New Years Reading Resolutions Giveaway Hop Complete

As so many of you astute readers have probably noticed, the New Year's Reading Resolution Giveaway Hop is now complete.   I am working on summing up things and picking a winner, so I should have that posted soon.  My other giveaway from CSN Stores is still running until Saturday.  Thanks for all the entries and good luck to everyone on their reading resolutions.

Enquiring Minds Want to Know (10)

I've been totally lax on this meme, and I have missed it terribly.  But I'm back!  Each week Dollycas's Thoughts hosts the meme "Enquiring Minds Want to Know." She posts questions for us to answer each week in order for us bloggers and readers to get to know each other beyond our books.  Check out her's and others answers here.

1. How would you build the perfect sandwich?

Well, since I'm a hunger-eater-by-suggestion, I definitely  jumped off and got some food when I saw what this weeks questions were about  (toast and jam).  But back to the important topic of sandwiches, I would have to say that my perfect sandwich consists of my own personal homemade sourdough bread, ham, provolone cheese, mayo, and lettuce toasted to perfection.  A bit boring I know, but it's the bread that makes the sandwich - so it's perfect to me.

2. What is your favorite flavor of potato chips?

Though potato chips aren't a favorite of mine, I have to say that that spot would be taken by Harvest Cheddar Sunchips.

3. Now add the perfect beverage to complete this lunch.

Coco-Cola Classic!!!  I'm a HUGE Coke fan.  When I moved to this foreign land, I actually found out that some weird people actually drink Pepsi.  What's wrong with people around here?  Don't worry, I'm working on converting them.  :) 

Since this post is all about getting to know each other, I thought I would share some fun pics.   Any chance to show off my baby.  I can't find my camera charger, so these are from my phone.  Isn't he adorable in the snow?!

His first taste of snow (he's been too afraid to lick it until now)

Puppy prints

CSN Stores Giveaway

I wanted to let you guys into an incredible discovery I found recently.  I was contacted with the opportunity to host a giveaway for CSN Stores.  I have to say that I am very impressed with CSN Stores.  They are a company of over 200 online stores that offer almost everything under the sun.  I checked it out during one boring night of television.  They have everything: from modern dining furniture, cool bookshelves, a vast selection of children's toys, and great cookware.  I found some great glasses I'm coveting at the link provided.  For those of you who are awake at weird times (like 1 am my time right now), it's the perfect solution.  I found everything I was searching for while checking it out.  For instance, my dad is a huge Sooners (University of Oklahoma) fan, and being in a different state makes it hard for me to find good gifts for him.  I got over 1000 hits on my search for his present.  A 1000!!  That's enough to cover birthdays, Christmases, 4th of Julys until kingdom comes.   I can't tell you what it is yet, because I haven't celebrated Christmas with my fam yet, but it's pretty awesome.  But that's just one example.  I definitely bookmarked it for birthday season coming up. 

So I have a $25 gift code to offer some lucky person.  I'm running the giveaway from January 8th to January 15th (11:59 pm EST).  One entry per person.  Just fill out the form below.   You don't have to be a follower to enter.  This contest is open only to US and Canada residents.  I will pick the winner (random.org) within a few days.  I will contact the winner by email, and he/she needs to reply by one week or I'll need to pick another winner.  Good luck everyone!

The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games

Suzanne Collins

374 pages

Rating: 5/5

Could you survive on your own, in the wild, with everyone out to make sure you don't live to see the morning?

In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV.

Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister's place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before—and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that will weigh survival against humanity and life against love.

My Thoughts:

I am not sure what I could say about this book that someone hasn't said.  Being 2 years old, I'm sure most of you have heard about The Hunger Games and heard the hype that came along with it (especially when Mockingjay came out).  Just like Harry Potter, I put off reading these books.  Partly, because there is apart of me that does not want to be a follower but wants to be original.  Partly because I knew that something everyone talked about being "so incredible" could only bring me disappointment.  Then, this morning at 5 am, I was reading some blog posts, just browsing to wake myself up, and I stumbled upon My Overstuffed Bookshelf's review of The Hunger Games.  I can honestly relate to over half of what she was saying about putting it off.  I just kept procrastinating and putting it off and keeping it on my TBR shelf.  Well, this morning I finally said, "OK!  I get it!  I'll read it!" And I sat down and started it immediately.

