Welcome to It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? hosted by Sheila at Book Journey.
Share what you read last week and what you are currently reading.
Now that the weather is nicer I like to get outside more often and that means more time being active and less time sitting down reading. As a result I’ve increased my audiobook listening time and am trying to catch up with the print books I currently have for review.
I participated in the Read-A-Thon Saturday for the first time and it was a great experience and a fun-filled event. I didn’t read as much as I had planned and I guess no one ever does! I got sidetracked by the mini-challenges, the social aspects of the event plus a few real life interruptions.
Finished Listening to Last Week:
I reviewed The Thief by Clive Cussler on Saturday and my reviews for Let’s Pretend This Never Happened and Bossypants will be up this week.
Finished Reading Last Week:
The Bluebird Effect: Uncommon Bonds with Common Birds
by Julie Zickefoose
Julie Zickefoose lives for the moment when a wild, free living bird that she has raised or rehabilitated comes back to visit her; their eyes meet and they share a spark of understanding. Her reward for the grueling work of rescuing birds—such as feeding baby hummingbirds every twenty minutes all day long—is her empathy with them and the satisfaction of knowing the world is a birdier and more beautiful place.
The Bluebird Effect has been one of my favorite books so far this year. If you like birds, animals or nature, you will love this book. Review coming soon.
Reading/Listening This Week:
I started The Gunslinger and Stay Awake during the read-a-thon and should finished them this week.
I haven’t decided on my next audio or print book yet but I have a big stack to choose from.
What Are You Reading?
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© 2012 Under My Apple Tree. All rights reserved.
The Thief
An Isaac Bell Adventure
by Clive Cussler and Justin Scott
Narrated by Scott Brick
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Publish Date: March 6, 2012
Format: Audio, 9 hours | 53 minutes
Audio Listening Level: Easy to Intermediate
Rating: 3 of 5
It’s the beginning of the 19th century and two European scientists have developed a new method of combining sound with pictures. In the early days of film, sound and image were recorded separately and usually were out of sync. This revolutionary invention could be worth a fortune and someone wants to get their hands on it through any means possible.
While traveling to America on the ocean liner Mauretania, the scientists are the victims of an attempted kidnapping. Only the intervention of another passanger, Isaac Bell of the Van Dorn Detective Agency, foils the abductor’s plan. The thieves are not easily deterred and make a second attempt, killing one of the scientists. Isaac Bell now takes on the responsibility of protecting the surviving scientist for the thief now appears to be more dangerous than originally suspected.
I have read and enjoyed a few of Clive Cussler’s Dirk Pitt novels but this is my first in the Isaac Bell series. Although The Thief is the fifth Isaac Bell novel, it didn’t matter that I hadn’t read the earlier books. I quickly picked up on the characters in this fast-paced adventure story.
There was a mystery, lots of action and what I would call high-tech for the time gadgetry in an historical setting (though not steampunk). At times it got a little unbelievable but that just added to the fun. Isaac suspected there were several individuals that wanted to get their hands on the plans for the invention and it was up to him to stop them.
There was some history that I needed to look up, namely Edison Trust, as I didn’t know if it was fiction or truth. Apparently Thomas Edison owned most of the major American patents relating to motion picture cameras in the early 1900s. He went to great lengths to enforce those patents and ruin any competitors. There was also war with Germany looming on the horizon and the German army wanted to get the invention to create their propaganda films.
I always notice attractive, well-composed, original artwork covers. This one screams action and adventure at sea and immediately grabbed my attention. Action and adventure, yes, however, only the very beginning of the story takes place on an ocean liner, and to my recollection, there are no fires or explosions. If one were looking for a Titanic like adventure, the cover is a little misleading.
The audiobook was nicely dramatized by Scott Brick using just the right amount of excitement while keeping the pacing fast and steady. Enjoyable and fun this was a quick read/listen with entertaining characters that kept my attention until the end.
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Source: Review copy.
© 2012 Under My Apple Tree. All rights reserved.
The 24 Hour Read-a-Thon began this morning, April 21st, at 12am GMT, which is 7am in my time zone in Chicago. I had all good intentions (hahaha) of doing nothing but reading and listening to audiobooks today but my plans were derailed from the start when I didn’t wake up until 7:30. Grumble.
