Banned Book Week - Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler

Genre: YA Contemporary
Copyright: June 2009
Pages: 290
Book Source: From Jenny @ Jenny Loves to Read

Synopsis: “Don’t worry, Anna. I’ll tell her, okay? Just let me think about the best way to do it.”

“Okay.”

“Promise me? Promise you won’t say anything?”

“Don’t worry.” I laughed. “It’s our secret, right?”

According to Anna’s best friend, Frankie, twenty days in Zanzibar Bay is the perfect opportunity to have a summer fling, and if they meet one boy every day, there’s a pretty good chance Anna will find her first summer romance. Anna lightheartedly agrees to the game, but there’s something she hasn’t told Frankie–she’s already had her romance, and it was with Frankie’s older brother, Matt, just before his tragic death one year ago.

TWENTY BOY SUMMER explores what it truly means to love someone, what it means to grieve, and ultimately, how to make the most of every beautiful moment life has to offer. www.sarahockler.com

I'm thrilled to be part of Sheila's Banned Book Week Promotions. Please check out my review of Twenty Boy Summer, comment, pick up the clue and visit Book Journey for related posts and the awesome giveaway ending on Saturday.

Review:

Twenty Boy Summer is a beautifully written debut novel with a lot more to the story than the promiscuous *wink wink* fun title suggests, it's a moving tale of love and loss, of friendship and forgiveness.

Anna & Frankie & Frankie's brother Matt have been neighbours and friends for as long as they can all remember. Anna has been in love with Matt for almost as long and all her dreams come true on her 15th birthday when her feelings are reciprocated. Matt's sudden death before he tells his sister about their relationship leaves Anna holding their secret with an empty space in her heart. One year on, the novel focuses on Anna & Frankie's friendship, the highs, the lows and their plan to have the Absolute Best Summer Ever (ABSE.)

While my teen years are long gone and my own memories are of far less permissive and relaxed parents, I found Anna & Frankie entirely relatable. My teenage sons are a constant reminder of all that is REAL and believable in this story; the excuses, sneaking out, parties, under-age drinking, and the sarcasm and humour characteristic of teen years certainly gave me a few laughs but what I found most moving was the ease with which Ockler captures so many unspoken aspects of grief.

When someone you love dies, people ask how you're doing, but they don't really want to know. They seek affirmation that you're ok, that you appreciate their concern, that life goes on and so can they. Secretly they wonder when the statute of limitations on asking expires (it's three months, by the way. Written or unwritten, that's about all the time it takes for people to forget the one thing that you never will. (page 73)

Once Frankie's asleep, my best friend superstrength disappears. My breathing shatters, tears blur the stars in the overhead skylight, and all the old ghosts I tried to leave home float like dandelion seed wishes into our room. (page 85)

This was an emotional story about friendship and the journey over, around & through grief, knowing when to hold on tight and when to let go, creating new memories while not being afraid to remember and treasure old ones and while my eyes brimmed with tears a few times and there were quite a few tugs on the heartstrings, the ABSE storyline kept it far from depressing. Sarah Ockler writes from the heart, this is as REAL as it gets.

WHY?
In July 2011 Twenty Boy Summer and Slaughterhouse-Five were banned from Republic, Missouri school district libraries. See this article for details and Sarah Okler's response (High-five Sarah, I couldn't agree more.) In September the two banned books were returned to libraries but remain restricted from student access.

"Books that fail to meet the age-appropriate threshold for language, violence, sexuality and drugs, alcohol and tobacco -- including the two in question -- would be available at school but housed in a secured section of the library. But, they could only be checked out by a parent or guardian."

Good grief, what century are we living in?? I consider it a terrible loss to have books banned to so many, through the narrow minded views and actions of a few. There are many "banned" books I’m a richer person for reading; I've been touched by, learnt from, identified with, been empowered and enlightened by many of these reads and I think we all deserve the right to choose whether we read or don't read a particular book. I'm not saying parents shouldn't monitor or discuss their childrens' reading choices but when 'educated' people cloak their motivation for banning a book in "age suitability" rather than dislike of content or disapproval of differing viewpoints then many lose their right to choose.

