Hello, I have been busy and I find that I spend a lot of my day reading and blogging. I wish I could slow it down so I thought of a way. Team Members, what if some people became team members of this blog so they are enabled to post reviews, memes and reply to comments, only 5 members can join (not including myself). Also, there are a couple of genres you can't review, romance and chick-lit, which seem to be the most popular genres at the moment, please stick to fiction, I don't mind kid's and YA etc.
If you are interested please go here and answer the following questions:
http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?key=tZPzh623Nl1hALU7HlHh92A&hl=en
Jul 18, 2009
Awards
I received the "Heartfelt" award from Missy at Missy's Book Nook.
Rules: Put the logo on your blog/post. Nominate up to to 9 blogs which make you feel comfy or warm inside. Be sure to link your nominees withing your post. Let them know that they have been nominated by commenting on their blog. Remember to link to the person from whom you received your award.
Rules: Put the logo on your blog/post. Nominate up to to 9 blogs which make you feel comfy or warm inside. Be sure to link your nominees withing your post. Let them know that they have been nominated by commenting on their blog. Remember to link to the person from whom you received your award.
I think I will only nominate 3 people:
Natalie from The Book Inn
Jessica from A Book Lover's Diary
Eleni from La Femme Readers
I also got the "Let's be friends" award from Jessica (Booklover):
Rules:Blogs that receive the Let’s Be Friends Award are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers. Give this award to eight bloggers.
I would write them all down but that would take for ever, anyone who has joined my blog in the past 2 weeks, may accept this award.
Jul 15, 2009
Guest review - by Sandra Stiles
I was so thrilled to get my ARC of Norah McClintock’s book Taken. From the minute I opened the book, I was hooked. The plot was well thought out and well written, the following is my review.
Stephanie and her mother have not gotten along since her father passed away and her mother started dating Gregg. Her father was a well educated and refined man in her eyes. Gregg, her mother’s new boyfriend is slovenly and a loser. It is obvious that he does things to make Stephanie irritated, except when her mother is around. He even remarks to her that she looks just like the girls that have gone missing recently.
It seemed ironic that Stephanie would become the victim of a kidnapping. Thanks to her grandfather she has some survival skills that may just help her out.
To say anymore would definitely spoil the book. The answer to the questions I asked from the beginning, “who was the serial killer”, was not answered the way I expected.
As a mother I went through the emotions any mother would when their child is missing. Having lost someone to a kidnapping and murder brought back emotions I had not felt in a long time. I wondered if I would have been able to survive this situation. This was an awesome book and a very quick read. I will definitely be looking for more books by this author. Up until today I was unfamiliar with this author, but I will own more of her books and they will be placed on the shelves of my classroom.
You can also check out her review at: http://www.musingsofabookaddict.com/2009/07/taken-by-norah-mcclintock.html
Stephanie and her mother have not gotten along since her father passed away and her mother started dating Gregg. Her father was a well educated and refined man in her eyes. Gregg, her mother’s new boyfriend is slovenly and a loser. It is obvious that he does things to make Stephanie irritated, except when her mother is around. He even remarks to her that she looks just like the girls that have gone missing recently.
It seemed ironic that Stephanie would become the victim of a kidnapping. Thanks to her grandfather she has some survival skills that may just help her out.
To say anymore would definitely spoil the book. The answer to the questions I asked from the beginning, “who was the serial killer”, was not answered the way I expected.
As a mother I went through the emotions any mother would when their child is missing. Having lost someone to a kidnapping and murder brought back emotions I had not felt in a long time. I wondered if I would have been able to survive this situation. This was an awesome book and a very quick read. I will definitely be looking for more books by this author. Up until today I was unfamiliar with this author, but I will own more of her books and they will be placed on the shelves of my classroom.
You can also check out her review at: http://www.musingsofabookaddict.com/2009/07/taken-by-norah-mcclintock.html
Jul 12, 2009
Interview - Lois Lowry and reminder
Interview:
Hey everyone, here is an interview I did with Lois Lowry:
Who or what inspired you to be a writer?
All the books I read.
At what age did you start writing?
I knew at the age of about 8 or 9 that I wanted to be a writer.
How often do you write each day?
