tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43375914343477434792024-03-18T22:05:18.547-07:00Rabid Readeror rather, the formerly Rabid Reader, who has been tamed (just a little) by life...Mardelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00063358136590143066noreply@blogger.comBlogger923125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337591434347743479.post-32922361508616507282014-05-18T03:12:00.001-07:002014-05-18T03:12:34.503-07:00Fortune's Pawn by Rachel Aaron, I mean Bach.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.rachelaaron.net/fortunespawn-sample.php" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsjPIx3HSJ6jk3b80YfhN8zqnpNnyEtCopLroq028ZiZoGJkfgwRL8byQAT_i7dJD1vQkxVQ6HgpxTz4hEFdVZdSfBNDd0bGfP5SU5Dp1PNJkEPGaOo7j0O_ivKeG3bUcs4GrBa2Ylz1Q/s1600/fortunespawn-cover.png" height="400" width="276" /></a></div>
<b><span style="color: lime; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.rachelaaron.net/books-paradox.php" target="_blank">Forturne's Pawn</a></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-size: large;">by Rachel Bach</span></b><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;"><b>*****</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">SciFi</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">November 2013</span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;">cover - How can you not love this cover. there's a space suit helmet, an intense face in there, and all those code and symbols running across her visor.... all her feeds. Yep. Intense.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>I just love a good SciFi novel, especially when there are gadgets and implants, wetware, soft ware, etc., along with a good strong intense female lead. I'm not crazy about the almost out of control temper on this particular woman, but she's not my best friend or family member, so it's all just part of a good story. Except in the place where I'm rolling my eyes because she's a little quick to lash out with her temper, when she's supposed to be a highly trained soldier....but - it's all story line. To be fair, I do find my self rolling my eyes at many random things lately - maybe I'm just cranky. ;)</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>In this book, Deviana - aka Devi - has signed on to a ship that is well known as an illfated ship to be on. She signs on to it, because she's too impatient to rise up the ranks and be noticed for an elite position in an elite kings' guard position. This position just about backfires on her.</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>She ends up almost dying a few times, has some adventures and falls for this cook who seems to be more than your average cook. In fact, everyone on this ship is a little more than appears.</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>I enjoyed the characters - except for the stereotypical almost sexist co-mercenary who has signed on at the same time. I would hope that by the time any civilization gets into space, and terraforms many planets that the usual male looking down on female coworkers would have been on the down swing; what with evolution, the fact that there are many females in the armies, etc. I would hate to think that we could possibly go thousands of years and still be dealing with males pulling the whole cock of the roost thing. But - then Devi wouldn't have been able to show off her macho state of being, her toughness, and her armor. (Wink)</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>Aside from that, I enjoyed the story along with the strange characters on the ship. I like the universe and other beings that Bach as written into the story. The backgrounds of each race are interesting - you have to read to appreciate....</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>Even the Doctor of the ship is of a being that are usually known to humans as a warring race, and Devi almost shoots the navigator before they are introduced. The doctor in fact, is one of my favorite characters.</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>There are some fun plot twists in this novel - one of three so far. (novels, not plot twists). There is a romance that is nipped almost before it starts, unrequited love, friendships where Devi never expected to find friendships, mysterious crew and captain, a ship raid or three that they barely survive, and some freaky deaky stuff that goes on. </i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>I am looking forward to reading the next in the series - and according to some of the other reviews, book three is even more intense than the first two. wow.</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>Rachel Bach also writes as Rachel Aaron (The Spirit Thief)</i></span>Mardelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00063358136590143066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337591434347743479.post-34041309160696340742014-04-08T00:58:00.000-07:002014-04-08T00:58:05.720-07:00Books!!!!! specifically, The Shifting Price of Prey<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>I have not been the best of bloggers lately - not even close. a year ago, two years ago, I would have been on top of new book releases - especially from my favorite writers - and this time, I'm completely surprised when I find the book I've been waiting for already out on the shelves...</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>On of my favorite writers -<b> <a href="http://www.spellcrackers.com/index.html" target="_blank">Suzanne McLeod</a></b> has recently released her fourth Genny Taylor novel - The Shifting Price of Prey.</i></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.spellcrackers.com/Chapter_One_The_Shifting_Price_of_Prey.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlUh0tMTY1AdXH9MQxdHLuYA9UMCO7bEskYMXIumvEubVcOT9ay6daYi-9ldNMQpl9Ip05pVJE51_CA6RFCqxcP7Ts8xqJhqSfkun6fK1SiLdRNjWa3wkXqvEsv5pMn9Mk-imIm340ei0/s1600/Shifting+Price+of+Prey,+the.jpg" height="400" width="265" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">From the first time I read her very first book (</span><span style="color: magenta;">The Sweet Scent of Blood</span><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">), long before it came out in the States, I was excited about this series, and the characters within. My interest hasn't changed - just my energy.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>I've always tried to announce her novels BEFORE they are released in the United States, but this time.... it snuck up on me. I have to admit here, that I have already read this one - I was lucky enough to get an e-copy a while ago, and I can safely say, this one is just as interesting as the first three novels. I've enjoyed all of the series. </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">When The Sweet Scent of Blood first came out in the UK, there weren't many books that combined the fae with vampires and witches, but McLeod did an amazing job of pulling a new blend out of the morass of urban fantasy novels. Her main character is also a blend - vampire and fae (</span><span style="color: magenta;">you find this out in the first novel, so it's not really a spoiler unless you haven't read ANY of her novels</span><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">)</span></i></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.spellcrackers.com/chapterone.html" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqb1-WU9Rg0gdJUkco-0dy5O-__-E7_7_EpNjSCs6ZKeP4JAS0kxxQ0ah2bOYrEcSztuSz9y7BVf9AmThhe2HSJJsKfaL8ClXFfVEptjBviW7_P6FzPxW-1joVwW5fcQ3RG3yxd6PWZy0/s1600/Spellcrackers+%231+Sweet+Scent+of+Blood+UK.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.spellcrackers.com/chapteroneTheColdKissofDeath.html" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJpSNMLnC7rg3OOSu3aJEQNMQR5WH9QmkK7qNEBDij9U8U8pMXK3FL96oFYSSeUWmJDP-Lhtl_nTzS2kvj2f3N8CidR1D5fwK2DN8ERBikD_g07s_vt9yOnLdUd8MzcKukcVQ9JNVJ61c/s1600/Spellcrackers+%232+Cold+Kiss+of+Death.jpg" height="200" width="123" /></a> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">If you haven't read any of them yet.... why the hell not?</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">they've been out for a while, </span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">get crackin'!</span></i></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.spellcrackers.com/The_Bitter_Seed_of_Magic_Chapter_one.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXt7kiHo_f9G-6Zy4CysQmgT7ymQFKqEwuvwKy-PXjXser-RmvziAcn1oCfZtP0Ks2mIxzJ7SD-yzgYInrSvS1hQhdHKbvIJ5Z5mRPSUGdWW72dUuEN2KYe5d2_pQZ5uHDT5iyh0AQtdE/s1600/Spellcrackers+%233+bitter_seed_cover_am%5B1%5D.jpg" height="320" width="206" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">Fun series, with just the right amount of heat, snark, mystery and suspense.</span></i></span></div>
Mardelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00063358136590143066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337591434347743479.post-48766719391889914752014-03-26T02:50:00.000-07:002014-03-26T02:50:21.423-07:00<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">Remember my reviews of </span><a href="http://www.sff.net/people/lucy-snyder/index.htp" style="color: #8e7cc3;" target="_blank">Lucy A. Snyder'</a><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">s books? I liked them and yet the books drove me crazy..... Well, apparently, she's been continuing to write; I've missed her last book (</span><span style="color: magenta;">maybe more than one</span><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">), even though I'm open to reading more from her. </span></i></span><br />
<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i> The two books I read and reviewed</i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><a href="http://mardel-rabidreader.blogspot.com/2011/09/shotgun-sorceress-by-lucy-snyder.html" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMUSV1mbnXL-2KLGU9UqPojYx8hR3kSS-7fTULOT_wnPcQhS24zpTyPSZCPf6QOj4w-neWhwuEB-QJFyw77K4sCo4qaVLhbSBe5k2R3ujckNn8ETq_xvTvND-6V-xh-p_RDv1-6qFIbi8/s1600/Lucy+Snyder+%231+Spellbent.jpg" height="200" width="120" /></a><a href="http://mardel-rabidreader.blogspot.com/2010/01/spellbent.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgucwT2WJB0SpKcNt6JM3T43B99wYkB0QcjX3w9ktghvIoGzf5nupeSr_gkCJ3wKhw5hrgj3xYLUN3GGqe4PYtW6YBLr7-ui-zoYwyM2QWx2KSexRxK6BQKPJH-OyhiauoCIqq9kwvx3b8/s1600/Lucy+Snyder+%231+Spellbent+1.jpg" height="200" width="120" /></a></i></span></div>
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<i style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;"> And the book I haven't yet read, yet love the name and title </i></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><a href="http://www.sff.net/people/lucy-snyder/switchblade.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5xWLcBzat9SE0uVPF9RE-2LNCjvfY2EZkoHqA4J4smwouchbBzqOjRLLh0f-sXsAmZh9RmtuHecF5hG8exXKrBFcEZUObbmqUp46Oei7p9j3hf1vmMk9ae3PubpuiHwyhSXuZnuxkUd4/s1600/Lucy+Snyder+%233+Switch+Blade+Goddess.jpg" height="320" width="193" /></a></i></span></div>
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<i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;"> And with her newest project, she's going <b>Kickstarter...</b></span></i><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>That's right - <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/stevensaus/devils-field-lucy-a-snyders-new-jessie-shimmer-nov" target="_blank">Kickstarter</a>.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">Well - I couldn't resist. I pledged $30. I would have went for more, but I can't afford anymore, and to be frank....I kind of like the return on the $30 pledge. If you're not familiar with kickstarter, it's a place for artists, writers, entrepenuers to ask for support (</span><span style="color: magenta;">monetary of course</span><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">) and in return you are offered a token of appreciation. It can be a signed piece of work, a book, an e-copy, a postcard, a wave and "see ya sucker", whatever. Point is, you're promised something, and you invest a little bit of money. I invested in a calender project last year and was able to get an autographed picture of Gregory Maguire (</span><span style="color: lime;">of Witch fame</span><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">) - which I used as a christmas present for my daughter - who loves his writing. </span></i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>I would like to think that I would pledge money just for art's sake, but lets face it - getting a gift in return just makes it that much easier to help out. And when it's a lot of people investing, the pledge amounts are kept in the reasonable range where real, average people can participate. That's a win for me. :)</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>And take a look at the cover - I like that the green eye is still green and glowing......</i></span><br />
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<a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/stevensaus/devils-field-lucy-a-snyders-new-jessie-shimmer-nov" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX1fzwBstKDLPseheIfsQYQ7_5Ko7NI_7xBOQNWELR9vjFnHwm2ZoegCx0JYR5SSIbKbeTcZwY9U-iTu8fT_t-pkJXG1oFXQLvl4c9m1qKn_tbG4e-O-vGk0BqltmkhnqQFGsR4BoI3Ck/s1600/Lucy+Snyder+%234.png" height="320" width="207" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #3d85c6;">ANY way there are 11 more days of the fundraising (investor gathering?), so if you want to donate anything from $1, $2, $3 to $75 or $100.... and increments in between ($20, $30, $40, etc) get on over to Kickstarter and take a look around. Click on the cover above (</span><span style="color: magenta;">Devils' Field - I really hope they're referring to more than one devil</span><span style="color: #3d85c6;">) or on the word Kickstarter way above that should be in bright green font to get directly to Snyder's page.</span></i></span></div>
<br />Mardelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00063358136590143066noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337591434347743479.post-65526768726587910532014-03-10T02:22:00.001-07:002014-03-10T02:22:27.103-07:00It's Monday, and it's been a long time....<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Since I participated in a Monday meme. Hell, it's been a long time since I was able to actually finish reading a novel - or even sit down to read.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I've been working a fulltime 40 hour a week job as well as trying to hang onto my parttime work at a school as a library tech and lunch supervisor. It's not easy - and on the weekends I found myself either working to cover a shift or simply dozing the weekend away. And we're still struggling to make ends meet - such is life though. At least we're still eating! ;)</span></i></div>
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<a href="http://bookjourney.wordpress.com/2014/03/09/its-monday-what-are-you-reading-226/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPyK7AI4ux05tAq61-z-QlUKGdpT9RLTpxgW6SeKdWettwXGKJQNjXoPVsAfwg2-LyXb002FfvfOi9S5H5OtzlAxvzftgCs04UUmrtmHp1b69a1d1hXb612nADWq3es3INHgPt4Ebef9s/s1600/It's+Monday,+I've+been+reading.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Hosted by <a href="http://bookjourney.wordpress.com/2014/03/09/its-monday-what-are-you-reading-226/" target="_blank">Sheila of Book Journey</a> It's Monday is the place to go to see what everyone has been reading and to find new reads to add to that TBR mountain you know you have... </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I don't have a lot to report. Since the first of the year, I've only finished five books. Happily, I've enjoyed each of the books I finished immensely.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Finished in January </span></i></div>
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<a href="http://www.joshilynjackson.com/jj/books/backseat-saints/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVADY24M4tBMVsy5_ys82yO9f8UW4Ypp5twIS4a-65123lY92znNcNSMnUP8pPM6PwdZC2NSII7DMTXgHw8CgAsrB0967ZngYr6OvkkcYLerAHNTKj8XRd6hT0kQ2tGf3tt0ytxGqBiJM/s1600/back+seat+saints.jpg" height="320" width="207" /></a></div>
<a href="http://www.staciakane.net/2013/05/20/wrong-ways-down-news/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuYGa_7qj93oydrwfBSCghZ2fozovKJpLMwoAfQOAfnhfNy2UdopXYcfuJKyw73yLB5bLX_7w6UH6BR8iBY2dyuEH-7lMBhjNSy72e_5LM1K3ElTpXRvMlb8hqYReZW95h8DRBrFWj5jw/s1600/wrong+ways+down.jpeg" height="320" width="200" /></a><br />
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<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><b>Wrong Ways Down</b> </i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>by <a href="http://www.staciakane.net/blog/" target="_blank">Stacia Kane</a></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>and </i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><b>backseat saints</b> by<a href="http://www.joshilynjackson.com/ftk/" target="_blank"> Joshilyn Jackson</a></i></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">You just can't go wrong with a Stacia Kane Downsider book - and this one (for those of you who know the Downside world) is written from Terrible's pov, with cameo appearances of Chess.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Joshilyn Jackson's backseat saints was a surprise find from the strangest place - a discount food store that happened to have a few books. This is a very hard hitting story about a woman and her abusive marriage.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Finished in February</span></i></div>
