Quick update #4 and April R.A.K summary

I am so behind aren't I? lol I'm truly sorry hings have been hectic at home I had to work a few more day and I've been recovering from some back pain but all is well now the good thing about trying to recover  is that I had the chance to read a few more books! The reviews for those will be up soon. and I'm really excited for the other things happening in the blog in the days coming.

I wanted to remind every one about my Sarah Dessen giveaway that is still running. I may even extend the ending date of the 15th one or two days because of blogger being down but I'm not sure yet. 
Also remind you all about the Splash into Summer giveaway that starts May 25 and clarify that I was so wrong I'm not number 180 as I had previously believed I'm actually # 247 lol but the good thing is there are many blogs you can enter and the possibility of winning is high! I also already have the book I'll be giving away and maybe I'll have another prize (something like swag) so there could be two winners =]

Ok now that that's out of the way I have thanks to give. First of all to the girls at Book Soulmates for making such a fun even like the  R.A.K or Random Act of Kindness. I'm sad to say I wont be participating this month but next month I will. For the month of April I actually got a R.A.K from Emily at Emily's Reading Room  I can't thank her enough for giving me the chance to read one of the books from my ever growing wishlist.

I received Clarity from Emily I loved this book!

Of course I had to give some one a book to show my R.A.K  but I just couldn't decide who to choose I felt like it would be bad for me to just pick some one so I used Random. org and ended picking Amanda from Novel Addiction I contacted her and after a lot of crazy mishap I've finally sent her book!

Amanda from Novel Addiction will be receiving this book.

So thats basically the April R.A.K summary sorry it took so long lol anyways happy reading every one


                                as always ♥, Carol

Sarah Dessen Week Giveaway

I've loved reading Sarah Dessens books for a long time now so when I heard that there would be a Sarah Dessen week hosted by The Reading Housewives of Indiana and YA Bibliophile I had to sign up for it. I knew I couldn't choose a better event to join and make as my first ever giveaway. I decided that for this week I will make at least one review on a Sarah Dessen book and Giveaway one of her books.  So here's the fun part

Up for grabs (to US only sorry guys its the first and I'm not sure how to send International yet)

This Lullaby by Sarah Dessen 

Since I loved This Lullaby so much I decided it would be the perfect book to give away ~check out my review here~

Just fill out the form and Ta-Da be entered for the chance to win it.
Winner will be announced either May 16th or 17th




~ as much as I ♥ comments they wont count towards entries but if you have anything to say leave a comment I promise to answer~

Review- Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

Water for Elephants @ Goodreads

 Water for Elephants 

By: Sara Gruen 

     Published: March 1st, 2011(First published April 9th, 2006)

Publisher: Algonquin Books

"Though he may not speak of them, the memories still dwell inside Jacob Jankowski's ninety-something-year-old mind. Memories of himself as a young man, tossed by fate onto a rickety train that was home to the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth. Memories of a world filled with freaks and clowns, with wonder and pain and anger and passion; a world with its own narrow, irrational rules, its own way of life, and its own way of death. The world of the circus: to Jacob it was both salvation and a living hell.

Jacob was there because his luck had run out - orphaned and penniless, he had no direction until he landed on this locomotive 'ship of fools'. It was the early part of the Great Depression, and everyone in this third-rate circus was lucky to have any job at all. Marlena, the star of the equestrian act, was there because she fell in love with the wrong man, a handsome circus boss with a wide mean streak. And Rosie the elephant was there because she was the great gray hope, the new act that was going to be the salvation of the circus; the only problem was, Rosie didn't have an act - in fact, she couldn't even follow instructions. The bond that grew among this unlikely trio was one of love and trust, and ultimately, it was their only hope for survival." Synopsis from Goodreads


Lets cover talk!
 

Water for Elephants has been published in many countries and like most books that have been re-published it's had many covers. I, being the curious person that I am, looked for the other covers to see which one looks more appealing to me. I found many but four of them really stood out and so I think they should be mentioned.  One of them is of course the original book cover, I love that it shows the circus tarp, and that it doesn't show the mans face and so we have the liberty to imagine how he looks. At the same time I wish Rosie was visible since she is important maybe an elephant trunk and some sequins showing as the man enters the tent? Then again maybe not. I know some people don't care what cover is being used and part of me feels like that after all what I care for the most is the story but, at the same time if a cover doesn't catch my attention it could take forever for me to pick it up, if I even do. 

