Lucky Leprechaun Giveaway Hop!

I'm delighted to once again participate in the Lucky Leprechaun Giveaway Hop!

Easy contest this time around. Winner will get a $15 electronic gift card to either Barnes & Noble or Amazon, your choice.

Here's the deets:

You must be 13 or older to participate. This will be an international contest, as long as B&N and/or Amazon ship to your country. You don't have to be a follower to enter, but will get extra entries for doing so. Contest closes at midnight on March 22. To enter, simply fill out the Rafflecopter!

In My Mailbox (77)

In My Mailbox is an Internet meme hosted by The Story Siren to share new books received, purchased, or borrowed.

So here's what I got this week!

Received from Novel Novice: lots of swag to share with my teens!

Borrowed from the library:

• Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver 

What did you get?

Enjoy your reading!

Christi

Super Short Reviews (4)

If you've been here a while, you'll remember that I used to write really nice (in my opinion) reviews. I really enjoyed writing reviews and getting all the information together. I also was reading between 5-7 books a week, so had no shortage of material to draw from.

For the past few months, however, I've been in a bit of a reading and blogging slump. The reading part has getting slightly better, but I just don't have the attention span for the nice long reviews right now. Hence, Super Short Reviews. Here are some books I've read recently, and my really quick thoughts. The links will take you to that title's Goodreads page. Oh, and unless stated otherwise, all books were borrowed from the library.

How to Speak Zombie: a guide for the living by Steven Mockus: I was assigned to read this for a selection committee I'm on. I had to ILL it as my library doesn't own it. This is one of those books that has accompanying sounds for each page. It's actually a very cute book, and everyone I showed it to enjoyed it. For instance, on on page spread (the book is a board book), you can learn about zombie behavior at the gym, and see the zombie translation of "Spot me, bro," and when you push the number that matches that page, you'll actually hear the phrase in zombie-speak. It's a humorous book and I think most teens would get a kick out of it, but as potential for an award? I don't think so.

In Too Deep by Amanda Grace (Mandy Hubbard) (read for 2012 Standalone Challenge): This is a very strong novel about rumors, spreading lies, and how saying nothing can be just as bad as spreading rumors and lies. There is just so much packed into this novel, and you are right there with the characters--I can totally see why they made the decisions they did, and can see why they thought those decisions were right at that time. The only thing I didn't like about this story was Sam's best friend, Nick. I just did not think he was portrayed as the great and awesome BFF that he was supposed to be.

Try Not to Breathe by Jennifer R. Hubbard (read for 2012 Sophomore Challenge): This story of life after suicide attempt is good, but it wasn't as powerful as I'd expected it to be. I liked it but didn't love it.

Enjoy your reading!
Christi

February 2012 in Review

Another month is gone, and we're that much closer to summer! I really shouldn't complain--by all accounts this winter has been, so far, quite mild, and I would be perfectly content to usher in spring without having to shovel any of the nasty "s" word at all!

As for reading, I managed to get 12 books completed this month. To be fair, I read about a dozen picture books this month, too--our children's librarian is doing outreach at the elementary schools and so I covered her toddler and preschool storytimes--but I don't think it's right to lump them in with the other books I've read. So, I didn't.

Of those twelve:

• 1 was from my 2012 Debut Author Challenge
• 4 were from my 2012 Standalone Challenge, and
• 2 were from my 2012 Sophomore Challenge.

Making good progress with my challenges, anyway. :)

Blog-wise, I hit 1000 followers in February (and am now at, I think, 1018. Not that I'm keeping track or anything!), hosted another giveaway, and started a new blog post called Super Short Reviews, where I post my thoughts on a few of the books I've read. I want to blog, I really do, and I think SSR will be a good compromise until my head gets screwed on straight again.

Coming up, I think I have yet another giveaway scheduled, I may or may not have an author stopping by, and we'll see what else...

How was your February?
Enjoy your reading!
Christi

In My Mailbox (76)

In My Mailbox is an Internet meme hosted by The Story Siren to share new books received, purchased, or borrowed.

