Book Blog Tour: Bear-ly There by Rebekah Raye

Hello, there everyone!  Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers!  I hope that you enjoy your visit today (and everyday) and if you have any questions, comments, or feedback...feel free to share! 

You've chose an exciting day to stop by indeed as we are playing host for our second Book Blog Tour of the month (and of the life of this blog thus far!  Yay!).  Exciting, isn't it?  But WAIT....there's more!  Today will be a first indeed as along with the fabulous info imparted, YOU will HAVE A CHANCE TO WIN PRIZES!  That's right....our very FIRST contest! (*~*happy dance*~*)  So without further ado, allow me to introduce our "post guest" of the day.  It is a children's book dealing with nature, our relationship with it, and a story of both forward thinking and wonder.  Today's Book Blog Tour star is....

Bear-ly There

by

Rebekah Raye

This is the story of being in the wrong place at the right time. (Confused?  Keep reading...) We start out with a beautiful black bear awakening from it's slumber after a long winter's nap.  The first thing on his mind?  MUST FIND FOOD! (Can you blame him?  Would you last months without eating...I think not...)  In his search for something delicious he happens upon an easily accessable stash of seeds ripe for the taking.  The problem?  They are in located outside a house that happens to be both occupied and in a residential area!  Needless to say the neighbors do not take so kindly to this perceived intruder and suggest a myriad of ways to handle the situation (some less gruesome than others).  The one person to solve the problem is the one person few would listen too....a young boy named Charlie.  Charlie happens to live in the house that the bear visited and despite the fact that his pet geese were in dangerously close proximity to this unexpected guest, he is the one that comes up with a plan to solve this problem as well as the underlying "elephant in the room"....human behavior.  Take a walk with both Nature and mankind on this incredible story that will touch both your heart and your mind.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rebekah Raye is an artist beloved for her bird and animal paintings and sculpture. Her warm, expressive work is derived from her affinity with the natural world around her at her studio and home in East Blue Hill, Maine (where she had a bear visitor not too long ago). She illustrated Thanks to the Animals by Allen Sockabasin and is the author and illustrator of The Very Best Bed. Rebekah shares her love of art and her skills in workshops for adults and children and makes frequent school visits.

When first invited to join this Book Tour, I was very flattered.  At the time, it was the only one planned (albeit I had another join up for a visit 2 weeks before this one....but Sarah from Tilbury House was truly the first one to make contact...THANKS!), so beyond the fact that the story sounded cute, I was really excited!  After receiving and reading the ARC sent, I was more than happy I joined.  The story is sweet and informative at the same time.  You really learn about natural bear activites as well as ways to avoid them coming to your neck of the woods (i.e. your front yard) without causing them any harm.  In fact, it helps them to stay within their natural habitat and not become classified as a nuisance to populated areas...a problem that is seen more frequently as we spread out into previously nature driven locations.

That being said, I do want to take a moment to mention how beautiful the pictures are.  There is one photo that you are right in the bear's face (muzzle?) and it's big brown eyes are looking right at you...it's so cute!  Each one is detailed and tailored to fit the point of the story it is displayed at perfectly.  One of my favorites is when the bear initially wakes up and stands tall to scratch his back on a tree.  The bear is pictured doing this, but his woodland friends are right there in the background too....a squirrel, fox, and owl are all peeking out of the page just off center.  It really pairs wonderfully with the tale. 

In preparation for this stop on the tour, I was offered the chance to post a special feature of my choosing.  (Oh, how I love creative freedom!)  After thinking long and hard (okay, somewhat long, but definitely hard), I thought...why not ask what I'm almost certain my readers will be thinking when they read about this book?  So, here it is....the answer straight from the author herself!

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

What was your inspiration for writing this book?

