IMM/Stacking The Shelved
I recieved a package of these 5 books from Atom. Some great reads and a couple of sequels i needed so i was very grateful. Hope you had a good book week...
Sunday, April 21, 2013
Sunday, April 14, 2013
In My Mailbox/Stacking The Shelves - CATCH UP VLOG
I have not done a IMM post for a few weeks so i have a lots to show you hence the length of the video, so grab a drink and let's crack on...
Have you read any of these books? let me know in the comments below...
Read more...
Wednesday, April 03, 2013
Kindle Sample: Gangsta Granny by David Walliams
~Synopsis~
Our hero Ben is bored beyond belief after he is made to stay at his grandma’s house. She’s the boringest grandma ever: all she wants to do is to play Scrabble, and eat cabbage soup. But there are two things Ben doesn’t know about his grandma.
1) She was once an international jewel thief.
2) All her life, she has been plotting to steal the Crown Jewels, and now she needs Ben’s help…
~My Thoughts~
Read more...
I first heard of this book when David Walliams was on Alan Carr's Chatty Man show and he was talking about this book and i thought although it is a kids book it does sound really funny. Once the book was released i downloaded the sample and i got stuck into it straight away.
The book is from Ben's perspective but written in third person which works well, the humour in the book is present throughout and i was chuckling away. What made me laugh is the diagram of Ben's nan where there was a arrow pointing to a tissue tucked up her sleeve, my nan always had a tisse tucked up her sleeve and used to encourage me to tuck one up there as well LOL!
I enjoy the sample and have since brought the full version of the book as it will most definitely be a fun read.
Monday, April 01, 2013
Book Review: A Proof of Heaven by Dr Eben Alexander
Publisher: Hachette Digital (23 Oct 2012)
Buy the book: Amazon
Source: Purchased
Genre: Non-Fiction
Language: English
Rating: 5/5
Synopsis
A SCIENTIST’S CASE FOR THE AFTERLIFE Thousands of people have had near-death experiences, but scientists have argued that they are impossible. Dr. Eben Alexander was one of those scientists. A highly trained neurosurgeon, Alexander knew that NDEs feel real, but are simply fantasies produced by brains under extreme stress.
Then, Dr. Alexander’s own brain was attacked by a rare illness. The part of the brain that controls thought and emotion—and in essence makes us human—shut down completely. For seven days he lay in a coma. Then, as his doctors considered stopping treatment, Alexander’s eyes popped open. He had come back.
Alexander’s recovery is a medical miracle. But the real miracle of his story lies elsewhere. While his body lay in coma, Alexander journeyed beyond this world and encountered an angelic being who guided him into the deepest realms of super-physical existence. There he met, and spoke with, the Divine source of the universe itself.
Alexander’s story is not a fantasy. Before he underwent his journey, he could not reconcile his knowledge of neuroscience with any belief in heaven, God, or the soul. Today Alexander is a doctor who believes that true health can be achieved only when we realize that God and the soul are real and that death is not the end of personal existence but only a transition.
This story would be remarkable no matter who it happened to. That it happened to Dr. Alexander makes it revolutionary. No scientist or person of faith will be able to ignore it. Reading it will change your life.
My Thoughts
Firstly this is a highly debatable subject and unless experienced we all do not know 100% what to expect when we pass away so i respect that everyone has their own views and religious beliefs, my review is solely based on my own experiences and beliefs and i am fully aware that my beliefs will not suit what you may believe, i am not saying what i believe is right and what you believe is wrong i am merely talking about my own personal views. Please do not get offended and debate with me on this subject as i will not respond because i have no need to when i feel strongly in myself and what i believe. However i am happy to hear your thoughts about the book if you have read it.
When i saw this book on Amazon i felt i NEEDED to read it, the reason why is because i am a Spiritualist and believe in the afterlife due to various experiences i have encountered.
Before i had Spiritualist views i was a Buddhist and i took Buddhism very seriously i was a vegetarian i went and meditated with Buddhist monks i taught myself all there was to know about Buddhism i fully believed in reincarnation because that is what made senses to me until i had an over powering experience that changed my views completely and when i discussed them with a Buddhist monk he told me that what i experienced was not possible but my feelings about my experience were stronger than my Buddhist believes so i could not go on any longer as a Buddhist. Although that being said the only part i disagree with about Buddhism is the fact that they do not believe in an afterlife, the principles of Buddhism and living the Buddhist way is a great way to live and i think we could all incorporate some Buddhism into our lives especially with the mindful thinking, some elements of Buddhism are the same elements of Spiritualism.
