award winner

The Sunshine Blogger Award

 in Blog Events / Books / Fun by

theA while back I reviewed Josie Jaffrey’s book A Bargain in Silver and she nominated me for The Sunshine Blogger Award! Which is so cool! So thank you so much for Josie for that!

Now, what it is…

Essentially the award is given to others who inspiring and aim to spread sunshine through their blogs or social media accounts. So I am definitely honored to have been nominated for this award. Many thanks!

THE RULES

The Sunshine Blogger Award does not operate in an atmosphere of chaos, ergo there are rules as follows:

  • Name drop and link to the blog of the person who nominated you.

  • Answer the eleven questions from the blogger who nominated you.

  • Nominate up to eleven wonderful bloggers and write (or borrow/steal) eleven questions for them to answer.

MY ANSWERS

1.  Who’s your weird celebrity crush and why?

I honestly don’t have a weird celebrity crush. I mean all of my crushes are main stream celebrities like Daniel Craig (maybe he could be weird since he’s a lot older than me), Orlando Bloom, Alexander Skarsgård, The Hemsworth brothers. I mean maybe the weird ones would be the international celebrities I follow, like those who are part of k-pop bands. I have a few secret crushes there. But shhh, my secret.

2.  You can only watch one film, as many times as you like, for the rest of your life.  What do you choose?

This is a disgustingly hard question because I love movies. Like so much! So I’d be torn between 47 Ronin, Constantine and John Wick. I love 47 Ronin because of the story, the fact that it’s about Ronin (masterless Samurai) and the entire story around it. But then Constantine is just epic. It is an older movie but it is still fantastic with an amazing story line and something that I’d definitely suggest that you check out. John Wick, well everyone knows about that one because of the hype about the entire story line. People loved it and I did too. It was just such a great story, quite realistic and amazing overall. Yes, they are all Keanu Reeves’ movies – he’s a great actor! I don’t know which one I’d choose but if I had to, it would be one of those three (I’m really indecisive).

3.  How many of you does it take to change a lightbulb?

Two! One to get the step ladder as the real me is too lazy to get it, and the other to actually put the lightbulb in (totally will admit some of the jokes on that lightbulb page went right over my head).

tea4.  Coffee or tea?

Duh, tea! English over here – our blood is practically tea.

5.  What’s the best gig/play you’ve ever seen?

I still that Phantom of the Opera is the best play that I have ever seen. I love how the chandelier falls and I can’t get enough of the music and costumes. I’ve seen it twice and want to go back again a few more times as I can’t get enough of it!

6.  You can go anywhere in the world, in any time period, with any person (living or dead).  Where, when and with whom would you go?

This is definitely going to be an interesting one, and a weird combination. I really would love to go back to Feudal Japan, maybe 1400-1600. I think I’d love to go with Keanu Reeves. I mean I’ve always loved his movies and he’s a fantastic fighter and after 47 Ronin, I don’t know, I think it would be kind of cool!

7.  What are you reading at the moment and how are you finding it?

I’m reading Shōgun by James Clavell and I think I’ve been reading it for over a year because I can never really just get through it as it’s so long. I love it and want to finish this book. Sometimes it’s a little boring but I will get through it. Even if it takes me a few years.

dragons and knights8.  Dragons or unicorns?

Dragons! ‘Cos that means that Knights who fight the dragons would be also real…right? And who doesn’t want a Knight in shining armor.

9.  If you were a chart-topping recording star, what sort of music would you be making?

Honestly, I’d probably be making K-Pop music, of making a name for J-Pop as that is the stuff that I love to listen to. That or you’d find me singing some smash broadway tunes.

10.  The entire world is shortly to be subjugated by a race of giant mutant ants.  You have twelve hours before you are put to work in their colossal sugar factories.  How do you spend your final hours of freedom?

Eating all of my favorite foods. I mean once you are stuck working you won’t be able to eat and I’m sure stuff like Sushi and Ramen won’t be around anymore. So I’ll be getting fat, in front of my TV enjoying some of my favorite movies, and filling my face with food. I know, I have my priorities straight.

top secret - spy11.  When you were ten, what did you want to be when you grew up?

I definitely wanted to be a spy. Like James Bond but like…Janet Bond or something. Be able to kick butt, fly around the world, kill bad guys and dress as sharp as he does. Like man, can he wear a suit (Daniel Craig I’m referencing here 😉 ). But yeah. Hands down a spy.

MY QUESTIONS

  1. What are you currently reading and why did you choose that book?
  2. When you were a teenager, what did you want to be when you grew up?
  3. There’s a massive asteroid heading your way and it is about to destroy planet Earth and you have 24 hours to live. What would you do for your last 24 hours?
  4. Tea or coffee?
  5. Book or movie?
  6. You can only watch one movie for the rest of your life. What will it be and why?
  7. You find a genie and he says that he can transport you into your favorite book. Forever. What book would it be and why?
  8. What’s your favorite website (any subject)?
  9. If you could meet any celebrity, who would you meet and why?
  10. You can also meet any person from history, who would you choose to meet and for what reason?
  11. You can only study one thing for the rest of your life. What would you choose to study?

