Sunday Words of Encouragement July 22, 2012

I'm late posting today as we went to eat after church with some church members. Then we got home and our daughter's family was here enjoying the pool. We visited a bit and then I took a nap.

Our Pastor's sermon was good. He pointed out three battles we should not lose.When Joshua moved into the promised land he did all that the Lord promised. The Israelites were to inhabit all the lands described in Joshua 1:2-4.  But Joshua defeated all the land but left three cities, Gaza, Ashdod and Gath.

1. Gaza represents the Pleasures of the World. Samson was blinded, bound and buried because he sought the pleasure of a foreign woman. Judges 14:16. We must be careful not to be pulled in by
2. Ashdod represents the Treasures of the World, a city of defilement. God will not take second place to anything and He does not live in symbols (like the arc) but His presence is in the personal relationship. . 1 Samuel 4–5:2.
3. Gath represents Judging by the World's Measure. Young David was only a kid but he was willing to face a giant who frightened all the Israelite warriors. He was able to beat Goliath because of his perspective - he came in the name of the Almighty Lord. 1 Samuel 17.

We must be careful to protect ourselves from sliding, inch by inch, into the ways of the world. Be careful not to let the devil keep you from listening to God and completing your commitments to Him.  Man will always reap what he sows: friendship and blessings or greed and evil.

This was one of our praise songs this morning. 
It always touches my heart to sing this.

Verse for Today:

1 Samuel 17:45

⁴⁵ David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.

My Prayer today: Lord, help me to keep my focus fixed on you. Help me to be obedient and faithful in my commitments.

Sharing Beyond Books #58 Comment Giveaway

Welcome to another SBB!

My week was busy but good - had some closings and I am slowly getting caught up in my various businesses. Reading is good and helps me relax. 
Thank you to all who shared last week.

Most of us do have a system for our books - most by genre and author. Many of us put series together. Natasha has hers in an order to read. Mine would change too often if I tried that. Several have no system...oh bless your hearts and shelves! :-)

Looks like we could have fun watching Ricki dance the Tango and chacha or Elizabeth dance various styles, including swing. A couple of you like to watch the Latin dances and many of you watch DWTS and other dance shows.

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The Winner from SBB #57 comments is: #4 Carol L.  There are still 6 'love' books to pick from and 2 Christmas choices. Carol L please choose a book (or GC if international) from the remaining Love Books List for Giveaway, remaining Christmas Giveaway Books, OR pick from the ARC/Review box (New Updated list at the Giveaway Hop) and let me know your choice, your address and a choice of bookmarks by completing the WINNER FORM.

WEEK #58 Questions

Q1. Faith Hope and CherryTea asks: what's your beverage of choice when reading??

A: I think we may have answered this when the Qs were on Enquiring Minds (over at Lori's/Dollycas site) but I didn't find it in my spreadsheet. So we will answer here now.  I usually drink two beverages while I read, write or work: water and coffee.  Occasionally I will have tea.

Image found at Lean it Up.

 

Q2. My question: To go with your beverage of choice, what is your favorite snack to have while reading??

A:  I certainly don't snack most of my reading time or I would be snaking all day. :-) I suppose the few times I do snack while reading it would be a) Twizzlers red licorice, 3-5 pieces; b) chocolate; or c) a small bowl of chips or popcorn.

Image found at Cleo's World in a Nutshell.

 

Thanks to those who are sending in Questions. DON'T BE SHY! Surely everyone has a Q or two you'd like to ask.  Input suggestions in this Suggested Question Form. At the end of each month I will draw from the suggestions I used the month before and that person will get a book choice or GC. I thank everyone for submitting questions but some of you others might want to get in a question or two as we have a few people submitting most of the questions so far.  Either way - it works for me. :-)  The question list is being replenished!  Thanks for sending in questions!  


Your turn to share:

1. Faith Hope and CherryTea asks: what's your beverage of choice when reading??
 
2. My question: To go with your beverage of choice, what is your favorite snack to have while reading??

SBB Comment Winners can choose a selection from the remaining  Valentine and "Love" books or the remaining Christmas Giveaway Books - there are still about 8 books available to choose from. Also I have added the Review and ARC Box now.

SBB Rules: 
a) Must be a follower; 
b) Share a comment on any (or all) of the two/three questions above.
Open internationally and an international winner may get a smaller book or a $5.00 GC if I decide the mailing is too much.

