Coraline, though. At one point she says something very wise:
"If you stay here you can have whatever you want."
Coraline sighed "You don't understand, do you?" she said. "I don't want whatever I want! Nobody does. Not really. What kind of fun would it be if I just got everything I ever wanted? Just like that, and it didn't mean anything. What then?"

Yes, what then? a simple but plain truth.

Read-a-thon: back after a short nap...

...of 5 hours!!! I really needed it. Actually, my alarm was set for an hour later, but I must be impatient to keep reading my book...(and, man, my dreams were WEIRD!)
How's everybody going? here is morning, 20 past 8 to be precise, and it's time for a nice cup of coffe and some Coraline!:)

Read-a-thon: I finished my third book! (Cherokee Bat and the Goat Guys by Francesca Lia Block)

Oh it's getting hard here, but I'm still enjoying reading so I'm holding on. It's almost 2 a.m and it's time for some pot noodles and a mini-review update.

This is the third book in the Dangerous Angel series. I loved Weetzie Bat and Witch Baby so I had no doubt I would adore this one too. I was right.
There's something about Francesca Lia Block's writing that belongs to a magical world. I think she's a fairy in disguise, or she must have known a hippy fairy once who taught her to write like this. This book feels like a urban magic tale. Just read this passage, about Cherokee and Raphael, after making love for the first time:

"It was different. It was light-filled red waves braking on a beach again and again - a salt-stung fullness. It was being the waves and riding the waves. The bed lifted, the house and the lawn and the garden and the street and the night, one ocean rocking them, tossing them, an ocean of liquid coral roses."

Liquid coral roses...how does she come up with these images?
All her writing reads like a beautiful, colourful and shimmering poem. Or a song about young love, and young fears, about music and jealousy and the excitement of creating something powerful but dangerous as well.
I'm happy there's still two books to read, I could never get enough of this!

Read-a-thon: second book down! (Oranges in no man's land by Elizabeth Laird)

I can't believe it's already hour 9! I'm getting slightly sleepy but no way I'm going to sleep soon, I still lots of reading ahead. I had a lovely microwaveable dinner of turkey with mash, carrots and stuffing, and now I'm sipping my first cup of coffee. Time for my second update!

What a great short read Oranges in no man's land was! I knew I was going to like Elizabeth Laird. Just looking at the books she has written makes me love her. A Little Piece of ground set in Palestine. Or Kiss the Dust set in Iraq. And this in Lebanon during the civil war. She writes for children about difficult matters, that even adults feel uncomfortable about. Judging by this short wonderful story, she does it with a lot of heart and intelligence.
Oranges in no man's land is the story of Ayesha, a ten year-old girl living in Beirut as a refugee with her granny and her two little brothers. Her father is always away looking for job, and her mother was killed during a bombing raid. After her mother's death, they had to move into a communal building, sharing a big flat with other refugees. Here she meets Samar, a deaf girl the same age as her and the two become friends despite the difficulties in communication. Then one day Ayesha's granny falls sick and Ayesha makes a very brave decision. She will have to cross the invisible green line that divides the city, to reach the doctor who has the medicine to save her granny. But crossing the green line means passing two checkpoints and walking through the no man's land in between. Can a little girl survive all this?

Despite the war subject, or maybe due to it, the story is full of small (and big) gestures of kindness. A checkpoint soldier cuddling a baby, a fruit seller offering an orange for free to a girl, a doctor offering help without thinking twice. The refugees shared their house generously and almost felt like a great family. In a war zone life is not kind, but in this strangely uplifting tale, it's kindness and generosity that made a difference and saved a woman's life. That and the reckless courage of a little 10 year-old girl.

This was my first book my Elizabeth Laird and it certainly won't be the last.

Read-a-thon: One book down!(The White Tiger)

Wow, I loved being the blogger of the hour together with Chris!
So many of you, thanks so much especially for the Halloween's party suggestions. Some very cool ideas there, I will have to try some.


