Banned Book Week Giveaway Hop, Sep 28- Oct 6th

Banned Book Week Giveaway Hop is hosted by I am a Reader, Not a Writer and I Read Banned Books.

Banned Book Week is an annual event organized by the American Library Association to promote awareness of and advocate against censorship of books. This year, it is the 30th year of Banned Book Week, and ALA has put together this timeline highlighting a different book for each year.

I've always paid attention to it, once I noticed a display at one of my libraries, with some of my favorite books in it. Since then, I've taken my own private glee in reading books that some people have the gall to tell others what they can or can't read.

This year, I read 1984 by George Orwell. I will be posting about it later in the week, along with a giveaway for another Banned Book Week event, so keep an eye out for that as well.

Since I went with a classic, for the giveaway, one person will win their choice of a challenged classic listed here. This will be open internationally- The store I use will be left to my discretion, depending on the winner's location.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Check out the other giveaways in the hop!

Top Ten Tuesday - Series

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the BookishThis week's topic is which series you've started, and for whatever reason haven't finished. For me, in most cases, it is just a matter of planning.

1. The Hornblower Saga by C.S. Forester - I discovered the miniseries that BBC did based on the series while I was in grad school, and that lead me to the book series. There are 11 books in the series, and I got about halfway through the series when I got distracted from the series. I really enjoyed them, and they had a good pace for me. These are an early historical fiction series as well, the first one was published in 1938. I will need to binge and complete getting my set before they stop publishing them in that look.

2. Aubrey/Maturin series by Patrick O'Brian - I found this series from its movie as well. It is a huge series, 21 books. Its been a while since I started it, that I can't remember which of the series I've read (I've read at least 2, but have 4). This one didn't have as quick of pace as the Hornblower for me, but its very good as well.

3. Sharpe Series by Bernard Cornwell - Yup, another series I found from the movies. Very fast paced, and well researched. I've really enjoyed the ones that I've read of these. But, again, its another huge series (21 books). There may still be more in the future.

By now, you may have noticed my obsession with Regency- Napoleonic Wars era military stories.

4. Wilderness series by Sara Donati - I *loved* Into the Wilderness when I read it, and started collecting the rest of the series. I just haven't gotten time to read any more. I hope to tackle another this year.

5. Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon - I loved Outlander, and have enjoyed the first five that I've read. I have the last two, but just haven't gotten to them yet.

6. A Song of Ice and Fire by G. R. R. Martin - I only heard about this series after the HBO series came into production. Loved the first two books, and am just aiming to keep ahead of the tv series.

7. Heroes of Olympus by Rick Riordan - Yes, shame. I got through the entire Percy Jackson series in one week, and loved the Kane Chronicles. I got The Lost Hero when it came out, and only just read it this summer. Still working on this.

8. Wicked Lovely series by Melissa Marr - I got Wicked Lovely when it was a featured book for the Nook. I enjoyed it, but didn't love it. So for now, when I want a change of pace, I check out one of the series from the library.

9. The Modern Faerie Tales by Holly Black - I got on a dark look at Fae after Wicked Lovely, and the series The Lost Girl hitting the States. While it had a similar sort of Fae hierarchy to Wicked Lovely, it lacked a little something for me. I've got the next in my library wish list, but haven't had a desire yet to get on the hold list for it.

10. The Wolves of Mercy Falls by Maggie Stiefvater - People raved about this series, so I borrowed Shiver from the library on audio. I hated the narrators, and the story was teenage chick lit (which is my absolute least favorite genre). I won't be going back to series.

Hobbit Read-a-long Sign up

Hey y'all. You guys still interested in the Hobbit Read-a-long? I'm going to open up the sign ups so everyone has time to find their copy before hand. I am proposing going at an easy schedule, aiming for the 40-50 page a week, you have time for your other reading commitments as well.

Proposed schedule:
Oct 1 - Start
Oct 8 - Chapters 1 & 2
Oct 15 - Chapters 3 through 5
Oct 22 - Chapters 6 & 7
Oct 29 - Chapters 8 & 9
Nov 5 - Chapters 10 through 12
Nov 12 - Chapters 13 through 15
Nov 19 - Chapters 16 through 19 (End)

I recommend that you follow my blog some how, or my twitter (new posts get posted there automatically) so you know when the posts go up. And by all means, spread the word!