Last summer I had made an appointment with Tilbury (House) to come in and discuss some new concepts and ideas I had about another book. I had a couple of ideas that I really liked. The very night before my meeting we had an incredible first time Black Bear visit in the moonlight just at dawn in our backyard that was both exciting and frightening. I went into my meeting with Jennifer Bunting, Audrey Maynard, and Karen Fiske. I felt very comfortable talking to them about my new ideas, but was still bubbling over with excitement about the bear visit that it seemed to be prominent in our conversation. They were quiet as they listened to all of my story summaries. Then after a pause, they thought we should do the story of the bear visit. I felt so unsure how I would make a story beyond the event of that evening he visited us. Then after a while, and encouraging calls from Audrey and Jennifer, it became clear to pose a position from the bear’s point of view. My research about bears habitat, food, and family life consumed me. Then I put myself in a 8ish year old boy’s body and included the very animals I have and love, keeping it based on a true story.

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

Thanks for that wonderful insight!  I myself had a brief encounter with a black bear when I was younger.  We lived in the mountains at the time and I was standing out waiting for the school bus.  This BIG black bear comes out of the trees right across the street from where I was and starts lumbering across the street.  It was maybe 15 - 20 feet from me....we were basically separated by a row of hedges.  Needless to say...yup, that's about as close as I want to get to a bear in the wild.  Beautiful creatures, but they need their space too!

Now our site was merely the 7th stop on their whirlwind tour.  It runs from October 15th straight through October 30th.  The next stop will be tomorrow over at On My Bookshelf, so be sure to stop by and check it out...you never know what you'll find at each stop, but it's sure fun finding out! With that said, I believe I will close this post out....HA!  Gotcha!  You didn't think I'd run out and forget about the AMAZING contest, did ya?  (If you did...for shame...)  There are not one but TWO amazing contests running in association with this tour.....and they are as follows: 

Option 1:  On Twitter...

Everyone that participates in the Twitter Book Party, and/or posts anything about the tour using the hashtag #BearlyThere from October 15th through the 30th, will be entered to win  a complete set of Bear-ly There, Thanks to the Animals, and The Very Best Bad books, all SIGNED by Rebekah Raye!

*Winners will be announced on October 31st.  U.S./Canada addresses only, please.

Option 2:  On the Blog Tour!

Do you love animals?  Ever encountered a bear?  Leave your comments on these questions, the tour, and/or the entire post for your chance to win big!  NINE lucky winners will be drawn from all of those who leave comments on the participating tour posts from (October 16-30) to win one of the following prizes:

• A set of four art cards (2 sets available)
• A signed wildlife art print
• An original sketch from Bear-ly There
• An original sketch from The Very Best Bed
• An original sketch from Thanks to the Animals
• A copy of Bear-ly There, The Very Best Bed, or Thanks to the Animals, signed by Rebekah Raye

**Winners will be announced on October 31st.  U.S./Canada addresses only, please.

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Many will enter....many will win!  (sorry, I always wanted to say that...yay for contests and great books!)  I hope you enjoyed the second book tour to grace our fair blog site and be sure to enter the contest!  Both the author (Rebekah Raye) and the publishing house (Tilbury House) are reachable through Twitter (again, who isn't?), so feel free to drop them a line (or technically a 140 character of less post, but you know what I mean).

Until next time....happy reading!

Monkey of Steel: A Different Kind of Hero by Leah Beth Evans

Hello, hello!  Post two for this week and going strong! (Whoo-HOO!)  Before we get to the actual post, just a quick reminder that tomorrow we are playing host to the Bear-ly There Book Tour....stop by for all the festivities!  (Psst!  A little bear...I mean birdie, told me there will be a chance to win some great prizes too!) 

Now on with the show....  You must be wondering about the title of today's post (you know you were).  'Monkey of Steel'....I just couldn't help myself!  You'll see why in a few moments (or at least I hope you do or this will be rather awkward).  Today's book choice is....

A Different Kind of Hero
by
Leah Beth Evans

Meet Tomagochi.  He isn't your typical hero (but, you probably guessed that from the book title) as hero's usually go.  He's not super strong, super fast, super loud, or....well pretty much "super" anything.  He's just plain Tomagochi...small, brown, fuzzy monkey from the rainforest.  Why is he so worried about being "super"?  Well, when you have special friends like the mighty tiger and the ravishing toucan, and you are just a seemingly plain monkey, how could you not feel down?  (Poor monkey!)  Though his friends try to tell him it's what's on the inside that counts (Great message!), Tomagochi has a hard time accepting it.  One day, their little corner of heaven is threatened by man's progress.  There are BIG bull dozers threatening to tear down the very place they call home! (GASP!) What's a rainforest dweller to do?  Run for the hills with his friends?  Or stand up and fight for their home?  In the end, Tomagochi discovers that no matter your size, shape, or color, there is truly something special or "super" about us all.

