Bookish Escapades

'Tis the season for giveaways!

noreply@blogger.com (Karli) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 19:49:00 +0000

Hey everyone! Sorry for the unexplained absence - I've been pretty busy lately. I'll try to update more often!
So because I feel bad for the silence, I have some amazing giveaways to share with you guys today! :D

1. Falalala Giveaways @ Sparkling Reviews!
Sparkling Reviews is hosting a TON of giveaways on her site - Pretty amazing ones, too! Go check out this link for a chance to win a DSLR, iPad, Kindle Fire, HDTV, and more! Talk about holiday spirit!

2. Follow me to 1000 followers @ Five Alarm Book Reviews

Five Alarm Book Reviews is giving away consecutively bigger prizes as milestones are reached on the road to having 1000 followers! So go to this link for a chance to win some great gift cards and book related prizes!

3. 1000 Followers & Beyond @ Hippies, Beauty, and Books. Oh My!

Hippies, Beauty, and Books. Oh My! is giving away some great prizes as she hits milestones on the way to 2,000 followers. One lucky person will win a Kindle Fire! The giveaway is nearly over, so hurry over to this link to enter!

Have fun entering, and may the odds be ever in your favor! :)

Cover Love (5)

noreply@blogger.com (Karli) — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 05:01:00 +0000

This week's featured beautiful cover is...

Exiled by RaShelle Workman

Paperback, 340 pages

Published : November 11th 2011

ISBN : 1465805656

Series : Connected #1

Teaser Tuesday (5)

noreply@blogger.com (Karli) — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 05:01:00 +0000

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading

Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS!
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

This week's teaser is from The Unidentified by Rae Mariz

"“She said Trendsetters were trying a new strategy.That they wanted to be relevant to a different crowd. That being a rebel never goes out of style.”"

I'm actually kind of enjoying this book now, though the beginning was a little shaky. The premise and setting are both pretty interesting, but the writing isn't quite as good as I'd hoped. Mariz is really good at describing environments though, and the humor is definitely a redeeming quality. :)

The Hunger Games theatrical trailer!

noreply@blogger.com (Karli) — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 02:16:00 +0000

I just saw this at Literary Exploration, who found it via The YA Sisterhood. :) This seriously just made my day!!!

Doesn't it look AMAZING? I am so excited! :D I was a little worried when I saw the cast, but I think they'll do a fine job. I can't wait for release!!!

Review: Plain Kate

noreply@blogger.com (Karli) — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 18:15:00 +0000

Title : Plain Kate

Author : Erin Bow

Published : September 1st 2010

Page count : 314
Series : N/A

Format : Harcover

Plain Kate lives in a world of superstitions and curses, where a song can heal a wound and a shadow can work deep magic. As the wood-carver's daughter, Kate held a carving knife before a spoon, and her wooden talismans are so fine that some even call her “witch-blade”: a dangerous nickname in a country where witches are hunted and burned in the square.

For Kate and her village have fallen on hard times. Kate’s father has died, leaving her alone in the world. And a mysterious fog now covers the countryside, ruining crops and spreading fear of hunger and sickness. The townspeople are looking for someone to blame, and their eyes have fallen on Kate.

Enter Linay, a stranger with a proposition: In exchange for her shadow, he’ll give Kate the means to escape the angry town, and what’s more, he’ll grant her heart’s wish. It’s a chance for her to start over, to find a home, a family, a place to belong. But Kate soon realizes she can't live shadowless forever -- and that Linay's designs are darker than she ever dreamed.

This book was completely enchanting. Full of excellent writing, wonderfully fleshed-out characters, a haunting landscape, and gripping storyline, it was one of the best books I've read in a long time. Usually I tear through books - devouring them, really - but this one was different. I just wanted to immerse myself, slowly and completely, and absorb the atmosphere and all of the wonderful feelings that this book invoked. I was truly moved by the time the book was complete, and am definitely looking forward to Bow's next novel, Children of Peace.

