Book Giveaways in Blogworld (09-11-10 edition)

Note: A reminder that you are free to email me about any giveaways that you are having, if you want me to blog them, and I'll be happy to try to post them even if I am not entering them. Just include a link to the giveaway, what you are giving away, how many copies are being given away, and the deadline in order to assure being included. Email me at nfmgirl AT gmail DOT com.

Here is a list of some giveaways going on in Blogworld*. Please note that new giveaways that were added this week are indented in Blockquotes:

Bookin' with Bingo is giving away 3 copies of I'd Know You Anywhere. Deadline is September 12. US only.

Brizmus Blogs Books is giving away your choice of 6 books. Deadline is September 12. International!

Cherry Mischievous is giving away the entire Shifter series! Deadline is September 12. International!

Graced with Books is giving away a bunch of books for Blogfest! Deadline is September 12. US only.

Bookin' with Bingo is giving away 3 copies of Judgment and Wrath. Deadline is September 13. US only.

Radiant Light is giving away 2 copies of Blind Man's Alley. Deadline is September 13. US
only.

So Many Books, So Little Time is giving away a copy of Low Red Moon. Deadline is September 13. US only.

The Hiding Spot is giving away a copy of Clockwork Angel or City of Bones. Deadline is September 13. International!

Bloody Bookaholic is giving away a bookcase from CSN Stores. Deadline is September 15. US/Canada only.

Bookin' with Bingo is giving away a copy of Lock and Key. Deadline is September 15. US only.

Passages to the Past is giving away a copy of Wolf Hall. Deadline is September 16. US only.

Fantastic Book Review is giving away a copy of Nevermore. Deadline is September 16. US/Canada only.

Two Little Dicky Birds is giving away a copy of the cookbook Jamie's Kitchen. Deadline is September 16.

Bookin' with Bingo is giving away a copy of Swan. Deadline is September 16. US only.

Bookin' with Bingo is giving away a copy of Light of the Moon. Deadline is September 16. US only.

Fangtastic is having a huge Blogmania giveaway! Deadline is...probably the end of Blogmania on September 16, or September 17. US only.

Bookin' with Bingo is giving away 3 copies of the audiobook Wicked Appetite. Deadline is September 17. US/Canada only.

Paperback Dolls is giving away a copy of Dust. Deadline is September 18. US only.

Bookin' with Bingo is giving away 2 copies of Last Night at Chateau Marmont. Deadline is September 18. US only.

Ellz Readz is giving away $120 to CSN Stores. Deadline is September 18. US/Canada only.

Jo-Jo Loves to Read is giving away Oogy. Deadline is September 18. US/Canada only.

Bookin' with Bingo is giving away a copy of Edge of Winter. Deadline is September 18. US only.

Alison's Bookmarks is giving away When You Reach Me and a copy of Mockingjay. Deadline is September 18. US only.

Bookin' with Bingo is giving away 3 copies of The Human Bobby. Deadline is September 19. US only.

Readaholic is giving away 2 copies of The Darkest Edge of Dawn. Deadline is September 19. US only.

One Book at a Time is giving away a copy of The Summoning. Deadline is September 19. US only.

In which a girl reads is having a "humongous" giveaway! 3 winners, six books chosen from a group of twenty-five! Deadline is September 19. International!

Confessions of a Bookaholic is giving away a copy of Extraordinary. Deadline is September 20. US only.

Luxury Reading is giving away The Good Daughters. Deadline is September 20. US only.

Paranormal and Romantic Suspense is giving away 5 copies of Last to Die. Deadline is September 21. US/Canada only.

Just Jennifer Reading is giving away 3 copies of The Postcard Killers. Deadline is September 21. US/Canada only.

Bookin' with Bingo is giving away a copy of Top Chef: The Quickfire Cookbook. Deadline is September 21. US only.

Bookin' with Bingo is giving away a copy of Mockingjay. Deadline is September 21. US only.

Bookhounds is giving away 5 copies of Last to Die. Deadline is September 22. US/Canada only.

Pirate Penguin's Reads is giving away a copy of Matched on behalf of Squeaky Books. Deadline is September 21. US/Canada only.

Novel Thoughts is giving away a UK Edition of The Dark Divine on behalf of Squeaky Books. Deadline is September 22. US/Canada only.

Reading Teen is having a big back-to-school giveaway. Deadline is September 24. International!

Once Upon a Review is having a MEGA birthday giveaway! Deadline is September 25. International!

Bookin' with Bingo is giving away 3 copies of Gilded Lily. Deadline is September 25. US only.

Finding My Muse is giving away The Disappearance. Deadline is September 25. International!

Looksie Lovitz is giving away a copy of The Scorch Trials. Deadline is September 25. US only.

The Wide World of All Things Cute and Cuddly is giving away 3 copies of Ah-choo! Deadline is September 26. US/Canada only.

Peeking Between the Pages is giving away What We Have. Deadline is September 26. US/Canada.

Readaholic is giving away The Ovary Wars. Deadline is September 27. US/Canada only.

Bookin' with Bingo is giving away 2 copies of The Good Daughters. Deadline is September 29. US only.

Looksie Lovitz is giving away Matched and The Virals as part of the Welcoming of Fall Giveaway! Deadline is September 29. International!

Tequila Reader is giving away 6 books to 3 winners in her massive 1000 follower giveaway! Deadline is September 30. International!

The Book Buzzer is having a big YA blogoversary giveaway! Deadline is September 30. US only.

Readaholic is having a Smart Chicks Surprise Pack! Deadline is October 1. US/Canada only.

Confessions of a Book Addict is giving away an autographed copy of Clockwork Angel. Deadline is September 30. International!

I Am a Reader, Not a Writer is giving away The Maze Runner. Deadline is October 3. US only.

All About {n} is giving away the first three books in the Vampire Academy series. Deadline is October 3. International!

All About {n} is giving away 2 copies of The Good Daughters. Deadline is October 10. US only.

*Courtesy Note: Please keep in mind the many, many hours of work that goes into me compiling this list each week. Please be courteous and thoughtful, and do not steal my text. Either recreate your own list, or link to this list and direct your readers here for giveaway information. Thank you so much for your consideration.

