REVIEW: Daniel X: Watch the Skies audiobook by James Patterson

Daniel X: Watch the Skies by James Patterson

All's quiet in the small town of Holliswood, the television sets a-glow in every home. But not all is as perfect as it seems.

A terrifying outlaw has just arrived in town, with the goal of throwing it into chaos—and filming the pandemonium for the fellas back home.

Only one person can stop him and his thugs from destroying the city and everyone living there. Daniel X assembles an all-star team of his own creation, but not even he could imagine the enormity of this made-for-TV-villain's powers.

My Thoughts

I didn't realize (not knowing that this was part of a series) that this was Young Adult until I started listening to it. But the second that I started listening to it, it became very clear very quick that this was geared towards teens.

Daniel X is an alien hunter. He is something of a superhero from another planet, hunting down dangerous aliens that would bring harm to earth. He is assisted by a motley gang of cohorts that left me a bit confused. I'm still unclear whether they were real or figments of his imagination. I think they were real in a sense, but "summoned" from some other place. But I am still a bit confused by it all.

At times the story was almost childish. However it was a fast audiobook, and moments were entertaining. It's a good book when you are looking for a mild distraction, like while doing housework or in the car. It doesn't take much thought. Perhaps good for someone who is particularly fond of the YA genre, but for someone like me who was reading adult books by the age of 11 or 12, I found it just mildly entertaining.

Product Details

• Pub. Date: July 2009
• Publisher: Hachette Audio
• Format: Compact Disc
• Series: Daniel X Series, #2
• ISBN-13: 9781600246197
  
• Edition Description: Unabridged, 5 CDs

My Rating: 7 out of 10

WINNER: Under This Unbroken Sky by Shandi Mitchell

Just a quick note to announce the winner of one of my favorite books this year!

The winner of my ARC of Under This Unbroken Sky is...

Stacey of Geekgirl Unveiled!

Congratulations, Stacey! I hope you love the book as much as I did! I'll be emailing you, and you'll have until Wednesday evening to get me your mailing address (assuming I get the email out tonight. If not, you'll have more time!)

Thank you to all who entered, and don't forget that there are still giveaways listed on my right sidebar for an audiobook of Cemetery Dance, Testimony, and Mrs. Meyer's Clean Home.

Thank you all!

Mailbox Monday (10-05-09 edition)

Mailbox Monday is brought to us by The Printed Page. In my mailbox last week I got:

Winnings...

Fragment by Warren Fahy
Won from Carol's Notebook

In this powerhouse of suspense—as brilliantly imagined as Jurassic Park and The Ruins—scientists have made a startling discovery: a fragment of a lost continent, an island with an ecosystem unlike any they’ve seen before . . . an ecosystem that could topple ours like a house of cards.

The time is now. The place is the Trident, a long-range research vessel hired by the reality TV show Sealife. Aboard is a cast of ambitious young scientists. With a director dying for drama, tiny Henders Island might be just what the show needs. Until the first scientist sets foot on Henders—and the ultimate test of survival begins . . .

For when they reach the island’s shores, scientists are utterly unprepared for what they find—creatures unlike any ever recorded in natural history. This is not a lost world frozen in time, an island of mutants, or a lab where science has gone mad: this is the Earth as it might have looked after evolving on a separate path for half a billion years.

Soon the scientists will stumble on something more shocking than anything humanity has ever encountered: because among the terrors of Henders Island, one life form defies any scientific theory—and must be saved at any cost.

I've actually won this book twice now, but only received it once. I never received the copy that I won through the Library Thing Members Giveaway.


I also won a $25 gift card to Barnes and Noble from Martha's Bookshelf! How great is that? All of us bibliophiles love book gift cards, don't we?

Thanks so much to both Carol and Martha! That was a very nice week-- getting a book I've wanted for months, and a gift card to buy more books that I've been wanting!

