#50BookPedge UPDATE

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Of Love and Evil

By Anne Rice

The second book of the Songs of the Seraphim series continues the metaphysical journey of angels and assains. The main character, toby O’Dare, is summoned by the angel Malchiah again. This time to investigate the poisoning of an important nobleman and prevent a dybbulk to continue. When he is very deep into his orders a dark terro closes in around him.

Her most famous character, Lestat made vmpaires look devilish long before Twilight came to light. This book is very stand alon, meaning you don’t need to read the first book, Angel Time, to catch up. This book made me want to though.

Starmaker

Life as a Hollywood Publicist

By Jay Bernstein as told to Larry Cortez Hamm

This Hollywood memoir is the story of Jay Bernstein, an entertainment industry fixture who helped launch and sustain the careers of many including Farrah Fawcett and Suzanne Somers. From his first job in a Hollywood mail room to the ownership of his own public relations firm and his work as a personal manager and television producer, Bernstein’s life is scribed in his own voice. In addition to his rise, Bernstein also describes the relationships he had with stars and relates the stories behind some of the crazy stunts he pulled to garner attention, such as paying women to throw hotel keys at Tom Jones, having Entertainment Tonight host Mary Hart’s legs insured for one million dollars, and getting married underwater for an episode of Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous. Written with style and a sense of humor, this autobiography shares the intimate details of Jay Bernstein’s starmaker life.

He died with Farrah Fawcett at his side. Written by his closest confidant, it is a honest Hollywood memoir.

Hope is Better than Fear

Paying Jack Layton Forward

By Many Contributors

On August 22, 2011, Jack Layton lost his battle with pancreatic cancer. There was an immediate outpouring of grief which crossed the country and party lines. No other politician in Canada’s history has inspired this kind of spontaneous display of sorrow at his loss – clearly, Jack was loved!
It consists of several essays by various contributors who knew and worked with Jack throughout his long political career. They write passionately about his tireless fight for the marginalized in Canada. They discuss his fights for the rights of women, more and better environmental protections, and for the Arts in Canada. He was the first politician to visit remote northern Ontario reserves when there was no political gain to be won; he marched in gay pride parades before it became politically cool to do so. He was shunned when he first argued for Canada’s withdrawal from Afghanistan, an idea which is now Canada’s policy.

This letter is reprinted in the book and the title refers to a line at the end of the letter:

“…love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair.
So let us be loving, hopeful, and optimistic and we’ll change the world.”

The net proceeds will be donated to two charities designated by Jack’s widow, the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation and Shannen’s Dream, named in honour of Shannen Koostachin and dedicated to continuing her fight for equal school rights for First Nations children.

9 down 41 more to go for #50bookPledge

Paying It Forward Book Giveaway

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This year began very troubling for my family with a loved one ill. The year is ending on a happier, lighter and much healthier note. I could not have gotten through it without the support of you, my friends.

So to help your Christmas shopping list I am giving away a 5 pack of new and recently published books.

My apologies to my friends south, this is for Canada only. Contest ends December 1st 11:59 pm PST.

Just leave a hello below and you are entered. No fancy thinking or voting. Just say Hi.

I will be using random.org and contacting the winner on Dec 2!! That way you will have time to wrap those gifts, and maybe keep one for yourself.

DISCLOSURE: As a book reviewer I do receive new books from time to time to review. This giveaway is not endorsed or sponsored by any publisher. The opinions are my own. This is one of my ways to pay it forward.

UPDATE: Congrats Jodi S!!!!

Android Karenina

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Android Karenina, the next book in the best-selling Quirk Classics series. a steampunk-sci-fi-Tolstoy-mash-up.

If you are looking for a change in reading this summer and have not read the original Tolstoy classic then you will enjoy this alternate version.

As a fan of finding new stories I agreed to review Android Karenina. Unfortuneatly I have read the original literary classic. To combine 19th Century with new age technology just clashes and does not mesh well with this reader. If you have seen Wild, Wild West starring Will Smith- you might like this book.