THE NOMINATIONS

Writing and Musing

Dab of Darkness 

The Orang-utan Librarian

Avid Reader Musings

Death, Books, and Tea

Fangirl Confessions

I hope you enjoyed and congratulations to those nominated. Pass it on!

Tall Story by Candy Gourlay

 in Book Reviews / Books by

This was the other book Parenthetical and I  read for the Nerds Heart YA.


Summary

“Working through the many meanings of “tall story,” first-time author Gourlay slam-dunks this tale of a towering boy from the Philippines and the pint-size, basketball-crazy half sister with whom he has recently been reunited. Told in the alternating voices of Bernardo, who suffers from gigantism, and Andi, who longs to play point guard on her school’s b-ball team, the novel effortlessly encompasses real-world dreams as well as magic realism. Bernardo was left behind when his mother, a nurse, immigrated to the UK and forged a new family. In San Andres, Bernardo is seen as a reincarnated folk-hero giant who protects the area from earthquakes, though he believes the blame for his freakish height falls on the local witches who cursed him. In contrast to Bernardo’s anxieties over coming to the UK, Andi’s struggles of readjustment to her changed family appear minor. Wonderfully, though, Gourlay uses the dual viewpoints to show that Andi’s concerns are no less important. And, it turns out, she finds that there is more than one thing worth wishing for. This will capture the hearts and minds of sports lovers—and just about everyone else as well.”

From Amazon.com

Review

This book did not make it to the next round of Nerds Heart YA, and here is my review with my reasons.

I personally did not enjoy this book. I felt that it did not go anywhere. It had a flow to it but to me it felt like someone was giving an account of a family visit. Parenthetical said that it was like an adult book as it had a slower pace. As so many YA books (which are new) are fast paced, I just could not seem to stay interested in the book. The characters seemed a little far-fetched. Bernardo was extremely tall, unrealistically tall for his age (16 years old). This book had a sense of magic because Bernardo is believed to save San Andres from earthquakes and the towns people do not want him to go to London because they are scared. His mom thinks Bernardo has a medical condition because he is so tall, but is it something else?

I thought that the story line was interesting with the children visiting (and moving) and how they had not seen each other for a long time and  how the mother was paranoid because she was so short and  did not want her son to be tall. That was quite humorous to me. It reminded me of my mother in many ways as I am taller than her (which is not hard) and she wants me to stop growing :). He was an 8 foot tall child – freakishly tall for his age. Well, freakishly tall in general.

I was also confused in the beginning of the book. I wasn’t clear who the characters were and thought both of the children were boys. Reading further I found out that Bernardo was a boy and Andi was a girl. Confusing.

This book was nominated for the CARNEGIE MEDAL. The Sunday Times voted it one of the 100 Best Summer Titles. The Times voted it the Most Recommended Children’s Book for Christmas. It is a YA book but the reviews are by adults. They read differently. I think that might be why they enjoyed it. Since I am YA, I like books that have something happening, like many teen readers. It was a little too slow for my taste and not enough happened to keep my interest.  I have never read a book like it. I like reading faster paced books and if there is nothing interesting in a book I am instantly turned off. I guess this is something I have to work on.

But even if I did not like it, it does not mean that you should not try it out. Please have a look at it as everyone has a different reading style. I am just picky. 🙂

Check out Parenthetical’s review of the book.

Also check out Candy Gourlay’s website.

From The Vault – Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse

 in Books by

 

Summary

When a terrible incident changes Billie Jo’s life, destroying her inside and out. Her mother is dead. Her father cannot think about her. The one thing that makes Billie Jo happy is playing piano. But that is not possible with her wounded hands. But what makes it worse is that there are dust storms every day. They are devastating her farm and farms around her. While others run away from the dust bowl, Billie Jo has to stay.

Review

This was a very touching book. While simply written it was very strong and  powerful. It shows that life in Oklahoma during the time of  the dust bowl was not easy. It was a hard and  tough life with pain and sadness. The book is written in poem form which makes you read it a little differently. This is a must read book and is a Newberry Winner.

 

Happy Reading!!!

And The Winner Is…..

 in Books by

As we are in Awards season with the Golden Globes, Oscars, Newberry,  Caldcott etc., I thought I would like to give some awards to books that I read last year. So, without further ado……

Most Memorable Title
Mortal Instrument Series   The Infernal Devices   Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare
&
Mortal Instrument Series – City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

Most Memorable Characters
Alex Rider Series :  1-8 by Anthony Horowitz
&
Warrior Saga by Erin Hunter

Most Memorable Cover

Most Touching Story
Night by Elie Wiesel
&
Soldier Boys by Dean Hughes

and from M.O.M
Dreamer by Pamela Ruiz

Most Captivating Story Authors
Dan Brown,
&
Anthony Horowitz

Best Love Story
Nightshade by Andrea Cremer

Now for my favorite book of the year!!!!!
It was a tie between:

Angels and Demons by Dan Brown,
and
Night By Elie Wiesel

Now for my favorite author of the year!!!!!

It was a tie between:

Anthony Horowitz,
and
Elie Wiesel

Congratulations to the winners!!!!