A wonderful message for readers young and young at heart...it's not what's on the outside, but what's on the inside that counts.  Often times in society, we see the exact opposite.  I mean whether it be with each other or simply with a book, we judge by the cover.  It takes a genuine effort to look behind the veil and into the layers underneath (hmmm, this sounds more like a cake than a person, but anywho...) to find out what truly makes them the fantastic person they are. 

I must say that aside from the cute (yet short....again it's technically a picture book) story, the illustrations were rather unique as well!  They give the appearance of being drawn with oil pastels (they are kind of like chubby crayons, in case you haven't seen them), thus adding to the personality of each character.  Also, in-between the full fledge drawings, you have what I would call "cut-outs" of the different animals and symbols in the book.  You'll see an outline effect of a monkey (white space in the middle) and the actual monkey picture will be peeking at you off-center of the outline, thereby creating the "cut-out" effect.  It's actually pretty neat.  One more quick tidbit....for all of you aspiring writers out there, this story came as a result of a rainforest research project the author was given in fourth grade!  So you see...you never know where your inspiration is going to come from....all of your experiences when funneled properly can become the golden moments you seek for your next endeavor!

Review copy courtesy of Nicole at Tribute Books!  (Thanks!) You can see their other titles online and of course they are follow-able (new word!) on Twitter as well!

COMMENT CREATOR
So, in the spirit of Tomagochi, I ask you to consider your past reads.  Name one book that you read despite a cover that was lacking that certain oomph or that you less-than-loved.  Why did you read it?  What was the outcome (was it good, bad, ugly, somewhere in-between)?

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

Immortal Love?: How to Catch and Keep A Vampire by Diana Laurence

Doo doo DOOOOOO!  (trumpet sound...sorta) Now presenting another day, another entry from yours truly, the Insatiable Reader! (crowds cheering....maybe not?)  Hello there!  Welcome back and happy Monday to you!  It was an absolutely GORGEOUS weekend weather-wise here and so the blog was a little light on new entries (sorry about that!).  No problem...we will rectify that this week.  To start it off right, the post for the day is going to a book I grabbed a few spare minutes to finish this weekend.  It's a perfect fit for the spooky Halloween season we are in, although whether you choose to take it seriously is all up to you (it's a humor book...for most people anyway...).  Today's choice is....

How to Catch and Keep a Vampire
by
Diana Laurence

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to date one of the undead?  (I see heads nodding...)  Of course you have...and who could blame you?  With the influx of books and movies featuring a new spin on this archetypal character of the night, they have turned into everything a girl could dream of.  Dashing, daring, gorgeous, dedicated, astounding beings that creep into our dreams and sweep us off our feet.  But what about the vampires of old?  You know...the ones that scared the "hee bee gee bees" out of us as children (or adults) no matter what medium they were presented in.  Surely they haven't just disappeared or changed their tune.....not to worry they are still out there in force and apparently welcome the prospect of dating you!

Author Diana Laurence provides readers with a rather unique dating guide....to the undead.  If you've ever wanted to know what might happen should you be tempted to the other end of the dating pool, this is a book for you.  (Or for those just curious enough to wonder what if....and then have a good chuckle.)  Does the blood letting part of the relationship scare you a bit?  According to her research, they are not all out to just drain you dry....many are looking for companionship (and many in this case not only refers to the vampires, but the number of companions.....).  Long to have the ultimate protector and mate by your side?  Be prepared to share!  With all the time they have on their hands, they are not big on the monogamy bit.  Ever wonder if that new red ribbon bracelet trend was really ALL about a religious following?  Maybe yes, maybe no (remember, this is all in good fun...no offense meant to anyone)....some may say it signals a true "believer" of another sort.  Depending upon the wrist it is displayed, there is another connotation of it all together.

