Review: Hamster Island by Joan Heartwell

Hamster Island is Heartwell's story of growing up ordinary in family that embodied dysfunction. Her childlike shame for her special needs siblings is balanced by a fierce love that, occasionally, enabled her to shed her diffidence and perform extraordinary feats of pluck and valor. Funny and heartbreaking simultaneously, 

Hamster Island is a coming-of-age in the tradition of such darkly comic memoirs as Mary Karr's The Liars Club and Augusten Burroughs' Running with Scissors; it delights while exploring issues of identity, transformation, and responsibility.

Review: Of Beast and Beauty by Stacey Jay

 

 

In the beginning was the darkness, and in the darkness was a girl, and in the girl was a secret...

In the domed city of Yuan, the blind Princess Isra, a Smooth Skin, is raised to be a human sacrifice whose death will ensure her city’s vitality. In the desert outside Yuan, Gem, a mutant beast, fights to save his people, the Monstrous, from starvation. Neither dreams that together, they could return balance to both their worlds.

Isra wants to help the city’s Banished people, second-class citizens despised for possessing Monstrous traits. But after she enlists the aid of her prisoner, Gem, who has been captured while trying to steal Yuan’s enchanted roses, she begins to care for him, and to question everything she has been brought up to believe.

Of Beast and Beauty: Week 4 Discussion

Welcome to the last week 
of the read-along:
 Of Beast and Beauty
hosted by 

A Night's Dream of Books
and Vonnie's Reading Corner!

Spotlight-- Salome: The Myth, the Dance of the Seven Veils

Maria Strova
De Angelis Art

Synopsis
When Oscar Wilde wrote Salome, he named – without describing it – the Dance of the Seven Veils. This happy absence of any code of movement has allowed choreographers, directors and dancers to imagine – each one according to their own talents – a dance with infinite possibilities. Among the artists who have tackled the character of Salome and her dance, particularly those who have used the languages of theatre and cinematography, many have thoroughly explored the relatively hidden themes in the myth, and many, including the most innovative versions and the most daring experimentations, have succeeded at highlighting a variety of aspects.

This book, published after years of study of Salome’s character as represented in written texts, images, film, theatre and cinema, is unique in its approach. The author is first and foremost a dancer, and by virtue of her art, she has been able to explore the themes and the myth of Salome by personally experiencing, with her own skin and her own sweat, that inner world, so rich and controversial, that makes Salome a female archetype without parallel: hated but fundamental, condemned and yet indispensible for breaking the rules that continue to constrain women who, rendered mute and unable to express themselves before Herod’s lustful gaze, are depicted by a porno-chic culture that deprives women and dancers of an authentic sexual experience.

Review: Salome by Oscar Wilde

Synopsis:  The play tells in one act the Biblical story of Salome, stepdaughter of the tetrarch Herod Antipas, who, to her stepfather's dismay but to the delight of her mother Herodias, requests the head of Iokanaan (John the Baptist) on a silver platter as a reward for dancing the dance of the seven veils.

My thoughts: This was an interesting interpretation of the Biblical story of the beheading of John the Baptist. It strayed away from what is in the Bible and turned into a story that most people have come to associate Salome for: a seductress.

24 Hour: That's a Wrap!

That's a wrap, everyone and all I can say is:

WOW!!!

I am super amazed on all the hard work and dedication that EVERYONE put into this read-a-thon. So, I applaud you.

This was my first time participating. I was not a reader, but I did cheer and host a challenge. Oh yeah...Here's who won the 3-2-1 Action! Challenge:

Hour 21 Mini Challenge: 3-2-1 Action!

Welcome read-a-thon participants!!

How are we holding up? Are we still awake? Well wake up because it's time for a Mini Challenge!!!

In this challenge, you will be taking a picture by "acting" out a scene (or character) from the current book you are reading.

You can use anyone or anything to help you. The only rule is: You HAVE to be in the picture. Oh yeah...the other rule is, HAVE FUN!

