I am a certified bookaholic and am embracing my addiction. Here you will find my short book reviews and other wonderful information all about books. I will also share my love for animals and show you some of my knitting projects.
The World of the Polar Bear is an unsurpassed photographic tribute to one of nature's most compelling and beautiful animals and to the world in which it lives. Here, in an unforgiving ecosystem, animals and birds come together in a delicate balance of life. Each year, thousands of people from around the world travel to Churchill, Manitoba, to see polar bears, northern lights, whales and the annual bird migrations.
But the king of the region is the polar bear, or Nanook, as it is known by the indigenous people. Superbly adapted for life in one of the most severe landscapes on Earth, the polar bear holds the record as the world's largest terrestrial carnivore: the female weighs up to 770 pounds, while the male can tip the scales at 1,500 pounds and stand 10 feet tall on its hind legs.
Norbert Rosing is uniquely qualified to write about polar bears. His fascination with them began in 1983 on his first visit to Canada. After a 1,000-mile train trip from Winnipeg to Churchill, he arrived to find that a sudden arctic storm had transformed the town into an icy desert. Not only did his film freeze and break, but his camera stopped functioning permanently.
However, Rosing did see his first polar bear. Fascinated by this magnificent white mammal, he now returns to the Arctic up to three times a year to study and photograph polar bears, and he has come to regard Churchill as his home away from home.
This book is an amazing photographic tribute to polar bears. It is not only a feast for the eyes but the writing is informative and a joy to read. I learned a lot about polar bears and the landscape in which they live. Did you know that a female weight up to 770 pound and a male up to 1500 pounds? Norbert Rosing does an incredible job capturing these majestic beings on film. This book would make a wonderful gift for nature lovers.
5/5
I won this book as part of theCanadian Book Challenge 4from John of The Book Mine Set. Thanks again for this special treat John, you, your challenge, and you blog all rock!
Back in July, JoAnn of Lakeside Musingreviewed Farewell by Guy de Maupassant. She said, "A one sentence summary of "Farewell" by Guy de Maupassant might go something like this: As two old friends reflect on aging, one recounts how the process went unnoticed until a chance meeting with a former lover sparked the revelation of his own decline. Simple, yet there is much more..."
She summed it up perfectly. The story opens as two friends are having dinner at a cafe and talking about aging. Henri Simon, said "Ah! I am growing old. It's sad. Formerly, on evenings like this, I felt full of life. Now, I only feel regrets. Life is short!"
Pierre Canier, a bit older than Henri, felt differently. He said, "Well, my boy, I have grown old without noticing it in the least. I have always been merry, healthy, vigorous and all the rest. As one sees oneself in the mirror every day, one does not realize the work of age, for it is slow, regular, and it modifies the countenance so gently that the changes are unnoticeable.
"He went on however, to say that something happened to make him see himself differently. He said, The revelation of my decline came to me in a simple and terrible manner, which overwhelmed me for almost six months--then I became resinged.
He goes onto say how this "revelation" came to him.
I think that what happened to him, happens to a lot of people, they don't see how much they have really aged until.. (I wont spoil it for you.) It's a very short story of only about 6 pages but it does speak a truth. It would make for a nice little discussion. Go see for yourself, here.
Guy de Maupassant (1850-1893), French author of the naturalistic school who is generally considered the greatest French short story writer.The gift of a photographic memory enabled him to gather a storehouse of information, which later helped him in his stories about the Norman people.
In The Navigator of New York, is set in the landscapes of St. Johns, Newfoundland, New York, and the Arctic. The book is about the rivalry of two explorers, Lieutenant Peary and Dr. Cook, to get to the North Pole in the beginning of the 20th century.
Devlin Stead looses both his parents and a young age and is brought up by his Aunt and Uncle. He eventually makes his way to New York, like his father before him and works for Dr. Cook, helping him prepare for the expedition to the North Pole.
This is adventurous historical fiction that any historical fiction lover would enjoy.
Born on February 20, 1902, Ansell Adams has captured the hearts of millions of people with his photographs. He is most famous for his photographs in United States National Parks during the depression.
Ansell Adams in National Parks is a treasure that all fans will adore. With crisp black and white photography, Adams made the parks come alive for people who were unable to see them for themselves. His photographs have inspired a nation to take better care of nature.
Packed with over 225 amazing photographs, some of which have never been published before, this book is perfect for nature lovers and a must have for Ansell Adams fans! This is not a coffee table book that will sit and collect dust. My husband and I have gone through it several times already and will continue to do so. It calls out to me and every time I look through it I notice something that I hadn't noticed before.
Ansell Adams died in 1984 but he lives on through his exquisite photographs. His work will never go out of style. This book is a special keepsake and would make a perfect gift. In fact, we are purchasing a copy of it for a gift for my dear SIL (hope she's not reading this.)
Thanks a million to Anna Balasi of Hachette Book Group for sending me this book for review.
I'm still working on catching up in the Alphabet Challenge.
I read and reviewed Sunflowers last year. It's about the relationship the Vincent Van Gogh and a prostitute, Rachel. Sheramy Bundrick took a little know person, Rachel and made her come to life. She also gave us insight into Van Gogh and mental illness. It wasn't until sometime after his death, that his painting became world famous.
I am behind in the Alphabet Challenge but I remembeedr this wonderful book which, I read a long time ago. It is worth another visit.
Wayne Johnston is a Canadian writer and he certainly keeps his focus on Canada in The Colony of Unrequited Dreams. He tells the story of Joey Smallwood, the real-life premier of Newfoundland. He ran in Newfoundland virtually unchallenged for 23 years.
Wayne Johnston did an incredible job re-telling the life of Smallwood and his history anc capturing the landscape of Newfounlnd, with the use of his fictional character, Sheilagh Fielding.
Your probably thinking.. Canadian politics? boring. The focus is not really on the politics, it is on Newfoundland and the characters. It is a very good work in Canadian literature.
Raised in New York city in the 1970's and early 1980's, Josh Karlen's parents split up when he was in grade school. His mother moved to the part of New York with her new husband and children, referred to as the Alphabet City. It was not a nice part of the city at all but Josh's mom reassured her children that it was going to be gentrified soon. Besides, there apartment was really nice.
That was little reassurance to her two young boys who kept getting mugged and beaten for as little as a carton of milk or just because. In Lost Lustre, Josh Karlen re-lives those years growing up on C Avenue. He also tells about his best friend, Tim Jordon who was in a band called the Lustres'.
This memoir is really a book of essays that could stand along from each other. Karlen goes back and forth from adult to childhood, so it's not exactly in chronological order. Some essays worked better for me then others.
In 'Farwell, Avenue C. He recalled the violent neighbourhood he was in and how his mother ignored the complaints and bruises of her children. I get that it was really harsh however, it was a fairly long essay and got quite repetitive, IMO. However, I could really relate to 'My Sixties," since I was born just a year before Mr. Karlen. In 'Lost Lustre,' Mr Karlen pays tribute to his friend Tim Jordon, and his band the Lustres. He reminisced with old friends for this book and recounted Tim's addiction to drugs and alcohol and his untimely death in his late twenties. It was quite touching in parts and again, got a bit repetitive. My favourite essays was 'The Hotel 17 Revisited.' This is where he recounts his first love in high school. It was quite poignant .
3/5
Thanks to Lisa of TLC Book Tours for including me in the tour and for arranging for me to receive a copy of Lost Lustre for review.
I was born back in the 60's and when I was growing up The Peanuts were big. I have two stuff Snoopys' that are almost as old as I am. I couldn't get rid of them. My heart just melts every time I see them in my bedroom. So, when I received the opportunity to review this book, I jumped!
On October 2, 1950, the first Peanuts cartoon ran. This collection is a celebration of the 60 year anniversary. This book delivers what it promises, 'Treasures from the world's most beloved comic strip'! It is an authorized, illustrated collection of everything Peanuts. It "features high-quality reproductions of original sketches, comics, and photographs from the world of Peanuts. Removable film cels, stickers, and booklets are included, as well as reproduction prints of Peanuts artwork ready for framing."
Honestly, who wouldn't salivate over this book? Everything about this book is high quality. When I first opened it, I felt like I discovered buried treasure. I stayed up most of the night on the day I received it to read and enjoy it. I just had to get through the entire book, it wouldn't let me put it down. The Peanuts Collection is a must have for all Peanuts fans! I can't imagine a better gift for someone.
There are only two things I will caution you on: 1. if you have young children, be sure to supervise them closely when they are looking through this book. There are several pages that have items that can be pulled out and you wouldn't want them damaged or lost. 2. You will want time to savour this awesome book. It's not just a book, it's an experience. I cannot recommend it enough.
