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Showing posts from April, 2011

I Wanna...We, the Drowned by Carsten Jensen

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We, the Drowned by Carsten Jensen  Carsten Jensen’s debut novel has taken the world by storm. Already hailed in Europe as an instant classic, We, the Drowned is the story of the port town of Marstal, whose inhabitants have sailed the world’s oceans aboard freight ships for centuries. Spanning over a hundred years, from the mid-nineteenth century to the end of the Second World War, and from the barren rocks of Newfoundland to the lush plantations of Samoa, from the roughest bars in Tasmania, to the frozen coasts of northern Russia, We, the Drowned spins a magnificent tale of love, war, and adventure, a tale of the men who go to sea and the women they leave behind. Ships are wrecked at sea and blown up during wars, they are places of terror and violence, yet they continue to lure each generation of Marstal men—fathers and sons—away. Strong, resilient, women raise families alone and sometimes take history into their own hands. There are cannibals here, shrunken heads, prop

What's Releasing? (04-27-11 edition)

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What books will be released the week of 5/2/11: Illusions (Laurel Series #3) by Aprilynne Pike "I don't do patrols, I don't go hunting, I just stick close to you. You live your life. I'll keep you safe," Tamani said, sweeping a lock of hair from her face. "Or die trying." Laurel hasn't seen Tamani since she begged him to let her go last year. Though her heart still aches, Laurel is confident that David was the right choice.  But just as life returns to normal, Laurel realizes that a hidden enemy lies in wait. Once again, Laurel must turn to Tamani to protect and guide her, for the danger that now threatens Avalon is one that no faerie thought would ever be possible. And for the first time, Laurel cannot be sure that her side will prevail. The Reading Promise: My Father and the Books We Shared by Alice Ozma  When Alice Ozma was in 4th grade, she and her father decided to see if he could read aloud to her for 100 consecutive nights. On the

REVIEW: The California Roll by John Vorhaus

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Synopsis Meet Radar Hoverlander, a witty, gifted con artist with the mind of David Mamet, the voice of Tom Robbins, and the morals of a sailor on shore leave.   What do the Merlin Game, the Penny Skim, the Doolally Snadoodle, and the Afterparty Snuke have in common? They’re all the work of world-class con artist and master bafflegabber Radar Hoverlander. Radar’s been “on the snuke” since childhood, but he’s still looking for his California Roll, the one big scam that’ll set him up in sushi for life. Trouble arrives in the stunning, sassy package of Allie Quinn—either the last true innocent or a con artist so slick she makes Radar look like a Quaker. Radar’s hapless sidekick, Vic Mirplo, a lovable loser who couldn’t con a kid out of a candy cane, thinks Radar’s being played. But if love is blind, it’s also deaf, dumb and stupid, and before Radar knows it, he’s sucked into a vortex of double-, triple-, quadruple-crosses that’ll either net him his precious California Roll or

Day 05 - A time you thought about ending your own life

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Glad that I actually found some space of time to talk about this. At a tender age of 13 I felt that it was rare that teenagers feel all alone though being surrounded by their friends. I was an emo kid just by the look because I was very good in hiding my emotions. Due to that people always thought that I was "hyper" kid and the "happy go lucky" type hence people never really bothered about how I felt. So sometimes I tend to talk to myself about things that bother me so much since I always kept them within me. Yea felt as if I had a real friend but I was sane enough to know that it was all my imagination. However things doesn't really help much and after advice from various random people, I decided to open up. Well I used to have scars on me, that's how these few people realized. During those times I felt so pissed to be such a phailure!  Being told that your an emotional person, weak in heart, hurting ur ownself and blah blah ain't nice to hear. I never

Day 04 - Your Views on Religion

Am back here once again after a week break. Sorry guys, kinda started a new job hence too tired to blog. Don't mention the chances of me going online in the 1st place though. Other than my bb, I practically ignored due to the drastic change in my body clock left me fatigued! Even right now am partially drunk in a sober state. Confusing? Drunk with sleepiness and tired-ness. Anyways coming back to the topic, what is religion. Everybody have their believes and followings in their lives. I've been a open minded person since god knows when! Then I kinda left everything because for me, I think religion is just believe and following. WAIT! Don't misunderstand what I meant over here! I ain't spreading any heresy (Ajaran Sesat) or anything. It's just my believe and SOLELY APPLICABLE TO ME AND ME ALONE!   Do excuse those bold-ed capital letters. I just get irritated that people always make fuss about it whenever I comment about such topics. Nobody ever asked me why I would

11/22/63 Dust Jacket Revealed on StephenKing.com...

