Halloween Fun: A Job for Wittilda by Caralyn and Mark Buehner

Hello, everyone!  Welcome back to another week here at Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers!  Happy to see all the new faces floating about and the "old" friends as well (not literally see, but of course, you know that!).  It's been busy busy busy around here but I will keep you posted to all the comings and goings.  Tomorrow is the release of "Hush, Hush" by Becca Fitzpatrick.  (YAY!) For any of you that may not have heard of the book (GASP!) or author (double GASP!), feel free to brush up on a little information regarding both via my review, interview, or her website! 

Next week we have another book tour coming through with a chance to win a great prize pack....stay tuned for more info.  Last but not least, the last week of October we will be holding an extra special contest with the help of a great YA author I've sure you've all heard of.  She's pretty "wicked" to be sharing of her "possessions" with us for the contest so be sure to check it out! (Yes, those ARE hints as to whom the author is!)  That's all for now....and with the show!  The focus of today's post is on a little Halloween fun!  Today's book choice is....

A Job for Wittilda
by
Caralyn and Mark Buehner

The story of one kind-hearted witch that stays her ground no matter the circumstances and shows the world you can do what's right and still end up on top!  Wittilda is a cat lover...how do you know this?  Well apart from the cover, the story says as much....since she has 47 little ones to care for.  (Yep, 47!  I'm a pet lover too, but that's even a bit much for me!)  In true storybook fashion....one day the cupboard was bare, leaving hungry little kitties to contend with.  What's a girl to do?  Well short of magically making more food or money appear, we are left with the obvious choice....get a job! 

Yes, our little literary hero-in-the-making is tuned in to today's modern world despite her affection for so many fuzzy friends.  Getting a job for most is rather easy (with today's ecomony aside of course), it's all a matter of choosing what you are interested in most or at least willing to do to make the dough you seek (just being honest!).  For someone as unique as Wittilda, that gets a little trickier.  Hairdresser, exterminator....pizza delivery girl?  She tries one and all....but witch, I mean which, one will fit her nature as well as help her with nurturing her little friends?  Take a quick break with this trickless Halloween treat to find out!

The cover of this delightful tail....I mean tale, was enough to draw me in!  Such a cute assortment of kittens with an industrious little witch peering out at you, how could I resist?  The pictures within the book are just are great...kind of a cross between a drawing and a painting with beautiful colors to draw the eye of a child as well as those that just want a little holiday fun (GUILTY!).  The rhyming style reminded me of the infamous "Twas the Night Before Christmas", so although you may not be familiar with this particular story or author, it welcomes you as an old friend.  It is a quick read (children's picture book, but of course) but definitely time well spent!

COMMENT CREATOR
Since the Halloween festivites are fast approaching, let's make them the focus of this query....out of the costumes you've worn over the years, which one was your favorite and why?  If you didn't dress up for the holiday, choose your favorite that you've seen out and about!

Mine...I think I would say Snow White.  It was (okay, is) a really pretty costume I picked up at our local Target store for a trip down to Disney's Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party.  It was a blast and the costume got rave reviews!  (Yes, my hair was short and dark like hers so I actually had one child think I WAS her...I played along for the grateful parents sake.)  =0)

As always, your feedback and comments are welcome!
Until next time....happy reading!

Life Interrupted: Goth Girl Rising by Barry Lyga

It's Friday!  Can I get a "WHOO-Hoo"?  Okay, maybe not....I'll supply it.  WHOO-Hoo!  (That's better.) It is the end of a very long week (at least for me, how about you?).  Hopefully you enjoyed yesterday's Virtual Book Blog Tour with Stacey Voss and her new book Thunder and Blood.  It was a first for the site, but not the last! (hehe)

Anywho....I suppose I could end with something light and fluffy, but darn it all it is October!  The time for dark, spooky, tales that leave your skin crawling and the light on in your hallway.  (Muuuaaahhhh! *Cough*cough* Okay, so I need to work on the evil laughter bit...) Unfortunately, today's post is not an exact fit into that mold....but it definitely fits the heavy atmosphere and costume-type themes that pop up during this season.  Enough chit-chat (at least in this section) from me...today's choice is...

Goth Girl Rising
by
Barry Lyga

Kyra (aka Goth Girl) is a teenager with a penchant for trouble.  She drinks, she smokes, she hangs with her friends....oh, and yes, she just got out of a mental institution for the second time.  Yup...but don't go making any judgements just yet.  Kyra is not a "fruitcake-from-down-the-block", she's a DCHH ("Daddy Can't Handle Her", used in the book as a label by some of the hospital staff) that tried to commit suicide...twice.  Well, once for certain, the second was more of a consideration stopped by one, Fanboy.  Who is he?  Fanboy, as she deems to call him throughout almost the entire book, is someone she befriended in her freshman year. 

Two outcasts looking for a connection in all the wrong places that ended up being good for each other, even if outwardly it didn't seem that way.  (Confused?  Keep reading...)  Why would a young girl with friends and family want to leave this world?  At 16, she lost her mother to lung cancer....and in the process her self, whether she admits it or not is another story entirely.  Without facing her problems head on, her focus becomes blurred as she delves into feelings of abandonment dredged up during her hospital stay.  Few phone calls, even fewer emails, and 6 months to dwell on why she feels the way she does.  Emerging from this structured place sets free her desire for revenge on Fanboy.  For deserting her.  For moving on with friends that were not her.  Oh, yes...revenge will be sweet.  Or will it?  Does Goth Girl have what it takes to bring down her own creation known as Fanboy?  Is that was she really wants at the end of the day?  You'll have to read it to find out!  (Sorry.....trying to avoid total spoilers....)

Alrighty, so before I jump into the critical analysis (aka my usual ramblings), there are two things I must mention first.

1. This is actually the sequel to "The Adventures of Goth Girl and Fanboy".  To answer your question (if you didn't voice it, it's in your mind), I have not read the first installment but must say that I never felt "lost" in the book despite any fore-knowledge of the characters. (KUDOS to the author for making the "sequel" able to be followed by the uninitiated!)
2. I would be remiss if I did not list a WARNING for this book though.....so here goes.  WARNING:  Contains strong language and imagery.  Open discussions and details regarding sex, drugs, teenage drinking, and suicide.  This may be one to debate whether or not the potential audience is old enough to handle the material.