What I didn't expect to do was finish it.  I believe I read this entire book in one sitting (minus one bathroom break for the puppy and myself).  I have been snuggled on my couch while it snows outside for almost 5 hours.  Not a personal record, but definitely not what I imagined the first five hours of my day to shape up to be.

Ok for those of you are don't like to be followers, who held out on Twilight (the books) and Harry Potter, don't let your pride keep you from a great enjoyable read!  What the heck was I thinking, having this book in my possession for TWO WEEKS and not reading it?!  The Hunger Games was a fast-paced, wonderful read that surprised me throughout the novel.  It wasn't all blood/guts/killing like I thought it would be.  In fact, there's a pretty great story line to it.  I was shocked at how fast-paced it was (partly because I was expecting the Games to happen throughout the three novels).  Plus, never once did I think, oh my, I've been reading for so long.  Instead, I looked up and said to Benentt, "Where did the time go?!"

Like I have said before, there have many, many praising reviews on this book.  So I will not attempt to write about literary qualities, the depth of the characters, or the sentence structure and quality of Collins' writing.  Instead, I will simply say that I loved Katniss as a main character.  I felt her struggle and brief moments of happiness throughout the whole book.  I love Peeta.  In my mind, he's completely adorable, surprisingly resourceful, and I can't wait to read more about both of them in the next novel.

I gave this book one of my rare five star ratings, because I loved it!  I can't wait to get ahold of the next book, and I am excited to see what unfolds for Katniss, Peeta, Gale, and Prim.  Perhaps it's not the most well-written story ever read or has the most suspense out of all the novels in the world.  I'm sure others could find flaws in it.  But it's not each of the individual characteristics of the book that make it wonderful, it's all of them put together.  I loved it.  I read it in one morning, and I will brag about it to most anyone I meet.  If you haven't read it, go read it.  I promise it won't disappoint.  It's one of those books you don't sigh at end because you're frustrated with some flaw, wanted it to end differently, or just were dissatisfied with it in general.  You sigh because it's over and you are transformed back to the living world.

Twitter

For several months, my sister has been nagging me to get a twitter.  She's given me all the pros and tried to answer my odd questions of "So WHAT'S this for?"  Basically I didn't get it.  And I guess I can say I still sorta don't.  But I am being a good follower, and I officially have a Twitter page!  I'm not completely sure why I need another source of media for me to spend time on, but I'm enjoying it.  I've found several of my favorite bloggers on twitter, and I can stalk those few celebs I'm in to.

For those of you who are techno savy, please don't judge me by my small attempts to get into the computer world.  Blog aside, I have very limited when it comes to webpages and such.  I had to use the Help section to figure out how to link up to my Twitter.  So, those of you who are way ahead of me in the game, any suggestions?  Still not sure what a hashtag is or how to find/link to one.  But I'm learning.

So for anybody who just can't get enough of me or wants to connect in another media, feel free to follow!  As I have four followers right now, I will check you out.  And feel free to correct me if I'm doing something wrong, because despite the awesome cuteness of my puppy, we don't have any idea what's going on.

New Years Reading Resolutions Giveaway Hop

Happy New Year, everyone.  I know I'm a little late on that, but the last couple of days I've been thinking about the past year and the new year to come.  It was a big year for me.  I started blogging in the past year.  I graduated college, basically moved to a new state, and started a new job.  I renewed my love for reading, met many new blogger friends, found lots of new-to-me authors, and read more books in six months than I had in the past 8 years.  It's been eventful.  I'm excited to see what 2011 holds.  I have not officially set any New Year's Resolutions, but most of my reading resolutions revolve around the Challenges I'm participating in.  I've read many inspiring posts regarding goals for this year.  I wish everyone good luck and a lack of frustration if the year does not go exactly according to plan.

True to fashion, New Year's has provided simply another excuse to celebrating reading and host a giveaway.  Lori from Pure Imagination, Candace from Candace's Book Blog, and Angela from Reading Angel are hosting this years New Year's Reading Resolutions Giveaway Hop.  Thanks to everyone involved for the work put into the hop.  

