Sticky Beak (5)

Sticky Beak's all about sharing.  Sometimes we can't all get around to every single blog and website available so thats very Sticky Beak comes in.  By word of mouth (well you get what I mean) we are more likely to get to those blogs that we wouldn't have normally seen without someone pointing them out to us.

The links could be to your own post, a favourite blog post you would love to share, an author's website/blog, book/writing contests, reviews you really enjoyed, tour info or anything that you would love to share with others.  This week I'll just be using the comment section of this post for you all to share your's so feel free to contribute.

Heres mine:

Giveaways/Contests
Girls Without a Bookshelf's First Giveaway : Stolen by Lucy Christopher is up for grabs.  Open to everyone!! Ends 18th April
Tynga's Reviews Giveaway: Branded by Keary Taylor.  Must be a follower or subscriber. US & Canada Only. Ends 19th April
Booklove Affair's 250 Follower Giveaway:  Open to all!
Ramblings Of A Teenage Bookworm's Can I be your book Fairy contest: Open to all! Ends 25 April.

Writers
Spilling ink A Young Wrier's handbook: Inspiration Library
Authors Den: Where Authors and Readers come together.
Booksie: Share your Poems, Short Stories, Novels, and more with the world

Other Sites
Levenger: Tools for Serious Readers.
Little Missmatched: Think outside the socks.  Some very cute stuff here! (not book related though)

Okay thats all from me.  So what have you guys found??

Gone Trailer (Mo Hayder)

This gave me the heebee-jeebees.  This is not real!  I will just say that now.  This is for the book Gone by Mo Hayder!

WARNING: Disturbing Material!! Parental Guidance Recommended

In My Mailbox (7)

In My Mailbox is a weekly post created by The Story Siren and inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie!! (This post was inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie.)

Bought

 











Cruzito's Mailbox

So thats what I got in my mailbox.  What did you get??

What The?

 

So I was reading the Sunday Mail this morning and I come across the title 'Fetch it Yourself: Urban mail hubs to replace home letterboxes'.  WHAT THE?  I like getting mail in my letterbox and more to the point BOOKS!  Apparently the new developments will target Augustine Heights, Redbank Plains South(though I didn't know there was a Redbank Plains South), Spring Mountain and Ripley Valley, as well as western Sydney.  Cr Tully said, "It will be the end of mail being flogged," and they were worried about the 'rising costs and declining mail volumes'.

So they are the supposed facts behind this new ridiculous service.  But did they even consider those of us that are physically unable (namely the elderly and disabled) that can't make it to the Post Office?  Or the fact that it will require more parking around the Post Office centres or the fact that they are going to put alot of people out of jobs? Or the parents who have a million and one things to do and don't need to add in another trip to the post office because they don't deliver to letterboxes?  Most importantly, those of us that actually get excited when coming home from work and wondering what the lovely Postie has brought us in our mailbox?

And if thats the new delivery service, well then, what are we going to use our letterboxes for apart from the number of the house?  Pointless really!

I don't usually voice my opinion so publicly about things like this but this has really hit a sore spot for me.  And if there was a vote to have this brought in, well I'm absolutely opposed to it.

So there! Venting Done.  What do you all think about this?

Over The Top Award

I want to say thanks to Trillian Books for giving me this award!!

My Answers

Your cell phone? iphone

Your hair? outta control

Your mother? Gotta Love her

Your father? He's cool

Your favorite food? Chicken Nuggets (at the moment)

Your dream last night? Weird!

Your favorite drink? Chocolate Milk

Your dream/goal? Published Writer

What room are you in? Dining room

Your hobby? Reading, writing.

Your fear? Snakes!

Where do you want to be in 6 years?Hopefully retired LOL

Where were you last night? Home

Something that you aren't? quiet lol

Muffins?Yum

Wish list item? Win Lotto!

Where did you grow up? Redbank Plains

Last thing you did? Watch cartoons with my son

Your TV? Super cool

Your pets? dog and cat

Friends? Caring

Your mood? Tired

Missing someone? Nope!

Vehicle? Flashy Jeep Patriot

Something you aren't wearing? umm. shoes?

Your favorite store? Anything with books in it

Your favorite color? Blue

When was the last time you laughed? Today

Last time you cried? Few weeks ago

Your best friend? Don't have just one.

One place you go to over and over again?  Angus & Robertson Bookstore

Facebook? Love/hate relationship

Favorite place to eat? in front of tv

Here's my list!

1. The Fiction Enthusiast
2. Raising Itty-Bitty Bookworms
3. From The Shadows
4. Lily's Bookshelf
5. Paper, Pens & Lipgloss

Liar Book Trailer

This looks good.  Can't wait to get my hands on Liar by Justine Larbalestier.

The Ask and The Answer by Patrick Ness

Title:  The Ask and The Answer
Author: Patrick Ness
Genre:Young Adult
Publisher: Walker Books
Publication Date: December 2009
Book Length: 519
Stand alone or Series: Series (2nd Book in Chaos Walking Trilogy)
Favourite Quote:  "We are the choices we make.  And have to make.  We aren't anything else."
           
Possible Spoilers in Synopsis & My Thoughts if you have not read The Knife of Never Letting Go (book 1)


Synopsis (from the back of the book)
Fleeing before a relentless army, Todd has carried a deperately wounded Viola right into the hansd of their worst enemy, Mayor Prentiss.
Immediately separated from Viola and imprisoned, Todd is forced to learn the ways of the Mayor's new order.
But what secrets are hiding just outside of town?  
And where is Viola?  Is she even alive?
And who are the mysterious Answer?
And then, one day, the bombs begin to explode...

My Thoughts
The Knife of Never Letting Go left us on a pretty huge cliffhanger!  What happens to Todd and Viola?  Well I grabbed the next book and it picks up where the first book left off in Haven.  President Prentiss, formerly known as Mayor Prentiss and his army take the surrendered town Haven and rename it New Prentisstown.

Todd and Viola are separated straight away.  Todd is imprisoned and made to work with Davy Prentiss, the President's son, guarding over a group of Spackle.  Viola is whisked away to a Healing house until her wounds mend.  The only assurance that Todd has about Viola being okay (and vice versa) is the word of President Prentiss, who is using his position to it's absolute advantage. 

This is again told in first person present tense but this time we have a chance to get to know Viola better as it jumps back and forth between Todd and her views.  From both POV it gives you the whole situation at hand.  The struggles Todd has to endure, as well as the forced path Viola takes to help both Todd and the town, will have them heading in opposite directions.  The question is, will they both still be able to trust and rely on eachother, with the choices that go against what they believe in?  Can they live with those decisions??

Todd has done a lot of maturing in this novel and it's hard to believe he is still only 13.  He is a strong and sympathetic character who I've really grown to love.  Viola has done a lot growing up too.  From the previous book to this one, she has gone from the seemingly vulnerable, untrusting girl to a courageous yet compassionate character.

The Ask and The Answer has many topics it covers, betrayal, courage, manipulation, power of knowledge, leadership and the side effects of so much control.  It also shows when those we love are threatened, we'll do whatever we're asked to ensure their safety.

While The Knife of Never Letting Go was mostly a physical struggle for the characters throughout the story, The Ask and The Answer is more of an emotional and psychological read.  Fantastic book.

Patrick Ness has written a short story set before The Knife of Never Letting Go.  The New World tells the story of Viola's arrival on Todd's home planet.  You can read it on Booktrust's website here, or open in PDF here.