In My Mailbox/ Stacking the Shelves

In My Mailbox (hosted by the Story Siren) and Stacking the Shelves (hosted by Tynga) are weekly memes where we are invited to post about the books we received via mail, store, friend or library. I haven't participated in weeks! So I thought it was time.-links go to GoodReads :)

For Review:

Seven Wonders by Peter Lerangis

Destiny Rewritten by Kathryn Fitzmaurice

Pivot Point by Kasie West

Jinx by Sage Blackwood

The Trouble with Flirting by Claire LeZibnek

The Fellowship for Alien Detection by Kevin Emerson

Pretty Girl-13 by Liz Coley

Spellcaster by Claudia Gray

City of a Thousand Dolls by Miriam Foster

Revolution 19 by Gregg Rosenblum

Taken by Erin Bowman

Mind Games (Huzzah!) by Kiersten White

Olivia and the Fairy Princesses by Ian Falconer (I bought this one)

Cat Tale by the amazing Michael Hall

Thanks so much to my amazing book fairies at Harper Collins!

The Monsters' Monster by Patrick McDonnell (love this one)

Thank you -Hatchette

How Does Sleep Come? By Jeanne C Blackmore

Thank you-Sourcebooks!

Crazy week!!!! I have lots of reading to do! There are so many fabulous books coming out!

What was in your mailbox?

Banned Books Week-Hop 2013

Banned Books Week is event which celebrates the freedom to read. Held during the last week of September it reminds us of the importance of the freedom to read what we want, and to express ideas. The week brings together the entire book community –- librarians, booksellers, publishers, journalists, teachers, and readers of all types.

Banned Books week ( in the states) begins this coming week. The Canadian version of Banned Books Week called "Freedom to Read" and is usually in February. 

Books are empowering, freeing, address issues, start conversations and often remind us that we are not alone. Books are not dangerous. They are memory makers and life savers. We have the right to read what we want and we should always have the freedom to choose and ensure that others have that freedom as well. 

For more information check out this link-www.bannedbooksweek.org/

To bring awareness to Banned Books Week I'm participating in the Banned Books Week Giveaway! Special thanks to Jen from I Read Banned Books and Kathy from I Am a Reader, Not a Writer for hosting the hop. The giveaway opens today (September 28th) and closes October 6th with one winner chosen at random and announced on October 7nd. For your chance to win- enter below. 

The winner will be able to select one book from the list of top ten banned books in 2011 below. 

1. ttyl; ttfn; l8r, g8r (series), by Lauren Myracle 
   Reasons: offensive language; religious viewpoint; sexually explicit; unsuited to age group
2. The Color of Earth (series), by Kim Dong Hwa
   Reasons: nudity; sex education; sexually explicit; unsuited to age group
3. The Hunger Games trilogy, by Suzanne Collins
   Reasons: anti-ethnic; anti-family; insensitivity; offensive language; occult/satanic; violence
4. My Mom's Having A Baby! A Kid's Month-by-Month Guide to Pregnancy, by Dori Hillestad Butler
   Reasons: nudity; sex education; sexually explicit; unsuited to age group
5. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, by Sherman Alexie
   Reasons: offensive language; racism; religious viewpoint; sexually explicit; unsuited to age group
6. Alice (series), by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
   Reasons: nudity; offensive language; religious viewpoint
7. Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley
   Reasons: insensitivity; nudity; racism; religious viewpoint; sexually explicit
8. What My Mother Doesn't Know, by Sonya Sones
   Reasons: nudity; offensive language; sexually explicit
9. Gossip Girl (series), by Cecily Von Ziegesar
   Reasons: drugs; offensive language; sexually explicit
10. To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee
    Reasons: offensive language; racism

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Be sure to visit the other participating blogs

My Inner Warrior

I was thinking about my favourite books and characters in them as well the television shows and movies I love to watch and I began to see a common thread. It seems I love stories where  girls kick butt.

   

 

(If you haven't read these titles, I highly recommend you check them out)

   All of the books above -aside from being fantastic reads, feature girls (women) who are strong willed, brave, and can fight for themselves. Katniss, Tris, Celaena & Keladry…are their own heroes and are among my favourite characters in literature for that very reason. I like to think of myself as a strong woman. I can be brave except in the presence of spiders. I don’t give up easily. I’m willing to stand up for others- but I don’t know how to wield a knife, or throw a punch,  shoot an arrow or scale a wall. But none of those skills are absolutely necessary right?  I love that these heroines have mastered their “physical” selves through endurance, through pain, through sheer will power. I admire that and wish it was something I had. Perhaps its just that I have yet to uncover it in myself.. though I hope it doesn’t take something like The Hunger Games or the End of the World for me unleash my inner warrior.

 

One of my favourite things about reading is disappearing into the characters and for a while feeling like a hero. TV on the occasion can inspire me too. Shows like Xena (I know a little corny)and especially Buffy  the Vampire Slayer allow me to believe that stopping a sword with my hands, or do a jumping somersault on to the back of a horse is something I could do even if it’s just for a little while. 

My hope is that authors and writers will continue to create stories about women who overcome their circumstances through bravery, will and a few sword fights and arrows. Who knows maybe archery isn't too far off in my future but I'm definitely thinking scaling walls and jumping somersaults is far far far away. 

Top Ten Tuesday- Bookish People I Want to Meet

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by the fabulous The Broke and The Bookish.

Each week we post our top tens on a variety of book related topics- 

This week- Top Ten Bookish People I want to Meet!

My List: (How do I narrow to Ten?)

I am so fortunate to have met wonderful “bookish” people over the years, at expos, 

author events, meet-ups…

These are the people I have yet to be in the same city as let alone meet…

  

• John Green- Love everything he’s ever written. I mean fiercely love.

• JK Rowling-I bet she’ll be on many many lists.

• Kimberly Derting- I am such a fan-I’d love to be able to tell her in person

• Janice Hardy- Not only am I a huge fan of her books, but I have to tell you that she has been a wonderful supporter of my blog

• Maria from Cari’s Book Blog –Love this girl-love our chats!

• Ginger from GReads. Such fabulous gal, I would be lost with out her amazing graphic skills and her willingness to always give me a hand. 

• Jamie from The Broke and the Bookish -  can’t wait to hug you in person someday

• Carla from The Makeshift Bookmark – Carla-can’t wait to meet you and tell you how fabulous you are.

• Suzanne Collins – Hunger Games, Gregor the Overlander, Hunger Games

• Jeanine Frost- Author of the Night Huntress Series… <3

Love to know who made your lists! Leave a link below.