Tag: Giveaway

Total Memory Makeover by Marilu Henner

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)26 Comments

 

Marilu Henner has a gift that is known to only six other people in the world.  She can recall every detail of her life, now just the big events like the day Kennedy was shot, 9-11, or a surprise birthday party…  but also a random Thursday in August of 1980, or a Sunday morning any year since she has been five. 

In Total Memory Makeover, Marilu shares the benefits to having such a memory, and shares exercises we can all do to strengthen our own memories.

 

Why did I want to listen to this audio?  I am a little fascinated with someone who can remember every day down to what they had for breakfast when I can barely remember what I did two days ago.  🙂  I also like that this is read by Marilu herself.

 

Total Memory Makeover is exactly what is says it is.  An audio book (or book) about Marilu’s gift of total recall, and what we can do to strengthen our own skills.  7 hours and 58 minutes long, Marilu takes us through her growing up with this skill, and how it can be used to help us makes better choices in our present day.  I found it interesting that Marilu explains that by remembering moments of great pain in our life (say, like a break up) it can help us see the red flags as we go into new relationships.  And that works for good things too… by remembering how great it felt to fit into a smaller size of jeans 4 years ago can help us say no to bad food choices today.

While the audio was interesting, there are a lot of times throughout the reading that Marilu had tasks for the reader.  We are asked to write down dates like our 21st birthday and remember everything we can about that event (which honestly, I have no recollection of, other than I was married and we had Brad then…) or to do short memory tests.  For me personally, I am an active audio listener, meaning I cook or clean while listening to audio and I did not do the little tests that required hitting pause.

Overall this is an interesting read, Marilu did a wonderful job of narrating, and I think if you are really looking to work on your memory skills she has some wonderful tips for doing so and advice to get you started.  There are times in the audio where Marilu tells personal stories that are both interesting, and at times… dare I say felt like she was bragging?  It was not the best fit for me, but I can see where someone willing to work at this could find it useful.

Because this seems to be almost like a work book in places, I think this is one of those instances where this would have been better for me in book format than audio.

 

Leave a comment here if you would like a chance to win my copy of Total Memory Makeover.  I will choose a winner using random.org on Friday July 6.

 

Amazon Rating

Goodreads Review

Audible.com (listen to an audio sample here)

 

Thank you to Audio Jukebox for sending me this audio to listen to and review!

Ravens by George Dawes Green

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)22 Comments

 

Shaw McBride was sick and tired of his luck.  Shoot, if he had any luck at all, it was all bad.  Taking off on a road trip to Florida with his buddy Romeo Zderko, he thought things could really only get better. Then sure enough… as they passed through a small town in Georgia they had to stop to fix a leaky tire.

Just like Shaw thought… no luck at all but bad…

But when Shaw enters the gas station he overheard the lady behind the counter talking excitedly on the phone…

“Yes!  The 318 million dollar Georgia Lottery ticket has been sold at this very station!  Yes!  One winner!  Yes, the Boatwright’s, right here in town!  They can really use the money!”

And at that moment… Shaw had a plan that he knew would change his luck forever.

Finding the Boatwrights was easy, and fooling them in to believing he was with the State Lottery just stopping in to give them some advice on what would happen next went off without a hitch.  Once invited inside, Shaw laid out his plan to the family – when the camera people arrive, they say the ticket was purchased by both he and the Boatwrights and therefore, he rightfully receives half.  Meanwhile, Romeo is watching the town, visiting friends and family of the Boatwrights, ready to start killing the moment Shaw says….

but if the Boatwrights cooperate, all will be spared and Shaw and Romeo will be a lot richer. 

The Boatwrights find themselves in a nightmare… what should have been the most exciting time of their life has turned out to be the deadliest.

 

Why did I want to listen to this audio?  I remember about a year ago seeing some reviews on the book.  It sounded interesting but I did not have time to take on another book… audio however, is another story 🙂

 

Ravens is like nothing I have experienced before.  The story of two low life characters like Shaw and Romeo going after lottery winners didn’t seem like it could hold an entire book.  And when so much had happened by the third cd in this 8 cd listen, I wondered what would hold the story up for the rest of the read.

