REVIEW COPY CLEANUP MONTH
So, it is August and a few days ago I signed up to the Review Copy Cleanup – which is where I intend to read the books and provide a review for the books I have been supplied and/or sent.
This is my first attempt at this so to be honest I am not sure to how far I will actually get.
All of my books that I got are eBooks so I am unable to post a combined picture, however these are the books I hope to get through:
- Destiny’s Kingdom: Legend of the Chosen by Jennifer Selzer and Daniel Huber
- Rare Birds by Dan Bessie
- She Wulf by Sheryl Steins
- From Berkeley with Love by Hamilton Waymire
A MONTH OF READING: JULY
Hello readers, subscribers and newbies – it is that time again.
I; for some reason and surprise was amazed that as far as completed books this month. I read a lot. More than usual.
Maybe it is because I feel more relaxed at home, maybe it is having Bernard*, maybe it is because I have gotten into watching booktubers and starting one myself, maybe its been sparked by being able to not put down God Save The Queen by Kate Locke or because I finally got hold of Adam Wallace’s book… maybe it is all of these, whatever the reason, I am glad and hope it never ends.
Books Bought:
- Pete McGee Dwan of the Zombie Knights by Adam Wallace
- The Incendiary’s Trial by James McCreet
- The Accidental Werewolf by Dakota Cassidy
- Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy
- Skulduggery Pleasant: Playing with Fire by Derek Landy
- God Save The Queen by Kate Locke
- The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
- Hogfather by Terry Pratchett
- Small Gods by Terry Pratchett
- Tiger’s Voyage by Colleen Houck
eBooks:
Brought:
- So You Want To Be A Librarian by Lauren Pressley
- Daily Life in Victorian London by Lee Jackson
- Virdis – A Steampunk Romance and Mystery by Cakista Taylor (free)
- Planet Word – JP Davidson, forward by Stephen Fry
- Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare
- Here Comes The Sun by Tom Holt
- The Lunar Chronicles: Cinder by Marissa Meyer
- Mrs. Dalloway and To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf
- The Wandering Earth by Liu Cixin (free)
- Animal Farm by George Orwell
- The Devils Pirate by Matt Tomerlin (free)
Public Access (Free):
- Laughter: An Essay
- How to Analyze People on Sight by Elsie Lincoln Benedict and Ralph Paine Benedict
- The Customs of Old England by F. J. Snell
- The History of England in Three Volumes, Vol.I., Part D. by David Hume
- Samuel Clemente Presents: Prerequisite Droppings (Comedic Essays)
- The Book of Biff #1 Target Practice
- The Best of Pointless Conversations
- The First Completely Electronic Robot and Science Fiction Limerick Book
- Railroad! Volume One:Rodger Dodger (a steampunk western)
- Eve of Destruction (The Chronicles of Eve)
- City of Darkness (City of Mystery)
- Memoirs of the Courts of Louis XV by Madame Du Hausset and Princess Lamballe
- Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
- Legon Awakening by Nicholas Taylor
- Clockwork Blue by Gloria Harchar
Received for Review:
- Rare Birds by Dan Bessie
- From Berkeley with Love by Hamilton Waymire
- She Wulf by Sheryl Steines
Magazines/Zines:
- Kill Your Darlings #10
- Fortean Times
Gifted:
- Nil
Borrowed:
- The Tin Princess by Phillip Pullman
- Conspiracy 365: January by Gabrielle Lord
- Oscar Wilde and the Vatican Murders by Gyles Brandreth
- Duke of Hazard: The Wit and Wisdom of Prince Phillip by Phil Dampier and Ashley Walton
- The Cambridge Companion to Oscar Wilde edited by Peter Raby
- The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick
Books Read:
- Steampunk Tales – Issue #1
- Writing Steampunk by Beth Daniels
- God Save The Queen by Kate Locke
- There’s A Human in My Closet (Undead Zed, #1) by Ryan Leach
- Pete McGee Dawn of the Zombie Knights by Adam Wallace
- The Best of Pointless Conversations by Scott Tierney
- ALIA inCite, Volume 33, Issue 1/2
- ALIA inCite, Volume 33, Issue 3
- ALIA inCite, Volume 33, Issue 4
- ALIA inCite, Volume 33, Issue 5
- ALIA inCite, Volume 33, Issue 6
- ALIA inCite, Volume 33, Issue 7
- The Book of Biff #1 Target Practice by Chris Hallbeck
Currently Reading:
- Sherlock Holmes: The Steampunk Detectives by
- Changeless by Gail Carriger
- The Tin Princess by Phillip Pullman
- Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy
- Duke of Hazard edited by Phil Damiper and Ashley Walton
- The Life of a Teenage Body-Shatcher by Doug MacLeod
On Hold
- The Clash of Kings by George R. R. Martin
As for today. It is a new month and I am so looking forward to reading some of these books.