OK mini rant over! Here's today's clue :)

The Kingdom of Childhood by Rebecca Coleman - Review, Interview & Giveaway

Genre: General Fiction
Publication Date: 27th September 2011
Pages: 400
Book Source: Mira & BookTrib Blog Tour

Synopsis: THE KINGDOM OF CHILDHOOD is the story of a boy and a woman: sixteen-year-old Zach Patterson, uprooted and struggling to reconcile his knowledge of his mother's extramarital affair, and Judy McFarland, a kindergarten teacher watching her family unravel before her eyes. Thrown together to organize a fundraiser for their failing private school and bonded by loneliness, they begin an affair that at first thrills, then corrupts, each of them. Judy sees in Zach the elements of a young man she loved when she was only a child. But what Zach does not realize is that-- for Judy-- their relationship is only the latest in a lifetime of disturbing secrets.

Review:

A thoroughly gripping novel. Rebecca Coleman's writing style is a "no-holds barred" approach; honest, raw, and intense, the content invoked such a whirlpool of emotions, I was unable to put the book down but came away feeling emotionally drained. It's a compelling combination; a bit like watching a car crash ... horrifying and nauseating but you just can't turn away.

It's not like this is unprecedented behaviour, even when I was in high school (many years ago) there was a male teacher/female student scandal resulting in the teacher losing his job regardless of innocence or guilt. Judy's behaviour is morally appalling, an abuse of trust, power, age and position but I couldn't help feel sympathy for her sad childhood & disconnected, lonely marriage.

Coleman's writing is a visual feast, I enjoyed the flashbacks to Judy's childhood in Germany, I was captivated by the depth of emotion in phrases and the heightened insight into motivations.

Home, where a pencil carelessly left in a side table drawer provoked a fit of shaking, impotent hysteria, as though Judy had accidentally punched through a thin membrane and left her mother hemorrhaging sanity onto the living room floor. (page 83)

You can see the accident waiting to happen, the lives unravelling, the thrill in the attraction, the excitement in the complete wrongness, the fear of discovery, the loss of all sense and reason. The Kingdom of Childhood is one thought-provoking ride.


Want to know more about Rebecca Coleman? Check out her website or blog (which I've been lurking around & love)

Interview with Rebecca Coleman:

1.   When did you first get the idea for THE KINGDOM OF CHILDHOOD (TKOC)?

I was folding laundry in front of the TV, watching the news, and they began broadcasting a report about some new teacher-student sex scandal. I can't remember who the players were, but it was another of these cases where the teacher was attractive and well-respected and had a family, and she had risked all of that-- and lost-- so she could have sex with some young teenage boy. And I thought, why on earth would she do that? What could a kid that age possibly have going for him that would be worth using your entire life as collateral? I thought about the fact that people usually do things for reasons that make sense to them, even if they don't make sense to you. And then it struck me that if I could answer that question-- why a woman like that would consider this a worthwhile risk, a reasonable thing to do-- it would make a great story. Because obviously her thinking departs drastically from the norm, and that can make for a very interesting character.


2. Which came first, the characters or the plot?

The plot came first, and the way it emerged, the plot was to answer the question, "Why would anyone do that?" So I began with this situation-- this very common news item, teacher-student affair-- and tried to figure out what kinds of people would do this, and why. From there, the characters emerged. But because of that, I suppose I've been a little naive in being caught off-guard by how many people find the concept of the book shocking. I thought I was taking a very well-established part of the news cycle and turning it into a work of fiction. What the characters are doing is scandalous, for sure, but it's hardly as if they're inventing a new crime.


3. How long have you been interested in the Waldorf School Movement?

When I was 14, one of my mother's co-workers took me to a candlelight Christmas event at her young son's Waldorf school, and I found the environment absolutely fascinating. I had never seen such a beautiful school. It reminded me of the schools I attended as a kid in Germany, but with some elements taken to an extreme degree. So as I grew older, I read everything I could find about the movement, and decided that when I had kids I wanted them to go to Waldorf school. Then my oldest son started at a Waldorf preschool, and that didn't work out very well. His teacher actively disliked him, and there's a twisted sort of materialism that I kept bumping into at every turn. In short, I saw a side to it that wasn't as beautiful.

GIVEAWAY:

I'm thrilled to offer a hardcopy of THE KINGDOM OF CHILDHOOD by Rebecca Coleman to one lucky reader of my blog.

Sorry US only

Leave a comment or a question for Rebecca & don't forget to include an email address.

EXTRA ENTRIES:

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

Competition ends 11th October and the winner will be announced on my blog.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? and Update :)

A weekly event hosted by Sheila from Book Journey to discuss your reading week ~ the books you've read and those you plan on reading in the coming week. Thanks Sheila :)

Callum went in on Wednesday for multiple mole excisions and thankfully while the results came back with severe abnormalities, all moles were removed before becoming melanoma. He has had a fair amount of pain but considering the number of excsions that was to be expected. He's been a very good patient and getting this 1.5litre slurpee from the 7-Eleven "Bring your own cup day" sure put a smile on his face LOL

Heartfelt thanks once again to everyone for the supportive, caring comments and emails, it has truly meant a lot during this stressful time.