The next cover isn't my favorite it looks a little bit like a political poster not really like a book cover. The middle cover seems sort of creepy to me not sure if it's the girl or if it's the color and the last cover looks nice but it doesn't exactly look like it has to do with the circus I got more of a flapper era feel from it. The book cover I'm really loving though is the one I bought which is the one for the movie. No, not because of Robert Pattinson even if I do like him. It has to do more with what the cover has, for example it shows a very pretty lady ( Reese Witherspoon) in an amorous position with a man, an Elephant that looks very circus themed (not over the top costume but a nice one nonetheless), railroad train where a lot of the story happens, and angry looking man.  For me this cover win hands down on the perfect book cover edition competition (if such a competition existed lol)

My Opinion Ooer!

I first heard about Water for Elephants after I saw the movie preview when I heard it was based on the book written by Sara Gruen. I knew there would be some sort of romance in it and that the story was set in a circus but apart form that I wasn't sure what to expect. I was surprised by the beginning of the story and doubtful if I would like it because of it but as I continued reading I found myself enjoying every page.

Water for Elephants cast Hal Holbrook (old Jacob), Rob Pat(young Jacob), Reese W(Marlena) and Sara Gruen

I loved how the story is told from the point of view of 9o (or 93) year old Jacob Jankowski it was quite refreshing in many ways. His thoughts were a mixture of wistfulness, knowledge, and grumpy old man.  The story it self is set in the late 1920's and early 30's at least the story of Jacob at a young age about 70 years have passed since then. 23 year old Jacob has just lost his parents in a tragic accident and with them all he had. In a desperate move to get away he jumps into a moving train and so begins the story. 

The Main Characters in Water for Elephants were of course Jacob (older and younger versions), Marlena, and Rosie. Out of all of them I really liked that older Jacob I thought he was funny and accepting in ways that I'm not sure I could possibly be. He was also very old and grumpy at times and I hated to see him in pain I wished the people around him had understood him more. It was in a way like looking through a glass mirror and finding how possible a future like his could be. He had gotten hurt and his family decide that it's better if hes put in a nursing home. I think the reason I really enjoyed reading this book is because of him. At the end he was the character stuck in my head, sure I liked the others but it wasn't the same he was just brilliant and funny. 

A poster announcing the circus like in the old days lol

I liked the story of Jacob and the circus but I felt some what dissatisfied with how much the other characters are explored.  Marlena seemed a nice enough lady who had spontaneous moments at times but I was confused by her at times. I wish we could have learned more about her but, since the story is told from Jacobs point of view I could understand why her thoughts weren't really put out there. Although the story centers around those three characters I felt the time they actually spend together isn't really that big. In fact I feel like Rosie, the elephant, spent more time with August, Marlena's husband, that with Jacob not always just a lot of time. A bond does develop between Jacob, Marlena, and Rosie but it's not as explored as I wish it had been.


The story itself was really enjoyable the ending even more so. If there were a few things that I wish had been changed or better explained it didn't deter my liking it. Over all I think this book is definitely worth reading the ending is, I think, one of the best. It's been on my mind all week I can't give it a perfect mark because of those few things that were left unanswered for me simple things really but unanswered nonetheless. Even if the story doesn't need the information its some thing I feel should have been talked about a little bit near the end  but it's not. I felt like a sequel is needed after that amazing ending but at the same time I love where it ends and. At the end of the day I feel Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen deserves a 5 out of 5 but know a 4 out of 5 aka a Major Crush Alert!! rating is still pretty awesome. 