About the Author
Nat Gertler is the founder and author of Aaugh.com, a comprehensive resource for Peanuts collectors and fans. Gertler has written for Speed Racer, Flintstones, and NASCAR Adventures. He has authored horror works for Pocket Books, written a number of titles in the Complete Idiot's Guide series, contributes regularly to Hogan's Alley, a comics-related magazine, and is the founder and publisher of packager About Comics.
5/5
Thanks a million to Anna Balasi of Hachette Book Group for this awesome book.
Back in September, John of The Book MineSet reviewed this story,Sweet Dreams by Sherry Isaac. John and his wife had been house hunting and he wrote, "I was in the mood for a dose of domesticity this week." However, with Sweet Dreams, he got something different from domestic bliss.
It starts out innocent enough, the unknown female narrator is making her way downstairs in her house in the middle of the night. She tells us how she has done this over the years for various reasons including "children wakened by nightmares in need of warm milk and an even warmer hug". However, tonight she was going downstairs because of her husband, Frank.
She gets his crossword puzzle ready for him when heg gets up setting on the table with his bifocals and pen. Then she got her couch ready for sleep. She has a conversation of sorts with her cat, Taboo. "Easy for you to judge little fella, you didn't take the vows. For better or worse, till death do us part."
You'll have to read it for yourself to see where it goes. For less than a 5 page story, it really packs a punch. Domestic bliss, yeah, right. LOL!You can read Sweet Dreams,here.
Thanks to Valerie Russo of Hachette Books, I am giving away on copy of 'Sundays at Tiffany's.
Note: Sundays at Tiffany’s is now a Lifetime original move from Sony Pictures Television, which will be airing on Monday, December 6 at 9:00 PM ET/PT, 8:00 PM CT.
Book Description:
AN IMAGINARY FRIEND
Jane Margaux is a lonely little girl. Her mother, the powerful head of a New York theater company, makes time for her only once a week, for their Sunday trip to admire jewelry at Tiffany's. Jane has only one friend: a handsome, comforting, funny man named Michael. He's perfect. But only she can see him. Michael can't stay forever, though. On Jane's eighth birthday he leaves, promising that she'll forget him soon. He was there to help her until she was old enough to manage on her own, and now there are other children who need his help.
AN UNEXPECTED LOVE
Years later, in her thirties, Jane is just as alone as she was as a child. And despite her own success as a playwright, she is even more trapped by her overbearing mother. Then she meets Michael again--as handsome, smart and perfect as she remembers him to be. But not even Michael knows the reason they've really been reunited.
AND AN UNFORGETTABLE TWIST Sundays at Tiffany's is a heart-wrenching love story that surpasses all expectations of why these people have been brought together. With the breathtaking momentum and gripping emotional twists that have made James Patterson a bestseller all over the world, Sundays at Tiffany's takes an altogether fresh look at the timeless and transforming power of love.
To Enter:
Leave a comment with your email address, so I can contact you if you win.
Extra Entries: Earn one extra entry for each of the following (please leave a separate comment for each).
+1 for clicking to give free books at The Literacy Site (tell me you did it).
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Sorry, the giveaway is only open US and Canadian residents only.The winner’s mailing address: NO P.O.Boxes.Only one entry per household/IP address
Winners will be subject to the one copy per household rule, which means that if you win the same title in two or more contests, you will receive only one copy of the book.
This giveaway will end on Friday, December 10th,11:59 P.M. E.S.T. The winners will be notified by email.Winners must respond within TWO days or will be disqualified.
I host a lot of Hachette book and audiobooks here and I thought you, my readers would be interested in giving back to Hachette for all the amazing books that they giveaway. To give back to Hachette, all you need to do is fill out a quick survey, under 10 minutes. Here is the link:
This book the second book in Jeff Lemire's Essex County trilogy of graphic novels which, is a fictionalized book of Jeff Lemire’s hometown of Essex County, Ontario. I reviewed the first one, 'Tales From the Farm', here.
This book has a very loose connection to the first book, as it had two characters that were in the first. One of the characters, the main character from the first book, Lester, appeared so briefly that it was like a cameo apperance. The second character was Jimmy.
In this second book Jimmy and his eldest brother, Lou played professional hockey together. The book goes back and forth from present day with Lou as an old man with regrets, looking back to the days that him and Jimmy were close.
Jeff Lemire captures the feelings of lonliness, desolation, and regret incredibly well. I didn't think it was possible to get compleatly lost in a graphic novel like you can with a regular novel. This book proved me wrong.
I recommended 'Tales From the Farm' for both young adults and adults. I feel this book is gear more toward adults. Not that there is anything in it the teens shouldn't read, it just deals with a subject that I don't think would interest them as much.
I LOVED this graphic novel. Don't miss out on this winning goal of a book!
I would like to welcome Shelley Munro, author of the ebook,The Spurned Viscountess. She is going to tell us about how she got her ebook published from start to finish.
An EBook: From Inception to Finished Product by Shelley Munro
Hi, my name is Shelley Munro and I write romance for Carina Press, Ellora’s Cave, Samhain Publishing and Liquid Silver Books. I’d like to thank Teddy for having me to visit So Many Precious Books, So Little Time today to talk about writing and my latest release, The Spurned Viscountess.
The Spark of an Idea:
I originally wrote the very first scene of The Spurned Viscountess as a writing exercise for the Auckland Chapter of Romance Writers of New Zealand. I can’t remember what the topic for the exercise was now, but I wrote about a man who had lost his memory. His family told him he was Viscount Hastings, but the man didn’t believe them. He recalled nothing of his childhood years or any of the time before he met his wife in Italy. His “newly found family” expect him to go through with an arranged marriage. Lucien doesn’t wish to marry again, but he wants a reason to stay at the castle while he investigates the murder of his first wife.
I really liked my finished scene and started to think about where the story would go. I added all my favorite elements from historicals including smugglers, a gothic element, a scarred hero and a heroine in peril plus a creepy castle. The Spurned Viscountess is the end result.
The Writing:
For me this is the most enjoyable part—day after day of putting my butt on a chair and just writing. I’m not a plotter. I start my stories with a germ of an idea, let it percolate and work out my character conflicts. The rest of the plot unfolds as I write. There might be the odd time that I flounder, but mostly it all turns out in the end.
Once the manuscript is complete, I try to let it sit for a while, although this isn’t always possible. I polish the manuscript, sometimes working with critique partners and at other times alone.
The Submission Process:
I choose the publisher I think will suit my story best after studying their guidelines, their blogs and taking note of any particular genres a publisher is interested in acquiring. When I was looking for a publisher for The Spurned Viscountess, Carina Press put out a call for historicals. Perfect timing for me. I checked the guidelines and formatted my manuscript accordingly then emailed it plus a synopsis and query letter to Carina Press. Then begins the waiting…
There’s a lot of waiting in the publishing business. We writers wait months and sometimes years to receive a yes or a no answer to our submissions.
The Decision:
In my case with The Spurned Viscountess, I waited five weeks for a decision. The good news came in the form of an email from Angela James, telling me Carina Press wanted to offer for The Spurned Viscountess. Color me excited. I was thrilled to accept the offer and become a Carina Press author.
The Edits:
I hooked up with my wonderful editor Deborah Nemeth and started working on edits almost straight away. With Carina Press we go through three rounds of edits, two with our editor and one with the eagle eye of a copy editor.
I’ve heard people say e-published books are poorly edited. Let me say this couldn’t be farther from the truth. I worked long and hard on my edits and I’m thrilled with the final result.
The Cover:
We complete cover sheets, specifying our likes, dislikes, suggestions and character details. The talented cover artists take this sheet and transform it into an appropriate cover. I fell in love with the cover for The Spurned Countess the moment I saw it. I think it portrays my story and characters perfectly.
[Insert cover here]
Publication Day:
I received my offer to publish in May and my book came out at Carina Press on 20 September. That’s a pretty quick turnaround, especially with edits and all the other work in between. Things work quickly in the e-world.
For the two months before release date and since, I’ve been working on promo, updating my website, writing blog posts and organizing tour dates at blogs.
I love e-publishing. I like the freedom of writing wherever my muse takes me and the speed at which things happen.With the increasing availability of e-readers, e-books are big business and definitely a growth industry. While other parts of the publishing industry are floundering, readers are embracing technology and taking their books with them wherever they go during the day. I’m certainly proud to be part of the e-world.
If you have any questions about the writing journey with an e-publisher please ask and I’ll do my best to answer.
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