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!?!?!?!

hour 11 update: nothing at all

I drove home, cleaned out the cat box, checked in with my hubby and got no reading done at all. That is my silly update! I had to get out of the coffee shop, the belly dancers were coming and they hiss!!

8+9+10 read-a-thon update!!

Done with book three!! (and happy to head home)

Title of book(s) read this hour: A Bottle in the Gaza Sea by Valerie Zenatti
Number of books read since you started:3 books, one comic, some blogs
Pages read:100
Running total of pages read since you started: 516
Amount of time spent reading: 2.5 hours
Running total of time spent reading since you started:6.5 hours
Mini-challenge this hour: oh, these are so fun!!:)
Other participants visited: several :)
Prize you’ve won: none (but hopeful!!!:)
Notes of worth: I am headed home now, my hubby just put the boys to bed (as it is 7PM here now) yay! I loved this read, it was amazing. I get to sit on a soft couch :) fun stuff. I have not been very good at updating my reading, I have been plugging away...you all are doing GREAT!

hours 6+7 read-a-thon update

Title of book(s) read this hour: A Bottle in the Gaza Sea by Valerie Zenatti
Number of books read since you started:2 books, one comic, some blogs
Pages read:60
Running total of pages read since you started:416
Amount of time spent reading:45 min
Running total of time spent reading since you started:4 hours
Mini-challenge this hour: oh, these are so fun!!:)
Other participants visited: several :)
Prize you’ve won: none (but hopeful!!!:)
Notes of worth: I need to pee, but I don't want to ask a random person to watch over my laptop while I go in some dank public restroom. I am not a fan of public restrooms, never have been, I just hold it. But I need to go, and I must, so pretty soon I will need to switch to a different location anyways. I have been sitting on this hard bench for a long time, and I have the unfortunate problem of not having too much padding back there, it makes for uncomfortable sitting for extended periods of time. I know, you don't know me well enough for that info, please don't hold it against me, I have no one else to tell.

hour 5 update read-a-thon

I just finished my second book during the read-a-thon!! (I only had 100 pages left of my first, and this book was a book of poetry...but still!) YAY!

Title of book(s) read this hour: BeLonging: New Poetry by Iranians Around the World
Number of books read since you started:2 books, one comic, some blogs
Pages read:104
Running total of pages read since you started:356
Amount of time spent reading:45 min
Running total of time spent reading since you started:3.5 hours
Mini-challenge this hour: ?
Other participants visited: several :)
Prize you’ve won: none (but hopeful!!!:)

hour 3+4 update, and mini-challenge:)

Here I am with my current book, at the local coffee shop "the Beanery" it has proven great reading so far. I tried the lib for a while, but would you believe that it was way too noisy!!!!??? I was not getting anything done there!! So, I grabbed lunch, and came here.
Okay, yes I look tired...but I am actually not as tired as I look!!:)

Title of book(s) read this hour: BeLonging: New Poetry by Iranians Around the World
Number of books read since you started:1.5 books, one comic, some blogs
Pages read:178
Running total of pages read since you started:252
Amount of time spent reading:1.5 hours
Running total of time spent reading since you started:2.5 hours
Mini-challenge this hour: quote challenge
Other participants visited: unsure
Prize you’ve won: none (but hopeful!!!:)

Fave quote mini-challenge!!( I just picked my faveourite out of what I am reading, since I am not at home....but I think it is pretty good~:) :

Because of Boredom

Grant all the desks in the world
to the man
who writes
but is not a poet.

And in return,
give me a cool glass of water

to put up
with his existence.
(Mina Assadi, p. 43 BELONGING: New Poetry by Iranians around the world, edited and translated by Niloufar Talebi)

mini challenge and hour 1+2 update:

Title of book(s) read this hour: The Wishing Year by Noelle Oxenhandler
Number of books read since you started:1 book, one comic
Pages read:74
Running total of pages read since you started:74
Amount of time spent reading:50minutes
Running total of time spent reading since you started:50 minutes
Mini-challenge this hour: two challenges, meme mini challenge and comic mini-challenge
Other participants visited: 5 or so
Prize you’ve won: none (but hopeful!!!:)

Oh, and for the mini-challenge over at nymeth's I read a Dr. McNinja strip (Dr. McNinja Vs. Macdonald's )!!! I have never read that before, but my friend adores him...it is silly comic humor, but I may go back again throughout this read-a-thon for a good laugh or too!!!:) I read comics for 30 minutes.