Whew!  I feel much better that those are out of the way, don't you?  To me, the way this book is written, kind of like an internal dialogue effect, it reminded me of a brassier version of "My So Called Life..." (a short lived TV series from the 90's....dealt with some of the same issues, but in a little softer fashion...if you can believe that!).  With it's use of brass knuckle language, and in-your-face attitude towards sex, drugs, and drinking....I must say I was seriously put off when reading this.  I could not believe for the life of me that this was rated as a YA book!  HOWEVER, underneath all the white makeup, hair changes (she pulls a Britney and shaves her head at one point), and crazy actions, there is a very good message there!  By the end of the book, I was actually crying!  (Hey, no judging!  Read it and you will be teary eyed too...guaranteed.)

Real-life issues and heartache are both prominent stars within this novel (yes, defnitely not a good book for light and fluffy time).  Goth Girl's family is torn apart by the passing of her mother due to lung cancer.  She harbors A LOT of anger that she can barely admit to herself, let alone show the world in an appropriate fashion....hence her no-filter language (although she does refrain from using the F-word, and this restraint is explained by the books end), take-that world attitude, and the attempt she makes on her own life.  It was a way for her to deal with everything that was going on....try to regain control over the situation.  Sadly, this is something people of all ages face, but it is definitely not the option that should be chosen!  You may be ending your sadness but you are increasing it for others ten-fold.  Luckily, she has a few "angels" in her corner...her Dad, and Fanboy.

Let's talk about Fanboy for a second.....that's literally the name she uses to refer to him throughout the almost the entire book!  He is the comic book geek that she befriended prior to her second stay in the mental health facility.  He is also the reason that she has revenge on the mind once she is back in society.  Yes...the doctors tried and succeeded on many levels, but alas, her tortured soul can not let the fact that she was forgotten go (no emails, no phone calls).  The schemes she tries are rather creative despite being transparent  Finally towards the end, his real name is revealed (no, I'm not going to tell you...) when a breakthrough is reached. 

Strewn within the text are quite a few remarkable features and details.  Let's see...we have her appearance (initally) with the Bangs of Doom (had to get that in here....loved the reference), her adimacy in wearing a reverse color smiley pin every day (there's a secret that goes with that revealed in the book), and her love of the Neil Gaiman comic, The Sandman.  Now I am not one for graphic novels, comic books, etc....but even I've heard of that one and so the reference was rather interesting.  As a part of her therapy, she writes a letter about whatevers on her mind and the person she chose to "send" them to is Gaiman.  (The end of the book there's a change up to this, but again....can't reveal it!) 

There's ups, there's downs, there's sideways and back again....a wild ride to say the least. If you look past the tough exterior, you will find the story at heart with a message of gold.  Cherish every moment of every day as a precious gift because you never know when it will be your (or their) last.  (Who would have thought that message would come from this book?  Not me....and yet it's true!)

This copy was made available to me electronically thanks to NetGalley! (Thanks!) For the latest and greatest info from them, follow them on Twitter! (Psst...they also retweet reviews of titles they "host".)

COMMENT CREATOR
As I stated, I had a REALLY hard time finishing this book due to the "outer layers", but I am also REALLY glad I kept at it as it was worth it in the end!  Have you ever experienced this in your reading adventures?  Name the first book that comes to mind, why it was hard to finish, and (if you want) what you took away from it in the end.  Let's see where the conversation takes us....

Feel free to leave your comments and feedback!
Until  next time....happy reading!

Book Blog Tour: Thunder and Blood by Stacey Voss

Hello, everyone and welcome to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers!  Whether you are a new visitor or an "old hat" (not literally an old hat, it's just a saying...), hopefully you will enjoy your time on my site as much if not more than you anticipated!  (Don't deny it....you were anticipating your arrival at my site all day, weren't you?) 

Today is a very special day indeed as it ushers in the FIRST (of hopefully many) Book Blog Tour that has been hosted on my site.  If you have been following the tour, GREAT!  You are one up on those just discovering it.  If not, learn more about both the book and the author at her website, after you read my entry of course!  =0)  Being stop number three (which we are) is exciting...readers have been exposed to the title a bit, but not overly so and thus are hungry for more.  My offering to satisfy that hunger comes in the form of not only a review of the title, but a character interview with one of its heroines!  Let's jump right into it, shall we?  The Book Blog Tour visiting us today is in support of......

Thunder and Blood

by

Stacey Voss

What do you get when you mix one part history, one part fantasy, and stir in vampires for good measure?  A rather interesting read as it turns out!  Sarah and Christine are sisters, yet for all of their similarities, they are very different people.  Christine is the beautiful one (or at least the one that knows it) and loves the attention it provides her with.  Sarah is the married one that is insecure due to past secrets she keeps locked away from childhood and the newly minted dent in her world-facing armor created by her husband cheating on her.  Yup, that's right...after a rather interesting day at work where she gets sent home early, she finds the loathsome (sorry, read the book and you'll agree this was only a minor description of him) creature with their half-dressed neighbor in her own kitchen! 

Feeling less than together at this point, she drives around town until she ends up at her sister's doorstep.  They plan a weekend getaway to Thunder Bay to relax their cares away.  On the drive, the unexpected occurs.....a thick fog envelops the road and them!  It is as thick as pea soup (no, I've never had pea soup, but I've heard it's really thick) and there is no way they can go anywhere.  Lucky for them they somehow managed to wind up outside a quaint old house with an interesting elderly couple.  But wait, something is not quite right.  The house looks like something from back in the golden days (no plumbing, no cell service...) and the neatly paved road they were driving on is now gravel.  Strange occurances throughout the night do not allow their sense of foreboding to rest, and at sunrise they take leave back the way they came...or is it? 

After miles of driving, they seem to have gotten nowhere or at least not anywhere they recognize.  The girls split up, Sarah remaining in the car as she is nursing a cold while Christine goes for help.  Hours later, she has not returned and a feverish Sarah sets out to find her.  Neither girl is alone.  Christine has ended up in the hands of a less than trustworthy Lord Radek while Sarah's travels are being aided by the rogue named Hillard who just might be more than what he seems.  Will they be able to uncover the mystery that has enveloped them?  Better question still, will either girl make it out alive?

