It's Monday! What Are You Reading

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 :)

It's been two weeks since I posted and what a busy two weeks. I celebrated a birthday, Cal has his first day back at school,  year 12, final year of schooling, my goodness where did it go?? We celebrated Australia Day and have had a week of hot, humid, summer weather. Alaine & I went to a scrapbooking flood fundraiser day at our favourite scrapbook store Daisy Chain Scrapbooks (pictures next week) and last but not least a fun 1st Birthday party for Alaine's grandson.

my gorgeous boys ~ can't wait to scrapbook these photos!

Last day to enter my January competition and don't forget to check out the giveaway for Michelle Moran's latest novel Madame Tussaud.

Check out the reviews I posted last week:

LIFE FROM SCRATCH by Melissa Ford - loved it!

DELIRIUM by Lauren Oliver - made the favourite list!!

A CHRISTMAS BALL by Jennifer Ashley, Emily Bryan & Alissa Johnson - great holiday read.

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Finished Last Week:

PINK by Lili Wilkinson

INDEFENSIBLE by Pamela Callow

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This Week's Reading List:

I AM THE CHOSEN KING by Helen Hollick ~ page 202 & really enjoying it now.

EXIT THE ACTRESS BY PRIYA PALMER (kindle)

BEAUTIFUL DARKNESS by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl (audiobook) ~ halfway through

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Reviews still to do:

UNEARTHLY by Cynthia Hand

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.

Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Genre: YA Dystopian
Series: Delirium #1
Publication Date: Feb 1st 2011
Pages: 440
Book Source:  HarperTeen & NetGalley

Before scientists found the cure, people thought love was a good thing. They didn’t understand that once love -the deliria- blooms in your blood, there is no escaping its hold. Things are different now. Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the governments demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen. Lena Holoway has always looked forward to the day when she’ll be cured. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable, and happy.

But with ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena does the unthinkable: She falls in love.

Review:

WOW! I fell in love with Delirium upon reading the synopsis and I'm so glad I wasn't disappointed after turning the final page. I know some have found it a little slow to start but I have to say I found it 'unputdownable' ... Haunting, addictive, beautiful ... I inhaled it!

Portland, Maine, where love is a disease, amor deliria nervosa, and the cure is something akin to a lobotomy. Where society is made up of the cured and those under 18 yet to receive the cure, and then there's the invalids, those who refuse to conform, those who escape to the wilds. I loved the world-building but I would also have loved to know the catalyst dictating this incredible change in society. Now the story is not without discrepancies and implausibilities but surprisingly I was able to look past these and be completely transported.

The pace is fitting with Lena as narrator, as she moves from fearful to courageous, from conformist to questioning, to risk taking and outright rebellion, the pace ramps accordingly and I cheered her on. Lena and Hana's friendship has real ups and downs but the cornerstone of this novel is the blossoming love between Lena and Alex and it's oh so beautifully written. Oliver's prose is simple and complex, sad and uplifting, effortless and powerful but above all; beautiful.

"my heart is drumming in my chest so hard it aches, but it's the good kind of ache, like the feeling you get on the first real day of autum, when the air is crisp and the leaves are all flaring at the edges and the wind smells just vaguely of smoke - like the end and the beginning of something all at once."

And finally ... Waaah!!! Stamps feet and pouts; cliffhanger tantrum in progress. I commend Lauren Oliver for the breathtaking ending but one can only hold one's breath for so long and I loathe to be left hanging :(

I enjoyed Before I Fall but Delirium was so much more and I'll be waiting with bated breath for Pandemonium in 2012

Visit Lauren Oliver's website and blog to find out more about this talented author and her work.

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.

A Christmas Ball by Jennifer Ashley, Emily Bryan & Alissa Johnson

Genre: Historical Romance
Pages: 336
Copyright: 2009
Book Source: Courtesy of author Emily Bryan

At one spectacular ball in the height of the holiday season, three couples find the greatest gift of all: their perfect match.

My first anthology and a good holiday read.