I shouldn’t have worried. 

George Dawes Green does an amazing job keeping this story moving.  Not only moving, but moving in a powerful way that made me wonder “what could happen next, and then…. that did not just happen!” How the whole lottery winner plan plays out is brilliant.  Actually, it was almost spooky how well it is done because I can imagine it actually happening that way. 

The many characters of Ravens are all well-developed which is no easy task.  With narrators Robert Petkoff and Maggie-Meg Reed alternating charters you are in for a treat!  Both narrators do a fantastic job.  I have heard Maggie Meg Reed several times before but this was a first time for Robert Petkoff.  Maggie-Meg taking on the thick Georgia accents was a lot of fun.

I really, really, enjoyed this book.  Fantastically played out, constantly engaging, Ravens comes highly recommended!

Its Audiobook week!  Comment on this review between June 29- July 2 and a winner will be chosen using random.org for a copy of this audio to be sent to you!

Amazon Rating

Goodreads Review

Audible.com (you can hear a sample here!)

AudioBook Week 2012 (June 25-29)

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)

Audio Book Week is here!  Watch for audio giveaways every day during Audio book week!

The Magicians by Lev Grossman (audio book or gift card giveaway)

A Night To Remember By Walter Lord (audio book giveaway)

Lets Talk About Audio Baby!  (audio book of choice from Amazon up to $20 value)

**All winners will be announced on Saturday morning June 30th.

Morning Meanderings… 2 Days Coffee Free and a WINNER!!!

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)41 Comments

Good Morning!  It feels like forever since I have just chatted it up with you!  I guess in reality, it has been since Sunday.  It has been a busy week here with it being Audio Book Week and I have been playing audio advocate and using a bullhorn to shout the benefits of audio to the world…

There are two days left of audio week and I am still on board, just wanted to do a life check in. 

I am on day three of a Cleanse.  Mmmmm hmmmmm…..   here is what happened…  a friend of mine who had a baby in January started this 21 day cleanse the Monday I was in New York.  The week I returned she was on vacation and so by the time I seen her next and we worked together was after she had been on the cleanse for 16 days.  And wow.  She had super thinned down and anyway – I was impressed. 

The cleanse itself once you maneuver it isn’t that difficult – it is just a new mind-set.  You can eat all the vegies you want and half the amount of fruit as you eat vegies.  You can have two protein shakes a day, and one egg.  You can use Virgin Olive oil to cook, steam, whatever.  You can have 1/2 cup of brown rice a day or 1 cup of lentils.  Rice noodles are also (1/2 cup) ok to have.  Your only beverage is water.

After the first 10 days, on day 11 you can add in a serving of fish or chicken each day through the rest of the cleanse that ends on day 21.

You picked up on the fact I am not drinking coffee?  😯

SO… day 1 went ok but at the end of the night I ate a Skinny Cow ice cream cone.  I am not a pro at this……  (the cleanse that is, the ice cream I can hold my own on)  😀  Day 2, yesterday went better, for dinner I cooked the rice, and then put it in a little olive oil with my one egg and mushrooms, onion.  Seasoned that baby up with Cajun spices and a side of asparagus cooked it a little olive oil, a little lemon and sea salt and it was delicious and filling.

Surprisingly, the coffee, or lack there of, has not bothers me too much other than I am a bit foggy much to the delight of my co workers.  I have had to ask questions on how to do things I know how to do.  Here all this time I thought I was smart and it was the coffee talking!  😛 

But this morning… this morning was the kicker and that is what led up to this post.  I got up at 5 am with hubby because I was AWAKE.  Made the bed brushed my teeth, washed my face, put on night cream….

Yup.

I put night cream back on my face after washing it off.  I looked in the mirror and told myself, seriously?

So that is what is happening around here.  Oh yes, and the Literary Blog Hop ended yesterday and the winner of the Literary book of choice from Amazon or the Book Depository Using random.org is:

#12:  Mystica

Woo hoo!!!!  Congrats Mystica!  Email me at journeythroughbooks@ gmail.com to tell me which book you would like of $20 dollars or less – I am guessing this will come from the Book Depository but you can let me know when you email your address and which of the companies ship to you.  😀

And finally, today’s discussion is, What Makes A Good Narrator?