Kate, who goes by Plain Kate, is a wonderful character. I can't even begin to describe her. Bow has created such an amazing cast of characters that you really need to meet them yourselves. They aren't the sort that you wave to across the street then continue on your way, or exchange a few words of greeting with only to have the moment slip from your mind without a second thought. No, this cast really sticks with you. Kate is just one of the many incredibly complex characters born from Bow's pen.

I was intending to touch on the storyline when I started this review, but thinking back on it, I don't think I can even begin to give it justice. So this review is basically just telling you that it's awesome! You should read it! I promise you that you will love every moment of it. :)

Cover Love (4)

noreply@blogger.com (Karli) — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 05:01:00 +0000

This week's featured beautiful cover is...

Eyes Like Stars by Lisa Mantchev

Hardcover, 352 pages

Published : July 7th 2009
ISBN : 0312380968
Series : Théâtre Illuminata #1

Cover Love (3)

noreply@blogger.com (Karli) — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 04:01:00 +0000

This week's featured beautiful cover is...

Sea Glass by Maria V. Snyder

Paperback, 379 pages

Published : September 1st 2009
ISBN : 0778325806
Series : Glass #2

Fridays are Mega Swagbucks Day!

noreply@blogger.com (Karli) — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 04:01:00 +0000

Hey all! Don't know how many of you have heard of Swagbucks, but it's a really sweet site that rewards you for a whole bunch of stuff that you do normally. Like surfing the web, watching TV, and using coupons. I've been a member for a little under a month now, and have already redeemed five Amazon gift cards. Seriously! No, really. $25 just for googling! *cues heavenly music* But I'm getting off subject.

Fridays are Mega Swagbucks Day!

Lol, I love that guy. XD

Every Friday, you can earn crazy more amounts of Swagbucks then you usually do while searching. It's super satisfying, let me tell you! :)

SO I hope I've piqued your interest! If you want to sign up, just follow this link or click my awesome Swagbucks box thingie in the sidebar. :)

YOU KNOW YOU WANT TO

Review: The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

noreply@blogger.com (Karli) — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 18:38:00 +0000

Title : The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

Author : Sherman Alexie

Published : October 1st 2009

Page count : 230
Series : N/A

Format : Paperback

Junior is a budding cartoonist growing up on the Spokane Indian reservation. Born with a variety of medical problems, he is picked on by everyone but his best friend. Determined to receive a good education, Junior leaves the rez to attend an all-white school in the neighboring farm town where the only other Indian is the school mascot. Despite being condemned as a traitor to his people and enduring great tragedies, Junior attacks life with wit and humor and discovers a strength inside of himself that he never knew existed.

Inspired by his own experiences growing up, award-winning author Sherman Alexie chronicles the contemporary adolescence of one unlucky boy trying to rise above the life everyone expects him to live.

This book came to my attention during banned books week, and was gifted to me during a giveaway. I'm very happy to have it in my collection! Sherman Alexie breathed life into an incredible cast of characters, and definitely sucks you into his story with Junior's dry humor. Ellen Forney did a truly amazing job at illustrating, making me giggle on more than one occasion.

The story is definitely an inspiring one. Junior is essentially isolated, and doomed to grow up into a life of poverty and hopelessness. He shows incredible courage and strength as he decides to transfer to an all-white school, leaving the rez. He then has to deal with a crushing amount of personal losses, but his spirit remains strong. He is a truly remarkable character!

I really loved Junior's wit - coupled with the illustrations, it made for a grin-worthy read. Alongside that, Alexie also delivers some really heart-felt passages that made me really connect with his characters. I can't say much without revealing some major plot-points, but the poor kid goes through so much!

The pacing in this book was really great; I felt neither bored nor overwhelmed at any point while I was reading. It is certainly a book worthy of re-reading, and is one of those books that you can go to when you need a bit of moral support. Definitely worthy of it's bestseller title!

