The Heartbreak Diet ( july book 2)+ giveaway

Title: The Heartbreak Diet
Author: Thorina Rose
Pages: 178
Yearly Count: 39

A book about life, about changes and making the best of what comes our way even when we wish it wouldn't. The Heartbreak Diet is all about moving on. I really wanted to enjoy it, it is a graphic novel autobiography....doesn't that sound great!? I guess I was hoping for more, I think it ended before I felt like she got her pride back again, or before her husband got what he deserved, but I need to not give away any more than that. It is very hard to know what to say about someone's life, you can't criticize content.

Besides that, it is a good read, a super quick read....it only took one of my little boys' nap time to finish it, maybe an hour or so? I enjoyed it, and I thought the format of an autobiography in graphic novel form was really neat! Interested?Want to read it?? leave a comment and on this post by Thursday! I'll pick a new home for it on Friday. it is BAFAB week right? or that was last week...whatever.

BELONGING: New Poetry by Iranians Around the World

Title: BELONGING: New Poetry by Iranians Around the World
Author (Editor and Translator): Niloufar Talebi
Pages: 256
Yearly Count: 37

The power behind poetry is as much in what is written as what is left unsaid. Poetry is the art of a few punctuating words that evoke a meaning so deep within, reaching to a place where thoughts cannot be explained and words would not do justice. To read a book of poetry, is to immerse yourself in a place where not all can travel, only those with feeling and sometimes an eager imagination. BELONGING is poetry of life, of death, and of existence. A book of poetry gathered together, edited and translated by Niloufar Talebi, which brings the modern poetry of the Iranian people into the hands of those who read in English.

BELONGING is a powerful book of courage and bravery, bringing a light on a culture that is judged so often, and misunderstood even more frequently. To know a people, is to know what causes their pain, grief, joy, and hope, and my belief is that once you know that you cannot go back to the fear that the unknown enjoys. Far from political, far from justification,defensive or offensive words, BELONGING is a union of Iranian voices from around the globe that shows the talent and beauty they bring especially as they are joined together.

I personally enjoy poetry, but not all of it. I love the modern, non-rhyming lines that actually don't choose their words based on what would make a meter or rhyme, but on what would convey the feeling and bring forth the meaning that is intended with their words. BELONGING is filled with that, with simple, modern, true, rough, and honest writing, I loved it! This is a book of truth, not over dramatization or draining emotional writing. It is poetry of the people and of words that we can all relate to.

Niloufar Talebi has joined together many Iranian authors from all around the world, translated their works and put them in a book called BELONGING, but that is not all she has done. There is an amazing art festival that will travel around the US to perform and bring awareness to the Iranian arts, it is called The Translation Project. It encompasses poetry, dancing, acting, and music, all a splendor of celebration and art from the Iranian culture. (Below are some videos of poetry performances!!)

Sit tight for an interview with the author of BELONGING, Niloufar Talebi who is also the founder of The Translation Project.

BELONGING will be released (29, July, 2008) head here to pre-order.


Here are three videos from the Translation Project, enjoy:

Shopaholic Takes Manhattan (july book 1)

Title: Shopaholic Takes Manhattan
Author: Shopie Kinsella
Pages:352
Yearly Count: 38

Honestly, what can I say....a guilty pleasure or brainless?! Oh, well I still enjoy a sit-com book every once in a while. Becky gets into trouble again, and we all know what will happen then...she'll figure it all out in the end. I do enjoy these, but nothing is gained from them at all, seriously nothing.

I can't help but be pretty annoyed that she can do whatever she wants financially and in the end it all works itself out!! Now, if that is not a fairytale book than what is?! I would hope that people who are living in the real world would understand the concept of overdraft fees, delinquent bank accounts, overdrawn, and maxed out line of credit!!!! Ah, it freaks me out that probably some people read these and think that things really do end up tied in a neat bow even if you outrageously over spend, that things will all be fine in the end. So, yeah..that I do not like about this series of books.

And that is all I have to say about that...

the secret life of bees movie trailer

Did you like this book??? I really, REALLY did!!

Here is the movie trailer for the new Secret Life of the Bees movie coming out!!!

Borders: The Secret Life of Bees movie trailer

Here is what the Borders website says about it:

EXCLUSIVE WORLD-PREMIERE CLIP from The Secret Life of Bees Sue Monk Kidd's The Secret Life of Bees is a powerful coming-of-age story about the ability of love to transform our lives. Kidd's cherished novel has been adapted into one of the most anticipated movies of the Fall starring Dakota Fanning, Queen Latifah, Jennifer Hudson, and Alicia Keys, and you can watch a world-premiere clip below.