I will pick a Comment winner from all comments made by Friday, July 27, 2012 at 10 PM central.

Winner of The Proposal

Congratulations to Winner

Giveaways Ending July 20, 2012


Print Copy of The Proposal and Solid Soul
(One Book, two stories)

Linda Kish please fill in the Winner's Acceptance Form to confirm the win and I'll send out the book.  Please reply within 72 hours!  
Thank you to all who entered

Audible Book Review: The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

This is wonderful entertainment! Do not make the mistake of thinking this book is horror because it's not. It is "ghost" story telling at its best!

The Graveyard Book

UNABRIDGED

by Neil Gaiman

Narrated by Neil Gaiman

LENGTH  7 hrs and 47 mins
AUDIBLE RELEASE DATE  09-30-08
PUBLISHER  HarperChildren's

Print version available at Amazon:

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins; Reprint edition (September 28, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060530944
• ISBN-13: 978-0060530945

Genre: Fantasy
My Rating: 5.0 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary:
Nobody Owens, known to his friends as Bod, is a normal boy. He would be completely normal if he didn't live in a sprawling graveyard, being raised and educated by ghosts, with a solitary guardian who belongs to neither the world of the living nor of the dead.There are dangers and adventures in the graveyard for a boy. But if Bod leaves the graveyard, then he will come under attack from the man Jack - who has already killed Bod's family.
Beloved master storyteller Neil Gaiman returns with a luminous new novel for the audience that embraced his New York Times best-selling modern classic Coraline. Magical, terrifying, and filled with breathtaking adventures, The Graveyard Book is sure to enthrall readers of all ages.
Music arrangement of "Danse Macabre" copyright 2008 by Béla Fleck and Ben Sollee, Fleck Music (BMI), admin. by Bug Music.

©2008 Neil Gaiman; (P)2008 HarperCollins Publishers

Review:
This was narrated by the author and it is a fabulous ‘light’ ghost story.
Nobody Owens is only a toddler when an evil man sneaks in and kills his parents and sister.  The infant toddles out the open door and crawls to the nearby graveyard which is now a nature reserve.  When the bad man tries to get in to capture the baby, Mr. and Mrs. Owens decide to ‘adopt’ him. They don’t know his real name so he is dubbed Nobody, ‘Bod’ for short.

Bod is given ‘the Freedom of the Graveyard’ and Silas, who is neither ghost nor human, but who is also allowed ‘the Freedom of the Graveyard’ is appointed as Guardian. Silas is able to leave the graveyard to bring in food, clothing and other necessities for a living boy. When Silas has to be away he brings in another character, Miss Lupescu, to watch over Bod.

The story is broken into nine chapters which cover adventures as Bod comes to the graveyard and grows, with the help of his graveyard family, to be a brave, curious and determined young man of 15.  Bod makes a friend of a visiting girl and visits a dark tomb where there is a frightening ‘sleer’ that guards a treasure. Most who have visited do not return. Bod doesn’t always obey his guides and one misadventure takes him on a wild and scary visit to the land of the ghouls. Bod makes a friend of a witch ghost in one episode and in another he tries to go to a human school. There is also a story involving a strange, much anticipated and exciting “dance of the macabre.’  Eventually the tale comes full circle with Bod having to face the Man Jack who is still seeking to kill him.

The stories are incredibly imaginative and the writing is filled with wonderful visual descriptions bringing the graveyard and its inhabitants to life! If you look at the Open Book feature at Amazon you will see that there are nicely spooky illustrations. But do not mistake this story for horror as it is so much more. It is story telling at its best with adventure, humor, creepiness, a bit of the macabre and even moral lessons.

The Audible version is great listening. Neil Gaiman, the author as narrator, provides a fittingly spooky voice. His accent and reading are perfect for the tale. I wanted to listen right through and didn't even let the thought of nightmares stop me. I highly recommend this in Audible, or if you don’t (heaven forbid) do audios yet then get it in another format.  I will be looking for more stories from this author.

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A few passages I liked:
Silas comments on the decision to allow the Owens to keep the toddler in the graveyard:

“... It is going to take more than just a couple of good-hearted souls to raise this child.  It will,” said Silas, “take a graveyard.” Page 23.

