Weekly Geeks #8 – Scavenger Hunt

I’m really excited about this weeks Weekly Geeks challenge. This week we are having a scavenger hunt, what could be more exciting? This is going to take a while to finish this so be sure to keep checking back for updates on the words I’ve found. The link to location of the given word is provided just below the the word. Then the actual sentence with the word(s) is posted below the link and the actual word(s) are bolded in red. 1. (THE PRIZE. Did you find it?)
http://deweymonster.com/?p=771 OhbythewaytheprizeisasubscriptiontoBookmarksmagazinesogolistthatasnumberonenow! AlsothewinnerwillbefeaturedinWeeklyGeeks#10.
2. youtube
http://bybeebooks.blogspot.com/2008/05/weekly-geeks-5-ive-got-story.html I don’t know who invented youtube, but I like to think that the Universe sat down one day, chin in hand and asked itself: What can I come up with that would make Susan Jackson Bybee deliriously happy? Nice job, Universe…My thank-you note’s in the cosmic mail.
3. war
http://bookworship.blogspot.com/2008/05/weekly-geeks-4-social-issues.html From the cold war to the height of today’s war on terror, groups as dissimilar as armies, religious cults, and advertising agencies have been accused of brainwashing. But what does this mean?
4. Sunday Salon
http://smallworldreads.blogspot.com/2008/05/weekly-geeks-childhood-favorites.html This is a repost of a Sunday Salon post, but it seems appropriate for this week’s Weekly Geeks theme (my first): fond memories of childhood books
5. Buy a Friend a Book
http://melissasbookreviews.blogspot.com/2007/10/hoppin-october.html
If that isn’t enough for you to do… this week is BOTH Buy a Friend a Book Week and Banned Books Week.
6. BTT (or Booking Through Thursday)
http://justaddbooks.blogspot.com/2008/06/whew-catch-up-on-reviews-week-was-hard.html If you would like to see all of our cats, they’re in this post here: http://justaddbooks.blogspot.com/2008/02/booking-through-thursday.html
7. omnibus
http://astripedarmchair.wordpress.com/2008/05/14/weekly-geeks-and-a-blogging-meme/ I just spent ten minutes doing an internet search, and it turns out it’s a trilogy called The Year of the Cat by Zoe Daniels; my friend had an omnibus edition.
8. Speculative fiction
http://eft.fabglitter.org/blog/?p=114 I tend to like chick lit, funny fiction, speculative fiction, very personal fiction, and adult non-fiction the best – which is to say that I want things that are either relaxing or exciting to read.
9. Short stories
http://readingandmorereading.blogspot.com/2008/06/weekly-geeks-7-posting-pictures.html I have found many a poetrt books from here along with history, short stories etc etc.
10. Ani Difranco (or just Ani)
http://boldblueadventure.blogspot.com/2008/05/goose-girl.html Ani is the crown princess of Kildenree.
11. Printz
http://tinyreadingroom.blogspot.com/2008/02/review-looking-for-alaska.html
From the very first page, tension fills John Green’s Michael L. Printz Award-winning novel (Dutton, 2005).
12. Man Booker Prize (or just Booker)
http://rhinoasramblings.blogspot.com/2008/04/blind-assassin-margaret-atwood.html Reason for Reading : Chunkster Challenge, Book Awards Reading Challenge, Man Booker Challenge, I love her other books that I have read
13. Newbery
http://pagenumbered.wordpress.com/2008/06/06/because-im-bored/ Kira-Kira. It won the Newberry one year but I’m not sure who wrote it.
14. Mother Talk
http://deweymonster.com/?p=773
Donated by: Mother Talk
15. interview
http://armenianodar.wordpress.com/2008/06/11/iran-awakening-by-shirin-ebadi/ When I watched that broadcast [an interview Ebadi gave on CNN], aware that it was being beamed around the world, I also realized for the first time that I had become what you might call famous.
16. history
http://www.randomwonder.com/2008/06/black-tower-by-louis-bayard-book.html The Black Toweris both an alternate history and suspense story, spinning an imagined tale where France’s lost dauphin, Louis XVII, survived his tower imprisonment.
17. glbt (or any other arrangement of those letters, or with a q in there)
http://karinlibrarian.wordpress.com/triple-8-reading-challenge/
8 GLBT Teen Novels
18. fantasy
http://jlshall.blogspot.com/2008/06/grannys-wonderful-fairy-tales.html And one thing my home library tour has made me realize is just how much my youthful reading was dominated by fantasy and folk or fairy tales.
19. film
http://www.caribousmom.com/2008/06/14/the-kite-runner-book-review/ The Kite Runner has been banned by the Afghan government because of a rape scene of a young boy and the ethnic tensions that the film highlights. 20. giraffe
http://blog.mawbooks.com/2008/02/23/the-no-1-ladies-detective-agency-by-alexander-mccall-smith/ This is the first book in the series and I plan on reading the rest of the titles which are (mainly for my benefit): Tears of the Giraffe, Morality for Beautiful Girls, The Kalahari Typing School for Men, The Full Cupboard of Life, In the Company of Cheerful Ladies, Blue Shoes and Happiness, The Good Husband of Zebra Drive, and The Miracle at Speedy Motors.