I enjoyed the uniqueness of Emily Bryan's My Lady Below Stairs. Jane Tate, scullery maid and illegitimate daughter of Lord Somerville impersonates her half sister Lady Sybil to save the family's reputation. Stable hand Ian Michael MacGregor is the hero of the story and Jane's love interest and the pair's escapades make for a fun, refreshing read with much of Emily Bryan's trademark humour and lusty love scenes.

The second story, The Longest Night by Jennifer Ashley is a continuation of her Nvengaria series and while I liked the characters I didn't particularly enjoy the story, although I'm sure followers of the series will. The hero, Valentin is logosh (a shapeshifting demon) and the heroine Mary Cameron is Scottish and quite an endearing character. Overall I felt a little lost with this one and the paranormal elements were disconcertingly at odds with the mainstream regency romances.

Lastly, Alissa Johnson’s Traditions was absolutely delightful with an unconventional heroine becoming the unlikely love interest of a well-to-do Earl with slightly 'anal' tendencies. Patience Byerly and William Renwick are adorable together, add a father with alzheimers to the mix and things become a little more complicated.

Emily Bryan (Mia Marlowe) is already a favourite historical romance author of mine and I loved Jennifer Ashley's The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie, now thanks to this entertaining anthology I'm keen to check out more of Alissa Johnson's work.

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.

Madame Tussaud - Guest Post by Michelle Moran + Giveaway



MADAME TUSSAUD: The Woman

When most people hear the name Madame Tussaud, the first thing that comes to mind are the eerily lifelike waxworks which crowd her museums throughout the world. But who was the woman behind the name, and what was she like in the flesh?

Madame Tussaud’s story actually began in 18th century Paris. While most people know her from her famous museum in London, it was in France, on the humble Boulevard du Temple, where Marie first got her start as an apprentice in her uncle’s wax museum, the Salon de Cire. At the time, the Boulevard du Temple was crowded with exhibits of every kind. For just a few sous a passerby might attend the opera, watch a puppet show, or visit Henri Charles’ mystifying exhibition The Invisible Girl. The Boulevard was a difficult place to distinguish yourself as an artist, but as Marie’s talent grew for both sculpting and public relations, the Salon de Cire became one of the most popular attractions around. Suddenly, no one could compete with Marie or her uncle for ingenious publicity stunts, and when the royal family supposedly visited their museum, this only solidified what most showmen in Paris already knew — the Salon was an exhibition to watch out for.

But as the Salon’s popularity grew, so did the unusual requests. Noblemen came asking for wax sculptures of their mistresses, women wanted models of their newborn infants, and – most importantly – the king’s sister herself wanted Marie to come to Versailles to be her wax tutor. While this was, in many ways, a dream come true for Marie, it was also a dangerous time to be associated with the royal family. Men like Robespierre, Marat, and Desmoulins were meeting at Marie’s house to discuss the future of the monarchy, and when the Revolution began, Marie found herself in a precarious position. Ultimately, she was given a choice by France’s new leaders: to preserve the famous victims of Madame Guillotine in wax, or be guillotined herself.

Madame Tussaud: A Novel of the French Revolution is the story of Marie’s life during one of the most tumultuous times in human history. Her survival was nothing less than astonishing, and how she survived makes for what I hope is a compelling read.

GIVEAWAY DETAILS

Thank you so much to Michelle for guest posting on The Eclectic Reader. I'm beyond excited waiting to receive my copy of Madame Tussaud and now readers have a chance to win a signed hardcover copy of MADAME TUSSAUD as well as a pair of Marie Antoinette cupcake earrings. How awesome is Michelle ... and this giveaway is international!!

HOW TO ENTER:

*Competition is only open to followers of my blog (so if you're not a follower & you'd like to enter just click on the follow button on the right hand side of my blog - easy peasy)

*Leave a comment regarding Michelle's guest post and your email address or ensure you are contactable in the event you are the winner!

EXTRA ENTRIES:

+2 post about this give-away on your blog & leave a link

+2 post the comp on Twitter & leave a link

+1 post the comp on sidebar of your blog

Competition is International. Ends Feb 7th and the winner will be announced on this blog. Good luck everyone!

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.

Life From Scratch by Melissa Ford

Genre: General Fiction
Copyright: Dec 2010
Pages: 214
Book Source: Review copy courtesy of Bell Bridge Books

Her life's a mess. And so is her kitchen.

