Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Teaser Tuesday

I don't want to do a lot of memes on this blog, because I don't want it to become all about memes. But, this is a fun one I've seen in various places, so I'm going to participate.

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.  Anyone can playing along!  Just do the following:

  • Grab your current read
  • Open to a random page
  • Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page
  • Be careful not to include spoilers! (make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away!  You don't want to ruin the book for others!)
  • Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers.
     Slowly, I drag myself out of bed and into the shower.  I arbitrarily punch buttons on the control board and end up hopping from foot to foot as alternating jets of icy cold and steaming hot water assault me.  
p. 86, The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
   
 

Friday, January 27, 2012

Book Review: The Endless Steppe by Esther Hautzig

I read this book when I was younger somewhere between sixth and eighth grade.  I do believe I enjoyed it more now than then.

We learn a lot about the Holocaust, the nasty things the Germans did to the Jews.  What is not as commonly discussed is how the Russians treated the Polish during World War II.

Esther Hautzig has presented a wonderfully tragic story of life in Siberia as a captive of the Russians along with her father, mother, and grandmother.  Her grandfather was separated on a different train.  She came from a well off family, but in Russia, they had nothing.  Starting off, Esther's parents and grandmother work in a coal mine while she works on a potato farm.

Following Esther's five year journey in Siberia touches the heart.  It's a beautiful story everyone needs to read.

I re-read the book for pure pleasure and I give it 5/5 stars.


Book Review: The Complete Grimm's Fairy Tales by the Brothers Grimm


Most everyone has heard of the Brothers Grimm.  The stories mainly told are not the actual Grimm fair tales.  They are watered down versions.  The Brothers Grimm's fairy tales are more graphic and more sinister.

I was happy to receive this book free from Goodread's free ebook page.  It gave me the opportunity to read the tales in the Brothers Grimm fashion rather than what I've grown up knowing.  The stories were not all roses and bows.  Brutal and horrendous things took place.  Kids cut off parts of their body, like toes, without batting an eyelash.  Definitely not children's stories!

I give the book 3/5 stars.  I read it as an ebook for pure pleasure.

Got Great Giveaways

Got Great Giveaways is a meme hosted by I Am a Reader Not a Writer.  She does it a bit differently asking for people to sign up, but I like to post every giveaway I come across.  I like sharing giveaways with others.

Giveaway Hops
Reader Rally Giveaway Hop hosted by Romance at Random Jan. 17-31
Cozy Up With a Book Blog Hop hosted by Mommy Reads Too Much and eReading on the Cheap Jan. 23-29


Monthly: 
Reader Views
Prime Crime 
Myshelf 
Sherryl Woods
Stella Cameron 
NAL Authors 
Madeline Hunter 
Marie Bostwick 
Nicole Jordan 
Ann Roth 
Carly Phillips 
Catherine Anderson 

The Secret Writer
Kindle and Me


Weekly:
Booktrib.com
Free Book Friday
Show Me the Money Mondays hosted by Lori's Reading Corner

Ongoing:
Goodreads.com's First Reads

January:
Awakening by Karice Bolton hosted by I'm Loving Books Jan. 27
The Public Pretender by M.D. Cliatt hosted by Live to Read Jan. 27
Love Engineered by Jenna Dawlish hosted by Reviews by Martha's Bookshelf Jan. 27
A Cold Creek Secret by RaeAnne Thayne hosted by Reviews by Martha's Bookshelf Jan. 27
Miss Hildreth Wore Brown: Anecdotes of a Southern Belle by Olivia deBelle Byrd hosted by Reviews by Martha's Bookshelf Jan. 27
Second Chances by Leigh Morgan hosted by Book Girl of Mur-y Castle Jan. 27
Daniel Coleman book giveaway hosted by Word Spelunking Jan. 27
Unlovable by Sherry Gammon hosted by Xpresso Reads Jan. 27
Midnight in Austenland by Shannon Hale hosted by The Calico Critic Jan. 28
Midnight in Austenland by Shannon Hale hosted by The Calico Critic Jan. 29
Dream Robbers by RC Scott hosted by Word Spelunking Jan. 29
The Deliverer by Jason D. Morrow hosted by I Am a Reader Not a Writer Jan. 30
Downward Dog, Upward Fog by Meryl Davids Landau hosted by I Am a Reader Not a Writer Jan. 30
Oath of Office by Michael Palmer hosted by Live to Read Jan. 30
Five Years and Counting: A Journey into the Mind of Soul Poetry by Cendrine Marrouat hosted by I Am a Reader Not a Writer Jan. 31
The School for the Insanely Gifted by Dan Elish hosted by I Am a Reader Not a Writer Jan. 31
Unnatural Law (Darwin's Children #2) by Natasha Larry hosted by I Am a Reader Not a Writer Jan. 31
The Keeper by Natalie Star hosted by I Am a Reader Not a Writer Jan. 31
The Light of Asteria by Elizabeth Isaacs hosted by Book Briefs Jan. 31
The Signature Collection Prize Pack Giveaway hosted by One a Day Y.A. Jan. 31
Mary Burton Giveaway hosted by Lori's Reading Corner Jan. 31
The Western Lit Survival Kit by Sandra Newman hosted by Luxury Reading Jan. 31
Princess Reborn Chapter 1 by Lee Tidball hosted by Mymcbooks's Blog Jan. 31
Life in the Slow Lane by Thomas M. Sullivan hosted by Audiobook Fans Jan. 31
Tempest by Julie Cross hosted by I'm Loving Books Jan. 31
Nonfiction Picture Book Giveaway hosted by Kid Lit Frenzy Jan. 31