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<a href="http://www.randomhouse.com/book/10210/chill-by-elizabeth-bear#excerpt" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFzny0_ACf2ByCN1Pwjd1pZeDHDd3G0PVRqdV5LAvQHowKguuYDmUfH2m1Mh8XuQdfrg4vD-wN-9a9UbzqrhpiNN6aOnI0WZHOajOUD4mId7uf-97f65uRBZs8Nex_juKzttRLFeAyjH4/s1600/chill.jpg" height="320" width="193" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.teresamedeiros.com/website_2b_073.htm" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiCNXV8jvl9Le1Ndtfz-yKWQXmxh70QPykEhOAnWvIlOF131Lqme6hyphenhyphenBWynQFxcbzrARNC9MxMlaqnYxVvJ87YRDsMHavkNwGdAfjXTlGNbadvJsw9wkSkdTknTxX7_9UIUtLzBIWTQCA/s1600/goodnight+tweetheart.jpg" height="320" width="198" /></a><i><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>Chill</b> by</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.elizabethbear.com/" target="_blank">Elizabeth Bear</a></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">and</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>Goodnight Tweetheart</b></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">by <a href="http://www.teresamedeiros.com/website_2b_001.htm" target="_blank">Teresa Medeiros</a></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">With these two authors, you also get very quality reading material. Both of them have been writing for years, and each of them have a talent for good story telling. I think Bear is quite genious a multiple storylines and blending lengends, myth and science fiction.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">and finally - the book I've finished in March</span></i></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18281997-night-owls" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMzNqlEDYCTaF4zwpIKZP18kSLlUyVxfWWFBQHezI6j_Qr6gWAEBpu5Z8Qu1TZV94zecHcaOpdYlhlDwH9pvRT9rRq3l30HdDcO0yJQz1I2tJDdfLtOCMg3ksFsDQkayEByDbWqdLLIXY/s1600/night+owls+%231.jpg" height="320" width="201" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>Night Owls</b></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">by <a href="http://www.falconesse.com/" target="_blank">Lauren M Roy</a></span></i></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>I wasn't sure I was going to like it, and in fact, I ended up enjoying even more than just liking. It was quite a good book, with some fun characters. A vampire turned bookstore proprietor, her renfield/smartassed manager; a young girl who has been hunting monsters with her now dead guardian, a shy nerdy bookstore employee and this evil book....oh - and there is a couple of succubi who are more into each other than men. It all blends into a hell of a first book.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>Now - what I've been currently reading:</i></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18583408-happily-ever-afterlife?from_search=true" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQJ30EfmW6-LZ_JNb5tFd_WmTDzcGzxIbBlv7N3lkzNSTtbuxgZcLDLSGbO6mwmjwSkN0XoalBjsgcAhcN3pTbzBn5W7lSMNGUKWGuCf1ZGg987SBqG6-dCmQHEGZsS_ubIX5rEaFx66c/s1600/Anthology+Happily+Ever+Afterlife.jpg" height="320" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>One of the contributors to <b>Happily Ever Afterlife</b> is <a href="https://writerjacampbell.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">J.A. Campbell</a> - the J.A. Campbell of<a href="https://writerjacampbell.wordpress.com/senior-year-bites/" target="_blank"> The Clanless series</a> and <a href="https://writerjacampbell.wordpress.com/tales-of-the-travelers/" target="_blank">Sabaska's Tale</a>.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">Of course, Campbell's was the first story I read in the anthology </span><span style="color: #c27ba0;">(The Baron and the Firebird</span><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">), I have read a couple others and so far all the stories are pretty good. Fun anthology.</span></i></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18487578-tales-of-eve?from_search=true" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3sdkDPej333MDdtvfhCwqepm_7q-jRB4y5t9vo8OvYQKCCha2DgpTL9ASh-1ceQ2wbaYs4GgeasP02-hfMZkJuVgP5VU_rYEIDrGxeg-GRkaUXNfhS3xh96U4ER57vLOsl5flLPCQ0UY/s1600/Anthology+tales+of+eve.jpg" height="320" width="208" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>Now - isn't this one of the creepiest covers you'll ever see? I think it's hella creepy. chills.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>Edited by Mhairi Simpson - <b>Tales of Eve</b> is an anthology that has another one of my favorite writer's work.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>Mother Know's Best by <a href="http://suzannemcleod.blogspot.com/search?q=tales+of+eve" target="_blank">Suzanne McLeod.</a></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>I usually read anthologies a story here, a story there, now and then....</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>The novel I'm currently reading I started Sunday and ACTUALLY got halfway through during the day - a day of napping and reading. This has not been my norm recently, to be able to get through so much of one book in one day.</i></span></div>
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<a href="http://whatever.scalzi.com/2012/07/06/announcing-the-human-division/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Al3iA9V_kkkJPbSSH7Mlwz67vwh5-xiAVa3rjWJ2rk_npbsDCjXPEHTYIkDyPbTqNKOh-Rmiu4vmahB7MRuj8d6Pp5G7egrkRFEkX7biWdcik96FXwpNAmv6qWfhv2hpb2HZhEPNQ1o/s1600/Human+Division,+The.jpg" height="320" width="210" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #3d85c6;">The Human Division (</span><span style="color: #c27ba0;">as you can plainly see by the picture</span><span style="color: #3d85c6;">)</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>by <b><a href="http://whatever.scalzi.com/" target="_blank">John Scalzi</a></b> - another one of his highly entertaining books full of intrigue, plotting, governments, spies, spaceships and green soldiers..</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #3d85c6;">That's that. For now. Not sure when the next post will be, if I'll be able to finish this book soon (</span><span style="color: #c27ba0;">hoping for next week</span><span style="color: #3d85c6;">) or when I'll end up being able to finish another novel. </span></i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisUqzh9ZVqLxLDeQdnhvePmB442e1Xs7u8-30deZAikhKdbhARUdS2TnPMOjKDJMMktUCnkmykPoeJUpvSN1iq4E2x6ZTkbhcWB6UUHWixLzQ4WxS4LU2iPi-g46HHb8uThNe0W98Ww40/s1600/hell+bent.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisUqzh9ZVqLxLDeQdnhvePmB442e1Xs7u8-30deZAikhKdbhARUdS2TnPMOjKDJMMktUCnkmykPoeJUpvSN1iq4E2x6ZTkbhcWB6UUHWixLzQ4WxS4LU2iPi-g46HHb8uThNe0W98Ww40/s1600/hell+bent.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-AZhD3HHVrQrT0G226D0Ri8OM5aMaSJwuW4DTcUDDbV_jrvgvOCsLWhuH-vol56BYgmmDkVB6ZBYgWY5qeKTXP0XiOzshWyrrnapKpF84JQzRxwkWJxKyTU6WWiYiVvf0inutMZJlV7w/s1600/Labrynth+of+Stars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-AZhD3HHVrQrT0G226D0Ri8OM5aMaSJwuW4DTcUDDbV_jrvgvOCsLWhuH-vol56BYgmmDkVB6ZBYgWY5qeKTXP0XiOzshWyrrnapKpF84JQzRxwkWJxKyTU6WWiYiVvf0inutMZJlV7w/s1600/Labrynth+of+Stars.jpg" height="320" width="198" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #3d85c6;">I have a few books lined up that I've recently bought...by some of my auto buy writers.</span></i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVdCCYoeh7gPUSPdrU4pt4TwQBJibgjq7nNWcW-hFph9tooBtk_DkabgQZxOBCC0P6OwFULDQmKE_v_B2dP56mdHCyVNlme1LA-Kfyek7GZ-CUomXzQu4-VP8pnSYbVvYSS2EK2ah6U5A/s1600/Frost+Burned.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVdCCYoeh7gPUSPdrU4pt4TwQBJibgjq7nNWcW-hFph9tooBtk_DkabgQZxOBCC0P6OwFULDQmKE_v_B2dP56mdHCyVNlme1LA-Kfyek7GZ-CUomXzQu4-VP8pnSYbVvYSS2EK2ah6U5A/s1600/Frost+Burned.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></a></div>
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Mardelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00063358136590143066noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337591434347743479.post-72595269975131540852014-03-04T02:14:00.002-08:002014-03-04T02:14:53.754-08:00SIGH.......<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinzNdYDJy_-THCLjSsRZCjmoQY7o2LKSF8Rg3wtqGt3FALT51M4l1OFBAkCLq09lLNLjCOCYo-WeKAq8PPwug_6-2Jz6R1co60btAZ_71fIOi7vwfSTl7v1FPwkhoWwAGsKkwXQ_Zdxck/s1600/computer+cat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinzNdYDJy_-THCLjSsRZCjmoQY7o2LKSF8Rg3wtqGt3FALT51M4l1OFBAkCLq09lLNLjCOCYo-WeKAq8PPwug_6-2Jz6R1co60btAZ_71fIOi7vwfSTl7v1FPwkhoWwAGsKkwXQ_Zdxck/s1600/computer+cat.jpg" height="368" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>So --- I get overwhelmed with life, and then become inundated trying to manage two jobs and find time to sleep - and then get totally forgotten on the internet - not that I was a hugely popular blogger with a high volume of readers...</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>Still, it's a little humbling to see just how easy it is to fall back into obscurity.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>Hell of it is, I probably won't be able to blog on a contiual or regular basis. I haven't even been able to read very much.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>not reading very much is a very weird thing for me. I used to read at least four books a week, and then it went down to two a week, then on a week.... and now I'm lucky if I finish a book a month.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>But I'm still trying to follow my favorite writers - I still want to support by reviewing - it's just going to be less frequent. </i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>And hopefully someone will see a post and be tempted to buy a book.</i></span></div>
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Mardelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00063358136590143066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337591434347743479.post-18831697069715315112014-02-11T00:02:00.003-08:002014-02-11T00:02:52.873-08:00backseat saints by Joshilyn Jackson<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4bC71HZOZfk-6lS6mNvPZhO3FT5H4MSlWcxikszMiUTW49E_8QyMVYFM2VOi2fY30ytPZGk4Uoi5MDt2A92eelu4HndpaSkXNm91muTdx-jXfT6SLtiwHAMGuM8ZPRaBA7767Tc8dBcM/s1600/back+seat+saints.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4bC71HZOZfk-6lS6mNvPZhO3FT5H4MSlWcxikszMiUTW49E_8QyMVYFM2VOi2fY30ytPZGk4Uoi5MDt2A92eelu4HndpaSkXNm91muTdx-jXfT6SLtiwHAMGuM8ZPRaBA7767Tc8dBcM/s400/back+seat+saints.jpg" height="400" width="258" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>Back Seat Saints</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>Joshilyn Jackson</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>fiction</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>May 2011</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b>cover</b> - look at that cover....woman in the front seat, dog with her.... they're going somewhere....</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>I was browsing this weird new store one day...not even thinking about books, when I saw an endcap of books - all for $3 or less. On one hand, I was glad to see a book I could buy for $3.00 but once I began reading I was sad for the author that her books are on an endcap in some strange dollar store. And yet - if they hadn't been, I would not have found it, read it and then wanted to buy more of her books. Which I do. I would love to find more of her novels and read them since Joshilyn Jackson writes a hell of a story.</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>backseat saints is the story of a young woman, raised in a dysfunctional family, with a mother who ran away seemingly abandoning her, who ends up in an abusive relationship.</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>backseat saints is the story of the roll this young woman plays in her abusive marriage and how she finally accepts the fact that if she stays, she's going to end up dead.</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>backseat saints is the story of how she finally changes her life and how family cares for each other, even though it might not be in the best way. It's about forgiveness and hate.</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>It's a very hard hitting book. Very striking. I recommend it, it's very good reading, even though some parts may by hard to read.</i></span></div>
Mardelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00063358136590143066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337591434347743479.post-901151855251365962014-02-04T01:58:00.002-08:002014-02-10T22:25:16.026-08:00Chill by Elizabeth Bear - review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.randomhouse.com/book/10210/chill-by-elizabeth-bear#excerpt" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDeV6cGsrzXpZD71vPBHjqSvw0x7NIAWelefM97qy6_BDJty6maoyIlbmrYL2v2NzAQGsw4HSdgo3GIDuxi24nasfcZwlh25omHsg3HQMMjbZtfkWy6axQX5khyphenhyphenmSooMu_yLvhLXuNB44/s1600/chill.jpg" height="320" width="193" /></a></div>
<b><i><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">Chill</span></i></b><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>Elizabeth Bear</i></span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><a href="http://www.elizabethbear.com/?page_id=621" target="_blank">Jacob's Ladder</a> #2</i></span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>SciFi/Fantasy</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b style="font-size: xx-large;">****** </b><i>six out of six stars</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="color: #76a5af;"><b>cover</b> - See, here's the thing. These characters are supposed to be very pale - as evidenced on this cover. But not shown on this cover, is that they are also pretty blue tinged.... however, this IS this representation of a colony of symbiont colonies....a type of nanobyte, if you will, that aids in keeping the bodies fresh, fighting disease and injury - even too much emotions. Science Fiction - gotta love it. :)</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>If you haven't read Dust, then Chill isn't going to make much sense. It's still doable, but it's better to read Dust first. The second in a trilogy - Jacob's Ladder trilogy, Chill takes off right where Dust ended. The aftermath of a great battle... but you need back ground. Too bad you're not going to get a lot of back ground -- you really need to read the book to get the most out that you can. See, I'm not sure I got everything out of the book that I could. But here's a start...</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>The generation ship - Jacob's Ladder, has been recently saved from hundreds of years of orbiting a dying star. Using a dangerous combination of events, the newest captain has managed to begin a journey to find a planet for the inhabitants of this ship to colonize. this is something that was planned long ago, though the plans to colonize seem to have been delayed. The original ship dwellers are mostly all gone - there are some who have been around for a few hundred years, but even they don't know all there is to know of the beginnings of the flight; they don't know the complete story to how the ship ended up stranded and orbiting in a dying system for hundreds of years. Unfortunately, though the ship is now traveling, it's also continuing to fail at an even faster rate.</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>The inhabitants: this is where I believe the SciFi merges with some fantasy elements - whether the author planned this or not, it's how I see it. There are some strong SciFi elements; bio-engineering, computer programs merging with humans; computer programs turned into artificial intelligence turned into "angels"; elite family members with special gifts such as wings, the ability to sense things and converse telepathically with the AI. The background of this book is rich with details of all types.</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>The support staff of the ship are divided according to the systems they work in - here is where I show how much I don't remember terms, so I'll just describe. The engineering section is one family, the kitchen/life sustenance is another. there is life support, and the ruling class - the Conn's who are not the nicest people in the world. And the ship itself - it's vast. Vast enough to contain seasons, fields and holdings resembling fiefdoms of yesteryear. I cannot do this book and all the details justice.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">So, I skip to the storyline. In </span><b style="color: #8e7cc3;">Dust </b><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">(</span><span style="color: magenta;">Jacob's Ladder #1</span><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">), we meet Perceval, Rien, Mallory, Gavin, Tristen and Benedict - among a few others. In </span><b style="color: #8e7cc3;">Chill</b><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">, Perceval is now Captain of the ship. Two of the enemy angels have warred - with one clear winner. Each ship system had its own Angel, and one Angel was ambitious enough to take over and absorb the other angels, trying to effect a change that would save the ship. Because of this, Perceval's new found love - Rien, is now part of the computer system/angel. Perceval is angry, and trying to adjust.</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">And even though the war is "over" it's not really over. The ship is losing valuable resources almost faster than damaged areas can be fixed. Tristen (</span><span style="color: magenta;">one of the uncles</span><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">) and Benedict (</span><span style="color: magenta;">one of the other uncles</span><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">) have gone on separate and parallel quests to find out what's going on, and to try to fix the problems. Unfortunately one of the Aunts - Arianne, seemingly captured, has escaped and has some plan she's been putting into action. Mallory - a necromancer who looks like a man and a woman, but who claims to be a woman - is helping. Mallory has the memories of hundreds, if not thousands of previously living people in his ....memory banks. His sidekick is a metal bird, called Gavin who seems to have the memories of one of the other Aunts. This aunt was a sorceress - (</span><span style="color: magenta;">you see where I get the fantasy along with the SciFi?</span><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">)</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>It sounds confusing as hell, but when you're reading it, you just fall into the story, and the details unfold as you read along. The details as well as the rich surroundings, and the fantastical mix of science and fantasy, computer programs and magic. It's a hell of a mix, ending in a hell of a story. </i></span><br />
<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">Another merging of factions is the female vs male, hetero vs homo sexual - only it really isn't a versus type of thing, it's more of a mixture. Sexuality, and even male/female presence is more of an afterthought, or even better - a blending of ideals. For example, as an exalt (</span><span style="color: magenta;">the elite members of the family</span><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">) one can choose to be sexual or asexual. Perceval had chosen to be asexual until she fell in love with Rien, and even then though she really wanted to marry this woman, she wasn't concerned with a sex life, more of a merging and spending a life with her loved one. Mallory - not quite male or female, is with either sex. It's as if an ideal future for the sexes was being described here - a world where people are allowed to love as they will, with no judgement or spotlight. The sexual preferences just ... Are.</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>Good story, with the promise of more with the third of the series - <b>Grail</b>. I enjoyed the dialogue, the inner thoughts and the lush descriptions of everything from the ship's different sections to the animals and fauna within the ship, and all the different people. It all combines into one hell of a story.</i></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.randomhouse.com/book/10211/dust-by-elizabeth-bear/9780553591071/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1F_NI9Bmnq9s2OQKnzY5PX_viZ1HESi1wnnVHO4PA3uzVc84Tbt44kPMNZsE2VR3K_YoKYCnKu2W-xC3HWuVeVjzVQaNV7_MvdU3Jp4iDdcvwFNIMlyNS8dmYSaQraA0aUUxbWNx4N7Q/s1600/Dust.jpg" height="200" width="121" /></a> </div>
<a href="http://www.randomhouse.com/book/10212/grail-by-elizabeth-bear" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuRs1JkdMdVs6sWUkU6FvcIRkKFDpwzMgF8Et-SU6ZS5CdH85yfE9H_EcmNwrdps-1YrtYm2XY3YiuZLi93ygoWKJur2nVEPfekrTfArdW6uHo_sZsFFk_RTYnluECio_XFj2h6QGMaAc/s1600/grail.jpg" height="200" width="118" /></a><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> Books one and three of </span><br />
