Wednesday 29 February 2012

CEDARFORT BLOG TOUR STOP: The Secret Life of Copernicus H. Stringfellow [Review & Giveaway]


Presenting Lorin K. Barber and his book The Secret Life of Copernicus H. Stringfellow today as on my blog as part of the blog tour organized by the publishers. Read on and get a chance to enter for a giveaway.


SUMMARY

Copernicus H. Stringfellow, a.k.a. Nick, is not your run-of-the-mill genius. His mind is so powerful it can stop a speeding automobile or stem internal bleeding. As Nick goes about quietly doing good, he discovers that his powers are greatly enhanced by the nutrients present in Twinkies. Follow Nick on his amazing adventures in this humorous and exciting action-packed book for all ages.













ABOUT THE AUTHOR

I have 6 children, 1 wife and 8 grandchildren. I spent most of my adult life as a manufacturing executive. I've been to 45 states and 19 foreign countries. With the loss of a business in the bad economy I'm trying to turn a hobby of writing into a new career.


Author Website: http://lorinbarber.com/
Author Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/lorinbarber
Book Poster page: http://copernicushstringfellow.com   
Publisher Twitter http://twitter.com/#!/cedarfortbooks







REVIEW

Copernicus H. Stringfellow better known as Nick Stringfellow is a weird guy, he is very intelligent, he is the smartest you may have ever come across, has more PhDs than the normal day-to-day person (around 18 to be exact) and carries large wads of cash saying it is easier for him. But he also has a big secret, he can make things happen if he concentrates very hard and also is a twinkie addict.....wow did you just read that....he is a telekinetic...cool ability if you ask me.

Due to good reason he had never settled anywhere permanently and doesn't really trust anyone with his secret, even his friends only know the surface of it all. Nick lost his mother when he was but a child and his father ran away, so with guidance, he began to strictly follow the rule of the famous Spiderman lines "With great power comes great responsibiloty"....very wise and very true. But maybe it is time he settle down and start a family of his own.

This is a very different story than the one's I have read so far amd Nick, our protagonist has all the qualities of being a good person and an ideal hero but the book had too much dialogues and very less descriptions in it making it a little difficult to follow the narrative but it definitely is a book worth checking out.

"Nick makes you see the beauty of giving and asking nothing but friendship in return"


GIVEAWAY


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sunday 26 February 2012

Shiva #1 The Immortals of Meluha

An enticing synopsis, the ever elusive Indian mythology and my first Indian literature by a modern author. Presenting my honest views of Shiva #1 The Immortals of Meluha by Amish Tripathi and it was so so...read on and find out why.....(foreign readers please make note that this is trilogy is a work of fiction and by all means not what the Hindu religious scriptures say)

Here is the summary of the book:

1900 BC. In what modern Indians mistakenly call the Indus Valley Civilisation. The inhabitants of that period called it the land of Meluha a near perfect empire created many centuries earlier by Lord Ram, one of the greatest monarchs that ever lived. This once proud empire and its Suryavanshi rulers face severe perils as its primary river, the revered Saraswati, is slowly drying to extinction. They also face devastating terrorist attacks from the east, the land of the Chandravanshis. To make matters worse, the Chandravanshis appear to have allied with the Nagas, an ostracised and sinister race of deformed humans with astonishing martial skills! 

The only hope for the Suryavanshis is an ancient legend: When evil reaches epic proportions, when all seems lost, when it appears that your enemies have triumphed, a hero will emerge. 

Is the rough-hewn Tibetan immigrant Shiva, really that hero? And does he want to be that hero at all? Drawn suddenly to his destiny, by duty as well as by love, will Shiva lead the Suryavanshi vengeance and destroy evil?