Anyway after a lot of soul searching and experiences etc i found that my beliefs coincided with Spiritualist beliefs so i started going to a Spiritualist church for a while. So since that time my belief has never wavered that there is an afterlife.
At the beginning of the book Dr Alexander introduces himself and gives insight into his work as a successful Neurosurgeon he is a man of science and has been all his life, his father was and his son was following in his footsteps. Now this is what made me want to read this book because Scientist's have disagreed that there is a afterlife existence and for a man of such statcher and a non-believer to have this experience and write a book about it has to be worth everyones attention even if you yourself a non-believer and just want to hear what he has to say.
Then the book goes on to describe what happened to him that lead him into his coma, it was upsetting to read, if that was my husband i would be distraught witnessing it all, it would be especially hard to cope with when you have kids and you have to put on a brave face for them whilst dealing with your own emotions.
Dr Alexander tells his experience of what state his body was in while he was in a coma to show that it was not possible for his experience of happened to him to just be a dream or an illusion, he describes in as much detail as he can what he saw and how he felt. I am not going to recount his experience in my review because i want people to actually read the book and find out for themselves and make their own judgement.
The story alternated between what was going on around him while he was in the coma and Dr Alexander's experience in his coma, alongside he also spoke about being adopted and trying to contact his family and what he went through with that.
Dr Alexander uses a lot of scientific talk during the book that i struggled my way through and i think most people would find it hard but i understand that he had to in order to get his message through it made his accounts of things stronger and harder to ignore.
I found this book to be a very important read and suggest everyone should read it especially if you are a non-believer.
Dr Eben Alexanders website: http://www.lifebeyonddeath.net/ he has a useful reading list on the site for anyone who wants further reading material.
Read more...
Saturday, March 30, 2013
Book Review: A Deeper Love Inside by Sister Souljah
Publisher: Atria/Emily Bestler Books (29 Jan 2013)
Buy the book: Amazon
Source: Purchased
Genre: YA
Language: English
Rating: 4.5/5
Synopsis
THE SEQUEL MILLIONS OF READERS HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR . . .
At last, mega-bestselling author Sister Souljah delivers the stunning sequel to The Coldest Winter Ever. Fierce, raw, and filled with adventure and emotional intensity, A Deeper Love Inside is an unforgettable coming-of-age story in the words of Porsche Santiaga, Winter’s younger sister.
Sharp-tongued, quick-witted Porsche worships her sister Winter. Cut from the same cloth as her father, Ricky Santiaga, Porsche is also a natural-born hustler. Passionate and loyal to the extreme, she refuses to accept her new life in group homes, foster care, and juvenile detention after her family is torn apart. Porsche—unique, young, and beautiful—cries as much as she fights and uses whatever she has to reclaim her status. Unselfish, she pushes to get back everything that ever belonged to her wealthy, loving family.
In A Deeper Love Inside, readers will encounter their favorite characters from The Coldest Winter Ever, including Winter and Midnight. Sister Souljah’s soulful writing will again move your heart and open your eyes to a shocking reality.
My Thoughts
This is the story of Porsche, Winter's middle sister. About half the story is based in prison and the other half out of prison. Yet again Sister Souljah has produced a well written story each character is developed well, the story is written in first person so you feel as though you are going through everything Porsche is going through.
Porsche is only 10 at the start of the story her whole world has fallen apart, her father is in prison and she does not know what has happened to her mother and sisters. The book is over 400 pages long covering Porsches life from when she was 10 to 16 there is so much going on that if i were to delve to much into the story line it would spolit it for those that have not read it yet.
Porsche is feisty like her sister winter, but she has a lot more mental issues going on, the one thing that I did not really get was her imaginary friend Siri I don't think she was portrayed very well It was only after Porsches escape that it dawned on me that Siri was not actually a real person. Apart from that I loved the story there was plenty going on, there were funny parts, sad parts.