I've just finished The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga. I believe this is the first time I blog about a book I've just finished. I normally have plenty of time to think about what to write. So I'd say I skip "normal" reviews for this Read-a-thon and will just give you a general feel of the book.
The White Tiger was an unusual read for me. At first I had no idea how it was going to be like. You don't get the idea of what the book is going to be about till after few pages...At first you can only understand that an Indian guy is writing a letter to the China's Premier, Wen Jiabao (I had to google his name to check if he is actually the Chinese's Premier!) telling him about the truth about India and about Entrepreneurship. Through a series of seven letters, written during the night, The White Tiger tells him his story. Of how he became the man he is now, an entrepreneur in Bangalore, after being born from a poor family, on a small village along the river Ganga. Of how he managed to escape the Darkness (that's how the area along the river is called) and become the driver of a rich man. And of how he manipulated his future and became a business man.
This is not a pleasant read. It's about the darkest side of India. Its corruption, its poverty, its contradictions. For a while I wasn't sure when the book was supposed to take place. I supposed a long time ago. But then mentions of Internet, Harry Potter and mobile phone brought me back to reality. This is the 21st century India. Not a forgotten past. This is how things work now. I know it's a work of fiction, but as the author said, his fiction draws from the reality he experienced. I hope it wasn't in any way autobiographical though, but only inspired by what he saw.
I could never identify with the narrator. Although you might feel pity for him and for his fate that made him grow up in such poverty, he is a repulsive man, most of the time. He is sly, selfish, unpleasant, a liar with little heart for anyone except himself. He is not the worst man that you'll encounter in the book, no. Unfortunately. The book is full of rich corrupted men who would do anything to keep their power, poor helpless people who can't do anything to change the system, and rich cowards with no guts to say no to what's going on around.
So, it's hard to blame Balram, the narrator, for what he does to liberate himself.
I've read this book was anti-capitalist. It probably is because of the way it reveals India's dirty secrets and because it blames everything on the rich. It didn't have any answer to what could be done, though. It couldn't, because who told the story didn't want to change the system, but only find a safe spot in the world for himself. But you can tell where the heart of the writer is.
So, in conclusion, it was an interesting read. Not my favourite, but definitely worth it. I can't tell if it deserved to win. I haven't read the others and I'm not sure I will.
It sure helped me to understand India a lot more. It felt so drenched in reality I almost forgot it was fiction. It also had the merit to be easy to read. No struggling through the prose here, just straight to business. That's why I could finish it so fast.

That's all. I think I'm ready for something much much lighter now! It's getting dark already here and it's only ten to 7...but still many hours to go!

other reviews:


Caribousmom

Michelle at 1More Chapter

Marie at The Boston Bibliophile

Susannah at 7th Decade Thoughts

Karen at Bookbath

Mystic Wanderer at What I Am Reading

Dovegreyreader Scribbles

Raidergirl at An Adventure in Reading

Redhead Ramble

Read-a-thon: Introduction Meme

I just noticed this Introduction Meme,which is a perfect way to start talking about this reading binge I'm doing :)

Where are you reading from today?
From my house in Dublin, Ireland. I mostly read on the couch and on my bed.

3 facts about me …
In general? totally unrelated? hmmm
1) I love sushi. I could eat it everyday. But I won't have any sushi today, unless some serious cravings hit me and I will call the sushi place for a speedy delivery.
2) I've recently started teaching Italian and I've enjoyed it very much. Hopefully I'll manage to get a qualification and do it more extensively in the future.
3) I have to organise a Halloween party in the bookshop for the kids. Any ideas for games?

How many books do you have in your TBR pile for the next 24 hours?
As many as I will need. I have some books that I plan to read but that can change anytime. So far I've chosen 7, plus the book I'm reading now which is The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga, the winner of the 2008 Booker Prize. I'm almost finished. I'm not sure if I'm enjoying it, but it's definitely not boring, in a strange way.

Do you have any goals for the read-a-thon (i.e. number of books, number of pages, number of hours, or number of comments on blogs)?
No, just to have fun. I'm not going to count the pages, only the books I'll finish. I plan to enjoy my full day of reading that's it!