Like every Pantheon of Gods in every religion around the world, India is also not far behind....we have our own Pantheon in the Hindu Religion - the big three Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva (also known as Mahesha) and the lesser famous deities Indra, Varun, Agni, etc. and the Shiva Trilogy is based upon this fact only, they are Gods but how did they become known were they divine entities or just simple Homo sapiens like us who became known hundreds of years later as Gods for the deeds they performed centuries ago.


Shiva in the 1900 BC, a rough hewn Tibetian immigrant, he is the leader of his tribe and as he is drawn to his destiny he and his whole tribe leave their old life style and go to Meluha, what modern India mistakenly known as the Indus Valley Civilization, a near perfect empire created centuries before by the Lord Ram but all in not perfect they face the extinction of their most important river, Saraswati and in addition to it terrorist attacks.  Is Shiva, really their hero as the legend of the Neelkantha says but the important question is will he accept his destiny.


Author Amish Tripathi has woven a clever and asthetic tale. Its history meet folk lore and the clever infusion of philanthropic and humanitarian issues. With these redeeming qualities it still needs a lot of work. The dialogues while simple could have been better, it is a historical tale and people then did not know swear words like "damnit", so yes the language needs much work. Then there is the fact that somras (aka liquor) is depicted as the drink that induces immortality, which is weird since it is injurious to health. The plot is flat, it doesn't have the factor that makes you loose yourself in it like a good novel should.


At last, not the greatest book but people are saying that the second book is much better, maybe i'll check it out later. We'll see.....


"Not the greatest book but just love the concept of the plot" 

Genre :      Historical Fiction, Mythology


Publisher: Westland


Rate:              3/5 (Liked It)

In My Mailbox #3 [February]

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme run by The Story Siren which explores the books that have been delivered to our mailbox. Let us know what looks good to you and leave us a link so we can check out what you got over the week.


This will be my third IMM post and it will be for the month of February, 2012. Click the name of the books to access their goodreads descriptions.

For Review

Netgalley



LibraryThing



From Authors



Bought

Amazon Kindle Freebies



Bought

I have been "Tagged"

I have been "Tagged" by Debdutta @BooK ReviewS!!!

Thanks & Hugs Debdutta!!

Here are the tag rules:


1. You must post the rules.
2. Answer the questions the tagger set for you in their post and then create ten new questions to ask the people that you have tagged.
3. Tag ten people and link to them on your post.
4. Let them know you've tagged them!

My Answers:

Q: What is it about Books that you love the most?
ANS: Books are in my view the second most important treasure after the human soul and what is it about books that I like? Well their ability to make me loose myself in them and experience the author's story.

Q: What got you started Blogging & Why?
ANS: This one is easy I just wanted to vent about books and of course there is the added bonus of getting review copies from authors and publishers when the word about your blog gets around.

Q: What is your favourite Genre & Why?
ANS: While I am a professed ECLECTIC reader but the genres(I'm making it plural) that mostly attracts me are Young Adult and Sci-fi because one YA fictions have have such eye-catching covers that you simply can't  leave it and Sci-fi because I had a science background in Intermediate(after high school in India) and that science background makes me appreciate sci-fi even more.

Q: Which is your favourite Series that you keep going back to?
ANS: Hands down its Harry Potter and everything Potter series related.

Q: Which book would you like to see converted into a movie?
ANS: I'm making it books since the list is big (want to mention The Hunger Games but just realized it is coming out in March)

The Iron Fey (series) - Julie Kagawa
The Iron Druid Chronicles (series) - Kevin Hearne
Marian's Christmas Wish - Carla Kelly
The Infernal Devices & The Mortal Instruments (series, although TMI is being made into a movie) - Cassandra Clare
Across The Universe (series) - Beth Revis
Legacy (series) - Cayla Kluver
Touch of Power (Healer bk 1) - Maria V. Snyder
Bartimaeus (series) - Jonathan Stroud
Unraveling Isobel - Eileen Cook
The Body Finder & The Pledge (series) - Kimberly Derting
The Age of Ra - James Lovegrove
The Secrets of the immortal Nicholas Flamel (series) - Micheal Scott
Divergent (series) - Veronica Roth
Everneath (series) - Brodi Ashton

Q: If you could rewrite the ending of any book, which would you choose & why?
ANS: That would be the Little Women by Loiusa M. Alcott, its a beautiful story and I simply adore the simplicity of it all but the ending doesn't suit me, on Jo and Laurie's part of the tale, they don't end up together.....I wanted them to end up together. If I get the chance to rewrite it(if ever) then i'll do that.