21. biography
http://notenoughbookshelves.blogspot.com/2008/06/thirteeth-tale.html Vida hires Margaret to write her official biography, an event the world has been waiting for as Vida is incredible secretive about her past, telling different tales to a variety of interviews.
22. Geraldine Brooks
http://bottle-of-shine.livejournal.com/279973.html The Pulitzer Prize for Fiction this year went to March, a novel by Geraldine Brooks, published by Viking.
23. graphic novels
http://chainletters.wordpress.com/2008/06/13/the-sandman-the-dolls-house/ As part of the Graphic Novels Challenge, this post was cross-blogged here.
24. classics
http://katrinasreads.blogspot.com/2008/05/classics-challenge-july-dec-2008.html Trish has set up The Classics Challenge – yet another challenge that I can’t resist!
25. faerie
http://justareadingfool.wordpress.com/2008/05/29/stardust/ The catch: he has to cross a stone barrier into the land of Faerie and battle others, including a witch, who believes the heart of the star will give her and her sisters their youth back, and brothers, who believe that whichever gets the star will become lord of the kingdom in which they live.
26. Amelie
http://karinlibrarian.wordpress.com/2007/09/18/midnight-alley-by-rachel-caine/ Everyone should be safe now that she has signed a contract with Amelie.
27. doo doo doo
28. 24 Hour Read-a-thon
http://joystory.blogspot.com/2008/06/lets-get-together-read-read-read.html Dewey has scheduled another 24 Hour Read-a-thon! 29. etsy
http://www.clareswindlehurst.com/bookreviews/2008/04/26/weekly-geeks-discover-new-blogs-week/ Chris writes her blog at book-a-rama and it’s full of great reviews and cute etsy finds.
30. poetry
http://justareadingfool.wordpress.com/2008/06/11/weekly-geeks-7-part-1/ Top shelves are mostly hardcovers with a few exceptions; second shelves, American authors; third shelves, poetry; fourth shelves, international authors (primarily though British) and bottom left shelf where cat (who looks sort of demonic with the flash in his eyes, doesn’t he?) is is nonfiction of various kinds.
31. Bookmooch
http://stuffasdreamsaremadeon.com/2008/06/07/weekly-geeks-7-and-stuff/ The other six all came from bookmooch and quite a few have been recommended by you bloggers!
32. del.icio.us
33. R.E.M.
34. Bookworms Carnival
http://armenianodar.wordpress.com/2008/05/16/may-bookworms-carnival-and-some-more/ The May edition of the Bookworms Carnival is up over at Scooter Chronicles.
35. library
http://web.mac.com/cymraeg_ddewines/Welsh_Witch/Merry_Meet.html The Library holds a complete list of the books I read and review while embarking on my wonderful journey into the great book.
36. Lost (must refer to the TV series)
http://jellyjules.com/?p=515 But when Lost is on, I must watch, no matter how dumb it gets.
37. Six Feet Under
http://jellyjules.com/?p=515
That’s Curb Your Enthusiasm, Weeds, Six Feet Under, Dead Like Me, so many great shows on HBO or Showtime, that we watch at our leisure, because we don’t have to watch them on TV.
38. ReadingAnimals (I’m featuring her because I feel bad that I can’t figure out how to comment at her blog.)
http://readinganimals.com/
39. hedgehog
http://blbooks.blogspot.com/2007/12/picture-book-parade.html
Anderson, Lena. 2007. Hedgehog, Pig, and the Sweet Little Friend.
40. pregnant
http://thewrittenword.wordpress.com/2008/02/05/the-friday-night-knitting-club-a-giveaway/ Having had her heart broken by Dakota’s father James while still pregnant, Georgia was left to find her own way to make a living and support her family.
41. nosebleed (or nose bleed)
http://estellasrevenge.blogspot.com/2006/06/happy-belated-birthday-hugh-and-one.html “The problem is one part of the brain is doing it, and the other part is listening all the time. Something like ‘coronary artery’ gives me a nosebleed.
42. 42 (No, that’s not a mistake; number 42 is to find the digit 42.)
http://the-iceberg.blogspot.com/2008/05/challenges-progress.html 5 / 12 titles. 42% done!
43. herding cats
http://jlshall.blogspot.com/2008/04/another-challenge-342745-ways-to-herd.html
LABELS: HERDING CATS CHALLENGE, READING, READING CHALLENGES
44. Django Reinhardt
45. A.S. Byatt
http://stuffasdreamsaremadeon.com/2008/06/07/weekly-geeks-7-and-stuff/ Possession by A.S. Byatt – Nymeth is the main reason for me getting this one though I know that many have read and loved this one.
46. Homer
http://bookchronicle.wordpress.com/2008/01/10/the-penelopiad-by-margaret-atwood/ I was particularly interested in this one as my own experience with Homer’s The Odyssey left much to be desired. (The next three are suggestions from my son.)
47. ROFL
48. cheezburger (must be spelled with Z!)
http://the-iceberg.blogspot.com/2008/06/cat-etiquette.html For your Monday enjoyment from I Can Has Cheezburger.
49. d20
http://deweymonster.com/?page_id=686
http://lh5.ggpht.com/dewpie/SBvIuGHlY5I/AAAAAAAABq0/eLWd20mjJs0