I originally came across this title thanks to Twitter (gotta love that cute little birdie icon and site!)...the author, Stacey Voss, was offering book bloggers the chance to read her eBook for FREE as well as advertising for her blog tour.  I of course jumped at the chance to read the book, but held off on committing to the tour until after I read some of what I would be helping to support (hey, you can't judge a book by its cover....I had to see what what inside!).  After reading the first 24 pages, I was more than happy to offer my blogging services (okay, more like ability to ramble on about a book that I read and happy to share my opinion about).  This being my first book blog tour, I wasn't certain what would be needed.  I had seen some on other sites, but each one is a bit different.  It was quite refreshing to see that her main request was simply an honest review and that if I did not like it (please note:  I DID like it!), to suggest others that might.  KUDOs to Ms. Voss on such a forward thinking attitude!

My thoughts on the book...where should I begin.  First off, let me say I did enjoy the story overall.  When I first heard the "vampire, time portal, and fantasy" terms used as a partial review, I was intrigued but also skeptical.  Although I have read several fantasy-type books and one or two vampire novels (at this point), I haven't toted the "I-read-this-genre" flag for very long so I wasn't sure what to expect.  Don't get me wrong, I know lots of folks that LOVE everything sci-fi/fantasy, but for me it depends on the book itself.  The title, although attention grabbing, never really found a great fit to me within the story.  I mean normally you can relate it to something or someone in the book, and while yes BLOOD is featured (heck, it's a form of payment for a large portion), I never really understood the THUNDER reference.  Also, I do need to make mention of the fact that although not at an extreme level, there is some sensous material as well as two mentions of rape (not detailed, just mentioned as events that occurred).  Readers of this book are probably more suited to be adults or at least late teens to avoid any unnecessary awkward conversations.  Moving on....

The characters are all great, but some stick out a bit more than others (it's a fact of life...er, books...).  Sarah is silently stronger than she seems and Christine is definitely not just a pretty face.  Gervis may have been kept apart from normal social interaction for quite some time, but he is nothing short of a gentleman when interacting with the female staff.  Lord Radek, what can I say....he's the villian one loves to hate (yet don't be surprised if you fall for his "charms" during certain parts)!  Hillard is one character that, despite his broody, remove-myself-from-polite-society attitude that has been associated to similiar characters in both TV (think Angel from Buffy the Vampire Slayer) and film (can't think of the name right now, but you know you've seen them), still manages to surprise you with his earnestness.  Yes, yes, I could go on and on (okay, okay...I'll stop), but I digress....we have something else for your reading pleasure.  An interview!  (YAY!)  Oh, but wait...it's not just any interview, this is a character interview! (Confused?  Hang on....)  Yes, the author was kind enough to let us interview one of the strongest female characters in her novel (and of course the one name I left off in my previous summary...hehe) and the results of that session follow...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

CHARACTER INTERVIEW GUEST

Adelaide

Welcome!  I hope that you can hear me okay and that the gateway, I mean fog is not interfering with the reception.  I just wanted to ask you a few questions regarding your involvement in Ms. Voss' recent novel....

Of course, I’m happy to be here. 

When you first learned of the gateway, did you ever envision yourself traveling through it to another land?

Well, everyone in the area has always known about the gateway.  It has been around longer than anyone can remember.  No one really knows if it works in both directions.  Either way, I would never even think of leaving Donner.  I have unfinished business here.

Given the ruling class of your society, did you ever want to become one of them?

*laughs*  A vampire?  Well, I would not mind having their strength or invulnerability.  I could not deal with the diet, though.  And I have no interest in oppressing the people of Donner.  I think it takes a special kind of  ... person  ... who would want to take on that job.

The bond between Hillard and yourself is pretty intense.  What is the real story behind this connection?

I first met Hillard one day about ten years ago while I was out hunting.  My parents had both ... died ...a few years before and I had basically stopped talking to any other people.  I knew what he was as soon as I saw his eyes.  Apparently he had been following me as I hunted for quite some time.  He had heard what Radek had done to my family and was watching out for me.

I avoided him as much as I could for the first few months until one spring day when I accidentally came upon a mother bear and her cubs in a clearing.  It was a pretty scary situation until Hillard showed up.

It was amazing.  Hillard just stared at the bear and you could almost see the aggression leaking out of her.  She and her cubs left shortly afterward and I took off back to my cabin as quickly as I could.

After that, Hillard started leaving freshly-killed animals outside my door every so often.  I guess he did not want me hunting by myself anymore and he knew that I would not welcome his company.

Everything changed one winter night when he showed up at my door himself.  He was not injured anywhere that I could see, but he was extremely weak.  He had been supplementing my food supply at that point for more than six months and, despite my hatred of vampires, I could not just leave him outside to die.  I brought him inside and after trying, unsuccessfully, for a few days to nurse him back to health, I gave him some of my blood.  We became friends after that.

Tell the truth...did you ever harbor any romantic feeling for Hillard?

I might have at the beginning, if he had ever given me any indication that those kinds of feelings would be welcome.  He is a very attractive, very handsome man ... er, vampire ... after all.  But he discouraged anything except friendship for so long and I had other things on my mind.

You were so cordial to Sarah even though she was less than trusting of you.  That shows a lot of character!  When you went to stake out the castle and find out what was happening to aid in rescueing her sister, you were gone much longer than anticipated.  What really happened to you?

I spent a lot of time talking with Giselle about Christine.  Christine was the first “Traveller” who was ever offered such nice accommodations in the castle.  While having her outside of the dungeon could make rescue easier, it also made things a bit harder because there were more people keeping an eye on her.  I had to make sure which room she was in and how exactly the rescue would take place. Once I heard about Radek’s plans to go looking for Sarah, though, I left the castle and ran back to my cottage as fast as I could.

What was going through your mind when you guys stormed the castle?  It took a lot of bravery to carry out the mission you were assigned...did you ever think you might not succeed?