Several errands and a few unavoidable phone calls later and I’m putting up my introductory post during hour five.
1) What fine part of the world are you reading from today?
USA, Chicago
2) Which book in your stack are you most looking forward to?
The Gunslinger by Stephen King.
3) Which snack are you most looking forward to?
I have a bag of pistachios. I’m trying to go with a healthy snack. Otherwise I’d be eating Cheetos.
4) Tell us a little something about yourself!
I love birds! See: Weekend Birding. If you’ve been here before, you already know this.
5) If you participated in the last read-a-thon, what’s one thing you’ll do different today? If this is your first read-a-thon, what are you most looking forward to?
This is my first read-a-thon. I’ll be listening to audio and multitasking during the day and reading a print book in the evening.
Are you participating?
Read more…
I’m lucky to live in an area with many nature trails, marshes and wetlands that are open to the public.
Last week I went for a long walk at Lincoln Marsh which has several ponds and marshes along with wooded areas which makes it a great place to see birds and other wildlife. The trails are well maintained and have many areas to sit and relax while enjoying nature.
I was happy to find this little male Eastern Bluebird within camera range. They never want to sit still for me but this guy stayed on that branch for over a minute.
This Song Sparrow was busy building a nest. His or her (they look alike) beak is filled with building materials.
There were American Robins everywhere. They are one of the easiest birds to photograph. Usually they walk up to you and pose and this guy was no exception.
Saturday Snapshot is hosted by Alyce at At Home With Books. Visit her blog to see more great photos or add your own.
© 2012 Under My Apple Tree. All rights reserved.
Almost Wordless: A pair of Cottontail Rabbits have been hanging around in my garden. They are deceptively cute and will devour tasty young plants in no time. I already caught them eating the hosta. I’m keeping my eye on you bunny!
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More Wordless Wednesday. © 2012 Under My Apple Tree. All rights reserved.
Welcome
I am a Reader Not a Writer is hosting the No Strings Attached Giveaway Hop from April 17th – 22nd. Almost 100 blogs are participating. That’s right, no hoops to jump through.
As a welcome to new visitors and a thank you to all my regular readers and commentors, this giveaway is open internationally to any country where the Book Depository will ship.
My Giveaway
Wanna Get Lucky?
by Deborah Coonts
Book one in the Lucky O’Toole series.
A little mystery, a little romance, and more than a few outrageous happenings in this fast-paced page turner set in Las Vegas. Nothing serious here, just lots of escapist fun. Take a look at my review for more detail.
How to Enter
- Leave a comment, one entry per person. (If you have trouble logging in to leave a comment, send me an email.)
- Giveaway is open internationally to anyone age 18 or older with an address that the Book Depository will ship to.
- The deadline for entry is midnight, April 22nd. I will draw one random winner who will be contacted by email and will have 48 hours to respond with a mailing address.
More Giveaways
Before you leave, check my sidebar for some more great giveaways that can be entered with just a comment. For other blogs participating in the No Strings Giveaway, click HERE for a list.
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© 2012 Under My Apple Tree. All rights reserved.
[Contest is Now Closed]
Mailbox Monday was created by The Printed Page. It is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their home last week.
Mailbox Monday is currently on tour, hosted by a different blog each month. The April host is Cindy’s Love of Books.
In a futile effort to catch up on some of the books I already have on my shelf or scheduled for review, I’ve been limiting my print book requests and purchases. However, I couldn’t help but enter the contest for Trekkie book that I won. I’ve always been a big Star Trek fan and some zombie scifi horror sounded like too much fun to pass up.
A win from Quirk Books:
Night of the Living Trekkies
by Kevin David Anderson
Jim Pike was the world’s biggest Star Trek fan—until two tours of duty in Afghanistan destroyed his faith in the human race. Now he sleepwalks through life as the assistant manager of a small hotel in downtown Houston.
But when hundreds of Trekkies arrive in his lobby for a science-fiction convention, Jim finds himself surrounded by costumed Klingons, Vulcans, and Ferengi—plus a strange virus that transforms its carriers into savage, flesh-eating zombies.
How was your week?
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Source: Review copy.
© 2012 Under My Apple Tree. All rights reserved.
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