February:
Shortcuts to Inner Peace  by Ashley Davis Bush hosted by I Am a Reader Not a Writer Feb. 1
The Priest and the Peaches by Larry Peterson hosted by I Am a Reader Not a Writer Feb. 1
Bite Me or the Obvious Title For a Novel About a Vampire and a Werewolf by Lori T. Strongin hosted by I Am a Reader Not a Writer Feb. 1
Anything is Possible: A Tale of Aesop by Thomas Bahler hosted by I Am a Reader Not a Writer Feb. 1
Eve Hallows and the Book of Shrieks by Robert Gray hosted by I Am a Reader Not a Writer Feb. 1
The Ocean and the Hourglass by Dan O'Brien hosted by I Am a Reader Not a Writer Feb. 1
2 Joyce Wan Books hosted by That's It! Mommy Feb. 1
In the Shadow of the Moonlight: The Awakening by JJ Bidell hosted by Word Spelunking Feb. 1
Lifting the Wheel of Karma by Paul H. Magrid hosted by I Am a Reader Not a Writer Feb. 2
After the Snow Falls by Carey Jane Clark hosted by I Am a Reader Not a Writer Feb. 2
Journey on the Edge: Living a Life that Matters by Walt Hampton hosted by I Am a Reader Not a Writer Feb. 2
The Way We Fall by Megan Crewe hosted by Confessions of a Bookaholic Feb. 2
The Word Gang by Mark McKenna hosted by Uniquely Moi Books Feb. 2
Die Job by Lila Dare hosted by Lori's Reading Corner Feb. 3
The Last Nude by Ellis Avery hosted by Unabridged Chick Feb. 3
Dreaming of Mr. Darcy by Victoria Connelly hosted by Laura's Reviews Feb. 3
Deeper Water by Robert Whitlow hosted by Reviews by Martha's Bookshelf Feb. 3
The Key of Kilenya by Andrea Pearson hosted by Literally Jen Feb. 4
One Year Blogoversary hosted by Christian Bookshelf Reviews Feb. 5
Catch Me by Lisa Gardner hosted by Lori's Reading Corner Feb. 5
Chasing Mona Lisa by Tricia Goyer and Mike Yorkey hosted by Colloquium Feb. 5
Tempest by Julie Cross hosted by Xpresso Reads Feb. 5
180 Degrees by Robert Radcliffe hosted by I Am a Reader Not a Writer Feb. 6
Movement by Nancy Fulda hosted by I Am a Reader Not a Writer Feb. 6
The Day of First Sun by Sheryl Steines hosted by I Am a Reader Not a Writer Feb. 6
In the Shadow of the Moonlight: The Awakening by J.J. Bidell hosted by I Am a Reader Not a Writer Feb. 6
A Detailed Man by David Swinson hosted by Lori's Reading Corner Feb. 7
Try Not to Breathe by Jennifer R. Hubbard hosted by Confessions of a Bookaholic Feb. 7
Wild Thing by Josh Bazell hosted by Regal Literacy Feb. 8
Family Magic by Patti Larsen hosted by I Am a Reader Not a Writer Feb. 8
Dark Vow by Shona Husk hosted by Passion for Novels Feb. 8
The Vampire Diaries: Stefan's Diaries books 1-4 by L.J. Smith hosted by Pen to Paper Feb. 8
Girl Land by Caitlin Flanagan hosted by Beth's Book Reviews Feb. 9
Fallen in Love by Lauren Kate hosted by Confessions of a Bookaholic Feb. 9
Affairs of Steak by Julie Hyzy hosted by Lori's Reading Corner Feb. 9
Are You Smart Enough to Work at Google? by William Poundstone hosted by Beth's Book Reviews Feb. 10
The Edumacation of Jay Baker by Jay Clark hosted by Confessions of a Bookaholic Feb. 10
There's Just Something About a Boy by Jenny Lee Sulpizo hosted by Mymcbooks's Blog Feb.11
Bump It Up: Transform Your Pregnancy into the Ultimate Style Statement by Amy Tara Koch hosted by That's It! Mommy Feb. 15
Awkward by Marni Bates hosted by I Am a Reader Not a Writer Feb. 15
The Education of Hailey Kendrick hosted by I Am a Reader Not a Writer Feb. 15
The Way We Fall by Megan Crewe hosted by I Am a Reader Not a Writer Feb. 17
Arson, Airel, and Pyxis by Aaron Patterson hosted by I Am a Reader Not a Writer Feb. 19
Love? Maybe by Heather Helper hosted by I Am a Reader Not a Writer Feb. 20
Don't Breathe a Word by Holly Cupula hosted by I Am a Reader Not a Writer Feb. 20
Mesmerize by Artist Arthur hosted by I Am a Reader Not a Writer Feb. 20
BeSwitched and BeSwitched Witch by Molly Snow hosted by I Am a Reader Not a Writer Feb. 21
Soul Thief by Jana Oliver hosted by Spades High Read Feb. 21
The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith hosted by I Am a Reader Not a Writer Feb. 21
The Boy Project by Kami Kinard hosted by I Am a Reader Not a Writer Feb. 22
Nate Rocks the World Karen Pokras Toz hosted by I Am a Reader Not a Writer Feb. 22
The Story of Us by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler hosted by Chapter by Chapter Feb. 28

April:
Never Enough by Denise Jaden hosted by I Am a Reader Not a Writer April 17

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