The only thing in my mind at the time was that I wanted Lord Radek dead.  It was never a mission that had to be assigned to me or something that I could fail at.  Ever since my parents’ deaths it was all that I lived for.  He had oppressed and tormented the poor people of Donner for so long that he deserved no better than the most horrible death.

Any other thoughts you would like to share with your audience?

I just want to thank you for interviewing me.  I think it is one of the most unusual experiences that I have ever had.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thank you Adelaide for a little more insight into your world!  Special thanks to author Stacey Voss for organizing this interview and making this stop along her blog tour!  Be sure to check out her website October 18th as she is planning to release a short story that takes place BEFORE Thunder and Blood but it explains the origins of a young girl we meet in the next installment, Thunder and Ice.  (Can't wait!)

One more interesting tidbit for all those aspiring writers about this new author is that the majority of the book was completed during her involvement in the November 2007 Nanowrimo event!  (for those just learning about this, it stands for National Novel Writing Month and it's a challenge issued each November to write an ENTIRE book - to learn more, check out their site!)  ALSO:  The author will be responding to any questions or comments you have throughout the day right here...so feel free to speak your mind!

Be sure to check out the rest of the tour as it makes its way through the blog-o-sphere for more reviews, interviews and giveaways!  Stacey Voss' next stop is on October 13th over at The Book Faery Reviews!

Author Stacey Voss

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Book Trailer 1

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**WAIT**

***ONE MORE THING!** 

Interested in getting your own copy of the book?  You are in luck!  Ms. Voss has been kind enough to set up a special deal good for this tour only!  If you go to CreateSpace and use code 3Z8WYLY2, you will get 25% off the normal price!  You'll have to hurry though as the code is only good until November 30th!


Feel free to leave your comments and feedback!

until next time...happy reading!

Food for Thought: FTC and the "Blogger Law"

Good evening, everyone!  (or morning, depending on where and when you are reading this post)  Sorry for the latest of another update....had to take care of business and settle some of the remaining pieces with last week's accident.  No worries, it's all falling into place...but enough with my excuses, let's move on to the topic of THIS entry.

Earlier this week, we in the blogging world received slightly disturbing news.  It seems that the FTC (Federal Trade Commision) has just passed a law that mandates all bloggers must clearly post any "payment" they receive in relation to a post or review.  Long story short, most blogger sites I visit already include a line (at the very least) in their post stating where they obtained the book they are reviewing.  It's just a common courtesy to show our appreciation to whomever helped that title come our way. 

So why am I posting a "Food for Thought" about this when it seems so cut and dry?  (Good question...here's your answer...)  Although I don't have an issue with listing this information (I always have and would....), the question I pose is this.....in the past, this info was merely a line within a blog post.  You read it and moved on.  Now that SO much attention is being brought to it, will that change how YOU interpret the review?  I mean, if you see that the blogger received the book as a "courtesy" (free), are you more inclined to believe that the post is truly their opinion?  Or will you write it off if it's purely in the books favor?

Consider this opinion to your thoughts and opinions....let's see what YOU've got to say!

The Roving Reader

Awesome cover, summary sounds great too!
Lips Touch 3 Times by Laini Taylor
Check it out!

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Do You Know...: The Mushroom Man by Ethel Pochocki

Welcome back to another exciting week here at Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers!  Loads of stuff going on, just going to mention one or two.....this Thursday we have our very first Virtual Book Blog Tour making this it's home for stop number three on their journey...read a little more about the who and what in the MARK YOUR CALENDER sidebar entry.  Approximately two weeks later, we have another great tour coming through, albeit a different genre of book entirely, but hey, that's why you love the blog, right?  ALSO, sometime during the month (can't say when as it's still in the air at the time this post was written), we are going to have not only a guest post from a popular YA author whose new book is surely one you'll want to add to YOUR "possesions" (*hint*hint*), but an AWESOME giveaway courtesy of this same author!  (YAY!  My first giveaway!  Whoo-HOO!) Oh, and did I mention that it will be open internationally? (Go ahead, jump for joy all of you readers that reside outside of the US and Canada.  I'll wait..... **jeopardy theme music**...done yet?  Good!)  So much to do, so little time, and oh SO MUCH FUN! 

Anywho, let's get back to the post at hand....today's pick came to my attention after winning a contest over at BriMeetsBooks.  You see, the title I won was Travels with Tarra (a wonderful book about an elephant that can roller-skate among other things...I reviewed it during a previous post), one of many picture books published by the folks at Tilbury House, Publishers.  Several of their titles are rather intriguing, however two in particular caught my eye.  Through their wonderful generosity, I was able to receive a copy of both said books (okay, not really "said", I'm going to leave you in suspense on one title, while revealing the other...) and here is post number one!  Today's choice is....

The Mushroom Man
by
Ethel Pochocki

Sorry, I couldn't resist the play on words of the children's song in my blog post title.  (For those that didn't recognize it, I'm referencing the children's classic "Do You Know the Muffin Man?")  It just made me smile thinking of it and since this is actually a children's storybook, it fit perfectly!  (Hey, there...no running off just because it's a storybook...they are not like Trix cereal you know!  Silly rabbits, they're for all ages!  Oops, there I go again with the nostalgic references....back to the book!)

This is the story of the lonely Mushroom Man.  (Okay, so you gathered that much from the title...keep reading...)  He is named as such not only for the work he does (he "mines" for the tasty little fungi in the dark), but his appearance (you may look a bit pasty too if the majority of your awake time was spent bathe only in the moon's soft glow).  Needless to say when one resembles a bulbous headed mushroom with legs, the children in the surrounding community are probably not going to be that kind.  Although accepting of his way of life, he finds himself longing for companionship.  What pet would make a good match for someone with a lifestyle such as his though?  After considering his options and experiencing the fowl taste of losing a friend, one is bestowed upon him in an unthinkable, yet highly appropriate form...a mole!  Now moles and humans are not exactly known for being the best of friends, and this one in particular harbors some ill feelings which are definitely warranted considering his past experience.  Can these two strangers look past the surface to find the warm glow of true friendship within?