Q: A book/series you love to hate...
ANS: I'll be liberal in hate any and every book that has an under-developed plot or which lacking any sort of character development.

Q: A book that made you cry...
ANS: Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows.....too many deaths and too much sadness in there and the feel of a life away from your loved ones...but also because it was the last one in the series...so ya it made me cry.

Q: Do you donate your books or do you save them all?
ANS: I'm a BOOK HOARDER

Q: One thing about Bloggers that is very common & continues to irritate you.
ANS: Since i'm also a blogger and I have yet to find something irritating so i can't answer this yet.

My Tags:


Now, here are my questions:

1. What is it about books that attract you so much?
2. A book character to which you can identify yourself.
3. Do you prefer print or ebooks? If you are going on a journey then which is the one book that you can't do without?
4. Mention the one book or a series that inspires you.
5. If you could write yourself a part in a book, what book would it be and what role would you play in that book?
6. What book that hasn't been turned into a movie (yet) would you most like to see make it to the big screen, and who would you like cast as your favorite character?
7. What is your biggest pet peeve when it comes to books?
8. If you had to spend eternity inside the pages of a book which book would you choose and why?
9. What would your prefer: reading your favorite book over and over again until you got sick of it OR reading 100s of mediocre books? And why?
10. What is it about blogging that you like the most?

Friday 24 February 2012

New Girl

During school life one of the most gruesome task is being the new girl  among your established peers, a very difficult task for many to make a niche at some place new and this is beautifully displayed in New Girl by Paige Harbison.

Here is the summary of the book:

It's hard to be the new girl--especially when she's filling the spot at an exclusive boarding school that was formerly held by perfect Becca, the girl everyone loved. Becca--the girl who disappeared, and who may or may not be really gone. Original.

Centered around Manderley Academy, a boarding school and a new spot in the middle of the semester is open, why?...one of their own Becca Normandy goes missing; so enter the New Girl (guys I'm not going to spoil the name since we literally learn it when the story is about to end). So, the new girl comes to Manderley but there is a little problem; her roommate is less than co-operative and her side of the room is still filled with Becca's thing like a shrine. 


Here is another problem, its not just her roommate but everyone at Manderley sees the new girl as one trying to compete for Becca's position at school, it is even a no-no for her to even look or interact with Max or Johnny, Becca's two love interests. But what was the reason for Becca's disappearance. And most of all is she really bidding her time to come back and reclaim her position at the school?


New Girl is a psychological tale of a new student at an uptight boarding school, where everything she does is compared to her predecessor, the reason she got an entry there. The population of the school still hangs onto Becca and what  she represented, so they are less than appreciative of their new classmate. The narrative is very clever, the whole story alternates between Becca and the New Girl. Also, since I've not yet mentioned the new girl's name so likewise I'm also not mentioning anything about the other characters at all....let's keep it a surprise for you all. You are definitely in for a major treat.


"New Girl makes you see the harsh realities of starting over in life through the point of view of a new girl herself"

Genre :      Young Adult, Contemporary


Publisher: HarlequinnTeen


Rate:              4/5 (Really Liked It)

Monday 20 February 2012

Sizzling Reads: 350 FOLLOWERS GIVEAWAY!

Sizzling Reads: 350 FOLLOWERS GIVEAWAY!: I'm BACK! The move is over, the internet is back, and I'm ecstatic to be back without any unnatural interruptions!!! Even if my inbox expl...