<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> <a href="http://www.elizabethbear.com/?page_id=621" target="_blank">Jacob's Ladder</a> trilogy</span>Mardelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00063358136590143066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337591434347743479.post-8306008707835321442014-01-11T00:32:00.002-08:002014-01-11T00:32:27.181-08:00Wrong Ways Down - first read of 2014<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.staciakane.net/books/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU7QZw1lA4jYe4ZsTYmlk9wi179kZKBnYJrfwgMHNMU2bW8vrr_W8SwlZ3AYx_lNMF-9byOQwIp22jvBU-BArWv-66KTqFNUNzyOKm1FmeVXj-BBjVuSfb_mIn78nkIgVBsQLbjTmCYG8/s1600/wrong+ways+down.jpeg" height="320" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>I haven't been participating in memes lately, haven't even stayed on top of reviews.... Barely been reading.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>But I did manage to finish a book recently.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>I also almost finished another....</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #674ea7;">So, the first book read in 2014 is <a href="http://www.staciakane.net/blog/" target="_blank">Stacia Kane's</a> Wrong Ways Down. It's supposed to be novella, but it's about as long as other books I've read. In fact, it's way longer than some of ...well, I won't go there. Let's just say that you get more for your book buying dollar from Stacia Kane than you do a certain writer who has been writing a steadily deteriorating series for years......(</span><span style="color: magenta;">oh, man - I went there</span><span style="color: #674ea7;">.)</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #674ea7;">Anyway - <b>Wrong Ways Down</b> is set in the world of Chess Putnam - from the Downside series. It's told from the point of view of Terrible, from before they two get together. It's good. There are a few cameo appearance of Chess, and a whole lot of insight to Terrible and his love of his job - or at least why he loves violence so much. (</span><span style="color: magenta;">sometimes, I admit, I like the thought of violence....but I haven't hit anyone in a long time....being the mature adult that I am now</span><span style="color: #674ea7;">)</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #674ea7;">The prostitutes that work for Terrible's boss are suddenly being attacked, and at the same time one of the men who are supposed to be on watch has been murdered. Terrible is upset about the women being abused, and he's out for vengeance, along with trying to figure out what's going on. I enjoyed the story, it was just as good as the regular series novels.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #674ea7;">If you enjoy the Downside series (</span><span style="color: magenta;"><b>Unholy Ghosts and co</b></span><span style="color: #674ea7;">.) then you're going to enjoy <b>Wrong Ways Down</b>.</span></i></span></div>
Mardelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00063358136590143066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337591434347743479.post-90257752140583519362013-12-18T00:57:00.001-08:002013-12-18T00:57:56.404-08:00The Burn Zone by James Decker - Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.jameskdecker.com/burnZoneExcerpt.html" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfwcnBJyrc_KRG3dzG6WqFv16wOGO57jiS3SpKDZnkpXezB81JdcVmoqdYds52Wo-s2x8Av_XvGlkc1GkpON4k0KcggvRQ620G5SLY9lYMF8Q5wLLu9cg-xPWfGt9Oc8EHxEJ-BUBdGd0/s400/BurnZone,+the.jpg" width="249" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><i><a href="http://www.jameskdecker.com/books.aspx" target="_blank">The Burn Zone</a></i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b><i><a href="http://blog.jameskdecker.com/?p=230" target="_blank">James Decker</a></i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Feb 2013</i></span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>SciFi</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>cover - YES. here is a cover that actually represents the main character - a girl, a tough girl who is obviously ready for a fight...</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">Well. Sometimes I read a book and I don't enjoy it, don't finish it and then don't review it. Other times, I read a book and enjoy the hell out of it but for some (lazy) reason, I put off writing the review because.....I don't why. Who knows what's going on in my head? I don't. This time, I read The Burn Zone, loved it, put off reviewing it and then when I FINALLY decide to review, I find out that not only is this guy a "debut" author of The Burn Zone, he's also an author of a trilogy of books under the name of James Knapp. I don't pretend to understand all the reasons for using different names, but in this case it doesn't matter to me, especially when I haven't read anything under either of the names. How many of you have steered away from reading a certain genre (</span><span style="color: magenta;">coughromancecough - coughbodicerippercough</span><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">) only to pick up an interesting looking URBAN fantasy book and then read it, find it vaguely disturbingly romance like (</span><span style="color: magenta;">or totally like a romance</span><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">) novel, and THEN find out that - yes - the reason said book reads like a romance is because the author has been writing romance for 500 YEARS, making it a bit hard to write a book that doesn't read like a romance with paranormal elements. And then there's the whole OOh, I'm not soandso author, oh no, and other fans go on the attack, how dare you even ask, etc, and then a year or so later it turns out it WAS a certain author, for some reason keeping it completely SECRET....ahhhh I digress (</span><span style="color: magenta;">and possibly sound a little <strike>disturbed</strike> er bitter</span><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">) let's just get back to THIS book. </span></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">So, as I was sayin', James Knapp, James Decker - same guy, not a secret, no rabid fans ready to attack me (</span><span style="color: magenta;">I hope</span><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">) - either way, this James guy can write a hell of a good story.</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">First of all, let me remind y'all, it's been almost a year since I read The Burn Zone. And when I finished it, it kept echoing in my mind. That's a pretty good book. Now let's see if I can remember enough to write a coherent review.</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">Set in the future, and in Asia, life has become...hard to live. Most of the masses are living hand to mouth, eating some kind of nutrient cake made of some kind of insect byproduct (</span><span style="color: magenta;">gross, right?</span><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">). One of the reasons people are so poor and food challenged, is that a huge spaceship landed in a section of a city, instantly killing millions of people - and one of the results is a treaty between the nation and the spaceship occupants to divert a percentage of food to the aliens as well as provide women surrogates for their young. It's complicated, and much more to the story, but the Haan (</span><span style="color: magenta;">the aliens</span><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">) are supposed to be fragile.</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>One of the women taking part in the incubation/foster - Sam Shao has started life out in difficult circumstances. Seems there are these meat providers who aren't particular about what kind of meat they provide - she was saved at the last minute by a cop, who later adopted her. When the story starts, she's been living with him for a while, he's away on a trip, and she's just coming home and is taking care of her haan baby. He barely comes home when their apartment is raided, cops are there to arrest her father. Since she's been enhanced to sense the haan infant needs, she also is able to sense things about one of the cops - and it seems like this cop is actually a not so fragile Haan.</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>She escapes the raid, and is on the run for pretty much the rest of the book. One of her goals is to find her father, who has disappeared into the depths of ....where ever prisoners end up when they're so expedient. There's a conspiracy afoot.</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>Besides the main plot, Decker has weaved a pretty rich atmosphere - future gadgets, like motorcycles that can fly, space travel, air travel, computer whizzes, one who is a friend to Sam, a crowded city full of people who cannot be trusted and danger at every turn. Sam has to stay clear of meat slavers and from the police who seem to be able to find her wherever she goes. Despite seemingly hopeless odds, Sam begins to make a little headway into the mystery of why her father - a respected cop - is being accused of treason and where he ends up. She takes a huge risk attempting to rescue her father and finds way more than she ever dreamed. There's much more to the conspiracy than she suspected.</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>Everything about this story works - the setting, the aliens, the creepy people, the disgusting black market human meat thing, the dialog, betrayal.....it's all packaged in a hell of a novel. The cover notes that it's part of the Burn Zone series, so I am hoping to read more of this story. A very enjoyable and at times disturbing read.</i></span>Mardelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00063358136590143066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337591434347743479.post-2052328014415053802013-12-15T17:21:00.002-08:002013-12-15T17:24:01.263-08:00Man Made Boy by Jon Skovron - review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.us.penguingroup.com/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,9780670786206,00.html?sym=EXC" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgENO9qn6EzbqhKAvyvxpHtRwRyC6Cy2O2xXcXqVXzBZPTIIFFoY_nYfXOJ9NUAd817X_98UfMn2j5Zs9Xt4jur_1VX1wl5q3fFHf1bBUheKI6UftoISfgIxCgiHX5Mk2ZuuBTkR383gdk/s400/Man+Made+Boy.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><i><b><a href="http://jonskovron.com/man-made-boy/" target="_blank">Man Made Boy</a></b></i></span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>by <a href="http://jonskovron.com/" target="_blank"><b>Jon Skovron</b></a></i></span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Y/A, fantasy</i></span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>2013</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>cover -</b><i> in the story, Boy has stitching on hands or wrists, among other places. So though the bolts give you a good idea of what kind of 'monster' Boy is, I would have thought some stitching would be a good addition. Even so, the cover is fun, with the bolts, the nod to computer motherboard chips and the little heart shaped piece in his hand.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><b style="color: #674ea7;">Man Made Boy</b><span style="color: #674ea7;"> was a fun book. In keeping with my new policy of reading a Y/A book on a more regular basis (</span><span style="color: #c27ba0;">i.e., not only the books my fav author writes</span><span style="color: #674ea7;">), I happily opened up this novel to read. And though it took me longer to read than it should have (</span><span style="color: #c27ba0;">I shared the book, leaving it at a location where another person and I could read it in turns</span><span style="color: #674ea7;">) I enjoyed reading this story. </span></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>Imagine that Frankenstien's Monster, and the Bride of Frankenstein got together and had a son...er....made a son. What would they do to keep said son safe? Live underground?</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>Literally - they live underground, within a community of a variety of monsters, most of whom never see daylight or go out in public among the humans. But to keep money coming in, they put on a show - a kind of broadway or oldstyle variety show, the main attraction is Medusa, who can freeze one with a mere look, paralyze people with fear and other feelings.... This is where Boy's dad comes in. He disconnects from his emotions and handles Medusa. But that is a small part of this story.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #674ea7;">Boy gets a chance to go out side with the leader of their community, and enjoys it more than he thought he would. His life hasn't been too great anyway at the commune - his parents and him are at the bottom of the small society, ridiculed by the other monsters, who are themselves afraid of oing out and living among humans. (</span><span style="color: #c27ba0;">there's a moral in there, somewhere</span><span style="color: #674ea7;">) </span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #674ea7;">Boy also has a crush on one of the Trowes (think lithe troll with panther like moves...)... Anyway - long review made short...</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #674ea7;">Boy leaves the compound, gets a job and starts blending in. Only there's this computer code he's been working on that has come back to haunt him, and his crush shows up, things to to hell, Boy ends up on the run....</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #674ea7;">And there's some pretty good lessons in the book, not even disguised - straight up lessons - Boy even says so himself. Which is good - nothing like trying to trick a teen into learning something. </span></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #674ea7;">I found the book mostly enjoyable. <br />Boy's voice didn't really sound much like a teen, which could be either because the writer isn't a teen or that Boy isn't your average teen.</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #674ea7;">There are many cameos of just about any mythical monster you can name, as well as pop culture monster.</span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #674ea7;">It was a fun read.</span></i></span></div>
Mardelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00063358136590143066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337591434347743479.post-49564064555431232132013-12-09T02:17:00.001-08:002013-12-15T21:02:08.137-08:00It's Monday.......and brrrrr, It's so Cold!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOKkV7PK-OSO2562_WFG_qKIq9RiO8pkO7LsMyW_7PUvx_ClU1zi_jCvhIcuJIUGIMXD-NSK3PQ71aRPo6jiy_Wzn68jr6fEw1SqhXgMmbEP6ScB4m9RjvjBJwxrOSu_pLgDWgyaC-1gY/s1600/dog+slave.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOKkV7PK-OSO2562_WFG_qKIq9RiO8pkO7LsMyW_7PUvx_ClU1zi_jCvhIcuJIUGIMXD-NSK3PQ71aRPo6jiy_Wzn68jr6fEw1SqhXgMmbEP6ScB4m9RjvjBJwxrOSu_pLgDWgyaC-1gY/s1600/dog+slave.jpg" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I live in California - the part of California that is in the beginning of Northern California. In other words, though we're Northern California, we're spared the extreme temperatures. We live 30 miles from the Pacific Ocean, 60ish miles from San Francisco and have our own little microclimates mixture going on within our city. One part of the city is always warmer than another part, etc. And while most of the country is suffering from exteme temperatures - the ice cold, the snow, the month long heatwaves, we're blessed with mostly temperate weather. That doesn't mean we don't get hit with heat waves and cold weather. We do, they just don't usually last very long, and cold for us is usually from 40 degrees to 50ish. AND our winter season usually contains a random week here and there of warmer weather - enough to fool some plants into flowering. In fact, we usually have warm or comfortably cool to warm days all the way through November. </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> These past few days, however, we've been below 30 during the mornings, with it barely climbing above 35 for the day. The nights have been a lot colder - a lot of our plants were frost burned because neither my husband or I were well enough to cover them with sheets on our first cold night. I'm hoping they will make a come back, but when the leaves are that weird texture and strange green color, there's not much hope. Maybe some of the root will have survived, though.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Cold.... Brrrrrrrr! I know we all get used to the weather we grow up in, but I don't know how anyone in the colder regions can take all that cold.</span></i></div>
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<a href="http://bookjourney.wordpress.com/2013/12/08/its-monday-what-are-you-reading-213/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjelhEG4g88By14txYxN-xT-4lrawyDbS_V1dxIY4ex-Q3RYXKMZ_P43HwMDHV1i4HuWtgjxBzpoQwVn3xC2wzUclOtzoVZuZk8Vep9SdhM25NBfjHDoB0U-wGEuyM8Hxh6L6y9yXwX90g/s400/It's+Monday,+What+Are+You+Reading.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>The past few weeks, though I've felt better, I've been so sleepy on Sundays that I've been forgetting to participate in <b>I<a href="http://bookjourney.wordpress.com/2013/12/08/its-monday-what-are-you-reading-213/" target="_blank">t's Monday, What Are You Reading?</a> </b>Though my reading hasn't picked up by much, I have been able to read.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>Oh yeah - It's Monday, Hosted by <b><a href="http://bookjourney.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Sheila of Book Journey</a></b> - but then everyone probably knows this by now, right?</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><b>I have finished.....</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><i><b>Man Made Boy</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>written by <b><a href="http://jonskovron.com/" target="_blank">Jon Skovron</a></b></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>a twist on the old Frankenstein tale, featuring the teen age-ish son of Frankenstien's Monster and Bride. Lots of appearances by many monsters of legends and myths...La Llorona, The Invisible Man, Jekyll & Hyde's granddaughter.... It's an interesting novel. oh and here's a good twist - Boy is a computer tech whiz monster/kid. I need to review it soon.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><i><b>I am currently reading....</b></i></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.tonyballantyne.com/dream-london/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitMaXBA3yJhDL7_1ioBMvSsRXSkjPIipjUjqUXWCzAG4S3jERJnHmpqs_4PLMfmc0E7g4oacwrzWbH7pDEfo_bOltucZ-5NAisu6qLVHwPkbP9lwKbxNo2Id_FYUVSm-_TJnexg0Uq7wI/s320/Dream+London.jpg" width="213" /></a><i style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: xx-large;"><b><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17429743-dream-london" target="_blank">Dream London</a></b></i></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>by <b>Tony Ballantyne</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #674ea7;">London is changing in a mysterious and dangerous way....sometimes constantly and overnight (</span><span style="color: magenta;">if that makes sense</span><span style="color: #674ea7;">) Women are losing their rights and achievements of the past hundred or so years, history is being re-written, even math is changing.... It's too complicated to explain, you need to read it. I'm almost finished with it, and it's been quite a read.</span></i></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><a href="http://www.devonmonk.com/hell-bent/" target="_blank">Hell Bent</a></b></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">by <b><a href="http://www.devonmonk.com/" target="_blank">Devon Monk</a></b></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">this takes off after the Allie Beckstrom series finale, and focuses on Shame (</span><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">main character</span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">) and his reluctant soul complement, Terric. Their's is an awkward and yet longing relationship. One is straight and such a bad boy, the other is gay and a goody-two shoes...rather, he follows rules.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">And someone is hunting soul complements.....</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Well, this is all I have for now. Lots of good books sitting around my house, waiting for me to read, and me wasting time on the computer, or watching sitcoms and sleeping (</span><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">in between working</span><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">)... that's my life right now. :)</span></i></div>