Honestly, what caught my eye about this story was the unusual name.  I read it and just had to find out what the story was all about!  After happily reading and shelving my very own copy, I couldn't wait to share this review.  Although the book is short (it is a picture/storybook after all), the message within rings out loud and clear.  You can't judge a book by it's cover just as you can't judge a person solely on the way they look.  How many wonderful friendships would we miss out on if we took everything at face value only? Along with this age old message, readers are also taught a few things along the way in regards to the traits and habits of moles....an unexpected plus!  Last but not least, this being a picture book of sorts, I must make mention to them.  While beautiful in style (almost painting-like) and tone (kept with natural colors), I wasn't a huge fan of some of the full frontal character faces (kind of on the "rough" side...but they do make you wonder what the kids were making fun of when they had their own issues!).

Special thanks to Sarah at Tilbury House, Publishers for the review copy!  (THANK YOU!)  For more information, definitely check out the portion of their site highlighting this delightful tale.

COMMENT CREATOR
It looks like we've stumbled across another one dealing with pets.  If you have pets currently or have had any in the past, I'm sure it would be hard to pick your favorite.  Instead of placing that label on one of them (hey, you might make the others jealous!), I want you to dig within your memory bank and share one of your fondest memories of time spent with them.

For mine...there are so many to choose from...I'd say one of them would just be relaxing with my longest-had (although not eldest) poochie, Brittany.  She would lay across the foot of my bed and we'd watch TV together...me resting my head on her middle.  It was great fun....(only said in the past tense since she prefers the WHOLE bed now.)  =0)

Feel free to leave your comments and feedback!
Until next time...happy reading!

The Roving Reader

For those celebrating haunted October, this one should fit nice.
The New Vampires Handbook by Jeff Gordan
Check it out!

Food for Thought: Banned Books Week

Hello there everyone!  Sorry for the lapse in posts, had a bit of a family emergency.  Parents were in a car accident Tuesday evening and was pretty much at the hospital til the next morning (i.e. no computer + no brain power = no post!).  THANKFULLY, everyone is okay for the most part.  The car, not such much (ended up on it's roof!)  Scary situation, but moving through and moving on.

Today's Food for Thought post (which was going to be yesterday's....darn my neediness to sleep, still trying to work on that...) is in celebration of Banned Books Week.  What's that you ask?  Why only another great reason to celebrate the fact that we can choose what we read even if the educational system or libraries try to "censor" those that raise a multitude of questions! (*~*happy dance*~*)  Haven't heard of this before...you're not the only one!  Take a look at this "Understanding the Issue" segment from the Random House site:  

UNDERSTANDING THE ISSUES
Talking about censorship and specific book challenges is important for adults and young readers alike, whether in a book group setting at a library or bookstore or in a classroom. When beginning any discussion on censorship issues, it is a good idea to be familiar with the terminology and issues:

What is censorship?
Censorship is the suppression of ideas and information that certain persons—individuals, groups or government officials—find objectionable or dangerous.

What is the difference between a Challenge and a Banning?
A challenge is an attempt to remove or restrict materials, based upon the objections of a person or group. A banning is the removal of those materials. Challenges do not simply involve a person expressing a point of view; rather, they are an attempt to remove materials from the curriculum or library, thereby restricting the access of others.

What is Intellectual Freedom?
Intellectual Freedom is the right of every individual to both seek and receive information from all points of view without restriction. It provides for free access to all expressions of ideas through which any and all sides of a question, cause or movement may be explored.

Why are books challenged?
Books usually are challenged with the best intentions—to protect others, frequently children, from difficult ideas and information. Censorship can be subtle, almost imperceptible, as well as blatant and overt, but nonetheless, harmful.

—The American Library Association

Pretty extreme, huh?  In hearing about this celebration (yes, this was the first time I was exposed to this "official" event as well), I of course had to see what books were at the top of these lists.  It turns out yours truly is a bit of a rebel when it comes to my reading habits.  Out of the lists I've briefly scanned, I've read a fair amount of those either "challenged" or "banned".  (Yup, that's me...the reader without a cause....)  Some of those titles include:

• Indian in the Cupboard by Lynne Reid Banks
• Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret by Judy Blume
• Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
• James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
• The Golden Compass by Phillip Pullman
• Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
• Cradle and All by James Patterson
• The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
• Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Leis Carroll
• Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling

I was amazed by some of the titles listed and the reasons given for their making the list.....I read most of these in grade school and I went to a private school!  (Let's just say they are fairly strict...)  Take a look at the list and see for yourself.  (Random House list, Public Library List)

COMMENT CREATOR
In celebration of this amazing week, I pose this question to you.....of the title shown on the list, how many have you read?  Which one was your favorite and why?  (Leave your response in the comments to share!) For a bonus personal challenge, choose one to read over the weekend and show the world that little rebel in YOU!

Feel free to leave your comments and feedback!
Until next time....happy reading!

So this is Love?: Godmother by Carolyn Turgeon

Why yes, that is a reference to the original Cinderella story, or at least the very popular one coined by Disney (gotta love Disney!) that sends millions of little girls into a frenzy longing for the beauty, the magic, the romance of this classic tale of yesterday.  *SIGH* I can hear the music now.... (**waltzing in head, believe me, it's safer**) Anywho, back to the review at hand...the subject of today's post came to me courtesy of Read It Forward (also on Twitter) (thanks!).  The cover is beautiful, the title intriguing...today's book of choice is....

Godmother
by
Carolyn Turgeon

Boasted as "The Secret Cinderella Story" (I didn't say it, the cover does), the reader is drawn into the life of Cinderella's fairy Godmother before, during and after the events that took place...or rather WERE suppose to take place.  Have you ever wondered what life would be like if she hadn't gone to the ball, met the Prince and lived happily ever after?  Well, my friend, you're about to find out!  You see, fairy's in this world aid in guiding man to destiny and fate.  It was written that Cinderella was to be the one love made for the Prince...all Lil (the fairy Godmother) had to do was follow her orders and guide this into being.  No problem, right?  WRONG!  It seems Lil has gotten a little too close to her ward and unless she finds a way to sever the tie drawing her in, the consquences could be dire!  But how to choose?  Should she stay on track and see her task through to the end and live among her fairy friends joyfully for centuries to come?  Or should she go after what she feels to be her one chance at happiness she's never had (nor desired!) before?  (Dum, dum, dum....)

If you've been reading my blog during its short life span thus far, you know how I feel about bad reviews.  (What?  You don't remember!  No problem, keep reading...)  My own personal motto on this is...

"Respect the effort, if not the result."

That being said, let me delve into the dark side of my review first so as to end on a happier note.  I am a fan of fairytales.  I love the magic, the fantasy, the love (okay, I'm even sounding sappy to myself as I type this, but I promise it gets better...)....the overall package.  You start out with an underestimated girl (or boy), add in seemingly insurmountable odds and obstacles Hercules himself would avoid, throw in a splash of magic and TADA!  A happy ending for one and all....or at least just desserts for those that caused trouble!  When I first came across this title and it's brief summary...I thought, why not?  A retelling of the Cinderella story we all know and love sounded like a perfect fit!  Well, the glass slipper was a bit big for me in this case.  (tehe, more shameless references...)  This story paints the Godmother, or rather the fairy with the potential to be her Godmother, as someone that miscontrues both her and Cinderella's hearts desires only to end up with a death on her hands.  That's right!  The classic story has been turned into a fantasy/murder/mystery combo with unforseen turns to boot!

The ending....well, it left me...confused.  (WARNING:  Potentially SPOILER-type Material!)  I mean I couldn't decide what it really meant.  Was Lil just a crazy little old lady trapped in the magic her head created and ultimately bringing herself to a watery doom?  Was she really a fairy at one time and now she is returning to them?  Or is it a combination of the two somewhere in the middle?  The add in of one very repetitive line in the book does not help the situation either: 

"What occurs in the world of faerie will become manifest in the world of men."

See what I mean?  (Okay, maybe not clearly if you haven't read the book, but pretend at this point of the review for my sake...)  I for one like my stories to end neatly...preferrably with a happy ending (what can I say...there's enough sadness and badness in the real world), but at least with something I can clearly decipher.  This one...not so much.

Whew!  That's out of my system...now on to the good parts!  Just because I don't LOVE a book, doesn't mean that there is not something good worth mentioning!  I loved the character she created in Veronica.  She was colorful, full of life, enthusiastic, and yet damaged...in short she was REAL.  Her vibrancy could be felt through the pages.  Also, the transitions between what we presume to be Lil's her past life as a faery and present day are obvious, but in a good way.  You don't make it half way through a paragraph and then realize it was a "memory" passage versus "her-life-now"...that's a good thing!  The bookstore backdrop was appropriate and appreciated by this blogger seeing as this is a sort of remake of a classic novel. 

In the end, while the story was well-intentioned and the pitfalls of bad decisions greater and darker than the cover or summary let on, this really wasn't the book for me....but that doesn't mean you shouldn't have a go at it!  For those reading this that have read the book, I'd love to hear your take on it...for those that have not, feel free to comment on my review or others you may have read!

COMMENT CREATOR
There's been a lot of talk in the blog-o-sphere recently about fairytale remakes.....what is/was your favorite fairytale whether it be the book or movie version?  What makes that one stand out to you the most?

Feel free to leave your comments and feedback!
Until next time....happy reading!

The Roving Reader

A glimpse of the man behind the mayhem...

Haunted Heart by Lisa Rogak
An unauthorized bio on the man himself!

Love Conquers All: Travels with Tarra by Carol Buckley

Hello, everyone!  Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers!  I've felt like I totally copped out and took advantage of one of my blogs features over the past two days....The Roving Reader piece normally does not appear back to back, but I did not get a chance to post a review yesterday and wanted to give you guys something to chew on (not literally, my dog does that enough!) in the mean time.  So, to all of you dedicated readers...forgive me? (insert sad puppy dog eyes image here) 

I would like to take one more moment (I'm almost done....)and mention a few new things going on around here.  First off, the MARK YOUR CALENDAR shown in my sidebar....here I intend to list upcoming events and book releases to watch for.  Grant it not EVERY new great noteworthy release will make it in, but I will give the old college try (where did that saying come from anyway?) and try to keep you posted.  Release dates will show in PINK and blog events will show in ORANGE.  You feedback is of course appreciated so whether you like them or less-than-like them, let me know!  ALSO, I am thinking about adding a WISH LIST to the site....but that's still up in the air.  Whew!  I'm done rambling...I promise! 

The book for today's anticipated post came to me as the result of winning a fantastic drawing held by @brimeetsbooks on her blog.  (Thanks, Bri!) The book was features during the recent blog tour for the title as published through Tilbury House...today's choice is......

Travels with Tarra
by
Carol Buckley

This is the heart warming true story of a young elephant brought to the human world for all the wrong reasons, and how she still finds the inner strength to thrive in the life she is given.  Originally named Fluffie (okay, I have to pause and comment on that...Fluffie?  That's like naming a Doberman, Princess!), she traveled to America to become the main attraction....at a car lot.  Although her owner took good care of her, there is more than food and shelter needed for these amazing creatures to thrive.  The main ingredient missing?  A family.

Elephants are social creatures seen in the fact that they usually travel in groups, or herds.  These packaderm packs consist of their relatives from various branches of their family tree as well as their close friends.  The love and care they receive from the group is essential to their development.  Luckily for Fluffie, Carol came into her life.  Renaming her Tarra was only the first step on their life-long journey.  They became best friends and even formed a family which included her precocious little puppy!  Tarra went on to be a multi-talented star able to play various instruments (even the harmonica!) and actively participate in amazing feats of agility (Try roller-skating....yeah, BIG jumbo elephant on 16 wheels...amazing!  I know people who can't do that!).

When it first arrived, I thought...wow, this will be a quick read, let's go!  (Hold on there!  Not you...I'm still reviewing here....)  Little did I know that I would be drawn into this amazing tale and have it touch me the way it did.  The story is from the heart and the photos along the way add to it's appeal.  The knowledge it imparts along the way is one for the ages.  Enjoying nature and it's living creatures in their appropriate habitats is way better, for them and for you, than keeping them as a pet no matter how well-intentioned you may be.  You'll laugh (again, an elephant on roller-skates!), you'll cry (lacking the physical bond she needs, she lets out a cry....you can almost hear it in the description), and jump for joy (**MINI-SPOILER**:  Happy Ending!)!  I'd definitely recommend this book for readers of all ages.  For more information, check out the site that goes along with Tarra and Carol's new home at The Elephant Sanctuary.  There are also other books about Tarra and her adventures (more on her bond with the puppy!) available through their site.

