Armchair BEA 2016: To Infinity and ....Beyond the Blog...

It's Armchair BEA 2016, the online event for those of us not at BEA (crying inside...) but want to have a blast anyway. 

Today we have more fun topics Beyond the Books and Beyond the Blog - see the full agenda HERE 

"Beyond the traditional form of the novel, what are your favorite alternative forms (graphic novels, audiobooks, webcomics, etc)? Do you have any favorite works within these alternate forms? How do you think the changing format affects the reading experience? 

Our secondary topic, beyond the blog could focus on the ways you engage in talking about books outside of your blog. Do you participate in book clubs, take classes, meticulously maintain your goodreads profile? Let the world know!"

So... I want to focus on Beyond the Blog and add some more fun things... like what I do other than blog (yes, sometimes there are other things).

First lets talk about Armchair's questions -

My Book Club:
I host a book club at my office for the activities committee which I am part of, we meet every other month to talk about a book and it is just beginning so nothing too exciting yet.

Classes:
Nope not any more, used to be in school and that is why I started reading more YA and then blogging because school books made my head hurt and I needed a creative release :) 

Goodreads (ahem Librarything, Amazon reviewing):
I have all of them and I use all of them pretty regularly. I am most on top of my Goodreads account. I am on there almost every day for some reason or another. 

Now on to more fun things... my life (insert evil laughter here)

Work:
Yes, I do have a day job, I work 40 hours a week and maintain my blog as well ... sometimes from work. I am an administrative assistant to a few faculty members at a university. I work in an office so I am on the computer ALL the time. Makes for easy blogging conditions. (also they have coffee... I love my job). I am also part of their activities committee so I help arrange all the fun things too. And I am a staff advisor for an on studnet club/society.

Family:
I am married and live with a dog, cat, and 2 bearded dragons - most of you probably know that if you follow me. So I have normal pet-mom duties like the playing, cleaning, walking, feeding etc. Also cuddles, loads of cuddles.

Cooper and I 'read' together

PLAYTIME (non-blog related):
I LOVE puzzles - so sometimes I have a few weeks where that is all I do when I am at home (normally I listen to an audiobook while working though so still getting that TBR in!).

I recently built the 3D Hogwarts castle (squee!)  

OMG this picture... hahaha

Anywho...
I also really love board games - as you can tell from the picture as well. We have a friend that comes over pretty regularly and we play games (old school, I know) It is SO fun.

I also play World of Warcraft quite a bit, I have two maxed out characters and a bunch of smaller ones... I enjoy it but I am not overly involved - like I don't really care about my stats as long as my outfit is somewhat cute, I do ok. I at least log in about every day.

The character I play the most is a Rogue (sneaky sneaky) for Alliance (boo all you want I like being the "good guy" so 😝).

 

And then there is the Netflix - we watch a lot of old TV, right now we are working our way through NCIS. 

Now that I am writing all this it seems like I have SO much time for things... it never really feels that way though - right!? What do you do outside of blogging!? Tell me your life story! (kidding - unless you want to 😬)
 

Review and Giveaway! I Wanna Be A Great Big Dinosaur by Heath McKenzie

I Wanna Be A Great Big Dinosaur by Heath McKenzie
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
ISBN:978492632993
Publication Date:  May 17th, 2016

About the Book
Want to find out what it takes to be a Great Big Dinosaur?  This book is for you!
 

More than anything in the world, one little boy wants to be a great big dinosaur. And he’s in luck! A great big T. Rex shows up to teach him how to stomp and roar just like a dinosaur. But dinosaurs aren’t so great at soccer or video games… Maybe being a little boy isn’t all bad?

 A story about being whoever (or whatever) you want!

 
Source: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review.

I Wanna be a Great Big Dinosaur was an adorable book about a little boy that wants to be a dinosaur, so one happens to show up to help him learn, but little boys do fun things too. The story is short and beautifully illustrated with pastel colors but very detailed as well. The plot is the most adorable thing - at least as an adult reader and I think young children will really enjoy this book.  McKenzie did a wonderful job.

Photo Credit: Angela Ginsberg

Buy the Book

Amazon / Barnes&Noble / BooksAMillion / !ndigo / Indiebound

About the Author
Heath McKenzie has illustrated numerous picture books and children’s book jackets. He lives with his wife and kids in Melbourne Australia. Visit him online at heathmck.com 

  2 Finished Copies of I Wanna Be A Great Big Dinosaur! 

(Runs May 1-May 31st; U.S. & Canada only):

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

Armchair BEA 2016: Introduction

Morning Everyone! Today kicks off Armchair BEA 2016, the online event for those of us not at BEA (crying inside...) but want to have a blast anyway. 

