And don't forget to enter my SURF contest to win Surf School AND Surf Sisters by Aussie author Laurine Croasdale. This contest is open internationally and ends on Mar 31st.
Rebel without a cause. Except there is always a cause.
And the questions:
WHY AM I HERE? WHAT IS THE MEANING OF LIFE? GUYS? GIRLS? HOPE? and FATHERS?
And it's there throughout the book, the songs, the video.
'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.
Something for Kate concert'That's Why I Wrote This Song' is about dependence-independence, guys, friendship, sexuality, mothers and daughters and the music:
* Rock concerts * Big Day Out * Weekend music festivals * The rock band with the four girls and * Eddie and their band called NOT PERFECT
NOT PERFECT - Hey, that's life, isn't it?
My Opinion: When Susanne asked me if I'd be willing to read and review her book, I said yes right away. I had no idea I'd love her book so much.
"Hope you love this book." I certainly did :) (Damn rain!!!)
This story's told from Pip's POV, guitar player, singer, songwriter, and daughter of a Psycho Dad. Gervay does a great job introducing the girls, and I fell in love with all of them straight away.
Pip, Karen, Irina and Angie go to an all-girls school, and together form a band (later called Not Perfect, which is a perfect name for them. Pun not intended.) They all have a solid backstory, and Pip's take on these things makes it completely believable. Plus for Gervay.
Pip comes from a home where her dad's absent (his job often takes him away). When this happens, the sun shines in Pip's home. But it goes away the minute her father walks into the house. Constant yelling, arguments and fear invade the house, and all everyone wants is for their dad to go back to work. Not her mother, though. She goes into an automat state, making sure everything is spick and span, and perfect for her husband's arrival. Which, of course, puts them all into a cleaning frenzy. Dad gets home, and hell breaks loose. Nothing Pip's mum does is right. There's always something wrong.
Karen comes from an even more broken family. With no real home, her mum has chosen her new boyfriend over her, and her dad his new wife. Karen's dad is the real Psycho Dad, angry and violent toward her all the time.
Irina's from a Russian family who moved to Australia to escape Russia's coldness, in every sense of the word. Her family's Jewish, and living in a country where you can't express your religion openly can be tough. More so if you're six years old, with no clue as to why that other kid just threw a rock at you, and is calling you names that make you cry.
Angie is the only daughter of her parents and lives a happy life. Happy until she discovers a secrer her father's been keeping from her, a secret that shatters her perfect life.
In Gervay's words: Life isn't perfect.
What brings them all together is their love for MUSIC.
After being asked by their Music teacher to perform at the school's Music Concert, Not Perfect is born. The band was always there, but naming it brings the girls closer together. Music is their escape from the dramas of life. Sometimes the only escape they have.
Gervay does a wonderful job describing every girl's emotions through Pip's eyes.
Why do I love this book? Because I can relate to these girls. I feel them as if they were real. Another plus for Susanne.
A whirlwind of real emotions with real foundations, and great story-telling make this book amazing. If I get to choose between a Coming-Of-Age book and a Paranormal book, I choose the Paranormal, so it's a big deal that I'm saying this.
"Psycho Dad"'s Lyrics and Video Clip You do NOT want to miss this!
Kudos to Tory for writing such a beautiful and heartfelt song! Listening to it makes me love the book even more!
Verse 1 -
All of the times I cried I wish you'd just die Shouting and all the rest But now I have learned best What you did was wrong That's why I wrote this song So maybe you would see Just what you have done to me
Chorus -
Cause I don't want you And I don't need you You were so bad You are my psycho dad
Verse 2 -
You call me all the time You won't give us a dime I can't believe this is real The way you made me feel You have your new wife And your new life My eyes are getting sore So just walk out that door
Chorus -
Cause I don't want you And I don't need you Your life is so sad You are a psycho dad
Cause I don't want you And I don't need you Your life is so sad You are a psycho dad
Middle 8 -
I (I) really (really) don't know how (don't know how) But I (But I) know I (know I) Hate you so much now
I (I) really (really) don't know how (don't know how) But I (But I) know I (know I) Hate you so much now
Verse 3 -
You made me feel always scared I knew you never cared You left me all broken and scarred And made our life so hard I've got my family And I hope you can see That I don't want you around I've got my feet on the ground
Chorus -
Cause I don't want you And I don't need you You are so mad You are no one's psycho dad
Cause I don't want you And I don't need you You are so mad You are no one's psycho dad
Outro -
No one's psycho dad No one's psycho dad No one's psycho dad No one's psycho dad
Susanne has agreed to let me host a Giveaway for That's Why I Wrote This Song, and it's open Internationally!
To Enter: Just leave a comment with your name and e-mail. -> 1 Entry.
Extra Entries: Tell us how you'd name your band, and why. For this you get 5 Entries! 1 Entry for Tweeting (leave link). 1 Entry for Linking on Sidebar (leave link).
The Giveaway will end on March 14th. That's 3 weeks from today. Spread the word, and good luck!
In Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver, Grace and Sam found each other. Now, in Linger, they must fight to be together. For Grace, this means defying her parents and keeping a very dangerous secret about her own well-being. For Sam, this means grappling with his werewolf past . . . and figuring out a way to survive into the future. Add into the mix a new wolf named Cole, whose own past has the potential to destroy the whole pack. And Isabelle, who already lost her brother to the wolves . . . and is nonetheless drawn to Cole.
At turns harrowing and euphoric, Lingeris a spellbinding love story that explores both sides of love -- the light and the dark, the warm and the cold -- in a way you will never forget.
Comes out in stores everywhere July 20th. Pre-order here.