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Mardelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00063358136590143066noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337591434347743479.post-5049570066757504012013-11-21T19:08:00.001-08:002013-11-21T19:08:45.998-08:00Perdition by Ann Aguirre - review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.annaguirre.com/books/dred-chronicles/perdition/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAk3gV-adKQj27hZunsGL5KBVHTNNs613Pu91TCneGVdeB5hkH-oI1QDHgH-KXMEttLM6nJwZly63VyR3AvgzKgv435LCIur5m6RuuS0tPU4pfkFCHmG3zbVGVtkW3eiFD4Jl46yfvXVg/s320/Perdition1.jpg" width="198" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><i>Perdition</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b><i><a href="http://www.annaguirre.com/about/" target="_blank">Ann Aguirre</a></i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Dred Chronicles #1</i></span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>SciFi/2013</i></span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">***** </span>(five out of six)</b></i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b>cover - </b>I don't see any of the tattoos described in the book, or the braids in her hair- though I do see a few of the beads mentioned... Still. Let's make the cover resemble the characters please. On the other hand, it is kind of a cool cover. She looks badass, and she does use her chains.... </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">I have been in an awful reading slump, and besides the Steampunk Trails mag, haven't been able to finish a book. The last book I did finish took me over four weeks to read. Perdition is the first book in over two months that I've been able to read in a matter of days. I started it two days ago, and finished reading it last night. (</span><span style="color: magenta;">Yeay!!!!!</span><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">) seriously, I thought I was never going to finish reading another book (</span><span style="color: magenta;">que dramatica</span><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">)</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">So. Based on my absolute love for the <a href="http://www.annaguirre.com/books/jax-series/" target="_blank">Sirantha Jax series</a>, I picked this up because it's set in the same universe. I thought it was going to feature a woman that Jax had met while she was in prison, but I was wrong. Perdition is set at least forty years (</span><span style="color: magenta;">turns?</span><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">) in the future, and while the woman is different from who I thought, there is a character from the past Jax years. Jael, who I had a hard time remembering....He turned on Sirantha and co. way back on <a href="http://www.annaguirre.com/books/jax-series/doubleblind/" target="_blank">Ithiss Tor</a> and he's still alive because he's hard to kill, for reasons you will discover if you read this.</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">Basic story - Dred is the Queen Dread or Dread Queen of ....yes, Queensland. She's been assisted to the dubious throne by Tam, a spymaster who is serving time on Perdition. Perdition is a prison ship that is inescapable - if one is sentenced to Perdition, you're basically sentenced to life imprisonment and to die there. She's a hard woman, who has murdered and is serving her time.</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">Jael is an incoming prisoner - who has abilities and issues. He's been sentenced to Perdition to keep him out of the way and accessible - though I don't know how accessible one can be on a prison ship where prisoners and supplies are simply dropped off, seemingly automatically. Anyway, he's recruited by Dred. On Perdition when prisoners are dropped off they are recruited by one of many sectors of prisoners, some are way worse than others.</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">Perdition - while populated with crazed murderers, political prisoners and many characters - none of whom are nice people - still reads a bit like a romance story. Two people meet, bad backgrounds, baggage and history that makes them wary of others must learn to trust each other and accept love.... sound familiar? yes. A romance with (</span><span style="color: magenta;">thankfully</span><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">) a very different background and none of those misunderstood faux-criminals. All these people have really done bad things. Still....Romance. with a bit of a romance formula. </span></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">Even so, the story was intresting, the background and setting interesting and the characters were very interesting.</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">So - even though I feel like I could have picked up a romance and gotten the same basic plot, the details are what made it good enough for me to end up reading this one straight through. So, good book, even though it was basically a romance with a SciFi criminal twist.</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">Even though Dred is the Dread Queen of Queensland, it's a constant struggle to hold on to control - takes a lot of planning, watching and discipline. One of the problems Dred faces is two other sectors have decided to attack her's for more territory. So a mini war must be waged, and Dred has to decide who to trust, who to ally with and which moves to make. This is what makes for a good story.</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">Dialog was good, narration was interesting - Aguirre knows how to write a story. Only thing....(and this is a minor complaint) I was expecting a voice kind of like Jax's - present first person, but Perdition is written in regular third person - still a good book.</span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #8e7cc3;"><br /></span></i></span>Mardelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00063358136590143066noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337591434347743479.post-51788831891941537922013-11-18T02:15:00.001-08:002013-11-18T02:15:48.097-08:00Well - it's Monday, again...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>I am very happy to be able to say that things are getting a bit better - my newest job has a possibility of a promotion to field assistant and though things are still very weird at my other work, at least I can try to tune some of it out by thinking of other things.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>My fingers are crossed on the newest job and promotion.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>This weekend alone I ended up earning 290 dollars, and though that really isn't a whole lot - it's almost as much as I bring home in an entire month of working lunch duty.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>It's all relative.</i></span></div>
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<a href="http://bookjourney.wordpress.com/2013/11/17/its-monday-what-are-you-reading-210/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDvOOhQmy2MdJ9c-O387dMvTh-ldbnvMTnZPdwkwAHFuc_hhs8XNp1Cg6o6iZNWC2miaBT-81cNF5XCsqhSh0hcRbkd2ZBdS1_drG4Au4SUD-UiA16YBWbtguLChYxyP-jpIodlhD3Xgs/s400/It's+Monday,+What+have+you+been+reading.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">Here we are again - for me, it's I'm back </span><span style="color: magenta;">(possibly temporarily again</span><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">). My posting has been very spotty lately which goes hand in hand with my reading. My reading has suffered terribly with the mix of things going on in my life - some good, some horrible, and some wonderful.</span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">Hosted by Sheila of Book Journey - we are sharing what we've been reading. Mr Linky is at her site to link up to (</span><span style="color: magenta;">of course</span><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">)</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">Once again, I finished not ONE novel. Not a one. I did manage to finish an anthology magazine - </span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #8e7cc3;"><a href="http://steampunktrails.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><b>Steampunk Trail's #1</b></a>, edited by <b><a href="http://writerjacampbell.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">J.A. Campbell</a></b>.</span></i></span><br />
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<a href="http://steampunktrails.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQyz25XPs9oyoTZvSFFFXWCFYf2bUAdQvLkZf8gyS9jkOrFu6Y5cEiMRfj53yhki9RR3Bd6N5ZTqYsqDXwiFBxYRXPiexY17woUsyR-NsOqhwBcp5J0z1_B0LN4i_yYzkRuM7hKMJbOLA/s320/Steampunk+Trails+%231.jpg" width="247" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">That is the only thing that I can honestly say I finished reading. It's good - lots of good steampunk stories to fit any taste and some illustrations as a bonus. </span></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">I have recently bought a few books, and I also received one from a publisher - and I'm working on reading it (</span><span style="color: magenta;">my apologies for not reading it straight through, though I did receive it after the publishing date, so I don't feel like it was a rush read</span><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">)</span></i></span><br />
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<a href="http://jonskovron.com/man-made-boy/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj35iHCEsioaGDe6ytfGxoEl9ZJqYlD33JaS8ns3lkHUJzr1c7gNWdLE20HA0bHzKPDpFFmrolzf1mjvFb_2pJ-pqdVPa-Ozrk5emh6QKX5SG3ce37x9yLMQ95eNE_3GsPtvgYK7wosYlI/s320/Man+Made+Boy.jpg" width="213" /></a> </div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><b><a href="http://jonskovron.com/man-made-boy/" target="_blank">Man Made Boy</a></b> by <a href="http://jonskovron.com/" target="_blank">Jon Skovron</a> </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #3d85c6;">YA monster romance (</span><span style="color: #f1c232;">wink</span><span style="color: #3d85c6;">)</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #3d85c6;">think of frankenstein and his bride MAKING a son.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #3d85c6;">and then he turns into a teen....</span></i></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.annaguirre.com/books/dred-chronicles/perdition/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizsgQRqowgQ4tgMoEHOD0AkkFQMarKmjeXQf6Z6TLSC0_81mD7honyOrlu2B8W_8KEbZhqR6zKWVa_HfQ5Cy-bpt5BoIIii6P28svc09Fbdr24JaUscObCHHCu-nI8AyGJc2l922ipo08/s320/Perdition1.jpg" width="198" /></a> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><b style="color: #674ea7;"><a href="http://www.annaguirre.com/books/dred-chronicles/perdition/" target="_blank">Perdition</a></b><span style="color: #674ea7;"> - the first of the </span><b style="color: #674ea7;">Dred Chronicles</b><span style="color: #674ea7;"> set in the </span><b style="color: #674ea7;"><a href="http://www.annaguirre.com/books/jax-series/" target="_blank">universe of Jax</a></b><span style="color: #674ea7;"> (</span><span style="color: magenta;">oh....remember <b>Jax</b>? I miss her stories</span><span style="color: #674ea7;">).</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>This one is written in third person as opposed to the first person present tense of Jax's stories. (I miss that voice!)</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>I'm pretty sure Dred is a character Jax met when she was in that huge prison awaiting trial....</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>By - of course - <b><a href="http://www.annaguirre.com/news/" target="_blank">Ann Aguirre</a>, </b>an author that seems to nail one of the types of SciFi I enjoy reading.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span><a href="http://www.devonmonk.com/hell-bent/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAGBrUmjHbbx6L0byMWnYcl4dXShe9zdEXC252vmg-1QgJxGExIwFoYnzF4qW-Bn8ypb0Rz1A-1PxOtv8gvJCRntuuSfAlMepiigoTbgpRwZGPAiAndQ5lV1ObgJBf7O9CHAcWJPmYDWc/s1600/hell+bent.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>Another book beginning a new series from a great writer is <b><a href="http://www.devonmonk.com/hell-bent/" target="_blank">Hell Bent</a></b> by <a href="http://www.devonmonk.com/" target="_blank"><b>Devon Monk</b></a>. Written as a continuation of the magic story of Seattle, in <a href="http://www.devonmonk.com/books/allie-beckstrom/" target="_blank">Allie Becktrom's Seattle</a>, this new series features two characters from the first series - Shame and Terric. Interesting combo of characters, and interesting situations...</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span><a href="http://www.orbitbooks.net/the-mage-in-black-by-jaye-wells-extract/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq0N91nASN2K_wTxmAUlOGnjiG7CzBQJ05F4wlj35jWNvHPksrsTSUV89z89xuMHlpM1QAwJqKA1pr1Vo6mcjmcNL0g5Lj4uaxI4CmH7ab-rVkspOQJY0hlQZBn0xdW9r2oc-XIaUjctU/s320/the+mage+in+black.jpg" width="197" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>I've managed to come across a book I've had around here for a few years. <b><a href="http://jayewells.com/" target="_blank">Jaye Wells</a></b>' <a href="http://jayewells.com/books/#sk_mib" target="_blank">The Mage In Black</a>. I decided to try to read this second in a series, though I wasn't super excited about the first. Many times, the second book is better though...although there are times, the reverse is true... hmmmm.. nah - I'm pretty sure it'll be interesting. :)</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>I would like to try her newest series - Dirty Magic. Sounds interesting.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #3d85c6;">There's another book I bought, it's SciFi - but I can't find it (</span><span style="color: magenta;">of course</span><span style="color: #3d85c6;">) and cannot remember the name...it starts with an </span><span style="color: #e06666;"><b>E</b></span><span style="color: #3d85c6;">, and I think there's an</span><span style="color: #674ea7;"> </span><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">N</span></b><span style="color: #674ea7;"> </span><span style="color: #3d85c6;">or</span><span style="color: #674ea7;"> </span><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">S</span></b><span style="color: #674ea7;"> </span><span style="color: #3d85c6;">in it also....and an</span><b><span style="color: #cc0000;"> O</span></b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">.....and an</span><span style="color: #674ea7;"> </span><b><span style="color: #e06666;">I</span></b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">..... (</span><span style="color: magenta;">oh boy</span><span style="color: #3d85c6;">) Can't even remember the author's name, but it's set in Scotland. How's that for SciFi? dont' come across many SciFi set in Scotland, at least not here in the states. :)</span></i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifue8UTlsBPy_mTBbgGe0XThPeLRNTND37p0-YR1-bH_Y7CPS_VDS8aJHKFDCG3wdn0SJy99J_f-l3i2yrFk-Qj3loDQDMSUZbG2gjJhcZCQeiqiCPQ5mzNk5VEathifpS1uG8Gc9i2Qw/s1600/Dancing+the+Samba.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifue8UTlsBPy_mTBbgGe0XThPeLRNTND37p0-YR1-bH_Y7CPS_VDS8aJHKFDCG3wdn0SJy99J_f-l3i2yrFk-Qj3loDQDMSUZbG2gjJhcZCQeiqiCPQ5mzNk5VEathifpS1uG8Gc9i2Qw/s1600/Dancing+the+Samba.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">Well - it's getting late. I've worked 36 hours in the last 48 (</span><span style="color: magenta;">is that right? that's crazed!</span><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">), and I'm actually tired before four a.m. for once. I get to work both jobs tomorrow, and we're going for a drive, my client and I. He likes to ride in my car, which he calls his car... "my car". how cute.</span></i></span></div>
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Mardelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00063358136590143066noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337591434347743479.post-86406853332752705932013-11-13T19:09:00.000-08:002013-11-13T19:09:05.410-08:00I'm in a....weird space.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhliM5cyUiiDjGDKPFPowBKjm2hsfl4kOLvVRIEvhfyzdjc6ty6Vrrk9HUGJbwnrz9gsjx5PnnSqjdHcmgchl1zmScBq7fPj2FJF1dFV6t-9-lYVpVcTLeYOw_SBQgh_Utt8hjrk54VVKs/s1600/creepy+kitty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhliM5cyUiiDjGDKPFPowBKjm2hsfl4kOLvVRIEvhfyzdjc6ty6Vrrk9HUGJbwnrz9gsjx5PnnSqjdHcmgchl1zmScBq7fPj2FJF1dFV6t-9-lYVpVcTLeYOw_SBQgh_Utt8hjrk54VVKs/s400/creepy+kitty.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">I love this cat pic, because the kitty looks absolutely certifiably insane. That special sweet but deadly insane, where she could be purring one second and then scratching your eyeball the next.....but aren't most cats like that? I think that's why some of like them. We might like living on the edge.... (</span><span style="color: magenta;">just sayin'...</span><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">)</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">Anyway - it's been a while. I can't seem to keep up with things - and even though I quit the one job that should have made things easier, (and it did for a while) the insanity started back up. Things were said and even though I can deny until I choke on it, the answer is.... "it's her truth". Yeah. What about my truth and reality? And how about my rights as an employee?</span></i></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>pretty soon, I can say this to my other job.... or something close-maybe I can think it in my head as I'm telling them I no longer need their little job.</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">But - just when I was really feeling the worst, in my new job, I've already been recommended for a promotion - to field assistant. Wow. So I'm not completely worthless and horrible. I know I really am not a bad person, but my self esteem has really taken a hit.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">But this new job maybe something that I should jump towards - take the plunge. I'm nervous about it - because it involves meeting people, and keeping an eye on numerous clients and their personal assistants, med pick ups, etc - but my immediate supervisor seems to think I can do it.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>One of the downsides is also an upside. It's a downside, because I'll see my grandchildren less. But it's an upside, because it's forty hours a week - forty flexible hours.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>and - it takes me away from the utter dysfunciton of my other job. Do - within weeks I'll be in a totally different headspace, and hopefully -doing well at the new job.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>Thankful to the universe, god, luck, my friend for looking out for me - etc. Whatever the combination of fate and friendship allowed me to end up in a place where people think I'm a worthwhile employee.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">One of the other downsides - I'm going to miss seeing my grandchildren at lunch, and even working with those pesky hormonal eighth graders during lunch. I never thought I would actually enjoy working with eighth graders, but I treat them like younger adults, and they seem to respond to that - listening to me when I need them to mellow out, and respecting me (</span><span style="color: magenta;">haha, at least to my face</span><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">) when I show I respect their space. They were even saying they were going to miss me, and how many times do you hear a teen boy say that to an older graying (</span><span style="color: magenta;">haha - just about completely gray haired</span><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">) yard supervisor? Shows that when you show respect to a teen, they will reward you with a little respect themselves. And it's been fun being around them. So I learned something in the last few years of working with the seventh and eighth graders.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>I was actually dreading them when we switched to a k-8th school, and the first few years, we had some very crazed middle school students, but the last few years things have just gotten a bit better each year. with the students. With a couple of the staff, it's become a living hell - but it's almost over with.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>I just don't understand why the principal doesn't see the insanity and dysfunction in the person she picked to work with us. She's blind to it. Other people see it - but ....