Sizzling Reads

Friday 17 February 2012

Follow Friday #13 (AND I AM FEATURED TODAY..OMG...)

"Follow Friday" is a weekly meme hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read. AND I AM FEATURED TODAY..OMG...Thanks for stopping by and checking out my blog. Don’t forget to comment and leave your link so I can return your follows.






Sorry for the late post. So, this week's question is:

Q: I like unique names for characters and am looking forward to coming up with some when I start writing. What's the most unique character name you've come across?

ANS: I'd be tactful its a very difficult question to answer.....lets see...the most weirdest names I have seen so far - well Reenesme (from Twilight), now she maybe a half vampire but Peeta, Katniss, Cinna and the rest from the Hunger Games are also very weird and very unique one in a million names. Also from one of my recent reads The Alchemy of Forever, the name Seraphina is also very old century and very unique and mythical.



The Wardstone Chronicles #6 The Spook's Sacrifice

In the previous book we learned about the mistake the Spook makes, now we learn what he sacrifices in The Wardstone Chronicles #6 The Spook's Sacrifice by Joseph Delaney.

Here is the summary of the book:

As the Spook's apprentice Tom's first duty is to protect the County from the dark. But now Mam needs his help in her homeland of Greece. One of the most dangerous of the old gods, the Ordeen, is about to return there, bringing slaughter and devastation. Meanwhile, the Devil himself is still loose and if he and the Ordeen join forces, a new age of darkness will descend. Mam has summoned a powerful group to her side but among them are Tom's old enemy, the Pendle witches, including the assassin Grimalkin, and the cunning clan leader Mab Moldheel. Can Tom go against all the Spook has taught him and ally himself to the witches? What is the secret that Mam is keeping from him? And what sacrifices must be made in the battle against the dark?

After spending six months with another mentor, Tom is back at Chippenden with his master but with the devil himself loose in the world and his friend Alice back at Pendall with her witchy relatives things are very bleak. The battleground this time is Greece. Tom's mam is back in the County for a final visit at Tom's childhood home and she wants something from him.

She wants that Tom travel to Greece with her and help defeat the evil there once and for all. We all know now since the previous books that Tom knows his mother is not human but she may actually be more than Tom may have actually anticipated. Tom's mam wants a lot of things from him and the Spook in order to finally defeat her enemy, the Ordeen, an evil goddess, who if in league with the fiend spells trouble for not just one but all the Counties of the world and Tom's mam does not want that.

To accomplish such a ginormous task as this, she had asked the assistance of varied groups of creatures and people, the Pendell witches and a lot of unholy creatures fall in that category and the Spook is not okay with this. So can he sacrifice his virtues and work together with his adversaries to do what his Spook's business tell him to do.

As I have said before for the previous Wardstone Chronicle books holds true for this one too - they serve as a great narrative as a Halloween read. Its hair-raising narrative is always a treat for sore eyes but if we consider the character development that department...well sorry to say that is nill, so i'm not wasting time explaining what are characters go through in this book. Still there was one thing unique about this book, the reality check for our characters that you cannot distinguish between the black and white of life(of dark and light), that line has always been blurred and will always be blurred. But I'd very much love to see what Tom and the Spook are up to next after such a gruesome battle.

"Intense and Spooky.....can the Spook forgo his virtues and work towards a common goal?"

Genre :      Young Adult, Fantasy


Publisher: Red Fox


Rate:              4/5 (Really Liked It)

Thursday 16 February 2012

The Wardstone Chronicles #5 The Spook's Mistake

Presenting The Wardstone Chronicles #5 The Spook's Mistake by Joseph Delaney, can Tom survive the new environment and the new master and what exactly is the mistake the Spook makes.

