Lifestyle Of Me

Sunday, February 2, 2020

Review: The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown

The second book that I have read for my A-Z global non-fiction reading challenge. My copy was adapted for younger readers and so I feel as if I did not get much of the important information as I would have if I read the original copy. I did get what the story was about.

We follow this guy named Joe Rantz who became one of the best rowers at the University of Washington in the 1930's. We see him struggle and conquer the great depression and the abandonment by his father. We see him work through his trust issues and basically find out that in the boat while rowing during the Olympics in Nazi Germany.

Overall, if I do decide to re-read this in the future, I will be picking up the original copies to see what was taken out and what was changed and how much of the war was left out.

Saturday, February 1, 2020

January 2020 Reading Wrap Up

My 2020 reading year is off to a great start. I have realized that I went for some big books and fantasy and that is going to be a running theme this year. I started the A Song of Ice and Fire series and I will be reading a book every other month so I don't burn out on the series. Also most of these books were big ones. Over or almost 500 pages.I did not plan that, but I did get 10 books read this month and I enjoyed almost everything. Also three books that I read this month took place during World War 2.

Wednesday, January 29, 2020

Review: A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin

After years of wanting to read this series and watch the show like everyone else, I have finally started it. I was supposed to start it back in December, but my little mass market paperback copy made it to intimidating to look at, especially around Christmas. I have to say, I am now a fan. I have the rest of the series in my Amazon cart along with the first 3 seasons on DVD..lol. I may be getting ahead of myself here. This wasn't a full 5 star for me because of all the rape scenes by the Dothraki and the incestuous relationships between brothers and sisters. That knocked a star big time. I was also going to knock a star during the tournament for the King's Hand and when all of the knights were named along with the houses they served and it was to DAMN much. I got bored really quick and lost some interest.

While reading it, even though I have not seen the show, I have seen multiple GIF's on social media through the years and knew the characters and the actors and actresses thanks to Tumblr and the media. So, it made it very easy for me to picture the characters that much better.

I was hooked from the beginning with the direwolves introduction. I love wolves and it gripped me with the pups. Also the GIF of Jon Snow raising his direwolf pup up is my favorite. Ghost is adorable.

I am not going to summarize A Game of Thrones because I can't. It would spoil and it would be ridiculous. I recommend going into it head first, the way I did if you were like me and stayed away from it since the beginning of the show.

Thursday, January 23, 2020

BLOG TOUR: Fairy Unicorn Wishes by Sophie Kinsella

I am thrilled to be hosting a stop on the FAIRY MOM AND ME: UNICORN WISHES by Sophie Kinsella Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours! Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

About The Book

Title: FAIRY MOM AND ME: UNICORN WISHES (Fairy Mom and Me #3)

Author: Sophie Kinsella, Marta Kissi (Illustrations)

Pub. Date: January 28, 2020

Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers

Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, eBook, audiobook

Pages: 176

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, Audible, B&N, iBooks, Kobo, TBD

Fairies, unicorns and magical wishes combine in this third book of the Fairy Mom and Me series from New York Times bestselling author Sophie Kinsella!

Ella's one wish is to become a fairy like her mom. She dreams of the day she will have her sparkly crown and Computwand. Ella even imagines what her first spell would be: a glittery unicorn of her very own.

But Ella knows that spells are often harder than they look, even with the special fairy apps available...and being a fairy in waiting is not all rainbows and butterflies.

Will Ella learn more magic to help her become a fairy someday? Or will she learn she doesn't need to be a fairy yet for all her wishes to come true?

"A cotton-candy read for transitional readers."

--Kirkus

READ AN EXCERPT HERE!

About Sophie:

Sophie Kinsella has sold over 40 million copies of her books in more than 60 countries, and she has been translated into over 40 languages.

Sophie’s latest novel, Surprise Me, presents a humorous yet moving portrait of a marriage—its intricacies, comforts, and complications. Surprise Me reveals that hidden layers in a close relationship are often yet to be discovered.

Sophie Kinsella first hit the UK bestseller lists in September 2000 with her first novel in the Shopaholic series – The Secret Dreamworld of a Shopaholic (also published as Confessions of a Shopaholic). The book’s heroine, Becky Bloomwood – a fun and feisty financial journalist who loves shopping but is hopeless with money – captured the hearts of readers worldwide. Becky has since featured in seven further bestselling books, Shopaholic Abroad (also published as Shopaholic Takes Manhattan), Shopaholic Ties the Knot, Shopaholic & Sister, Shopaholic & Baby, Mini Shopaholic, Shopaholic to the Stars and Shopaholic to the Rescue. Becky Bloomwood came to the big screen in 2009 with the hit Disney movie Confessions of a Shopaholic, starring Isla Fisher and Hugh Dancy.

Sophie has also written seven standalone novels which have all been bestsellers in the UK, USA and other countries around the world: Can You Keep A Secret?, The Undomestic Goddess, Remember Me?, Twenties Girl, I’ve Got Your Number, Wedding Night, and My Not So Perfect Life, which was a Goodreads Choice Awards finalist for Best Fiction in 2017.

In 2014 she published a Young Adult novel Finding Audrey about a teenage girl with social anxiety and her madcap family, and in January 2018, Sophie published her first illustrated book for young readers about the charming adventures of a mother-daughter fairy duo, Mummy Fairy and Me (also published as Fairy Mom and Me).

Sophie wrote her first novel under her real name, Madeleine Wickham, at the tender age of 24, whilst she was working as a financial journalist. The Tennis Party was immediately hailed as a success by critics and the public alike and became a top ten bestseller. She went on to publish six more novels as Madeleine Wickham: A Desirable Residence, Swimming Pool Sunday, The Gatecrasher, The Wedding Girl, Cocktails for Three and Sleeping Arrangements.

Sophie was born in London. She studied music at New College, Oxford, but after a year switched to Politics, Philosophy and Economics. She now lives in London, UK, with her husband and family.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

Giveaway Details:

3 winners will receive a finished copy of FAIRY MOM AND ME: UNICORN WISHES, US Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

1/20/2020	Fazila's Book Review Corner	Excerpt
1/21/2020	For the Love of KidLit	Excerpt
1/22/2020	Annejelyn Ruiz	Excerpt
1/23/2020	Lifestyle of Me	Review
1/24/2020	BookHounds Ya	Review

Week Two:

1/27/2020	Jazzy Book Reviews	Excerpt
1/28/2020	Little Red Reads	Review
1/29/2020	She Just Loves Books	Review
1/30/2020	fictitious.fox	Review
1/31/2020	momfluenster	Review

Week Three:

2/3/2020	Mythical Books	Excerpt
2/4/2020	Becky on Books	Review
2/5/2020	Savings in Seconds	Review
2/6/2020	Books,Dreams,Life	Excerpt
2/7/2020	Two Chicks on Books	Excerpt

Week Four:

2/10/2020	Christen Krumm, Writer	Review
2/11/2020	jrsbookreviews	Review
2/12/2020	Jena Brown Writes	Review
2/13/2020	Two Points of Interest	Review
2/14/2020	Ficticiouswonderland	Review

Wednesday, January 22, 2020

FEBRUARY 2019 OWLCRATE UNBOXING

Crown of Feathers by Nicki Pau Preto (signed, exclusive OwlCrate Edition)
Accio Books Knitted Beanie (designed by Michelle Gray)
Spirited Away-inspired Haku Enamel Keychain (designed by Four Seasons Fox)
Peter Pan-inspired Pixie Dust Soap (Leeloo Soaps)
Creatures of Hogwarts-inspired Travel Umbrella (designed by Anne Lambelet)
The Tea Dragon Society by Katie O'Neill (exclusive OwlCrate Edition)
Exclusive OwlCrate "Phoenix Rider" Enamel Pin (designed by Ink and Wonder Designs)
Exclusive Crown of Feathers Author Letter and bookmark.

Tuesday, January 21, 2020

BLOG TOUR: Real Pigeons Fight Crime by Andrew McDonald and Ben Wood

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the REAL PIGEONS FIGHT CRIME by Andrew McDonald & Ben Wood hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

About The Book:

Title: REAL PIGEONS FIGHT CRIME

Author: Andrew McDonald & Ben Wood (Illustrations)

Pub. Date: January 7, 2020

Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers

Formats: Hardcover, eBook

Pages: 208

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, B&N, iBooks, Kobo, TBD

Ever wonder why pigeons act so weird? Because they are secretly chasing bad guys and flying around saving your butt! This hilarious illustrated series is perfect for fans of BAD GUYS and DOG MAN.

What do REAL PIGEONS do? They fight crime, of course! Wait, what? You didn't know your town is protected by a secret squad of crime-fighting feathered friends? Well, you are about to get schooled. REAL PIGEONS solve mysteries! REAL PIGEONS fight bad guys! And REAL PIGEONS won't stop until your neighborhood is safe and the questions are all answered: Like, why have all the breadcrumbs disappeared? And which food truck smells the best?

About Andrew:

Andrew McDonald is a reader and writer of books for young readers.

His brand new series REAL PIGEONS debuts in 2018, with hilarious illustrations by Ben Wood.

His first children’s novel, The Greatest Blogger in the World featured the story of Charlie Ridge, a young blogger navigating family, friends and the perils of internet life. His second novel Son of Death, a black comedy about a family of modern grim reapers, was named by The Age as one of the ‘best books of the year’ in 2015.

He is also the creator of a blog post about ‘camera loss’ that somehow went viral and he wasn’t embarrassed enough to decline an invitation to be a Cleo Bachelor in 2011.

Andrew is an avid reader of children’s and YA literature. He has worked for Readings bookshop in Melbourne and at the flagship Foyles bookshop on Charing Cross Road in London, where he was thrilled to put his knowledge to work as a children’s bookseller. He has previously judged the Young Adult category of the Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards and the Centre for Youth Literature’s Inky Awards.

Andrew is a graduate of RMIT’s Professional Writing and Editing diploma and his writing has taken him around the world. He completed an artist residency at Caldera Arts in Oregon, USA and a May Gibbs Children’s Literature Trust fellowship in Adelaide.

He is a regular presenter on the schools circuit in Australia, conducting writing workshops; talking about his writing life; and sharing the stories and experiences behind his books. Enquire about booking Andrew for your school here.

About Ben:

Ben Wood is a children’s illustrator based in Victoria, Australia. He has been commissioned to work with clients such as Hardie Grant Egmont, Penguin Random House, and Scholastic Australia.

Ben is able to offer clients a wealth of illustration styles and techniques in both digital and traditional mediums. Recent publications include ‘Blast Off!‘ by Shelly Unwin and the Squishy Taylor series, by Ailsa Wild. He is currently illustrating the Real Pigeons series by Andrew McDonald. “It’s super coo!”

Ben also runs presentations or workshops in schools, public libraries and bookstores. His sessions can vary from small to large groups, depending on what suits best. He is more than happy to work with Prep-Year 9 students, and adults too. Please contact Booked Out Speakers Agency to enquire about a booking.

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