• Dakota Fanning ... Lily Owens
  
• Queen Latifah ... August Boatwright
  
• Jennifer Hudson ... Rosaleen Daise
  
• Alicia Keys ... June Boatwright
  
• Sophie Okonedo ... May Boatwright

want to read as much as you can in july?

MRS. S over at blue archipelago is hosting this insane book blowout for july!!! Go to her to join up, she has a Mr. Linky poised and ready! Here is what she has to say about it:

Book Blowout:The rules are simple - read as many books as you can between July 1 and 31 - and then by August 7 post a list of all of the books you read on your blog. Reviews are not required to take part.

How do I join in the fun?

• You can sign up any time between today and July 14 - just because I’m a bit slow to announce this!
• To join you need to post about the Book Blowout on your blog - and set yourself a target number of books you will try to read - go on challenge yourself! (Please note: If you do not have a blog I am perfectly happy for you to post your target in the comments below - and then the list of books in the wrap-up post in August)
• Use the Mr Linky below to link to that post so we can all see how many books you’re taking on in the Blowout
• Post a list of the books you managed to read by the deadline of August 7 to complete the challenge

What rules do I need to know?

• Only books read between July 1 and July 31 count towards the challenge
• You can include re-reads - as long as they are read within the month of July
• Books you abandon will only count as half a book
• If you read to your children you can include all books which have more than 100 pages
• You can include up to two graphic novels
• You can include up to two audio books - (if you have a visual impairment that prevents you from reading then you can use just audio books for the challenge)
• Books you read for other challenges are eligible - use this as an opportunity to catch up!
• If you start a book before July 1 and then finish it during the month of July then you can count is as half a book

How many books will I read?

I am going to shoot for 12 books this month, it is a lot for me, but we'll see!!!! :)

A Bottle in the Gaza Sea

Title: A Bottle in the Gaza Sea
Author: Valerie Zenatti
Pages: 160
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Yearly Count: 36

Far removed from the conflict in the Middle East it is easy to live day by day not thinking of the dangerous situation that mothers, fathers, children and grandparents live through daily in many places on the other side of the ocean. It is easy to forget the freedoms women don't have, the childless babies and the violence. However in my drive to feel more, to know more and keep all peoples close to me. I believe education difies prejudice and so I read on.

A Bottle in the Gaza Sea is a book of two hopefuls in a sea of killing, prejudice, and a tradition of violence between the Palestinians and the jews, from Jerusalem and the Gaza strip. Tal, a teen from Jerusalem wills to find peace, and longs for a glint of hope, of life from the other side. She puts a letter in a bottle and asks her brother, who is a soldier to put it in the Gaza Sea. Naim, is what comes of it, a bright Palestinian teen topped off with sarcasm. They email back and forth. Facades are broken down, lies made to truths, and through their friendship hope comes to them and those around them.

I genuinely enjoyed reading A Bottle in the Gaza Sea, Zenatti did an excellent job with the witing and the content of the book. The characters are fully believable, lovable and unforgettable. I hesitate to mention that this is designed as a young adult read, and that because of that you would steer clear, feeling that maturity and wisdom would most likely be lacking. I can promise you that those assumptions are wrong. The young Tal and her Gaza friend, Naim are young in age, but it is easy to be captivated by them, as they both portray the losses of their peoples at the hands of each others people. I was involved, interested and Zenatti spoke to me. I highly recommend this book, it gives all the emotion without the descriptions of blood and guts ( but does not hide that that is everywhere). A Bottle in the Gaza Sea is a realistic hope for peace, a dream of a future life of freedom, no matter how many generations the war has already gone on for.

Quotes:

The two of us don't have much luck: we were born in the twentieth century- the bloodiest century in history, as Rosebush reminded us yet again yesterday.: Two world wars, the Soviet empire dominating part of the world +conflicts pretty much all over the place with increasingly sophisticated weapons= hundreds of millions of deaths. 'It's just maths,' he added with an almost sadistic smile (p. 34).

'We choose none of the things that determine out lives: not the way we look or where we're born or our parents. None of them. We just have to cope with all the things we haven't chosen and which make us who we are.' My father told me that last year, when I was having trouble with just being me (p. 132).

Other blogger reviews for A Bottle in the Gaza Sea:
Corinne at The Book Nest: A Bottle in the Gaza Sea

If you have read this book, I'd love to link to your review.

The Wishing Year: An Experiment in Desire

Title: The Wishing Year: An Experiment in Desire
Author: Noelle Oxenhandler
Pages: 286
Yearly Count: 35

What are wishes for, are they to rule our lives or to make us aimlessly scurry after every shooting star and blown out birthday candle. While wishing, could we miss the gifts that are placed in our laps, since they are not what we had known to wish for? The Wishing Year: An Experiment in Desire is a book of wishes and the journey they take Noelle on from the day they are born. While the writing of this book was strong, and many times captivating I found that there were long segments of this philosophy or that mentality of wishing which were the definite low points. The reading would slow down at these times and drag.