Here is the summary of the book:

As danger increases in the County, Tom is sent far north by his master to be trained by Bill Arkwright, another Spook. Arkwright lives in a haunted mill on the edge of a treacherous marsh and his training methods prove to be harsh and sometimes cruel. But he has toughened up many previous apprentices and now he must do the same for Tom and prepare him for the gravest dangers of his life. But when the Fiend sends his own daughter, the ancient powerful water witch Morwena, to destroy Tom, Arkwright makes an error of judgement and Tom finds himself facing his enemies alone. The Spook and Alice realising his danger, hasten to his aid but will even their combined strengths suffice in the face of such terrible dark power? And what is the Spook's mistake, the consequences of which might give final victory to the dark?

The dark made flesh is loose in the world and things are going rather bad in the war, the County soldiers wage against the invaders and so the army needs young men and as seen in a lot of historical accounts of the soldiers forcing young children into battle, so we see the same here. Thus, to prevent Tom from being pressured to join the army, the Spook sends him north to train with Bill Arckwright for 6 months.

A short into to Bill Arckwright. He is gruff, very hard, knows how to deal with the things that come out of the water, one of the few who were able to complete their apprenticeship with the Spook and has got got a serious drinking fetish. Arckwright is none too keen to take on Tom for a six months tenure but he does out of gratitude to the Spook. Tom's first impression of his new master is none too kind, Arckwright is the polar opposite of the Spook in their way of handling things but Tom does as he is asked. After a series of mishandling and rising curiosity on Tom's part, he finally finds out why his new master acts as he does and they both vow to lay off their differences and work together.

Reasons? The threat of the fiend still looms large and even if it is said that the fiend won't come after him again since the witches could only control old Nick for 2 days but when he sends his daughter Morwena or better known as the bloodeye, can Arckwright's decision hold true or does he need to change his ways before its too late.

The Spook's Mistake follows shortly after the previous and don't think I told you all everything that is in the book in the above paragraph because it is not. For while Tom learns to adapt to a new master, more secrets that you may not have previously thought to exist are revealed and new allegiances are forged in a bid to battle the fiend's daughter and the true nature of the Spook's mistake is revealed, it may well be long lasting.

"Can Tom survive the harsh North and his new master...."

Genre :      Young Adult, Fantasy


Publisher: Red Fox


Rate:              4/5 (Really Liked It)

Saturday 11 February 2012

Live To Read: Massive ARC Giveaway!

Live To Read: Massive ARC Giveaway!: Swag Pack filled with bookmarks (quite a few signed), Book Postcards, etc... this portion of the giveaway is INTERNATIONAL-don't worry, t...




Swag Pack filled with bookmarks (quite a few signed), Book Postcards, etc... this portion of the giveaway is INTERNATIONAL-don't worry, there will be a bigger International giveaway coming up!

Tuesday 7 February 2012

Bartimaeus #1 The Amulet of Samarkand

There has never been a more different London ever. Presenting Bartimaeus #1 The Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan Stroud.

Here is the summary of the book:

Nathaniel is a boy magician-in-training, sold to the government by his birth parents at the age of five and sent to live as an apprentice to a master. Powerful magicians rule Britain, and its empire, and Nathaniel is told his is the "ultimate sacrifice" for a "noble destiny." If leaving his parents and erasing his past life isn't tough enough, Nathaniel's master, Arthur Underwood, is a cold, condescending, and cruel middle-ranking magician in the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The boy's only saving grace is the master's wife, Martha Underwood, who shows him genuine affection that he rewards with fierce devotion. Nathaniel gets along tolerably well over the years in the Underwood household until the summer before his eleventh birthday. Everything changes when he is publicly humiliated by the ruthless magician Simon Lovelace and betrayed by his cowardly master who does not defend him. 