Bod’s thoughts looking at the treasures (a brooch, a cup and a stone knife) protected by The Sleer:

The treasures of 10,000 years ago were not the treasures of today.

One of the ghosts encourages Bod to consider leaving the graveyard to find adventures in travel:

“If you dare nothing, when the day is over, nothing is all you will have gained.”

This was from my own Audible Library and I am so glad I pulled it to listen!

I will add this to my New Author and Audio Challenge lists.

Book Review and Giveaway: Heroes Die Young by T. M. Hunter

This is a fun, fast sci fi read.

Heroes Die Young
by T.M. Hunter

• Paperback: 132 pages
• Publisher: Champagne Books (September 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1897445784
• ISBN-13: 978-1897445785

Genre: Science Fiction

My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Book Description
Publication Date: September 1, 2008
A derelict freighter abandoned in outer space is too much for space pirate Aston West to pass up and he can't fight the urge to pilfer its valuable cache of illegal weapons. However, the ship's one last occupant has other ideas and fights to maintain her hold on the weaponry. After attack craft return to finish the ship off, Aston has no choice but to save her from certain destruction. Who is she? What are the weapons for? Why was the freighter destroyed? For every answer he finds, he discovers more questions, and his life is put in jeopardy every time he stops to catch his breath. Aston's life motto of never getting involved is put to the test, and he must decide whether to become a hero for a people in need, or continue on his path of self-preservation.

Review:

This was a fun, fast sci fi read.
Aston West is a space pirate who sometimes takes legitimate freight jobs. He is delivering a cargo when he comes across an abandoned freighter with a valuable cargo of illegal weapons. When he boards the ship to pick up the weapons he also picks up a living occupant, Rione. After first attacking him Rione ends up hitching a ride when local space craft move out to blow up the freighter. 

Aston’s set to dump his passenger, unload his legit cargo and take off to sell his booty. As a bonus he picks up a new delivery and all looks good until he gets arrested. The authorities can’t prove he has illegal cargo thanks to the camouflaging capabilities of his constant companion and aid: Jeanie, his ship’s computer. She is the closest you might get to a genie in a bottle.  But Rione is pointing the finger at him and in order to get released Aston has to make a deal.

Aston has no desire to take sides between two planet governments, nor rebels on either planet. He doesn’t want to be anyone’s hero. He just wants to enjoy the profits of his ‘salvage’ and live his life quietly and safely alone.  Fate and Rione have other plans as she manipulates him into helping her rebellion.

I really enjoyed Aston’s laissez-faire character and the light, ironic tone of this adventure. The plot involves hidden agendas and betrayals but it is complete in this story.  The writing is easy to read and there is plenty of action to keep it fast paced.

I'm glad I got to read this and would be glad to read more. This is just one episode in Aston’s career but I could see it being part of more adventures. And in fact... I just checked and there are other Aston adventures available. If you enjoy easy sci fi, I think this would make a great ‘series’ or related story group to pick up for light, fast reading.

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Aston speaking to his computer, Jeanie:

    “What would I do without you?” I stood from my chair.
    “Live your life as a hollow shell of a man.” Page 22.

Setting out for another deliver:

    I’d been shot at, threatened, imprisoned, verbally abused, and nearly sentenced to death. This definitely not my finest hour.  Page 55.

Aston's thoughts when being permitted to bring his friend along on a summons to visit with the President:

    It was a good sign. If I were in trouble, they would have shot down my demand. Still, I wasn’t sure what was going on, and though that seemed to be a common occurrence anymore, it bothered me. Page 99.

This book was from my TBR as I won it quite some time ago from the author at a Champagne Books chat. 

I will add this book to my New Author and TBR challenge lists.

TO ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY for the Review Copy:
1. Visit the author's website and tell me something you find of interest. This is required for entry.

2.  For an extra entry, become a follower on any media (GFC, Twitter @MSEREADS, Facebook fanpage: http://www.facebook.com/ReviewsByMarthasBookshelf , Goodreads or Linky - links on right sidebar) or tell me if you are already a follower.

It isn't necessary to use separate entries unless you want them in different chronological order.
(Two total entries possible.)

* This contest is only open to residents of US and Canada.
* This contest will close 10 PM (Central) on July 27, 2012.
The winner will be randomly selected from all entries.
WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED on July 28.
Winners will have 72 hours to respond by email or the winners form linked in the announcement.