All month long, I will be posting about memoirs and autobiographies. You know I will have to throw in a few celebrity ones since they are a guilty pleasure!
I will have quite a few to give away as well!
2/28/11
MEMOIR MARCH!
All month long, I will be posting about memoirs and autobiographies. You know I will have to throw in a few celebrity ones since they are a guilty pleasure!
I will have quite a few to give away as well!
ePARTY with your pooch for Emily and Einstein by Linda Francis Lee
We hope you can join bestselling author Linda Francis Lee for her E-VENTFUL Book Party at BookTrib to chat about her fabulous new novel Emily and Einstein – a story about love, magic, and, above all, the unique relationship between a woman and her curious canine companion. Please RSVP at einstein@booktrib.com and come chat with Linda on the BookTrib homepage on March 15 at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT. Participating in this e-vent will qualify you to be in the running for one of 15 exclusive Doggie Bags filled with treats for you and your pup sponsored by BookTrib, Earth Animal, The New York Dog Shop and The Canine Country Club!
“Who is Your Einstein?” Photo Contest
Give your pup the glory s/he deserves by entering the “Who is Your Einstein?” Photo Contest. Beginning on February 21, snap a picture of your favorite pooch and become a fan of Linda Francis Lee on Facebook to upload your photo on her Wall. Each day Linda will select her favorite photo and it will appear on the BookTrib. Then, Linda will choose her favorite picture overall and announce it during her E-VENTFUL Book Party on March 15. The winner will receive a $25 gift card to PETCO and a gift card from The Canine Country Club! Special thanks to the PETCO of Norwalk, CT and The Canine Country Club for their generous donations!Go to BOOK TRIB for more details HERE
You know I am going to enter Schatze in this one. I just have to decide which picture. Maybe we can take a vote here.
GIVEAWAY & REVIEW: Highland Master by Amanda Scott
Description
When eighteen-year-old Lady Catriona Mackintosh discovers a wounded man in the forest near her Highland home, little does she know that he has sworn a sacred oath to kill her father and other members of the powerful Highland confederation known as Clan Chattan. Nor does she realize that she has met her soul mate. Independent, competent, intelligent, fiercely proud of her heritage, determined always to live near her own family, and known to her family as the "wee wildcat" because of her quick temper, Catriona is the daughter of a Highland chieftain and granddaughter of the even more powerful Chief (or Captain) of Clan Chattan. But her life changes forever when she persuades Sir Finlagh Cameron to return with her to her home to recover from his wounds.
Sir Finlagh "Fin" Cameron is on a mission for the heir to Scotland's throne, who has sent him to the Highlands to persuade the Chief of Clan Chattan to arrange a secret meeting for him with two other great lords (the Lord of the Isles and the Lord of the North). Until Fin meets Catriona, however, he has no idea that her father was the Clan Chattan war leader who led them in the battle that wiped out many of Clan Cameron's best warriors, including Fin's own father. The sole survivor of that battle, Fin accepted a bequest of vengeance from his dying father, providing him with a dilemma to face as he begins to fall in love with Catriona. He is not the only one enticed by her charms, either. There are two other contenders, one of whom is his own master, the heir to Scotland's throne. With royal mischief afoot, if Catriona and Fin are ever to find happiness, they must first avoid disaster that could change Scotland's history, and find ways to be open and honest with each other. (2011)
Sir Finlagh "Fin" Cameron is on a mission for the heir to Scotland's throne, who has sent him to the Highlands to persuade the Chief of Clan Chattan to arrange a secret meeting for him with two other great lords (the Lord of the Isles and the Lord of the North). Until Fin meets Catriona, however, he has no idea that her father was the Clan Chattan war leader who led them in the battle that wiped out many of Clan Cameron's best warriors, including Fin's own father. The sole survivor of that battle, Fin accepted a bequest of vengeance from his dying father, providing him with a dilemma to face as he begins to fall in love with Catriona. He is not the only one enticed by her charms, either. There are two other contenders, one of whom is his own master, the heir to Scotland's throne. With royal mischief afoot, if Catriona and Fin are ever to find happiness, they must first avoid disaster that could change Scotland's history, and find ways to be open and honest with each other. (2011)
About the Author
Amanda Scott is a USA Today bestselling and award-winning author. She has won the Romance Writers of America's RITA/Golden Medallion awards and both a Career Achievement Award and the Reviewers' Choice Award for Best Scottish Historical (for her 2008 novel Border Wedding) from Romantic Times. She began writing on a dare from her husband. That resulted in her first book, The Fugitive Heiress. Highland Master is her fifty-fifth book.Amanda is a fourth-generation Californian who was born and raised in Salinas. She has a Bachelor's Degree in history from Mills College in Oakland and a Master's in History from San Jose State University. She has long specialized in British history and is a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. Amanda lives with her husband in northern California and has a married son, who is a firefighter. You may visit her Web site at http://www.amandascottauthor.com.
Details
- Mass Market Paperback: 400 pages
- Publisher: Forever; 1 Original edition (February 1, 2011)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0446574317
- ISBN-13: 978-0446574310
LOVED IT
This is the start of a new trilogy called the Scottish Knights and it starts off wonderfully. This one takes place in the 1400's and there are quite a few plot twists to keep the story of Catriona and Fin moving right along. Catriona is young and headstrong and she saved Fin from an arrow years before. Fin is dealing with intrigue and finds himself taken with Catriona. I love how Amanda Scott makes the characters speak with an accent. I really feel I that brogue down by the end of the book. I received this book at no charge from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
WANT TO WIN A COPY OF THIS BOOK?
Contest is open to anyone over 13 years old with a US or Canadian mailing addresses (no PO Boxes)
Contest ends on 3.16.11 Winner will be chosen by Random.org on 3.17.11
Winner will have 48 hours to respond to email or a new winner will be chosen.
This giveaway is sponsored by Forever Romance and up to three copies will be available.
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GIVEAWAY & REVIEW: Seduced by Destiny by Kira Morgan
Description
SWORN TO REVENGE
All her life, Josselin Ancrum has been trained for combat, hoping to exact vengeance for her heroic mother, who was killed fighting the English. When asked to spy for the Scottish Queen, Jossy joyfully accepts. But when a handsome stranger rescues her from sudden danger, his charm distracts her from her mission.