50.-?: Each participant gets to put one keyword in the comments, so keep coming back to check on them if you’re trying for the prize!

51. Little Critter
http://blog.mawbooks.com/2008/06/20/our-trip-to-the-hospital-book-recommendations-for-kids-headed-there/
When Little Critter breaks his leg in a soccer game, he has to make his first trip to the hospital.
52. translation or translated
http://age30books.blogspot.com/2008/04/suite-francaise.html
It could be the translation, or it could be how it was written, I can’t say either way. But it didn’t keep my attention the way I hoped it would.
53. dumpster(s)
http://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2008/05/felicity-young-west-australian-author.html
The disappearance of an 11 year old girl, and the eventual finding of her body in a dumpster, brings Monty and Stevie, already lovers and parents of six year old Izzy, together into a joint operation directed by Monty.
54. Orson Scott Card
http://stuffasdreamsaremadeon.com/2008/03/29/the-blue-girl-by-charles-de-lint/
I’m beginning to put Charles de Lint right up there with Orson Scott Card and Neil Gaiman as one of my favorite authors after reading The Blue Girl.
55. tite kubo
56. Pavement!
http://writingchaosthatisme.blogspot.com/2008/02/so-melancholly-grows.html
Lets walk again our promised road,
yellow pavement we forever followed sedated,
but look the color is gone, the yellow has faded
along with our dreams on pages outdated.
57. magic realism
http://alessandrasplace.blogspot.com/2008/05/book-review-garden-spells.html
This was an enchanting book–full of magical realism.
58. search – and the search bar login thingy that every blog has doesn’t count.
http://www.literaryescapism.com/2008/03/09/90/
I know it’s fairly easy to find them since all you have to do is type their name in the search bar, but my list is there for people who are maybe trying to find someone new or can’t remember how to spell someone’s name.
59. nerdfighter(s)
http://confuzzledbooks.blogspot.com/2008/06/claudia-and-sad-good-bye-babysitters.html
This was done last year of course and they still vlog at the Nerdfighters Site.
60. summer
http://zetor-mogsblog.blogspot.com/2008/06/month-of-june.html
“It’s beautiful the Summer month of June
When all of God’s own wildflowers are in bloom
And sun shines brightly most part of the day
And butterflies o’er lush green meadows play.
61. Amish
http://smallworldreads.blogspot.com/2008/06/booking-through-thursday-clubbing.html
We were discussing the most dreadful book: Crossing Over: One Woman’s Escape from the Amish Life.
62. ARC
http://agirlwalksintoabookstore.blogspot.com/2008/06/review-tea-rose-by-jennifer-donnelly.html
(we do find out in the next book, but it won’t be published until next year; I only know because I’ve been reading an ARC of The Winter Rose).