*Bernard is My Kindle Touch’s name.
GIMME BRAINS, AND A COPY OF PETE MCGEE
For everyone who gets up and fights on, no matter how many times they are knocked down.
That dedication sets the tone and theme for the novel. This sets us up on the continuing journey of Pete McGee – the one armed boy who wants nothing more to be a knight.
I have been waiting for this book to come out since the start of the year – since the author, Adam Wallace; got overly excited for it as well.
This story tells of Pete McGee’s training for becoming a knight.
I can really relate to Pete as I have use of only one arm and felt myself wishing I had this book back in April when I was going a hard-patch and not feeling the best.
Pete has a quality that I see in myself and my best friend – reliance. No matter what he he is faced with he continues to overcome them, successfully.
However there is a few undead creatures that want to stop him, will Pete succeed when it seems that there is no hope at all?
I read this book in 2 days and even though it is Primary School based literature I loved it, even more than the second one.
FIFTY SHADES OF TWILIGHT
Is it just me or does the world of literature seem to be turning towards mass popularity rather than quality? I am not saying that is bad, or that some people would not enjoy it and in fact it might get them reading but I apply the theory ‘just because it is popular doesn’t mean it is any good’. This is why I won’t read the Fifty Shades or Twilight series.
I did attempt to read Twilight but wanted to throw it at the wall after three pages. 
I have only recently become a reader of paranormal stuff so I will use my friend, who reads a lot more fantasy than me as a basis, she would not read the books. Her main reasoning being because “VAMPIRE’S DON’T SPARKLE!.”
As you know I am not a huge fan of romance being the main theme of the book; as a side theme sure but not main.
As for Fifty Shades of Grey I read chapter one free off some website and knew if I would read anymore I may not have any teeth left due to all the grittish cringing I would be doing.
This book has been brought up a few times in my library class – my shock was that some of them weren’t sure what it was about, and than when they found out what it is they squirmed in their seats as this is becoming acceptable.
In an age were sex is considered normal at an earlier age and that we are living in a more sexualised world – why is this book seen as taboo? We all accept that men want to go out and read porn mags under the cover so, why is it suddenly shock horror that a woman is reading erotic?
I haven’t even mention that all these women are reading fan fiction – as that is what 50 Shades started out as. Fan fiction.
I looked up the series on my library catalogue and these are the statistics, current at time of post:
Books
Fifty Shades – 22 copies with 61 reserves
Fifty Darker – 12 copies with 6 reserves
Fifty Freed – 14 copies with 3 reserves
Audiobooks
Fifty Shades – 4 copies with 5 reserves
Fifty Darker – 4 copies with 1 reserve
Fifty Freed – 4 copeis with no reserves, 3 out on loan currently
Whether you want to read it or not it is up to you – I just won’t be doing it anytime soon I just have one comment, I don’t see what all the fuss is about.
REVIEW: GOD SAVE THE QUEEN
This debut novel was one of the first ebooks I brought for my new Kindle Touch and since the first page I was hooked. I have been unable to concentrate on another book because I have just been wanting to know what happens in the book.
Book One of the Immortal Empire Series
Blood. Bloomers. Bedlam.
Click-through to Kate’s site
The Victorian Era never ended. It’s 2012 and her Ensanguined Majesty is still on the throne, the vampire ruler of the British Empire. There are werewolves too. And Goblins. All brought about by mutations caused by the plague.
Xandra Vardan is a half-blood, the daughter of a vampire and a human courtesan. A member of the Royal Guard, she’s supposed to keep the aristocrats (those of plagued blood) safe… Xandra stumbles upon a secret that not only changes her life forever, but just might end it if she’s not careful.
And just what’s going on at Bedlam Asylum for the Insane?
I am in love with the female lead – Xanda, so much so that I WANT to be her. She is sexy, sassy and when her family is in morning for her sister she trusts her gut and goes sniffing….
The lead male, who takes quite a shine to Xanda is amusing and is loveable as a delightful warewolf called Vex.