BRB Zombie Hoarde at the door

Work has been busy lately and I still haven't been reading very much a night. Also this little thing called Sims 3 Supernatural happened, and the zombies have been trying to to get in my garden. But there should be reviews soon, and a signup post for the Hobbit Readalong. And in a couple weeks, it's Banned Books Week. So keep a look out!

Help me choose!

I am still recovering from the tiredness acquired from watching my brother's dog, so still not reading all that much. But it's getting close to that time of year known as Banned Book Week. If you want to take part in events, BookJourney is hosting some activities. I'm a Reader not a Writer and I Read Banned Books are hosting the Banned Book Week Giveaway Hop again.

I need a little help. I can't decide which book to read this year. I've narrowed it down to:



I read Anne Frank in high school, and I think I read Brave New World (but can't remember. It wasn't assigned reading). But this is the new edition of Anne Frank's diary (and would be a good platform to read a Librarything giveaway book I have). So what say you?

Partial to the Past Historical Fiction Hop Winners!

Thank you for everyone who stopped by for the Partial to the Past Giveaway Hop! Work got crazy busy this week and I dog sat my brother's dog for a few days, so I wasn't able to keep up with the comments like I planned, but I hope you all learned about some new and different historical fiction titles this week. And now, the winners

a Rafflecopter giveaway a Rafflecopter giveaway Congrats to both of you! The winners have been emailed. Please reply back within a week.

Random Acts of Kindness - September

I've thought of trying this, but hadn't yet. Seemed like a good time to try.

COMPLETE RULES RE-CAP:
Please read carefully & follow all rules! Thank you!

• Please sign-up each month that you can participate (and by participate, we mean give as well as receive).
• Show off your participation by grabbing our RAK button (code is in the right sidebar).
• Create a wish list (on Amazon, Goodreads, or your blog, etc) and post it in the Google Doc located in each R.A.K post for the month.
• If you choose to do a R.A.K for someone, che
ck out their wish list and contact that blogger directly for their information.
• Once you receive a RAK, send us an our new email to [rakbybooksoulmates @ gmail . com] so that we can update the Google Doc. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU SEND EMAILS TO THIS ADDRESS!
• E-book participation is limited to files being gifted directly to a person from the e-book store. Amazon's Kindle Store is set up to allow this, as well as the Kobo store and we believe Barnes & Noble with Nook as well.
• At the end of the month, SHOW US YOUR R.A.K by making a "RAK Wrap-Up" post. This post should include who you SENT gifts to as well who you RECEIVED gifts from :)

OPEN TO EVERYONE including all our International brethren! Remember, there's always the Book Depository and they offer FREE shipping! Sign up for September 2012 [HERE] See who else is participating [HERE]

My Wishlist: HERE ---- And if you are looking for the giveaway info from the Historical Fiction Hop, I'll be taking care of that this weekend!

Partial to the Past Historical Fiction Giveaway Hop

Welcome to the Partial to the Past Historical Fiction Giveaway Hop, hosted by Bippity Boppity Book. This giveaway hop runs from August 24th through August 30th. Please check out the other participants in the hop for great historical fiction giveaways.

I will have two Giveaways. Make sure you read the instructions and only enter where appropriate, and fully follow instructions. One is US Only, the other is open Internationally.

Giveaway #1: US Only

A Signed First Edition of Jacqueline Winspear's The Mapping of Love and Death.
I came across this on sale at my local Barnes and Noble, so I will only send it to addresses in the US.



a Rafflecopter giveaway Giveaway #2: International

For this giveaway you have your choice of your choice historical fiction valued at $15 or less US. This is open Internationally so long as The Book Depository ships to your country. If the winner has an e-reader and prefers it, I'll gift them the ebook format (only for Kindle, Nook or Kobo ebook users). Not sure on which historical fiction title you'd like? Check out my Historical Fiction shelf on Goodreads.