COMMENT CREATOR

Reflecting on the fact that this book is about "exotic pets"....let's see what types of pets you keep!  What kinds do you currently have?  If you could have any animal as a pet (and it would have NO effect on their development), which one would you choose and why? 

I personally have dogs....lots of dogs.  My own personal "kids" are 1 mixed pup, 1 Yorkie, 1 dachshund, and 1 mini-dachshund.

Feel free to leave your comments and feedback!
Until next time....happy reading!

The Roving Reader

I'm so excited...and I just can't hide it...I know I know I know...you have to read this!
Syren by Angie Sage, Septimus Heap, Book 5

The Roving Reader

Vampires, love, and a Christmas cat?

Title: The Silver Kiss
Author: Annette Curtis Klause
ISBN: 9780375857829

Check it out!

Imagination Takes Flight: The Flight of the Phoenix by R. L. Lafevers

It's six o'clock already I was just in the middle of a dream...dum dum dum dum dum dum dum ...I was kissing Valentino by a crystal blue Italian stream...dum dum dum dum dum dum dum... Oh!  Hello!  Sorry, I was just singing to myself!  It's been a crazy day and so the aforementioned lyrics are very appropriate!  (For those of you wondering what song it was, those lyrics are from Manic Monday by the Bangles...don't pretend you didn't recognize them!  But, if you didn't, now I saved you the trouble of Google-ing them!) 

Weekends never seem to last long enough and neither does spare time.....I always end up like little Oliver Twist (Please sir, May I have some more?).  Alas, Father Time is not gracious enough to grant my request, but somehow I manage to fool them anyway!  Between working, blogging, working, reading, working ...oh, I said that already...well let's just say it gets a bit chaotic on the schedule.  I did manage to squeeze in a movie this weekend; went to see The Proposal starring Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds.  I really liked it!  Comedy, romance, the BOOK PUBLISHING world....what more could you ask for?  Anywho, you didn't come here just to read about my weekend (althought leaving a comment about yours would be fine!), so let me get on to the meat of the post.  Today's book choice is....

The Flight of the Phoenix
(Nathaniel Fludd, Beastologist, Book I)
by
R. L. Lafevers

Nathaniel Fludd is a quiet young man...something of which can not be said of many people his age. His parents were explorers, to what extent though, he only learns after their untimely death. You see, for the past three or so years, he has been in the care of his governess, Miss Lumpton (try not to giggle....some of the names later on will definitely get to you).  After this grizzly news has been delivered she has only one worry on her mind....what was left to her for her service?  (Nice, right?)  Upon receiving her Tidy Sum (yes, it is capitalized like this in the book too...loved that detail!), young Nathaniel is sent away to a relatives house by the name of P.A. Fludd. 

Sent on his way via train, he travels to his new hometown called (are you ready?) Batting-at-the-Flies.  (Funny, right?)  Along the way he sketches his surroundings as a way of documenting his journey.  It's great because you get to see the sketches too along with the book illustrations throughout the text.  Anywho, back to the story....expecting an older gentleman, Nathaniel is surprised to learn that P.A. Fludd is in fact his aunt! She lives in a rather interesting house that is more of a collection of life's works than four walls and a roof, but that is only scratching the surface! It is here that he discovers that he is to follow in the footsteps of his ancestors in the great tradition of beastologists! (Discovered through his conversation with Cornelius...a dodo!)  The care and well-being of magical, mythical creatures everywhere depends upon his families decendents, or so he is told.  Being that this is his first time hearing this information, it's more than a little hard to swallow.  There's no time to linger on doubt-ridden thoughts though....his first adventure is at hand!  Aiding in the rebirth of a phoenix...how's that for an introduction!  But what's this?  Aunt Fludd has been captured and someone is trying to steal the book that tells all about their craft?  What's a young boy to do?  What indeed....

I can't say enough about this upcoming series! When I first saw the cover, it reminded me of The Spiderwick Chronicles, and upon reading the first chapters, A Series of Unfortunate Events. Fear not, these are both
great series as well and it is not so much like either one that you loose site of the story at hand. With interesting characters in both human (the Fludd's) and creature form (let's see...the dodo, Greasle the gremlin...) as well as creative illustrations along the way, you will feel as though you are there with them on the adventure of a lifetime if you only allow your imagination to take flight....

Although listed as Kids Fiction, I would recommend it for all ages....especially those that enjoyed the other series mentioned.  This book is set to hits shelves 09/28/09 (at the time of this post) so be on the lookout!  In the mean time, check out the author's website for more about this title (as well as a few others), her blog page, or drop her a line on Twitter!  (ALSO!  The image seen above on the right is a sneak peek at the Book 2 cover drawn and posted by Kelly Murphy!  AND I was able to read this fabulous book early courtesy of NetGalley!)

COMMENT CREATOR
So, in the spirit of today's post, let's think about magical, mythical creatures.  Which one would you like to meet up close and personal?  Why?  These can be "real" (as in ones you've read about) or make believe (as in ones you thought of yourself).....

Feel free to leave your comments and feedback!
Until next time....happy reading!

The Roving Reader

Just couldn't resist this one....it must be pretty good since it looks like someone sunk their teeth into it already!

Firmin
by
Sam Savage

Check it out!

A Fond Farewell to BBAW 2009

It was fun, it was fast, it came by in a whirl wind of color!  BBAW 2009 has come to a close, but that doesn't mean the fun stops here!  Stay tuned for many exciting posts, and of course more book reviews to add to your TBR mountain!

BBAW: Day 5: Let's Focus On Me

Hello to all the fellow book-a-holics out there!  This has been a fantastic week full of contests, reviews, getting to know you posts, and more!  All done to celebrate....