Fantastic giveaway!

noreply@blogger.com (Karli) — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 17:17:00 +0000

For Those About to Read is hosting a fantastic giveaway on her blog!

The giveaway ends on November 7th, and the prizes are amazing! One winner will have the chance to pick any one of the following books!

Here's the link, so go ahead and enter!

http://www.abouttoread.com/2011/10/600-follower-giveaway.html

Teaser Tuesday (4)

noreply@blogger.com (Karli) — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 04:01:00 +0000

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading

Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS!
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

This week's teaser is from Chalice by Robin McKinley

"Nor was there any wind, and the rain fell gently, softly, with a quiet susurration; it was now little more than a mist, a drizzle. Even the lingering smoke seemed benevolent, and barely stung her eyes and throat."

Robin McKinley has such a beautiful writing voice! It look me a while to think of a metaphor, but reading Chalice is like floating down a river. Soft and flowing, but the occasional thrill when the boat hits a current. It's such a lovely read! In the beginning though, she really thrusts you into the world she's created. She doesn't ease you into it much, so for the first couple chapters I felt like I was playing catch up, but after that the information is unveiled much more naturally. I'm really loving it so far!

Cover Love (2)

noreply@blogger.com (Karli) — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 04:01:00 +0000

This week's featured beautiful cover is...

The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner

Paperback, 280 pages

Published : January 1st 2006
ISBN : 0060824972
Series : The Queen's Thief #1

Go give Sparkling Reviews some love!

noreply@blogger.com (Karli) — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 14:50:00 +0000

It's so beautiful!

Just a reminder - Sparkling Reviews' contest ends this weekend!

The prize is awesome - a Nook Touch, case, and decal from DecalGirl! I'm usually not a big skin person, but I took a virtual stroll around DecalGirl's shop and WOW! I was blown away. So many beautiful designs! If I win, I'm going to have a really tough time choosing one!

Here's the link (http://www.sparklingreviews.com/2011/10/nook-touch-and-case-giveaway.html), so knock yourselves out! Remember, the winner will be chosen on Halloween!

Win The Night Circus!

noreply@blogger.com (Karli) — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 16:51:00 +0000

I wanted to share a fantastic giveaway with you all - Tethered Mommy is giving away TWO copies of The Night Circus!

This book has been one of the most popular and anticipated novels of 2011, and I've heard so many good things about it! I know that I for one would love to get my hands on it, so I was thrilled when I saw that Tethered Mommy was giving away two copies!

The giveaway ends on November 11, and you can tweet daily! Here's the link, so go ahead and enter!

http://www.tetheredmommy.com/?p=3323

Review: The Name of This Book Is Secret

noreply@blogger.com (Karli) — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 01:25:00 +0000

Title : The Name of This Book Is Secret

Author : Pseudonymous Bosch

Published : September 28th 2008

Page count : 384

Series : Secret #1

Format : Library Binding

This is the story about a secret. but it also contains a secret story.

When adventurous detectives, Cass, an ever-vigilant survivalist, and Max-Ernest, a boy driven by logic, discover the Symphony of Smells, a box filled with smelly vials of colorful ingredients, they accidentally stumble upon a mystery surrounding a dead magician's diary and the hunt for immortality.

Filled with word games, anagrams, and featuring a mysterious narrator, this is a book that won't stay secret for long.

Overall, I think I was expecting a little more from this book. The beginning was very promising (being an entire two pages of X-ed out writing), and the occasional "I can't tell you this particular fact because it's a secret" was cute, but the author's constant interruptions we're a little irritating. I can see that he was going for a sort of 'Lemony Snicket' vibe, but fell short. The writing had a nice sense of humor though, and was unique in it's own little way.

I really liked the plot itself though, which is why I've rated this 3 stars. The Symphony of Smells was really intriguing, and the whole Egyptian theme - though random - was actually pretty interesting. The characters weren't quite as developed as I would have liked, but they experienced impressively realistic emotions and relationships, so I was mostly satisfied on that end. I especially liked all of the character's quirks. "Perfect" characters are much too overdone these days, so this entire cast was a breath of fresh air.