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Booking Through Thursday #14 – Clubs

Have you ever been a member of a book club? How did your group choose (ot, if you haven’t been, what do you think is the best way to choose) the next book and who would lead discussion?

Do you feel more or less likely to appreciate books if you are obliged to read them for book groups rather than choosing them of your own free will? Does knowing they are going to be read as part of a group affect the reading experience?

These are some really great questions.  Heidi and Litlove have asked these questions.

I’ve been a member of a couple of book clubs.  The majority of books were selected by group consensus.  I’m also currently part of an online book club that I started that has the book selected by me with assistance from the other members which provide options for books they would like to group to read.  I have found that the discussion portion of the two “physical” book clubs were minimal, and that came about because there was really no distinct leader when it came to discussion.

The second part of this weeks Booking Through Thursday struck me as quite interesting.  I don’t find that my enjoyment of a book alters because it’s read as part of a group or because I selected it on my own free will.   It is the book that speaks for itself.  If the book is good I’ll enjoy it regardless of why it’s being read and the same with a bad book.  The reason I’m reading doesn’t affect my thoughts on the book.  On the other hand it will affect my finishing a book.  If I don’t enjoy a book I’m more likely to finish a book I’m not enjoying if I’m reading it for a book club or for one my book challenges.

Weekly Geeks #6 – Missed Reviews Part 1

Alright, as I mentioned in an earlier post this week I said I wanted to use this week to catch up on reviews. This is last weeks task for Weekly Geeks, as I’m sure you all know already, but I didn’t want to pass up the opportunity to do some reviews that I haven’t yet done. I will be doing these reviews individually, like I do all my reviews, I want to give each book is due. It is important to give each book the time it deserves and that is why I’m not about to group a bunch of books together in a single post, the books I have time to review will be reviewed individually. There are two books in particular that I want to review so I’ll start with one today and get to another at another date.

On the other hand I don’t think I’ll be getting this weeks (7) Weekly Geeks done as I don’t have a functioning camera right now. I left a vital cord in Korea so I won’t be able to put photos on my camera. If I can borrow a camera from someone I’ll do it but I’m not really expecting that to happen right now.

The first review I wanted to do was for The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorn. This was a book that I wanted to read for an extremely long time, I already know what the scarlet letter was, but I never got around to it. I finally downloaded a mp3 audio-book and listened to it while still in Korea. There is something about listening to classics because they were written to be heard. I really enjoyed listening to the book on my new iPod touch.

I’m sure you all the story so I wont give you a synopsis of the book. There were a few things that I really loved about this book. The first was the glimpse into the past that it gives us. The concept of being forced to wear a letter on your clothing that identifies you as a criminal. Everyone in the two would know of the crime committed just because of that bright scarlet letter. The second aspect of the book I loved was how courageous Hester Prynne is. She could have tried to cover up her letter or move into seclusion because of it but she continued to be a functioning member of society.

The only downside that I found, and it could have been because I was listening to the book and not actually reading it, was that there was too much verbal diarrea. The copious amount of verbiage used instead of getting right to the point. It was easy to miss the point of what the author was trying to get across because of the amount of words used. And I find that that happens in many classics, at least the ones that I read. But this is not something that should discourage anyone from reading the book because the story is fascinating.

I’ll be publishing a review of Mail Order Bride by Mark Kalesniko. Also as a reminder to all reads of That’s the Book you can send an email to thatsthebook@gmail.com if you have reviewed this or anything else that I’ve reviewed on this site and I’ll post a link at the end of the post for others to see what you’ve said.

