Monday, January 17, 2011

Queenslanders Unite ... and It's Monday! What Are You Reading

Montague Rd - West End

Local park - West End


With 75% of our state disaster declared, the Queensland floods are officially Australia's worst disaster. My heart truly goes out to the many people who've lost everything all over the state but especially to friends in Toowoomba and surrounds (where I grew up) and Brisbane where I live.

The photos above are of my friend's suburb of West End ... not only have they been without power for a week, their friends' homes and businesses were completely inundated with flood water ... just one amongst so many. While we are personally not affected by flood damage it is devastating to have friends so badly affected, all we can do is help in the clean up and provide hugs, love and support.

  Friend's business on Montague Rd - the road in the first photo above

I'm so proud of Callum for lending a helping hand

Beginning the salvage operation & clean up

 Just one of the people who brought around food and drinks.
These cupcakes were a mini work of art and gorgeous.



As you can see from my reading list below ... nothing happened last week that wasn't flood related but this week I need to get things sorted in my own home. I know there are many people who are unable do that yet and my heart hurts for them but for those of us who can, a little normality is good. Hopefully I will get some of my review books read and reviews posted :)



A weekly event hosted by Sheila from One Persons Journey Through a World Of Books to discuss your reading week ~ the books you've read and those you plan on reading in the coming week. Thanks Sheila :)

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This Week's Reading List: same as last week :)




INDEFENSIBLE by Pamela Callow ~ page 70

I AM THE CHOSEN KING by Helen Hollick

BEAUTIFUL DARKNESS (audiobook) - chapter 3

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Apologies to publishers for my reviews that didn't go up as planned; hopefully this week!

LIFE FROM SCRATCH by Melissa Ford

DELIRIUM by Lauren Oliver

Reviews still to do:

UNEARTHLY by Cynthia Hand

A CHRISTMAS BALL by Jennifer Ashley, Emily Bryan & Alissa Johnson

THE WEIGHT OF SILENCE by Heather Gudenkauf

MY SOUL TO TAKE by Rachel Vincent

DRACULA IN LOVE by Karen Essex



This month on The Eclectic Reader 2 readers will win a copy of Delirium by Lauren Oliver or The Tudor Secret by C W Gortner, or Shadowfever by Karen Marie Moning. Check this blog post for details. Open Internationally.

18 comments:

  1. The people of Australia affected by the floods have been in my prayers. I'm glad to hear that you are ok.

    You sure habe a big list of books to review, and they look good! I have My Soul to Take in my TBR pile as is Beautiful Darkness. Looking forward to your review of I Am the Chosen King.
    Take care!

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  2. It's so good that you are all helping each other out. Thank goodness you didn't have flood damage, but my heart goes out to all those who do.

    I have resisted buying Beautiful Darkness because I am waiting for the paperback, but it's a near thing every time I walk into a book store. I'm dying to read it!

    I hope you enjoy your week, and I hope you all start to return to some sort of normalcy.

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  3. The pictures are so heart wrenching. My heart really goes out to all those affected and I wish I lived closer, I would be right there helping you with the clean up!

    Hope you get a chance to enjoy a little reading this week!

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  4. Well done on the hard work you put in. Looking forward to your review of Delirium.

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  5. My country is also in the same boat literally. We have one million displaced and 37 dead. The loss of life and property in both places cannot be counted in mere financial terms only.

    Thanks for finding the time to post your Mailbox. Enjoy the reading.

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  6. Amazing the things you learn reading book blogs. I'll pray for those in your country who were flooded, as a New Orleans resident I've seen a lot of that, though fortunately we were spared.

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  7. thanks for sharing these pictures. it still blows my mind. we lived in brissie a few years ago and it seems so eeries. i am so proud of all the aussie efforts. it goes to show how resilient and generous people we are.

    have a great week!

    xo Nomes

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  8. Oh those pictures are so heart breaking. My thoughts and prayers are with all the people devastated by this disaster. I am so glad you and your lovely family have not been affected and have been able to lend a hand to help those who are.

    Hope you are able to sit back this week and read.

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  9. So awful to see the devastation the floods are causing.

    We have family in Brisbane and after an email we find they are about 20 miles from the worst affected area.

    Keep safe and well

    carol

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  10. Truly unbelievable! I hope everything goes well in Australia with all those people who lost their homes.

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  11. What has truly amazed me is how everyone has gone out to help others. It show what true compassion Australians have. Your are a strong and kind hearted country. May your friends lives got back to normal soon.

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  12. I am really pleased to be called a Queenslander and Australian when I see how everyone has gone out of their way to help Brisbane.

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  13. I'll keep the flood victims in my prayers. ♥
    I'm currently reading the Bible. I'm in the Book of Numbers and have reached the part where, right as they're close enough to smell the fragrant blooms of the promised land, the Isrealites grumble and dispair that they'll be killed by the "giants" that inhabit the land and wish that they would have died in the desert instead of at the tip of the sword. So God commands them to turn back to the desert and wander for another 40 years (which doesn't literally mean "40 years", it means a very, very long time or until the proper time arrives) until all of the generation who grumbled against Him have died in the desert as they wished.

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  14. I Am the Chosen King looks like an interesting read. Here's what I am reading this week: http://southernfiberreads.wordpress.com/2011/01/17/its-monday-what-are-you-reading/

    My thoughts and prayers go out to those affected by the flooding in Australia. The pictures you posted are sobering - thank you for sharing them!

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  15. I'm glad to hear you weren't personally affected by the floods (it's been headline news over here in the UK), but I'm sorry to hear your friends have been affected. It's just so shocking to see, my heart goes out to those who've lost everything.

    I hope you're enjoying your books, those 3 certainly look good :)

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  16. It has been terrible to watch the flood news and see the destruction to so many people's lives.

    I hope you manage to find some reading time amongst it all.

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  17. Reading would be the last thing I could concentrate on at this time. My thoughts and prayers extend to all who are affected directly or indirectly!

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  18. It is so good that we have kind hearted people around, who are ready to help like this! Very proud of Callum and you!

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