Winners of Giveaways:

Dreamland by Alyson Noel ~ Linda

The Kingdom of Childhood (ARC) by Rebecca Coleman - Shelleyrae @ Book'd Out

*Top news for this week is BANNED BOOK WEEK. I'm participating in Sheila's promotion of banned books. Come back tomorrow for my review of Twenty Boy Summer and a clue you'll need to enter Sheila's awesome Banned Books prize package ending on Saturday.

*I'll also be posting my review of THE KINGDOM OF CHILDHOOD by Rebecca Coleman and hosting a US giveaway.

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Finished last week:

COLD KISS by Amy Garvey ~ cold shivers and happy sighs

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This Week's Reading List:

THE LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS by Vanessa Diffenbaugh ~ page 70 and loving it!

WITHOUT TESS by Marcella Pixley

IF I TELL by Janet Gurtler

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Reviews still to do:

THE GIRL OF FIRE & THORNS by Rae Carson (review scheduled this week)

LOVE STORY by Jennifer Echols

MY SOUL TO KEEP by Rachel Vincent

MY SOUL TO LOSE by Rachael Vincent

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? and an Update

A weekly event hosted by Sheila from Book Journey to discuss your reading week ~ the books you've read and those you plan on reading in the coming week. Thanks Sheila :)

In the midst of all the medical drama this week I received this t-shirt from Aussie author pal Katherine Howell. Katherine is a former paramedic, now best-selling crime writer. I can't rave enough about her work and I'm so look forward to her new novel, SILENT FEAR coming Feb 2012. Katherine surprised me with this "It's Criminal what a girl has to do ... to get a good read" Sisters in Crime t-shirt signed by herself and one of my other favourite suspense/thriller authors Tess Gerritsen. (love Tess's work!!) Thanks Katherine, this was a real cheer-me-up :)

Ok, back to update; they got all the cancer this time and after a few days of looking like a cross between a clubbed seal and the elephant man I'm slowly returning to normal. My stitches come out this week and Callum goes in on Wednesday for his multiple excisions. Obviously this week is going to be extremely stressful waiting on Callum's results so whatever I manage to get done on my blog will be a bonus.

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Giveaways:

DREAMLAND by Alyson Noel  ~ enter here. Ends 24th September (US/Canada)

KINGDOM OF CHILDHOOD by Rebecca Coleman ~ enter here. Ends 25th September (Aussies only)










Winner of ALL THESE THINGS I'VE DONE by Gabrielle Zevin: Bookish in a Box

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I posted reviews for: (click on title)

FOREVER by Maggie Stiefvater

and I also did a post on the Top 100 YA List which proved I need to pick up the pace lol

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Finished last week:

THE KINGDOM OF CHILDHOOD by Rebecca Coleman - review, giveaway 27th Sept

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This Week's Reading List:

COLD KISS by Amy Garvey ~ page 65 kind of creepy but good

THE LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS by Vanessa Diffenbaugh

WITHOUT TESS by Marcella Pixley

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Reviews still to do:

THE GIRL OF FIRE & THORNS by Rae Carson (review scheduled this week)

LOVE STORY by Jennifer Echols

MY SOUL TO KEEP by Rachel Vincent

MY SOUL TO LOSE by Rachael Vincent

Top 100 YA List

This list has been doing the rounds of the blogosphere. I noticed it posted by Rowena @ The Book Scoop & Katrina @ Novel Nonsense and I couldn't resist seeing how I faired :)

Bold- I've read it.

Italics- own it but still unread (how embarrassing I own most of these)

21/100 = 43 books read.

How did you do? Let me know if you post so I can pop in and comment :)

1. Alex Fin - Beastly

2. Alice Sebold – The Lovely Bones

3. Ally Carter – Callagher Girls (1, 2, 3, 4)

4. Ally Condie – Matched

5. Alyson Noel – The Immortals (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)

6. Anastasia Hopcus – Shadow Hills

7. Angie Sage – Septimus Heap (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)

8. Ann Brashares – The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (1, 2, 3, 4)

9. Anna Godbersen – Luxe (1, 2, 3, 4)

10. Anthony Horowitz – Alex Rider (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)

11. Aprilynne Pike – Wings (1, 2, 3)

12. Becca Fitzpatrick – Hush, Hush (1, 2)

13. Brandon Mull – Fablehaven (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

14. Brian Selznick – The Invention of Hugo Cabret

15. Cassandra Clare – The Mortal Instruments (1, 2, 3, 4)

16. Carrie Jones – Need (1, 2, 3)

17. Carrie Ryan – The Forest of Hands and Teeth (1, 2, 3, 4)

18. Christopher Paolini - Inheritance (1, 2, 3, 4)

19. Cinda Williams Chima – The Heir Chronicles (1, 2, 3)

20. Colleen Houck – Tigers Saga (1, 2)

21. Cornelia Funke – Inkheart (1, 2, 3)

22. Ellen Hopkins – Impulse

23. Eoin Colfer – Artemis Fowl (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)

24. Faraaz Kazi – Truly, Madly, Deeply

25. Frank Beddor – The Looking Glass Wars (1, 2, 3)

26. Gabrielle Zevin – Elsewhere

27. Gail Carson Levine – Fairest

28. Holly Black – Tithe (1, 2, 3)

29. J.K. Rowling – Harry Potter (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)

30. James Dashner – The Maze Runner (1, 2)

31. James Patterson – Maximum Ride (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)

32. Jay Asher – Thirteen Reasons Why

33. Jeanne DuPrau – Books of Ember (1, 2, 3, 4)

34. Jeff Kinney – Diary of a Wimpy Kid (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)

35. John Boyne – The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

36. John Green – An Abundance of Katherines

37. John Green – Looking for Alaska

38. John Green – Paper Towns

39. Jonathan Stroud – Bartimaeus (1, 2, 3, 4)

40. Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl – Caster Chronicles (1, 2)

41. Kelley Armstrong – Darkest Powers (1, 2, 3)
42. Kristin Cashore – The Seven Kingdoms (1, 2)
43. Lauren Kate – Fallen (1, 2, 3)

44. Lemony Snicket - Series of Unfortunate Events (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)

45. Libba Bray – Gemma Doyle (1, 2, 3)

46. Lisa McMann – Dream Catcher (1, 2, 3)

47. Louise Rennison – Confessions of Georgia Nicolson (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)

48. M.T. Anderson – Feed

49. Maggie Stiefvater – The Wolves of Mercy Falls (1, 2, 3)

50. Margaret Peterson Haddix – Shadow Children (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)

51. Maria V. Snyder – Study (1, 2, 3)

52. Markus Zusak - The Book Thief

53. Markus Zusak – I am the Messenger

54. Mark Haddon – The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time

55. Mary Ting – Crossroads

56. Maureen Johnson - Little Blue Envelop (1, 2)

57. Meg Cabot - All American Girl (1, 2)

58. Meg Cabot - The Mediator (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)

59. Meg Cabot – The Princess Diaries (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)

60. Meg Rosoff – How I live now

61. Megan McCafferty – Jessica Darling (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

62. Megan Whalen Turner – The Queen’s Thief (1, 2, 3, 4)

63. Melina Marchetta – On the Jellicoe Road

64. Melissa de la Cruz – Blue Bloods (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

65. Melissa Marr – Wicked Lovely (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

66. Michael Grant – Gone (1, 2, 3, 4)

67. Nancy Farmer – The House of the Scorpion

68. Neal Shusterman – Unwind

69. Neil Gaiman – Coraline

70. Neil Gaiman – Stardust

71. Neil Gaiman – The Graveyard Book

72. P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast – House of Night (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 )