When I first saw the title for this in my Shelf Awareness newsletter, I thought to myself....now that sounds like fun!  (Not the dating the undead part, the book itself!  Although....) I mean it's October.  The month of spooky, creepy, scary, fun-ness....what better time to read a book about snagging the attention of the opposite undead sex?  Lucky me, I was able to procure a copy of this for my reading pleasure and your review-reading enjoyment!  I have to say, it was pretty good!  Presented from a first person "how-to" stand point, it deals with your inclinations in a serious yet friendly fashion....after all, the author is telling you about her experiences first hand, including one that may lead to her having a new perspective by books end.... (nope, I'm not going to tell you how it turns out...that would spoil the fun!)  Entertainment for both the timeless romantic as well as the "bad girl wannabe" in us all, it allows readers to take a look at dating the darker side.  After reading up on the pros and cons from somewhere who's "been there, done that"...see if you aren't the least bit tempted....

The ARC of this book was received courtesy of Andy of Sellers Publishing, Inc.  (THANKS!) 


COMMENT CREATOR
Who is your favorite vampire and why? (Can be from books or movies.) Do you vote for the good guy, the bad guy, or the run-for-your-life guy?  Whether you've actually thought about this or not, give it a go!  I'm rather curious to see who turns up....

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

But Then Again I Could Be Wrong: The Book of Rants by Jim Rising

Hello there!  Welcome back to another day and another post here at Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.  We've got a few different events coming up but alas...I like surprises and therefore the details shal be known only to moi at this time.  =0)  (Promise...you'll like them!)  With the sun shining and the humidity rising, it felt like time to dive into a book to bring back memories of the past...and SNOW!  So, let's move on with it...

Today's post is similiar to another recent one in the fact that I am letting the actual book title act as the post title as well.  (Well, if not for the length, come on!  The title is pretty cool anyone, right?) Today's book of choice (for those of you that DIDN'T read the title) is.....

But Then Again I Could Be Wrong:

The Book of Rants

by

Jim Rising

WHOO-whoo-WhOo! (insert flashing red lights) This is a HUMOR ALERT!  Inside the pages of this book, you will not only find a memoir of sorts detailing the life and times of a radio personality (okay, spokesperson, disc jockey...whatever terminology works for you, go with it), but humor to boot!

Ever have a time when you wondered why people do such silly (*COUGH**stupid*COUGH*) things?  Do you just file these instances away in the "forget-as-soon-as-possible" folder?  Or are you the person that gets online and types up a storm on the lastest thing that crossed you today?  Whether former or later, not to worry...there are many like you out there in either case.  Jim Rising, author and "subject" of this book has the privilege of talking about his "weighings on the mind" almost whenever the mood strikes....such is the freedom of life on the radio!  If you've tuned to any local station recently, you are sure to have heard the DJ's talking about this or that.  If you are like me, you probably tune them out half the time and either wait for a song to play, or change the station.  There are however those rare occasions when the person's personality comes through in what they are delivering and it just hits home.  This book is a collection of just that.  Daily "rantings" of situations encountered, thoughts entertained, and various what-not to spark conversation, laughter, and maybe your own remembrances.  Take it in all at once, or merely in small doses....but I'd definitely recommend this book the next time you encounter a "what the heck" kind of day.

Now I may be a bit partial on this one, and no....not because of how I obtained the book (don't worry, it's disclosed at the end of this post).  After being contacted by Nicole from Tribute Books, I was surprised to learn that not only are they located in Scranton, Pennsylvania (ah, it feels good to spell that out again), but the author and subject, Jim Rising, lives in the general vicinity, thereby making his stories and recollections all about that area! (SQUEEEE!)  So....oh, wait, you look confused?  Why is that important to me?  Oops!  Forgot to mention that.  My family was transplanted to our current location FROM around the same location in PENNSYLVANIA! (LOVE spelling that!  You know in school up there, it's like one of the FIRST words you learn how to spell.  Yep, no PA abbreviations for you.  Spell it out or face the consquences....) (overly dramatic, yes!  But worth the effect..) So, as you might be able to guess, this was like a walk down memory lane...at least in the aspect of locations mentioned and such.