Here's my picture:

24 Hour Read-a-thon: A Little Late

 Dewey's 24 Hour Readathon

AAAAHHH! I can't believe I didn't have an initial post for this and I'm soooo late into the game! But hey! My excuse is that I had rehearsal this morning and I'm leaving to perform at a show in half an hour. So there's no time!

Anywho...

I don't think I'll be getting much reading done today because of what I mentioned above but I'm going to do my very best to pop-in here and there on people's blogs to cheer them on. I highly admire everyone who is participating and working hard on their books. Great job guys!

Also, I'll be hosting a mini-challenge in hour 21 and having a giveaway. So keep your eye out on that!

For now, I am off to shimmy!!!

Of Beast and Beauty: Week 3 Discussion

Welcome to the third week 
of the read-along:
 Of Beast and Beauty
It is hosted by 

A Night's Dream of Books
and Vonnie's Reading Corner!

Teaser Tuesdays #83

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by Should Be Reading.

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My Teaser:

Review: I Don't Wanna Be an Orange Anymore! by Hank Kellner

Growing up in the fictional town of Meadowview, young Willie Watson objects to being required to play the part of an orange in the school play when he is nine and in the fourth grade. But that's just the beginning of his problems. As he continues through elementary school and into junior high school, Willie has to deal with the town bully; Christmas with his relatives; the death of a schoolmate; the loss of his girlfriend; the theft of a fountain pen, and his broken eyeglasses.

But that’s not all. Willie doesn’t want to eat his peas; take the garbage out; deal with his troublesome kid sister; try to climb the ropes in gym class while his gym teacher harasses him, or have to stay after school until he’s “…old enough to grow a beard.”

Readers will discover how Willy becomes a member of Brucie’s gang; what happens in the old movie house on Main Street; how feisty old Grandma inspires Willie, and much, much more.

Included in this book are such chapters as "There Is No Santa Claus," "Oh Captain, My Captain," "The Dog in the Rhinestone Collar," "A Bird's Just a Bird," and "Hey Brucie, Your Sister Wears Long Underwear."

I Don’t Wanna Be an Orange Anymore contains a wealth of humorous and often touching descriptions of a young boy's fantasies and life experiences as he grows up in a small town many years ago. This coming of age novel is suitable not only for young adults, but also for older readers.

AMAZON  *  B&N  *  SMASHWORDS  * GOODREADS

Of Beast and Beauty: Week 2 Discussion

Welcome to the second week 
of the read-along:
 Of Beast and Beauty
It is hosted by 

A Night's Dream of Books
and Vonnie's Reading Corner!

This Read-Along will run from 

April 1st to April 30th, 2014!!
Feel free to join us :)

Review: Layla's Gale by Nicole Pouchet

Life is finally on track for fledgling stage actress Layla Cohen until she realizes her gorgeous new director, Sebastian, is the star of the erotic dreams which she’s been having for months. She could handle the uncomfortable work situation if not for the further evidence she’s losing her mind: The wind suddenly whooshes at her command; memories of a past life emerge; and she’s sure someone is trying to kill her.

Meanwhile, director Sebastian Tawanti is steering his small D.C. theater company into the big-time with his Incan mythology-based play. The culmination of his life’s work, he won’t let anything stand in the way of his play’s success–not his mother’s objections, not the inappropriate heat he feels for Layla, and not even the mysterious, empathic symptoms he’s experienced since meeting her.

As Layla and Sebastian struggle with new love and burgeoning power, a sinister force unravels to fulfill an ancient prophecy. Will they learn the truth behind the Incan script in time to save their lives, the love they’re destined to share, and the future of humanity?

AMAZON  *  B&N

Teaser Tuesdays #82

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by Should Be Reading.

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My Teaser:

LA's Festival of Books 2014

What a wonderful weekend! The Festival of Books was happening and for the first time, I was able to attend BOTH days!!! And boy! Were they wonderful!
 