Writting is a profession, so unless I am occupied with other parts of the process (traveling, speaking, research etc.) I write every day, all day.
Did your children read any of your books?
I'm sure they have, certainly my grand children have read some of them.
Who was/is your favorite author?
I have several favorites, but I would say Ian McEwan is one of my favorites.
Out of your books, which is your favorite?
Autumn Street, it is autobiographical.
Reminder:
Just a reminder to everyone who wishes to participate in the "August Reading Challenge", please fill out the Mr. Linky widget on the post so that I can keep track of who has joined!
Thanks,
Pizza "Never judge a book by it's pages" lol, inside joke.
Hey everyone, here is an interview I did with Lois Lowry:Who or what inspired you to be a writer?
All the books I read.
At what age did you start writing?
I knew at the age of about 8 or 9 that I wanted to be a writer.
How often do you write each day?
Writting is a profession, so unless I am occupied with other parts of the process (traveling, speaking, research etc.) I write every day, all day.
Did your children read any of your books?
I'm sure they have, certainly my grand children have read some of them.
Who was/is your favorite author?
I have several favorites, but I would say Ian McEwan is one of my favorites.
Out of your books, which is your favorite?
Autumn Street, it is autobiographical.
Reminder:
Just a reminder to everyone who wishes to participate in the "August Reading Challenge", please fill out the Mr. Linky widget on the post so that I can keep track of who has joined!
Thanks,
Pizza "Never judge a book by it's pages" lol, inside joke.
Jul 10, 2009
Zakk interviews Michael Pryor. Review "Blaze of Glory" here too.
All Michael's answers came within one day, he's really easy to contact, beat that Pizza!
What came first: Quentaris, Chronicles of Krangor or The Laws of Magic? The Quentaris Chronicles began first. Paul Collins and I started discussions on these in 2001. While we were working on these I was also having other ideas (as usual). In 2002 I started jotting down some ideas which turned into the Krangor series, and almost on top of that (in late 2003) I had a notion or two which resulted in the Laws of Magic.
From your books, which is your favourite character? and why? Aubrey Fitzwilliam. I like the way he uses his wits to solve problems, and I like the way that he’s a combination of confidence and lack of confidence, swinging between them both.
Recently a lot of Aussie Authors have been successful. Do you have a favourite Australian Author? I’m a long time fan of Andy Griffiths. Very funny guy.
What inspired you to write Laws of Magic? I’d been writing high fantasy for some time, with the Quentaris series, and I wanted to do something a bit different. So I looked for another time period, something other than the middle ages sort of setting of much fantasy. The period just before World War I had always appealed to me because there was so much happening then, so I thought adding a bit of magic would only make it more so. Then I decided I’d make magic a rational sort of pursuit, more like a science, as a parallel to much of the scientific development at that time. Quickly, I found that this all worked to make a slightly old-fashioned sounding story, where adventures and heroism were perfectly at home. Lovely!
Do you see yourself as a 'George' or an 'Aubrey'? Or someone else from Laws of Magic? Aubrey. I often over think things instead of just trusting my first instincts. I wish I were magical, though.
How much do you write each day? I write for about four hours a day, and the rest of the day is spent on research, administration, things like that.
What can we expect in the next book, "Time of Trial"? Time of Trial is coming out in September 09. Check out the book trailer on YouTube - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyGLZA-WI4Q
Have your daughters read your books? if yes. Do they enjoy them? They’ve been very helpful in reading drafts ever since they’ve been old enough. They read with a pencil in hand, ready to make notes in the margin, telling me where the story is working and where it isn’t. Do they enjoy them? They actually find it hard to read them like they read other books. They keep hearing their dad talking to them, they say …
Dr. Tremaine - can you give us a hint of what he'll be up to in "Time of Trial?" Hint: he’s basically taking over Holmland.
Have you received any awards for your books? I’ve come close, but haven’t been lucky enough to win a prize. Lots of shortlistings, highly recommendeds and so on, but no gong as yet. Come on people, vote for me!
And finally, a random question: If there are only two pigs/otters left on the planet, and they are both male, how do you keep their species alive? Hmm. This is where science comes to the rescue. Cloning is the only answer. Unless they make a mistake and create some hideous hybrid pigotter. Aargh!