 

Check out Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen and then stop by again tell me your thoughts on it maybe I missed some thing you didn't or if you've already read it tell me your thoughts. Of curse if you've seen the movie tell me your thoughts on that as well I hope to see it soon and maybe I'll talk about it in another blog post but for now this is it. Hope you  all have a nice day


                       as always ♥, Carol

Review Happy Hour of the Damned by Mark Henry

@ Goodreads

Happy hour of the Damned (Amanda Feral #1)

By: Mark Henry

Publisher: Kensington

Published: March 1st, 2008

"Before she became a zombie, Amanda Feral had everything under control. This sassy Seattle advertising exec and full-time party diva knew how to cope with club leeches and overbearing clients, but fending off the undead is clearly something else. As Amanda gradually adjusts to her new, exceedingly weird identity, she learns important lessons about shapeshifters, reapers, bloodsuckers, dressing to truly kill. And the minute one of Amanda's undead friends disappears after texting the word, "help" (the undead-so dramatic!) she knows the afterlife is about to get really ugly. A hysterical paranormal debut romp." Synopsis from Goodreads and back of the book.

Lets cover talk: 

The cover for Happy Hour of the Damned is simple in a way but I like it. Amanda looks very dead with her deathly skin tone but also very fabulous the only thing I wasn't so happy about is her shoulders look kinda of weird. That and her nails aren't painted I don't now it seems like she would have them a fab color but then again she could just think its too much of a hassle lol. I love that the moon is incorporated into the cover not only because they do spend a lot of their time hanging out at night but also because I love the moon. Ditto for the Cemetery ...except I'm not a fan of them kind of creepy especially at night. There are no other covers as far as I know so no other pics this time.

One of my favorite footnotes Amanda thinks lol what do you think does my pic look weird?

My Opinion ooer!:

The book is told with little footnotes (like the quote on pic) at first this was kind of weird but I really enjoyed it as the story progressed they certainly got many chuckles out of me. I loved so much of this book, like the first time Wendy and Amanda meet, or many of the other first meetings since they are all so different and funny in an almost sick twisted way. Like in many other stories I kept trying to guess who the villain was but I must confess I was way off. The ending was especially crazy but incredibly enjoyable a complete surprise all on it's on.  This book isn't a Paranormal Romance story although there is some romance mixed in with all the other crazyness its just mostly a paranormal story. This book is an adventure it's full of crazy happenings, weird encounters and surprise endings that any one can enjoy

The Story is told from Amanda's narcissistic point of view she is the main character in Happy Hour of the Damned. Most of the time one of her friends Wendy, Gil and Liesl are with her but not always. Amanda and Wendy are Zombies made not mistakes, Gil is a vampire, and Liesl is a succubus. Their kind of like the fantastic four except they don't help humanity unless it's in their benefit and even then it's almost reluctant. Their all pretty similar, all of them dibble in the sarcastic  languages,  witty/catty remarks,  and all around food enjoyment of the human kind. I really liked them because their not your goody-goody characters they really don't care what happens to humans Amanda is even outraged when a Zombie tries to go on a cow diet instead of human.  Amanda is full of diva-tude she completely changed my opinion on zombies in ways I thought impossible you can read my opinion on zombies in my blog post ""Where I talk zombies into vegetarianism or at least try to".  I learned many things while read Happy Hour of the Damned for example that if you're a homeless person or & live in Seattle you should watch your back other wise a zombie could attack lol. Amanda isn't your knight in shinning armor she will throw you in front of a bus if it saves her and eat you with no remorse afterward. She cares for only her friends which is why when one of them disappears she enlist many in the search of her lost friend. 

There are many other characters like Ricardo the hottie but very dead zombie, Shane King 28 year old looking but probably closer to 100 vampire, Elizabeth Karkaroff rumored Devil, Cameron Hansen celebrity, Reapers little girls with big mouths and so many others this book is full of amazing paranormal action. At times the book was slightly too gory but in a way that made me say eww but keep reading. This book is definitely more of an adult read or at least 16 and older since it contains some graphic scenes ( one or two minor sex scenes but mostly just bloody) but nothing major in my opinion.  Over all I really liked this book it made me laugh, say eww a lot and simply learn the dark side can be fun if you have the right company.

Over all I have to give Happy Hour of the Damned a five out of five rating aka Truly Swoon Worthy rating because it was full of twisted humor that you can't help but enjoy. It's one of the books where I enjoyed the snarky character I usually don't but that's because they pretend to be all nice and then turn out to be horrible, not Amanda shes queen-of-the-snark and owns it.

   

I hope you will check out  Happy hour of the Damned at goodreads  and maybe add it to your TBR it's worth it. Have a nice day every one

as always ♥, Carol