The dust jacket for Stephen King's upcoming 11/22/63, due out November 8, 2011, has been revealed. Click here to launch the artwork page. (The image file is protected, and I don't think they want it shared out on the blogs.) Interesting! It definitely gives you a glimpse into what the book is about. From the official launch page : Jake Epping is a thirty-five-year-old high school English teacher in Lisbon Falls, Maine, who makes extra money teaching adults in the GED program. He receives an essay from one of the students—a gruesome, harrowing first person story about the night 50 years ago when Harry Dunning’s father came home and killed his mother, his sister, and his brother with a hammer. Harry escaped with a smashed leg, as evidenced by his crooked walk.  Not much later, Jake’s friend Al, who runs the local diner, divulges a secret: his storeroom is a portal to 1958. He enlists Jake on an insane—and insanely possible—mission to try to pr

REVIEW: The Foretelling by Alice Hoffman

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Synopsis A coming-of-age story that pierces the soul and heals the spirit, this is the tale of the future leader of the Amazon women warriors. Rain must hold fast to her inner warrior, but she is startled and mystified by the first stirrings of mercy towards the enemy. Pub. Date: September 2006 Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers Format: Paperback , 192pp Sales Rank: 127,316 Age Range: 12 and up ISBN-13: 9780316154093 ISBN: 0316154091 Edition Description: Reprint About the Author from Barnes and Noble Born in the 1950s to college-educated parents who divorced when she was young, Alice Hoffman was raised by her single, working mother in a blue-collar Long Island neighborhood. Although she felt like an outsider growing up, she discovered that these feelings of not quite belonging positioned her uniquely to observe people from a distance. Later, she would hone this viewpoint in stories that captured the full intensity of the human experience. After high school, Hoffman wen

Stephen King's Showbiz Career

I was reading an article on Bloody Disgusting about Stephen King's showbiz history (e.g. movie/TV adaptations of his work, directing and acting attempts). It was an interesting read for a King fan. Here are a couple of blurbs from it: After noting that more and more aspiring directors were writing him for permission to adapt his short stories for the screen, in 1977 King implemented his "Dollar Babies" policy, in which we would grant any student filmmaker the non-commercial right to adapt one of his stories for the bargain-basement price of one dollar (novels excluded). All that King required, other than a guarantee that the film wouldn't be exhibited for commercial purposes without his express consent, was that the filmmaker send him a copy of the completed product for inclusion in his private library. Though the declaration allegedly sent his accountant into a tizzy, this open-door policy – which King himself never publicly addressed until nearly 20 years

Mailbox Monday (04-18-11 edition)

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Image licensed from bigstockphoto.com Copyright stands Mailbox Monday is brought to us by The Printed Page .   Here is what I received over the last couple of weeks: The Samaritan by Fred Venturini Won from The Ranting Dragon To age is to embrace a slow hurt inside and out, to collect scars like rings on a tree, dark and weathered and sometimes only visible if someone cuts deep enough. Scars keep the past just close enough to touch, but healing is forgetting. Healing invites another cut. Healing is the tide that smoothes away our line in the sand. For life to begin, the damage must be permanent. - Dale Sampson, The Samaritan Dale Sampson is a nobody. A small town geek who lives in the shadow of his best friend, the high school baseball star, it takes him years to even gather the courage to actually talk to a girl. It doesn't go well. Then, just when he thinks there's a glimmer of hope for his love life, he loses everything. When Dale runs into the twin sister of the

WINNERS: Pretty Little Liars and Story Sisters

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Well, I finally have winners for these two books! It took a little work to get the extra entries worked out, and who was entering for which book, but it is finally done. The winner of Pretty Little Liars is... Lacey in the Sky And the winner of The Story Sisters is... Kelsey O. Congratulations to the two of you! I'll send out emails soon to request your addresses, but you are welcome to contact me in the meantime if you see this first. And don't forget about the ongoing giveaways for The Nobodies Album by Carolyn Parkhurst (ends 4/30), and my 2-year Blogoversary giveaway where you can win your choice of one of my twelve favorite reads in the last 2 years.

Win books for your local library!

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You have a chance to win books for your local library! From the Regal Literary site: Celebrate National Bookmobile Day with Audrey Niffenegger, and win books for your local library! Regal Literary is giving away, with the support of Harcourt Houghton Mifflin and Abrams Publishing, 25 copies each of Audrey Niffenegger's Her Fearful Symmetry , The Night Bookmobile , and The Time Traveler's Wife . All you have to do is complete this statement in 140 characters or less: "I love my library (or bookmobile) because...." We'll pick 25 people at random, and then deliver the books to your library or bookmobile! Go enter now and help your favorite library out!

Kings and Queens!

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I'm not much of rocker though I won't deny that I do love rock music. Music has always played a major role in my life. Anyways, coming back to the topic, I've heard this song quite some time back if not wrong somewhere around last year. I love the lyrics, the way everything goes with the song. 30 Seconds to Mars have been kind of 1 of my favorite band but I only viewed this MV just few days ago. Actually am not much of a Youtube fan but if I need something or heard something, that's when I look up things I like or want. Of course don't forget my amnesia, hence this explains why am blogging about this song after so long! The official MV Lyrics. oh---> Into the night Desperate and broken The sound of a fight Father has spoken oh-> We were the kings and queens of promise We were the victims of ourselves Maybe the children of a lesser God Between Heaven and Hell Heaven and Hell Into your eyes Hopeless and taken We stole our new lives Through blindness In defense o

Book Giveaways in Blogworld (4-16-11 edition)