If you’re a veteran read-a-thoner, Any advice for people doing this for the first time?
I'm a newbie! Even though I've spent many days in my old happy days of long summer holidays, doing just this, but probably not 24 hours.

Ok back to the White Tiger!

Read-a-thon

Yes, I signed up! A while ago actually. It's almost time, I can't wait! I'm seriously doubting I'll stay up all night, as I'm noticing me getting sleepy before midnight lately, but we'll see. I don't drink coffee normally, so that should help to keep me awake...
I'm already thinking of what books to read. I'd like to stick to short books, so that I can finish quickly and then start another soon after. I'm not a very fast reader, so if I choose a longish one I might have to say at end "err...I've only read one...but it was long, you know!"

For now I have:

Coraline by Neil Gaiman
L'odore della notte (the scent of the night) by Andrea Camilleri
Cherokee Bat and the Goat guys by Francesca Lia Block (and possibly Missing Angel Juan and Baby be-bop if I'm in the mood.)
Oranges in no man's land by Elizabeth Laird
Keep going with Tapping the Dream Tree by Charles de Lint, I'm really enjoying it, surprisingly since it's short stories.
In the hand of the goddess by Tamora Pierce

I'm also considering borrowing something from the library, any suggestions?
I'm thinking Nation by Terry Pratchett, but it might take up most of the time. Although it might be worth it.

Also, for Carl's RIP mini challenge. If I'm still awake at that early hour...what could I read that I already have? Is the Bloody Chamber by Angela Carter creepy enough to qualify? It'd be good cause it's short stories.
I don't think I own anything else appropriate.

Oh I wish I hadn't read the Graveyard Book so I could read it again...*sigh*

Weekly Geeks: Best of 2008 so far, Read-a-thon coming up and a big THANK YOU!

This week WG is about our favourite books published in 2008. I've just checked and honestly, I haven't read that many new books. That's because my ever-growing pile of books is, of course, ever-growing and I always tend to delay the reading of new books in a miserable attempt to diminish that leaning tower...but the ones I've read I liked, mostly. I would definitely recommend the following to any book lover.
Also I love the idea of having a end-of-the-year book bloggers favourites. I'm really curious to know what's gonna make the list, I'm sure I'll find some to add to my wish list:)

Ok, The first I have here is Confessions of a fallen angel by Ronan O'Brien. It's an Irish novel, and it's a debut. It was surprisingly gripping, and totally heartbreaking, but funny too. It's coming out in paperback in October with a brand new cover, completely different from the hardback, have a look!

The second is Odd and the Frost Giant by Neil Gaiman.
How can you not love this little book. It was published for the World Book Day, so it's tiny and short. It makes a perfect bedtime story, and it introduces children to Norse Mythology, which is always good. Cosy and adventurous at the same time. Great Fun!

The third and last, for now hopefully, is The Book of a thousand days by Shannon Hale.
It's the first Shannon Hale's book I've read. Everyone raves about The Goose Girl, which I haven't read yet, but this was a fantastic read for me to start with. It has everything: humour, smart heroine, non-sappy romance, great writing, original development of a fairy-tale. Go read it!

Also, how can I not mention my wonderful picture books? I adore very single picture book I've reviewed, but I have two favourites:
The odd egg by Emily Gravett.
and
The girl in the castle inside the museum by Kate Bernheimer and Nicoletta Ceccoli.






I've been meaning to post about the Read-a-thon for a while now, but I've still haven't made out my mind yet. I'd love to read, just to take a day off from everything else and read till I'm sick of it. Only, I don't know if I can bring myself to do it. I'm worried I'll feel horribly guilty for not doing all the other things I should/want to do. I haven't written anything in ages, and that would be my biggest guilty feeling. Wouldn't it be great to have a writ-a-thon as well? That way I could join the readers happily if I knew I would write another day for 24 hours!!! Just an idea...Anyway, I'm more for the yes than for the no, but still very undecided.
If you don't have a clue what I'm talking about (which I doubt) go read about it HERE!

And finally, but not less importantly, I have to give a BIG hug to Melody and Darla
for saying such nice things about my blog, I love their blogs just as much.
Thanks girls, you rock!