SHROUDED BY SECRECY
On the surface, Drew MacAdam may appear to be nothing more than a carefree champion, but his heart harbors a dark secret: This Highland hero is actually a skilled English soldier with a hatred for war and for the Scottish. Yet from the moment he meets the feisty Jossy, he's captured by her fiercely loyal heart. He's determined the honey-haired lass will be his ultimate prize - until the tragedy of their entwined legacies is revealed. Are these star-crossed lovers to be divided by their pasts? Or will they be...
Seduced by Destiny
All her life, Josselin Ancrum has been trained for combat, hoping to exact vengeance for her heroic mother, who was killed fighting the English. When asked to spy for the Scottish Queen, Jossy joyfully accepts. But when a handsome stranger rescues her from sudden danger, his charm distracts her from her mission.
SHROUDED BY SECRECY
On the surface, Drew MacAdam may appear to be nothing more than a carefree champion, but his heart harbors a dark secret: This Highland hero is actually a skilled English soldier with a hatred for war and for the Scottish. Yet from the moment he meets the feisty Jossy, he's captured by her fiercely loyal heart. He's determined the honey-haired lass will be his ultimate prize - until the tragedy of their entwined legacies is revealed. Are these star-crossed lovers to be divided by their pasts? Or will they be...
Seduced by Destiny
About the Author
Kira Morgan's past adventures include stints as a ballerina, a typographer, a film composer, a piano player, a transcriber, a singer, and a voice-over actress. In her current incarnation, she's a wife, mother, and writer of swashbuckling historical romance. She does her best writing on cruise ships, in Scottish castles, on her husband's tour bus, and at home in her sunny southern California garden. (2011)Details
- Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages
- Publisher: Forever (February 22, 2011)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0446548170
- ISBN-13: 978-0446548175
MY THOUGHTS
LOVED IT
Part of my favorite part of reading historical romances is that I learn something new. This outing took on golf, which I had no idea was actually played during the 1500's. Josselin is headstrong, smart and stubborn and when she meets the wily Drew, their connection leads to a lot of plot twists. I loved that Josselin is the secret one in her quest to help the Queen. If you enjoyed Captured by Desire, you will love this next installment. I received this book at no expense from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
WANT TO WIN A COPY OF THIS BOOK?
Contest is open to anyone over 13 years old with a US or Canadian mailing addresses (no PO Boxes)
Contest ends on 3.16.11 Winner will be chosen by Random.org on 3.17.11
Winner will have 48 hours to respond to email or a new winner will be chosen.
This giveaway is sponsored by Forever Romance and up to three copies will be available.
Only one winner per household address!
Enter as many contests as you want but you can only win one copy of the book.
Complete the below form
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2/27/11
REVIEW: Paranormalcy by Kiersten White
Description
Evie’s always thought of herself as a normal teenager, even though she works for the International Paranormal Containment Agency, her ex-boyfriend is a faerie, she’s falling for a shape-shifter, and she’s the only person who can see through paranormals’ glamours.
But Evie’s about to realize that she may very well be at the center of a dark faerie prophecy promising destruction to all paranormal creatures.
So much for normal.
But Evie’s about to realize that she may very well be at the center of a dark faerie prophecy promising destruction to all paranormal creatures.
So much for normal.
About the Author
Kiersten White lives near the ocean in San Diego, where her days are perfectly normal. Paranormalcy is her first novel.
Details
- Reading level: Young Adult
- Hardcover: 352 pages
- Publisher: HarperTeen; First Edition edition (August 31, 2010)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0061985848
- ISBN-13: 978-0061985843
ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT
There is a lot of snark, action and fun filled dialog which are the most important things to me when it comes to reading a good book. White has created a wonderful cast of characters from Evie to Lend and all of the minor characters in between. For the first in a series, the pace is quite fast and you completely believe that there is this mirror world which every kind of creature imaginable. Evie's gift is that she can see what no human can and right past the glamor that these creatures use to hide themselves from humans.
When Lend breaks into IPCA headquarters to find out why paranormals are being murdered, he is caught by Evie. Evie's teen hormones kick in and she finds Lend someone she would like to know better. Evie is not quite certain what Lend is, but he can mirror the looks of anyone he sees. Well, from there the story kicks off and looks to be a great set up for the series.
There is a bit of snuggling and kisses, comic book violence, and a really good time for anyone who enjoys action-adventure reads with a bit of romance thrown in. Fans of Jennifer Rardin will love this one. I recommend this to anyone with a sense of fun, although I think it is best suited to those over 13.
2/25/11
REVIEW: The Day Before by Lisa Schroeder
Description
Sometimes there's no turning back.Amber's life is spinning out of control. All she wants is to turn up the volume on her iPod until all of the demands of her family and friends fade away. So she sneaks off to the beach to spend a day by herself.
Then Amber meets Cade. Their attraction is instant, and Amber can tell that he's also looking for an escape. Together they decide to share a perfect day: no pasts, no fears, no regrets.
The more time that Amber spends with Cade, the more she's drawn to him. And the more she's troubled by his darkness. Because Cade's not just living in the now--he's living each moment like it's his last.
About the Author
Lisa Schroeder is the author of IT'S RAINING CUPCAKES and upcoming SPRINKLES AND SECRETS (Aladdin, Fall 2011). She is also the author of YA novels I HEART YOU, YOU HAUNT ME (1/08), FAR FROM YOU (12/08), CHASING BROOKLYN (1/10) and THE DAY BEFORE (6/11), all with Simon Pulse. She lives in Beaverton, Oregon. Find out more about Lisa and her books at http://www.lisaschroederbooks.com/Details
- Reading level: Young Adult
- Hardcover: 320 pages
- Publisher: Simon Pulse (June 28, 2011)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 1442417439
- ISBN-13: 978-1442417434
ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT
I am always amazed at Lisa Schroeder's books which are written in verse. They can convey so much emotion in so very little words. I would think it is next to impossible to get across a complete story with so few passages, but like a song, you get everything. There are two major twists to this story, ones that I have not seen in a young adult book before.
The story is two lost souls meeting and understanding each other like no other has understood them before. Amber has been hit with some horrible news about her life and runs away to spend the day at the beach to understand what this means to her. She meets Cade, who is hiding his own life and death issue and is trying to capture one last day on his own. The two come together and give each other strength to get through their issues together. There I did it -- no spoilers!
I received this book at no expense from Around the World ARC tours in exchange for my honest review.
AND THE WINNER IS: To Tempt a Rake by Cara Elliott
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Friday PhoDOGraphy
One last sunny day before it rains again!
Don't forget to check out Fridays with Fred over at Mina Burrows' blog HERE.
