http://beccafitzpatrick.com/
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
The Fourth in Becca Fitzpatrick's Series Due to Come This Fall
Following Hush Hush, Crescendo and Silence will be the fourth in the series, appropriately named "Finale".
http://beccafitzpatrick.com/
http://beccafitzpatrick.com/
Liesl & Po by Lauren Oliver - children's book review
Liesl & Po
Author: Lauren Oliver
Illustrator: Kei Acedera
Published: 2011
Publisher: Harper Collins Children's Books, a division of Harper Collins Publishers
Pages: 320
ISBN 9780062014511 (trade bdg)
9780062107398 (international edition)
Genre: fantasy - middle grade
Source: free ebook at www.harpercollinschildrens.com
Author site: www.laurenoliverbooks.com
Track your favourite author on: www.authortracker.com
Also available as an ebook
Coincidence; mix-ups;
harmless mistakes and switches,
And so a story is born
My review:
The world has not seen the sun for 1728 days and little Liesl has been locked in the attic for 13 months. Her father had been ill in the hospital and died three days ago when the story begins. Liesel's wicked stepmother keeps Liesl locked up, telling her it is unsafe to come out. Young and naive, Liesl believes...that is...until she meets Po, a shadowy form of a figure, an "it", neither boy nor girl, and its pet Bundle which is neither cat nor dog or perhaps it is both. Po and Bundle are ghosts from the Other Side. Since her father's death, Liesl has ceased to draw, her grief is to great. This is what draws Po and Bundle to her. It is also what draws Will to her.
Will is a young orphan working in slavitude for the Alchemist. Beaten and near starvation, he is a prisoner too. When sent on an errand one evening, he stops to look up at Liesl's window, where she once sat while drawing. He has seen her there before but tonight she is not to be seen. This is also the night Will mistakes a box for another at the mortician's and changes the events of his life and Liesl's and countless others.
Liesl & Po is written for middle grade, ages 10 and up, but its whimsical and sweet message and beautiful artistry captures the imagination and attention of the older child and even the adult reader. Though it is not adult fare, I did enjoy reading it. I found this story quite charming, particularly when I read the author's note at the end of how her own personal experience with a friend's death left her feeling like she was in a sunless world, all grey and dreary, and somewhat alone, as Liesl and Will felt. I enjoyed the parallels and how Lauren Oliver pulled it all together in an intense climax. There is a happy ending. Would I recommend this book? Without a doubt, yes!
CBC Books - Canada Reads 2012
Read up on the contestants for this years Canada Reads!
The Game by Ken Dryden
On A Cold Road by David Bidini
Prisoner of Tehran by Marina Nemat
Something Fierce by Carmen Aguirre
The Tiger by John Vaillant
Monday, January 30, 2012
Monday's Musings
This week’s musing asks…
How far along are you in your current read before you start thinking about what you’ll read next?
My answer:
I am always thinking of what I want to read next. I have bookshelves full to overflowing and I have the best job: I work in a bookstore! How can you not be constantly checking out what's exciting and new, reading the jackets, perusing reviews, etc., and not be running a mental or physical "must read" list?
I found Musing Mondays at Should Be Reading.
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less: A Stranger Recommends
A while ago, rather quite a long time now, I began a new idea here on My Bookshelf. It was A Stranger's Choice. Today I am revisiting this in kind. Not quite the same but similar. Well, you'll see.
On Friday I was assisting a customer in the book store and she was purchasing Jeffrey Archer's Only Time Will Tell and we got to talking about the author. She simply adores his writing and mentioned a few of his works that she has enjoyed. I was happy to inform her that Only Time Will Tell is the first in a new series of Mr. Archer's, the Clifton Chronicles. As we discussed a bit further, she made a recommendation to me. She said I simply must read Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less by Jeffrey Archer.
Curiosity peaked, I did a little investigating and this is what I discovered:
So, if I want to get back into writing that novel I began over a year ago, I feel I need a little assistance with the planning, the plotting and the research. I discovered this "You Can Write a Novel Kit" at the book store and decided to give it a try.
It contains five notepads designed to aid the writer in the planning process:
- Scene Development: Outline your crucial scenes to keep your story on track
- Master/Major Character: Know what makes your main characters tick and how they move your story forward
- Minor Character: Make sure each supporting player has a real part to play
- Chapter Log: Maintain continuity from scene to scene and chapter to chapter
- Revision Tracker: Keep notes on what you want to revise and how you plan to go about it
Also included is an instruction book, "You Can Write a Novel" by James V. Smith.
It looks promising. Ultimately it is up to me. To do, to try, to write and believe. Wish me luck!
Saturday, January 28, 2012
It's Monday... Again....What Are You Reading?
Hosted by Sheila over at Book Journey, It's Monday, What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme that helps us, as book bloggers, stay on top of reading while offering the opportunity to see what others all over the world are reading. (Sheila has a huge following!) I just love visiting her blog to see what she's been up to so once a week I enjoy joining in this fun meme.
This last week I finished reading:
American Dervish by Ayad Akhtar
Onstage Offstage by Michael Buble (yes, the young crooner has a book!)
I am still reading:
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Sat aside for a short while are (to be read this upcoming week):
The Magic Room by Jeffrey Zaslow
Coming Up For Air by Patti Callahan Henry
And I just started reading Liesl and Po by Lauren Oliver (thanks to Freda who posted about a free read on the Harper Collins site which ends at the end of this month). This is sooooo good! Lauren is delightfully talented!
Other posts include:
Happy Family Literacy Day
Buble says 'Onstage Offstage' is a 'picture book' | CTV News interview with Michael Buble
One For the Money Movie Trailer (yes, it's coming out in theatres soon!)
Upcoming New Release The Sins of the Father
Cinder Author Marissa Meyer Interviews with Book Blogger I Am A Reader, Not a Writer
Poets Haven Reading Series - Moments of Sweet Lingering
Thanks for visiting. Please comment and share: How has your week been since we last "met"? What's next on your reading agenda?
One For The Money Movie Trailer
*One For the Money by Janet Evanovich (first in the series)
Here's another book to movie that I cannot wait to see! Have you seen it yet?
Michael Buble: Onstage Offstage
Author: Michael Buble
Published: 2011
Publisher: Doubleday Canada
Genre/classification: Picture/coffee table book
ISBN 9780385676267
Source: I own this book
"An intimate portait, in pictures and his own words, of the enormously successful Canadian singer Michael Bublé became an international phenomenon with the release of his first, self-titled album of 2003, which reached the top ten in Canada and in the UK. Since then he has sold more than 25 million albums, and filled concert halls and stadiums worldwide.
OnStage OffStage is an intimate portrait of this extraordinary singer, told in his own words and through the photographs of Dean Freeman. Bublé talks about his BC upbringing, his early nightclub days, the excitements and temptations of fame, and the sometimes gruelling demands of the road. Buble is a man who takes his music seriously, and himself less so, telling his story with refreshing candour and frequent flashes of self-deprecating humour. You might be tempted to use the expression "warts and all" -- except that the stunning photos in this book clearly show he doesn't have any. But they do capture Bublé in his every mood and in every setting, at home and at leisure, in rehearsal, in the heat of peformance. OnStage OffStage adds up to the second closest encounter any fan could wish for." (From the publisher's site)
My Review:
On Stage Offstage is a beautifully illustrated coffee table book that admirers of this young crooner will cherish. Beginning with a short history of Michael Buble's life, his dreams and the road to his career, Michael shares with his fans an intimate view. The journey begins in a manner much like many of us, singing into a hairbrush. Michael's determination, desire and incredible talent and perseverance took him from local clubs and weddings in Vancouver to the meteoric rise which included meeting David Foster, Paul Anka, and Tony Bennett. All were accomplished and admired by Michael. To work with them, to emulate the masters, is a dream come true.
Today Michael is married to beautiful Luisana, an actress from Argentina (they married April of 2011). His time is divided with tours, family and friends and the love of his life, his wife Lu. Life
is good, though incredibly hectic. The trip here was tough but worth it
Some little tidbits I learned about Michael are:
- He is a huge Star Wars fan!
- He's Italian and his culture played a huge role in him becoming the man he is today. (no one croons like the Italians)
- His grandfather is one of his biggest fans and will travel across the world to watch him in concert. As a child Michael would sit for long periods of time listening to his grandfather's record collection. His grandfather loved Sinatra's music!
- His family keeps him grounded. For that he is grateful.
- He has quite a sense of humour! See his Hollywood video on YouTube!
For all Buble fans, Onstage Offstage is a must. From gorgeous photography by Dean Freeman, to an index of the photos, to a chapter by chapter exploration of his life and career, Michael Buble's Onstage Offstage is a book to prominently grace your coffee table.
*the beautiful blonde in this video is his wife who flew home from Argentina for one day, taking the red eye, to film this with her husband Michael. The choreography was done by the same choreographer, Kenny Ortega, who orchestrated the parade dance scene in 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off'.
About the author:
"Michael Bublé, born in 1975, is a Canadian singer. He has won several awards, including two Grammies and multiple Junos. He has sold more than 25 million albums worldwide and his concerts have grossed $65 million.
Dean Freeman has achieved critical acclaim photographing major cultural figures, including sporting icons and musicians. He is now one of the most sought after photographers of celebrity and reportage in Europe. In recent years the huge sales of his books, including Just for the Record with Geri Halliwell, Forever Spice with The Spice Girls and My World with David Beckham, have cemented his reputation." (from the publisher's site)
Dean Freeman has achieved critical acclaim photographing major cultural figures, including sporting icons and musicians. He is now one of the most sought after photographers of celebrity and reportage in Europe. In recent years the huge sales of his books, including Just for the Record with Geri Halliwell, Forever Spice with The Spice Girls and My World with David Beckham, have cemented his reputation." (from the publisher's site)
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