I decided to giveaway two of my favorite reads of 2010: Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder and Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles.  I am opening the contest internationally (to any place The Book Depository ships), and I will be sending the books via The Book Depository.  Perhaps these books can help fulfill some of those reading resolutions you guys have made.  I decided to make it simple, so one entry for everyone.  Just fill out the form below.   The giveaway hop runs from January 3rd to January 9th (at midnight EST).  I will try to announce the winner a couple days after that.  I will contact winners by email, and they have one week to reply with address info and such (otherwise I'll pick another winner).  Good luck everyone! 

Be sure to check out other giveaways with the linky below!

Poison Study

Poison Study

Maria V. Snyder

416 pages

Rating: 4/5

 
Yelena, convicted of murdering the son of a powerful general, awaits execution. But with only a few hours left, she is offered an incredible reprieve -- and agrees to become the new food taster for Commander Ambrose, the military leader of Ixia. Living in a palace and eating only the best meals is a dramatic change for Yelena, who spent the last year locked up in a rat-infested dungeon, eating gruel. But she soon realizes that she has more to worry about than ingesting potentially lethal poisons in the commander's meals. The general whose son she murdered has vowed bloody vengeance, and everyone in the commander's retinue look at Yelena as an untrustworthy criminal. The longer she stays alive, however, the more she begins to understand her own perplexing abilities -- all of which will be put to the test when cunning rebels plot to take control of Ixia.

While many genre-blending novels seem to unintentionally dilute the literary domains involved, Poison Study is both a riveting romance and a spellbinding fantasy. The richly historied and vividly described realm that Snyder has created is completely convincing and large enough to encompass (hopefully) many more novels featuring Yelena, an enigmatic heroine with so many secrets and so much promise. Paul Goat Allen (taken from Barnes and Noble)

My Thoughts:

I couldn't believe it when I read that this was Maria V. Snyder's debut novel.  I was doing a bit of research before writing this review, as it's been a couple of weeks since I read it, and I was so shocked to find that bit of news.  I found her book astoundingly awesome, especially as it was a debut novel.  Normally, I'll give just a little bit of leaway if it's a debut novel, as it's the first - sometimes it takes a bit of practice to make perfect.  But Ms. Snyder blew me away.

Upon reading Poison Study, you are entered into the world of Ixia.  I love that Ms Snyder did not particularly make it seem like a completely different fantasy world.  It had enough "normal" elements that I was not confused or frustrated by the increasingly complicated world of fantasy.  Instead, she added bits and pieces of Ixia's history while telling the story; and before I knew it, I could have given a history lesson on the territory of Ixia while I didn't even realize I was learning about it.  I greatly appreciate an author's ability to create a fantasy world/story without having everything be complicated and different. 

I loved Yelena as a character.  I felt her need to simply survive, and I enjoyed watching her grow to remember how to live again (after being condemned to execution, survive is excitement, living is compete utter happiness).  As she gets to know the characters around the castle, I fell in love with her circle of friends and questioned the different friends and intentions just as she did.  Though I did not connect with her, as in we are similar, I loved getting to know her as a character.  And when things come to light, I felt her pain, hurt, disappointment, happiness, and love just as if we were best friends.

I feel that I should probably include a bit of a warning in a review as well.  Ms. Snyder has taken a beautiful fantasy and woven some serious subject matters into it as well.  She has an incredible ability to write of such matters, and those who are faint of heart should beware that you will get to know on some level the effects of abuse and evil.  That being said, I would take caution to recommend this novel to a younger generation.   It was shelved at my library under adult fiction, and I believe that though the fantasy can appeal to youth, it will also be entertaining for adults as well.  Include the seriousness, and it makes a believable, moving story for both adults and mature youth to read.

This novel included so many different elements: fantasy, action, humor, and romance.  Each part seemed equally balanced, and I love it.  I loved the side-romance story, especially since it was not super gushy, cutesy, and overrated.  It was just perfect for the novel  Ultimately, I would recommend this book to anyone who even slightly enjoys fantasy.  It's become one of my favorites, and I can't wait to pick up Magic Study.  I have added every one of Ms. Snyder's books to my TBR list, and I am so excited to have found a new favorite author!

This book was recommended to me by Katelyn at The Bookshelf Sophisticate.  Jump over to her blog and read her review of Poison Study as well.