{Of those prizes, TWO of the LINGER ARCs will be eligible for international entries. And ONE of the runner up prizes (t'will be a random selection). Everything else is US/ Canada only.}
I'm giving away 3 copies (that means 3 winners!) of Nicholas Sparks's novel DEAR JOHN, which is a soon-to-be-released major motion picture from Sony Pictures starring Channing Tatum ("G.I. Joe") and Amanda Seyfried ("Mamma Mia"). Coming to theaters just in time for Valentine's day, February 5, 2010. The audiobook edition of DEAR JOHN is read by actor and voiceover artist Holter Graham.
Summary (from hachettebookgroup.com):
An angry rebel, John dropped out of school and enlisted in the Army, not knowing what else to do with his life--until he meets the girl of his dreams, Savannah. Their mutual attraction quickly grows into the kind of love that leaves Savannah waiting for John to finish his tour of duty, and John wanting to settle down with the woman who captured his heart. But 9/11 changes everything. John feels it is his duty to re-enlist. And sadly, the long separation finds Savannah falling in love with someone else.
Doesn't that sound romantic?
Rules:
-Only residents of the U.S. or Canada are eligible to win (i know... :p sorry!).
-No P.O. Boxes.
-Enter by leaving your e-mail address (no e-mail, no entry!)
Extra Entries:
+1 if you start following me
+2 if you follow me already (i <3 you!)
+10 if you enter the Great Kindle Giveaway by following this link!(enter by joining the mailing list)
+2 if you post this on your sidebar, tweet about this, post on facebook, w/e you can think of (leave link for every thing you do! 2 entries for each link!)
Bibliofreak is also holding a HUGE giveaway, THE GREAT KINDLE GIVEAWAY!
Bibliofreak is not just giving away one Kindle, there are 15 of them!*
I've just entered and I'd love it if you entered too! All you have to do is: click here to go to Bibliofreakblog.com and enter! Every time someone enters using the link above, I get a point! So PLEASE use that link!
This GA is open Internationally! Ends Dec 18th
*Bibliofreak's words: "For every $259 I make, I will offer up another Kindle."
Here's what's up for grabs -one lightly used copy of Hush, Hush -one lightly used copy of Evermore ) -one lightly used copy of Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card -one used copy of the City and the Stars by Arthur C. Clark -one lightly used copy of the Over the Holidays -lots of surprise goodies - books and swag and all sorts of things!
You'll be getting a bunch of these bookmarks from Megan herself! ----------------------------- Author Jen Nadol is having her 1st ever ARC giveaway, for her upcoming book, The Mark
Head over to her blog and help her spread the word!
will be posting their Fives (or goals) this week, so stay tuned!
Because of this being the site's launch week, the authors are holding a BIG giveaway in which you can win:
The lucky grand prize winner will win:
A $100 Barnes & Noble gift card (because we know you love books!)
A $100 donation in your name to the non-profit of your choice (because we know you love making a difference!)
And the latest book (or ARC) from each Founding Fiver (that's four signed books!)
That is really cool! Just imagine all the books you could buy with those 100 dollars!
But that's not all!
You can also enter to win the latest book (or ARC) from a Founding Fiver by commenting on her debut Five post this week. Here's the launch week schedule:
** Tuesday - Kay shares her Five ** Wednesday - Alyson shares her Five ** Thursday - Becca shares her Five ** Friday - Tera shares her Five
All winners of the daily contests will be announced on Saturday 29th along with the grand prize winner.
My friend Shesten at IHeartMonster.com, and Book Blather are holding a "Show Your Pandemonium" Contest in honour of Eyes Like Starsby Lisa Mantchevbeing released!
Original Post from IHM.com:
There are two different ways to win this contest: Option 1:Artistic Route This is where you literally get to SHOW us your Pandemonium, Peaseblossom, Cobweb, Moth, and Mustardseed style. What kind of Fairy Havoc can you wreak? Maybe glitter in the lawn? Or cupcake eating contest? What other Fairy Havoc can you dream of? The sky is the limit, just make sure it isn't something illegal! Submissions can be videos, photos, sketches, book cover-art, scene-drawing, poetry, or any other way you can document Fairy Havoc/Pandemonium!
All submissions should be sent to pandemonium@iheartmonster.com. Book Blather and I will pick our favorites and allow Lisa to pick the winner!
Option 2:Commenting, Following, & Sharing For those who don't have an artistic touch, fear not! You'll still have a chance to win by leaving a comment on this entry. You will also earn additional entries for doing the following (be sure to leave a separate comment for each one!)
+1 for commenting with what your fairy name would be if you were able to choose one. +1 for leaving a comment at Book Blather (Mention you've been commenting @ I Heart Monster). +1 for following or already being a follower of mine here at I Heart Monster (RSS subscribers count too!). +1 for following or already being a follower of Book Blather. +1 for linking to this contest on your blog (be sure to leave the link in your comment). +1 for tweeting or mentioning the contest on another social network (again be sure to leave the link or your twitter name, and mention @iheartmonster or @awaitinserenity in your tweet).
Prizes:
*Winner of the the Artistic Route will receive: A hardcover of Eyes Like Stars, Fully Bloomed Necklace by TotusMel, Cobalt Flame Extensions by Kapow Adornments, and a Backstage Pass Bracelet.
*Winner of Commenting, Following, & Sharing will receive: An ARC of Eyes Like Stars, Cobalt Flame Extensions by Kapow Adornments, and a Backstage Pass Bracelet.
(you can go to the original post to take a look at these cool prizes!)
This contest is for US Residents Only. All entries must be received by midnight CST on July 30th. -----------------------------------------------------------
How awesome is that? Even though I cannot enter the contest, I'll try to do something for it! I heart crafting, and taking pics so I'll see what I can do. At least it'll keep me busy when I'm bored (like now).
