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.

Waiting on Wednesday (6)

Waiting On Wednesday was created by Jill over at Breaking The Spine. It's a weekly post for you to share what upcoming books you can't wait for!

This week I've picked Monsters of Men by Patrick Ness and it's the 3rd and final book of the Chaos Walking Trilogy.  Published May 2010 in Australia, UK and Ireland, and September 2010 United States and Canada.

Could contain possible spoilers if you have not read The Knife of Never Letting Go and The Ask and The Answer.




Synopsis

Three armies march on New Prentisstown, each one intent on destroying the others.
Todd and Viola are caught in the middle, with no chance of escape.
As the battles commence, how can they hope to stop the fighting? How can there be peace when they’re so hopelessly outnumbered? And if war makes monsters of men, what terrible choices await?
But then a third voice breaks into the battle, one bent on revenge…

The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness

Title:  The Knife of Never Letting Go
Author: Patrick Ness
Genre: Young Adult
Publisher: Walker Books
Publication Date: October 2009
Book Length:  479

First lines:  The first thing you find out when yer dog learns to talk is that dogs don't got nothing much to say.  About anything.

Synopsis
Todd Hewitt is the last boy in Prentisstown.

But Prentisstown isn't like other towns. Everyone can hear everyone else's thoughts in a constant, overwhelming, never-ending Noise. There is no privacy. There are no secrets.
Or are there?
Just one month away from the birthday that will make him a man, Todd unexpectedly stumbles upon a spot of complete silence.
Which is impossible.
Prentisstown has been lying to him.
And now he's going to have to run...

My Thoughts
The Knife of Never Letting go is the first book in Patrick Ness' Chaos Walking Trilogy, and was the Winner of the 2008 Guardian Children's Fiction Prize, 2008 Booktrust Teenage Fiction Prize, 2008 James Tiptree Jr. Award, Shortlisted for the 2009 Charnegie Medal and Longlisted for the 2009 Manchester Award.  Now, WOW that's alot of awards!

Todd Hewitt is the last boy in Prentisstown and in one month time he will become a man at the age of thirteen.  The reason he is the last boy is because when the first settlers arrived looking for a simpler life, engaged in a nasty war with The Spackle, native species of The New World.  The spackles released the Noise germ, killing all women and infecting the men of The New world.  Everyone including animals can hear eachother's thoughts, even while asleep.

Todd is out one day collecting apples with his dog Manchee when they both stop and notice a break in the noise.  This is not normal, and for the first time in his life Todd realises that all may not be as it seems in Prentisstown.

The Knife of Never Letting Go is narrated by Todd Hewitt, written in first person present tense. Todd's education is minimal and the author shows this through the writing of the book, e.g stayshun for station, tho for though etc.  It's difficult at first not to stop and say, umm.. I think they missed a few spelling mistakes.

Todd is a really likable character, although not at first for me.  In all his flaws and bad spelling I really grew to love reading from his POV.  Manchee.. well, I must love the animals the most while reading books!  Manchee, Todd's faithful companion comes across as slow and not too bright at the beginning but as the story advances, shows to be a courageous and reliable character. There are other quite memorable characters throughout this book including Wilf and Viola.

Full of adventure and danger, Todd, Manchee and Viola have really got to battle the odds that are stacked against them as they run for their lives.

Knife of Never Letting go is a must read.  Fast paced, action packed, high stakes and a boy on the run.  What more could you want.  If you enjoy the dystopian or slightly darker fiction I recommend this one to you.  Just a handy hint, if you begin reading this and really enjoy it, make sure you have The Ask and The Answer handy, Trust Me!!