Review by Zakk - Blaze of Glory
First in the ‘Laws of Magic’ Series, Michael Pryor’s ‘Blaze of Glory’ is an adventure not quite like your everyday fantasy-fiction. If anything, it’s a book centered on politics, change, magic and mystery, and it deliciously weaves in and out of the struggling political career of the main character’s father, ex-prime minister of the island nation of Albion.
It starts, as many fiction books do, in a school. After a disastrous attempt at death magic, Aubrey Fitzwilliam’s soul is no longer attached to his body, not properly anyway. During a routine physical test (two laps around a ridiculously hilly track) Aubrey finds himself struggling, and with his body-soul fragility, physical strain was pulling on the already lose bonds of his being. He collapses, and much to his best friend George Doyle’s distaste, refuses to go to the infirmary.
The next chapter explains how Aubrey got into his magical predicament. And also how he manages to hold on to life, if only by a thread (literally, pg. 32). The book continues with an invitation to a shooting party organised by Prince Albert (Aubrey’s cousin, talk about well connected!) But things come to a standstill when George and Aubrey discover a magically created assassin, a golem, with its sights set on the Prince.
But who created the Golem? And why? Will Aubrey discover a cure for his condition? Will Aubrey’s Father ever rise back to PM?
Perhaps. You’ll have to read to find out wont you!
The book has everything. Brilliant language, enough pages to keep you reading (393, by the way), mystery, magic, action, humour, romance and an obvious political theme. Oh, a war is on the way too. Putting this book down is hard, but you have to. It isn’t a never-ending story, after all.
Thanks Michael for the great read. And the interview too, I really didn’t expect a reply. I’ll give it four and a half stars. Read it, read its sequels and anxiously await book four.
My favourite quote…
“George frowned. ‘Looks like some of those mathematical curvy things…’
‘Parabolas?’
‘They’re the ones. You’ve got a bunch of them trying to dance with some sort of lopsided stars. And you’ve thrown in a few twisty rings for good measure. Very nice.’
‘Thanks, George. I’ll see if I can get you a spot as one of the judges for the next school art show.”
You can visit Michael’s website at http//michaelpryor.com.au
Zakk - According to Pizza, "You should never judge a book by its pages."
What came first: Quentaris, Chronicles of Krangor or The Laws of Magic? The Quentaris Chronicles began first. Paul Collins and I started discussions on these in 2001. While we were working on these I was also having other ideas (as usual). In 2002 I started jotting down some ideas which turned into the Krangor series, and almost on top of that (in late 2003) I had a notion or two which resulted in the Laws of Magic.
From your books, which is your favourite character? and why? Aubrey Fitzwilliam. I like the way he uses his wits to solve problems, and I like the way that he’s a combination of confidence and lack of confidence, swinging between them both.
Recently a lot of Aussie Authors have been successful. Do you have a favourite Australian Author? I’m a long time fan of Andy Griffiths. Very funny guy.
What inspired you to write Laws of Magic? I’d been writing high fantasy for some time, with the Quentaris series, and I wanted to do something a bit different. So I looked for another time period, something other than the middle ages sort of setting of much fantasy. The period just before World War I had always appealed to me because there was so much happening then, so I thought adding a bit of magic would only make it more so. Then I decided I’d make magic a rational sort of pursuit, more like a science, as a parallel to much of the scientific development at that time. Quickly, I found that this all worked to make a slightly old-fashioned sounding story, where adventures and heroism were perfectly at home. Lovely!
Do you see yourself as a 'George' or an 'Aubrey'? Or someone else from Laws of Magic? Aubrey. I often over think things instead of just trusting my first instincts. I wish I were magical, though.
How much do you write each day? I write for about four hours a day, and the rest of the day is spent on research, administration, things like that.
What can we expect in the next book, "Time of Trial"? Time of Trial is coming out in September 09. Check out the book trailer on YouTube - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyGLZA-WI4Q
Have your daughters read your books? if yes. Do they enjoy them? They’ve been very helpful in reading drafts ever since they’ve been old enough. They read with a pencil in hand, ready to make notes in the margin, telling me where the story is working and where it isn’t. Do they enjoy them? They actually find it hard to read them like they read other books. They keep hearing their dad talking to them, they say …
Dr. Tremaine - can you give us a hint of what he'll be up to in "Time of Trial?" Hint: he’s basically taking over Holmland.