I Wanna...Incarceron by Catherine Fisher

Incarceron by Catherine Fisher

Incarceron is a prison unlike any other: Its inmates live not only in cells, but also in metal forests, dilapidated cities, and unbounded wilderness. The prison has been sealed for centuries, and only one man, legend says, has ever escaped.

Finn, a seventeen-year-old prisoner, can’t remember his childhood and believes he came from Outside Incarceron. He’s going to escape, even though most inmates don’t believe that Outside even exists. And then Finn finds a crystal key and through it, a girl named Claudia.

Claudia claims to live Outside—her father is the Warden of Incarceron and she’s doomed to an arranged marriage. If she helps Finn escape, she will need his help in return. But they don’t realize that there is more to Incarceron than meets the eye. Escape will take their greatest courage and cost far more than they know.

Because Incarceron is alive.

Book Giveaways in Blogworld (09-04-10 edition)

Note: A reminder that you are free to email me about any giveaways that you are having, if you want me to blog them, and I'll be happy to try to post them even if I am not entering them. Just include a link to the giveaway, what you are giving away, how many copies are being given away, and the deadline in order to assure being included. Email me at nfmgirl AT gmail DOT com.

Here is a list of some giveaways going on in Blogworld*. Please note that new giveaways that were added this week are indented in Blockquotes:

A Good Addiction is giving away an ARC of Clockwork Angel. Deadline is September 6. US/Canada only.

The ABCD Diaries is giving away 3 copies of Ah-Choo. Deadline is September 6. US/Canada only.

Let's Just Give it Away is giving away 2 copies of Ah-Choo. Deadline is September 6. US/Canada only.

Let's Just Give it Away is giving away 2 copies of The Glamour of Grammar. Deadline is September 6. US/Canada only.

Carol in Print is having a massive ARC giveaway! Deadline is September 6. International!

Beth's Book Review Blog is giving away 3 copies of Eating Animals. Deadline is September 6. US/ Canada only.

Dark Faerie Tales is giving away 2 copies of Mockingjay. Deadline is September 7. US only.

Leslie Loves Veggies is giving away 2 copies of Mosaic Meals. Deadline is September 8. US/Canada only.

Heavenly Savings is giving away 3 copies of The Glamour of Grammar. Deadline is September 8. US/Canada only.

Just Jennifer Reading is giving away 5 copies of Desperate Deeds. Deadline is September 8. US/Canada only.

Leslie Loves Veggies is giving away 2 copies of Mosaic Meals. Deadline is September 8. US/Canada only.

Babbling Flow is having a massive ARC giveaway! Deadline is September 9. International!

The Book Vixen is giving away an autographed copy of Linger and signed bookmark! Deadline is September 10. US/Canada only.

Bookin' with Bingo is giving away 3 copies of I'd Know You Anywhere. Deadline is September 12. US only.

Bookin' with Bingo is giving away 3 copies of Judgment and Wrath. Deadline is September 13. US only.

Radiant Light is giving away 2 copies of Blind Man's Alley. Deadline is September 13. US only.

Bloody Bookaholic is giving away a bookcase from CSN Stores. Deadline is September 15. US/Canada only.

YA Book Shelf is giving away a copy of Mockingjay. Deadline is September 17. US/Canada only.

Paperback Dolls is giving away a copy of Dust. Deadline is September 18. US only.

In which a girl reads is having a "humongous" giveaway! 3 winners, six books chosen from a group of twenty-five! Deadline is September 19. International!

One Book at a Time is giving away a copy of The Summoning. Deadline is September 19. US only.

Readaholic is giving away The Ovary Wars. Deadline is September 27. US/Canada only.

Tequila Reader is giving away 6 books to 3 winners in her massive 1000 follower giveaway! Deadline is September 30. International!

Readaholic is having a Smart Chicks Surprise Pack! Deadline is October 1. US/Canada only.

A Journey of Books is giving away 2 copies of Cold Rock River. I can't find any deadline mentioned. US/Canada only.

*Courtesy Note: Please keep in mind the many, many hours of work that goes into me compiling this list each week. Please be courteous and thoughtful, and do not steal my text. Either recreate your own list, or link to this list and direct your readers here for giveaway information. Thank you so much for your consideration.

I Wanna...If You Lived Here, I'd Know Your Name: News from Small-Town Alaska by Heather Lende

If You Lived Here, I'd Know Your Name: News from Small-Town Alaska by Heather Lende

Tiny Haines, Alaska, is ninety miles north of Juneau, accessible mainly by water or air—and only when the weather is good. There’s no traffic light and no mail delivery; people can vanish without a trace, and funerals are community affairs. Heather Lende posts both the obituaries and the social column for the local newspaper. If anyone knows the goings-on in this close-knit town—from births to weddings to funerals—she does.

Whether contemplating the mysterious death of eccentric Speedy Joe, who never took off his hat—not even for a haircut; researching the details of a one-legged lady gold miner’s adventurous life; observing the Chilkat Bald Eagle Festival; or ice skating in the shadow of glacier-studded mountains, Lende’s warm, folksy style brings us inside her busy life.We meet her husband, Chip, who owns the local lumber yard, their five children, and a colorful assortment of friends and neighbors, including aging hippies, salty fisherman, native Tlingit Indians, and volunteer undertakers, as well as the moose, eagles, sea lions, and bears with whom they share this wild and perilous land.

Introducing...The Queen's Pawn by Christy English

Introducing a book through its first chapter or so...

My mother died the day I was born. I now know that this was in no way unusual, but for the first years of my life, I felt quite singled out by the hand of God. She was a great loss to me, my first loss, though I never knew her. My nurse often told me that I have her bright eyes.

-- The Queen's Pawn by Christy English

CHALLENGE: Summer Break Reading Challenge (Completed)

Well, the Summer Break Reading Challenge hosted by KarinLibrarian has ended. Surprise, surprise! I actually satisfied my goal to read 4 books!

1. The Good Son by Michael Gruber (I just started reading this one)
2. Rooms by James L. Rubart
3. The Reapers are the Angels by Alden Bell
4. Under a Million Shadows by Andrea Busfield

Thanks for the challenge!

