In My Mailbox #4

Butterflies, by Susanne Gervay.

Coping with severe burns, the hospital and doctors is not easy when all you want to do is be a teenage girl.

Katherine was severely burnt in an accident when she was two years old. Now 17, she lives with her mother and 22 year-old sister. Their father left the family when they were very young. Katherine still needs regular skin grafts.

This is a moving and well-written tale of emotional and physical damage and Katherine′s need to overcome her fears. It is a positive story of individual strength and family love. Whether a person is physically damaged or ′perfectly normal′ life still has to be lived and the story of Katherine and her friends relates to all teenagers.

That's Why I Wrote This Song, by Susanne Gervay.

'That's Why I Wrote This Song' is the journey of four sixteen-seventeen year old girls and their relationships with their fathers - the good, the bad and the PSYCHO - and how that impacts on their relationships with boys, each other and their lives.

thanks susanne for sending me these two awesome books!
can't wait to read them.
susanne's an aussie author, and this is why i wrote this song will be reviewed here in feb.
stay tuned!

**IMM is a weekly event hosted by The Story Siren, and inspired by Alea, of Pop Culture Junkie**

Welcome To The Clock Monkey's Aussie Month!

First of all, I have to thank Hazel Edwards and Ryan Kennedy. It's because of them that I was able to put together this month, to feature these amazing authors, books and bloggers.

When I got Hazel's email, I had to double check, to see if it was really addressed to me, maybe she'd gotten a wrong address... I'd contacted her, but I wasn't expecting her to reply so soon. But when I realised that she had emailed me, I was thrilled. Thrilled because they (Hazel and Ryan) were willing to do an interview for my blog. My blog! I've been blogging for almost a year, but I still don't have as many readers/followers as some other blogs that are newer than mine.

So, we had the interview via email. And when it was finished, I posted it here. And I'll be posting it again this month. It's a really good one, about how to write between 2 people.

And then, I started getting more emails from other Aussie authors. They were all willing to do an interview. So, that's when I came up with the Aussie Month. I figured it'd be cool to feature them all in a special time.

I also asked some bloggers if they'd be up for it. And they said yes!

It's very nice to learn new things about other countries. And I think it's of the utmost importance to acknowledge those authors that are just as big as some US authors, but that don't get that much press outside their country.

Therefore, this month is to do just that, learn new things about this really cool county that is Australia.

If any of you, AU Authors, would like to have me over, for a few weeks... I'd love to go :) (but 1st, I'd have to get the money to do it).

Aussie Month Calendar

Feb 1st: Welcome to The Clock Monkey's Aussie Month! (Introductory Post)

Feb 2nd: Author Interview: Kim Miller

Feb 5th: Blogger Interview: Holly Taylor

Feb 7th: Book Review: Tomorrow, When The War Began, by John Marsden (EBook Giveaway)

Feb 9th: Aussie Author Challenge

Feb 12th: Author Interview: Goldie Alexander

Feb 13th: Author Interview: Ryan Kennedy & Hazel Edwards

Feb 14th: Happy Birthday Pretty Book! (Aussie Edition)

Feb 16th: Blogger Interview: Steph Bowe

Feb 18th: Author Interview: Chrissie Michaels

Feb 20th: Author Interview: George Ivanoff (Book Giveaway for Gamers' Quest - International)

Feb 23rd: Book Review: That's Why I Wrote This Song, by Susanne Gervay (Lyrics by Tory Gervay) *Updated: Book Giveaway - International*

Feb 25th: Featured Author: Meryl Brown Tobin (Review by Chrissie Michaels; Poem by Meryl Brown Tobin)

Feb 27th: Author Guest Post: Laurine Croasdale *Updated: International Giveaway: SURF SCHOOL AND SURF SISTERS!*

Feb 28th: Author Guest Post: Kate Forsyth

**This list is submitted to changes during the month of February. There may be more things to add, or take.**

Remember, this is a month to expand our horizons, go beyond what we normally read.
Let's support non-American Authors as well as we support those that are Americans.
These authors have a lot to share with us, and I've asked them to recommend some fellow AU Authors, to help us find new and exciting stories.
So, help me spread the word! Tell everyone that Aussie Month is coming to TCM!

