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Thursday, January 12, 2017

MBS 2017 Netgalley & Edelweiss Reading Challenge

This challenge is hosted by Katrina @ Bookish Things


I have done pretty well at maintaining my NetGalley review percentage at about 85%.
I am usually reluctant to take too many titles at once since it does impact the %. Starting 2017 I have the most titles I have ever had at one time with 15 titles (+ an additional 3 which are eTreasure titles which I need to read too!)

The levels I considered are:
Silver – 25 Books
Or
Gold – 50 Books
I had to push to get in 41 for 2016.  I will go with GOLD this year and pay better attention so I can get them all in!

I will add the titles as I read them; and then link to the review when posted.

I forgot to keep the running list here but kept it in a computer document.

My Challenge completed post with the 53 NetGalley books read is HERE!

MBS 2017 Audiobook Challenge

2017 Audiobook Challenge

The Audiobook Challenge is back for 2017!
Join Hot Listens and new co-host Caffeinated Book Reviewer for the 5th year of great audio books.
Check either link for the full Challenge details, links to resources and the sign-up form.
Levels
  • Newbie (I’ll give it a try) 1-5
  • Weekend Warrior (I’m getting the hang of this) 5-10
  • Stenographer (can listen while multi-tasking) 10-15
  • Socially Awkward (Don’t talk to me) 15-20
  • Binge Listener (Why read when someone can do it for you) 20-30
  • My Precious (I had my earbuds surgically implanted) 30+
  • Marathoner (Look Ma No Hands) 50+
I listened to 70 Audiblooks in 2016. I choose the Marathoner Level again for 2017 and hope to get to at least 70 if not more!

2017 Audiobooks: (Reviews to be linked as posted)
I ended up keeping my list in WORD on my computer. The final list is linked HERE.

    MBS 2017 Alphabet Soup Reading Challenge

    Once again this Challenge is hosted by Lori at Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book

    All details and sign up form are found HERE.

    AHH-  just noted these rules:
    You can drop the A’s and The’s from the book titles....
    The First Main Word Needs To Be The Letter You Are Counting

    Except For those pesky Q, X AND Z titles the word that starts with the challenge letter can be ANYWHERE in the title. [Emphasis Added.]
    I have always tried to have the beginning letter as the second word after an article like "The" or "A". Having it anywhere in the title could actually make it easier except I think I had already lined up titles for this challenge!

    Last year I tried to do four titles for each letter and came pretty close. I did get at least One each.
    This year I will work on TWO for each: an Audio TBR title and an ebook TBR.
    I will be adding my "possible" lists this weekend.

    The Completed Challenge with titles is posted HERE!

    Wednesday, January 11, 2017

    Book Review: The Skeleton Code: A Satirical Guide to Secret Keeping by Alla Campanella and Ken Massey

    I found this to be a difficult read but it does conclude with a positive message.
    The Skeleton Code: A Satirical Guide to Secret Keeping
    by Alla Campanella and Ken Massey

    File Size: 1868 KB
    Print Length: 230 pages
    Publisher: Morgan James Publishing (October 25, 2016)
    ASIN: B01M09DBMM
    Genre: Satire, Self Help
    My Rating: 3.75 of 5.0

    Buy the Book:


    Early in life, we learn to exaggerate our positive personal qualities and hide or deny our failures and weaknesses. The Skeleton Code is a satirical and humorous look at the many ways we protect our public personas by closeting our personal secrets, an ultimately self-deluding way of life. As a parody of the self-help “success” genre, the book presents facetious strategies about how to cover up our silly and scandalous secrets before turning to The Skeleton Cure.


    Review:
    I had to keep reminding myself this was satire. And as satire, for 80% of the book, the authors do a very good job. Alla Campanella and Ken Massey rightly note that almost everyone has skeletons in their closets – secrets we just don’t share. But then we worry about keeping those secrets from popping out, or being found out or outed by someone else. The authors are careful to provide a disclaimer that they are not promoting immoral, unethical or illegal behavior. They then proceed to present several chapters of tricks for protecting your secrets: dressing for diversion, mimicking the masters, taking the offensive. There are several chapters sharing methods to encourage fear and help prepare a response in the event of exposure, either accidental or purposeful. There can be an art in self disclosure that minimizes the potential for negative impact. The authors provide a fitting quote from Sidney Poitier: “I know how easy it is for one to stay well within moral, ethical, and legal bounds through the skillful use of words—and to thereby spin, sidestep, circumvent, or bend a truth completely out of shape.” The authors also do a nice job of summarizing the techniques and testing the progress of the reader.