I think a good narrator surrounds you with the story.  You should be able to get lost in the words and not notice things like throat clearing, swallowing, chair moving…. that may sound funny but I have heard all of these things, but before you run away screaming “Audio is scary,” you dont hear this in a well narrated audio book and my hearing it is rare. 

If the book is narrated well you move as smoothly through the story as though you were reading it yourself, and in some cases – even better than you reading it yourself.  The characters, the accents, the voices, should come off natural not forced.  As you are reading through all the fantastic posts this week on audio take note of the narrators people are listing as the ones to watch for.

For more audio book related topics, posts, and giveaways, stop by and check our Devourer Of Books Audiobook Week 2012.

And that’s a wrap for me this morning.  I am going to make breakfast and put a new sticky post up this morning and if time start writing my audio review for this afternoon as well.

Have a super day!  😀

The Magicians by Lev Grossman (audio review w/giveaway!)

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)49 Comments

Quintin Coldwater is less than content hanging out with his two best friends James and Julia.  He wasn’t always this discontented.

Yet when James and Julia started being more than friends, it just got AWKWARD.  It probably didnt help that Quintin also kind of had a thing for Julia.

When an incident has Quintin chasing a paper up a tree, he finds himself in quite literally, another world.  He is told that this is Brakebills Academy, a school for magic.  Soon Quintin finds himself hanging out with the select few that pass the entrance exams.  Although these teenagers are unknown to him, they seem to all have in common the love for a set of magical childrens books that took place in an imaginary land called Fillary.

But – as Quintin starts to learn, where really is that line between real and imagination?  When he makes friends with the ever moody Penny, and the sweet Alice, things start to happen.  As their magical powers become stronger they find themselves set upon a mission that no one could have ever dreamed up. 

What do you do when the things of beloved fictional books suddenly become real? And what would you give… to have everything you ever wanted?

Why did I listen to this audio?

This audio book was recommended to my by John from Brilliant audio while I was in New York for BEA.  He described it as very Harry Potterish and I was sold.  😀

Opening words:  Quintin did a magic trick.  Nobody noticed.

Imagine if JK Rowling would have written another book about Harry Potter in his college years… they could have called it Butter Beers College for Wizards, and THAT is what The Magicians is like. 

Well… scratch that.  That is what I THOUGHT I wanted The Magicians to be like.  Always on my continuing search for the next Harry Potter book, I was hoping that was it… and it was, and it wasn’t.   Yes The Magicians is a story of magical teenagers, going to school to learn their craft, but The Magicians does not have the innocence of the Potter books.  For starters this is COLLEGE.  And college means parties, and beer (not butter beer) and relationships.  And I admit at first that bothered me…

Then I got over it because this is not Hogwarts.  It is Brakebill.  And this is not Harry.  It is Quintin.

The Magicians really is fantastic on audio.  Narrator Mark Bramhall did a fantastic job managing the many characters and in a way that made it hard for me to shut this audio off. 

The teens of The Magicians are very likeable.  We don’t get to know them all very well, a few float in and out of the conversations but a few like Quintin, Alice, and even Penny, you get to know a little better.  They feel real, they are flawed… they are lazy teenagers, they are cocky and competitive.  And if you were ever a teenager in college I suspect you can relate. 

In the beginning I felt that this was so Harry Potter, three friends, two guys one girl…. uh huh…there is even a Quidich reference in the book!  Towards the middle through the end it felt way more Narnia.  The series of books Quintin and his friends all read as children about this other world… talking animals, etc… but it all works.

I recommend this read if you enjoy a deeply layered well-developed fantasy read and if you like good audio, I say definitely try this one in audio!

**I noticed on Amazon’s synopsis it mentions sex and yes, there are a couple of instances but nothing over the top.

For audio book week if you have an audible.com account I will send one lucky commenter on this post a gift of this audio through audible.com gifts.  If you do not have an audible account I will send you a $10 Amazon gift card to hopefully be used on an audio book that you will enjoy, maybe even this one! 😀

Amazon Rating

Goodread Review

Audible.com (hear a sample here!)