Waiting on Wednesday #7

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking The Spine

Radiance by Alyson Noel

Release: August 31, 2010

Synopsis: Welcome to the Here and Now

Riley Bloom left her sister, Ever, in the world of the living and crossed the bridge into the afterlife—a place called Here, where time is always Now. Riley and her dog, Buttercup, have been reunited with her parents and are just settling into a nice, relaxing death when she’s summoned before The Council. They let her in on a secret—the afterlife isn’t just an eternity of leisure; Riley has to work. She’s been assigned a job, Soul Catcher, and a teacher, Bodhi, a curious boy she can’t quite figure out.

Riley, Bodhi, and Buttercup return to earth for her first assignment, a Radiant Boy who’s been haunting a castle in England for centuries. Many Soul Catchers have tried to get him to cross the bridge and failed. But he’s never met Riley. . . .

I'm going to read Evermore as a part of the Read Your Name Challenge,
and this one sounds just amazing.

Aussie Month in February! Will you be here?

I'm really excited to be posting this,
I didn't want to until I was sure I had enough authors/bloggers on board.

But, here I am now, and I couldn't be happier!
College is just around the corner for me (school year starts in Feb/March for some, and ends in Dec, unlike in the North, but like in the place I'm featuring next month!), and this looks like a promising month for me.

Now, Aussie Month will officially kick off on Feb 1st, but I'm just so happy, I had to let you guys know in advance!

On Feb 1st, I'll be posting an Introductory Post about how this all started, and what's going to be happening around here for the month of February. How does that sound?

We'll be having:
Interviews,
Guest Posts,
Reviews,
Contests,
and more!

So, if you're an Aussie Blogger or Author, if you have a review for an Aussie book you'd like to share, or anything related to Australia (doesn't have to be book-related),
leave a comment and we'll get in touch!

If any Aussie Author reads this, and would like to be featured/donate a book for a giveaway, email me. My email address is on the right sidebar.

Review: Purple Hibiscus, by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Summary (from Amazon):

Fifteen-year-old Kambili is the dutiful and self-effacing daughter of a rich man, a religious fanatic and domestic tyrant whose public image is of a politically courageous newspaper publisher and philanthropist. No one in Papa's ancestral village, where he is titled "Omelora" (One Who Does For the Community), knows why Kambili's brother cannot move one of his fingers, nor why her mother keeps losing her pregnancies. When a widowed aunt takes an interest in Kambili, her family begins to unravel and re-form itself in unpredictable ways.

My Opinion:

Amazing book.
Really, this is a must read for everyone.

To read a story like this, told from the POV of an innocent 15-year-old Nigerian girl, is a strong and powerful experience.

I feel like I'm not doing this book justice with this review, but I'll try.

Imagine if your world consisted of doing what your told, no matter how dumb, and thinking it's the right thing to do. And it's right because He says so.
Imagine having to live by a schedule on a daily basis, with hours for study, and family hours. Everything organised, right?
But what about your freedom? Freedom of speech, of action.

This is the life of 15-year-old Kambili (Káhm-bili not Kahmbí-li). She thinks she's doing what God has planned for her, and what will make her Father proud. Never taking herself into consideration, but it's not like we can blame her. She knows no other way of living. That is until she goes to Nsukka to spend a few days with her Aunt Ifeoma.

Spending five days away from home can make all the difference in the world. Now Kambili is learning that there's more to life than picking out an English name for your Confirmation. Knows that there are things her Father is the only one to blame. And not even his acts of charity can make up for what he's done. Because what father punches her child to the verge of leaving her half-dead?

With the help and guidance of her Aunt Ifeoma, Kambili and her brother Jaja begin to accept that it's time to make a better life for themselves and their mother.