I believe that this book was not best suited for me however, as it is more of a self help book in staying the course, keeping on, and calling out dreams from the deep. Because I am not at this point in my life at all, there was not much I could cling to. However I do believe that if you are in a challenging place in life of uncertainty, or you have a hard time wishing for good things to come to you, but want to know more about it: this is the book for you. The Wishing Year is a book of hope, of desires that are met, of dreams that are reached, and therefore carries a powerful message.

If your life is in a dreamless state, or hope has long gone and you need a true story of hope and wishes come true to bring you to a place of realisation that there are good things to come, read The Wishing Year: An Experiment in Desire.

The Wishing Year is a book I received and reviewed for LibraryThing

SUNDAY SALON- what have i done!?

I did a read-a-thon, many of us did...and that is why you were bombarded with junk posts if you are subscribed to my feed I do apologize...not too cool:) anyway, yes we read....and read, and blogged and read...I didn't win ANY prizes, and I am a bit bitter, but I think that is due to lack of sleep and too much matte this morning!! I will have tons of reviews up soon NOT TODAY! again, sorry about the amount of spam posts generated by this, but maybe you'll see how fun it was and want to join next time. it rocked yo! :)
my stats:

books completed:

The Wishing Year
A Bottle in the Gaza Sea
BELONGING: New Poetry from Iranians Around the World
( I started Society of S, and Shopaholic Takes Manhattan as well)

Number of books read since you started:3.5 books, one comic,many blogs

Total pages:701

Hours Spent Sleeping: 4hours

Running total of time spent reading during the read-a-thon:11.5hours




my progression in images of the read-a-thon!!

I will admit this last one is a tad bit staged, if I were that tired I would not be sitting up!!:)

So that is my sunday salon post, I would write more, but I need a nap. I haven't gotten to recover yet, since we had church this morning, and a church picnic as well. NAPTIME!!

complete read-a-thon and

Title of book(s) read this hour: Shopaholic Takes Manhattan by Sophie Kinsella and The Society of S
Number of books read since you started:3.5 books, one comic, some blogs
Pages read:40
Running total of pages read since you started: 701
Amount of time spent reading:1 hour
Running total of time spent reading since you started:11.5hours
Mini-challenge this hour: Deweys survey below
Notes of worth: THIS WAS SO FUN!!!!

Dewey’s Post Survey

1. Which hour was most daunting for you?
the middle of the night for sure...but I did sleep.

2. Could you list a few high-interest books that you think could keep a Reader engaged for next year?

I recommend brainless when it gets really late, and even that is hard to concentrate on. I read Shopaholic Takes Manhattan, which is not for everyone....but I thought it was fun.

3. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year?
It was great!!!

4. What do you think worked really well in this year’s Read-a-thon?
serioulsy, everything...it was a blast!

5. How many books did you read?
3.5 and started another as well.

6. What were the names of the books you read?
The Society of S, BELONGING, A Bottle in the Gaza Sea, and The Wishing Year and Shopaholic Takes Manhattan!

7. Which book did you enjoy most?
I really enjoyed them all, The Wishing year was not my fave though.

8. Which did you enjoy least?
The Wishing Year

9. If you were a Cheerleader, do you have any advice for next year’s Cheerleaders?
oh, they were great!!!!

10. How likely are you to participate in the Read-a-thon again? What role would you be likely to take next time?
OH, for sure !!!!

book colage

the books I have worked on for the challenge: I have finished 3 of them.

progress update

I have not been able to concentrate really very well, I am not sleepy but I have tons of chores to do and I have a hard time not getting up every 5 min.

Title of book(s) read this hour: Shopaholic Takes Manhattan by Sophie Kinsella and The Society of S
Number of books read since you started:3 books, one comic, some blogs
Pages read:30
Running total of pages read since you started: 661
Amount of time spent reading: 30 min
Running total of time spent reading since you started:10.5hours
Mini-challenge this hour: the picture one, thanks eva!
Prize you’ve won: none (but hopeful!!!:)
Notes of worth: I just started the Society of S and love it....spooky...and so good that I am reading it in the daylight!!!! I have never read a vampire story before!!!!

PS My posts are not coming through on the read-a-thon feed....it is a bummer, but this whole thing is just about over so I am not going to worry about it. I don't know what has happened.:(

up and at 'em- what hour is this?

up and at 'em- what hour is this?