I loved it when Midnight made an appearance that was my fave part of the book, it brought together the storylines from the previous books, I like Midnights character so i was happy to hear more about him, i felt like i had a crush on him myself. I am really curious as to what is coming next from sister souljah her books are not to be ignored she is a very talented writer and can tell a story in such a way that you feel like you are living the whole experience yourself. My brother also loves her books he read this particular book in about 3 days and this is nearly a 500 page book!
Sister Souljah is well known in America as an activist check out her website http://sistersouljah.com/
Read more...
Sunday, March 17, 2013
Thursday, March 14, 2013
Book Review: Raven (A Delirium Short Story)
Format: Kindle Edition
Publisher: Hodder (5 Mar 2012)
Buy the book: Amazon
Source: Purchased
Genre: Dystopian
Language: English
Rating: 4/5
As her story hurtles back and forth between past and present, Raven transforms from a scared girl newly arrived in the Wilds to the tough leader who helps Lena save former Deliria-Free poster boy Julian Fineman from a death sentence. Whatever the original mission may have been, Raven abides by a conviction that she believes to her core: You always return for the people you love. By turns surprising, revelatory, and poignant, Raven's story enriches the Delirium world and resonates with a voice that is as vulnerable as it is strong.
My Thoughts
This is a short story giving insight into Raven the leader of the group Lena stays with in the wilds. During pandemonium Raven is pretty guarded so you do not get to know to much about her. This short story is basically to give you more insight into her character and you get to find out about her relationship with Tack. There is also a little something, something going on that will come to light in requiem I won't spoil it for those that have not read Raven.This is a very quick read ideal as a gap filler just before requiem. Read more...
Monday, February 18, 2013
GIVEAWAY: 3 Signed Copies of How To Fall by Jane Casey
Win a signed copy of How To Fall by Jane Casey
3 Copies to Giveaway!
When fifteen-year-old Freya drowns, everyone assumes she's killed herself, but no-one knows why. Her cousin, Jess Tennant, thinks she was murdered - and is determined to uncover the truth. On a summer visit to sleepy Port Sentinel, Jess (who bears a striking resemblance to her dead cousin) starts asking questions - questions that provoke strong reactions from her friends and family, not to mention Freya's enemies.
Everyone is hiding something - and Freya herself had more than her fair share of secrets. Can Jess unravel the mystery of her cousin's death? A mystery involving a silver locket, seething jealousy and a cliff-top in the pitch black of night?
This is Giveaway is for the UK only.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Read more...
Saturday, February 16, 2013
Book Review: Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver (Delirium #2)
Format: Kindle Edition
Publisher: Hodder (1 Mar 2012)
Buy the book: Amazon
Source: Purchased
Genre: Dystopian
Language: English
Rating: 5/5
Synopsis
"So what was your name before?" I say, and she freezes, her back to me. "Before you came to the Wilds, I mean."
For a moment she stands there.
Then she turns around.
"You might as well get used to it now," she says with quite intensity.
"Everything you were, the life you had, the people you knew... dust."
She shakes her head and says, a little more firmly, "There is no before. There is only now, and what comes next."
After falling in love, Lena and Alex flee their oppressive society where love is outlawed and everyone must receive the "cure" - an operation that makes them immune to the delirium of love - but Lena alone manages to find her way to a community of resistance fighters. Although she is bereft without the boy she loves, her struggles seem to be leading her toward a new love.
My Thoughts
In Pandemonium the chapters alternate between 'now' and 'then', 'now' being Lena's life after the wilds and 'then' being where Pandemonium left off. I like this format because it was telling two stories and each chapter left you in suspense while you read the next chapter of the other side of the story.
Pandemonium was packed full of action, i was gripped from start to end, it was hard for me to put the book down to resume with normal life. I know i was reading a true page turner because my mouth was hanging open at times i was so absorbed.
There are lots of unexpected twists and turns in the story, new characters introduced. This second book really picks up pace compared to Delirium, i found Delirium slow up to half way through the book then it picked up pace.
I still love the whole concept of Love being treated as a disease, Pandemonium ends on a cliffhanger just like Delirium did, there is a sample of Requiem at the end of Pandemonium so i have a good idea what to expect, i cannot wait to read Requiem only one more month to go!
Read more...
I still love the whole concept of Love being treated as a disease, Pandemonium ends on a cliffhanger just like Delirium did, there is a sample of Requiem at the end of Pandemonium so i have a good idea what to expect, i cannot wait to read Requiem only one more month to go!
Monday, February 04, 2013
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