I was able to meet many authors, add more books to my collection, get ALL of my books signed, got to see all kinds of people attending, got to drag my baby sister and two girlfriends across the USC campus as I ran after authors, and met the blogger from BookHounds! It was amazing!
 
Now bare with me as I describe to you the two days I attended.  :)

Audiobook: Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon

 

Read by Davina Porter

 

Synopsis:
For twenty years Claire Randall has kept her secrets. But now she is returning with her grown daughter to Scotland's majestic mist-shrouded hills. Here Claire plans to reveal a truth as stunning as the events that gave it birth: about the mystery of an ancient circle of standing stones ...about a love that transcends the boundaries of time ...and about James Fraser, a Scottish warrior whose gallantry once drew a young Claire from the security of her century to the dangers of his ....

Now a legacy of blood and desire will test her beautiful copper-haired daughter, Brianna, as Claire's spellbinding journey of self-discovery continues in the intrigue-ridden Paris court of Charles Stuart ...in a race to thwart a doomed Highlands uprising ...and in a desperate fight to save both the child and the man she loves....

Cover Reveal: Resistance by Jaye L. Knight

Resistance

by

Jaye L. Knight

Kindle release date: May 20, 2014

And

Here's

the

Cover....

Of Beast and Beauty Read-Along: Week 1 Discussion Questions

Welcome to the first week 
of the read-along:
 Of Beast and Beauty
It is hosted by 

A Night's Dream of Books
and Vonnie's Reading Corner!

This Read-Along will run from 

April 1st to April 30th, 2014!!
You can still sign up, so come on 

in and join the fun here!!

Blog Tour Spotlight + Giveaway-- The Impaler Legacy: Omnibus by Ioana Visan

In a world crawling with vampires, Romania is the safest place left on earth. Thanks to the Little Council, there hasn’t been a vampire on Romanian ground in over five centuries, until one day when Liana Cantacuzino is ordered to bring one in, covertly.

Enter Maximilien Hess, a thousand-year-old vampire determined to ruin the existing order of things. When all is revealed, Hess’s secret changes everything, and a reluctant alliance is formed because the alternative is much worse.

The Impaler Legacy Omnibus, a vampire saga like no other, includes:

Teaser Tuesdays #81

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by Should Be Reading.

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My Teaser:

Spotlight-- The Maverick Touch: The Highway by Ashley Nemer

The Art of Safkhet Presents – Ashley Nemer

MAVERICK TOUCH: THE HIGHWAY

Released March 24, 2014

Nadia and Anabella head down to Houston, Texas for what they thought would be a relaxing vacation. Nadia could work on her travel news articles for her boss in Cedar Rapids while Anabella caught a few rays of sunshine. Or that was the plan. Little did they know what trouble lurked inside the luxurious hotel nestled in the center of downtown Houston.

When Carlisle Ali introduces Anabella to his friend and brother-in-arms, Carter Jackson, all hell breaks loose for the Mavericks. Trouble never has a problem finding Nadia when she is out and about looking for a story. Be it Cedar Rapids or Houston, it doesn't matter. Nadia finds a way to cause chaos and disaster.

Cover Reveal: My Mistake by Anne Conley

Author Anne Conley & My Family's Heart Book Reviews & Tours present "My Mistake" Cover Reveal

 

TITLE – My Mistake  

SERIES – Stories of Serendipity  

AUTHOR - Anne Conley  

Read-Along: Of Beast and Beauty--Launch Post!!

Welcome to the Read-Along
for the bestselling
YA novel, Of Beast and Beauty,
brought to you by

Vonnie's Reading Corner and

A Night's Dream of Books!!

This is the launch post for
 the Read-Along,

which will run from 

April 1st to April 30th, 2014!!
You can still sign up, so come on 

in and join the fun!!

Teaser Tuesdays #80

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by Should Be Reading.

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My Teaser: