Adventures in Never-Never Land

2008-07-27T10:11:00.000-04:00

I have moved to wordpress.. Come and see me over there!!

2008-07-26T12:54:00.001-04:00

Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia
by Elizabeth Gilbert

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I was sitting there reading Eat, Pray Love when I hit upon: That's me in the corner, in other words That me in the spotlight. Choosing my religion on page 208. I was flabbergasted. I mean how many books quote my most favorite quote song and my most favorite line?

Some people will disagree with me, but there really are more than one road to God. As Elizabeth Gilbert, illustrates in her book, Eat,Pray.Love. It starts with a difficult divorcee and she proceeds to travel to Rome, India, and Indonesia in the course of a year. She takes the road less traveled in her journey of finding God.

The book is funny, inspirationally and uplifting. It draws on several religious traditions without demeaning or proclaiming one is better than the other.

The way she describes things and events makes one feel as if they are chatting with an old friend. Her sense of humor comes through and the way she dances fluidly around topics that would cause others to trip and fall only adds to an already well written book.

Technorati Tags: review,peace,love,finding God,memoir,travel

Winners

2008-07-25T14:44:00.001-04:00

The way I picked is put them all in excel then programmed excel to pick a random name.

Aberrations-c-alexis

Surviving Ben’s Suicide-Stephanie

please email me your address and I will send the books to you.

A big thank you goes out to all that participants!

Water for Elephants

2008-07-24T17:59:00.001-04:00

Running away to the circus is an old topic but Sara Gruen does a brilliant job of making it work. This book, when first looking at it ,brings to mind the old adage never judge a book by its cover. I felt when looking at the book that it was an old topic and the circus really wasn’t my thing..or so I thought

When I actually read the book I was blown away. The character development was wonderful and this historical part of it flowed beautifully. There are some books that have no trouble believing that they are a made up story but some are so well written that you just have to remind yourself that it is a work of fiction and this is what category water for elephants falls in.

Gruen has two previous novels that had only enjoyed moderate success but after reading this book, I am going to hunt down the other two.

Last day for book Giveaway!

2008-07-24T08:00:00.000-04:00

Today is the last day for the book give away contests here and here!

2008-07-22T08:00:00.000-04:00

Upon my internet meanderings I come across this site. I think it is a wonderful idea. I want a tattoo that says:

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary

from my most favorite poem of all time, The Raven, by Edgar Allen Poe

Book Club Classics-Classics meme

2008-07-21T20:37:00.001-04:00

Tagged by Kbookreviews

1.What is the best classic you were “forced” to read in school (and why)?

It would have to be Old Man and the Sea. That was a turning point in my reading career so to speak. I was in the 10 grade at a school for the Deaf and my teacher was determined to bring us all up to speed. I first read the book, I had no clue about symbolism. I really thought it was only about a man trying to catch a whale. After my teacher carefully explained about the underlying themes and symbolism a whole new literary world opened up to me.

2. What was the worst classic you were forced to endure (and why)?

My Antonia. May the literary gods forgive me but i hate anything by Willia cather

Which classic should every student be required to read (and why)?

Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad. That is my most favorite book and I wish I could force all of humanity to read it.

Which classic should be put to rest immediately (and why)?

See number two.

**Bonus** Why do you think certain books become classics?

I think some books have things that are timeless. Like going insane, chasing a dream etc are all things that speak to every generation.

Simplexity

2008-07-21T18:00:00.000-04:00

When we thing of how complex something is, it is simple right? No so according to Jeffrey Kluger of Simplexity. Simplexity according to wikipedia is is an emerging theory that proposes a possible complementary relationship between complexity and simplicity. The term draws from General Systems Theory, Dialectics (philosophy) and Design.

Kluger in his book explains what this new theory is and how it relates to several different facets of the sciences.

This book is a fascinating read. It is also a book that makes you think. Some book you can read in one sitting but others you read and have to absorb the info then read more. Simplexity is the latter. I found myself utterly fascinated by this book.

Abberations Book Give away

2008-07-17T16:22:00.001-04:00

I have read and reviewed Aberrations and as much as it pains me to separate from any book, I want to pass it on to someone else to enjoy as much as I have.

Simply leave a comment below for one entry and post about this one your website for an additional entry. The contest will run until July 24 2008.