Monkey Rating: 4 and 1/2 Monkeys!

Chimamanda's Official Website.
Click on the Book Cover to go to its Amazon Page.

In My Mailbox #3

the betrayal of natalie hargrove, by lauren kate (paperback).
thanks to Ivana for having hosted the GA in which i won this!
and thanks to lauren for having signed it!
can't wait to start reading this!

beautiful, by amy reed (hardcover).

i actually already posted about this book, but i thought it deserved to be in a proper IMM post.
thanks to the YA Highway for having hosted the GA in which i won this!

that's all for now.
what'd you guys get?

**IMM is a weekly event hosted by The Story Siren, and inspired by Alea, of Pop Culture Junkie**

cool



		I will marry Lucas Scott.
		After a wild honeymoon, We will settle down in Gatlin in our fabulous Mansion.
		We will have 4 kid(s) together.
		Our family will zoom around in a green Comet.
		I will spend my days as a novelist, and live happily ever after.

proof

The Book Depository, you are not my friend.
i do not like you right now.
why don't you have arg in that list too?
you'd make more money, and more people happy.
please consider this, ok?
thanks.
until then...

The Body Finder Trailer and Contest!

what an awesome trailer! i really, really wanna read this! (look over to my left sidebar, you'll notice something there)

kimberly's holding a great contest over at her blog. you can win one of TWO SIGNED arcs! double chance to win and it's open INTERNATIONALLY!

don't miss this chance to win one of the most anticipated YA books of 2010!

Read Your Name Challenge 2010

i'm joining this, where the challenge is to read your name in book title first letters, ultimately spelling out your name.

here i'll list the books i'll be reading/have read during the challenge.

i hope i finish it, because last time i didn't.
#challengefail

The challenge runs from Jan. 1st 2010, to Dec. 31st 2010. You may join at any time.

E: Evermore, Alyson Noël.
L: Looking for Alaska, John Green.
L: Love You, Hate You, Miss You, Elizabeth Scott.
A: Abarat (Book 1), Clive Barker.

(list may change during the course of the challenge)

i'm only reading 4 because i'm lazy/won't have much time when i start uni.

(thanks to @typesetjez for helping me pick these books! thanks to Shweta for pointing out that LY,HY,MY is by ES)

Nissan launches sports car 370Z in India, priced at Rs 53.5 to 54.5 Lacs - Nissan 370Z Pics, Photos, Images

Nissan finally launch its worldwide hit sports car "370Z" in India on Wednesday, 20th January, 2010. Nissan is one of the most loved and award winning sports car since its launch in 2009. Nissan 370Z will be available in 8 colours with 2 interiors option in India. Nissan 370 Z launched with 7-speed auto box and a 6-speed manual gearbox.

Nissan 370Z Price in India:

7-speed Auto Box - Rs. 54.5 Lakhs
6-speed Manual - Rs. 53.5 Lakhs

Nissan 370Z Photos:

in times like these, i do not like living in argentina

because it takes forever for the most awesome of books to get here! (according to some great book bloggers)
publishers: latin america exists too!

courtney summers (cracked up to be & some girls are) has just tweeted that she's releasing 2 more books. i've still to read the first two, which are not available in argentina. and it's not like i can buy them on amazon. i'm poor, people!
and i need to save for my new camera/uni (inclining toward the camera...). 1 north american dollar= 3,50 (maybe more) arg pesos. so if CUTB is worth 8,95 on B&N, to me it's 31, something + shipping. not good for my pocket.

if you are cool like i think you are, you'll let me borrow your copies of courtney's books.
i promise you'll get them back ^-^
maybe ¬¬
-

Nissan 370Z Photos | Nissan 370 Z Sports Car Pictures, Price | 370Z Images, Pics

Nissan India is going to launch its world wide famous and hot selling sports car "370Z" on Wednesday, 20th January, 2010. Nissan is launching 370Z to build brand image before launching its small car Micra later this year.

Nissan 370Z Interiors: