Okay, get me two zebras, two hippos, two lemurs, two unicorns... 'Cuz I gotta load of ARCs!

I've had to pause the Jane-a-thon and get busy reading the ARCs and Reviewer books I'm committed ot reviewing. Since I just finished Nam Le's The Boat this morning, review here, I have 13 more to go. I also have more coming in the mail. So this week is ARC week! Here is the list and order I have planned:

Dough: A Memoir by Mort Zachter This is for Harper Collins First Look. I've already read the first three chapters and like it so far. Zachter is Jewish, and I've always loved the Jewish writer's voice. I haven't read any for a while, so this is fun.

The White Mary by Kira Salak I got an email from the publisher this week reminding me to review it. I guess that means NOW! :-D

The Aviary Gate by Katie Hickman I've had this for a month and a half, and it's release date was in June, so I need to get it read.

The Spirit of the Place by Samuel Shem Woo-hoo! Another Jewish author. :-D

I, robot by Howard S. Smith I've never read Asimov's and I wanted to before reading this one, but I might not have the time.

Aberrations by Penelope Przekop Interesting premise and good reviews, also, Przekop has an interesting blog.

Zoe's Tale by John Scalzi another ARC I've had for a while. I need to get to it fast.

Red Letters by Tom Davis Tom Davis is one of the duo of Travel the Road, a missionary-adventure series. It's a really cool show to watch, and I kinda need some inspiring.

The Art of Listening Prayer by Seth Barnes The second of the Travel the Road duo.

The Good Thief by Hannah Tinti I've heard good reviews of this, and it seems to have a bit of an Oliver Twist quality to it from the summary. Plus, the author(ess)'s name is a palindrome! :-D

One More Year by Sana Krasikov I honestly don't remember requesting this one, but, since it came in the mail, I must have. It'll be interesting to read it completely blind... to the plot I mean, not physically blind... I'm illiterate in Braille.

The Power Makers by Maury Klein a tome-ish book about the history of the men behind the industrial movement.

The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher by Kate Summerscale I'm excited to read this one. I like Poirot, Sherlock Holmes, and other detective stories.

So that's my ARC stack. I'm afraid I'll have to send my library stack back unattacked. Six lovely Jonathan Carrolls.. *sniff* I guess I can recheck them when Mt. TBR recedes some. I've joined Fyrefly in a Mt. TBR Challenge. No more than one book in for each three that go out. And it's not like the Carrolls are just going to disappear, right? There just 6 blocks away on a library shelf, right??

This week I started My First Ever Giveaway!! I'm giving away a $20 Borders gift card, details and entry here. Just to update and give news, so far I've receive 294 entries. I will add a $10 gift card at 400, and $5 at 500. If I get more than that I'll probably add another prize.

I was totally shocked and unprepared for the response! The first day of the contest I had almost 400 views. I'm sure to hit 2000 views before the day's over, and my blog is 26 days old. Thanks for the encouragement! To put this into perspective: I've gotten 3067 views on my 16 month od MySpace blog. That's a big difference!!

"The first thing that struck me about this novel was the lyrical way that Rushdie uses words to create far more than an engaging plot.  His use of colorful phrases and playful, grandiose dialog illustrates the characters in the novel far better than a narrator's mere description of them.  Sometimes I lost track of the plot somewhat - not because it was unclear - but due to my rapture over Rushdie's phrasings.  I found myself stopping frequently to share passages with my loved ones.

I am normally the type of person who tears through a novel the first time.  I want to know the who, what, when, where and why's of it all before reading it through a second time to enjoy the subtleties.  With Enchantress of Florence I found myself reading it at a more leisurely pace, savoring it like a full bodied wine or rich dark chocolate.  This is definitely a book that I will read again.

I have spoken much about the writing, and have neglected the plot.  Many novels have extremely predictable endings, but the ending of this work of art will likely catch you by surprise.  The Enchantress of Florence is about a young man making his way in the world to claim his birthright.  He has a tale so wrought with twists and turns of history, whimsy, magic, deception, and love that he dares only tell one man, Akbar - emperor of Hindustan.  Through the many turns of deception, it is no surprise that every character ends up the victim of this web of lies."

The wording was definitely what struck me the most on this work.  This was the first book of his that I have had the pleasure to read, and I will definitely be looking to read more of his work in the future.  I had heard of him - who hasn't really?  But I had never thought to pick up one of his books until I saw the description for this one.  It is currently on my reread list so that I can see what more I can glean from a second reading.

The initial twist is AP (action points) is in a common pool for your three characters. Players have to decide if they want to invest all of their AP on a single party member or evenly distribute it. If you want to utilize powerful techniques you can spend individual SP to perform an Excel Act. However, it looks like the key to the Trinity Battle system is linking attacks with other party members with Tandem Connect and Party Connect commands. - Siliconera

more pics and info (japanese): famitsu

is the gameplay like tales series?