73. Philip Pullman – His Dark Materials (1, 2, 3)

74. Rachel Caine – The Morganville Vampires (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)

75. Rachel Cohn & David Levithan – Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist

76. Richelle Mead – Vampire Academy (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)

77. Rick Riordan – Percy Jackson and the Olympians (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

78. Rom LcO’Feer – Somewhere carnal over 40 winks

79. S.L. Naeole – Grace (1, 2, 3, 4)

80. Sabrina Bryan & Julia DeVillers – Princess of Gossip

81. Sarah Dessen – Along for the Ride

82. Sarah Dessen - Lock and Key

83. Sarah Dessen – The Truth about Forever

84. Sara Shepard – Pretty Little Liars (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)

85. Scott Westerfeld - Leviathan (1, 2)

86. Scott Westerfeld - Uglies (1, 2, 3)

87. Shannon Hale – Books of a Thousand Days

88. Shannon Hale – Princess Academy

89. Shannon Hale – The Books of Bayern (1, 2, 3, 4)

90. Sherman Alexie & Ellen Forney – The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

91. Simone Elkeles – Perfect Chemistry (1, 2, 3)

92. Stephanie Meyer – The Host

93. Stephanie Meyer – Twilight Saga (1, 2, 3, 4)

94. Sue Monk Kidd – The Secret Life of Bees

95. Susan Beth Pfeffer – Last Survivors (1, 2, 3)

96. Suzanne Collins – Hunger Games (1, 2, 3)

97. Suzanne Collins – Underland Chronicles (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

98. Terry Pratchett – Tiffany Aching (1, 2, 3, 4)

99. Tonya Hurley – Ghost Girl (1, 2, 3)

100. Wendelin Van Draanen – Flipped

Aussie Giveaway: The Kingdom of Childhood by Rebecca Coleman

Synopsis: This is the story of Zach and Judy, a boy and a woman, a student and a teacher. As their lives intersect, they are bonded by their similar circumstances-- he, the lonely new kid, and she, the discontented wife-- and begin an affair that at first thrills, then corrupts each of them until the lines between adult and child are blurred, and a lifetime of secrets unravels before them.

I received 2 copies of this ARC for the upcoming book tour so if one of my Aussie blogging readers would like a copy I'd be happy to post this one on :)

I'm enjoying this one so far, Rebecca's writing is beautiful, the story is both enthralling & disturbing

GIVEAWAY:

1 copy of THE KINGDOM OF CHILDHOOD by Rebecca Coleman

Australia Only

Leave a comment with your email address.

Extra Entries:

+2 tweet about giveaway & leave a link.

Giveaway ends 25th September and the winner will be announced on my blog.

Giveaway: Dreamland by Alyson Noel

Alyson Noël continues the bestselling story of Riley Bloom as she learns how dreams are made and tries to make contact with her sister, Ever.

Riley's finding that the afterlife can be a lonely place when all you do is focus on work. So she goes to the place where dreams happen, hoping to find a way to contact her sister, Ever. She meets the director, who tells her about the two ways to send dreams. As a Dream Jumper, a person can jump into a dreamer's dream, share a message, and participate. As a Dreamweaver, an entire dream can be created in a studio and sent to the dreamer. But Dreamweaving was outlawed decades ago, and the studio was boarded up. Thinking it's her only way to reach out to her sister, Riley goes in search of the old studio. There she finds a ghost boy, who's been creating and sending nightmares to people for years. In order to stop him and reach out to Ever, Riley is going to have to confront and overcome her own fears.

Macmillan page for Alyson Noël: http://us.macmillan.com/author/alysonnoel

Become a Facebook fan: http://www.facebook.com/OfficialAlysonNoel

Website: http://www.alysonnoel.com/

GIVEAWAY:

1 copy of DREAMLAND by Alyson Noel

US/Canada Only

Leave a comment with your email address.

Extra Entries:
+2 tweet about giveaway & leave a link.
+2 comment on my review of Radiance the 1st book in the Riley Bloom series.

Giveaway ends 24th September and winner will be announced on my blog ~ good luck everyone!



Thanks to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group & Tara from Zeitghost Media for giveaway.

Forever by Maggie Stiefvater

Genre: YA Fantasy
Series: The Wolves of Mercy Falls #3
Copyright: 2011
Pages: 390
Book Source: Own purchase

Synopsis: The conclusion to #1 bestselling Shiver trilogy. In Shiver, Grace and Sam found each other. In Linger they fought to be together. Now, in Forever, the stakes are even higher than before. Wolves are being hunted. Lives are being threatened. And love is harder and harder to hold on to as death comes closing in.

Review:
This was a good conclusion to the trilogy but it pains me to say I was a little disappointed. It didn't leave me breathless like Shiver or have the edgy tension of Linger. Maggie's writing is beautiful as always but I guess I was expecting more.

“In the darkness, he is invisible, but I can still feel him beside me. Sometimes you don't have to see something to know it is there.”    

The bittersweet quality that I loved in Shiver and Linger still exists in Forever but my emotions never quite reached the same feverpitch. As much as I adore Sam & Grace together their haunting love story seemed to have lost some of it's pull :(

I liked Cole in Linger but he grew on me even more in Forever, he & Isabel reveal a depth to their character beneath all the bravado and bluster. I loved their sarcastic humour too!

After a languid start the pace picks up about halfway through the novel and by that stage I was loathe to put the book down. Heart racing, nail-biting and a wistful, delicate conclusion in keeping with the magical tone of the entire series.

I'm sad to say goodbye to the mesmerising beauty of Sam, Grace & the wolves of Mercy Falls.

Being a fan of Maggie's writing I'm looking forward to The Scorpio Races coming October 2011.

See Maggie's website and live journal to find out more about this fabulous author and her work.

Click on the title to see my review of Shiver - a favourite read in 2009 & Linger in 2010.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

A weekly event hosted by Sheila from Book Journey to discuss your reading week ~ the books you've read and those you plan on reading in the coming week. Thanks Sheila :)

Well it's been quite a traumatic week with health issues for Callum and I and while I don't want to fill up my Monday post with it all, I'd love you to keep Callum in your thoughts. Please check out my post ~  Just Plain Scared. Melanoma is a scary, scary thing and you don't have a chance if you don't get your skin checked regularly ... so please, go do it!!

I tried to keep my mind off what's coming by finishing off a couple of great books.

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Giveaways:

ALL THESE THINGS I'VE DONE by Gabrielle Zevin ~ enter here. Ends 17th September.

Winner of HADES by Alexandra Adornetto ~ elaing8

*UPDATE* Elaine emailed that she had already won a copy of Hades so the new winner is: Sheila

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I posted reviews for: (click on title)

BECOMING MARIE ANTOINETTE by Juliet Grey ~ very enjoyable, detailed historical

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Finished last week:

THE GIRL OF FIRE & THORNS by Rae Carson ~ LOVED it!

MY SOUL TO KEEP by Rachel Vincent ~ another good installment

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This Week's Reading List:

THE KINGDOM OF CHILDHOOD by Rebecca Coleman

COLD KISS by Amy Garvey

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Reviews still to do:

FOREVER by Maggie Stiefvater ~ review scheduled this week

LOVE STORY by Jennifer Echols

MY SOUL TO LOSE by Rachael Vincent

Just Plain Scared

This week has been a traumatic one and I could spend this valuable time writing a book review which would be much easier task but as I found after mum died and at the end of my abusive marriage, the hardest things to do are the ones you most need to do.

That's what my blog began as, an online journal to plot my journey through grief. I guess it's not for everyone; sharing intimate thoughts and feelings with the blogosphere, I was certainly more comfortable sharing my grief over mum's death than imparting the details of my broken life and spirit dealing with the mostly hidden abuse of a now ex-husband :)

But through sharing, which was certainly a very cathartic experience I also learnt how many others have been through similar things or are currently living in similar circumstances. The comfort and support I received from blogging friends and complete strangers was often overwhelming and when just one person said "thank you for being brave enough to share, you've helped me" it made the difficult experience of 'putting it out there' even more worthwhile.

So ... this week my youngest son, Callum (17) and I had our annual skin checks. Many of you know that my mum passed away from Melanoma 3 years ago in the most horrific way imaginable so we are very conscious of giving ourselves the best chance of never having to deal with this hideous disease. On tue I had a spot removed from the side of my nose which unfortunately came back cancerous so this week I'm having more excised to achieve complete clearance. It's not melanoma which is great but still I wish it wasn't on my face; I've had that many surgeries over the years that my body resembles a train track of scars so really, what's one more?? but I'm still vain enough to wish it was anywhere but my face!

However this was minor in comparison to the shock we got with Callum's skin check. The moles on his scalp have tripled in just 12months which in itself is most unusual, but even more so considering the mop of hair he has on his head. 4 or 5 of them are severely abnormal so they are being removed along with another 5 or 6 highly abnormal ones on his body.

Callum was obviously devastated, he has his year 12 Formal in just a month and he's embarrassed about having bald spots if they shave his head for excisions. I was so shocked that I didnt even ask this question. It seems like such a minor thing in the face of what could be but to Cal it was a big deal. The fact that he'll be spending school holidays with approx 30 - 40 sutures in 10 different areas of his body is another detail that really pissed him off.

I feel completely helpless, it's in the hands of our specialist and God and I don't seem to be able to hold on to anything positive at the moment. My head knows that my fear for Callum is the very reasonable and understandable fear when your child is facing any sort of danger or trauma. My head understands that a lot of the fear is due to my mother's melanoma being on her scalp and this brings up feelings of panic and terror. I can reason all this in my head but my heart still skips in panic to the worst case scenario that I cannot possibly voice to family and friends.

I'm blessed, I'm not alone, I have a sweet, caring man by my side now, Mike and I went to school together and he is stepping up to hold my hand while my best friend Alaine is away and my sister is there for us, as always. I've learnt a lot in 3 years of therapy, I'm using all the techniques I've been taught, I'm staying busy and now I'm putting my fear out there; I'm facing it, in the hope it makes me stronger.

Please keep Callum in your thoughts and prayers, his excisions will be the week after next unless the surgery gets a cancellation next week but as he needs extended appointment time it's unlikely and please, please get your skin checked

Sheree xx

Becoming Marie Antoinette by Juliet Grey

Genre: Historical Fiction

Series: Marie Antoinette #1

Copyright: August 2011

Pages: 453

Book Source: Random House Publishing Group & NetGalley

Synopsis: This enthralling confection of a novel, the first in a new trilogy, follows the transformation of a coddled Austrian archduchess into the reckless, powerful, beautiful queen Marie Antoinette.

Why must it be me? I wondered. When I am so clearly inadequate to my destiny?

Raised alongside her numerous brothers and sisters by the formidable empress of Austria, ten-year-old Maria Antonia knew that her idyllic existence would one day be sacrificed to her mother’s political ambitions. What she never anticipated was that the day in question would come so soon.

Before she can journey from sunlit picnics with her sisters in Vienna to the glitter, glamour, and gossip of Versailles, Antonia must change everything about herself in order to be accepted as dauphine of France and the wife of the awkward teenage boy who will one day be Louis XVI. Yet nothing can prepare her for the ingenuity and influence it will take to become queen.

Review:

I've had an ongoing fascination with the much maligned Marie Antoinette but have read very little of her life prior to becoming Dauphine of France at the age of 14. Juliet Grey's novel aussages my knowledge deficit with exquisite attention to detail, chronicling the young Austrian archduchess's childhood, her betrothal to Louise Auguste, the Dauphin of France and the personal transformation required to deem her worthy of the position.

“And don’t think for a moment that she would hesitate to relieve you of your duties if you do not transform me from an Austrian caterpillar into a French butterfly.”

Learning about the formidible force of Marie Theresa, Empress of Austria and Marie Antonia's mother; was fascinating. Via well oiled machinations she secures her daughter's marriage and the alliance between France and Austria.

I enjoyed Grey's writing, the vivid and colourful descriptions of clothing, cuisine, decor, french etiquette, the Versailles glide, the coiffures, the myriad of differences between the Hapsburg and the French court; I loved it all. However I found some of Marie Antonia's vocabulary a little disconcerting - it seemed out of character for her age and relative lack of education. Now I like expanding my vocab as much as the next person and I consider myself to have a reasonable grasp on the English language but I had no idea of the meaning of pulchritudinous, imprecations, encomiums or transmogrifying, to name just a few.

So FYI - because I did my homework :)

Pulchritudinous – physically beautiful
Imprecations – oaths, expletives

Encomiums - text expressing high praise
Transmogrifying – changing appearance or form grotesquely

Grey writes of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette's marriage with sensitivity and I garnered a new level of sympathy for the pair. The development of their relationship or lack there of in a particular area is at once, awkard, sweet and frustrating for Marie Antoinette as well as the reader but as I turned the last page, I really didn't want it to end.

I'm so looking forward to the 2nd installment, Days of Splendor, Days of Sorrow due to be released in 2012 and the final novel in the trilogy in 2013.

Winners Are Grinners :)

Winners of I SEE ... SAVANNAH by Kirstan Graham

Congratulations:

sRy

Veens

stacybuckeye

Alaine - Queen of Happy Endings

Bethie

Latest Giveaways:

ALL THESE THINGS I'VE DONE by Gabrielle Zevin ~ enter here.
US/Canada Only. Ends 17th September.

HADES by Alexandra Adornetto ~ enter here.
US/Canada Only. Ends 11th September

Giveaway: All These Things I've Done by Gabrielle Zevin

In 2083, chocolate and coffee are illegal, paper is hard to find, water is carefully rationed, and New York City is rife with crime and poverty. And yet, for Anya Balanchine, the sixteen-year-old daughter of the city's most notorious (and dead) crime boss, life is fairly routine. It consists of going to school, taking care of her siblings and her dying grandmother, trying to avoid falling in love with the new assistant D.A.'s son, and avoiding her loser ex-boyfriend. That is until her ex is accidentally poisoned by the chocolate her family manufactures and the police think she's to blame. Suddenly, Anya finds herself thrust unwillingly into the spotlight--at school, in the news, and most importantly, within her mafia family.

Gabrielle Zevin introduces readers to an unforgettable teenage heroine in the groundbreaking new series Birthright, starting with "All These Things I've Done".

Macmillan page for book and author:
http://us.macmillan.com/allthesethingsivedone

Visit Gabrielle Zevin's Website: http://www.memoirsofa.com

GIVEAWAY:

1 copy of ALL THESE THINGS I'VE DONE by Gabrielle Zevin

US/Canada Only

Leave a comment with your email address.

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Giveaway ends 17th September and winner will be announced on my blog ~ good luck everyone!


Thanks to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group & Tara from Zeitghost Media for giveaway.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

A weekly event hosted by Sheila from Book Journey to discuss your reading week ~ the books you've read and those you plan on reading in the coming week. Thanks Sheila :)

A full-on but fabulous weekend, Friday night we watched the Socceroos beat Thailand 2:1 in the first world cup qualifier game. Saturday was a huge day with an early father's day brunch and then a farewell party for Alaine & Kristianne. Loads of fun and laughs!

Sunday we spent remodelling my scroffice - scraproom/office. When I've finished organising I'll post some photos.

Callum at the start of soccer season 2011 - scraplift from Alaine

This week I'll be spending a few days with Alaine,  helping with last minute things and keeping her calm before they leave for a month long holiday in the UK & Scotland. Maybe I'll be able to hide away in a suitcase lol

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Giveaway:

HADES by Alexandra Adornetto

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I posted reviews for: (click on title)

NANBERRY by Jackie French ~ terrific Aussie historical fiction.

ULTRAVIOLET by R. J. Anderson ~ a book of layers, magical, addictive!

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Finished last week:

BECOMING MARIE ANTOINETTE by Juliet Grey ~ very enjoyable.

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This Week's Reading List:

THE GIRL OF FIRE & THORNS by Rae Carson

MY SOUL TO KEEP by Rachel Vincent ~ (audiobook) - almost finished

not sure what I'll be reading then

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FOREVER by Maggie Stiefvater ~ review scheduled this week

LOVE STORY by Jennifer Echols

MY SOUL TO LOSE by Rachael Vincent

Nanberry by Jackie French

Title: Nanberry, Black Brother White
Author: Jackie French
Genre: Historical Fiction
Copyright: 2011
Pages: 309
Book Source: Courtesy of HarperCollins Australia

Synopsis: It's 1789, and as the new colony in Sydney Cove is established, Surgeon John White defies convention and adopts Nanberry, an Aboriginal boy, to raise as his son. Nanberry is clever and uses his unique gifts as an interpreter to bridge the two worlds he lives in. With his white brother, Andrew, he witnesses the struggles of the colonists to keep their precarious grip on a hostile wilderness. And yet he is haunted by the memories of the Cadigal warriors who will one day come to claim him as one of their own. This true story follows the brothers as they make their way in the world - one as a sailor, serving in the Royal Navy, the other a hero of the Battle of Waterloo. No less incredible is the enduring love between the gentleman surgeon and the convict girl, saved from the death penalty, to become a great lady in her own right.

Review:

This was both a compelling and challenging read. It's the relatively unknown story of the small aboriginal boy, Nanberry, adopted by surgeon John White, chief surgeon of the first fleet sent to establish a convict settlement at Botany Bay. Spanning the years 1788 to 1823, French employs meticulous research of actual historical figures; old letters, court transcripts and journal entries to provide a thoroughly absorbing backdrop to true events.

Nanberry was one of only 3 survivors of the Cadigal tribe struck by the devastating smallpox outbreak which decimated the aboriginal population in the area. You can't help but love Nanberry, he's intelligent, protective, and inspiring, a lad caught between two cultures but determined to take his place in the white man's world while retaining his roots.

 Surgeon White is an interesting combination of conventional old ethics and compassionate forward thinking. Rachel Turner, the convict girl who survived the death penalty and near death on the second fleet, captures Surgeon White's heart but convention prevents him from marrying a convict and returning with her to England. This is their story, John White, Nanberry White (black brother), Andrew, (Nanberry's white brother) and Rachel, Andrew's mother.

 French captures the cruelty, famine, debauchery, horror, squalor, the corruption of the marine corp and most importantly the uniqueness of the Australian landscape and aboriginal culture with simple but evocative prose.

It's terrible to plead relative ignorance of events in your own country so what I loved about NANBERRY was the inspiration I gained to read further. I found the extensive author's notes really enjoyable reading too. Nanberry should be compulsory reading in our school curriculum, suitable for readers age 10 and up but nonetheless one I can't recommend highly enough for young and old alike.

Want to know more about renowned Aussie author Jackie French? - visit her website.