A Night To Remember by Walter Lord (audio book week and giveaway!)

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)46 Comments

She was built and marketed as unsinkable.  A grander ship you would not have found.  To be aboard her on this maiden voyage was privilege for the 2,207 passengers aboard, no matter if you were first class or steerage, you knew you were experiencing history in the making.

If only they had known how true that would be…

As she sped across the dark waters one cool April evening no one knew what was about to happen, and when it did happen….

“Iceberg right ahead!”

… no one thought it would do the damage it did.  But once the damage was done, The Titanic in all her glory sunk quickly.  A Night To Remember is the true minute by minute account of what happened after the Titanic struck ice, how some people reacted with an honor that is unmatched to this day, giving their lives… and yet other people brought out the ugliest side of humanity, and greed, and the instinct to survive, no matter what the cost.

Why did I want to listen to this audio?  I am a history buff when it comes to all things to do with the Titanic.  The whole tragedy from start to finish mesmerizes me today; the band playing on as the ship sank, the people of what was referred to as lesser class not given the rights to try to survive as the upper class was.  Heart wrenching, heartbreaking, and I want to know their stories.

In 1898, 14 years before the Titanic sailed, a book was written called The Wreck Of The Titan.  The ship, according to the book, was unsinkable.  This fictitious ship was sailing the North Atlantic in April when it struck an iceberg 400 miles from Newfoundland, causing it to sink.  There were not enough life boats for the people on board…  

As told in the opening of A Night To Remember

A Night To Remember is as accurate a recap as I have ever heard as to what happened that fateful April night in 1912.  It’s easy to understand that 100 years later, movies are still bring produced and books are still being written about one of the greatest tragedies of the sea. 

Narrated by Martin Jarvis and 5 hours and 4 minutes long, this book is read at a wonderful pace filled with facts brought forth by those who lived to tell the story.  While listening you will hear the conversations that took place after the ship was hit, the concerns over belongings, and of some – who were not concerned at all… hero’s and villains…

I was amazed at how close what I was hearing was to how the Titanic movie was made, all the way down to the large Irish man who fought to have the steerage women be released to have a chance to save themselves. Many of the lines from this book/audio, were also used in the movie,

“She is Unsinkable!”

Listening to this audio was at times painful when I thought of all the lives that were senselessly lost.  In the end, it is told that the Whitestar Line never did have a policy for such an emergency, the crew made it up as they went along… in the panic that unfolded they did the best they could under that extreme amount of pressure. Many things changed after that fateful night:

Never again did a ship sail without enough life boats to accommodate ALL on board.  Assignments and directions to lifeboats are now stated in each stateroom.

All passengers were created equal, no matter what their class in an emergency.

ALL iceberg warnings were taken seriously.

Every steamship carrying over 100 passengers must now carry two electric search lights

Walter Lord published this book in 1955, a classic that any Titanic follower must have in their collection.

If you are interested in knowing more about the Titanic and its final night, this is an audio book I highly recommend.  This one definitely goes on my keeper shelf.

Amazon rating

Goodreads review

Audible.com

For audio book week I am doing a giveaway with every audio review I post.  To win a copy of this amazing audio book, please leave a comment below.  Winner will be announced on Saturday after audio book week ends.

 

Thank you to Audio Jukebox for sending me this incredible audio for review!

Let’s Talk About Audio Baby! (W/ Giveaway!)

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)64 Comments

Leslie from Under my Apple Tree, and myself both enjoy audio books.  I love to look at her audio reviews and see what she is suggesting.  Yes, even us audio book lovers need go-to audio book lovers… much like us book people seek out other book people.  😀 

Through our chatting recently on audio books we though it would be fun to give you a little bit of our background with audio, and then open it up to you to ask questions on each of our blogs.  We will have a random drawing on each blog for those who do ask questions about audio books.  Feel free to ask the same question on each blog as we will probably answer it differently.  I have about  2 1/2 years of audio book experience but Leslie has about 4 years!

How long have you been listening to audiobooks and how long did it take you to be comfortable with the format?