REVIEW: Born Under a Million Shadows by Andrea Busfield

Synopsis

A moving tale of the triumph of the human spirit amidst heartbreaking tragedy, told through the eyes of a charming, impish, and wickedly observant Afghan boy

The Taliban have withdrawn from Kabul’s streets, but the long shadows of their regime remain. In his short life, eleven-year-old Fawad has known more grief than most: his father and brother have been killed, his sister has been abducted, and Fawad and his mother, Mariya, must rely on the charity of parsimonious relatives to eke out a hand-to-mouth existence.

Ever the optimist, Fawad hopes for a better life, and his dream is realized when Mariya finds a position as a housekeeper for a charismatic Western woman, Georgie, and her two foreign friends. The world of aid workers and journalists is a new one for Fawad, and living with the trio offers endless curiosities—including Georgie’s destructive relationship with the powerful Afghan warlord Haji Khan, whose exploits are legendary. Fawad grows resentful and worried, until he comes to learn that love can move a man to act in surprisingly good ways. But life, especially in Kabul, is never without peril, and the next calamity Fawad must face is so devastating that it threatens to destroy the one thing he thought he could never lose: his love for his country.

A big-hearted novel infused with crackling wit, Andrea Busfield’s brilliant debut captures the hope and humanity of the Afghan people and the foreigners who live among them.

About the Author

Andrea Busfield is a British journalist who first traveled to Afghanistan to cover the fall of the Taliban in 2001 as a reporter for the News of the World. She is now a full-time writer living in Bad Ischl, Austria. Born Under a Million Shadows is her first book.


Quick Facts for Andrea Busfield located on Macmillan Books:

Where are you from?
England.

Who are your favorite writers?
Louis de Bernieres, Colin Bateman, Joseph Heller, Barbara Kingsolver, Isabel Allende. To be honest I’m a pick n mix kind of reader.

Which book/books have had the biggest influence on your writing?
Birds Without Wings (Louis de Bernieres)
Wuthering Heights (Emily Bronte)

What are your hobbies and outside interests?
Music, friends, my family and my dog.

What is the single best piece of advice anyone ever gave you?
“Don’t read beauty magazines – they will make you feel ugly.” Everybody’s Free (To Wear Sunscreen) by Baz Luhrmann.

What is your favorite quote?
“All right, I'm coming out. Any man I see out there, I'm gonna shoot him. Any sumbitch takes a shot at me, I'm not only gonna kill him, but I'm gonna kill his wife, all his friends, and burn his damn house down.”—Clint Eastwood in Unforgiven.

What is the question most commonly asked by your readers? What is the answer?
Is this autobiographical?
No.

What inspired you to write your first book?
Love – for my boyfriend, and for a country that deserves so much more.

Where do you write?
On my lap on a laptop. I don’t have much furniture!

Five Books Andrea Busfield Can't Live Without:

An Unexpected Light: Travels in Afghanistan by Jason Elliot
Emergency Sex (and Other Desperate Measures): A True Story of Hell on Earth by Kenneth Cain, Heidi Postlewait, and Andrew Thomson
Kestrel for a Knave by Barry Hines
Birds Without Wings by Louis de Bernieres
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon


My Thoughts

My name is Fawad, and my mother tells me I was born under the shadow of the Taliban.

Because she said no more, I imagined her stepping out of the sunshine and into the dark, crouching in a corner to protect the stomach that was hiding me, while a man with a stick watched over us, ready to beat me into the world.

This haunting excerpt is how we are introduced to Fawad.

Fawad is a charming boy. Smart, good-humored, brave and strong, you find yourself praying that life goes well for him. I mean, things are stacked against him, and you really want him to find a way to have everything he dreams of.

This book portrays the complex and dark beauty of Afghanistan's face, as well as its dark underbelly. At times you find yourself in awe at the kindness of the people, the love they have for their country, their humor and passion. At other times you cringe at the cruelty, the blatant disregard for humanity, the ugly complexity of their hierarchical and tribal society and its tenuous relationship with surrounding countries, primarily Pakistan.

This is a country that has spent much of its existence "occupied", under the rule of some governing power that is unwanted.

"...the Taliban fight goes on in the south against Afghans and foreigners; and in the streets the adults beat boys, the boys beat smaller boys, and everyone beats donkeys and dogs." (p. 60-61)

"My mother told me that when the Taliban originally came marching from the south to lay claim to Kabul, they were welcomed like saviors. The capital had become a city of rubble after the Russians left because the victorious mujahideen had turned on one another, fighting like dogs over a piece of meat-- and Kabul was that piece of meat. In the chaos and confusion of civil war, crime was everywhere; shops were made to pay special taxes, homes were taken, people were murdered, and their daughters were raped. But when the Taliban came, it all stopped. Order was brought, and the people were grateful. However, as Spandi's father said, you cannot know a man's real intentions in only one night, and over the years the Taliban showed their true colors. They stopped women from working, they wouldn't let girls go to school, they roamed the streets beating people with sticks, they jailed men with short beards, they banned kite flying and music, they chopped off hands, they crushed people under walls, and they shot people in the football stadium. They had freed Afghanistan from war, but they locked up our people in a religion we no longer recognized..." (p. 46-57)

There is such a dichotomy in the rich tapestry of Afghanistan. I just can't get over the complexity found in its simplicity. Or is it simplicity in its complexity? My mind is shaky with exhaustion in trying to wrap itself around it.

This story has a wealth of wonderful characters, from housemates Georgie, James and May, streetmates Spandi and Jamilla, the dark and tormented beauty of Haji Khan (who himself could represent for me the country of Afghanistan), the hope of Shir Ahmad, the quirky and endearing character of Pir Hederi, and even Pir the Madman.

One thing of note was the way that Fawad's own mother practically disappears from the picture for much of the story. After an illness takes her away for a time, you barely hear of her any further, even after she returns, until the end of the story. Fawad spends his time with Georgie and some of the other supporting characters. It kind of reminded me of what you see happen in many TV shows. There will be a storyline, like a baby being born into the family, but once the storyline plays out and the baby is born, it seems to sort of disappear. You don't see it anymore nor hear too much about it (anyone remember the TV show Friends? That's what happened after Rachel had her baby.) So Fawad's mother becomes an inconsequential character about halfway through the story. But I guess that's okay. After all, this is Fawad's story. And I can understand why this happened. His mother is not as integral a character, and if Fawad were an adult, her absence would go unnoticed. However since he is a child, I found her absence from his story striking, but perhaps necessary in order to keep her from clouding his story with motherly pursuits (as mothers are wont to do).

At the end of the book that I received there was an interview with the author Andrea Busfield. She shared some startling statistics and striking imagery of Afghanistan.

• Afghanistan has the world's second-highest infant mortality rate.
• The average life expectancy is forty-four.
• Abject poverty and the image of a child walking barefoot in the snow.
• There is no "dating" social life in Afghanistan. Marriages are typically arranged by the family, and "dating" would be forbidden.

Yet the author speaks so fondly of the country and its people. "It would be hard to find a more hospitable place on earth than Afghanistan."

She says in her interview:

"...I wanted to capture the beauty found there-- the fun, the laughter, the love. Therefore, I opted for a romantic plot and decided it should be narrated by a hero who was still young enough to see the good in life-- and bounce back from tragedy."

And when asked what she hopes her readers take away from this novel, she replies:

"Ultimately, that Afghans are deserving of our continued support-- and as the last page turns that they discover a little piece of Afghanistan in their hearts."

Mission accomplished-- on all accounts.

In the end, I'm left with hope. Hope for Fawad and the realization of his dreams, hope for Jamilla and her happiness and freedom from the tyranny of men, hope for impossible romance, hope for compassion amidst such cruelty and beauty amid such horror-- hope for Afghanistan.

Andrea Busfield-- I think I'm in love with you...


My Rating: 9.5 out of 10

(My thanks to Jason of Holt, Henry & Company for the book in exchange for my honest review.)

What's Releasing? (09-01-10 edition)

Available the week of 9/7/10:

No Mercy by Sherrilyn Kenyon

In New Orleans, immortal Amazon warrior Samia is about to learn that there’s a worse evil coming to slaughter mankind than she’s ever faced before.








Ape House by Sara Gruen

Sam, Bonzi, Lola, Mbongo, Jelani, and Makena are no ordinary apes. These bonobos, like others of their species, are capable of reason and carrying on deep relationships—but unlike most bonobos, they also know American Sign Language.

Isabel Duncan, a scientist at the Great Ape Language Lab, doesn’t understand people, but animals she gets—especially the bonobos. Isabel feels more comfortable in their world than she’s ever felt among humans . . . until she meets John Thigpen, a very married reporter who braves the ever-present animal rights protesters outside the lab to see what’s really going on inside.

When an explosion rocks the lab, severely injuring Isabel and “liberating” the apes, John’s human interest piece turns into the story of a lifetime, one he’ll risk his career and his marriage to follow. Then a reality TV show featuring the missing apes debuts under mysterious circumstances, and it immediately becomes the biggest—and unlikeliest—phenomenon in the history of modern media. Millions of fans are glued to their screens watching the apes order greasy take-out, have generous amounts of sex, and sign for Isabel to come get them. Now, to save her family of apes from this parody of human life, Isabel must connect with her own kind, including John, a green-haired vegan, and a retired porn star with her own agenda.

Ape House delivers great entertainment, but it also opens the animal world to us in ways few novels have done, securing Sara Gruen’s place as a master storyteller who allows us to see ourselves as we never have before.

Room by Emma Donoghue

To five-year-old Jack, Room is the entire world. It is where he was born and grew up; it's where he lives with his Ma as they learn and read and eat and sleep and play. At night, his Ma shuts him safely in the wardrobe, where he is meant to be asleep when Old Nick visits.

Room is home to Jack, but to Ma, it is the prison where Old Nick has held her captive for seven years. Through determination, ingenuity, and fierce motherly love, Ma has created a life for Jack. But she knows it's not enough...not for her or for him. She devises a bold escape plan, one that relies on her young son's bravery and a lot of luck. What she does not realize is just how unprepared she is for the plan to actually work.

Told entirely in the language of the energetic, pragmatic five-year-old Jack, ROOM is a celebration of resilience and the limitless bond between parent and child, a brilliantly executed novel about what it means to journey from one world to another.

Half Broke Horses: A True-Life Novel by Jeannette Walls

"Those old cows knew trouble was coming before we did." So begins the story of Lily Casey Smith, Jeannette Walls’s no-nonsense, resourceful, and spectacularly compelling grandmother. By age six, Lily was helping her father break horses. At fifteen, she left home to teach in a frontier town—riding five hundred miles on her pony, alone, to get to her job. She learned to drive a car and fly a plane. And, with her husband, Jim, she ran a vast ranch in Arizona. She raised two children, one of whom is Jeannette’s memorable mother, Rosemary Smith Walls, unforgettably portrayed in The Glass Castle.

Lily survived tornadoes, droughts, floods, the Great Depression, and the most heartbreaking personal tragedy. She bristled at prejudice of all kinds—against women, Native Americans, and anyone else who didn’t fit the mold. Rosemary Smith Walls always told Jeannette that she was like her grandmother, and in this true-life novel, Jeannette Walls channels that kindred spirit. Half Broke Horses is Laura Ingalls Wilder for adults, as riveting and dramatic as Isak Dinesen’s Out of Africa or Beryl Markham’s West with the Night. Destined to become a classic, it will transfix readers everywhere.

The Thorn (Rose Trilogy Series #1) by Beverly Lewis
Lancaster County, with its rolling meadows and secret byways, may seem idyllic, but it is not without its thorns. THE ROSE TRILOGY is the stirring saga of two Amish sisters on the fringes of the church, and the unforeseen discoveries that change their lives. Rose Kauffman, a spirited young woman, has a close friendship with the bishop's foster son. Nick dresses Plain and works hard but stirs up plenty of trouble too. Rose's sister cautions her against becoming too involved, but Rose is being courted by a good, Amish fellow, so dismisses the warnings. Meanwhile, Rose keeps house for an English widower but is startled when he forbids her to ever go upstairs. What is the man hiding? Rose's older sister, Hen, knows more than she should about falling for the wrong man. Unable to abandon her Amish ways, Hen is soon separated from her very modern husband. Mattie, their young daughter, must visit her father regularly, but Hen demands she wear Amish attire--and speak Pennsylvania Dutch, despite her husband's wishes. Will Hen be able to reestablish her place among the People she abandoned? And will she be able to convince Rose to steer clear of rogue neighbor Nick?