</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>Since I quit the afterschool job, all the grief I was receiving has been transferred to the other woman that was working with us. it's like they have a mission to get rid of anyone over fifty, and they're doing a good job of it. Causing stress, lying about her, twisting truths and events to make her look bad, blaming things on her that were their deal. All the things they pulled on me. I told her she should quit. It might be a win for the crazed duo, but she'll feel much freer to be out of that situation. </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">I felt better until they started in on me at lunch time. (</span><span style="color: magenta;">they work under my supervision at lunch</span><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">)</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>Anyway - I didn't mean to go off on a meandering raving about work post.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>But I've been going through some awful shit that no one should have to go through, with some support, but none from the head honcho. It's amazing to me, and completely mystifying how one or two people can wage a scheme of slander, and purposely ruin one person's reputation...and for what?</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>payback? I didn't do anything- only thing I can think of is I told my immediate supervisor in the day care, that it wasn't a good idea to leave children unattended outside for any length of time, even a few minutes. This is something he did on a regular basis. I did it in the nicest way possible, telling him he could send a student in to get one of us to go out and cover, if he needed to come inside. Guess he couldn't take it.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>The trouble started shortly after that - insiduous at first, but getting worse and worse. Then by the time the second person started in on me, when nothing else seemed to be working, I finally quit.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>After a couple of months of listening to this woman be rude to me in front of students and actually tell me I didn't do my job right, and speaking to me in a rude tone, then walking off whenever I tried to talk to her, she turned the tables on me and made a complaint to the principal that I bullied her, and all the other staff (I don't) and that I pick on her kids (I don't) and that I'm always rude to her and etc.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>I denied this, but was told it was "her truth".</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>how do you fight that?</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>You can't.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>I can't play head games like that. I don't know how to work things like that, and I don't choose to.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>All this for what? a seven hour a week job, I am paid three dollars an hour more than the other lunch supervisors, but it's only SEVEN hours a week.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>Obviously one of them wants the job.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>Well, now they can have it.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>I just hope MY grandchildren don't suffer. Maybe after I quit, I should just come out everyday and have lunch with them.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>yeah.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>that's what I'm going to do.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>Just to be safe.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>I'll be pleasant. </i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>But I'll stick around their table.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>This is something I never expected to have to go through - especially since I was planning on retiring as soon as I could. And all I wanted was to have a last year or three of pleasant work - all they had to do was be pleasant for a year or so - and I would have been gone anyway.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>I just don't get when people deliberately go after one person.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>Bullying doesn't just happen in childhood - it goes on and on through out life.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>And it can really affect people - it just about ruined me.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>Thank god for those who care - though.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>I was lucky that a former employee of mine landed a position where she could get me hired on.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>And now we're both moving up a bit.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">Thank god (</span><span style="color: magenta;">or gods, or Mother nature, or the universe, etc</span><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">)</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #8e7cc3;"><br /></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">Rant over for now -</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">next time I post, hopefully it'll be about books.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">Haven't been able to read much - but I did buy myself some new books.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>:)</i></span></div>
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<br />Mardelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00063358136590143066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337591434347743479.post-56888469146708321912013-11-06T03:09:00.000-08:002013-11-06T03:09:21.746-08:00Steampunk Trails issue #1 - review<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Reading an anthology, or magazine, or short story collection straight through is a new adventure for me. My usual practice is to buy an anthology based on the one or two contributing authors that I follow, read their contributions, and then take anywhere from a year to even three years to finish reading the rest of the stories. In the last year, I've had the pleasure and challenge (</span><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">my brain does NOT want to focus</span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">) of receiving and reading a collection in under a month (</span><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">or to be honest, in a month or two - still way faster than my norm</span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">). And it's been fun, because with each of the recent collections, I've found myself enjoying all the pieces - some way more than others, but all of them have been fun to read and experience.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">This was <b><a href="http://writerjacampbell.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">J.A. Campbell</a></b>'s debut as editor (</span><span style="color: lime; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">and she did a damn good job!</span><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">) of a magazine, or anthology. She has been a contributor to anthologies, but with <b><a href="http://steampunktrails.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Steampunk Trails</a></b>, she is the editor - putting together a compilation of some very interesting fiction from some very good writers.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Steampunk Trails eventually will have follow up issues, and there is a new blog dedicated to the new magazine venture. </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">On the blog, there is also a page for submissions...if you are a writer, go over there and check it out, keep a look out for submission call outs, when they open up - especially if you're interested in writing steampunk. Who knows? you might end up in an issue of Steampunk Trails.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> Magazine, anthology - I tend to go back an forth on the terminology, but it's all about the short stories in a genre - steampunk.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">A complete list of the authors is given on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Steampunk-Trails-Steaming-Ahead-Adventure/dp/1492185558?tag=donations09-20" target="_blank">Amazon</a> and you can also view on</span></i></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/1492185558/?tag=donations09-20" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9vD16fxZ-ycdoiRghqO_e-Nruv0J0DACE-7bbr0Wg6FbX5KJtWJKAKTbCUFMZ4tWtTfzVgWpGTYjLPaSXvop-1GJnpYDnsx8wphtxR2OI_yD9L6A6nA0VHx2LChOCYudewdxElMHnBjc/s400/Steampunk+Trails+%231.jpg" width="308" /></a></div>
<i><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Oh! wow. What a <b>fun collection of stories</b>. Full of steampunk goodness. From the mosquitos (</span><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">shudder</span><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">) to the strange happenings in a harbor/bay, to the town that was taken over by the Company (</span><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">and the woman fighting this</span><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">) to the submarine used for a section of the underground "railway" to the Assassin who adopts a....well, you have to read it.</span></i><br />
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<i><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>J.A. Campbell</b> has put together a very interesting, engaging and entertaining collection of stories that will have a little something for everyone's tastes. Each writer featured wrote a story that featured good dialog, fun plots, and some twisted action. Twisted is good, twisted is interesting. I love twisted stories. One of my new favorites was also featured - Karl, the dinosaur sheriff; a feature titled <strike>Carl's Corner</strike> <b><strike>Karl's Korner</strike></b> </span><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> <b>Karl's Corner</b> (</span><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">!</span><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">) where a dinosaur gives his opinion on the subject of the day, in this case how dragons taste, who would win in a showdown and dragons in steampunk. (</span><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Karl's Korner was also in Science Fiction Trails #10</span><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">) I would have had more fun in science if there was a version of Karl telling his perceptions of things - it would have made listening to lectures so much more interesting.</span></i><br />
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<i><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">One of the special treats in this issue were the illustrations - there were drawings peppered throughout the issue, which I enjoyed. It's always fun to get a feel via art of the story's characters, or a scene from the story. If you're old enough to remember, you might feel a bit nostalgic along with me for those books published in the first half of the 20th century (</span><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">sounds so long ago, when I put it like that</span><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">) when books used to have at least 10 pages of illustrations throughout the novel - most of them black and white, but some of them were in color; always added to the experience of the story. Reading this issue and seeing the illustrations in it made me feel a little nostalgic for those books I used to read way back then....</span></i><br />
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<i><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Anthologies and story magazines are becoming a favored read of mine - it's good to be able to grab something to read and to read a short story that's full of "flavor". I'm looking forward to more issues of Steampunk Trails, which I'm sure will contain lots of good reading by many good authors.</span></i><br />
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<i><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">oh - one last thing.... Steam powered ROBOTS, people. Steam powered robots. </span></i><br />
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<i><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Give this issue a read through - it's worth it. ;0</span></i><br />
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<i><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></i>Mardelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00063358136590143066noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337591434347743479.post-34952375610223259612013-10-24T01:40:00.001-07:002013-10-24T01:46:46.690-07:00Teaser Tuesday - it's been a long time...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://shouldbereading.wordpress.com/2013/10/22/teaser-tuesdays-oct-22/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8CXDSGCpga1yzv3s5Y4FWQY3eN1GFjaHpAoSDYTbMgHKfsy76vKmxQu9aPKL6D2OiaKxAiuLxhjUaZ4Tf_N4ZhI69wdABDg-sZ5QTnFXmEDKwg98_v8DZwLJ7IqG7r1sKPpgpRuIrtQo/s400/teasertuesdays31%5B1%5D%5B1%5D+(128x81).jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">It's been way too long since I participated in a Teaser Tuesday post - I miss doing these. I'm a day late on this, but better late than never....(</span><span style="color: magenta;">sometimes</span><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">)</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">Hosted by MizB of <b><a href="http://shouldbereading.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Should Be Reading</a></b>, we post short teasers (</span><span style="color: magenta;">of course, no spoilers should be posted</span><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">) of books we're currently reading.</span></i></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.us.penguingroup.com/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,9780670786206,00.html?sym=EXC" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidnj4zoHaEGDvb_u4DJICguZ8DLntAR4KhnXG3j2oR7PE4DtS6IEwepbXd_auE-wFYxrVz0O21m0DIK2VI9MEV_M_i3BmMTJxhxvNCRi5gygk2gcxiKPy8WGxOLMe-n9PEKjBizqpug7w/s400/Man+Made+Boy.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>from <b><a href="http://jonskovron.com/man-made-boy" target="_blank">Man Made Boy</a></b></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>by <b>Jon Skovron</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>page 24</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">"Humans are pretty complicated," I said.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">"No, Boy. Rain-forest ecosystems are complicated. Humans are just a mess."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">*</span><i><span style="color: #3d85c6;">a teen aged son of Frankenstein - stitched together (</span><span style="color: magenta;">of course!</span><span style="color: #3d85c6;">), first love, monsters, men.... to quote George Takei... Oh Myyy! </span></i><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> <i>According to one of the book blurbs, this is a "...mashup of Old World myth and post-modern techno-geek..." That's good enough for me; and love the cover!</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>Another read is from the <b><a href="http://steampunktrails.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Steampunk Trails</a></b> first edition </i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><a href="https://www.createspace.com/4406422" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZFJvpL1zYTvk9zvIX4hyphenhyphenP85wkEgRE7kBN79LPwLgCp3L-37rxP5Q5Tk3R8Oj7mUmFNvMJhhDaLZWEdS4wMq5aAIWmkFSMJbpv1i2epTifQw6_hhNSlpSXI9rg8OI2dzvpIfOvQ185yok/s320/Steampunk+Trails+%231.jpg" width="247" /></a></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>edited by <b><a href="http://writerjacampbell.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">J.A. Campbell</a></b></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>from a story by <b><a href="http://thescarletderby.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">Mike Cervantes</a></b></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><b>The Scarlet Derby and Midnight Jay</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>page 57</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Mary, on the other hand, wielded a parasol. What was its special function? Nothing. It was merely a parasol. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">*in 1898 London, a husband and wife fight evil with the help of chemicals (</span><span style="color: magenta;">her husband's</span><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">) and a parasol. There's more to the story, but I like my synopsis. *grin* You can click on cover for link to buy, click on Mike's name for link to his comic strip, click on Steampunk above for link to amazon and excerpt and click on J.A. Campbell's name above for her website where there is lots of goodies to explore. </span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><b><span style="color: #c27ba0;">And I leave you with....</span><span style="color: #cc0000;">Vampire Kitty</span><span style="color: #c27ba0;">!</span></b></i></span></div>
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<a href="http://profile.cheezburger.com/Mardel/lolz" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDedF7zka7l-cZ78VPgeeSTg8mk5cvrZqUqdXCbAbQKCGoTSRLWc66ob2Y7euHXHPXSdV-GetrhPwyZMuN_drlfP8_5N5rvievcpe78TwE1XBQOpYOUNu8Ck1SyY9KTIHS7dwL31pO8Ug/s1600/vampire+kitty++daywalker.jpg" /></a></div>
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Mardelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00063358136590143066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337591434347743479.post-23872190907603942182013-10-21T03:33:00.000-07:002013-10-21T03:33:13.244-07:00It's Monday......and I'm baaaaaack. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY7EnQiGM_E9__H1qzy8g98y3eMS997UWOHsHNulOkyh2Sez47mFmhwFTx5KOAruC2vKLkK-5BHE12qbs7RfJY2AnPsrPWxDw9GsOLDKaQgeT5gYk_h6oHTolnYZVyQH8_7iwlCPENV8Q/s1600/it's+monday+again.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY7EnQiGM_E9__H1qzy8g98y3eMS997UWOHsHNulOkyh2Sez47mFmhwFTx5KOAruC2vKLkK-5BHE12qbs7RfJY2AnPsrPWxDw9GsOLDKaQgeT5gYk_h6oHTolnYZVyQH8_7iwlCPENV8Q/s400/it's+monday+again.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>It's Monday, it's been a very rough couple of months, and an even worse couple of past weeks, but things are better now. Hopefully they'll stay better, but I'm grateful for the improvement that's taken place so far. I might be able to concentrate a little better on reading and blogging.</i></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://bookjourney.wordpress.com/2013/10/20/its-monday-what-are-you-reading-206/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIWKE5QK4ur1oDMvtqxIIyMI6PViv0qY5Y9QIchTai2SsRX1WuHMacg2Urt_uhAGc5vGsjooO1DDZWQE_0Y_mgV6OGg95nGzHFhZqJ0IKuFfKF_HWCR39B5GcKLkEf483CrWaUy8NOC3Q/s1600/it's+monday.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>Now it's time for the Monday reading posts that many of us have been doing for ages...some more regular than others ;)</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>Hosted by Sheila of <b><a href="http://bookjourney.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Book Journey</a></b>, a place to talk about what we've been reading and see what others have been reading.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>What I've finished Reading</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>I'm ashamed (sort of) to admit that in the past month I have finished.... only one novel. This is absolutely the worst that I've done for reading - </i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>The one novel I managed to finish was interesting, I just couldn't focus...</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><b>Dust</b></i></span></div>