We start off today with Introductions and Diversity in Books - see the full agenda HERE 

 

WHO BE YOU?!

1.  What is the name you prefer to use?

Stephanie/ Steph/ Gorelenore (online)

2.  How long have you been a book blogger?

hm.... it feels like forever (but in a good way), but only for about 4-5 years

3.  Have you participated in ABEA before?

YES! and I love it and I help run it :P because I love it SO much!

  Other Stuff!
Do you have a favorite book? ... Yup

 
What is your favorite genre and why?

YA - because it takes me to a different world when I am stressed about having to be an 'adult'

 If you could recommend one other book blogger, who would it be and why?

Oh that is a fun one - I love seeing what Angela over at Angela's Anxious Life is doing. She is a great blogger in the community, if you don't already know her - you should. She is so nice and I love her content and she is an awesome commenter :P

Which day of ABEA are you looking forward to the most?

Beyond the Blog - I'm a nerd so that one should be really entertaining for readers :)

How do you arrange your bookshelves? Is there a rhyme or reason? Or not at all? (#ABEAShelfie)

I will be sharing a shelfie but I am at work typing this post so it will have to come later. I arrange by genre - YA/ MG/ Adult then by author last name - pretty traditional I know, but I am a bit OCD so any other way hurts my head and heart. I envy all the people that have rainbow shelves.

Mini Review: Ballet Cat: The Totally Secret Secret by Bob Shea

Source: From Librarything Early Reviewers Program and Recorded Books in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review.

Ballet Cat: The Totally Secret Secret by Bob Shea
Publisher:  Recorded Books
Publication Date:  April 8, 2016

 

Format:  Audiobook CD


Rating:
 


 


Goodreads Synopsis: 

Ballet Cat and Sparkles the Pony are trying to decide what to play today. Nothing that Sparkles suggests--making crafts, playing checkers, and selling lemonade--goes well with the leaping, spinning, and twirling that Ballet Cat likes to do. When Sparkles's leaps, spins, and twirls seem halfhearted, Ballet Cat asks him what's wrong. Sparkles doesn't want to say. He has a secret that Ballet Cat won't want to hear. What Sparkles doesn't know is that Ballet Cat has a secret of her own, a totally secret secret. Once their secrets are shared, will their friendship end, or be stronger than ever?

Review: 
Ballet Cat is a book for very young readers and the audiobook it very cute. There are two tracks, one that is just a quick read-through which takes about 6 minutes and the next track as page turn ques for it you also own the physical/ ebook and are viewing/ reading along. I think that this is a great way to help children learn to read.

The story itself was adorable and very fun, I think fans of ballet and friendship will love this one.   

Recent Reads: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon
Publisher:  Vintage Contemporaries
Publication Date:   2004

 

Format:  Hardback
Source: Borrowed from the Library

Rating:
 


Goodreads Synopsis: 

Christopher John Francis Boone knows all the countries of the world and their capitals and every prime number up to 7,057. He relates well to animals but has no understanding of human emotions. He cannot stand to be touched. And he detests the color yellow.

Although gifted with a superbly logical brain, for fifteen-year-old Christopher everyday interactions and admonishments have little meaning. He lives on patterns, rules, and a diagram kept in his pocket. Then one day, a neighbor's dog, Wellington, is killed and his carefully constructive universe is threatened. Christopher sets out to solve the murder in the style of his favourite (logical) detective, Sherlock Holmes. What follows makes for a novel that is funny, poignant and fascinating in its portrayal of a person whose curse and blessing are a mind that perceives the world entirely literally.

Review: 
Being a blogger and a book reader, I have heard about this book since it was released. So many people have read it and so many have enjoyed it. I liked it, it wasn't one of my favorites, however it does offer some diversity to the book world and I think we need more of that.

Christopher is a 15 year old boy who is writing/ telling a story - in this case, about a dog that was murdered and how he went about finding the killer. His story led the reader through his lifestyle but also into his mind. Christopher is a very smart kid, he is also autistic, so his likes and dislikes are amplified but his emotions are pretty narrow. Throughout the story I kept thinking that the point of view of the story was torn - the character was so poised and intelligent and at other times so naive and innocent.  And the adult themes of the book were contrasted with this naivety. 

The plot was also very interesting and so I think that is how I feel about this book - no strong feelings of love, no strong feelings of hate, but it is thought-provoking.  The plot, which I thought would focus on a dog was a bit all over the place - we learned about Christopher, as well as the dogs murder, and then some - about his life and family situation. I came to find myself thinking about Christopher's welfare most of the time and if he was in a good environment and that detracked from the story a bit. 

Overall I would say that this book is worth a read - it was different and would provide great material for a reading group, class, or just as something to think about.