Book Blogger Appreciation Week

Today is the final post for the 2009 celebration (*sniff*sniff*..I promised I wouldn't cry...about...this....) and it shines the light on yours truly...or rather yours truly's blog.  The activity for the day was to talk about what you are most proud of and where you want your blog to be for the next BBAW....each one in 50 words or less.  I being a bit wordy at times felt the crunch but here goes nothing.....

~~~~What I Am Most Proud Of~~~~

I am most proud of my book reviews. Each one contains a title I have personally read as well as my honest opinion on the book. For better or worse, my readers can depend on me to showcase both good and not so good aspects of their potential future reads.

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

~~~~Where I Want to Be by BBAW 2010~~~~

By next year’s BBAW, I would like to make the shortlist! Seriously though, continuing to improve my posts, adding to the author interviews, a blog tour or two, and hosting a contest are all high on my list. More reader input would be great too as I love reading comments!

So there you have it!  Where I am and where I'd like to be....in closing for the 2009 BBAW, I would like to thank everyone that helped make it happen as well as all the wonderful bloggers (and general participants) that have stopped by, left comments, or contributed to any of my posts!  It's really great to see the friendliness in this community and to be able to share that with so many others.  I know I found a lot of great new blogs to add to my daily visits (or weekly...I still haven't perfected that time making potion yet..) list and hopefully you did too!  Stay tuned for more satisfying tidbits from yours truly...the Insatiable Reader.

Feel free to leave your comments and feedback!
Until next time....happy reading!

BBAW: Day 4: Recommended Reading

Hello, everyone!  Welcome back to another exciting post...well, exciting for me, hopefully it is for you as well!  (Did I see you nod?  Yes!  I knew you liked the blog!)  It's day 4 of our celebration of ....

Book Blogger Appreciation Week

Today's activity actually stumped me at first.  It was suggested that we post about a book that we read purely based off of another blogs recommendation.  Now, although that may sound simple, I actually have done that yet! (GASP!)  I mean, my blog still being on the new side (4 months?) I am still working my way through my own TBR pile....which keeps getting larger thanks to other blogs...but I haven't tackled one of those particular books just yet.  So, what am I to post about?  (Well, obviously I chose something, or else this was a really long intro for nothing....keep reading...)

My post is going to be about a book a friend recommended in a "face-to-face" blog....meaning an ordinary conversation....and was kind enough to loan to me for my reading pleasure. (Thanks, Jean!)  It's not your everyday run of the mill novel either.  It's more of a collection....you'll see.  Today's choice is....

It Was a Dark & Stormy Night:  The Final Conflict
Compiled by
Scott Rice

How's that for a title?  Published by Penguin Books and listed as HUMOR, take a look at the back cover...

~~ DO YOU THINK IT'S EASY WRITING FICTION THAT IS THIS BAD?~~

The Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest has been calling for entrants to write an opening to a hypothetical horrible novel for many years.  Based on the entries in this fourth installment of It Was a Dark & Stormy Night, the depths are still to be plumbed.

Yes folks, this is an actual writing contest to see who can write the worst (yet developed) opening lines.  It still runs strong today and with a look at some of the winning entries, it's no wonder!  The ones included range from mildly funny, to slight-chuckle-alert, and finally to the must-laugh-out-loud-now.  To find out more about it's origins, why it is named as such, and how to enter...check out the site!  They even have a game listed for book lovers (sounds interesting).

COMMENT CREATOR
Okay...even though you may be thinking about entering the competition, I propose a little bit of practice (and the chance for some really interesting comments...).  If you were going to write a fictious HORRIBLE sequel to one of your favorite books...which one would you choose?  Leave your proposed title and opening line in the comments, and let's have some fun!

Until next time....happy reading!

BBAW: Day 3: Reading Meme

Hello, hello!  Welcome to day three of the celebration!  What are we celebrating?  Why it's.....

Book Blogger Appreciation Week

From the title, you may be wondering what in the world a reading meme is exactly...no worries, I was too!  I had seen the term a few times, but color me silly, I had no clue what it meant!  So, guess where I went to find out?  GOOGLE, of course!  With the myriad of assistance sites that came up I chose Quixtar Blog:  Blogging 101.  According to their entry, a blog meme is something that requires the blogger to participate, but does not have an originating source....and is generally a listing of questions used to share personal info.  (Hmmm....Captain Obvious anyone?)  I mean I gathered that much from this activity posted for today, but alas, that seems to be the most concrete definition I could find!  All of you with inquiring minds out there....you'll just have to focus your energy on the rest of this post.  (Nice segway to get you to read on, huh?)  Learn a little more about my preferred reading habits and share some of your own!

Do you snack while you read? If so, favorite reading snack? Try not to, but they make such good dining companions....


Do you tend to mark your books as you read, or does the idea of writing in books horrify you? Textbooks, yes...novels, NO!

How do you keep your place while reading a book? Bookmark

Laying the book flat open? Hardback, yes...paperback, NO!

Fiction, Non-fiction, or both? MORE fiction, less non.

Hard copy or audiobooks? Hard copy all the way.

Are you a person who tends to read to the end of chapters, or are you able to put a book down at any point? I can put it down at any point....it doesn't mean I have to like it!

If you come across an unfamiliar word, do you stop to look it up right away? Only if I can't figure out the meaning from the surrounding sentences.

What are you currently reading? Better question is what am I reading at this moment! Let's see...I'll let my sidebar answer that....

What is the last book you bought? Fly By Night by Frances Hardinge

Are you the type of person that only reads one book at a time or can you read more than one at a time? Umm...sidebar shall answer again... (multiple)

Do you have a favorite time of day and/or place to read? Ideal would be a room with just enough light to read, a big overstuffed chair and an unlimited supply of books. Alas, that exists in my dreams alone! usually is wherever I am at the time....

Do you prefer series books or stand alone books? BOTH! Depends on my mood....I like to break from reading series with stand alone's.

Is there a specific book or author that you find yourself recommending over and over? Yes....my own guilty pleasures....The Forbidden Game (trilogy) by L.J. Smith and The Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyers.

How do you organize your books? (By genre, title, author’s last name, etc.?) At this point, by box! (Let's just say I need more book cases.) If I had the space, by author.
 
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There you have it!  A tiny peek into the reading habits of one Insatiable Reader.  How about a looksy into yours now, hmmm?  Post your answers to your favorite questions below and share a bit about yourself!  Happy reading!