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<i><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.elizabethbear.com/" target="_blank">Elizabeth Bear</a></span></b></i></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/055359107X?ie=UTF8&tag=httpwwwgoodco-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=055359107X&SubscriptionId=1MGPYB6YW3HWK55XCGG2&tag=donations09-20" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgspVmPWn1qPq3dQl5DWIXZcqCyWJz0y_Q9SRyD9l97MJWsNpWv6hwpaVahlEIg8MmzkrHGKWvYOFFp1qdMdzHZpC4zrkIlnfKSDKipuiJi4vyreJKTDFBcKEG82GUWDSZNJnKcJOmCwnU/s320/Dust.jpg" width="194" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #674ea7;">an extremely interesting mix of SciFi and Fantasy - I believe it's listed under SciFi, but there are very strong fantasy elements incorporated into the novel. I enjoyed the hell out of it, even if it did take me a long time to read (</span><span style="color: #c27ba0;">no fault of the author</span><span style="color: #674ea7;">) So far, I've enjoyed all of the Bear SciFi novels I've read. I haven't tried any of her fantasy, but I do have some of her Blood/Iron series. Actually, it's called the Promethean Age and one of these days, I'm going to dive into the series....</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #674ea7;">in the meantime, I'm currently working on the second of the</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #674ea7;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0553591088?ie=UTF8&tag=httpwwwgoodco-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0553591088&SubscriptionId=1MGPYB6YW3HWK55XCGG2&tag=donations09-20" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM64_RX2aoxUg5F7Gp79d83TIVnBeNl3PCkK6mjUUFCc98tc_Blfq28TWGwF-F0pjI_sGhhGzRWwxIXSOcjpQ-Dmezyq7toHiZt-x6JwswUuo1g8FndiKsLMkQNk8QRD_QB4M0lqLdOIA/s320/chill.jpg" width="193" /></a></span></i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #674ea7;"> Jacob's Ladder series, the sequel to Dust which is called <b><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6344843-chill?from_search=true" target="_blank">Chill</a></b>. I'm enjoying this one also. Although I have noticed that it's still a bit hard for me to focus, but I'm working on it.</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #674ea7;">I've been reading another publication - this one is a collection of steampunk stories edited by one of my favorite authors - Julie Campbell, aka <b><a href="http://writerjacampbell.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">J.A. Campbell</a></b>. Her first editing publication - of the anthology variety.</span></i></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/1492185558/?tag=donations09-20" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOUiRnq4Shk4T084VH_EKZA2I6ygoAWpqSaGejmoO_57dcWUZ_WNrIjSe47YX2KgHzynhxSJsnkRBnJ6l1ITDFosZ2MNhgobm6nl_XL3r1RtGNJrhxYfVHXjMy-X0oLXsia52zRrkpR-k/s320/Steampunk+Trails+%231.jpg" width="247" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #674ea7;"><a href="http://steampunktrails.blogspot.com/p/blog-page.html" target="_blank"><b>Steampunk Trails</b></a> is a new magazine featuring Steampunk stories. The first issue is full of goodness, and I've read a few stories so far, but I am being horribly slow at posting things about it - if you like steampunk, though, you should give this a try. If you don't know if you enjoy steampunk, but you like quirky fiction, then you'll enjoy this.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #674ea7;">Julie has not only been writing her own fiction, but she's working on a few websites - being an editor of the above mag and starting up a new e-book publishing co. with a few partners. Girl is a very hard worker/writer AND she trains a border collie along with a horse. whew - I wish I had a quarter of her energy or drive. But she's young, I'm not - so I console myself with that (</span><span style="color: #c27ba0;">i.e. use it as an excuse - LOL</span><span style="color: #674ea7;">). click on her name above and you can explore her blog and fiction. </span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #674ea7;">I don't have a whole lot else to say - still feeling rough around the edges and I've started a new job. I picked up an evening shift along with the night shift I've been doing, so now my hours range from mornings and early afternoon at the school to an evening every Monday and a regular Wednesday overnight shift and whatever else I can pick up when someone calls in sick. So things are actually looking up. :)</span></i></span></div>
Mardelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00063358136590143066noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337591434347743479.post-55950846309199389352013-10-18T22:56:00.001-07:002013-10-18T22:56:52.923-07:00....Gone are the dark days that had me down.... (can you guess what song this is from?)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNJODThffrhqyadiI4UdYP2A0_JzvRl-nKv4COImbUQYqRYZHB4sj3jCqc_IvcD55gXG1er1TQjaf3SRnZGBddpqSUd6_IwPzP8kSfNsQw4XykYEbjt40uFbcpayGBFuUiogOABZjiDkY/s1600/funny-pictures-infected-cat-thirsty-for-human-flesh%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNJODThffrhqyadiI4UdYP2A0_JzvRl-nKv4COImbUQYqRYZHB4sj3jCqc_IvcD55gXG1er1TQjaf3SRnZGBddpqSUd6_IwPzP8kSfNsQw4XykYEbjt40uFbcpayGBFuUiogOABZjiDkY/s400/funny-pictures-infected-cat-thirsty-for-human-flesh%5B1%5D.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>I haven't been blogging much.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>Or reading very much.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>needless to say, I haven't been reviewing much.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>a pretty toxic situation at one of my school jobs has kicked my ass. hard enough that I ended up quitting the job even though I wasn't sure I had another job lined up.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>it was that bad.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>I realized that things were so bad, I couldn't even enjoy my home life. I found myself frequently tearing up and thinking of this particularly crazy woman who has made my work life a living hell - in conjunction with one of my supervisors.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">So when the head lady called me to tell me that there was a disciplinary action scheduled for me (</span><span style="color: #c27ba0;">I can't think of anything I did to deserve a disciplinary action - really</span><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">) I let her finish her sentence. Then I thought for a minute - I thought, what now? and when will this end?</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">Then I told her...."NO. I will not come in for a meeting. In fact, I won't work for you anymore. I quit. You've been on the attack since last year, without ever asking me what was going on. You've never been supportive and I'm under way too much stress and no job is worth the way you guys make me feel. I quit." </span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">she actually had nothing to say to that - just a...."oh. .....(silence for a minute or two and then...) well, you'll have to put that in writing.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">So I gave them a two week notice and spent the last two weeks being ignored by the supervisor, harrassed by the crazy worker (she would tell me at every opportunity that I wasn't working hard enough - I've been working with children since 1996), and relegated to watching the kids outside in 90+ weather with no place to sit down even though my work release paper from the doc says I have to sit every 20 minutes. So I sat on the play structure, or on a the edge of the enclosure...</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">I felt so relieved after I quit.... and then I felt a lot of worry about how we were going to pay rent, and how was I going to have insurance NOW?</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">Thankfully - an old co-worker came through with a job - it's not a lot of pay, but it's more hours in a two day work week than I worked in a five day work week for the day care program. And no one tells me I'm a shitty worker, or ignores me.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">Though at first I was only scheduled for one night a week, things have changed and now I have two regular days scheduled and this week I picked up two extra work days - one of them was a 13 hour day (night). AND, both of my unemployed sons ended up being hired, so finally we're seeing the light at the end of a very long tunnel.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">I feel so much better now.</span></i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXw0-xBJlzo7NtqANDHuwMUEXCfI9Ga5WWDyPRBYjpEwhEw3vsTm0wDGdr6ZsG4DjIRKz_52tJe43VIZmOL5WkN4rGCnZXhMZJnIhmSHjW5rEp-kYBsBDaNGi28T91vFUeF2AW-bTKJsI/s1600/lemons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXw0-xBJlzo7NtqANDHuwMUEXCfI9Ga5WWDyPRBYjpEwhEw3vsTm0wDGdr6ZsG4DjIRKz_52tJe43VIZmOL5WkN4rGCnZXhMZJnIhmSHjW5rEp-kYBsBDaNGi28T91vFUeF2AW-bTKJsI/s1600/lemons.jpg" /></a></div>
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<br />Mardelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00063358136590143066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337591434347743479.post-21570228172608903602013-09-23T01:33:00.000-07:002013-09-23T01:33:05.720-07:00Just another Monday,...... Wish it were a Friday....<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>is it just totally lame that on Sunday night I'm wishing it was Friday? yes. But I am - wishing it was Friday instead of Sunday night coming on Monday morning. </i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>ugh.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>My grandson. This morning I was lazing about (okay, really it was the early afternoon), still in bed enjoying a decadent sleep in when I heard my grandson calling out "Can SOMEBODY help me write a story?"</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>My ears perked up and I said "I will!"</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>He brings in this huge piece of drawing paper, where he had written some gibberish at the top. Two lines of gibberish.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>Now, he's in Kindergarten - has just started - and while he can write his name with ease, he's just starting to be able to write anything else. </i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>His attempt:</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">UOOAINOEDDLA</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">UAOU10EAOAE</span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>We switched to him dictating and me writing for him;</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>ready? here we go...</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Beware! A werewolf and zombie are coming to town. Be quiet, people. If they hear you, the zombies will eat your brain and the werewolf will eat your meat.<i> (</i></span><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-style: italic;">meaning your body, of course</span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-style: italic;">) </span><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Better not be outside, because you might get aten. (</span><i><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">he means eaten, but said aten</span></i><span style="color: #3d85c6;">) </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">If you see a shadow it might be a zombie or werewolf. Only motorcycles can go out.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Elliott</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>there must be something magical about motorcycles...of course, most little boys love motorcycles, so in his mind, they must be the magic, all powerful vehicle. :) He's been looking for scary stories in the library, and the scariest we have are books like "there's a monster in my closet", or "there's a monster under my bed". He's just going to have to start writing his own scary stories, and this is a good start. :)</i></span></div>
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<a href="http://bookjourney.wordpress.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQp5Bk_zEjuBii6HRLk_mh9wV0ulWbj86VC1PLwxpqJTDWEJ2qsyarepn7yeY5srBnFGpIe7bY6CQJL7pAMPrpwz0WnIh2_Q0lbAV6tMVghA2J1n0y188IeEFEw1snGigpKAFATPpMsX8/s400/It's+Monday.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #45818e;">Normally hosted by Sheila of Book Journey (</span><span style="color: #c27ba0;">*g*, she's had a very busy last few weeks</span><span style="color: #45818e;">), we all peek at each other's websites, seeing what others have been reading, look for new reads, etc.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #45818e;">I had another week of very poor reading. I did end up concentrating on one book, though I haven't been able to finish it yet. Lots of life crap interfering with my reading.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>What I finished</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>a big <b>fat</b> nothing.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>seriously</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><b>zero</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><b>Nada!</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><b>What I'm reading</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>Now I can participate! ;)</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>I am currently reading a trippy SciFi/fantasy mix </i></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/48656927/DUST-by-Elizabeth-Bear-Excerpt#.Uj_4QYaTiSo" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6asi5khixdTe8jQXKY5hN3SyZ8LSAMGPL7lBCfUMBOO_XkelEdSM-dDAupS73HU5-9ULxsotdmHDDKz53HBALjETz-E9rNwH9UBc03Bnuncr8Bdg7zvbWmKFmdAbDkCvZGAiJEi5qLQ8/s320/Dust.jpg" width="194" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><i><b><i><b>Dust</b></i></b></i></span></div>
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<i style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;">by <b><a href="http://www.elizabethbear.com/" target="_blank">Elizabeth Bear</a></b></i></div>
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<i style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;">Dust is listed as Sci Fi but easily a mix of Science Fiction and fantasy lore. It's part of a trilogy, Jacob's Ladder. I bought the second novel a long time ago - something I end up doing a lot when the books ARE NOT CLEARLY marked as book one or book two. When reading an Elizabeth Bear book, it's important not to try to understand everything all at once - but to just begin reading and continue reading until you start to understand the little details....</i></div>
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<i style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;">That's it. I've started a few - as usual, but none of them are hitting my 'keep reading' nerve. (</i><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: magenta;">bet you didn't know there's a nerve that explicitly makes you want to keep reading...</span></i><i style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;">)</i></div>
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<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>This lol cat pic was not captioned by me - but I wish I had come up with it....funny as hell, isn't it? Reminds me of....West Side Story! :)</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>Happy Reading every one!</i></span></div>
Mardelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00063358136590143066noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337591434347743479.post-8604475641664262872013-09-18T00:34:00.001-07:002013-09-18T00:54:47.717-07:00Pariah by Bob Fingerman - review<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>It's been a long time since I wrote a review, I've been in such a mood. It's time to pull myself out of the "funk" and dive into a book review.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Though I haven't read many novels recently, the ones I did manage to finish reading were very good reads! :)</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>One of them was a little strange, keeping my interest in an odd quirky way.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Let's see if I can do it justice....</i></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.bobfingerman.com/books/pariah/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijaFZYYLAMksQc5I-HkQ-n5nZM4yVZJLQ8IbyIkKySmL9iCavk_MkIQQjhcg5iH4p6nwj1zJ4pf-qDo5Hk2YFiSMEfCf265aZF2ih6MLWzTh8vPkS1f1888gW2zRi2gVurG82R_GcNvlY/s400/pariah.jpg" width="250" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><i><b>Pariah</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><a href="http://www.bobfingerman.com/about/" target="_blank">Bob Fingerman</a></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>horror</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>2010</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">****** </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">(six out of six stars)</span></b></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b style="font-style: italic;">cover - </b>The cover actually gives you a glimpse of the novel. There are the zombies, kind of lurching around (though in the book, there's quite a few more zombies lumbering around) and there's this girl - walking unfazed through them. Unfazed and unmolested - just strolling through.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">Unlike your average zombie book, this one doesn't focus on the initial zombie outbreak and crisis. </span><b style="color: #8e7cc3;">Pariah</b><span style="color: #8e7cc3;"> tells the story of a bit later. What happens after a small group of people have holed up in an apartment building, figured out how to stay away from the zombies, and have been coexisting if not happily, then uneasily with each other. It's quite a group of individuals. Two "jock" ex-hockey players, who are sharing an apartment (</span><span style="color: #c27ba0;">and maybe a bit more</span><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">) - one is kind of nice even though he's a follower and the other is an asshole. A bigoted ass who looks down on everyone but himself. There's an elderly couple who love each other, but have been married for so long that they aren't that nice to each other. A single young man living by himself, the son of a religious zealot - who ran away from home to live in sin in the big city. Except he didn't find the kind of sin he would have liked to find. Then there is the young couple - suffering from a recent loss, they're trying to hold on to their love for each other and survive. The artist, another single man who lives on his own, he's been drawing pictures of the zombies he sees from his window, and harboring a longstanding secret crush on the young wife of his neighbor. Last, and certainly not least - is the man living on the roof. A guy who tried to make it home to the projects, and ended up stuck at this apartment building - rescued in a rare case of heroism by the asshole jock, he's been keeping himself on the roof, throwing bricks and loose masonry on zombie heads, doing his part to destroy the zombies one zombie at a time.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>This group is not your average group of friends, but they're all they have left of society. Unfortunately, they are also living on the last of their supplies, slowly starving to death because they can't get to the store that lies tantalizingly in reach yet completely out of reach. They are just about at the end of their rope - in more ways than one, when along comes....</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>This girl. Who is seen just walking through a horde of zombies. and the zombies are leaving her alone - even clearing space away from her. The elderly man sees her first, but no one believes him, and by the time people finally come to his window, she's gone. A little later, she's back, and finally is seen. They call out to her, and it's hard, because they're also dehydrated - but she finally hears them and walks over to them. They're saved! She - with an extremely flat affect, agrees to go to the store and get them supplies. That night, they have their first feast in forever. </i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>Seems like a happily ever after moment - but no. After they've managed to come away from the threat of starvation, and there is hopefully a large supply of food and other items available to them, other matters start to occupy them. And this is when things really start to go south. They've been so focused on just surviving and conserving the teeny bit of food left, that's all they could think about. </i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>Now they have the energy and time to obsess about other things, and to misbehave. This comes out in a variety of ways. One man begins to think about the end of times, and starts to wonder if the girl is a demon, come to tempt them. The asshole jock begins to obsess about the new girl. In fact, each of the group is affected by this strange, flat young girl differently. Jealousies arise, and problems surface. Through it all, the girl remains oddly unaffected, ultra calm, and short of words. She doesn't have much to say, yet will traipse all over this huge destroyed city to pick up whatever supplies the people need, and some they didn't realize they needed.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>Fingerman did a great job of pulling me into the story of this small group of survivors - each character's point of view is exposed, and each character has a distinct personality and voice. Each character had a distinct way of talking, and their own way of thinking - some good, some not so good, some downright horrible. Their inner narration/thoughts were superbly managed through his writing. Bad things happen to this group and yet some good things also take place. We see the best and worst of each of the characters. A very interesting novel, exploring the possibilities of human behaviour and reactions; our good impulses vs our bad impulses. By the end of the book, you're left thinking they just might make it, though the world is not going to be even remotely close to before. Left up in the air is just how these people are going to survive, are they ever going to be able to fend for themselves? grow their own food? meet anyone else besides this very strange young woman who can walk among the zombies?</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>I enjoyed the hell out of this novel. :)</i></span></div>
Mardelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00063358136590143066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337591434347743479.post-67290280419631277682013-09-16T02:45:00.002-07:002013-09-16T02:45:16.064-07:00It's Monday.... and....yeah, it's another Monday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://icanhas.cheezburger.com/page/2" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5_2qfgJRh5TkRdh0XvG3Fa166TRaFB5i2xNlfuR65yYG55sBfKoiKKs5ydAhgDd5jAK1JoN4EF3LwzVDT-digxrIDpzVlGChvDrvwUCjU2wRVSd30Mepwb0WRsNKCqvdlqARcsZBG3sc/s400/Monday+-+my-official-monday-face%5B1%5D.jpg" width="365" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">I've missed a Monday post, and I've missed posting some reviews, and I just haven't been very active in the last few weeks. I've been having a hard time at one of my jobs (</span><span style="color: magenta;">I have three that make up a work day</span><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">) and the trouble in one of the jobs is spilling over to one of the other jobs, because there are people who work both jobs...it's a mess. It's gotten so bad, that I'm actually looking for other work. I don't get paid enough to put up with the crap some have been pulling on me. </span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">Now for me to look for other work, is a big thing. I have so many physical limitations that I've put off looking for new work, because if I were an employer, I wouldn't want to hire a 50 something woman who has trouble with her breathing, trouble walking sometimes and can't use her arms or shoulders much - it limits me.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>Hopefully, there's an end in sight. I hope so, because </i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>I really want to quit my job right now - even if it feels like I'm running away from a problem;thing is, it's just not worth the stress. I don't get paid enough for it. Unfortunately rent must be paid, and my paycheck is required for rent. So tired of being responsible.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>Okay - enough of the whining ...</i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeyZIvEbPwWS6XLQvv3zmiTG_wjl6Rc5or_E458cpqJFeCdmybRH7rn6kzTBkjk72rb2XBbjuBlh-8airZQXy90V0l-j7IRCzdnSvfxQ7EWBiJaWERWuu3lVuiJTd-3WouLjzt6IoC8wU/s1600/It's+Monday,+I've+been+reading.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeyZIvEbPwWS6XLQvv3zmiTG_wjl6Rc5or_E458cpqJFeCdmybRH7rn6kzTBkjk72rb2XBbjuBlh-8airZQXy90V0l-j7IRCzdnSvfxQ7EWBiJaWERWuu3lVuiJTd-3WouLjzt6IoC8wU/s1600/It's+Monday,+I've+been+reading.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>The last time I did this, there was no Mr Linky to link to. Then last week, I missed posting. And this week, I only finished reading one book anyway. That would be one book in about two weeks. Not good.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>Business - It's Monday is hosted by Sheila of <b><a href="http://bookjourney.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Book Journey</a></b>.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>So far, I don't see a Mr. Linky or Monday post at her site for this week....maybe later.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>The one novel I finished:</i></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.bobfingerman.com/books/pariah/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv4VB9KdEotp2V11pucua0xXOZxRboCoRYkJXL8CqzlE_whFwcxx_BSoUwjCdid7-uZsJehMoquvqUiKvl3oIH977hPe4hpQ6D-t6lsuza3-Wv9JkvX2ybMykG_QcIas2JtsfxlVGC_YM/s320/pariah.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><b>Pariah</b> </i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>by <b><a href="http://www.bobfingerman.com/books/" target="_blank">Bob Fingerman</a></b></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>Post apoplyptical - or post zombie</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>A small group of people are barely surviving, stuck in an apartment building, eating the last of their food.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>Things aren't looking very good.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>Just when things are looking bleakest, along comes a young girl, walking amongst the zombies and the zombies are actually repulsed by her.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>So the tenants end up with access to someone who can get them food and supplies.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>Once they're not starving, other problems pop up...</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>and that was it. The only novel finished in two weeks.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>Reading now - and having a hard time focusing on ---</i></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/395551.Keeping_It_Real" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjorFa9lPBX4Yq0kgjEyEGh6cKVW6T3rk6LJlmALcUB8B8juZqTgGE15F0OoCmf926e0WFozf9VRma5hBDtpk82bSVXJs5_LDf7rN7mKhB092p3JSRz73kZTDMUqc7lE6H-DloWDN8CtvQ/s320/Keeping+It+Real.jpg" width="213" /></a><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><b>Keeping It Real</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>Quantum Gravity #1</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>by <b><a href="http://justinarobson.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Justina Robson</a></b></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>There has been a quantum bomb - set in the future (not too distant), there are now dimensions that have been torn apart, and magic is real, faerie is real along with demons.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>Lila Black is a cyborg - human with metal parts, and AI assisting her.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>She's on a job - protecting a rockstar elf, who doesn't really want protection...</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>This is a good book, I'm just having a hard time staying in the mood to read it.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>We'll just have to see. Sometimes I start one book and end up reading a completely different novel, eventually finishing up the first novel.</i></span></div>
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<a href="http://profile.cheezburger.com/Mardel/lolz" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjehZh5wSHkvWuNcEbeduyts0PF3D_sKBnPM9voMcFxnCZjBIcmUrSc0hi0HvPL9Fbs-QLzLbhHAnhUfW3Vqr7Gs1f9WSnh0zEqknBVq0w1BL5OQQWvmtOE6v5rRiRP-M3mHSlwKK3vIX0/s1600/lift+off.jpg" /></a></div>
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Mardelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00063358136590143066noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337591434347743479.post-60903987733436806902013-09-02T04:43:00.001-07:002013-09-02T04:43:20.186-07:00It's Monday.....and I (and a few million other American's) get the day off! <div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>It's Monday! So happy to have an extra day off. I had a procedure done on Friday that I wasn't expecting, so my body is rebelling and making me pay a little, but luckily I get to relax and take it easy for a few days. </i></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirZfIUbDtwjDOb3Rdi7opOZoAjDIoTfUuVV-gelL68fwg529jDMFY4gvR9gF-jtq5JSXAzV-DSYOmH5iZE-F_HCQP0O2f9k5kHIDA2S4CMZ94M0YShuxYgkK-kkU6bYjx58NmslSwPlL4/s1600/eats+souls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirZfIUbDtwjDOb3Rdi7opOZoAjDIoTfUuVV-gelL68fwg529jDMFY4gvR9gF-jtq5JSXAzV-DSYOmH5iZE-F_HCQP0O2f9k5kHIDA2S4CMZ94M0YShuxYgkK-kkU6bYjx58NmslSwPlL4/s320/eats+souls.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b>the way my body treats me when it's upset</b></i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i> Now it's just a matter of waiting for some results....which, I'm assured will mostly likely be fine.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>It's time. Time for book news. <b> It's Monday, What Are You Reading</b> is hosted by Sheila of <b><a href="http://bookjourney.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Book Journey</a></b>. I'm pretty sure we all know what it's about by now....</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>what we're reading, what we've read, and sometimes our planned, or hopeful reads. </i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>:)</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>Oh - it's been a verrrrrra slow reading month....</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>and a verrrrrrra slow reading week, also. After picking up one book, and then another, and yet another...I finally grabbed the one book I've been reading here and there - a page or two, once in a while.</i></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002SB8PIS/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B002SB8PIS&linkCode=as2&tag=jennnive-20" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ4Wm_xUVDn0-CB-AEXvdqKbQLOS916D-3SCwPILxSQG1vc_zT36a_MdfEiCLFNp98LD9sApCAcWbfFUU1PHYk8fR5_EtS7dSKr-vEDy6QlkR9ZRarMgxskvYxKWq3nCa2c0AqH0ipOJg/s320/Velva+Jean+Learns+to+Drive.jpg" width="218" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><b><a href="http://www.jenniferniven.com/books/drive/" target="_blank">Velva Jean Learns To Drive</a></b> </i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>by <b><a href="http://www.jenniferniven.com/" target="_blank">Jennifer Niven</a></b></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>I've had this book for a few years; won it from a book contest at least five years ago.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>It's sometimes sad, sometimes funny, and sometimes frustrating book about a young girl - covers at least 8 years of her life. From the time she's a young girl to the time she's 18. And by the time she's 18, she's been married a few years and has lost and gained family and friends. It's quite a book, and I believe there's a sequel or two....and it's been made into a movie. Haven't seen the movie yet, but I would like to. </i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>That was it. I finished one book last week, and one book the week before...</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><i><b>Currently reading?</b></i></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://cassiealexander.com/books/moonshifted/" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilBTtyLVbdZnnBZIM_DY-cozQdRuO870Az2xO99g8sr2b-q_1yLXsKyiHSn9fletKtjQ19vcf1u7_cq8nY_OA33KHaYSQe8hzTELsFVqD2j-V9xbkmMHKuBEUHcMC3SYLvkN1kXVP0ZPg/s320/Moon+Shifted.jpg" width="197" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: magenta;">#2 of the series</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://cassiealexander.com/books/nightshifted/" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXfZz2O2_VAzHZQ5WFSR4lgSnEjkG_eK4wdIsUsCBiI1BMEtnnGdovWmVLyPxolGdpq5yIC_66seXdpI3Nj8OrE3USMWwuCSABDz1NdPoBE-SUprorjBRkurVW-4mVSvi7uVgFmAh6c2c/s200/Nightshifted.jpg" width="121" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: magenta;">#1 of the series</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #3d85c6;">yes, a little. Haven't quite settled on one book yet. I picked out of my stack near the bed (</span><span style="color: magenta;">I have a few different areas for my TBR stacks</span><span style="color: #3d85c6;">) the sequel</span><span style="color: #8e7cc3;"> </span><b style="color: #8e7cc3;"><a href="http://cassiealexander.com/books/moonshifted/" target="_blank">Moonshifted</a></b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">. I've read exactly two pages out of it. Sometimes if a book doesn't quite grab me in that first couple of pages, then I go wandering off to another book. Moonshifted is the sequel to </span><b style="color: #8e7cc3;"><a href="http://cassiealexander.com/books/nightshifted/" target="_blank">Nightshifted</a></b><span style="color: #8e7cc3;"> </span><span style="color: #3d85c6;">by</span><span style="color: #8e7cc3;"> </span><b style="color: #8e7cc3;"><a href="http://cassiealexander.com/blog/" target="_blank">Cassie Alexander</a></b><span style="color: #8e7cc3;"> </span><span style="color: #3d85c6;">- R.N./writer of urban fantasy. </span><span style="color: #8e7cc3;"> </span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #8e7cc3;"></span></i></span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #8e7cc3;"></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">Another book I've recently picked up, and wouldn't mind </span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #8e7cc3;"><a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/58992141/HAMMERED-by-Kevin-Hearne-Excerpt#.UiRomzasiSp" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNwF_wvn408dDD5J6XTeUfczguNEgio2f5_7f17senHtOyuUgmOZta85dMZDcrO2TWjrzF_-iuGVFtSEDJ1VCNfV9PI3sBdLGNZxxHgEGx_dmUfPU2WyYPd3ZO8Uu2ioSjL4zC4djK7Tc/s320/Hammered.jpg" width="194" /></a></span></i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">finishing if I could remember where I set it is <b><a href="http://kevinhearne.com/books/hammered" target="_blank">Hammered</a></b>, part of the Iron Druid series by <b><a href="http://kevinhearne.com/" target="_blank">Kevin Hearne</a></b>.....in fact, I just might tiptoe into the living and find it. That's the last place I remember seeing it, and it's about 2:30 a.m. right now, so I need to be a little considerate, i.e. quiet. </span></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">Then again - Kill Bill Vol II is on right now, and watching </span><span style="color: #cc0000;">extra bloody</span><span style="color: #8e7cc3;"> Tarantino over the top fight scenes IS kind of interesting. In a </span><span style="color: #e06666;">very bloody, gross way</span><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">. I never have been able to catch either Vol I or II from the very beginning, so I'm not quite sure what's going on other than a white girl is wreaking </span><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">havoc</span></b><span style="color: #8e7cc3;"> on many other women.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>Happy Labor Day to all - and hope there's lots of food, family, and/or friends. Whichever you feel the need for. I'm looking forward to kicking back, and maybe reading. Being lazy is my favorite thing to do - like a hobby. :)</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>Good Night, All and Happy Reading</i></span></div>
Mardelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00063358136590143066noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337591434347743479.post-22006214891898959262013-08-29T02:49:00.000-07:002013-10-14T20:48:30.637-07:00Frozen by Melissa de la Cruz and Michael Johnston - review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://heartofdreadseries.tumblr.com/tagged/frozen" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmpIjwsWcy0TaaudPE_dqaLuXQKtUFurGc6LnX_LfyjpSKvcGG89HkUwkuXuFQnX6R38n45mn5dt8d0UaCwJcXMCBz6H69OrpSw1ZRJ0uWSU4pBwYnp3EcW24KQKET_xYDHqvq4USxYhA/s320/Frozen+heart+of+dread+book+one.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><i><b>Frozen</b></i></span><br />
<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Heart of Dread Book one</i></span><br />
<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><a href="http://www.melissa-delacruz.com/" target="_blank">Melissa de la Cruz</a> and Michael Johnston</i></span><br />