Divorced, heartbroken and living in a lonely New York apartment with a tiny kitchen, Rachel Goldman realizes she doesn't even know how to cook the simplest meal for herself. Can learning to fry an egg help her understand where her life went wrong? She dives into the culinary basics. Then she launches a blog to vent her misery about life, love and her goal of an unburnt casserole. To her amazement, the blog's a hit. She becomes a minor celebrity.

Next, a sexy Spaniard enters her life. Will her soufflés stop falling? Will she finally forget about the husband she still loves? And how can she explain to her readers that she still hasn't learned how to cook up a happy life from scratch?

Review:
Life From Scratch blogging about life ... one scrambled egg at a time was such an entertaining read, it's a coming of age story, even if that happens to be at the ripe old age of 34, it's about finding your voice and learning to use it. 

... starting the blog was like the first breath of air after breaking the water's surface while swimming. The words came out fast and furious; I had finally found my voice again, that old friend who had disappeared over the years from disuse.

Blogging can seem a little self-indulgent; foisting your free therapy on everyone else in the world. But some of us can't afford a vacation from life and therapy, so free isnt half bad. Plus the night I got my first comment was like finding life on Mars.

Rachel Goldman doesn't have a clue about cooking, she can barely toast a muffin, but in her quest to learn she finds a "new found love of butter" and herself. Rachel was so easy to identify with; the whole divorced, blogging, venting online, 'finding yourself' premise certainly appealed to me and of course anyone who blogs knows that comments let you know that you're not just singing in the wind. But if that doesn't sound like your usual cup of tea please don't be put off. Ford's writing style is authentic, captivating and amusing, a most enjoyable combination.

I thoroughly recommend Life From Scratch and I can't wait to see what's in store for the characters in the sequel. Now I just can't resist leaving you with this excerpt.

... didn't I once say that the point of this year was to get myself an entirely new life? I learned to cook for the first time in thirty-four years. I'm writing a successful blog and working on a book. I kill my own spiders. Isn't having sex with an uncircumcised penis the last great frontier I need to conquer?

About the Author: An amateur chef and popular blogger herself, Melissa Ford is the author of the award-winning website, Stirrup Queens.  Her highly-praised first book, Navigating the Land of If, is a work of non-fiction about the emotional landscape of infertility. She is currently at work on the sequel to Life From Scratch.

Visit Melissa Ford's website to find out more about this author and her work.

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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.

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.

See more on my last post Home Town Devastation and Brisbane Prepares For The Worst!

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.

Home Town Devastation and Brisbane Prepares For The Worst

My home town of Toowoomba was devastated by flash flooding on Monday - an inland tsunami, and now Brisbane (where I live) is bracing itself for severe flooding. Unlike those in Toowoomba who had little warning, Brisbane has had time to prepare for the worst. I cry talking to friends and watching the news ... there are now 10 dead, many of them children and 90 people still missing. This breaks your heart, the loss of life is going to be high as the search begins for bodies ... it's just so tragic!

 

Many of my family are in Toowoomba, my Dad, my boys' father, uncles, aunts and cousins and my sister and her family are also stuck there, it will be a few days before they can get back to their home on the Sunshine Coast. Some of my friends in the surrounding areas of Toowoomba; Oakey, Grantham, Forest Hill, Murphy's Creek have lost everything but at least they are safe! I'm grateful beyond words that my loved ones are safe and I pray they stay that way.

Thanks so much to everyone, my overseas & bloggy friends who've left comments and sent emails enquiring about our safety, it means a lot to have your love and support.

We are very fortunate to be in a no-flood area of Brisbane but for those in the 80 suburbs and the 40,000 homes that will be affected by the floods I pray that there is no more loss of life. There are so many stories of courage and community spirit,  emergency personnel do the almost impossible and Aussies band together to get through but it's going to be a terrible couple of days here. The huge Brisbane river has burst its banks and suburbs are going under; we are preparing for a flood peak in the early hours of Thursday morning, no power and a worse case scenario of contaminated water.

My eldest son flew out to Mt Isa on Tuesday to restore electrical services and like any mother I worry crazily but I heard from him this morning and he's safe, more rain is expected today though.