The stories were highly entertaining and although some of that may come from an understanding of the sense of humor and living in the area he is speaking of, I feel it would be entertaining to "outsiders" (meant in the nicest way) as well!  Give it a try!  You can't tell me that you've never seen someone seriously investigating the most outrageously crazy item being sold at a sale and wondered, "why on earth would anyone buy that or sell it"....or maybe you've seen a great event coming up in your area only to discover the main act is minus a few players and the main draw is the refreshments....or maybe you've had a bird feeder that mysteriously ends up clear across the yard and your thinking OMG, it's Super Squirrel!  (Okay, so I'll stop now...it's really something you have to read to understand...***laughing at the screen***)

Review copy in eBook format courtesy of Nicole at Tribute Books! (Thank you for both the book and the smile!)  For those of you that live in the Twitter world (GUILTY!), feel free to "follow" them! (Who isn't on there nowadays?)

COMMENT CREATOR
Since I am now reminiscing about home (and SNOW...I really miss snow!), let's talk about YOUR hometown!  Which state and/or country (city too, if you are willing to share...if not, no big!) to you originally hail from?  What was your favorite thing about it?  Least?

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

Dessert: You're One Stop Fun Break Shop!

Hi, everyone! *~*waving*~*  Welcome back!  Today has truly been a Wednesday.  How?  Well, besides giving you no satisfaction of either starting or ending a week (just being stuck in the middle....grumble grumble grumble), it's just been craziness after craziness around here.  To sum it up my feelings in one word....PFFFFFFFHHHHTTT! (That's me blowing "raspberries".  Go ahead, you try it.  Fun, huh?  Thought so...)  In light of the mood (and the fact that with all the interruptions, I SO didn't get to finish the book I wanted to post...not YET anyway...) and the day, I thought I would post a little "fun break" for everyone.  I did one (or two?) of these when I first started the blog, but they seem to have fallen by the wayside.  I aim to rectify that since they are so much fun (well, to me at least....your thoughts?)!  Here we go!

Gotta love these!

(Oh and to cover any copyright issues....photo scan courtesy of my 2009 Happy Bunny desk calendar!)

Until next time....happy reading!

Over My Dead Body: 43 Old Cemetery Road (Book 2) by Kate Klise

Hello, hello!  Happy Tuesday, everyone (or whatever day you happen to be reading this)!  It's a rather sunny and hot day here, how about where you are?  I know from some of my Twitter friends that some LUCKY folks are getting a blanket of the beautiful white stuff (snow)...*SIGH* I miss it so!  The most we get around here when it's not sweltering outside is a nice ice display of someone forgets to shut their sprinklers off.  Even though it's kind of man-made, it's still a sight to see!  Enough about the weather for now, let's get back to the subject at hand.....

For the month of October I wanted to do a spooky, creepy or scary book review every day.  Alas, not all of them will fit that profile (too many in other categories to ignore!) but today's choice DOES continue the Halloween fun.  It's a new children's book coming out 10/19/09 (according to NetGalley at the time of this review), so this review is coming out just in time to spark your curiousity.  Without further ado, today's book of choice is....

Over My Dead Body: 

43 Old Cemetary Road

(Book 2)

by

Kate Klise

Picture it...Ghastly, Illinois circa 1874. (Thank you Sylvia for the borrowing of your famous opening line for flashbacks....don't know who I mean?  Uh!  Anywho...) Olive C. Spence is the proud owner of a fabulous newly built mansion (named Spence Mansion...I wonder why..).  She has it all to herself for alas, she never married nor had any children.  Not to worry though...she has a passion...one many of you might share.  She is a mystery writer! Her only problem...getting published!  She tries and tries and tries so more, only to end up at death's door with many a masterpiece lacking an audience.  She vows to haunt the home she had built until one of her works finally reaches publication.

Time passes and the house falls to a new couple....the Hopes.  They are different than most as they are not just seeking residence, they are seeking the ghost!  (GASP!) Yes, my friends, they are professors of the paranormal aiming to "study" the phenomenon associated to this place.  Unfortunately for them, Ms. Spence is real, but wants nothing to do with their greedy ways.  Instead, and much to their dismay, she befriends their young son Seymour Hope and his cat Shadow; encouraging him to practice his favorite pasttime...drawing!  One day, the Hopes leave for a lecture in Paris, but "forget" one important detail....to bring Seymour!  Or did they?  It seems that this "inconvenience" was rather convenient for them since the ghost was being uncooperative, thus disproving their lives work.  What's a boy to do?  All alone in a mansion with no one to care for him....or is he?  It seems he may be out of traditional parents, but he does have one ghostly caretaker and a newly residing author named Ignatius B. Grumply more than willing to be in his company (meaning both "in the same room" and "business" for the three band together to write a ghost story!).