However, if you love contests and a chance to win great prizes: feel free to click on the links below to learn more Quirk Classics and a chance to win a prize pack. Be sure to mention which blog you read this review on.

Android Karenina’s book page on Quirkclassics.com: http://www.quirkclassics.com/index.php?q=androidkarenina

There is a contest: http://www.quirkclassics.com/index.php?q=QuirkClassicsContest_AK_Reviews
Participants will be automatically entered to win one of 25 Quirk Prize Packs. Each Prize Pack, with a retail value of nearly $100, will include:

  • Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dawn of the Dreadfuls by Steve Hockensmith
  • How to Survive a Horror Movie by Seth Grahame-Smith
  • Dracula’s Heir: An Interactive Mystery by Sam Stall
  • Extreme Encounters by Greg Emmanuel
  • How to Tell if Your Boyfriend is The Antichrist by Patricia Carlin
  • An Android Karenina Poster
  • And more!

The Momoir Project Workbook

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The Momoir Project Workbook by Cori Howard

I have to do the laundry. I have to do the shopping. I am raising my two young daughters. I do not have time to write. I certainly do not have time to drive the one hour to go to a class. I have all the excuses that I do not have the time to take a class to learn how to write my stories as a mom with the Momoir Project.

The Momoir Project was started by award-winning journalist, Cori Howard. Her writing (much of it personal essays on motherhood) has appeared in publications including The Globe and Mail, Canadian Geographic, The San Francisco Chronicle, The Independent, Maclean’s, Chatelaine, Reader’s Digest and Today’s Parent. She is the editor of the published anthology, Between Interruptions: Thirty Women Tell the Truth about Motherhood. She thought she would start teaching moms how to write their own stories and give them an opportunity to publish on her Momoir Project website. Cori lives with her family in Vancouver, BC and teaches the Vancouver classes as well as the online courses. 

After talking with Cori over emails, I determined that I will try to take her online class. It is only one hour in the morning every other week. The girls can watch tv or do arts and crafts. I need the interaction to help guide me through the writing process. It has been a long time since I have taken a writing class. I ended up taking two online classes.

The Momoir Project Workbook is very easy and fast to purchase on the website. It walks you through and enables you to capture the intense moments and intimacies that you may have forgotten. There are fun and easy excercises to complete at your own pace. There is room to type in your own notes or (as I did) print off to hand write. I stuck it in the diaper bag and took it everywhere so when my baby was asleep in the car or stroller I could write.

Cori offers writing tips and suggested reads as she guides you to completing a final essay to publish or keep to show what you accomplished.

Whether you are a stay-at-home mom or working out of the home mom, get yourself on the to-do list. The fun workbook will enable you have an outlet for writing between interruptions.

Workbook can be ordered at: www.themomoirproject.com

Courtesy of The Momoir Project- I am giving away one copy of the e-workbook.

For a chance to win leave a comment on my blog why you wish to have this awesome book for moms and grandmas!

Contest ends June 10th at midnight PST. Winner will be announced and contacted June 11th.

 

Dawn Of The Dreadfuls

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Courtesy of Twitter @RaincoastBooks sent myself a copy of Dawn Of The Dreadfuls by Steve Hockensmith to review. I will be honest, I did not read Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. I never would have considered to read this genre in my precious spare time while being a stay-at-home mom.

Zombie- yowza! I am glad I got a chance to be exposed to this awesome and quirky prequel version of the Austen classic. I have not read Jane since high school. Reading this was entertaining.

From the opening scene at a funeral to Mr. Bennet teaching his many daughters how to survive, this book was hard to put down.

If you enjoy light zombie reading- pre-order this copy and then read its predecessor.

http://www.quirkclassics.com/index.php?q=dawnofthedreadfuls

For a chance to win a Quirk classics Prize Pack worth over $100.00

http://www.quirkclassics.com/index.php?q=QuirkClassicsContest DOD Reviews

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