    I really had difficulty sticking through this to the end. I knew it is satire but that didn’t help stop my feeling that what they were describing was somewhat ‘slimy’. Still, it just didn’t feel right or good and I didn’t want to read it. This made me feel like when I stop reading a book because the language used is just too foul – it makes me feel uncomfortable and unhappy.

    I knew there was a better message but that isn’t shared until the last two chapters. The closing points note that hiding secrets may cause physical pain as well as emotional illness. It is healthier to uncover the secrets, face them and remove the skeleton from your life. This did make me feel better. The closing remarks reminded me of the Transactional Analysis course I took in my late twenties which featured resource books like I’m Ok - You’re Ok and Games People Play.

    The book is well written and laid out in an easy to follow fashion. I think the authors’ introduction tried to reassure the reader that the ultimate message was positive… and it is. I just think there could be more positive ways to present the message. This one wasn’t real comfortable for me but could be very useful for the right people, right situation.

    I received this title from ProBook Marketing through iRead Book Tours for an honest review. Please watch the video below for a positive view of the book. Also, see other reader/reviewer thoughts on the Blog Tour found here. This qualifies for my 2017 TBR Challenge.

    Author Bios:
    Ken Massey is a public speaker, author, humorist and minister enjoying the second and truer half of life. He holds two graduate theological degrees and is trained as a life coach, conflict manager and transition specialist. He enjoys golf, and traveling, but finds his greatest fulfillment helping other people discover their true worth as human beings. Ken, a native Texan, loves the beauty and the people of North Carolina, where he and Alla reside.

    Alla Campanella, after traveling throughout the world, has lived in the US since 1992. A longtime student of the arts and humanities, she enjoys her work as an artist and photographer. Alla was inspired to write this book because she heard so many personal and painful secrets from her clients about their failures and foibles and wanted them to face these realities rather than hide from them.

    Connect with them: Website  ~  Twitter  ~  Facebook


    Ken Massey talking about The Skeleton Code to WTVR CBS 6 News. This is a great interview summarizing the book well.

    Youtube Link:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sW81AcUlON0

    Tuesday, January 10, 2017

    Anniversary Celebration for iRead #booktours With Giveaway!

    Help celebrate a Happy 3 Year Anniversary to Laura Fabiani and iRead Book Tours!
    There are many reasons I really like about working with iRead Book Tours, but here are my top three five six (if I keep thinking the list will keep growing!):
    1. I always know the rating for the books so I can pick books that I am comfortable with.
    2. There is a wide variety of genres to pick from on the ongoing tours:  Children's. Middle Grade, YA, Teens, Mystery, Romance, other Fiction and Non-Fiction.
    3. It is easy to sign up to spotlight or review and often a giveaway is included to share with others.
    4. The iRead Team always sends my date and/or the tour list right away so I can calendar my post.
    5. The media kit is always provided early with content and choices that make it easy to put together a post.
    6. Laura is lovely to work with and the staff have been responsive and efficient also.
    About iRead Book Tours:


    At iRead, we give special attention to every book that tours with us. We are passionate about books and we customize all our tours because no two authors are alike.

    We don't just market books. We help our authors get the best exposure with traditional tours consisting mainly of reviews. We work closely with our authors and pride ourselves on our highly individualized customer service.
       
    All our staff are book bloggers and authors, so we understand the process and the hard work involved. We've built a solid relationship with our database of reliable book bloggers who are eager to read your books.
       
    Welcome to the iRead experience!

     
    About Laura Fabiani:

    In 2008, Laura began blogging about books shortly after she published her first book. She started Library of Clean Reads, a book review blog, and discovered the joy of reviewing a variety of genres. Her children have joined her in this venture and they spend many happy hours reading books together. A Special Care Counselor by profession, Laura has co-led and developed programs for seniors with dementia, including Alzheimer's Disease. She has a passion for the topic of neuroscience and wellness.

    Throughout the years she has met and worked with wonderful publishers, both traditional and indie, as well as publicists and authors. Best of all, she discovered the world of book bloggers--a community of special people who spend their precious time sharing their love of books and all things related to books.

    Taking part in book tours has always made Laura feel more connected to authors and the publishing field. She organized her own virtual tour when her book was published and she learned several things. As an author, it exposed her to actual reader views and social media. As a book blogger and book tour organizer, it taught her the amount of work it entailed. And she loves it!

    You can find Laura blogging at Library of Clean Reads and Essentially Italian

    Giveaway:​
    Win $50 cash or a Basic Virtual Book Tour Package 
    (2 winners, open int’l)
    Ends Feb 4
    a Rafflecopter giveaway


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