Read-a-thon Begins

Time to start reading.
Here is my introduction meme:

1)Where are you reading from today?  Albany, Western Australia
2)Three random facts about me…  a) I like eating raw broccoli,  b) I have left my home state c) I don't have a favourite colour.
3)How many books do you have in your TBR pile for the next 24 hours? Ten, but I know I won't get through all of them
4)Do you have any goals for the read-a-thon (i.e. number of books, number of pages, number of hours, or number of comments on blogs)? I am aiming on finishing three books
5)If you’re a veteran read-a-thoner, any advice for people doing this for the first time? This is my first read-a-thon.

Happy reading everyone!

Read-A-Thon Reading List

I think I have decided on my reading list for the Read-a-thon this weekend.
My choices are.

• The Hunger Games Trilogy - Suzanne Collins
• Blackthorn - Elizabeth Pulford
• Blackthorn's Betrayal - Elizabeth Pulford
• The Marvelous Land of OZ (Graphic Novel)
• Wonderstruck - Brian Selznick
• The Ask and the Answer - Patrick Ness
• Monsters of Men - Patrick Ness
• Sleight of Hand - Peter S. Beagle
• Mirror Kingdoms - Peter S. Beagle
• Singer of the Bush - A.B. 'Banjo' Patterson
• Song of the Pen - A.B. 'Banjo' Patterson

That will be more than enough to last me 24 hours. I am not a very fast reader and I know there is no way I will get through this many books in 24 hours but it will give me a variety of books to choose from.

Dewey's 24 Hour Read-a-Thon 2011

I have cleared my 'busy' holiday schedule on October 22nd to participate in Dewey's 24-hour read-a-thon. This is my first time participating in such and event so it shall be interesting to see how I go. To join in the fun just visit Dewey's read-a-thon.  Happy Reading!

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

Title:               Daughter of Smoke and Bone
Author:           Laini Taylor
ISBN:              9781444722635
Publisher:       Hodder & Stoughton
Published:      2011
Age Group:    Young Adult


Synopsis:

Around the world, black hand prints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.

In a dark and dusty shop, a devil's supply of human teeth grown dangerously low.

And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherwordly war.

Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real; she's prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands"; she speaks many languages--not all of them human; and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she's about to find out.

When one of the strangers--beautiful, haunted Akiva--fixes his fire-colored eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?

My Thoughts:

This book should have come with a warning, some thing along the lines of... NOT SUITABLE FOR LUNCH BREAK READING!  I like to read on my lunch breaks and I literally had to claw my way out of the pages to return to work. It really is that good!

Laini Taylor is not just a writer, she is indeed a story teller. She weaves a world so wonderfully atmospheric that you actually do believe you are standing on a bridge in Prague with an angel. The descriptions are outstanding and the characters are very well written.


Overall it was a well paced novel which was very hard to put down, full of mystery and passion. Easily the best book I have read this year, it has left me eagerly awaiting to find out what happens next.

Alex & Me by Irene M Pepperberg

Title:               Alex & Me
Author:           Irene M Pepperberg
ISBN:              9781921372728
Publisher:       Scribe Publications
Published:      2008

Genre:             Non-Fiction

Synopsis:

On September 6, 2007, an African Grey parrot named Alex died prematurely at age thirty-one. His last words to his owner, Irene Pepperberg, were "You be good. I love you."
What would normally be a quiet, very private event was, in Alex's case, headline news. Over the thirty years they had worked together, Alex and Irene had become famous—two pioneers who opened an unprecedented window into the hidden yet vast world of animal minds. Alex's brain was the size of a shelled walnut, and when Irene and Alex first met, birds were not believed to possess any potential for language, consciousness, or anything remotely comparable to human intelligence. Yet, over the years, Alex proved many things. He could add. He could sound out words. He understood concepts like bigger, smaller, more, fewer, and none. He was capable of thought and intention. Together, Alex and Irene uncovered a startling reality: We live in a world populated by thinking, conscious creatures.

My Thoughts:

Being an animal lover and a bird owner I could not resist this book. Irene presents us with undeniable data that humans and primates are not the only intelligent creatures (which all animal lovers are already aware of.) She also gives us a fascinating insight into, what I imagine, is only a fraction of the hard work, dedication and set backs that such research involves.
Irene's commitment to her research and to Alex was truly inspiring, many people in a similar situation would have given up.
A remarkable and inspiring read that leaves you wondering what the household pet or even the birds in your garden are really thinking and what they would say if they could talk. A must read for any animal lover. 

Blood Red Road by Moira Young

Title:               Blood Red Road
Author:           Moira Young
ISBN:              9781407124254
Publisher:       Marion Lloyd Books
Published:      2011
Age Group:    Young Adult


Synopsis:

In a lawless future land, where life is cheap and survival is hard, Saba has been brought up in isolated Silverlake. She never sees the dangers of the destructive society outside. When her twin brother is snatched by mysterious black-robed riders, she sets out on an epic quest to rescue him. 


My Thoughts:

Blood Red Road is a fast paced, action packed adventure. Saba's world has been turned upside down and is falling apart and she is determined to do whatever it takes to make things right, no matter what the cost. 
This is a book that is more about the journey than the destination. It was a delight to watch the characters grow and change as they struggled to overcome the obstacles that stood in their way, particularly Saba and her little sister Emmi. At the beginning of the book they are constantly fighting, as siblings do, but as the story progresses they learn that without each other they would be lost.
The unusual writing style does take a bit to get used to but I found it only enhanced the experience and added depth to the characters and world in general.
The storyline left a lot of unanswered questions, which has paved the way for the sequel.

The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh

Title:             The Language of Flowers
Author:         Vanessa Diffenbaugh
ISBN:             9780345525543
Published:      2011

Synopsis:   

The Victorian language of flowers was used to express emotions: honeysuckle for devotion, azaleas for passion, and red roses for love. But for Victoria Jones, it has been more useful in communicating feelings like grief, mistrust and solitude. After a childhood spent in the foster care system, she is unable to get close to anybody, and her only connection to the world is through flowers and their meanings. Now eighteen, Victoria has nowhere to go, and sleeps in a public park, where she plants a small garden of her own. When her talent is discovered by a local florist, she discovers her gift for helping others through the flowers she chooses for them. But it takes meeting a mysterious vendor at the flower market for her to realise what's been missing in her own life, and as she starts to fall for him, she's forced to confront a painful secret from her past, and decide whether it's worth risking everything for a second chance at happiness. 

My Thoughts:

I want to start by saying this is not the type of book that I normally read, I picked it up on a recommendation. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book.  It was interesting to discover the meanings behind the flowers and it made me wonder if people would chose their flowers differently if they knew the meanings. The novel is very well written, I really enjoyed the gradual insights into Victoria's past.
I found the pace to be a bit slow for my liking, therefore taking me longer to finish it than I would have liked, but it was definitely worth taking the time to finish.