Sunday, August 21, 2011

It's Monday and Contest Winner


Before I write anything else, I have a winner for my e-book giveaway -

Beverly of The Wormhole is the winner of Senior Year Bites by J.A. Campbell

You're going to enjoy this one, Beverly! Now since I of course, went off half-cocked and don't even know how to buy an e-book for someone else, I'll be sending it on, as soon as I figure out how to do this... (snicker, snicker....)



I have survived the first week of Afterschool Program, thanks in a huge part to an excellent lead staff that's working with me this year. I've been working in afterschool program for 15 years (more or less) in my position, coordinating with another program and I can say that I've never had such a well organized person acting as the other program's lead as I have this year. Makes a huge difference. Even though the other staff isn't yet where they should be, I can tell she's going to make sure things run as smoothly as possible. What a relief. :) For the first time in years, I'm also not taking a group of kids for my own, rather I'm going to spend time supervising the whole program, which is more in line with what I should be doing. Though I'm just as tired - almost - as when school ended last term, I'm hopeful that this year will be better all round. I know this is all rather vague, but since I work in a public school, this is as detailed as I want to get. :)

It's Monday, What Are You Reading is the weekly book meme. LOL. Really, it's a great weekly meme that many of us blogger love to participate in, checking out new books, or possibly being reminded of other books that we meant to read...etc. Hosted by Sheila of Book Journey, you can find guidelines at her site, and join in.

I just realized that my last post happens to be last Monday's "It's Monday..." post. I had all of these posts planned, some of them review catch ups, a post about weird words you come across during reading that no one uses in real life...etc. But last week was the first week of school and I was so tired after each day that I came home each day, spent hours on the computer doing work stuff and then just kind of vegged out in front of the t.v.
I did get a bit of reading done this week though (better than last week, where I finished a grand total of zero books, LOL) . Only this week, I only finished one book; but it was a damned good book!


The one book I finished reading was The Truth of Valor, by Tanya Huff. I was able to get it at almost paperback price (because my favorite bookstore is breaking my heart, and many other people's hearts, and closing their store). It was great. Reading the almost perfect character of Torin and watching her almost lose control of herself was great. This character was a marine, and as a marine had such a grip on herself, that she was almost superhuman in her attitude and behavior - somehow it always worked for me in the previous books, but it was also good to see her lose it in this book. Her man was kidnapped. She had to get him back. Oh Yeah!



I'm almost finished with The Warrior's Apprentice by Lois McMaster Bujold and am enjoying this version of SciFi space stories. The main character is not your usual main character - having a deformity brought on by chemical attacks inutero. Interesting storyline with many other books in the series to look forward to.



One of my current reads is Elizabeth Moon's Command Decision. Some of the characters are such obvious "types" - there's always a very bigoted person or group, always a very piratical or criminal element...sometimes both - even so, though the characters and plots might be considered a bit formulaic, I enjoy the hell out of this series. I like the space travel, the problems they run into. Sometimes there is too much detail on trading or weapons, or even the conversation between the traders and crew. But I am still kind of obsessed with these books - enough that as soon as I'm finished with one, I'm ready to find the next in the series. After Comman Decision I have Victory Conditions already waiting here, right on the shelf beside the couch. Right there. Waiting. Here. Ready. Oh Yeah!

What am I going to do after I finish all the Bujold, Moon and Huff SciFi books? Cry of boredom and ennui.....or get back into my usual Urban Fantasy reads. Good thing there's an Aguirre Jax book coming out, and more Ilona Andrews, Devon Monk, Briggs, and a little later down the line, there's going to be more McLeod and Campbell books.

C'Mon Ladies! you have a hungry reader to feed!





6 comments:

  1. Please for Christ sake help this poor boy from Haiti

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  2. I can't decide what to read next. I, like you, am starting back to school, so it is a very hectic time.

    Here's my post: It's Monday! What Are You Reading? And don't forget to sign up for the Readerbuzz August Giveaway!

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  3. I haven't read a good sci fi book in a long time. Must admit these are all authors I have noticed on the shelf but never picked up. I quite like Peter F. Hamilton and Alistair Reynolds.

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  4. Congrats Beverly!!! I hope you love it.
    Mardel, you can buy it from amazon and send it to a specific email address. I think you may be able to do this from BnN too. You can click on the Give as Gift button and follow the instructions. Alternately if you buy from the publisher you can just download whatever file you want (PDF, epub, kindle, nook, etc) and then email it to the person.

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  5. Very nice. Really like your blog. New follower. Come visit me over at Livre De Amour-Books of Love.

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  6. Thanks so much! Can't wait - please use bevsharp@desch.org for my email for amazon.

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