Massive book Giveaway

Congratulations to Devourer of Books for posting her 100th review.
She is hosting a massive book giveaway there which ends on Wednesday October 15th.


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Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer

Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer


Product Description

(When you loved the one who was killing you, it left you no options. How could you run, how could you fight, when doing so would hurt that beloved one? If your life was all you had to give, how could you not give it? If it was someone you truly loved?
To be irrevocably in love with a vampire is both fantasy and nightmare woven into a dangerously heightened reality for Bella Swan. Pulled in one direction by her intense passion for Edward Cullen, and in another by her profound connection to werewolf Jacob Black, a tumultuous year of temptation, loss, and strife have led her to the ultimate turning point. Her imminent choice to either join the dark but seductive world of immortals or to pursue a fully human life has become the thread from which the fates of two tribes hangs.
Now that Bella has made her decision, a startling chain of unprecedented events is about to unfold with potentially devastating, and unfathomable, consequences. Just when the frayed strands of Bella's life-first discovered in Twilight, then scattered and torn in New Moon and Eclipse-seem ready to heal and knit together, could they be destroyed... forever?
The astonishing, breathlessly anticipated conclusion to the Twilight Saga, Breaking Dawn illuminates the secrets and mysteries of this spellbinding romantic epic that has entranced millions)

Ever since the launch of this book I have heard the controversy. Some camps decry Bella's lack of independent thought and actions...others feel that this book is a fitting end to the Cullins' story.
From the first page into this fourth 'chapter' in Bella Swan's life I was spellbound. I found the continuation of the story to be every bit as satisfying as all the three works before it and I loved all the characters.
I am not of the teenage girl demographic that this story was written for but I had heard all the hype surrounding the story and I had wondered about it. I have the enviable position of working in a high school and I can borrow the books from it's library. This often works in my favour as it tends to be easier to get my hands on a copy of a book here than the public library-less people to compete against. Last year I borrowed all three of the previous Twilight books and devoured them.
I must admit that the furor over the launch of this book made me even more curious and eager to read this last book but because of it I was prepared to be more critical of the final work. I had no reason to be hesitant at all. Breaking Dawn fulfilled all of my expectations and more.
Why is everybody so upset about it?
I understand that Bella made the choices that she did but I am confused as to why her choices are considered to be anachronistic. Since when has pledging yourself to someone you love and marrying them seen to be an anachronism? Bella proves everyday in this book how her choices continue to make her a stronger woman and at no time is she ever pressured into anything...in fact the opposite is true. She forces her will upon Edward and the rest of her new family.. She doesn't sacrifice her own wants and needs for anybody else. This life that she has chosen is the life that she wants.
I admit to being surprised by some of the story but I embraced it...it all made sense to me. Stephenie Meyer created an incredible fantasy world and she set the parameters of this world.
I may be an eclectic reader in my tastes but I am still a discerning reader and I was wholly satisfied.

Made From the World Trade Center

I may not be American but the day when the world was transfixed by this awful terrorist attack and stopped us all feeling safe...is burned into my memories.
I couldn't believe what I was seeing.
It is only fitting that something useful and good should come from the remains of the buildings.






Here SHE is, the USS New York, made from the World Trade Center !

USS New York

It was built with 24 tons of scrap steel from the World Trade Center .

It is the fifth in a new class of warship - designed for missions that include special operations against terrorists. It will carry a crew of 360 sailors and 700 combat-ready Marines to be delivered ashore by helicopters and assault craft.

Steel from the World Trade Center was melted down in a foundry in Amite , LA to cast the ship's bow section. When it was poured into the molds on Sept 9, 2003, 'those big rough steelworkers treated it with total reverence,' recalled Navy Capt. Kevin Wensing, who was there. 'It was a spiritual moment for everybody there.'

Junior Chavers, foundry operations manager, said that when the trade center steel first arrived, he touched it with his hand and the 'hair on my neck stood up.' 'It had a big meaning to it for all of us,' he said. 'They knocked us down. They can't keep us down. We're going to be back.'

The ship's motto? 'Never Forget'

Please keep this going so everyone can see what we are made of in this country!

The Gate House by Nelson DeMille

I had never read any other books by Nelson DeMille so I had no warning about what was to come. Certainly his style of writing breathes life into and embodies all that is sarcastic in a protagonist and that fitted John Sutter to a T. I found John's sarcasm to be very difficult to relate to and his snideness made me feel less than sympathetic about the past events in his life. Frankly, in many ways, I am surprised that John ever had a family or friends to come back to. This book wraps up the story of the characters begun in the novel "The Gold Coast".
The book takes place on the Gold Coast on the eastern seaboard of America in the aftermath of 9/11. I only mention this because it is spoken about frequently in the book as it pertains to the changes in people's consciousness about their invincibility or lack thereof.
John has returned from London, where he has been practising law since he returned from his 3 year adventure sailing around the world. He left his home and family originally when his wife shot her lover Frank Bellarosa, a mafia don, who was testifying for the FBI. The subsequent fallout of notoriety and tabloid fame created a monster that John needed to escape from.
John returns because an old family retainer of his exwife's family, the Stanhopes, is on her deathbed and as her executor he is needed. He takes up residence in the gate house of the old family estate and is disconcerted to find that the son of the old mafia don has moved into the new housing complex that was built on the grounds of Bellarosa's estate. John knows that the son bears his exwife Susan ill will and he is worried about her despite himself. John has had very little contact with his exwife but he needs to impress upon her the seriousness of this situation but also protect himself from further reprisal.
None of the characters were very likable people throughout the entire story but I still became invested in their eventual success and the conclusion was satisfying. Despite myself, I enjoyed this novel as it appealed to the inner secret tabloid reader in me but I found the book to be too long. Reminded me of reading Harold Robbins' books in my teens.

My Library (Tongue in Cheek)

As I was cruising blogs today...I noticed on the blog of B&b ex libris pictures of their library and thought I would do the same. I had to take about 10 pictures off the shelves though and dust....too bad I didn't get around to actually organizing the books! hee hee
Of course this doesn`t take into account all the books in the spare room and M`s room...let alone those sitting on my bedside table.:)

'My Daughter's Creativity' or 'Cat Torture'

been sick

I looked over my blog today and realized that I haven't posted anything since September 25th. I have had some weird virus thing and I am sleeping all the time and haven't made it into work. Damn...there goes the salary.
I have been reading sporadically...as I think that you would have to gouge my eyes out for me to stop....but I am only getting through a couple of pages at a time. That totally sucks...in the vernacular of my grade 9 daughter!!!!
All of last weekend I was hooked up to a Holter monitor. Now THAT was a fun experience!
Reading: "Gate House" by Nelson DeMille
Books waiting: "The Lace Reader" by Brunonia Barry