My first book Give Away Contest

2008-07-17T16:12:00.002-04:00

I have read and reviewed Surviving Ben’s Suicide and now want to pass it on. Comment below for one entry, post about this one your blog for an additional entry. The contest will run until July 24 2008.

Suriving Ben's Suicide

2008-07-13T19:40:00.000-04:00

There are a lot of books out there there giving a first person narrative of mental illness. There are almost nothing for people who are friends or lovers of the people who are afflicted with such. That in itself is strange because when someone becomes ill it affects not only the person but everyone who loves and cares for them.

Comfort Shields met and fell in love with Ben while they were both in collage. The book takes the reader thorough the last eighteen months of Ben's life. After, Shields takes the reader on a journey though grief and guilt and ultimately acceptance of the emotional aftermath that Ben's suicide brings.

For me it was difficult to read because I could see myself in Ben and my friends in Shields. That is a testament to how well it is written. The love that Shields had or still has for Ben shines through. This is a story that needs to be told.

One of the most pivotal points that she makes in this book is that no matter how much you may love a person with mental illness you can not save them. If they do succumb to suicide it is in no way your fault. I feel this book should be standard recommendation for any one who loves a person with a mental illness

This will be one of the books I will be giving away. Check back in a couple of days for the “official contest” post.

2008-07-07T11:12:00.001-04:00

Does anyone have a Kindle? If so what are your thoughts about it?

Urban Guide to Hipsters

2008-07-06T19:33:00.001-04:00

This book is a satire of the kind of “hipsters” found in the cities. It covers everything from Internet geeks to “men who lunch”. It is written as a guide book. It stats out each section with a satirical and humorous explanation of each species.

I was thoroughly amused by this book. I was attempting to discern what kind of hipster I would be. I would probably fit in as a cross between Internet geek and book geek.

Point Blanc

2008-07-06T13:10:00.002-04:00

This is the first Graphic Novel I have read. Well, except for Maus In college. Part of the reason is that it centers so much on pictures. If it is words I can tease out the most subtle of meanings. In art, however, I am the poor fool that is left wondering why the Mona Lisa is so valuable. I mean it is just a woman smiling right?
So I have stayed far away from Graphic Novels. After reading 10 millions reviews on how everyone else liked x,y and z I decided to pick one up and see for myself.
To my surprise, I actually enjoyed this one. It was fairly simple in terms of understanding how the pictures contribute to the story. And it made sense as opposed to Maus where my professor had to explain in excruciating detail that the rat was the Jews and I forget what was the Germans while the rest of the honors class looked on wondering how I managed to get in that class and the program in the first place.
Overall this book has sparked my interest in Graphic Novels so I think I will get another one and see if I like the genre.

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Booking Through Thursday

2008-07-03T12:40:00.002-04:00

It’s a holiday weekend here in the U.S., so let’s keep today’s question simple–What are you reading? Anything special? Any particularly juicy summer reading?

At the moment I am simply entranced by Water For Elephants.

July Book Blowout

2008-07-03T11:30:00.003-04:00

1. Describe yourself in one sentence

A reader, wanna be writer and hard-core geek.

2. What book will you start the challenge with?

I attempted to finish The book Of Useless Information but I didnt so I will count that as a half a book.

3. Where is your favourite place to read?

either in the recliner or my bed

4. What is your favourite book of all time?

I would have to say Life of Pi. The first few times I read it it was just ok. Then it clicked and I saw it as the brilliant work it is.

5. Remind us all of your challenge target

15 books

Sunday Salon

2008-06-29T17:42:00.003-04:00

I have been a addict of twitter and friendfeed for a while and I have most of the top tech bloggers on my list it seems all of the literary people are hiding. If you know of any feeds that pertain to the book world let me know please.

I signed up for July BlowOut book challenge. I made it my goal to read 15 books. I always did like a challenge and since I have nothing else on my plate I think it is doable.

This week I will be reading Book of Useless information, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry Into Values, Water for Elephants and the Book of Origins. These are all library books and they are due back Friday. So I have double incentive to get them all read this week.

July Book Blowout

2008-06-28T10:04:00.003-04:00

You can sign up here. You basically set a goal for the amount of books to read in July. The rules are at the website. I set my goal at 15. What can I say, I am ambitious.