Nathaniel vows revenge. In a Faustian fever, he devours magical texts and hones his magic skills, all the while trying to appear subservient to his master. When he musters the strength to summon the 5,000-year-old djinni Bartimaeus to avenge Lovelace by stealing the powerful Amulet of Samarkand, the boy magician plunges into a situation more dangerous and deadly than anything he could ever imagine. In British author Jonathan Stroud's excellent novel, the first of The Bartimaeus Trilogy, the story switches back and forth from Bartimaeus's first-person point of view to third-person narrative about Nathaniel. Here's the best part: Bartimaeus is absolutely hilarious, with a wit that snaps, crackles, and pops. His dryly sarcastic, irreverent asides spill out into copious footnotes that no one in his or her right mind would skip over. A sophisticated, suspenseful, brilliantly crafted, dead-funny book that will leave readers anxious for more. (Ages 11 to adult)



There can never be a more different London than this. Everything is the same with the exception of magic being the center piece of all around history. Magician s control the parliament in important positions. Yup magicians are real and not just those second rate ones who just show tricks but actual ones who wield power.


So it starts with the young apprentice Nathaniel summoning a 5000 years old djinn (whom we are to called ginn) named Bartimaeus to do a little task for him. Steal the amulet of Samarkand from the magician Simon Lovelace. Now why does he want to do that? Well because said magician had humiliated Nathaniel in front of his master and other magician of the parliament present. Since then all Nathaniel has in his mind is to gain vengeance for the humiliation he had to endure, going behind his master's back and cramming every ounce of knowledge the ancient tomes could provide him. A distracted magician is not only a danger to others but to his own self as well but a vengeful one.....now that is one you need to look out for and Nanthaniel falls in that category.


So Bartimaeus goes through a lot of problems, (Lovelace is not your everyday magician so naturally he'd have some very strong protections) and angering some old acquaintances and is thus successful in completing the mission. As does every djinn, Bartimaeus  found out a strong weapon that might be useful to thwart his confinement spell but Nathaniel proves just as intuitive in crossing every attack of Bartimaeus, finally coming to an understanding to see the ordeal through. 


Well this is just the beginning, what Nathaniel doesn't realize is that the thing he is meddling with just doesn't envolve the amulet being stolen from its original radio, its a power play...... but can both Nathaniel and his illustrious and witty djinn, Bartimaeus come out of this unscratched.  


The Amulet of Samarkand is a great story, as I already mentioned above a very different London portraying characters who can never be more different than the other. Every character has got so many layers that is virtually impossible to discern who and what they truly are but the author also makes quick work of the that. Dividing the whole book in alternating POVs of both Nathaniel and Bartimaeus, peeling one layer after another helping us understand them and their motives. As far as the djinn is considered, Bartimaeus is one who does his allotted work but is very snarky, and full of witty comebacks and Nathaniel, well he is very determined(not going to say more, will spoil the story) and has got a very promising future. I'm definitely eager to read the next three volumes of the series.


"Bartimaeus' snarky commentary, Nathaniel's intuitiveness.....and the biggest Parliamentary power play....is sure to lure you in"

Genre :      Young Adult, Fantasy


Publisher: Corgi Books


Rate:              5/5 (It was Awesome)

Wednesday 1 February 2012

PROJECT TELL TAYLOR Giveaway: Help @MichelleMadow tell @TaylorSwift13 about Remembrance!





WHAT IS PROJECT TELL TAYLOR?

My debut novel Remembrance was inspired by Taylor Swift's "Love Story" music video. I talked about it in a blog entry a few months ago, discussinghow Remembrance was inspired by Taylor Swift's "Love Story" music video. I even wrote a letter to Taylor Swift and sent it to her, along with a signed book!

It's been a few months now, and I have yet to hear back from Taylor that she received the letter and book. I really want to tell Taylor about how inspiring she and her music have been to me, but since Taylor Swift is an international superstar, she’s a little hard to reach. This is where YOUR help comes into play! With the help of 76 awesome book bloggers, I am giving away the biggest prize pack I've offered yet, and the ways to enter to win are by telling Taylor Swift about Remembrance.

The Goal: Get Taylor Swift to Tweet about Remembrance!

 

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