2/24/11
SHOUT OUT: Happy Tails Books: Partners With Paws
Partners With Paws: Service Dogs and the Lives They Change is a compilation of over 50 stories that highlight the important role service dogs play in people's lives. From both puppy raiser and service dog team perspectives, readers gain an intimate understanding of service dog training, service dog team matching, and the liberating impact service dogs have on people with both visible and non-visible disabilities.
The heartwarming, educational stories in Partners With Paws provide an insightful introduction to the breadth of life-changing skills for which service dogs can be trained, inspiring volunteers and nudging people who could benefit from a service dog's skills and companionship to take the next steps in the application process.
Partners With Paws: Service Dogs and the Lives They Change is currently available for pre-sale through http://happytailsbooks.com/buy
Books are expected to start shipping next week!
BLOG TOUR & REVIEW: A Light at Winter's End by Julia London
Description
Holly Fisher opens her door one day and finds her estranged sister Hannah standing there with a glassy look and her nine-month old baby on her hip. Before Holly knows what is happening, Hannah has left her baby with Holly and disappeared. Three months later, fresh out of rehab for addiction to painkillers, Hannah shows up sober, contrite, and wanting her son back. But Holly is in love with the baby and not willing to give him up to the mother who abandoned him. Into the middle of this extraordinary conflict between two sisters walks a lonesome cowboy, Wyatt Clark (Summer of Two Wishes) who knows a thing or two about childcare and fractured families. He’s had his own troubles and has stayed away from women the last couple of years, but he can’t resist Holly and the baby. But when Holly is delivered a devastating blow and returns the baby to his mother, Holly is too distraught to continue her relationship with Wyatt. It will take an extraordinary turn from Hannah to bring Holly and Wyatt together so that they both may find the happiness that has eluded them.
About the Author
JULIA LONDON is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of numerous historical romance and women’s fiction novels. She is a four-time finalist for the prestigious Romance Writers of America’s RITA Award for excellence in romantic fiction. A native Texan, Julia lives in Austin. You can write to her at P.O. Box 228, Georgetown, TX 78627, or email her at julia@julialondon.com.Details
- Mass Market Paperback: 400 pages
- Publisher: Pocket (February 22, 2011)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 1451606842
- ISBN-13: 978-1451606843
LOVED IT
I didn't read the first book in this series, but I had no trouble catching up with these characters. This is a very realistic contemporary romance that deals with many current issues like drug addiction, family issues and what it means to really care about someone. The issue of caring for a family member when they don't agree with certain issues like drug addiction is a truly heartfelt issue in this story. I really enjoyed this one and will have to go back and find the first book in this series.
BLOG TOUR & REVIEW: Day of Honey by Annia Ciezadlo
Description
A luminous portrait of life in the Middle East, Day of Honey weaves history, cuisine, and firsthand reporting into a fearless, intimate exploration of everyday survival. In the fall of 2003, Annia Ciezadlo spent her honeymoon in Baghdad. Over the next six years, while living in Baghdad and Beirut, she broke bread with Shiites and Sunnis, warlords and refugees, matriarchs and mullahs. Day of Honey is her memoir of the hunger for food and friendship—a communion that feeds the soul as much as the body in times of war.
Reporting from occupied Baghdad, Ciezadlo longs for normal married life. She finds it in Beirut, her husband’s hometown, a city slowly recovering from years of civil war. But just as the young couple settles into a new home, the bloodshed they escaped in Iraq spreads to Lebanon and reawakens the terrible specter of sectarian violence. In lucid, fiercely intelligent prose, Ciezadlo uses food and the rituals of eating to illuminate a vibrant Middle East that most Americans never see. We get to know people like Roaa, a determined young Kurdish woman who dreams of exploring the world, only to see her life under occupation become confined to the kitchen; Abu Rifaat, a Baghdad book lover who spends his days eavesdropping in the ancient city’s legendary cafés; Salama al-Khafaji, a soft-spoken dentist who eludes assassins to become Iraq’s most popular female politician; and Umm Hassane, Ciezadlo’s sardonic Lebanese mother-in-law, who teaches her to cook rare family recipes—which are included in a mouthwatering appendix of Middle Eastern comfort food. As bombs destroy her new family’s ancestral home and militias invade her Beirut neighborhood, Ciezadlo illuminates the human cost of war with an extraordinary ability to anchor the rhythms of daily life in a larger political and historical context. From forbidden Baghdad book clubs to the oldest recipes in the world, Ciezadlo takes us inside the Middle East at a historic moment when hope and fear collide. Day of Honey is a brave and compassionate portrait of civilian life during wartime—a moving testament to the power of love and generosity to transcend the misery of war.
Reporting from occupied Baghdad, Ciezadlo longs for normal married life. She finds it in Beirut, her husband’s hometown, a city slowly recovering from years of civil war. But just as the young couple settles into a new home, the bloodshed they escaped in Iraq spreads to Lebanon and reawakens the terrible specter of sectarian violence. In lucid, fiercely intelligent prose, Ciezadlo uses food and the rituals of eating to illuminate a vibrant Middle East that most Americans never see. We get to know people like Roaa, a determined young Kurdish woman who dreams of exploring the world, only to see her life under occupation become confined to the kitchen; Abu Rifaat, a Baghdad book lover who spends his days eavesdropping in the ancient city’s legendary cafés; Salama al-Khafaji, a soft-spoken dentist who eludes assassins to become Iraq’s most popular female politician; and Umm Hassane, Ciezadlo’s sardonic Lebanese mother-in-law, who teaches her to cook rare family recipes—which are included in a mouthwatering appendix of Middle Eastern comfort food. As bombs destroy her new family’s ancestral home and militias invade her Beirut neighborhood, Ciezadlo illuminates the human cost of war with an extraordinary ability to anchor the rhythms of daily life in a larger political and historical context. From forbidden Baghdad book clubs to the oldest recipes in the world, Ciezadlo takes us inside the Middle East at a historic moment when hope and fear collide. Day of Honey is a brave and compassionate portrait of civilian life during wartime—a moving testament to the power of love and generosity to transcend the misery of war.
