Back to the Books Giveaway Hop

(click on image for list of participants)

Welcome!  I am making this stop in the hop fairly quick and simple. I am giving away $10 Amazon.com e-gift card OR up to $10 worth of books(s) to The Book Depository, winner's choice.  You must be a GFC follower to enter and fill out the form below.  You will get an extra entry if you follow my Facebook Page HERE.

Much thanks to our hostesses, I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and Buried In Books for this fun opportunity to discover wonderful bloggers and books.

I thank you for stopping by and hope that you like it here enough to be one of my blogger friends. :)

Happy hopping!!

"You On A Diet: The Owner's Manual for Waist Management"

by Michael F. Roizen & Mehmet C. Oz, narrated by Johnny Heller, non-fiction, 2008, Playaway audio, 10.5hrs, rating=4

"For the first time in our history, scientists are uncovering astounding medical evidence about dieting. Now Michael Roizen and Mehmet Oz translate this cutting-edge information to help you shave inches off your waist, by giving you the best weapon against fat: Knowledge. Through their signature entertaining style, Drs Roizen and Oz teach you about your body how and why it stores calories, burns fat, and reacts to the foods you test your body with. Ultimately, they give you the Plan and formulas that will help you lose up to two inches from your waist in two weeks on your way to your ideal size." (Goodreads)

YOU-reka!  A true manual  ... it contains detailed-seemingly boring gist (biology and physiology of fat and such though I actually thought it was fascinating!), sprinkled humor (can get irritating if you listen/read through the entire book), illustrations (I had to get the bound book too), and index (cool). 

If you're motivated enough and ready for the leap of healthy eating then this might be the book for you!  It was quite informational and motivational.  My favorite part was the mantra, "At the next available moment, make an authorized YOU-turn.".  Overall, impressive book.

It was good that I listened to this book first.  Mr. Heller's narration was vibrant and effective.  Perhaps if I had read it, I would have found it too taxing. 

Did I try it.  Not yet but it did motivate me to walk everyday for 30 minutes ..okay, almost everyday.  It's a start!  :)

"Toys"

by James Patterson & Neil McMahon, narrated by Matthew Bomer, AF, 2011, Playaway audio, 6.5hrs, rating=2.5

"Move over James Bond--you've just met your match!
Hays Baker and his wife Lizbeth possess super-human strength, exceptional intelligence, stunning looks, a sex life to die for, and two beautiful children. Of course they do--they're Elites, endowed at birth with the most advanced genetic enhancements available. Elites are the pinnacle of evolution; the triumph of man's ambitions.
The only problem in their perfect world--are the humans!
And their toys!
Now comes the most unbelievable shock of Hays Baker's life. Suddenly he's on the other side of the gun, experiencing a life he'd never dreamed possible--and fighting to save humans everywhere from extinction.
Not only that, Hays and Lizbeth just might lose their perfect family.
James Patterson's Toys is a thriller on a hyper plane--with a hero to rival both Bond and Jason Bourne." (Goodreads)

In short, I do not agree with the blurb's comparison to James Bond and Jason Bourne ... not classy enough.  This book was more of a Terminator to me.  It had Terminator's mechanics though not it's fire and heart.

"Dash and Lily's Book of Dares"

by Rachel Cohn & David Levithan, YA, 2010, 260p, rating=4.5

“I’ve left some clues for you.
If you want them, turn the page.
If you don’t, put the book back on the shelf, please.”

So begins the latest whirlwind romance from the New York Times bestselling authors of Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist. Lily has left a red notebook full of challenges on a favorite bookstore shelf, waiting for just the right guy to come along and accept its dares. But is Dash that right guy? Or are Dash and Lily only destined to trade dares, dreams, and desires in the notebook they pass back and forth at locations across New York? Could their in-person selves possibly connect as well as their notebook versions? Or will they be a comic mismatch of disastrous proportions? (Goodreads)

I really enjoyed this book.  It was teasingly fun and romantically hip.  I'm guessing that the obsession on words (OED, the Oxford English Dictionary) was part of Mr. Levithan's contribution seeing that he likes terminology (see his book The Lover's Dictionary).  It worked for me here because it wasn't overwhelming and it fit Dash's character. 