The Big Burn: Teddy Roosevelt and the Fire That Saved America by Timothy Egan

On the afternoon of August 20, 1910, a battering ram of wind moved through the drought-stricken national forests of Washington, Idaho, and Montana, whipping the hundreds of small blazes burning across the forest floor into a roaring inferno that jumped from treetop to ridge as it raged, destroying towns and timber in the blink of an eye. Forest rangers had assembled nearly ten thousand men- college boys, day workers, immigrants from mining camps- to fight the fire. But no living person had seen anything like those flames, and neither the rangers nor anyone else knew how to subdue them.

Egan narrates the struggles of the overmatched rangers against the implacable fire with unstoppable dramatic force. Equally dramatic is the larger story he tells of outsized president Teddy Roosevelt and his chief forester, Gifford Pinchot. Pioneering the notion of conservation, Roosevelt and Pinchot did nothing less than create the idea of public land as our national treasure, owned by and preserved for every citizen. The robber barons fought Roosevelt and Pinchot’s rangers, but the Big Burn saved the forests even as it destroyed them: the heroism shown by the rangers turned public opinion permanently in their favor and became the creation myth that drove the Forest Service, with consequences still felt in the way our national lands are protected- or not- today.

Also available this week:

• Getting to Happy by Terry McMillan
• The High King of Montival: A Novel of the Change by S.M. Stirling
• Immanuel's Veins by Ted Dekker
• The Wake of the Lorelei Lee: Being an Account of the Further Adventures of Jacky Faber, on Her Way to Botany Way by Louis Meyer
• Breaking NIght: A Memoir of Forgiveness, Survival, and My Journey from Homeless to Harvard by Liz Murray
• Vermillion Drift (Cork O'Connor Series #10) by William Krueger
• The Widower's Tale by Julia Glass
• The Spider's Web by Margaret Coel
• Zero History by William Gibson
• The Grand Design by Stephen Hawking and Leonard Mlodinow
• Gunn's Golden Rules: Life's Little Lessons for Making it Work by Tim Gunn
• Immortal Beloved by Cate Tiernan
• Firelight by Sophie Jordan
• Loco Motive (Bed-and-Breakfast Series #25) by Mary Daheim
• Pretty Little Things by Jilliane Hoffman
• The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration by Isabel Wilkerson
• Bob Dylan in America by Sean Wilentz
• The Elephant's Journey by Jose Saramago
• The Duff: Designated Ugly Fat Friend by Kody Keplinger
• The Enigma of Capital: and the Crises of Capitalism by David Harvey
• Portobello by Ruth Rendell
• Riding the Night by Jaci Burton
• The Darkest Hour by Maya Banks
• Vampire Trinity (Vampire Queen Series #6) by Joey Hill
• Chains of Fire (Chosen Ones Series #4) by Christina Dodd
• Atlantis Betrayed by Alyssa Day
• Cruel Enchantment by Anya Bast
• An Artificial Night by Seanan McGuire
• Murder, She Wrote: A Fatal Feast by Jessica Fletcher and Donald Bain
• The Professional (Spenser Series #37) by Robert Parker
• This Book is Not Good For You (Secret Series #3) by Pseudonymous Bosch
• Thereby Hangs a Tail (Chet and Bernie Series #2) by Spencer Quinn
• The Disappearance by Bentley Little
• The Grimrose Path: A Trickster Novel by Rob Thurman
• Detection Unlimited by Georgette Heyer
• The Sword of the Lady by S. M. Stirling
• Must Love Hellhounds by Charlaine Harris, Nalini Singh, Meljean Brook and Ilona Andrews
• A Deadly Row by Casey Mayes
• Deadly Daggers by Joyce and Jim Lavene
• Immortal Sea (Children of the Sea Series #4) by Virginia Kantra
• Healer's Choice by Jory Strong
• Warrior Avenged by Addison Fox

Mailbox Monday (08-30-10 edition)

Image licensed from bigstockphoto.com
Copyright stands

Mailbox Monday is brought to us by The Printed Page. Here are just some of the books I've received over the last few weeks:

The Lion (John Corey Series #5) by Nelson DeMille
Won from Thoughts in Progress

Detective John Corey, last seen in Plum Island, now faces his toughest assignment yet: the pursuit and capture of the world's most dangerous terrorist — a young Arab known as "The Lion" who has baffled a federal task force and shows no sign of stopping in his quest for revenge against the American pilots who bombed Libya and killed his family. Filled with unrelenting suspense and surprising plot twists at every terrifying turn, THE LION'S GAME is a heartstopping race against time and one of Nelson DeMille's most riveting thrillers.

(For some reason, I received two of these audiobooks: one abridged and one unabridged. I'll be giving the abridged version away some time in the future.)


Full Moon at Noontide: A Daughter's Last Goodbye by Ann Putnam Won from Tribute Books Reviews & Giveaways

"This is the story of my mother and father and my dashing, bachelor uncle, my father’s identical twin, and how they lived together with their courage and their stumblings, as they made their way into old age and then into death. And it’s the story of the journey from one twin’s death to the other, of what happened along the way, of what it means to lose the other who is also oneself.

My story takes the reader through the journey of the end of life: selling the family home, re-location at a retirement community, doctor’s visits, ER visits, specialists, hospitalizations, ICU, nursing homes, Hospice. It takes the reader through the gauntlet of the health care system with all the attendant comedy and sorrows, joys and terrors of such things. Finally it asks: what consolation is there in growing old, in such loss? What abides beyond the telling of my own tale? Wisdom carried from the end of the journey to readers who are perhaps only beginning theirs. Still, what interest in reading of this inevitable journey taken by such ordinary people? Turned to the light just so, the beauty and laughter of the telling transcend the darkness of the tale.

During the final revisions of this book, my husband was dying of cancer, and he died before I could finish it. What I know so far is this: how pure love becomes when it is distilled through such suffering and loss–a blue flame that flickers and pulses in the deepest heart.

As I finish this book he is gone three months."


Blind Hope: An Unwanted Dog and the Woman She Rescued by Kim Meeder Won from The Smug Cloud

An unwanted dog. An emotional rescue.
Two lives forever changed.

Laurie's dreams had been shattered before she came to work at Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch—the ranch of rescued dreams—where broken horses and broken children encounter healing every day. In an attempt to soothe her aching soul, Laurie reached out to save a dog in need. And she soon began to realize that the dog was rescuing her. An inspiring true story told through the engaging voice of Kim Meeder, Blind Hope reveals poignant life lessons Laurie experienced from her ailing, yet courageous canine friend. Despite the blindness of her dog—and her own heart—Laurie uncovered what she really needed most: authentic love, unconditional trust, and true acceptance, faults and all. As Laurie and her dog, Mia, both learned to follow the lead of a master they couldn’t see, Laurie discovered the transforming power of God’s grace even for imperfect and selfish people—and she experienced a greater love than she had ever known.


Rita Awards Giveaway (Won from Yankee Romance Reviewers):

One Scream Away by Kate Brady
For the Love of Pete by Julia Harper
Knight of Pleasure by Margaret Mallory
Kill for Me by Karen Rose
To Beguile a Beast (Legend of the Four Soldiers Series #3) by Elizabeth Hoyt
My Forbidden Desire by Carolyn Jewel



Received from Barnes & Noble for their First Look club:

The Wake of Forgiveness by Bruce Machart

On a moonless Texas night in 1895, an ambitious young landowner suffers the loss of “the only woman he’s ever been fond of” when his wife dies during childbirth with the couple’s fourth boy, Karel. From an early age Karel proves so talented on horseback that his father enlists him to ride in acreage-staked horseraces against his neighbors. But Karel is forever haunted by thoughts of the mother he never knew, by the bloodshot blame in his father’s eyes, and permanently marked by the yoke he and his brothers are forced to wear to plow the family fields. Confident only in the saddle, Karel is certain that the horse “wants the whip the same way he wants his pop’s strap . . . the closest he ever gets to his father’s touch.” In the winter of 1910, Karel rides in the ultimate high-stakes race against a powerful Spanish patriarch and his alluring daughters. Hanging in the balance are his father’s fortune, his brother’s futures, and his own fate. Fourteen years later, with the stake of the race still driven hard between him and his brothers, Karel is finally forced to dress the wounds of his past and to salvage the tattered fabric of his family.

Reminiscent of Kent Haruf’s portrayals of hope amidst human heartbreak and Cormac McCarthy’s finely hewn evocations of the American Southwest, Bruce Machart’s striking debut is as well wrought as it is riveting. It compels us to consider the inescapable connections between sons and their mothers, between landscape and family, and between remembrance and redemption.

Monday Blues~

How I wish things could be a little bit more different as maybe we could start work abit later and end normal. I wonder if there is anyone (working people) in this world ever do love or atleast like Mondays.

 

Well mondays are mondays. Came into office as usual to listen to all the moans and groans from everywhere. Facebook, twitter, blogs, colleagues, friends and even customers. How depressing.

 

It's sad I know. Never remember any Mondays where I've been crazy hyper or happy about. =(

That's when I actually saw this quote which says ,

 

Coming to think of it. Yea how true. LOL. The only great news so far is that tomorrow onwards my schedule has changed to 10.00 - 20-00! How glad that I could actually move around even slower in the mornings before work! I love to laze around in the mornings as am never a morning person but sadly work is daytime. 

How nice would it be if everyone works in the night? That's cool ain't it? XD

I know I did mention about a post about the most beautiful girl I've known here but I am still gathering the pics of her so hope you guys could wait till the suspend unreveals! =)

Book Giveaways in Blogworld (08-29-10 edition)

Note: A reminder that you are free to email me about any giveaways that you are having, if you want me to blog them, and I'll be happy to try to post them even if I am not entering them. Just include a link to the giveaway, what you are giving away, how many copies are being given away, and the deadline in order to assure being included. Email me at nfmgirl AT gmail DOT com.

Here is a list of some giveaways going on in Blogworld*. Please note that new giveaways that were added this week are indented in Blockquotes:

MomStart is giving away a gift pack of the book White Heat, White Heat lip gloss, and $25 Visa Cash Card. Deadline is August 30. US only.

Bookin' with Bingo is giving away Amish Proverbs. Deadline is August 30. US only.

The Eclectic Reader is giving away your choice of 3 books. Deadline is August 31. International!

Reading for Insanity is giving away 3 copies of The Reapers are the Angels. Deadline is August 31. US/Canada only.

Just Jennifer Reading is giving away 5 copies of Wicked Intentions. Deadline is September 1. US/Canada only.

Ellz Readz is giving away 3 ARCs. Deadline is September 5. US only.

Readaholic is giving away Everything Matters. Deadline is September 5. US/Canada only.

A Good Addiction is giving away an ARC of Clockwork Angel. Deadline is September 6. US/Canada only.

The ABCD Diaries is giving away 3 copies of Ah-Choo. Deadline is September 6. US/Canada only.

Let's Just Give it Away is giving away 2 copies of Ah-Choo. Deadline is September 6. US/Canada only.

Let's Just Give it Away is giving away 2 copies of The Glamour of Grammar. Deadline is September 6. US/Canada only.

Carol in Print is having a massive ARC giveaway! Deadline is September 6. International!

Beth's Book Review Blog is giving away 3 copies of Eating Animals. Deadline is September 6. US/ Canada only.

Dark Faerie Tales is giving away 2 copies of Mockingjay. Deadline is September 7. US only.

Leslie Loves Veggies is giving away 2 copies of Mosaic Meals. Deadline is September 8. US/Canada only.

Heavenly Savings is giving away 3 copies of The Glamour of Grammar. Deadline is September 8. US/Canada only.

Just Jennifer Reading is giving away 5 copies of Desperate Deeds. Deadline is September 8. US/Canada only.

Leslie Loves Veggies is giving away 2 copies of Mosaic Meals. Deadline is September 8. US/Canada only.

Babbling Flow is having a massive ARC giveaway! Deadline is September 9. International!

The Book Vixen is giving away an autographed copy of Linger and signed bookmark! Deadline is September 10. US/Canada only.

Radiant Light is giving away 2 copies of Blind Man's Alley. Deadline is September 13. US only.

In which a girl reads is having a "humongous" giveaway! 3 winners, six books chosen from a group of twenty-five! Deadline is September 19. International!

Tequila Reader is giving away 6 books to 3 winners in her massive 1000 follower giveaway! Deadline is September 30. International!

A Journey of Books is giving away 2 copies of Cold Rock River. I can't find any deadline mentioned. US/Canada only.

*Courtesy Note: Please keep in mind the many, many hours of work that goes into me compiling this list each week. Please be courteous and thoughtful, and do not steal my text. Either recreate your own list, or link to this list and direct your readers here for giveaway information. Thank you so much for your consideration.

Steam Boat Night~!

Yesterday was my best friend's birthday. Thomaz Chee Chee (just joking) has officially joined the 2D club! Yep! He is 20 years old now! So to celebrate we all went out for steamboat with a couple of guys from my old condo with whom we did alot of crazy stuffs.

Since I've been to Tasty Pot Steamboat a couple of times, decided to go there again.

 

Yep! That's the place!! It's kinda cheap for how it looks though. RM26.80 per person for buffet steamboat and then plus drinks and all about 30 bucks per person? LOL I dunno... XD

The do have alot of choices of food. Though I wasn't really a fan of steamboat, I really wouldn't mind to go here and eat! It's cheap and nice!!! Plus I can eat as much I want until I wanna explode also still same price! XD

 

 

 

 

 

Well steamboat is not the only thing they have over there! They also have.......

 

Looking at all this pics am hungry already!! *drools and pat pat tummy* Gosh the food is really really awesome over here!!! Those who haven't been there, fast fast go!!!

At night this place could really be super crazy pack! Like last night it was really really packed! Though 1 of my friend was supose to upload all the pics, which he obviously didn't.... I had to steal these pics from Tastypot Steamboat Restaurant's Facebook site! *smack head*

The address for this place is :

No 9 jalan PJS 8/18 Dataran Mentari Bandar Sunway. 

2nd branch: D1-17-G, Jalan Multimedia 7/AJ,

CityPark,i-city,40000 Shah Alam

Petaling Jaya, Malaysia, 46150

 

Contact : 03-56301282

 

Mon - Sun : 16:00 - 01:00

 

So basically they are open 7 days a week! How awesome is that? Though they are open until only 1am, it's still good enough, no?

LOL!!! Still waiting for my friend to upload the pics online and once he does, would put it in!! Well for that night we had fun as after food went for Left for Dead 2 : Versus mode!! That was seriously Dope!!! More stuffs coming up soon guys!!

With next weekend Sunday planning of Sunway Lagoon waterpark coming up, alot of things are happening this next week!! Those who wanna join us for the theme park, you can contact me here!! =)

 

I Wanna...In the Land of Cotton by Martha A. Taylor

SLAVERY IS MORE THAN CHAINS AND SHACKLES

SLAVERY IS A STATE OF MIND

Immerse yourself in this highly anticipated political docu-drama set in the Deep South amidst the backdrop of the Civil Rights Movement.

Martha was a young white girl living in the Deep South, inundated with the racist sentiments of the times. But Martha's natural curiosity and generous heart led her to question this racial divide. When she discovered a primitive Negro family living deep in the woods near her house, everyone's life changed forever.

Take the journey of a lifetime alongside Martha as she forges relationships that lead to self discovery and a clearer understanding of the world around her. In the Land of Cotton provides an outstanding snapshot of life in the South during those troubled times - a snapshot everyone should take a close look at, regardless of era or color.

The year was 1956.

Grown Ups~!

The other day me and one of my good friends were supose to be hunting for our favourite satay when eventually we realized that due to Puasa, they are closed! So ended up going for nasi lemak ayam and then sudden plan for movie.

Apparently the only movie available was....

 

And it was 25th Night!!! I was so happy because I so wanted to watch this movie and I knew this wasn't a movie to be missed!

Story plot is below...

*******************************************************************************

In 1978, five friends win their junior high basketball championship. During the celebration, their coach "Buzzer" (Blake Clark) encourages them to live their lives in a similar way to how they played the game.

32 years later, the five friends have since separated. Lenny Feder (Adam Sandler) is a high powered Hollywood talent agent who is married to Roxanne (Salma Hayek), a fashion designer. Together, they have two sons, Greg and Keith, and one daughter Becky, all of whom have become spoiled, much to Lenny's annoyance. Eric Lamonsoff (Kevin James) is now a co-owner of a lawn furniture company (but he says he is just to impress his friends) who is married to Sally (Maria Bello). Together, they have one daughter, Donna and one son Bean, who still breastfeeds despite being four years old, much to Eric's chagrin. Kurt McKenzie (Chris Rock) is a stay at home father who is married to Deanne (Maya Rudolph), the primary breadwinner of the family. Together, they have a son, Andre, and a daughter, Charlotte, while Deanne is pregnant with a third child, and her mother, Ronzoni, lives with them as well. All of them harass Kurt for not being more useful. Rob Hilliard (Rob Schneider) is a thrice divorced pacifist vegan married to Gloria (Joyce Van Patten), who is 30 years older than him. Marcus Higgins (David Spade) has become a single womanizer.

When they learn that their coach has died, they all return to New England with their families for the funeral. Lenny rents the lake house for the 4th of July weekend for his friends to stay at, but Lenny can't stay for the whole weekend because Roxanne has a fashion show in Milan. While at the lake house, Lenny is annoyed that their kids would rather play video games than spend time outdoors, so he and the others force their kids to spend more time outside while at the house.
At a local restaurant, Lenny runs into his old nemesis Dickie Bailey (Colin Quinn), who works as a cook there. Dickie is still upset at Lenny because he allegedly had his foot out of bounds when he made the long-ago game winning shot and challenges him and his friends to a rematch, but Lenny declines, declaring it a waste of time. During dinner, the group discusses spreading the coach's ashes in the morning, but Lenny says he can't be there because of Roxanne's fashion show. Roxanne angrily storms off because Lenny painted her negatively. She allows him to spread the ashes, but demands they leave early the following morning.

In the morning, the five guys row out to an island to spread the ashes. When Rob is spreading the ashes, he breaks down and tells the guys that he screwed up his previous marriages and that he's nervous about meeting his daughters who are coming. When they get back to the house, they finally meet Rob's daughters, two of them, Jasmine and Amber, who seem too gorgeous to be Rob's, and one, Bridget, who very closely resembles him. To calm his nerves, the five guys play a game called "Arrow Roulette", in which an arrow is shot up into the air and the last person who runs away wins. Rob wins, but the arrow lands in his foot.