Have you received any awards for your books? I’ve come close, but haven’t been lucky enough to win a prize. Lots of shortlistings, highly recommendeds and so on, but no gong as yet. Come on people, vote for me!
And finally, a random question: If there are only two pigs/otters left on the planet, and they are both male, how do you keep their species alive? Hmm. This is where science comes to the rescue. Cloning is the only answer. Unless they make a mistake and create some hideous hybrid pigotter. Aargh!
Review by Zakk - Blaze of Glory
First in the ‘Laws of Magic’ Series, Michael Pryor’s ‘Blaze of Glory’ is an adventure not quite like your everyday fantasy-fiction. If anything, it’s a book centered on politics, change, magic and mystery, and it deliciously weaves in and out of the struggling political career of the main character’s father, ex-prime minister of the island nation of Albion.
It starts, as many fiction books do, in a school. After a disastrous attempt at death magic, Aubrey Fitzwilliam’s soul is no longer attached to his body, not properly anyway. During a routine physical test (two laps around a ridiculously hilly track) Aubrey finds himself struggling, and with his body-soul fragility, physical strain was pulling on the already lose bonds of his being. He collapses, and much to his best friend George Doyle’s distaste, refuses to go to the infirmary.
The next chapter explains how Aubrey got into his magical predicament. And also how he manages to hold on to life, if only by a thread (literally, pg. 32). The book continues with an invitation to a shooting party organised by Prince Albert (Aubrey’s cousin, talk about well connected!) But things come to a standstill when George and Aubrey discover a magically created assassin, a golem, with its sights set on the Prince.
But who created the Golem? And why? Will Aubrey discover a cure for his condition? Will Aubrey’s Father ever rise back to PM?
Perhaps. You’ll have to read to find out wont you!
The book has everything. Brilliant language, enough pages to keep you reading (393, by the way), mystery, magic, action, humour, romance and an obvious political theme. Oh, a war is on the way too. Putting this book down is hard, but you have to. It isn’t a never-ending story, after all.
Thanks Michael for the great read. And the interview too, I really didn’t expect a reply. I’ll give it four and a half stars. Read it, read its sequels and anxiously await book four.
My favourite quote…
“George frowned. ‘Looks like some of those mathematical curvy things…’
‘Parabolas?’
‘They’re the ones. You’ve got a bunch of them trying to dance with some sort of lopsided stars. And you’ve thrown in a few twisty rings for good measure. Very nice.’
‘Thanks, George. I’ll see if I can get you a spot as one of the judges for the next school art show.”
You can visit Michael’s website at http//michaelpryor.com.au
Zakk - According to Pizza, "You should never judge a book by its pages."
Zakk has joined...
As a better description of what Zakk posted, he has joined the blog so that I can spread my reading out a little. He insisted that the name shouldn't change because "Zakk and Pizza's Book Discussion" has no "ring". So basically Zakk has the right to post reviews now.
Cya,
Pizza
Cya,
Pizza
Jul 9, 2009
Kreativ Blogger Award
I have received an award from J. Kaye called the Kreativ Blogger Award.
This is a meme, and here are the rules:
If you accept it, you are to list seven favorite things and nominate seven bloggers for the award.
7 favorite things:
Reading (duh, :D)
Blogging
Climbing
Family
Friends
Dog
Reviewing
7 nominations:
Zakk from THE BLOG (http://zakkip.blogspot.com/)
Eleni from La Femme Readers (http://lafemmereaders.blogspot.com/)
Sassy from Alternative-Read.com (http://tjbook-list.blogspot.com/)
Vice, Choclate and Chilli from Sweet Book Delights (http://sweetbookdelights.blogspot.com)
Caspette from The Narrative Causality (http://thenarrativecausality.blogspot.com/)
Missy from Missy's Book Nook (http://missysbooknook.blogspot.com/)
Maia T from Maia's Paintings (http://maiaspaintings.blogspot.com/)
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