Christina from book-a-rama sent me this link:
http://chris-book-a-rama.blogspot.com/2008/01/scarlet-letter-review.htm

Booking Through Thursday #13 – Trends

Have your book-tastes changed over the years? More fiction? Less? Books that are darker and more serious? Lighter and more frivolous? Challenging? Easy? How-to books over novels? Mysteries over Romance?

The simple, and perhaps obvious answer, is yes!  My habits tend to fluctuate regularly, not only in what I read but in how much I read.  This past month has been a bad month, and I know I’ve said this time and time again on here but it’s here again.  I seem to have readers block now, for some reason i cannot get into anything I’m reading or try to read.  I hope this passes soon because it’s getting really annoying.

As for what I read I tend to go back and forth between fiction and non-fiction.  Right now I’m reading a lot of graphic novels, and loving them.  I’m not sure what it is about this genre but I cannot seem to get enough of them.  These are the only things I can seem to get read, maybe because they are quick.  I should also say that each one I pick up seems to be substantially greater than the last.

I generally read things that get me thinking but there are times, and I’m sure we all have them, that I need something that is mind numbing.  This happens every few months, it’s usually at this time that I read something easy and can get right back into my usual reading.  As I’ve said before, it’s not working this time around.

I keep trying to challenge myself to read something different to, because there is nothing I hate more than getting into a rut.  In my desire to push the so called envelope I’ve joined a number of challenges.  These often force me to keep me reading and finishes things I don’t even like.  so, I’m starting to feel the pull to get more read these days.  I hope things change soon.

Orbis Terrarum Challenge Meme

As part of the festivities for the Orbis Terrarum Challenge we’ve been asked to participate in this meme. I’ve had the chance to see what some others have had to say. I’m not really sure I have much I can say here because I’ve joined the challenge to help expand my reading of other nations, because I really haven’t done much of that.

1. What country do you always go back to in your travels (not just while reading for OT)?

Since taking Canadian Literature I’ve been fascinated with the writing from this country.  I’ve found that I want to read all I can from this country and as a result have participated in the Canadian Book Challenge.  Being involved in that particular challenge has helped me expand my CanLit knowledge.

2. If you could visit 4 of the countries you have read about in your life (that you haven’t been to yet), which would they be and why? (you can also include the book that makes you want to visit if you remember)

This is one of the more difficult questions, one I may have to return to after the challenge is over.  There are a number of countries I’d like to travel to but not because I’ve read any of their literature.  There are a couple of books that have helped to feed the travel bug.  An Appointment with my Brother by Yi Mun-Yol, despite that it takes place in China and South Korea has made me want to venture to the norther part of the the Korean peninsula.  The story is about the meeting two brothers meeting after having been separated by the Korean war.  I’ve already been to the Southern part but the north is of more interest and has been of more interest for quite sometime, the book has made the urges to visit that particular country stronger.

The other book that was What is the What by Dave Eggers.  I’ve always wanted to travel to the African continent but What is the What has encouraged it.  Africa has always ad a place in my heart and hope to travel there one day.  There are a few specific countries that I’d like to go to but given the number that I’d like to go to I wont list them here.

Australia is a country I’ve also wanted to travel to, I think this is the one place I’ve always wanted to travel to more than anything.  I’ve never read anything from here but would love to.  I think I get more enjoyment from reading something that is familiar to me though.  I find a book that talks about a place I’ve been more interesting because I can picture the places better.  The best example of this would be Spadework by Timothy Findley.

3. Have you ever dreamed about a country you have read about, that you have not actually traveled to – except in your dreams?

No, this has never happened.  Then again I don’t remember many of my dreams so I guess it could have happened but I don’t remember.

4. In what ways has reading about different countries opened up your perspective about global issues?

My perspective on global issues has dictated my reading habits sometimes but I cannot think of global issues being affected because of my reading.  If anything my reading of other countries has expanded my knowledge of a particular issue.  I’m not sure if this is due to my need to expand what I read or that I’m already quite aware of global issues.

5. What countries have you felt your judgment was off about – after reading about that nation?

I wouldn’t say my judgment of a nation has been altered because of what I’ve read.  Maybe my judgment of a writer or genre has changed.

6. Which is your favorite book that you would recommend for this challenge (you don’t have to read it during the challenge)?