Get Your Act Together

2008-06-27T17:06:00.001-04:00

I never know how to review “become more organized books” because no matter how good they are I am a hopeless case so even if it does not work for me, I feel it is unfair to give a bad rating jut because I lack the will power to make the program work for me. Yet I am always attempting to find ways of being more productive. I am at heart a disorganized mess. I read books on organization in the hopes that somehow the advice will be somehow absorbed and like magic I will be organized. That has not happened yet but this book still has some good advice. My favorite is “you cant know what your purpose is in life until you become organized”. Which is very true. That statement alone has pushed me to be as organized as possible. If you are like me, a functionally disorganized person is not saying much but as I always say it is worth a try!

Best of Blogs

2008-06-27T16:56:00.002-04:00

Ever since I started reading Blogs way back in the day ( around 2002) I have been hopelessly hooked. For at least two hours a day, I troll the Internet reading my favorite blogs and checking out new ones.

This book was similar to that experience. The authors put together some of the best blog posts and compiled them into a book format.

Some of the ones they showcased were among the more famous ones such as Dooce and Wil Wheaton (which also happens to be among my favorites). There are also author interviews scattered throughout the book, which I enjoyed immensely. They discussed their journey and growth to what is the “A list” among bloggers.

Technorati Tags: Best of Blogs,review

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2008-06-22T19:39:00.002-04:00

Angel Duet is a 21 year old woman who has narcolepsy. She is fine with the way her life is until she meets two new friends and her life changes irrevocably forever.

Her father has a secret that he has been hiding from her that shapes her whole life. When the secret starts unraveling, it changes who she is and how she sees the world.

Her father is not the only one with a secret. As Angel struggles to unravel the secret of her mother's photographs everyone around her comes forwards with secrets of their own.

It is a story of redemption and love and the painful path to both.

Aberrations is a first novel by Penelope Przekop. Aberrations, which is set in Shreveport Louisiana, shows truthfully the culture and mores of the South.

I enjoyed this book and can not wait for her next one.

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Sunday Salon

2008-06-22T19:12:00.001-04:00

Technorati Tags: Sunday Salon

This week I read best of blogs and a ARC book Aberrations. I will post reviews on both shortly. Maybe I will jut go hide out from everyone where they cant find me then I can get all the reading I want done.

Today I have been reading Larrell Hamiltion’s Burnt Offerings. I was in the Library and saw it and no one was more shocked than I that I missed a book of hers.

There used to be a time when I read all the vampire stories I could get, especially what I coined “vampire porn”. I ran out of such books to read so I had to switch genres.

2008-06-15T19:11:00.001-04:00

This week I only managed to read two books. Power of Kindness and Get your Act Together. I enjoyed both immensely. Reviews will be up shortly. I am going to try the Get your act together and the Getting things done method thingie and maybe I can keep on top of things. I can hope. All day today I have been reading Neil Gainmen’s NeverWhere, neglecting both family and friends and pets. After this I am reading Stephen Kings “On Writing”. I forgot I even had that book till I dug it out. Ohh so many books, so little time!

2008-06-13T20:42:00.003-04:00

The reason I read this is a personal one. I too, have bipolar. I am always reading memoirs a sort of a support group. How one deals with all of the realities of living with manic depression. Sort of a hey looked they messed up also but now look where they are!

So I read "An Unquiet Mind". My first thought was that it was "flat". Anyone who has read prozac nation or any author afflicted with Bipolar knows that the writing styles tend to be dynamic. I wondered if it was the result of her editor or if she wrote it during a "well" phase. Even her descriptions of Mania did not really show the reality. It was wrote at a distance and it sounded clinical. However it could be that she was holding back for fear of repercussions.

She sings the praises of lithium . If it works for you, wonderful. In reading her book though I felt that something was wrong with me in that I refuse to take lithium . In any rate I am a "poor responder". I felt that as a DR that she could have given more time to other alternatives.

On the whole it is a very informative book for someone wanting to better understand what Bipolar is.

2008-06-08T21:34:00.001-04:00

Novel
by George Singleton

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Novel Is a novel that takes place in North Carolina. It plays on the stereotypes of rural Southerners but not in a demeaning way. I thoughly enjoyed this book. It had delightful plays on language such as, I am a detective, Novel. (you really don't think I am going say more do you? I refuse to be a spoiler!) Unlike Sock, this had reference I actually understood. Then again it is not the author of Sock fault that I am retarded in pop culture.