Sarah's historical-fiction book montage

Sarah's favorite books »

The book chosen must be in the historical fiction genre (adult or young adult). By historical fiction, it needs to be set in the 1960s or earlier, and the time period featured noticeably (I would not consider books like The Night Circus historical fiction since while the author might state a year it starts in, there is no other evidence of a historical setting).
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Be sure to check out the other giveaways in the hop!

Review: The Rook by Daniel O'Malley

The Rook by Daniel O'Malley
Audiobook narrated by Susan Duerden
Publisher: Hatchette Audio
Science Fiction
Purchased from Audible

Synopsis

Myfanwy Thomas awakes in a London park surrounded by dead bodies. With her memory gone, her only hope of survival is to trust the instructions left in her pocket by her former self. She quickly learns that she is a Rook, a high-level operative in a secret agency that protects the world from supernatural threats. But there is a mole inside the organization and this person wants her dead.

As Myfanwy battles to save herself, she encounters a person with four bodies, a woman who can enter her dreams, children transformed into deadly fighters, and an unimaginably vast conspiracy. Suspenseful and hilarious, THE ROOK is an outrageously inventive debut for readers who like their espionage with a dollop of purple slime.

Have you ever wondered what you would get if you took Men In Black, The X-Men and MI-5/Spooks and mashed them all together? Then Daniel O'Malley's The Rook is the book for you. O'Malley created a world where occasionally people are born with special skills, such as one person's consciousness sharing four bodies, or the ability to don a protective skin. These people are trained to use or control their abilities, and a secret agency (The Chequy) helps to control and end any hazardous threats that may be caused by people with unique abilities. The world is a blend of your favorite espionage stories with your favorite science fiction tales.

Myfanwy is one of these people with special abilities, but we learn things at the same time as Myfanwy, who recovers her past through a series of notes and letters left by herself, before she lost her memory. The result is being dropped into the middle of the action, however I found some of the letter chapters a little slower than the present. By the middle of the novel, the use of the letters drops of dramatically and the pace really picks up.

I really enjoyed entering this world O'Malley created in The Rook and would love to read or see more set in this world.

Review: Naked Heat by Richard Castle

Naked Heat by Richard Castle
Nikki Heat #2
Publisher: Hyperion
Crime Fiction, Media Tie-in
Purchased for my collection
4 stars

Synopsis

Nikki Heat and Jameson Rook are together again in Richard Castle's thrilling follow-up to his "New York Times" bestseller, "Heat Wave." When New York's most vicious gossip columnist, Cassidy Towne, is found dead, Heat uncovers a gallery of high profile suspects, all with compelling motives for killing the most feared muckraker in Manhattan. Heat's murder investigation is complicated by her surprise reunion with superstar magazine journalist Jameson Rook. In the wake of their recent breakup, Nikki would rather not deal with their raw emotional baggage. But the handsome, wise-cracking Pulitzer Prize-winning writer's personal involvement in the case forces her to team up with Rook anyway. The residue of their unresolved romantic conflict and crackling sexual tension fills the air as Heat and Rook embark on a search for a killer among celebrities and mobsters, singers and hookers, pro athletes and shamed politicians. This new, explosive case brings on the heat in the glittery world of secrets, cover-ups, and scandals.

The Nikki Heat series are tie-ins with the Castle television series on ABC. If you have not seen the series, it follows Richard Castle, a very popular writer of crime fiction, who begins observing a team of NYPD detectives in order to gain inspiration for a new book series following a female NYPD detective, Nikki Heat. In the series, Castle's first Nikki Heat book, Heat Wave, is released at the beginning of Season 2. Around the same time, the book was available for sale to us. And so it's continued; when a book is published in the show, its available in our stores. If you pick up a hardcover copy of any book in the series, you are greeted with a picture of Nathan Fillion, as Richard Castle, on the back cover with the author blurb (its inside the back cover on the paperbacks).

If you like the tv show, you are probably going to like the book series. They really read a great deal like an episode of the show (please forgive the continued use of 'they', I read the first book last year, hence they). Events from the series become part of the novels, and the "real" detectives that Castle works with inspire most of the characters in the books. This wasn't a deep, or difficult read. It's light, fun, and has the snarky humor. And of course, Firefly references