For me, I didn’t start getting into audio book until after I had begun book blogging.  My opinion on audio books was something my aunt and uncle did when they drove their RV from California to Minnesota each spring.  In other words… old school.  Outdated.  I imagined them surrounded with a case of cassette tapes, choosing what to listen to next as they bounced along the highways…

Then, in late 2009 I was offered a few audio books through Hatchette audio for review.  I remember starting with James Patterson.  I liked some of Patterson’s books, so why not?  The series I started with was The Michael Bennett series and the first audio was Step On A Crack.  What I thought about audio books that day (monotone readers blah blah blah) went out the window. 

What I learned is that audio can be exciting!  The narrators show emotions, the different characters have voices you come to recognize, and in this audio books case and the others in this series that followed – they had sound effects!

So began my love of audio.  It was truly trial and error in the beginning.  I had no idea how to pick out good audio.  Many in the early listens were mediocre. But when I hit a good one – I knew they were out there.

Since audiobooks are an acquired skill, what should listeners look for when selecting a book? What should they avoid?

When selecting an audio book watch to see if the audio is abridged on unabridged.  I always go unabridged, I think most of us do.

If the narrator is new to you, many websites offer sample listening of the audio so you can see if it is too your liking.  I also like to watch from ratings on narrations and see what others are saying about the audio.

See how many hours the audio book you are thinking of is.  I personally prefer my audio books between 6 and 10 hours.  However, in the case of books that I really want to read, I will go longer.  11-22-63 was 30 hours and 40 minutes.  The Passage by Justin Cronin was 36 hours and 52 minutes.  Both were well worth it. 

Audio books can get pricey however many libraries have audio for rent as well as to download.  Sites like Amazon, half.com, Bargainbooks.com, Ebay all can have great deals on audio books.  I recently picked up 10 audio books of newer titles for $2.99 each at Bookbargains.com.  I am also a HUGE fan of audible.com where you can get an audio a month for $7.99 your choice!  Your first audio book with Audible.com is free, and there is no contract ever…. you can stop any time.  I have been using them for two years and just recently updated my account from one audio a month to two.  They also have awesome sales where many titles will be $5 or less.  See my audible.com link on the right sidebar for more information.

What audiobooks would you recommend to new listeners?

If you are dipping an ear into audio let me just say, YAY!!!  Now that first audio experience is important so here are a few I would suggest depending on your tastes…

 

  • Any of The Harry Potter books with either narrator Stephen Fry or Jim Dale.  Both are fantastic and you will sweat that is Hagrid in the room with you!
  • Ready Player One.  If you have reading the audio book week posts, then enough said.  We are all raving about this one.  🙂
  • The Immortal Life of Henriette Lacks – f you like historical non fiction this one is incredible!
  • The Magicians King – a grown up Harry Potter.  Picture Potter if they could have done the college years and tossed him into Narnia… ok, now you are with me 😀

 

Now we open the discussion to you.  Feel free to add to what was discussed here.  Please ask questions!  Any comment that contributes to the discussion or relevant question will count towards a chance to win an audio book of choice from Amazon up to a $20 value.  Winner will be chosen randomly at the end of the Audio Book Week. 

Also, be sure to stop by and see Leslie at Under My Apple Tree to ask her questions and comment on her post as well.  Thank you to Jen at Devourer of Books for hosting Audio Book Week!

Literary Blog Hop June 23-27

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)151 Comments

Welcome to The Literary Blog Hop hosted by Judith of Leeswammes Blog!  Not really sure what is considered a Literary read, Wikepedia defines it as well written, critically acclaimed and usually serious in nature.  Still not sure?  Goodreads has compiled a list of over 500 titles of literary fiction.

My giveaway will be for a literary book of your choice of $20 or less from either Amazon or the Book Depository.  To enter I have one question you need to answer.  I would like to know what is the best book you have read (or listened to if it was on audio) so far in 2012.

I will draw a winner the morning of the 28th and announce it here.