So here's what I got this week!

Borrowed from the library:

• The Lorax by Dr. Seuss (I LOVE Dr. Seuss but I've never read this one. Best Girl and I read it together to get ready for the movie.)
• The Disenchantments by Nina LaCour
• Fever by Lauren DeStefano
• Someone Else's Life by Katie Dale
• The Miseducation of Cameron Post by Emily M. Danforth
• Break by Hannah Moskowitz
• The Captivating, Creative, Unusual History of Comic Books by Jennifer Besel (nonfic, for a selection committee)
• Pirates vs. Pirates by Richard Platt (juv nonfic, also for selection committee)
• Good Behavior by Nathan L. Henry (nonfic, committee reading)
• The Battle of Nashville: General George H. Thomas and the Most Decisive Battle of the Civl War by Benson Bobrick (nonfic, committee reading)
• The Horrors of Andersonville: Life and Death Inside a Civil War Prison by Catherine Gourley (nonfic, committee reading)

Won in a contest over at New York Family: a Nanoblock set! (ahem, for Best Girl, of course. Have you seen these things? They're Lego-like, but extraordinarily small. I'll post a picture when Best Girl put  it together so you can see how teeny-tiny they really are!)

Purchased from Barns & Noble: Bloom by Elizabeth Scott (I ordered Hugo & needed to get to $25 for free shipping, and so now I own every book Elizabeth Scott has written!)


What did you get?

Enjoy your reading!

Christi

March 2 birthdays--a random post

March 2 is the birthday of two very special men. First, of course, is Dr. Seuss. The first book I ever read alone was Green Eggs and Ham, and I've always had a special place in my heart for Dr. Seuss. My favorite book is also his first--And to Think That I Saw it on Mulberry Street--I just adore the cadence of the story when it's read aloud.

The other man I adore with a March 2 birthday is Jon Bon Jovi. What can I say--this Jersey girl loves her Jersey boys! I've been lucky enough to see Bon Jovi in concert a ton of times, and was at their concert in Philly last year on Jon's birthday. Strangely, the band didn't ask the audience to serenade Jon with a birthday song--we would have been happy to oblige! (I have to be honest, though--the reason I even remember JBJ's birthday is because he shares it with Dr. Seuss.)

≈

Enjoy your reading!

Christi

Super Short Reviews (3)

If you've been here a while, you'll remember that I used to write really nice (in my opinion) reviews. I really enjoyed writing reviews and getting all the information together. I also was reading between 5-7 books a week, so had no shortage of material to draw from.

For the past few months, however, I've been in a bit of a reading and blogging slump. The reading part has getting slightly better, but I just don't have the attention span for the nice long reviews right now. Hence, Super Short Reviews. Here are some books I've read recently, and my really quick thoughts. The links will take you to that title's Goodreads page.

Truth (XVI #2) by Julia Karr: Read for 2012 Sophomore Challenge: I enjoyed XVI and have been actively waiting for this sequel. It was enjoyable, although there definitely wasn't as much going on as there was in the first book, but Nina is definitely emerging as a strong character. I thought the title was appropriate, too--XVI was about becoming a sex-teen, and Truth is about uncovering the truths of society. While this book is listed as the companion to XVI, Julia Karr has mentioned on her blog that she's working on book 3, which is--without revealing any spoilers--absolutely necessary for this storyline!

Dead to You by Lisa McMann: Read for 2012 Standalone Challenge. This book was unputdownable and had me guessing right until the very end. A great realistic mystery that has twists and turns like you wouldn't believe. Saying much more might reveal something I don't want to...

Beneath a Meth Moon by Jacqueline Woodson: Read for 2012 Standalone Challenge. Powerful, powerful stuff. Jacqueline Woodson gives meth addiction a strong, realistic voice with this novel. I devoured this novel extremely quickly and would recommend it to anyone who likes darker realistic fiction.

Enjoy your reading!
Christi