It would seem all things have worked out for young Seymour, but alas, just when the road seems clear of obstacles, some generally tend to pop up.  Enter one Dick Tater (giggle...sorry, the names are so funny!) and the IMSPOOKY (International Movement for the Safety and Protection Of Our Kids and Youth....whew!  There's a mouthful!).  If his agency did what it's long-winded name stood for, it would be supported by any and all.  In this case, he blindly sets out to remove both Seymour and Iggy from the house shared with Olive and end the so called charade that's been transpiring.  Will this be the end of their happy little trio?  What of the promised continuation of the ghost story they were working on?  Has it all been a hoax?  You'll have to read it to find out....(I am NOT spoiling this one for you!  It's a quick read but a fun one!)

Alrighty, so the title being as long as it is, I opted to use it all by its lonesome for this post (the longer the title, the longer the link).  What can I say?  In summary, I absolutely....LOVED this book! (*~*happy dance*~*)  Despite not having read the first in the series (hmm, this seems to be a trend of late, but one I will remedy...I like to start at the beginning!), I was completely under its spell.  First off, it's not like any other book I have seen thus far in the way it was put together.  It's not your typical story even though it reads as one.  The pages are made up of various mediums/styles...from photo albums to scrapbooks, newspapers to postcards, and personal letters to scripts.  Even though this may sound a bit odd, trust me it really works!

Secondly, the fun is not only in the story, but in the details!  We start out with a drawn map, listing places such as Antiques, Pet Store, Funeral Parlor, and...the Home for the Deranged.  (LOL)  You've gotta love that the last two were included, it's just so quirky!  Then we have the names of the cast of characters encountered.  A few include the President of the Bank...Ms. Fay Tality; the owner of Ghastly Lock and Key, Mr. Ike N. Opennitt; the funeral director, Karry N. Barry; and last but not least, the owner of the Gourmand, Shirley U. Jest.  (I'll give you a moment to stop laughing......still going, okay another moment......alrighty, my post is getting really long, come up for air for a second and then go back to it.) Whilst still in the "looney-bin", Ignatius creates a way of communicating with his cell neighbor through a series of knocks. One being "A", two being "B, and so on.  They even close out a letter or two with the code! 

Finally, in mentioning the way the book is gathered, the letters from each main character have a small touch of themselves as well with including their titles in relation to contributions made.  Ignatius is "a writer in residence", Olive is "ghost writer in residence", and Seymour is "illustrator in residence".  In the end, the imparted message is clear.  Behind the fun, mystery, and laughter, families come in all shapes and sizes.  There is no cookie cutter version to which they can all be compared.  Families are made by the love that is shared, the mistakes that are learned from, and the triumphs that are achieved.  Highly recommended for readers young and young at heart!  (seriously, you need to read this....)

The review copy for this book was made available to me by the fabulous folks over at NetGalley! (Thanks guys!)  If you haven't checked out their site, you really should...it's great! (No, FTC people, I wasn't paid to say this or anything....I just really enjoyed the book and want to share the wealth!) Of course, they are also on the endearingly fun (just love those adjectives today) website we all know and love...Twitter!

COMMENT CREATOR
Ha!  I bet you thought I forgot, didn't you?  Nope!  I love comments and if you don't feel like commenting on the book review (*sniff*sniff*) then at least take a stab at the question posed!  =0)
If you were a ghost, what would be the first thing you would do?  Now remember, you have any ghostly powers that you can imagine and the world is your playground....what would you tackle first?

Feel free to leave your comments and feedback!
Until next time....8 knocks 1 knock 16 knocks 16 knocks 25 knocks    18 knocks 5 knocks 1 knock 4 knocks  9 knocks 14 knocks 7 knocks!

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!