NOTE : A reminder that you are free to email me about any giveaways that you are having, if you want me to blog them, and I'll be happy to try to post them even if I am not entering them. Just include a link to the giveaway, what you are giving away, how many copies are being given away, and the deadline in order to assure being included. Email me at nfmgirl AT gmail DOT com. Here is a list of some giveaways going on in Blogworld*. Please note that new giveaways that were added this week are indented in Blockquotes: Peeking Between the Pages is giving away 5 copies of Claude and Camille. Deadline is April 16. US/Canada only. Suko's Notebook is giving away a copy of Dancing with Gravity. Deadline is April 18. US/Canada only for print, or PDF copy international! Musings of a YA Reader

Day 03 - Your views on Drugs and Alcohol

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Here I am again with Day 03 topic, views on drugs and alcohol. As the young man I am, I would never deny the fact that I love drinking but am not addicted to it. Addiction is a dangerous thing. Once fallen in it, leaving it would be a tougher than anything. Drugs nowdays, is very popular among certain groups of youngsters and also adults. I don't know the source of their addiction but I assume that it's either curiosity or miss-education. What I mean with miss-education is that people tend to think that taking drugs is cool and etc. That is obviously wrong! Personal view about drugs and alcohol, I haven't got much. Because I myself love alcohol, Though drugs are big NO NO for me. Anyone can drink but not too much or making it a habit. I tend to drink once in a while nowdays that sometimes I go on months without alcohol! When I can do that, I believe anyone could! Drugs, never tried and never would! Just as a message to everyone, if you do drugs, try to fight the addiction t

Day 02 - Where you'd like to be in 10 years.

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I am very sorry guys. Probably you guys might have been hoping to read about the Day 01 post. However, I would love to apologize deeply as I skipped that topic due to personal reasons. But you may never know that there could be a day that I would write about it. *wink* Anyways coming back to the topic, where would I love to be in 10 years. Hmm, I'd love to be an astronaut, fly to the moon, become a millionaire, be a F1 driver, have shares in Man Utd football club, and etc. Just joking! There are a lot of dreams for me to fulfill. So I shall go on slowly 1 by 1. Since being 23 years old right now, probably I would already have own a beautiful apartment for myself and my ever beautiful wife. Which ultimately means that I am actually seeing myself married already by then though "kids" are not exactly part of my plans. *wink* Cruising along to coastal roads for shopping or any given things as I am actually seeing myself as self employed! Having a nice successful own business

30 Days Challenge!

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Finally I have succumb to the wanting to do the 30 Days Challenge too! I actually saw this from a friend's blog and was ever since been pestered to do it. Though I often denied that I wanted to do it, finally I suppose I gave myself away. LOL I am always scared of blogging because I worry that I won't have the time or chance to update regularly. The thing is I don't own a laptop anymore, house internet is super duper crazy slow, I am starting a new job next week, and etc. Hence I always put aside ideas of doing such things but this time, I just decided to make the move without much thought and just do it! So here we are! Well I have never made any resolutions or any long term challenges as my discipline is bad cause I tend to get bored to easily or get distracted. But I am really hoping to finish this though! Won't exactly say that I am trying to work on my discipline, but I think it's kinda fun and interesting. So if any of you are actually doing it, done it or pla

"RIO" reviewed!

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So last Friday night I was called by a friend asking for movie. So we went for "RIO" after all the trailers have already got us very interested and drooling to watch it. Hence we went to watch over at 1 Utama. A place I've almost forgotten how it looks like cause haven't been there for ages! (excuse the exaggeration =P) Rio  is a 2011 3D computer-animated film and Blue Sky Studios's sixth feature film. The title refers to the Brazillian city of Rio de Janeiro, in which the film is set. It is directed by Carlos Saldanha. The characters are voiced by Jesse Eisenberg, Anne Hathaway, Rodrigo Santoro, Bebel Gilberto, Kate del Castillo, Jamie Foxx, will.i.am, Tracy Morgan, George Lopez, Jake T. Austin, Leslie Mann, Jemaine Clement, Jane Lynch, and Robin Thicke. The movie's plot is as below! Plot Over several years, Linda (Leslie Mann) and Blu (Jesse Eisenberg) become great friends. 15 years later, Linda owns a bookstore and brings Blu to work with her. A scientist f

Glam Up! Party Time!

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I've never really wrote about anything special but today is certainly a specially Glamorous day as www.yuberactive.com came up with the Glam Blog Competition! So we shall talk about what Glamorous is all about! 1st of all, Glamorous can be defined as being full of glamour, charmingly or fascinatingly charming. It can also be defined as full of excitement, adventure and unusual activity.   So think you are "glamorous" enough to join us?  So if you are free on coming friday, then this is the party that you should be heading to! This is of course being held by www.yuberactive.com So all the sexy ladies out there, it's time to   TAKE ACTION, BE REWARDED!!!   StarAsia Trend Nation and  RIMMEL London both glamorous brands are in this as well! *wink wink* Well I got some tips for you all though. Maybe you could turn the heads by turning up just like those glamorous women below!  or even better than Fergie! Well guys being Glamorous is sure is sexy! If you got time, then thi