GIVEAWAY: Testimony or Mrs. Meyer's Clean Home

Today we have two books up for grabs. You have your choice of the following:

Testimony by Anita Shreve
At a New England boarding school, a sex scandal is about to break. Even more shocking than the sexual acts themselves is the fact that they were caught on videotape. A Pandora's box of revelations, the tape triggers a chorus of voices—those of the men, women, teenagers, and parents involved in the scandal—that details the ways in which lives can be derailed or destroyed in one foolish moment. Writing with a pace and intensity surpassing even her own greatest work, Anita Shreve delivers in TESTIMONY a gripping emotional drama with the impact of a thriller. No one more compellinglyexplores the dark impulses that sway the lives of seeming innocents, the needs and fears that drive ordinary men and women into intolerable dilemmas, and the ways in which our best intentions can lead to our worst transgressions.


Mrs. Meyer's Clean Home

When Thelma Meyer tells it to you, she tells it straight: Clean the kitchen daily! Don't waste anything (not even the water leftover from those potatoes you just boiled)! Always work hard! This philosophy meant that when Thelma's daughter Monica founded Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day products (named after her mom), the products were designed to work hard for you.

Now for the first time, Thelma's sage advice is being made available in this revolutionary cleaning guide chock full of practical tips and secrets based on the premise that life is hectic and messy — and so keeping your house clean and nice is the only sensible thing to do. With shortcuts and tips for cleaning the kitchen, bathroom, bedroom and living room, MRS MEYER'S CLEAN HOME contains unexpected advice such as:
—Never use vinegar and water on wood floors. One part dish soap and four parts water is the only way to truly get them clean. And remember to buff with a terrycloth towel.

—Always clean out the fridge before grocery shopping. Serve the kids "Musko" ("must go") for dinner, using the items that were fast approaching expiration.
—Wash windows on a cloudy day to avoid the nasty streaking that happens when the sun's out and glass dry too fast.

MRS MEYER'S CLEAN HOME is two parts common sense and one part inspiration. Read it and learn how to clean like the dickens.

GIVEAWAY: Win either Testimony by Anita Shreve or Mrs. Meyer's Clean Home by Thelma Meyer

Rules (you knew there had to be some):

• You must be 18 years or older
  
• Open to US and Canada residents only
  
• To enter, just comment below. Be sure to leave your email address in your comment, or have it visible in your profile.
• Let me know if you have a preference for one book or the other.
  
• For extra entries, follow my blog and/or blog about this contest. One extra entry for each. Sidebars are okay.
  
• Leave a separate comment for each entry.
  
• That's a total of 3 possible entries!
  
• Those who don't follow the rules risk being disqualified.

Deadline is October 18, 2009.

Good Luck! Ready, Set, Go!

Poetry Sunday (10-04-09 edition)

One of my most memorable teachers in my 12 years of school was Mrs. Linn. It was 5th grade, and Mrs. Linn was full of exuberance and enthusiasm and adventure! She made school fun in many ways. She also introduced all of us to poetry. On Monday we would be given a new poem to learn. We would have the week to memorize it, and on Friday we would each take our turn at standing at the front of the class and reciting the new poem. I excelled at this. I learned during this process that I had a memory that allowed me to memorize a poem quite quickly. By the end of the school year it was only taking me about 15 minutes to memorize a long poem that covered two pages in my poetry notebook.

This poem is the first poem I ever learned and recited. I'm a few weeks late with it though, since it is now fall...

September
Written by Edwina Fallis

A road like brown ribbon,
A sky that is blue,
A forest of green
With the sky peeping through.
Asters, deep purple,
A grasshopper's call,
Today it is summer,
Tomorrow is fall.

Book Giveaways in Blogworld (10-03-09 edition)

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 Sea of Books is giving away 2 copies of How To Rule the World from Your Couch. Deadline is October 3.

Sweeps4Bloggers is giving away 5 copies of Evenings at the Argentine Club. Deadline is October 3.