 

That evening, when Roxanne is packing, Becky's tooth falls out, but Roxanne is too busy to notice and she tells her that she'll put a dollar under her pillow later. When Becky asks why she would do it instead of the Tooth Fairy, Roxanne tells Lenny that she's worried that she ruined Becky's childhood. When Lenny hears his kids supposedly talking on their cellphones, he comes into their bedroom to find them actually talking on "cup phones" with the other kids. Happy that the kids are starting to have the same kind of fun he did at their age, he asks everyone to install cup phones around the house. Roxanne then tells Becky through the cup phone the truth about the Tooth Fairy.

In the morning while packing the car, Roxanne sees all the kids having fun down by the lake and decides that they can't leave the lake house. Happy with his wife's new attitude, Lenny decides they should head to a waterpark for a day. There, Bean learns to drink milk out of a carton, while Marcus flirts constantly with Jasmine and Amber, much to Rob's dismay. The group run into Dickie again, this time with one of his friends Wiley (Steve Buscemi), who ends up in the hospital after a zip line accident.

Back out the house, Deanne becomes suspicious of Kurt when she sees him spending time with Rita, Lenny's nanny. That evening, the adults spend time together drinking and dancing, while reminiscing about their pasts. In the morning, Rob suspects that Marcus had sex with either Jasmine or Amber or both of them and confronts him. Jasmine and Amber assure him that he didn't and Marcus assures him that he never would. Roxanne then confronts Lenny about the fact that he canceled their Milan plane reservations before the funeral behind her back. Lenny claims that he felt their time at the lake house was necessary because their kids were becoming too spoiled, but was unsure if Roxanne would go along with it. He tells her he won't lie to her again. Deanne confronts Kurt about supposedly flirting with Rita. Kurt assures her that he wasn't flirting with her, but he enjoyed having an actual conversation with her because he doesn't feel like he gets that with Deanne. Deanne offers to take him out on more dates. Eric then admits to the group that he isn't co-owner of a lawn furniture company and that he was laid off two months ago. He just didn't want everyone to think of him as a failure. Lenny resolves to offer Eric an investment opportunity. Gloria then tells everyone that despite their recent hostility, she senses love between everyone.

The group then head off to a 4th of July barbecue, where they are once again challenged by Dickie and his friends to a rematch of the basketball game. Wiley, in a massive body cast, had escaped intensive care to watch. Rob suggests that their coach would want them to take the challenge and despite everyone's being out of shape and Rob's injury, they agree to a game. The game is close, but most of the players get too tired to continue, leaving only Lenny and Dickie on the court. They bring out their sons to continue playing. When Lenny has the chance to make the game winning shot, he deliberately misses and allows Dickie to win, giving him a sense of victory. Lenny and the others take the loss in stride.

While watching the fireworks, a drunken Marcus decides to play another game of Arrow Roulette, causing everyone to run away, except for Wiley, who can't move, and the arrow lands in his foot and he passes out as the movie ends.

********************************************************************************

The delight of the movie was that veteran actresses looked ever young with the two hotties in Jamie Chung and Madison Riley was all just so great combination!

 

But of all of these my eyes only to 1 who always have made my heart race whenever I watch her on screen.

 

 

God she is freaking hot and pretty!!! Salma Hayek!!

She is freaking pretty ain't she? But then I still do know someone who is even prettier and hotter than this lady over here. Someone who could literally make my heart skip beats, stop, beat faster and even make me melt! 

Post about that pretty lady is coming up guys!! So stay tuned to know who she is!!!

Unexpected!!

I am sorry if I am abit dumb over this! Recently I realized there was alot of visitors from overseas and being a newbie blogger thats freaking awesome for me!!! LOL

So I was abit curious and kinda so I went off to make a search what was it that brought foreigners to ma blog. And realized my post about Men's PMS is the popular search and eventually I was in the 2nd in the list!!! XD




 
This is the pic!!  OMG!!

I know I sound so bimbotic but this is just awesome for me!!! XD

Also managed to catch "Grown Ups" already so the review would post it up soon!!!

Attention Whore!!

The past 3 days have been really tiring for me as my car decided it's going to get all the attention it could from where ever it could!!


It all started on last Tuesday that when I just got off work and I just got past Kelana Jaya LRT when my car started to let out tiny "honks" every time I turned my steering. I thought there was something wrong with me that I actually pressed it accidentally and eventually it stopped once I passed that area there was no more problem until I just turned into Sunway.

I was just in the lane between Pyramid and Public going into Pyramid jamming, and my car just got off "BBBBBbbbbbbbbbeeeeEEeeeeeeeeEeeeePPPPpppppPPPPP" all the way and I totally panicked!! I was like wtf?! Everyone over there was already giving all kinda weird looks! *hide face under shirt*

Some even came up to me as if I was the 1 doing in purpose until they saw my hand was away from the steering that they just burst and walked away.  It was still honking non-stop until I actually reached a secluded industrial area. I was like "phew" wiping of my sweat.

Then thinking it was all right, I go touch my window and there it goes again!! It was so irritating and making so stressed that I eventually just sad in my car for like 15 mins not moving! (I know that the dumbest thing I could do) Then being super giler despo all of a sudden, I just went berserk as I plugged a wire from my steering thinking that was connecting the horn but eventually I was wrong and it went off again.

Then starting to be able to think straight I walked out and was looking for the place they place the horn and eventually I couldn't find it as am not so familiar with old Proton. The best what I could have ever done was that I just a wire and only to realize later that I just disconnected my vipers! Cursing my luck, I went back to work again and during then a "bangla" came up and scared the shit outa me!! I got so shocked and jump into ma hood which just came down crashing on me!

Thanks to that I've got a swollen eyebrow!! Finally ma papa came and ngam ngam he was there I found the thing and just plugged it off happily!! Thought that was it!

But I was wrong!! Went to catch a movie yesterday and since around 1 plus there was no electricity in Pyramid parking hence it was freaking dark and parking was free. The car's battery died!! *buawWwwwww!!!*

Eventually a couple of people came to help the car and hence it became popular again!!! How nice!!

This morning nobody around it was working find... Hopefully it still works when I go start it later after work!! *sweat*