For anyone who loves steampunk and mystery this is a winner. If you liked Gail Carriger than I am sure you would like it. I wish that the 2nd book was out sooner – however I know that it will make me want to read it as soon as it arrives in the post.
CHILDHOOD MEMORIES: DOGS
On the subject that started Monday called; Plan & Develop Activities, Events and Programs we had to think back to when we were a child and what was the first book that we remember having and what were our experiences with books when we were younger. Calling on my mother I was given a one word answer, however later that night I remembered three other man’s best friend that I found adorable when I was younger – and still do when reminiscing. So here are the dogs that shaped my childhood.
Spot The Dog
Remember that yellow playful puppy? Who went on adventures and had friends that were a monkey, crocodile, hippo and many more. These 
lovable characters were created by Eric Hill, a recipient of the O.B.E. for contributions to children’s literature in 2008. Spot debuted in 1980 with the book; “Where’s Spot?”. The concept was inspired by watching his son react to an ad on the TV when a flap revealed a funny picture. Spot is intended to be any type of dog but from the way he is drawn it is speculated that he is a beagle puppy.
This lovable pup has been translated into 60+ languages.
Spot has also been made into an animation series called The Adventures of Spot. It is inportant to know that Eric Hill still oversee’s all the steps of production of any book, cd or TV programme.
Harry the Dirty Dog
This book about a dog that gets mistaken because he is dirty and isn’t reckoned by his family was also one of my must have’s as a child. He was 
the creation of Gene Zion.
Hairy Maclary
The hero black dog created by Lynley Dodd. Hairy made his first appearence in 1983 with the tale Hairy Maclary from Donaldson’s Dairy – in which was somewhere were I always wanted to visit.
Hairy has the characteristics of a small terrier and having a silky called Digby I am 100% sure this to be true.
There were more dogs that featured in this book and the one I remember was Bitzen Marloney – all skinny and boney… my grandfather also trained greyhounds so of course I would love that type of dog.
These books were the first rhyming books that I en-counted.
GEEK MOOK LAUNCH
It isn’t no surprise that I am going to this event, so a shameless plugs isn’t going to hurt anyone.
Cover
Next Friday at Bella Union is the launch of the Geek Mook!
What is A Mook?
A mook is a cross between a magazine and a book.
You can find the Facebook event here: Geek Mook!
It is at 6:30!
SO WHAT IS IT WITH THE PUBLIC DOMAIN?
After getting a Kindle Touch last week and falling in love with it I became more aware of what ‘public domain’ means in the way of eBooks. Being a librarian I guess I should already know about this – however now is better then never to learn about it.
So what does public domain actually mean?
Public domain = free, basically.
Let me explain public domain happens when the intellectual property rights have expired, been forfeited or are not-applicable. This means that the item in question (lets say Oscar Wilde) is available free of charge and are therefore public domain. Depending on what country you are in will depend on the time that the work becomes pubic domain.
Prior to 2006 in Australia there was the benchmark of plus 50; which means that a work becomes public domain 50 years after the author’s death. The amendment was made to extend it by 20 years – this brought us level to European standards.
Interestingly through research and by going onto Public Domain Day – I found out that NOTHING in the United States is entering the public domain until 2019. Click picture below to get the legibility version.
Years till Out of Date
There are dozens of free websites that you can download public domain books from. There have also been organizations set up to manage the vast-ever increasing amount of books that become public access each year.
The most notable one would be Project Gutenberg It was established in 1971 and has over 39,000 works published in multiple languages. It is the oldest digital library. Project Gutenberg Australia is the Australian branch of it.
Some authors that are in the public domain are:
- Jane Austen
- Charlotte and Emily Bronte
- Lewis Carroll
- Charles Dickens
- Sir Arthur Conan Doyle – one of my favourites
- Brothers Grimm
- H. G Wells
- James Joyce – entered this year into the domain
- Edgar Allen Poe
- Shakespeare
- Mary Shelley
- Mark Twain
- Oscar Wilde
- Charles Darwin
- Virgina Woolf – another one that entered this year
- Bertrand Russell
AUSTRALIAN WOMEN’S WRITERS CHALLENGE
So I found this challenge for anyone to read 3 or more Australian Women writers in a particular genre in 2012.
So here is mine; I am going to read 3 books in the relem of SiFi/Fantasy.
First is by a woman with the same first name as me – and that is a novelty.
Tansy Reynor Roberts
Library Geek Girl 