Drey's Library is giving hosting a Maximum Ride promotion. Deadline is October 4.

Falling Off the Shelf is giving away a pack of James Patterson books! Deadline is October 5.

Bookin' with Bingo is giving away 5 copies of Simon's Cat. Deadline is October 5.

At Home with Books is giving away 2 copies of How To Rule the World From Your Couch. Deadline is October 5.

Bloody Bad is giving away a copy of Benny and Shrimp. Deadline is October 5.

Drey's Library is giving away 5 copies of Simon's Cat. Deadline is October 6.

Trying to Stay Calm is giving away bookmarks to 4 winners! Deadline is October 6.

Shauna of Book Giveaways is also giving away bookmarks on her book giveaway site. Deadline is October 6.

Yankee Romance Review is giving away 5 copies of The Highlander's Tempatation. Deadline is October 7.

Miscellaneous Matters is giving away a copy of A Black Man's Journey Through the Annals of Time. Deadline is October 7.

Readaholic is giving away 3 copies of The Drunkard's Path. Deadline is October 7.

Readaholic is giving away 5 copies of Beat the Reaper. Deadline is October 9.

Alison's Bookmarks is giving away 5 copies of Beat the Reaper. Deadline is October 9.

All About {n} is giving away a box of books for her 200 follower contest! Deadline is October 9.

Jeanne's Ramblings is giving away 5 copies of Beat the Reaper. Deadline is October 10.

Books and Needlepoint is giving away 5 copies of Beat the Reaper. Tell 'em nfmgirl sent you! Deadline is October 11.

Drey's Library is giving away 5 copies of Evenings at the Argentine Club. Deadline is October 12.

Simply Stacie is giving away a copy of Circle of Souls. Deadline is October 15.

Chick with Books is giving away 3 copies of Beat the Reaper. Deadline is October 17.

The Lateiner Gange Book Review Spot is giving away your choice of an ARC or a hard copy of Catching Fire. Deadline is October 17.

Luxury Reading is giving away 5 copies of Run for Your Life. Deadline is October 20.

The Book Resort is giving away The Lost Symbol. Deadline is October 23.

Libby's Library News is giving away 5 copies of A Highlander's Temptation. Deadline is October 23.

At Home with Books is cleaning off the shelves, and offering up Her Fearful Symmetry, The White Queen, Julie & Julia and Alex & Me. Deadline is October 29.

*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!

CHALLENGE: The Stephen King/Richard Bachman Challenge

The Stephen King/Richard Bachman Challenge
Perpetual Challenge

Meaghan at Book Geek 2.0 is hosting this challenge. A new lover of Stephen King, she is trying to read every book of his and has challenged everyone else to do the same. I've been a fan of King since I was 12 and read The Stand, so it wasn't hard to convince me to hop on the challenge wagon!

This is a perpetual challenge, with no deadlines and few restrictions. Simply read EVERY SINGLE book by Stephen King/Richard Bachman. It's okay if you skip the hard-to-find limited editions.

• You aren't required to re-read books you've already read
• You are welcome to watch his movies AS WELL, not in place of, his books
• You are also welcome to review all of his books, if you wish

A complete list of his books may be found here. Here is my list as it stands. Bold and italicized titles I am considering completed.