Please, please stay safe everyone!

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.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

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 :)

I'm enjoying spending time with my 16 year old ... he's surprisingly good company, for a gross teenager teenage male LOL. Yesterday he tried to break the pancake eating record at Pancakes in Paradise (ironic as the rain continues to fall) and managed an epic fail :)

Speaking of rain; I put up a post yesterday about the flood devastation experienced by many in Australia and my guiding words for 2011; you can check it out here: This Post Is Brought To You By The Letters B and D.

My eldest son flies out tomorrow to Mt Isa (another town isolated by flood water) to help get electricity services back up and running. Stay safe Ant!!

As Brisbane braces itself for flooding over the next few days, my home town of Toowoomba was devastated by flash flooding today. Thank goodness family and friends are safe if waterlogged.

Reviews posted last week:

I AM NUMBER FOUR by Pittacus Lore

HAPPY EVER AFTER by Nora Roberts

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Finished last week:

UNEARTHLY by Cynthia Hand (kindle) ~ 5 stars, best angel book I've read

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This Week's Reading List:

INDEFENSIBLE by Pamela Callow ~ page 35

I AM THE CHOSEN KING by Helen Hollick

BEAUTIFUL DARKNESS (audiobook) - chapter 3 :(

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Reviews scheduled this week:

LIFE FROM SCRATCH by Melissa Ford

DELIRIUM by Lauren Oliver


Reviews still to do:

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.

This Post Is Brought To You By The Letters B & D

I have been pondering my words for 2011, the words I'll use as my guideposts for a happy, healthy year. Initially I was going to go with the mantra: Keep Moving Forward, it's a good motto and it is what I intend to do in 2011 but it just didn't feel right. Further reflection led me to choose Breathe & Do

Breathe:

Just breathe, breathe and relax, breathe and ground yourself, breathe and remember, breathe and think. Breathing is something I forget to do when I'm stressed, and it's something I've found challenging in recent years when overwhelmed by pain, fear, or panic. Panic attacks aren't really something you talk about in every day conversation ... not really so cool! Especially when you're used to being the one in control, coping with tragedies, heartbreak, pain and suffering. Reaching saturation point (I guess I assumed I had a never-ending supply of coping ability) has been quite the learning curve for me and it's nice to feel like I have control back in my own hands. This is my gentle reminder to breathe in 2011.

Do:

Now this may seem like a simple one and I guess it is but it's more than just the physical "do" as opposed to "do nothing" or procrastination, which mind you I have a degree in. It's about doing things that make me happy, doing things to bring joy to those I love, doing things on my terms, doing things to make me whole again; when you're happy and whole you heal. Physical scars heal so much faster than emotional ones but in 2011 I'm in control of my own happiness.

It's also about "do" as opposed to "dont" something I've heard way too much of over the last few years. I'm good and kind and strong and capable and just a little bit wicked and I can DO whatever I set my mind to! I am blessed with a truly wonderful family, beautiful friends and the bestest friend in the world.

And yes do is also about doing instead of just talking or thinking about it. Note to self: and anyone else who's interested ... do is a work in progress, I've made huge leaps already but zumba is still under the just talk banner but in all fairness it is only January :)

So, do you make New New Resolutions, goals or choose words for the year ... please share :)

As rain continues to fall in Queensland I'd like to take the time to send a message of love and support to fellow Australians ravaged by flood waters. My heart goes out to those who have lost loved ones and to the many who have lost homes, pets, livestock, businesses, crops, and livelihoods.

The loss of life; human, domestic and wildlife is heartbreaking and the cost to infrastructure, agriculture, exports (coal and sugar) immeasurable and the effects will be felt for years to come. With 60% of Queensland affected by floodwaters, many areas of New South Wales and Western Australia experiencing similar devastation, and many regions in Australia declared natural disaster areas the clean-up alone will cost billions. Not to mention the mud, the smell, the mosquitoes, snakes, crocodiles and whatever other nasties the flood waters bring out.

I pray that the sun comes out soon!

Kangaroos rescued in NSW

Rockhampton & Airport (AFP/Getty Images/Torsten Blackwood)

Emerald (Getty Images)

  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.