<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>dystopian fantasy, Young Adult</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>Sept 2013</b></span><span style="color: #45818e;"> </span></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b style="color: #45818e;">cover</b><span style="color: #45818e;"> - </span><span style="color: #76a5af;">it's pretty. There's a lot of covers out there with a girls face seemingly floating in air..but the colors are good, and the profile is pretty. This one is floating in water. And let's face it. When a publisher finds a good cover, they tend to re-use them over and over in various combinations. We've all seen the UF woman with her back to us and her face cut off, then the painting like cover, and nowadays we get to at least see the model's face. It's still a good cover though - this one. It's pretty, it's eye catching, and I guess in the long run, there's going to be similar covers. Like when all the romances had flowers all over the covers, then the washboard abs, and then the girls in the floating dresses (</span><span style="color: magenta;">actually that was the Y/A covers</span><span style="color: #76a5af;">). In Frozen, the colors do make me think of cold and ice. I do like the cover.</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>I know I haven't read much Y/A - but in all the books I have read, from adult to Y/A, I don't think I've read anything quite like this. It isn't quite your usual SciFi, or Fantasy novel. Or Urban Fantasy. All the characters are young, people don't live very long in this new dystopian world, but in this novel we have war veterans who are only 16 years old, and that's a little hard to take in. Whatever, I didn't let that really sink in, I just kept reading...</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>The entire world is frozen, and there's a lot of poverty as well as excess spending in places like New Vegas. Even though there's tech, it's weird, because no one quite knows how to invent new tech, or fix things....or at least not many people do. New Vegas is fenced in - either they're keeping people in, or keeping things out. Just try leaving....</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>Main character - Nat - is working in New Vegas as a dealer. She's trying to stay under the radar, because she is one of the "marked" - a person born with a mark who has special powers. She's been able to work undetected for a while, kind of biding her time until suddenly the opportunity to leave, get out of New Vegas presents itself. The whole time she's been alive, she's been trying to ignore this voice in her mind that keeps trying to tell her to do these things, not always good things. It's not always bad things, more like being guided to survive at any cost. </i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>She hires a young ex-soldier, Wes, to act as her guide to a mythical place that actually has blue skies, warmer weather, clean blue water, and is more like the old earth. No one believes this place actually exists, and yet every once in a while people try to find it. They usually come to a bad end. There are people who take advantage of those who try to leave, people who con them, people who turn them in to the government.... And Wes used to work as a soldier. He's been trying to keep a small group of other ex soldiers alive and eating, and it's tough when you don't really want to take some of the shadier jobs on offer.</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>Frozen tells the story of how Nat and Wes end up traveling together and touches on betrayal, friendship, slavery, danger and redemption. There's a very interesting mix of "monsters" - there are beings that seem like zombies, but aren't. There is a weird wasteland that is covered with garbage - garbage that seems to have a life of it's own. There's also the very poisoned ocean, which has toxic waters, filled with barges of towering garbage mounds that seem to have mutated. It's a wonder that people can even exist in this world.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">I think de la Cruz and Johnston wrote an interesting novel with some very interesting characters, villians and monsters (</span><span style="color: magenta;">or other beings</span><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">). They touch a bit on slavery, slow starvation and some social issues without things seeming like you're reading a lecture or treatise on what's wrong with the world, and at the same time the issues in the book do make you think about waste and the ecology. There's also a lesson to be learned about bigotry and acceptance, with the way the government seemed to steer people into hating the marked by blaming everything bad on the people who were marked. </span></i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>The dialogue was good, the narrative was good enough to keep me reading - engaging. There didn't seem to be any of those long wordy info-dumps that can make me yawn.... </i></span><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">Bottom line - I opened the book and read it in a 24 hour period. Lately, that's been rare for me. </span></i></span><br />
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<i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">AND.... Though there was a budding romance with a bit of kissing, there were no over the top make out sessions. All in all, a good book for a teen, young teen, and even for an older lady like me. :)</span></i></span>Mardelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00063358136590143066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337591434347743479.post-50774937998049970092013-08-26T03:26:00.000-07:002013-08-26T03:26:12.402-07:00It's Monday......again....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://icanhas.cheezburger.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWfBpHPmCVo4HKCaZ8ILDZOp9iM1FZv_wBgyiIMDKGQ0yb3DjmWwLqaqYRxSH2dwsmS2l7BhoKFCU5Al-fx8J4Qlxx0xOVA_fEw5Vaa_6Nq0_lFWleTcOH1ghJKgPUqYyTUQMaoPZUYpM/s1600/funny-pictures-dancing-kittens-take-a-nap%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">LOL - this is pretty much how I spent my weekend - napping. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>Well, the second week of work/school is over. It was actually the first full week of work, the first week was only a two day week. I like starting off with only two days, it's not such a shock to the system.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>My grandson, who spends the weekends with us since his daddy lives with us - told me last Saturday: "oh no, Gramma! I forgot to go to school today!".</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>I explained how school goes from Monday to Friday, and that he and his teacher gets two days off every week. Boy was he relieved. ;)</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>My granddaughter now - my son in law said that one day my daughter came home with a very worried look on her face. Apparently Liliana had told her that first grade was very hard. So of course, my daughter started worrying that Liliana was having a hard time with the classwork. When her daddy talked to her, he asked her what was so hard about it. "It's very hard to find time to play with all my friends. They all want me to play with them at the same time, but they don't all want to play with each other."</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>That's tough - and at the same time it was a relief that it wasn't the school work that was hard, but the social juggling.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>Be glad you have friend, little one - be glad.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>It's Book Time...</i></span></div>
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<a href="http://bookjourney.wordpress.com/2013/08/25/its-monday-what-are-you-reading-200/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWL5qnbGdIfI889wMK2CXUGJ06Ak9UV6SDj0Rp_-oxdDkA25HsjpVGqLEjHTfF2Kgza7zBGpms8dkLd_UKGyfL9Zq5ttzcThar1cD2oDxv9dlTzD96dqQMYviHgH60v-rHnmDRVRI77NU/s400/It's+Monday,+I've+been+reading.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>Hosted by Sheila of <b>Book Journey</b>, this is the meme where we get together and see what everyone has been reading - and where we tend to add to our wish lists....</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>Anyway - here's the thing...I didn't get a whole lot of reading done. Work, grandkids, tired, the dog, you name it. It all came first....and then of course the stupid farmville 2, which I've become obsessed with. Used to be Castleville, but now whenever I try to play it, the game crashes - every three minutes. So Farmville 2.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: magenta;">The<b> one novel</b> I managed to finish reading was</span><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">...</span></i></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Life-Preservation-Jack-Skillingstead/dp/1781081174" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp0IkXx9n3-nKgJMgd0QvB9eoNZcc8CRJbvloBNA8pZYR8SPVfScfl7D_wx9Pt6ycA6pa4BUUqKxMx_TeEuu384iwyGt4OR2uLGwD2A1x0NLlti0tjIURJIJnj4cS6LwJdW9mCAv2mQow/s320/Life+on+the+Preservation.jpg" width="206" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><b>Life on the Preservation</b> </i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>by <b><a href="http://www.jackskillingstead.com/" target="_blank">Jack Skillingstead</a></b></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>A very strange and interesting SciFi novel.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>Inside this dome, people are reliving October 5, 2013 over and over.....or are they?</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>Outside the dome, people are dying a slow death by disease. Sounds like a depressing novel, doesn't it? But it isn't as depressing as it sounds, it was interesting and different.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>I am still reading</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><a href="http://www.jenniferniven.com/books/drive/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS3DdQvjPjq4T7U4poGAjNvYPH3vc5M83Z79MgXE76Jgd6hsH8aEqsG0oTewyHY6DfRw_4S5TpRmFEgsJughAe43EcioYk7CMNwj6XPQB67QsMB7NI3Y5_yepO5L_2VoZaIt4MKM9oM7k/s320/Velva+Jean+Learns+to+Drive.jpg" width="218" /></a></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><b>Velva Jean Learns to Drive</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>by <b><a href="http://www.jenniferniven.com/blog/" target="_blank">Jennifer Niven</a></b></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>about a young girl growing up in the mountains in the 1930 and 1940's. It's interesting, and told in first person from the pov of first the young girl, and then the young woman as she grows.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>I have so many other books that I've started through out the year, that when I finish Velva Jean, I'm going to try to focus on one of them. It's just that sometimes you're in the mood for a specific writing style, and sometimes you're not. My mind cannot seem to settle on anything lately - I blame it on my age, or aging....or that period of peri-menopause. sometimes I just want to close my eyes and listen to music, only I don't have a good music system in my house.... I need some speakers. Some good ones, some that make my ears bleed and my chest pound! Know what I mean? I want to FEEL the music. :)</i></span></div>
Mardelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00063358136590143066noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4337591434347743479.post-5544122857970986112013-08-19T01:55:00.000-07:002013-08-19T09:54:49.912-07:00It's Monday......and boy have I missed a few<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA-DKWUs5L077LUdFAYz_fQ-FhGed2FnNIRaZv9ARBLdDPEJDwYYnuMkwGekE9bZz7Uxt2WArk_RkO0bJdso1J4z5XvhYGZSunrwa7xoabYghygQdC6-55niAWFgy-tfWqmHMw4WgZ0OY/s1600/funny-pictures-cat-is-tired%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA-DKWUs5L077LUdFAYz_fQ-FhGed2FnNIRaZv9ARBLdDPEJDwYYnuMkwGekE9bZz7Uxt2WArk_RkO0bJdso1J4z5XvhYGZSunrwa7xoabYghygQdC6-55niAWFgy-tfWqmHMw4WgZ0OY/s1600/funny-pictures-cat-is-tired%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">From one thing or another...I don't know - the temporary blues, laziness, mental exhaustion...who knows? I don't. I haven't been posting much about anything. I used to regularly post the monday memes, AND the tuesday teaser posts, and then try to write one or two reviews a week. Then I started slacking on the <a href="http://shouldbereading.wordpress.com/2013/08/13/teaser-tuesdays-aug-13/" target="_blank">Tuesday Teasers</a>, which actually are pretty fun. I miss participating and I should really get back into it. Then I really slowed down on the reviewing and now I find myself going three weeks without a monday post - I think it's been three weeks, anyway. At least, I've posted a few reviews lately, though not nearly as many as I should. Not for the reading I've been doing. :)</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I'm not going to promise, even to myself that I'll do better. I don't know. But we'll see.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">But for now - it's another Monday coming up. School has started for our district, which means I'm back to work, and both my grandchildren are attending the school I work at, which is great for me. I love seeing them everyday. Makes work just a little more fun.</span></i></div>
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<a href="http://bookjourney.wordpress.com/2013/08/18/its-monday-what-are-you-reading-200th-addition/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoTr87zr4eNX8OxzXKj90vkfjzc3ztbLGiUpTpB_CIh4vhtYLEIdLqUt2KclxncGRZqmNPc00OWNbvZlNuVekqRTLvUtvAi-wTP-UFv6reSR40bva1EVNPbTE7n-gsy_kqbp7uzx-rdkc/s400/it's+monday.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">hosted by Sheila of <a href="http://bookjourney.wordpress.com/2013/08/18/its-monday-what-are-you-reading-200th-addition/" target="_blank">Book Journey</a> - this is the weekly meme (</span><span style="color: magenta;">that I've been missing</span><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">) where we gather together to see what we've been reading and what others have been reading. it's a good meme.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Let's see now- just what HAVE I read in the last few weeks...</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="color: magenta; font-size: x-large;"><b>finished reading:</b></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="color: magenta; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></i></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.kelleyarmstrong.com/PDFs/Omens%20excerpt.pdf" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC0oJHccjjunhLY6TdYcYvXWrU-lcA3cP7YAwiUK6tIJTmplYtckTgqigpSTggBGigkQJVp9Bft6BfrwGVFrrcsaBy44ZjVfZcj9jC3owd534JybH6Shhm3xpEy9hoZrzDwu_CopZuDjA/s200/Omens.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
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<i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Omens</span></b><span style="font-size: large;"> (</span></span><span style="color: #a64d79; font-size: large;">Cainesville #1</span><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-size: large;">)</span></i></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><b><a href="http://www.kelleyarmstrong.com/" target="_blank">Kelley Armstrong</a></b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">coming out August 20th (</span><span style="color: magenta;"><b>Tuesday!</b></span><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">)</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>fantasy</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>H/B</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">(</span><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Very good book - loved it</span><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">)</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.ilona-andrews.com/magic-rises" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfd5pj7r46ArPljIEHgiCnbk1iLOnTbbUElCoh-okld9NfRvp6KPdaahHRHbv6zPxpyV1Ne_mVaILglTEwIM8LfBuDhyphenhyphenc6rlmNamYezOt4ANZZ1ixz-ZiLynKmdsgKFOTnHBiweotWt14/s200/Magic+Rises+(Kate+Daniels+%236).jpg" width="122" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="color: #8e7cc3;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Magic Rises</span></b><span style="font-size: large;"> (</span></span><span style="color: #a64d79; font-size: large;">Kate Daniels #6</span><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-size: large;">)</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://www.ilona-andrews.com/blog" target="_blank">Ilona Andrews</a></b></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-size: large;">Urban Fantasy</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-size: large;">(</span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">The series, staying strong</span><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-size: large;">)</span></i></span></div>
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<a href="http://heartofdreadseries.tumblr.com/book" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT6q2u1jpl6eNuLtve4PHLZeGXqNxP4myd6R4VZYfTx0MSikNLZLasSZIbdl_-qHq6uPBFeSeXLXjsGwDZDfQCz55PPBl-mI2owGwyQtsM9tPysq_nbKK-DfxKetTWRyEnqEpprYthiz8/s200/Frozen+heart+of+dread+book+one.jpg" width="132" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="color: #8e7cc3;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Frozen</span></b><span style="font-size: large;">: Heart of Dread #1</span></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-size: large;">Melissa De La Cruz & Michael Johnston</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-size: large;">Y/A dystopian and SciFi/fantasy mix</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-size: large;">coming out September 17, 2013</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-size: large;">(</span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">pretty good read</span><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-size: large;">)</span></i></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Priceless-Rylee-Adamson-Novel-Book/dp/1480219851/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1376900508&sr=1-1&keywords=priceless+shannon+mayer" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaP81TtPEuX1_PmVFob_J6nSNGIUwOnyG0TLrlguG4ewteZxWflTjlUtnuFhtYgG6YVSJeNC2sqDsxL8zCxIU9oTDzq6r2jH-n6Up1Rrmi569dA1ounbd4bQ8deNcj4g5f1aTP4oM_-SM/s200/Priceless.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="color: #8e7cc3;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Priceless</span></b><span style="font-size: large;"> (Rylee Adamson #1)</span></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://www.shannonmayer.com/news/" target="_blank">Shannon Mayer</a></b></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-size: large;">Urban Fantasy</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-size: large;">(interesting concept)</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="color: magenta; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="color: magenta; font-size: x-large;"><b>Recently started/current reads</b></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6193902-velva-jean-learns-to-drive" target="_blank">Velva Jean Learns to Drive</a></b> by Jennifer Niven</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9595620-hammered" target="_blank">Hammered</a></b> by Kevin Hearne</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/130528.In_Fury_Born" target="_blank">In Fury Born</a></b> by David Weber</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/77735.The_Honor_of_the_Queen" target="_blank">The Honor of the Queen</a></b> by David Weber</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-size: large;">I'm focusing right now on Velva Jean Learns to Drive. It's not my normal genre, but it's a good book. Once in a while I have to read something totally different - especially after I've read a few kick ass novels in my favorite genres, which I've been able to do this summer.... and speaking of kick ass novels...</span></i></span></div>
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<a href="http://writerjacampbell.wordpress.com/tales-of-the-travelers/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWV39q73HjOwJqygOeVIXJ99SxVbQvRnYJXWH4yjcvlt5OvjQR-t9qvMOp7cSu1lnnZC4Y9pREV7iJklDo0fIoAynCuhHjQV1rUUoHn-5gkiXVthvRzaec7I9zDmpg-7puNJfGCUFoT0Y/s320/Sabaska's+Tale.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://writerjacampbell.wordpress.com/tales-of-the-travelers/" target="_blank">Sabaska's Tale</a></b> is now <a href="https://www.createspace.com/4362454" target="_blank">out in print</a>. I enjoy the e-books, but there's nothing like holding a novel in your hand, so I am very happy that this one is now in print, because <b><a href="http://writerjacampbell.wordpress.com/blog/" target="_blank">J.A. Campbell</a></b> is one of my favorite authors - so of course, I want to hold those books! :)</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-size: large;">It's a fun fantasy read, about a girl, a horse and an adventure in which she teams up with Sabaska. Sabaska is a horse that is more than a horse. She can travel, as in Travel, between worlds, or dimensions. There is going to be more books in this series, which is exciting because Campbell has set things up with room for plenty of stories, in plenty of worlds.....Looking forward to seeing what comes next for Sabaska and/or Anna.</span></i></span></div>
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Mardelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00063358136590143066noreply@blogger.com13