MAY THE BATTLE BEGIN!!! (read-a-thon kick off!)

well, this isn't really a battle, but it is a good fun time to hang and chill, but mostly to read!!!! I am kicking off my read-a-thon finishing up my ARC The Wishing Year. I am not sure what I think of it so far...it is pretty slow sometimes (seriously slow).

good luck reading!!! I will check in with you all when I have read a bit :) being that this is a read-a-thon !!! hahaha....

read-a-thon mini challenge!!! (hour one...but we haven't started yet :)

Where are you reading from today? The Pacific Northwest, oh so beautiful here!!! :) I am specifically in Corvallis Oregon, Home of the Oregon State Beavers! It is still early here, I just woke up.

3 facts about me …
1.) I am bilingual because my parents are missionaries in Span and I grew up there, half of me belongs to Spain
2.) I am becoming a locavore, not fully I do have little kids, and not a ton of time to spend...but as much as I can I buy food that is grown locally and I have my own chickens IN TOWN!!(no worries it's legal!) So the only thing that I am bummed about missing today is the wonderful Farmers Market! I will survive.
3.) I am married and have two little boys(2+4). My hubby is SO AMAZING to take them for the whole day...I get to go to the lib, to coffee shops and all ( no reading would be getting done at home!!)

How many books do you have in your TBR pile for the next 24 hours?
To be honest, I haven' gotten this all that figured out yet!! I need to get to it, but I figured I would complete the meme and feed my chickens, and get dressed first :)
Do you have any goals for the read-a-thon (i.e. number of books, number of pages, number of hours, or number of comments on blogs)?
Well, I don't not yet...I am just going to read-away and see what I can do!

I do have a goal of updating every two hours or so, and commenting/cheering other readers on as well...this is going to be great fun!!

Any advice for people doing this for the first time?
Ha, this is my first time!! I guess I have no idea what I am in for!:) I am doing the version I designed for mothers of small children (hahah!)....I will read, but I will also sleep, and eat and breathe....I am going to let this be fun:) My advice, have a good time!!!!!

Thanks Darcy for this delightful challenge meme....it is fun to get to know everyone!!

sweetness in the mail:)

Looky at the gifties I got in the mail today! Oh, sweet nectar of life... in paper form.
thank you so much Fizzy Beverage, I can't wait to read them! They have come in handy for the read-a-thon this weekend, oh...can't wait :) THANK YOU!

100 reviews for OT!!!

Orbis Terrarum Challengers, we have just hit 100 books that we have read (jointly) for this challenge!!! Craziness!!! You all have done some great reading, here is out latest map...it is looking really green, GO CHALLENGERS!!!

btt: a reader

Q:What, in your opinion, is the definition of a “reader.” A person who indiscriminately reads everything in sight? A person who reads BOOKS? A person who reads, period, no matter what it is? … Or, more specific? Like the specific person who’s reading something you wrote?

A:Well, to me a reader is a person who on a consistent basis enjoys reading books in their spare time. There is obliviously the definition of reader for anyone who can read, and that is understandable too, as in for little kids and such. But, for me I would assume that we are already talking about adults, and those who are literate...so in that case a reader is someone who enjoys the act of reading, and not just a certain series, and then never again, but someone who is consistent with their pleasure in reading, and someone who seeks it out (ei little kid who can never check out enough books at the lib, or adults who enjoy a good book with their evening tea or on the porch). Reading does not need to be snobby, and I think the snobbery of exclusion has lasted long enough...reading is a joy and a reader will know that feeling of blis in picking up a book to read. To me a reader is unlike a knowledge-grabber who is on the constant drive to know more, so they can blast you away with all the titles, all the really boring books, and all the facts....to me readers tend to not feel the need to brag about their books, since their joy of reading comes from within, and not from an external praise they would receive. Don't get me wrong we all need encouragement, but I am talking about reading for show,or for what others would assume of us for having read so much, to me that is not a true reader since their pleasure comes not from books but from the glory. (we all like to brag a little though right!?) :)

What do you think? What is a reader to you? Are you a reader? Have you always been a reader, or did something trigger it later on in your life?

ps. all of us bookie bloggers would definitely be considered readers!! We are readers over breathers, hhahaha!!! :) If we aren't readers...than no one is!