• 1960 - People, Places, And Things - Volume 1 (limited edition with Chris Chelsey) I DON'T EXPECT TO BE ABLE TO READ THIS
• 1964 - The Star Invaders (limited edition) I DON'T EXPECT TO BE ABLE TO READ THIS
• 1974 - Carrie
• 1975 - Salem's Lot
• 1977 - The Shining
• 1978 - Night Shift (DONE)
• 1978 - The Stand (DONE many times now)
• 1979 - The Dead Zone (DONE)
• 1980 - Firestarter (DONE)
• 1981 - Cujo (DONE)
• 1981 - Danse Macabre (nonfiction about horror)
• 1981 - Roadwork
• 1982 - Creepshow (comic book, illustrated by Bernie Wrightson)
• 1982 - The Dark Tower I: The Gunslinger
• 1982 - Different Seasons (DONE)
• 1983 - Christine (DONE)
• 1983 - Pet Sematary (DONE)
• 1983 - Cycle of the Werewolf
• 1984 - The Talisman (written with Peter Straub)
• 1985 - Skeleton Crew (DONE a long time ago, and may want to reread!)
• 1985 - The Bachman Books (DONE)
• 1986 - It (DONE)
• 1987 - The Eyes of the Dragon
• 1987 - Misery (DONE)
• 1987 - The Dark Tower II: The Drawing of the Three
• 1988 - The Tommyknockers (DONE)
• 1988 - Nightmares in the Sky (Photo book with text by King)
• 1988 - Dark Visions
• 1989 - The Dark Half (DONE)
• 1989 - Dolan's Cadillac (limited edition) I DON'T EXPECT TO BE ABLE TO READ THIS
• 1989 - My Pretty Pony (limited edition) I DON'T EXPECT TO BE ABLE TO READ THIS
• 1990 - The Stand: The Complete & Uncut Edition (DONE- I've read both versions multiple times)
• 1990 - Four Past Midnight (DONE)
• 1991 - Needful Things (DONE)
• 1991 - The Dark Tower III: The Waste Lands
• 1992 - Gerald's Game (partially read)
• 1993 - Dolores Claiborne
• 1993 - Nightmares & Dreamscapes (stories)
• 1994 - Insomnia
• 1995 - Rose Madder
• 1995 - Umney's Last Case
• 1996 - The Green Mile (originally published as a monthly serial consisting of six parts: The Two Dead Girls, The Mouse on the Mile, Coffey's Hands, The Bad Death of Eduard Delacroix, Night Journey, and Coffey on the Mile)
• 1996 - Desperation (DONE)
• 1997 - Six Stories (stories)
• 1997 - The Dark Tower IV: Wizard and Glass
• 1998 - Bag of Bones
• 1999 - Storm of the Century
• 1999 - The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon
• 1999 - The New Lieutenant's Rap (limited edition) I DON'T EXPECT TO BE ABLE TO READ THIS
• 1999 - Hearts in Atlantis
• 1999 - Blood and Smoke (audio book)
• 2000 - Riding the Bullet (electronically published novella)
• 2000 - The Plant (electronically published)
• 2000 - Secret Windows
• 2000 - On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft (nonfiction autobiography)
• 2000 - Dreamcatcher
• 2001 - Black House (written with Peter Straub)
• 2002 - From a Buick 8
• 2002 - Everything's Eventual: 14 Dark Tales
• 2003 - The Dark Tower I: The Gunslinger (revised edition)
• 2003 - The Dark Tower V: Wolves of the Calla
• 2004 - The Dark Tower VI: Song of Susannah
• 2004 - The Dark Tower VII: The Dark Tower
• 2004 - Faithful: Two Diehard Boston Red Sox Fans Chronicle the Historic 2004 Season
• 2005 - The Colorado Kid
• 2006 - Cell (DONE)
• 2006 - Lisey's Story
• 2008 - Duma Key
• 2008 - Just After Sunset
• UR (e-novella available only on Amazon.com's Kindle) I DON'T EXPECT TO BE ABLE TO READ THIS
• 2009 - Under the Dome (DONE)
• 2010 - Full Dark, No Stars
  

Richard Bachman's Published Books
"Richard Bachman" is a pseudonym that King used until Bachman's true identity was discovered by fans, after which he only published one more Bachman novel.

• 1977 - Rage (DONE)
• 1979 - The Long Walk (DONE)
• 1981 - Road Work
• 1982 - The Running Man (DONE)
• 1984 - Thinner (DONE)
• 1996 - The Regulators (DONE)
• 2007 - Blaze

This may be a lifetime commitment! He is a very prolific author! Let the challenge begin!