The one book that I would recommend for this challenge would be Dave Eggers’ What is the What.  There are many aspects of the novel that I loved and I’ve already reviewed the book so I wont go a lot into a review.  The book is fascinating because it deals with the lost boys and the hardships they have gone through in order to get freedom and feel safe.  It’s a book that is very difficult to put down.

7. Anything else you’ve been wanting to tell us about? Let us have it!

I’ve enjoyed this challenge so far, it’s expanding what I read and I’m finding some great literature from other nations.  It’ll be interesting to do this meme again once the challenge is over to see how answers change due to the challenge.

Catch Up Week

Last week was a rather unusual week.  I haven’t been feeling well and, to be honest, not really all that keen on blogging or reading.  I didn’t even take the time to do Weekly Geeks or Booking Through Thursday.  So, the plan for this week is to do all the catch up I can.  I’m excited about last weeks Weekly Geeks and for some reason I just kept pushing it off.  With the plan to catch up this week you should expect a lot of posts from me this week.  There are a few that I should have done sooner but just haven’t been that up to.

I should also say I’m rather excited that I finally got a job this week.  I’ll be an employee of the Stratford Shakespeare Festival, which a job I’ve been wanting for quite some time.  I start on Sunday and have training for the next few weeks.  One of the best parts of this job is that I’ll be getting free tickets for the shows at the Festival.  There are still a number of shows I haven’t seen there, I’ve already seen three since being home (look for a post on these in the days to come).

Now that I’ve fully adapted to being back in Canada I hope to fully get back into my reading too.  I’ve been rather lax in my reading since being home (aren’t I starting to sound like a broken record?).  So, I hope that you’ll have lots to check out in the week ahead.

I had a contest going for quite sometime but haven’t posted the winner on here yet.  I’ve been looking for a name for a feature of this blog but couldn’t think of anything that I really enjoyed.  I got many great suggestions and it made it difficult to come up with one that I really liked.  But after taking some time to think about this I decided upon a name that Incorporated the name given to the book blogging community.  The name of the feature will be Bblofia Babble, I chose this because of the great alliteration and wanted to use the Bblofia in something.  While on the subject of Bblofia I mentioned that I wanted to create a button for the Bblofia but with me being technically inept in this area I cannot seem to master it.  If someone out there is interested in giving me a hand with this it would be greatly appreciated.  What I had wanted to do was use the logo for The Godfather but change “Godfather” to “Bblofia”.  Any help in the creation of this button would be fantastic.

Thanks for let me get this off my chest!  I’ve felt bad about not keeping things updated but feel much better knowing that I’m going to reverse this.  Keep eyes peeled for the updates coming this week.

Fabels A New Twist

This graphic novel had everything a mystery and humor. The best part of all was that all the characters were familiar, somewhat. There wasn’t anything about this book that I didn’t enjoy and I’m actually looking forward to reading the next book in the series. I picked up this because I read a review of it on another blog but, and I’m sorry for this, I don’t remember what blog it was. I’m not sure if the one who did the review reads this please send me an email with the link so I can add a link to end of this post. That goes with anyone else that’s read the book as well.

The story revolves around the possible murder of Rose Red (sister of Snow White). There are a number of classic fairytale characters that are suspects or involved in solving the case. This is the first book of the series we learn that all the fairytale characters have been exiled from their original homelands and are forced to live in our world. The creatures that have been exiled are living on a farm known simply as “The Farm”

The Bad Wolf is the in charge of the investigation. It should also be noted that he is no longer a wolf, rather a human. The book really kept me in the story, I didn’t want to put the book down once I started. It was really fantastic and I’m looking forward to the second book. If you haven’t yet read this it’s one that you should definitely check out, Fables: Legends in Exile would be a great introduction to graphic novels.

I also must mention the incredible art work that is found within the covers of this book. They are very detailed and full of colour. The art work is reason enough to get this book, and you get a little idea what it’s like from the cover art. If you like that you’re sure to love what’s found inside. Lan Medina’s work is incredible and it should be admired for what it is. I cannot accurately describe them well enough so I’ll just let the art speak for itself.

Other reviews of this book

http://somereads.blogspot.com/2007/08/fables-vol-1-legends-in-exile.html