For the list of the other participants to hop your way too – click here

Morning Meanderings…Winners and Cat-Dogs

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)50 Comments

Happy Saturday everyone!  Did you know this is my favorite day of the week?  Saturdays are the one day each week I can linger a bit more in the morning without rushing out the door.  If I can, I keep them fairly open, non commitment filled… I like the options of choosing what I do with my day, at least once a week 🙂

I hope you had a chance to stop by yesterday to my annual Blogiversary Party.  It is always fun that it lands shortly after BEA so I can give away a few books and swag.  If you have a few minutes, it is well worth just reading the imaginative comments that make me smile, and occasionally laugh out loud.  (I challenge everyone to let me know how they arrive at the party and what virtual food item/or gift they brought with.  Lets just say it is going to take me weeks to get the crumbs out of my blog side bars and pretty sure there was a little cake on the header this morning too I had to clean up.  😛

SO now…. for my winners!  Using random.org, here are the winners of the packages:

Package 1 goes to:  Kaye (comment #61)

 

Package #2 goes to Julie at Read Handed

 

Package #3:  A Book Dragon’s Lair

 

Package #4:  Lydia from The Lost Entwife

 

The $10 Amazon Gift Card:  Joan (comment #45)

 

Congratulations everyone!  As soon as I have your addresses I will be able to mail out – email me at

journeythroughbooks @gmail.com

 

Ok, now that the business portion of this morning post is done I do have a picture – yes, one picture (so unlike me) for Alyce’s Saturday Snapshots.  This one I took the other day while sitting outside on the deck with a friend and my to dogs…. we were sitting in the tall chairs at the tall table and Bailey, decided to climb up on the deck table… while that was shocking enough, Sam… climbed from the deck, to the table, to the chair, leaped up on the deck railing and sat there…. like a cat.  😯

Be sure to stop by Saturday Snapshots at At Home with Books to see what other people are taking pictures of!

One last little “housekeeping” item… I am running a blog survey this week (see upper right side bar) and I would love it if you could take a minute or two to give me some feedback.  Next week after it is complete I will post the results and offer up a $10 gift card to one of the participants in this survey.  😀

Enjoy your Saturday, I am about to write a guest post for a friend and a post for later today…. then… I think I will be outside – it is gorgeous out today and I want to take full advantage!

Blogiversary!!!!!!! Year Three – And You Get The Gifts!!!

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)232 Comments

Woo hoo!!!!I have officially hit the year three mark, as of June 9th I have been book blogging/reviewing/chatting/gushing for three years!  THREE YEARS!!!

When I started blogging I had no idea it would one day lead me to:

  • Not one, not two, but three trips (so far!) to New York to the Book Expo!

  • I would not only make great friends who love books as much as I do – but in some cases I was able to meet them!

  • Writing reviews for a local magazine

  • Connecting with our local library

  • and stretch my reading palate to try books I never thought I would enjoy and found out in many cases I did!  😛

I can hardly remember what life was like before I started writing posts (this one by the way is number 2,192!)

For those of you who have come to my party last year or the year before, the basics are pretty much the same… to be entered for the great giveaways (pictured below), simply leave me a comment here telling me how you traveled to the party, and what virtual gift or food item you brought with you:  For example, you may have rode a pogo stick to the party and brought with you jalapeno poppers laced with jumping beans… (really be as crazy as you want… I love the fun imaginative comments!) For a little bonus if you would like to share how long we have known each other (blog or otherwise) and if you are brand new to the house of Book Journey – feel free to share that too!  I love new friends!  😀

My party will go for 24 hours so this post will go up at 12:01 am on June 15th (central time) and stay up until midnight.  Every comment will be entered into the random drawings and winners (using random.org)will be announced here on Saturday morning.

Here is what I will draw winners for:

*Personal thank you to publishers who gave me copies of these books to give away for this event.

One more “bonus” side giveaway – you will see on my right sidebar that I have a Book Journey survey going on.  This is a quick survey to help me analyze what you like or what brings you to Book Journey.  If you would be so kind as to take a couple of minutes and fill out the survey for me, it will assist me to be a better blogger.  😀  This survey will be up for one week and then I will draw from the participants a winner for an Amazon gift card.

Thank you readers of Book Journey –  You make me smile with your comments, nod in understanding, and occasionally I laugh (snort) out loud.  I am so appreciative of all of you!!!

Let’s get this party started!!!!  I hear knocking at the door… who could it be….

*opening the door – look of surprise!*