About the Author
Born in Chicago, Annia Ciezadlo grew up in Bloomington, Indiana. She received her Master's in journalism from New York University in 2000. In late 2003, she left New York for Baghdad, where she worked as a stringer for The Christian Science Monitor and other publications for the next year. During this time, she wrote groundbreaking stories, about parliamentary quotas for women, Baghdad's graffiti wars, militant Islamist poetry slams, the flight of the country's Christian minority, and Iraq's first reality tv show. Her first-person piece on what it's like to go through checkpoints in Baghdad earned a flood of responses, and is now used by the US military to help prevent civilian casualities. Since then, she has reported on revolutions in Lebanon, crackdowns in Syria, repression in Iraqi Kurdistan, and the 2006 "summer war" between Israel and Hezbollah. Although she has covered several wars, Annia does not describe herself as a war correspondent. She specializes in articles about Arab culture and civil society, stories that explore the intersections between larger political realities and everyday activities like driving, cooking, and going to school. She has written about culture, politics, and the Middle East for The New Republic, The Nation, The Washington Post, the National Journal, The Christian Science Monitor, The New York Observer, and Lebanon's Daily Star newspaper. Annia lives somewhere between New York and Beirut, with her husband, the journalist Mohamad Bazzi.Details
- Hardcover: 400 pages
- Publisher: Free Press (February 1, 2011)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 1416583939
- ISBN-13: 978-1416583936
MY THOUGHTS
LOVED IT
This is a wonderful book about love, war and food that will have you craving the dishes mentioned. Of course, the author is kind enough to provide some recipes along with her witty take on life. I found myself laughing (inappropriately) at her descriptions of how marriages are arranged in the Middle East. There are a lot of little insights into this little understood place with first person accounts make the area a lot more real than what you see on the news.
It is a blessing that Ciezadlo is a journalist since she brings a natural balanced view to the war torn areas of Beirut and Baghdad. She really made the people accessible though their customs and food. I don't recommend reading this book if you are hungry, since the description will have you craving the food. I received this book at no cost from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
2/23/11
GIVEAWAY & REVIEW: House of Prayer No. 2 by Mark Richard
Description
In this otherworldly memoir of extraordinary power, Mark Richard, an award-winning author, tells his story of growing up in the American South with a heady Gothic mix of racial tension and religious fervor.
Called a “special child,” Southern social code for mentally—and physically—challenged children, Richard was crippled by deformed hips and was told he would spend his adult life in a wheelchair. During his early years in charity hospitals, Richard observed the drama of other broken boys’ lives, children from impoverished Appalachia, tobacco country lowlands, and Richmond’s poorest neighborhoods. The son of a solitary alcoholic father whose hair-trigger temper terrorized his family, and of a mother who sought inner peace through fasting, prayer, and scripture, Richard spent his bedridden childhood withdrawn into the company of books.
As a young man, Richard, defying both his doctors and parents, set out to experience as much of the world as he could—as a disc jockey, fishing trawler deckhand, house painter, naval correspondent, aerial photographer, private investigator, foreign journalist, bartender and unsuccessful seminarian—before his hips failed him. While digging irrigation ditches in east Texas, he discovered that a teacher had sent a story of his to the Atlantic, where it was named a winner in the magazine’s national fiction contest launching a career much in the mold of Jack London and Mark Twain.
A superbly written and irresistible blend of history, travelogue, and personal reflection, House of Prayer No. 2 is a remarkable portrait of a writer’s struggle with his faith, the evolution of his art, and of recognizing one’s singularity in the face of painful disability. Written with humor and a poetic force, this memoir is destined to become a modern classic.
Called a “special child,” Southern social code for mentally—and physically—challenged children, Richard was crippled by deformed hips and was told he would spend his adult life in a wheelchair. During his early years in charity hospitals, Richard observed the drama of other broken boys’ lives, children from impoverished Appalachia, tobacco country lowlands, and Richmond’s poorest neighborhoods. The son of a solitary alcoholic father whose hair-trigger temper terrorized his family, and of a mother who sought inner peace through fasting, prayer, and scripture, Richard spent his bedridden childhood withdrawn into the company of books.
As a young man, Richard, defying both his doctors and parents, set out to experience as much of the world as he could—as a disc jockey, fishing trawler deckhand, house painter, naval correspondent, aerial photographer, private investigator, foreign journalist, bartender and unsuccessful seminarian—before his hips failed him. While digging irrigation ditches in east Texas, he discovered that a teacher had sent a story of his to the Atlantic, where it was named a winner in the magazine’s national fiction contest launching a career much in the mold of Jack London and Mark Twain.
A superbly written and irresistible blend of history, travelogue, and personal reflection, House of Prayer No. 2 is a remarkable portrait of a writer’s struggle with his faith, the evolution of his art, and of recognizing one’s singularity in the face of painful disability. Written with humor and a poetic force, this memoir is destined to become a modern classic.
About the Author
MARK RICHARD is the author of two award-winning short story collections, The Ice at the Bottom of the World and Charity, and the novel Fishboy. His short stories and journalism have appeared in the New York Times, The New Yorker, Harper’s, Esquire, Vogue, and GQ. He is the recipient of the PEN/Hemingway Award, a National Endowment for the Arts fellowship, and a Whiting Foundation Writer’s Award. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife and their three sons.Details
- Hardcover: 224 pages
- Publisher: Nan A. Talese (February 15, 2011)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 038551302X
- ISBN-13: 978-0385513029
ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT
I have to say that I was totally charmed by this memoir. It is written in second person, which I think is a first for me. To paraphrase Double Day, it is part Southern Gothic mixed with Running With Scissors and I was compelled to read it straight through. I can't say it is completely different than anything I have ever read, but most of those books were fiction. I just found his whole life fascinating and he made the challenges that he face in life - crushing pain from bad hips, multiple surgeries that sounded barbaric, and horrible family life -- part of the inevitable process of life which he lives to the fullest.
WANT TO WIN A COPY OF THIS BOOK?
Contest is open to anyone with a US mailing addresses (no PO Boxes)
Contest ends on 3.9.11 Winner will be chosen by Random.org on 3.10.11
Winner will have 48 hours to respond to email or a new winner will be chosen.
This giveaway is sponsored by Double Day Publishing and TWO copies of the book will be available.
Limit one winner per household/mailing address.
Complete the below form
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REVIEW: University of Strangers by Bob Pfeifer (INDIE PICK OF THE MONTH)
Description
Through interviews, journal entries and news reports, the story unfolds of an underground society of international celebrities and cult figures who fight to uncover truth and banish injustice. Includes a dropcard to download five new songs by the Tabby Chinos!
About the Author
Bob Pfeifer is a founding member and songwriter for the Human Switchboard and currently the band Tabby Chinos. He was a Senior Vice President A&R / Epic/Sony Records and President of Hollywood Records, where he worked with artists including Alice Cooper, Ornette Coleman and The Screaming Trees, and on soundtracks like the Crow: City of Angels and Lion King. He lives with his son in Los Angeles. University of Strangers is his first novel.Details
- Paperback: 160 pages
- Publisher: Power City Press; First Edition edition (February 2, 2011)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 061542595X
- ISBN-13: 978-0615425955
ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT
This turned out to be one of my favorite stories so far this year and combines mystery with conspiracy theories about Amanda Knox and a secret society. I don't reread many books, but I had to go back and go through this one again once I figured out that the majority of people exist and and are newsworthy. I ended up spending some time googling some of the story points about Amanda Knox and some other characters. I had never heard of the author, Robert Bolano before and he plays a central part in the story.
This mystery written through journal entries, interviews and some narrative is the most unique thing I have read in awhile. It reminded me a bit of Hunter S. Thompson. I loved how each word counts and there aren't a lot of unnecessary descriptive elements. If you are looking for a quick, thoughtful mystery with a great punky soundtrack (you get a download card!), this is a great pick! I received this book from the author at no cost in exchange for my honest review.
Waiting on Wednesday: Emily and Einstein by Linda Francis Lee
This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:
Description
He was a man who didn’t deserve a second chance. But he needed one…
Emily and her husband Sandy Portman seemed to live a gracious if busy life in an old-world, Upper West Side apartment in the famous Dakota building. But one night on the way to meet Emily, Sandy dies in a tragic accident. The funeral isn't even over before Emily learns she is on the verge of being evicted from their apartment. But worse than the possibility of losing her home, Emily is stunned when she discovers that her marriage was made up of lies.
Suddenly Emily is forced on a journey to find out who her husband really was . . . all the while feeling that somehow he isn't really gone. Angry, hurt, and sometimes betrayed by loving memories of the man she lost, Emily finds comfort in a scruffy dog named Einstein. But is Einstein's seemingly odd determination that she save herself enough to make Emily confront her own past? Can he help her find a future—even after she meets a new man?
Suddenly Emily is forced on a journey to find out who her husband really was . . . all the while feeling that somehow he isn't really gone. Angry, hurt, and sometimes betrayed by loving memories of the man she lost, Emily finds comfort in a scruffy dog named Einstein. But is Einstein's seemingly odd determination that she save herself enough to make Emily confront her own past? Can he help her find a future—even after she meets a new man?
About the Author
LINDA FRANCIS LEE is a native Texan now living on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. The author of twenty books that are published in sixteen countries, when Linda isn't writing she loves to run in Central Park and spend time with her husband, family, and friends.
AWWWW -- there is a puppy on the cover....I'm sold! A scruffy dog that leads to love. Boy, somebody has my number.
Details
- Hardcover: 368 pages
- Publisher: St. Martin's Press; First Edition edition (March 1, 2011)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0312382189
- ISBN-13: 978-0312382186
2/22/11
AND THE WINNER IS: Cross Fire by James Patterson (audio book)
TARA -- TaraTagl -- be sure to visit TAMING THE BOOKSHELF
An email has been sent to the lucky people named above (first part of their email address in case my note ends up in spam). The winner(s) has 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.
Thanks to all who entered.
PLEASE CHECK YOUR SPAM FOR THE EMAIL FROM BOOKHOUNDS @ HOTMAIL REQUESTING YOUR MAILING ADDRESS!
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AND THE WINNER IS: Cleopatra by Stacy Schiff (audio book)
LAURA -- lauraashlee -- be sure to stop by RAMBLINGS OF A FUTURE LIBRARIAN
AEKZ2 -- annettekz2
An email has been sent to the lucky people named above (first part of their email address in case my note ends up in spam). The winner(s) has 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.
Thanks to all who entered.
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GIVEAWAY & 20 QUESTIONS WITH: Christine Meldrum author of Amaryllis in Blueberry
20 QUESTIONS WITH CHRISTINA MELDRUM
AUTHOR OF AMARYLLIS IN BLUEBERRY
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I would like to thank Christina for stopping by BookHounds today to play 20 Questions. You can read my rave HERE. If you are looking for your next book club pick, this should be a serious contender since there is a lot to discuss and wonderful themes to ponder. There is a great Reading Group Guide HERE.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1. Bookmarks or dog ears?
Neither, really. I love reading hard cover books—or paperbacks with French flaps—and using the jacket flap as my bookmark. (Notice the French flaps on AMARYLLIS IN BLUEBERRY. :)
2. Dust jacket on or off when reading a hard back?
On! My handy bookmark...
3. Favorite author?
Oh my... That's like asking me to pick my favorite child!
4. Favorite genre’?
Literary fiction—although I do love a good plot.
5. What is the best book you have read in the last year?
I love Michael Cunningham's writing, and I read his new book BY NIGHTFALL in the last year. It wasn't my favorite of his books. (THE HOURS is by far my favorite.) But Michael Cunningham uses language in such a powerful way. Every sentence seems a masterpiece.
6. What book would you most like to see made into a movie?
MADAPPLE and AMARYLLIS IN BLUEBERRY would make amazing movies. And I'm NOT biased! :) Seriously, though, after seeing the movie MOMENTO, I thought its director Christopher Nolan would be the perfect director to make my books into novels. Then I learned Christopher Nolan also directed THE DARK KNIGHT. Hmmm.
7. E books: Friend or foe?
Friend. After a lot of arm twisting.
8. Was there a book that inspired you to write?
I had a wonderful high school English teacher, Chuck Spencer, who really taught me how to read literature. Every book I read became a treasure chest after that. More than any one book, Mr. Spencer inspired me.
9. What are you reading right now?
Abraham Verghese's CUTTING FOR STONE and Orhan Pamuk's THE MUSEUM OF INNOCENCE.
10. What is the last book you bought just for the cover?
Well, I can't say I bought it JUST for the cover, but the cover helped: Orhan Pamuk's THE MUSEUM OF INNOCENCE. (The paperback cover. I know, I know, I said I like hard covers...already breaking my own rules.)
11. What is the last book you received in the mail?
AMARYLLIS IN BLUEBERRY! I received a gigantic box of copies from my publisher.
12. What is the number of books you own?
I can't count them all. Seriously. I don't think I've ever gotten rid of a book. When I can no longer fit them in the bookshelf, they're boxed and put into storage. Not very eco-friendly of me, I know. But I do recycle everything else!
13. What is the first book you remember reading by yourself as a child?
Harold and the Purple Crayon.
14. Do you have a favorite place to read?
The Danish Landing, Michigan, which is a location in my second novel, AMARYLLIS IN BLUEBERRY. My family has owned a cottage on the Danish Landing for over 100 years. I spent my childhood summers there and currently my children and I spend a month or so there each summer. Be it in the cottage, on the dock, in the boat, on the porch...for me, there is no better place to read than on the Danish Landing.
15. What is next for you, publishing-wise?
I'm currently writing another novel for Knopf.
16. Do you have a favorite place to write?
In my study at home, surrounded by the books I love and photos of the people I love—and the smell of the dogs at my feet. (See below.)
17. Do you have any pets ?
We have two escape artists (terrier mutts), one very plump cat and a dragon—bearded, that is. The bearded dragon eats crickets and mealworms, so we tend to have a lot of those around as well. Not exactly pets, but... (Yes, I am the mother of boys.)
18. How does your garden grow?
Mostly in my mind and books. (We have a very shady yard!)
19. The last thing you Googled?
BookHounds!
20. What makes you cringe?
Mealworms. (Cringing now.)
Contest is open to anyone with a US mailing addresses (no PO Boxes)
Contest ends on 3.8.11 Winner will be chosen by Random.org on 3.9.11
Winner will have 48 hours to respond to email or a new winner will be chosen.
This giveaway is sponsored by Simon and Schuster Publishing and ONE copy of the book will be available.
Complete the below form
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BOOK TOUR: University of Strangers by Bob Pfeifer
Those of you in on the West Coast and bored with the beautiful weather might want to check into this!
This is just an awesome book and although I haven't listened to the music that came with it, I can only imagine that it is wonderful as well....
This is just an awesome book and although I haven't listened to the music that came with it, I can only imagine that it is wonderful as well....
CLEVELAND CONFIDENTIAL BOOK TOUR
WEST COAST TOUR FEBRUARY 17 – 27, 2011
Chicago, IL – Smog Veil Records is proud to announce that Cleveland Confidential Book Tour has added a stop at Seattle's Experience Music Project JBL Theater on February 17th. The tour features three author-musicians hailing from Cleveland, Ohio including Cheetah Chrome (Rocket From The Tombs, Dead Boys, Batusis), Mike Hudson (The Pagans) and Bob Pfeifer (Human Switchboard, Tabby Chinos, former Senior Vice President A&R/Epic/Sony Records and President of Hollywood Records). Each will read excerpts from their book, answer questions from the audience and discuss their books and careers with each other. Authors will be available to sign books at each appearance. Tour stops on the West Coast include Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Berkeley, Los Angeles, including the EMP Pop Conference at UCLA on February 26, 2011. East Coast tour dates in April will be announced soon and will include Philadelphia, New York City, Boston, Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame in Cleveland and more.
Tuesday, 2/22 - Moe's Books
2476 Telegraph Avenue Berkeley, CA 94704
time: 7:00 pm
tickets: FREE!
Wednesday, 2/23 - Gallery Fifty24/Noise Pop Festival
218 Fillmore Street San Francisco, CA 94117
time: 7:00 pm
tickets: FREE!
Thursday, 2/24 - Vacation Vinyl
3815 Sunset Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90026
time: 7:00 pm
tickets: FREE!
Saturday, 2/26 - Experience Music Project Pop Conference
UCLA campus Los Angeles, CA
time: 1:30pm – 2:30 pm
tickets: FREE! (but conference pre-registration required)
Sunday 2/27 - Book Soup
8818 Sunset Boulevard West Hollywood, CA 90069
time: 5:00 pm
tickets: FREE!
REVIEW: Cloaked by Alex Flinn
Description
I'm not your average hero. I actually wasn't your average anything. Just a poor guy working an after-school job at a South Beach shoe repair shop to help his mom make ends meet. But a little magic changed it all.
It all started with a curse. And a frognapping. And one hot-looking princess, who asked me to lead a rescue mission.
There wasn't a fairy godmother or any of that. And even though I fell in love along the way, what happened to me is unlike any fairy tale I've ever heard. Before I knew it, I was spying with a flock of enchanted swans, talking (yes, talking!) to a fox named Todd, and nearly trampled by giants in the Everglades.
Don't believe me? I didn't believe it either. But you'll see. Because I knew it all was true, the second I got cloaked.
It all started with a curse. And a frognapping. And one hot-looking princess, who asked me to lead a rescue mission.
There wasn't a fairy godmother or any of that. And even though I fell in love along the way, what happened to me is unlike any fairy tale I've ever heard. Before I knew it, I was spying with a flock of enchanted swans, talking (yes, talking!) to a fox named Todd, and nearly trampled by giants in the Everglades.
Don't believe me? I didn't believe it either. But you'll see. Because I knew it all was true, the second I got cloaked.
About the Author
Alex Flinn loves fairy tales and is also the author of Beastly, a modern retelling of Beauty and the Beast that is a feature film starring Vanessa Hudgens, and A Kiss in Time, an edgy twist on Sleeping Beauty. Her other books include Breathing Underwater, an ALA Top 10 Best Book for Young Adults, Breaking Point, Nothing to Lose, Fade to Black, and Diva. She lives in Miami with her husband, two kids, a cat, and a dog.Details
- Reading level: Young Adult
- Hardcover: 352 pages
- Publisher: HarperTeen (February 8, 2011)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0060874228
- ISBN-13: 978-0060874223
LOVED IT
***spoilers***
This is such a sweet story and a mash up of a bunch of unloved fairy tales, a few of which, I have actually read. Johnny is working at the family shoe repair and designs shoes in his spare time at a swanky South Beach Hotel. Things are not going well his family since his father disappeared, his mother is working two jobs and they are having trouble paying the bills. One day, a princess checks into the hotel and Johnny thinks if he can only meet her, he can change his fortunes. Of course, the princess breaks her shoe and arranges a meeting with the young cobbler. In order to win her hand, he must help find her brother who was turned into a frog by an evil witch. In exchange, the princess offers a reward and marriage that will help ease life for him and his mother.
So the trial begins and Johnny goes on a quest to find the Frog Prince. He has to jump through several hoops to find the prince and to help him, the princess has given him a magical cloak which will transport him to where ever he needs to be. His best friend, Meg, also has some magic up her sleeve and helps Johnny on the quest which takes you through several fairy tales like The Six Swans, The Elves and the Shoemaker, The Valiant Tailor, The Golden Bird, and of course, The Frog Prince.
There are truly sweet and touching moments as well as a few good laughs. This is probably safe for younger teens with just a touch of violence, some kissing, a bit of alcohol use and good old fashioned romance. Of course Johnny ends up with the girl of his dreams who has been beside him all along. Oh, and the princess does help Johnny out in the end by publicizing his creations. I received this book at no charge from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
BLOG TOUR & REVIEW: The Story of Stuff by Annie Leonard
Description
We have a problem with Stuff. With just 5 percent of the world’s population, we’re consuming 30 percent of the world’s resources and creating 30 percent of the world’s waste. If everyone consumed at U.S. rates, we would need three to five planets!
This alarming fact drove Annie Leonard to create the Internet film sensation The Story of Stuff, which has been viewed over 10 million times by people around the world. In her sweeping, groundbreaking book of the same name, Leonard tracks the life of the Stuff we use every day—where our cotton T-shirts, laptop computers, and aluminum cans come from, how they are produced, distributed, and consumed, and where they go when we throw them out. Like Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring, The Story of Stuff is a landmark book that will change the way people think—and the way they live.
Leonard’s message is startlingly clear: we have too much Stuff, and too much of it is toxic. Outlining the five stages of our consumption-driven economy—from extraction through production, distribution, consumption, and disposal—she vividly illuminates its frightening repercussions. Visiting garbage dumps and factories around the world, Leonard reveals the true story behind our possessions—why it’s cheaper to replace a broken TV than to fix it; how the promotion of "perceived obsolescence" encourages us to toss out everything from shoes to cell phones while they’re still in perfect shape; and how factory workers in Haiti, mine workers in Congo, and everyone who lives and works within this system pay for our cheap goods with their health, safety, and quality of life. Meanwhile we, as consumers, are compromising our health and well-being, whether it’s through neurotoxins in our pillows or lead leaching into our kids’ food from their lunchboxes—and all this Stuff isn’t even making us happier! We work hard so we can buy Stuff that we quickly throw out, and then
we want new Stuff so we work harder and have no time to enjoy all our Stuff. . . . With staggering revelations about the economy, the environment, and cultures around the world, alongside stories from her own life and work, Leonard demonstrates that the drive for a "growth at all costs" economy fuels a cycle of production, consumption, and disposal that is killing us.
It is a system in crisis, but Annie Leonard shows us that this is not the way things have to be. It’s within our power to stop the environmental damage, social injustice, and health hazards caused by polluting production and excessive consumption, and Leonard shows us how. Expansive, galvanizing, and sobering yet optimistic, The Story of Stuff transforms how we think about our lives and our relationship to the planet.
This alarming fact drove Annie Leonard to create the Internet film sensation The Story of Stuff, which has been viewed over 10 million times by people around the world. In her sweeping, groundbreaking book of the same name, Leonard tracks the life of the Stuff we use every day—where our cotton T-shirts, laptop computers, and aluminum cans come from, how they are produced, distributed, and consumed, and where they go when we throw them out. Like Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring, The Story of Stuff is a landmark book that will change the way people think—and the way they live.
Leonard’s message is startlingly clear: we have too much Stuff, and too much of it is toxic. Outlining the five stages of our consumption-driven economy—from extraction through production, distribution, consumption, and disposal—she vividly illuminates its frightening repercussions. Visiting garbage dumps and factories around the world, Leonard reveals the true story behind our possessions—why it’s cheaper to replace a broken TV than to fix it; how the promotion of "perceived obsolescence" encourages us to toss out everything from shoes to cell phones while they’re still in perfect shape; and how factory workers in Haiti, mine workers in Congo, and everyone who lives and works within this system pay for our cheap goods with their health, safety, and quality of life. Meanwhile we, as consumers, are compromising our health and well-being, whether it’s through neurotoxins in our pillows or lead leaching into our kids’ food from their lunchboxes—and all this Stuff isn’t even making us happier! We work hard so we can buy Stuff that we quickly throw out, and then
we want new Stuff so we work harder and have no time to enjoy all our Stuff. . . . With staggering revelations about the economy, the environment, and cultures around the world, alongside stories from her own life and work, Leonard demonstrates that the drive for a "growth at all costs" economy fuels a cycle of production, consumption, and disposal that is killing us.
It is a system in crisis, but Annie Leonard shows us that this is not the way things have to be. It’s within our power to stop the environmental damage, social injustice, and health hazards caused by polluting production and excessive consumption, and Leonard shows us how. Expansive, galvanizing, and sobering yet optimistic, The Story of Stuff transforms how we think about our lives and our relationship to the planet.
About the Author
Annie Leonard is an expert in international sustainability and environmental health issues, with more than 20 years of experience investigating factories and dumps around the world. She’s taking time off from her other work to write the book, but until recently she was coordinator of the Funders Workgroup for Sustainable Production and Consumption, communicating worldwide about the impact of consumerism and materialism on global economies and international health. Annie’s efforts over the past two decades to raise awareness about international sustainability and environmental health issues has included work with Global Anti-Incinerator Alliance (GAIA), Health Care without Harm, Essential Information and Greenpeace International. She serves on the boards of GAIA, the International Forum for Globalization and the Environmental Health Fund. Annie has written about international environmental issues for a range of public interest audiences and will step this up and broaden her reach with op eds and features around publication time. She’s appeared on radio and TV in the U.S. and other countries many times over the past 20 years. She had extensive media training and exposure during her tenure at Greenpeace. She’s testified in front of Congress, been interviewed on CNN, publicly debated a US State Department representative, and done hundreds of public presentations. In 2008, Annie was named one of Time magazine’s Heroes of the Environment.Annie did her undergraduate studies at Barnard and graduate work in city and regional planning at Cornell. She has traveled to 40 countries, including Haiti, Bangladesh, India, the Philippines, Pakistan and South Africa, in her work investigating and promoting anti-pollution issues internationally. Annie currently resides in California with her daughter.
Product Details
- Paperback: 368 pages
- Publisher: Free Press; Reprint edition (February 22, 2011)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 1451610297
- ISBN-13: 978-1451610291
MY THOUGHTS
LOVED IT
The Story of Stuff isn't exactly a page turner, it will make you think about stuff and how it impacts your daily life. Stuff can either make or break this planet and at the present time, it looks pretty negative. This handbook will help you understand and figure out what you can do to make your world better. I think that the author has a lot of things right in this book. Television causes people to increase their wants and not necessarily their needs.
Annie Leonard explains how each step of the manufacturing process creates waste and the chemicals involved are poisoning us and the earth. So far, I think there has been several things in the book, like certain plastics that are now being outlawed. She sites one idea that mailing back unrecyclable items back to the manufacturer to protest. However, I don't see how mailing back items to manufactures can make them stop manufacturing the item. That seems like a waste of energy to me.
2/21/11
AND THE WINNER IS: Hell's Corner by David Baldacci (audio book)
MISS LISSY mkzellmer
MONIE G-- monie -- visit READING WITH MONIE HERE
An email has been sent to the lucky people named above (first part of their email address in case my note ends up in spam). The winner(s) has 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.
Thanks to all who entered.
PLEASE CHECK YOUR SPAM FOR THE EMAIL FROM BOOKHOUNDS @ HOTMAIL REQUESTING YOUR MAILING ADDRESS!
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AND THE WINNER IS: Hollywood Hills by Joseph Wambaugh (audio book)
VICTORIA -- tore92
An email has been sent to the lucky people named above (first part of their email address in case my note ends up in spam). The winner(s) has 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.
Thanks to all who entered.
PLEASE CHECK YOUR SPAM FOR THE EMAIL FROM BOOKHOUNDS @ HOTMAIL REQUESTING YOUR MAILING ADDRESS!
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AND THE WINNER IS: The Science of Kissing by Sheril Kirschenbaum
ALLISON -- acole1027
ERIINBERRY -- erinberry12
An email has been sent to the lucky people named above (first part of their email address in case my note ends up in spam). The winner(s) has 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.
Thanks to all who entered.
PLEASE CHECK YOUR SPAM FOR THE EMAIL FROM BOOKHOUNDS @ HOTMAIL REQUESTING YOUR MAILING ADDRESS!
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2/20/11
AND THE WINNER IS: An Object of Beauty by Steve Martin (audio book)
ROSITA -- rosita.p.mariani
ELIZABETH -- elizabeth.harkinson
An email has been sent to the lucky people named above (first part of their email address in case my note ends up in spam). The winner(s) has 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.
Thanks to all who entered.
PLEASE CHECK YOUR SPAM FOR THE EMAIL FROM BOOKHOUNDS @ HOTMAIL REQUESTING YOUR MAILING ADDRESS!
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AND THE WINNER IS: Rescue by Anita Shreve (audio book)
(Kathy already won on another blog, so a new winner has been chosen)
RIE rieconley -- be sure to stop by MISSION TO READ here
MARY ELLEN -- methom
An email has been sent to the lucky people named above (first part of their email address in case my note ends up in spam). The winner(s) has 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.
Thanks to all who entered.
PLEASE CHECK YOUR SPAM FOR THE EMAIL FROM BOOKHOUNDS @ HOTMAIL REQUESTING YOUR MAILING ADDRESS!
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2/19/11
GIVEAWAY & REVIEW: Mr. Funny Pants by Michael Showalter
Description
I was at my wit's end. I'd had enough of this job, this life, and my relationship had broken up. Should I eat chocolate, or go to India, or fall in love? Then I had a revelation: Why not do all three, in that order? And so it was that I embarked on a journey that was segmented into three parts and was then made into a major motion picture. Later, I woke up on an airplane with a hole in my face and a really bad hangover. I was ushered brusquely off the plane by my parents who took me to a rehab where I tested positive for coke, classic coke, special k (the drug), Special K (the cereal), mushrooms, pepperoni, and Restless Leg Syndrome. It was there that I first began painting with my feet.
But rewind...the year was 1914. I was just a young German soldier serving in the trenches while simultaneously trying to destroy an evil ring with some help from an elf, a troll, and a giant sorcerer, all while cooking every recipe out of a Julia Child cookbook. What I'm trying to say is that there was a secret code hidden in a painting and I was looking for it with this girl who had a tattoo of a dragon! Let me clarify, it was the 1930s and a bunch of us were migrating out of Oklahoma, and I was this teenage wizard/CIA operative, okay? And, um then I floated off into the meta-verse as a ball of invisible energy that had no outer edge...
Ugh, okay. None of this is true. I'm just kind of a normal guy from New Jersey who moved to New York, got into comedy, wrote this book about trying to write this book, and then moved to Alaska, became the mayor of a small town, spent $30,000 on underwear, and now I'm going to rule the world!!!
But rewind...the year was 1914. I was just a young German soldier serving in the trenches while simultaneously trying to destroy an evil ring with some help from an elf, a troll, and a giant sorcerer, all while cooking every recipe out of a Julia Child cookbook. What I'm trying to say is that there was a secret code hidden in a painting and I was looking for it with this girl who had a tattoo of a dragon! Let me clarify, it was the 1930s and a bunch of us were migrating out of Oklahoma, and I was this teenage wizard/CIA operative, okay? And, um then I floated off into the meta-verse as a ball of invisible energy that had no outer edge...
Ugh, okay. None of this is true. I'm just kind of a normal guy from New Jersey who moved to New York, got into comedy, wrote this book about trying to write this book, and then moved to Alaska, became the mayor of a small town, spent $30,000 on underwear, and now I'm going to rule the world!!!
About the Author
Michael Showalter is the star/creator of Michael & Michael Have Issues, The State, Wet Hot American Summer, The Baxter, Stella, Die Hard* and Die Hard 2: Die Harder**. He lives in Brooklyn with his lady and a bunch of cats.*Not true**Also not true
Details
- Hardcover: 288 pages
- Publisher: Grand Central Publishing (February 22, 2011)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0446542105
- ISBN-13: 978-0446542104
LOVED IT
Pure Genius! I never knew you could be sarcastic and earnest at the same time. This is one of the funniest celebrity pseudo-memoirs I have read in a long time Anyone who hides their guilty pleasures in music on their iPod by labeling them really cool and hip indie bands, has my vote. I would do the same thing, but I have quite figured out how to do it. Michael Showalter pokes fun at the seriousness of writing by making fun of some of the things "serious" writers do like the preface only he takes his to the third level by having a post-preface. Oh and you can't forget the afterword, the after-afterword or the just-before-the-afterword.
This is really a book that you should leave out on your coffee table since there are so many fun things to do like a fill in the blank romantic-comedy plot and the one minute mysteries. You can easily reread this several times. There are also little bits and pieces of the author's life and what junior high meant to him. There are some other important things, but I forgot them. I think they had something to do with drinking games, which is probably why I forgot. I received this book at no charge from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
WANT TO WIN A COPY OF THIS BOOK?
Contest is open to anyone with a US mailing addresses (no PO Boxes)
Contest ends on 3.7.11 Winner will be chosen by Random.org on 3.8.11
Winner will have 48 hours to respond to email or a new winner will be chosen.
This giveaway is sponsored by Grand Central Publishing and up to two copies of the book will be available.
Only one winner per household address!
Complete the below form
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