This book had me rooting for Dash and Lily's get-to-know-each-other adventure to succeed.  Their daring exploits was exciting and I relished the see-saw communication between the two.  The supporting characters were a fun addition as well.  Overall, I loved the romantic feel of the story.  A treasure of a YA find ... bold, charming, and curl your toes delightful.

The ending ... yeay!!  :)

Pondering the Scriptures Sunday #38

Today's scripture is simply stated and profound. 

Jesus is speaking:

"If ye love me, keep my commandments." John 14:15

Have a great week!!

"Sounder"

by William H. Armstrong, 1969, YR, 116p, rating=4
*SPOILER ALERT*

"Sounder is no beauty. But as a coon dog, this loyal mongrel with his cavernous bark is unmatched. When the African American sharecropper who has raised Sounder from a pup is hauled off to jail for stealing a hog, his family must suffer their humiliation and crushing loss with no recourse. To make matters worse, in the fracas, Sounder is shot and disappears. The eventual return of a tattered and emaciated Sounder doesn't change the fact that the sharecropper's oldest son is forced to take on man's work to help support the family. His transition to adulthood is paved by the rocks and taunts hurled at him by convicts and guards as he searches for his father. But along this rough road he ultimately finds salvation as well."  (Goodreads)

Only the dog has a name in this book, Sounder.  The anonymity of the characters perhaps suggests that you can fill in the names from someone you know.  You might say, "Yes, my Uncle  Jafaris went through a similar hardship.  'That's how it was during those days.', he would exclaim." ... a universal theme of struggle.  And so it was for father, mother, son, brother, and Sounder in this book ... happily poor.  But coming back empty handed after food hunting with his dog one too many times, father felt compelled to steal food in order to feed his family.  But he broke the law and so he was sent to jail.  His loyal co-hunting dog, Sounder, ended up getting shot at in the process and off to the waters Sounder disappears to heal.  In the meantime, son takes on the role of man of the house.  Endures cruelty in his quest to see his father in jail and later his whereabouts.  Son longs to be literate and through the years in wait for his father to return, he was fortunate enough to stumble into a teacher willing to empower him with that gift.  Such an enablement gave fruit to hope amidst the sad, cruel, and hard life.

A touching story of endurance and patience.  Saddening and hopeful.

Readercon Filipino Friday: Week 3

It's Friday in the Philippines so I'm posting this now. :)

(go HERE for explanation of what this is)

This week's question:
"How hard or easy is it to be a book lover in the Philippines? What are some of your frustrations as a Filipino reader (e.g. availability of books)? What are positive aspects of being a reader based in the Philippines (e.g. book prices are lower here than they are abroad)?"

My answer:
Okay, this question doesn't apply to me since I live in the U.S. but will answer it as it relates to being a book lover in the U.S.  Anyway, I'm queen of frugal so I get most of my book from the library.  Of course, this limits me to what they have but I'm fortunate to have a library that has great selections.  I'm quite content with this set up ... helps my pocketbook and supports the library!  :)

I have noticed quite a bit of bookstores available to the public here.  From large chain bookstores to discount ones.  There use to be a dollar book store in the mall nearby but before I took advantage of it more, it closed!  Now, the bookstore chain, Borders, is closing nationwide ..bummer!  I'm guessing with the advent of electronic readers, some stores are suffering.  Speaking of e-readers, I got myself one this past Christmas but just haven't gotten into it yet.  I love holding a bound book, flipping the crisp (or not) pages, ... just old fashion that way.  Although, I've come to appreciate audiobooks.  I find them quite convenient and functional for my busy schedule.  Anyway, in general, the accessibility of books whether bound or not is considerable here.  So perhaps the ease of access will aid in promoting the young and upcoming generation to a love of reading.