A primera hora de la tarda es donarà el tret de sortida de les activitats amb l'Espai Mainada -jocs de cucanya, un trencaclosques gegant dels Països Catalans i animació infantil-, una Fira d'Entitats i la possibilitat de conèixer i practicar les bitlles catalanes, un dels jocs tradicionals del nostre país.

Més tard, serà el torn de berenar, amb xocolata desfeta, coca i embotits per a tothom. De manera paral·lela es realitzarà l'acte central de la tarda: la mostra de cultura popular del Ripollès amb la presència confirmada dels gegants i grallers de Ribes de Freser, Camprodon i Vilallonga de Ter, l'Esbart de Ribes de Freser, els Diables de Ripoll i la presència de la Colla Bastonera Quicó Sabaté de Sant Celoni (el Baix Montseny).

Finalment, la festa de L'ARÇ RETORNA acabarà amb els parlaments de representació de l'associació que comptarà amb l'apadrinament de l'excoordinador nacional de la Unió de Pagesos i membre de l'Assemblea Pagesa Pep Riera. Finalment, concert del grup de folk Mantornà amb cançons del Ripollès i d'arreu dels Països Catalans.

Al llarg de tota la tarda hi haurà servei de barra amb tastet de begudes de la terra i cervesa artesana. Així mateix, es podrà adquirir la samarreta de l'associació ARÇ i es comptarà amb un quiosc de publicacions de periodisme popular com L'Accent, la Directa, Illacrua o Opcions.

L'associació ARÇ es defineix com un col·lectiu plural de persones del Ripollès que lluiten per una societat més justa, per la defensa del territori i uns Països Catalans lliures. En aquest sentit, algunes de les línies d'actuació són el foment de la cultura popular i la llengua dels Països Catalans, la recuperació de la memòria històrica, la solidaritat amb les lluites populars tant del nostre país com d'arreu del món i la defensa del territori. De fet, la primera activitat, més enllà de la presentació, serà una jornada de reflexió territorial que es realitzarà a Sant Joan de les Abadesses el proper dia 17 en col·laboració amb el Centre per a la Sostenibilitat Territorial i el Centre d'Educació Ambiental Alt Ter.

How I Lead Myself

#1: I have had to learn to Control my Thoughts.

First thoughts, then Actions. I learned a great lesson along time ago that every action begins as a thought. It's obvious to say, but amazingly true. When we're sitting at our desk and hear our stomach growl, our first thought is: "I'm hungry." The next thing we know, we're walking toward the snack machine, right?!? First Thoughts, then Actions.

My thoughts create my moods. In 2 Corinthians 10:5, Paul tells us to, "take every thought captive..." I have had to develop this discipline over the years. I'm a worrier by nature and I have the ability to play the yo-yo game with my thoughts. I can lay awake at night yo-yoing one possible circumstance after another. When I don't control my thoughts, I end up allowing my mood to be effected and those I lead pay the price.

My thoughts shape my day. At the end of the day, it's my thoughts that shape my day. As a leader, I don't have the luxury of allowing discouraging thoughts or defeating thoughts to run away with me. When I do, I'm done. There are not enough days in a week for me to sacrifice one on the altar of defeating or discouraging thoughts.

Our thoughts make us who we are...today. As leaders, we must develop the discipline of controlling them.

What thoughts have you been allowing to effect you recently? What do you need to do to "take them captive?"

Just a bloggish thoughts,

Matt

In a place where ecstasy can cost you your life…

She’s a demon-slayer who hungers for sensual pleasure—but fears it will always be denied her. Until Tayla Mancuso lands in a hospital run by demons in disguise, and the head doctor, Eidolon, makes her body burn with unslakable desire. But to prove her ultimate loyalty to her peers, she must betray the surgeon who saved her life.

Two lovers will dare to risk all.

Eidolon cannot resist this fiery, dangerous woman who fills him with both rage and passion. Not only is she his avowed enemy, but she could very well be the hunter who has been preying upon his people. Torn between his need for the truth and his desire to find his perfect mate before a horrific transformation claims him forever, Eidolon will dare the unthinkable—and let Tayla possess him, body and soul…

Right from the first word, you’re dropped into the heat of the action. Always a good way to start a book.

But it’s also a book that’s filled with “Awwwwww....” moments, as I call them. You’ll be on edge, waiting for something to blow up or get killed...and then you get enveloped by what feels like a big, soft hug.

Pleasure Unbound also happens to have the only “heroine has never had an orgasm until she met hero” plotline that’s believable. Larissa’s taken one of the most awful genre clichés and made it work. Honestly, it’s worth it to buy this book just to find out how she does it (I shall delete all spoilers related to this bit in the comments), if not for the fact that is has excellent worldbuilding, lots of hot sex and is just generally fun to read.

Pleasure Unbound rates 4.5 out of 5.

FD: Larissa sent me the book.

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