Hey all!! No worries, I am actually posing in this picture to look tired, ha! This my picture for Eva's mini-challenge

I am back to reading now, it is only 6 am here...and we have 3 hours left in this thing!!!! (I do have church this morning to get too...)


Off to reading!!!

up to hour 16- off to bed

Title of book(s) read this hour: Shopaholic Takes Manhattan by Sophie Kinsella (it is time for brainless...that is all I have to say!!!)
Number of books read since you started:3 books, one comic, some blogs
Pages read:30
Running total of pages read since you started: 631
Amount of time spent reading: 1 hours
Running total of time spent reading since you started:9.5 hours
Mini-challenge this hour: none
Prize you’ve won: none (but hopeful!!!:)
Notes of worth: I am off to get some sleep. I can't say if I will be back to read more before the read-a-thon is over, we'll see. I would like to make larger dent on the last book, but I am really reading slow now, and it is not worth it to stay up.

The best to you all, and sweet reading to you!!! You have been super at encouraging me, I love it :)

hour 14...growing sleepy

Hey all, I am getting tired, my reading is slowing down....not doing so hot anymore. I had never planned on staying up all night, but I think I will make it a little longer. The sandman has made his deposit though, and fading I am doing...fast!

Title of book(s) read this hour: Shopaholic Takes Manhattan by Sophie Kinsella (it is time for brainless...that is all I have to say!!!)
Number of books read since you started:3 books, one comic, some blogs
Pages read:45
Running total of pages read since you started: 601
Amount of time spent reading: 1 hours
Running total of time spent reading since you started:8.5 hours
Mini-challenge this hour: hours 12 and 13
Other participants visited:many...trying to help out :)
Prize you’ve won: none (but hopeful!!!:)
Notes of worth: getting sleepy

YOU ARE ALL AWESOME KEEP IT UP!!! GREAT READING!!

hours 12+13 and two mini-challenges

Title of book(s) read this hour: Shopaholic Takes Manhattan by Sophie Kinsella (it is time for brainless...that is all I have to say!!!)
Number of books read since you started:3 books, one comic, some blogs
Pages read:40
Running total of pages read since you started: 556
Amount of time spent reading: 1 hours
Running total of time spent reading since you started:7.5 hours
Mini-challenge this hour: hours 12 and 13
Other participants visited: I really should list them...I will next update.
Prize you’ve won: none (but hopeful!!!:)
Notes of worth: I was doing so much better before I came home....ahhhh!! Now I am QUEEN DISTRACTABLE herself!! How are you all holding up!?!?! It seems to have gotten quieter.

mini-challenge: hour 13 poem

Labor

How it burns
Dagger gouging, skin pins and needles

A thousand

Blows on the bones
Half-conscious and torn asunder.
Pressure, pressure, pressure.....
She claws at the sheets
Those mercurial clouds.
Bright wet hallucinations and dry

Tongue stuck to palate.
Pressure, pain, perishing.....
An impatient child
Escapes the uterine strait.
My howls drown my eighteenth year.
In one instant
My creation assigns its pain to me.
(BELONGING, Partow Nooriala p. 85)

The 12 hour mini-challenge!!!

1. What are you reading right now?

Shopaholic Takes Manhattan by Sophie Kinsella

2. How many books have you read so far?

3 books, and some other stuff

3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-thon?

well, I am going to have to sleep, because I don't want my hubby to have to take over for me tomorrow as well...so I am going to read some lighter stuff, and see how it goes!

4. Did you have to make any special arrangements to free up your whole day?

Yes, my husband took care of the boys at home all day, and I went to a coffee shop and read ALONE! It was an incredible treat:) I came home after he put the boys to bed.

5. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those?

yes, some...I just dealt with them. I didn't really have many. Just such things as cleaning the cat box, getting some sort of nourishment, and putting the chickens away for the night.:)

6. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon, so far?

It is all as I expected, the only think that I didn't know to expect was how organised Dewey is and her helpers with this, and how many mini-challenges there are!!! It really makes it more fun!!! (THANK YOU GUYS!!!)

7. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year?

I don't know, but it seems hourly updates is a bit much....I can't do it that way because then I just sit at the computer blogging and commenting instead of reading. I am not sure if it is just me though, since I am HIGHLY distractable!:)

8. What would you do differently, as a Reader or a Cheerleader, if you were to do this again next year?

Nothing, it was great. I may get more snack next time.

9. Are you getting tired yet? nope. but it is still only 10pm here!

10. Do you have any tips for other Readers or Cheerleaders, something you think is working well for you that others may not have discovered?

OH, I am thriving on the cheerleading that is going on, it is great fun!!!! (YAY!!!!) So, no I guess no insight, hahaha!

IS ANYONE STILL AWAKE!?!?!?!