This was a fun and quirky read, and it is very likely that I'll peruse the rest of the series. While not up to the standards I was expecting (critics compared it to Lemony Snicket), it was a refreshing change from the angst of all the Young Adult fiction I've been reading lately.

Its almost Halloween!

noreply@blogger.com (Karli) — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 10:30:00 +0000

And how better to celebrate than curled up with a good book? On your brand-spanking-new-that-you-paid-nothing-for-because-you-won-it Nook Touch? Yeah, that's what I thought.

Yes, I rather like this. A lot!

Sparkling Reviews is running a giveaway that you can enter until Halloween, and the prize pack is beautiful! A brand new Nook Touch, a gorgeous case for it, and a super-mega-foxy-awesome-hot decal of your choosing from DecalGirl.

Forgive my excessive hyphens. They're demanding my attention today.

Here's the link (http://www.sparklingreviews.com/2011/10/nook-touch-and-case-giveaway.html), so go enter! :D

Cover Love

noreply@blogger.com (Karli) — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 18:48:00 +0000

This week's featured beautiful cover is...

Lily of the Nile by Stephanie Dray

Paperback, 351 pages

Published : January 4th 2011

ISBN : 0425238555

Series : Cleopatra's Daughter #1

Teaser Tuesday (3)

noreply@blogger.com (Karli) — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 10:30:00 +0000

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading

Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS!
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

This week's teaser is from Airman by Eoin Colfer

"Flame was climbing the parapet wall, blackening the stone with its fiery licks. Crossbeams, carpets, files, and furniture tumbled into the hungry fire, feeding it. Conor lifted the princess, dragging his friend upright."

I really loved Eoin Colfer's Artemis Fowl series, so I had high hopes going into this book. I'm disappointed so far. The characters aren't nearly as developed, nor is the writing as smooth. I'm hoping that both issues will get better as the book progresses!

Giveaway on another blog

noreply@blogger.com (Karli) — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 20:44:00 +0000

I am totally drooling! Just LOOK at it!

Sparkling Reviews is hosting an AMAZING giveaway - the prize is a Nook Touch, cover, and decal of your choice!

Being the massive bookworm that I am, its a bit depressing that I don't own an e-reader of any sort. I really like the entire Nook series, and was really thinking of buying one until "BLEEP!" I looked at the prices. Holy bleep, I can't afford any of those! SO, I'm really hoping that I win this giveaway! :D That way I can please my inner tech-junkie, and still not break my bank. Or two.

Here is the link (http://www.sparklingreviews.com/2011/10/nook-touch-and-case-giveaway.html) , so go check it out! I'm hoping that if I don't win, at least one of my readers will! :)

Teaser Tuesday (2)

noreply@blogger.com (Karli) — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 10:30:00 +0000

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading

Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS!
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

This week's teaser is from Fire by Kristin Cashore

"Under the vast sky, magnificent with stars, Musa and three others played cards in the
light of a candle, as they had the night before. Fire held onto the tent opening to counter the
vertigo she felt when she looked up at that sky."

I really love Kristin Cashore's writing. It's so eloquent! Fire is an absolute treat to read. Also, on a side note, look at that cover! It's gorgeous! I seriously am at war with myself over which cover I like better - the original, or this reprint. Which do you prefer?

Teaser Tuesday

noreply@blogger.com (Karli) — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 10:30:00 +0000

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading

Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS!
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

This week's teaser is from Alanna: The First Adventure by Tamora Pierce

"For the first time in her life, Alanna stopped fighting. She had used up all her air, all her strength, all her magic. She was weaponless."

Dun dun dun DUN! I love this series so much guys, you don't even know. Tamora Pierce is seriously one of my favorite authors ever - she creates such strong female protagonists! If you haven't already, go read some of her books. You won't be disappointed!