Audible Book Review: The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

This is a beautifully written and poignant story of brave teenagers falling in love.

The Fault in Our Stars
by John Green
Narrated by Kate Rudd

    LENGTH    7 hrs and 14 mins
    RELEASE DATE    01-10-12
    PUBLISHER    Brilliance Audio
Genre: Young Adult
4.75 of 5.0.

Publisher's Summary
Audie Award Nominee, Best Teens Category, 2013
Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel’s story is about to be completely rewritten.

Insightful, bold, irreverent, and raw, The Fault in Our Stars is award-winning-author John Green’s most ambitious and heartbreaking work yet, brilliantly exploring the funny, thrilling, and tragic business of being alive and in love.
©2012 John Green (P)2012 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Review:
Hazel is a sixteen year old teen who would love nothing more than to be a “normal” teen. Instead she has lived with cancer for several years and has to have a portable oxygen tank to help support her weak lungs. She resents her condition, resents the goodwill of her parents who watch over her so carefully and resents the youth support group. The support group is their for encouragement but also brings the stark reality of their illness and mortality to the participants.

One of her group friends is Isaac whose cancer will soon cause him to loose his eye sight. He brings a friend to group one day, a hot looking guy named Augustus. Augustus, a confident teen a few years older has lost a lower limb but has been clear of cancer for a few years. He is immediately smitten by Hazel and young love blooms. They share a love of reading and exchange books.

The book that is Hazel’s favorite was about a young girl who had an illness and lived with her intrepid mother. They are helped by the mother’s boyfriend who Hazel isn’t sure is for real or a con. But the book just ends abruptly... presumably when the girl dies. Hazel is obsessed with learning what happened to the mother and boyfriend. The author has never written anything else and now lives a reclusive life in Netherlands. Augustus reads the book and manages to make contact with the author. Then Augustus uses his wish to arrange a trip to take Hazel to Amsterdam to meet the author and try to get answers to her questions. The trip is an adventure and discovery. But there is heartache in store.

This started slowly for me but it soon became engrossing. The writing is incredibly impressive, thought provoking, touching and poignant. The plot deals with cancer which touched home a bit. But it made me see illness issues in a different perspective - both from the viewpoint of the youth and the difficult position of the parent caregivers. It also reminded me of the brilliance of life. This is a YA romance but readable and meaningful for any age.

Audio Notes: Kate Rudd does an excellent job conveying the illness, rebellion, confusion, hopes and angst of teenage Hazel Grace. She handled the other characters perfectly well too, complete with accents. The narration brought the characters to life and made the story a bit easier smoother.

I picked this from my Audible Library.

Mailbox Monday 1/20/14

Welcome to Mailbox Monday.
Mailbox Monday is a gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week and explore great book blogs.  This Meme started with Marcia at A Girl and Her Books (fka The Printed Page) and after a tour of hosts has returned to its permanent home at Mailbox Monday.

Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.

I received another audio from Audiobook Jukebox and I had an ebook I forgot to list two weeks ago, plus one print received for tour in February and two prints from Sourcebooks.

Are your mailbox and TBR piles blooming?

Reviews

Audiobook Jukebox pick:

Title: Forever His: Stolen Brides, Book 1
Author: Shelly Thacker
Narrator: Julia Motyka
Publisher: Summit Avenue Books

ebook for January Tour Review

Warrior's Moon
by Jaclyn Hawke
Reviewing on Bookblast Tour 1/28.
Click on book title for full description.

Print Book for February Blogtour:

 New Frontier

by Jeremy Lee

Reviewing for Blog Tour in February. 

Click on book title for full description.

Print books from Sourcebooks:
 They both looked like fun reads.
For February -

R is for Rebel – Megan Mulry 

Abigail Heyworth is a rebel heiress, embarrassing her tabloid-shy royal family every chance she gets. Inexplicably drawn to the sophisticated American, Eliot Cranbrook, Abigail finds solace in their differences: he's a self-made businessman; she's a royal hippy. Despite all, they share many passions. But what Eliot can’t understand is why Abigail rejects so much tradition, elegance and history. Finally seeing her life through his eyes, Abigail invites Eliot for a family weekend, only to have all hell break loose.

For March -

Desperately Seeking Suzanna – Elizabeth Michels

Cinderella meets I Love Lucy in this charming Regency romance

Lord Steelings, is a charming rake and the life of every party. He always has a joke to tell and a smile on his face, all masking a dark secret. If London society knew of his mentally ill mother hidden away in the country, he wouldn’t be welcome at a single ton event. Sue Greene has never been noticed. The older sister of an exotic beauty, she’s spent her life being pushed to the side. When she has the chance to attend a masquerade ball, she seizes the opportunity. If she had only known donning a mask would change her life…

Won

None this week.

Purchased

Purchased some titles for Ladies Book Club. I will link them later.

Free

I downloaded 88 Kindle titles this week. In addition to those from the links that follow I was searching for a title I had started to read on my Tablet. It was something about dragons. When I searched dragons I found a lot of free books through that search. Titles found linked through Bookbub, Bookfun, Free Par-tay, Inspired Reads, Pixel of Ink or Kindle ebooks.

BookBlast Feature and Giveaway: Warrior's Moon by Jaclyn M. Hawkes

Warrior's Moon

Medieval Historical Romance by Jaclyn M. Hawkes

Never in all the kingdom has there been a more brave and protective champion. Nor such a loyal and capable maiden. And they loved each other desperately.

But is their love strong enough to withstand all their dark age holds—danger, feudalism, disease, and unfair oppression?

Yes, they truly loved each other desperately.

They loved their kingdom more.

Amazon * Smashwords

Barnes & Noble

Praise for Warrior's Moon

"This book has adventure, memorable characters, and tons of action. There is even romance! I absolutely loved it!!!" ~Laura (Goodreads)

"I loved this book! Great characters, I love a strong female lead. I really enjoy all of Jaclyn Hawkes books, but I must say this in one of my favorites!" ~ KMon (Amazon)

Tour Schedule

Author Jaclyn M. Hawkes

Jaclyn M. Hawkes grew up in Utah with 6 sisters, 4 brothers and any number of pets. (It was never boring!) She got a bachelor’s degree, had a career and traveled extensively before settling down to her life’s work of being the mother of four magnificent and sometimes challenging children. She loves shellfish, the out of doors, the youth and hearing her children laugh. She and her fine husband, their family, and their sometimes very large pets, now live in a mountain valley in northern Utah, where it smells like heaven and kids still move sprinkler pipe.

Website * Facebook * Twitter

BookBlast Giveaway
$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 2/10/14

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

It's Monday What are You Reading? January 20, 2014.

This meme starts at Book Journey!

What Are You Reading, is where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week. It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list.

Last week the work was quiet and interrupted with medical treatment. I still have a few travel hearings coming up but not as many for the next month and beyond. 

I finished four books, posted four reviews, two with giveaways and a Giveaway Hop. 
Plus I posted the regular weekly memes and posts (except the Saturday Snapshot). 

I did some visiting mid and end week which I enjoyed but have more to do.
Thanks as always to all the nice people who visit me.

These were last week's posts:

• It's Monday What are You Reading? January 13, 2014.

• Mailbox Monday 1/13/14.

• Audible Review Print Giveaway: The Harbinger: The Ancient Mystery that Holds the Secret to America's Future by Jonathan Cahn; Christian Fiction; my rating 5.0. US Only; Ends 1/24.

• White Rogue Author Feature and Character Interview.

• Book Review and Giveaway: White Rogue by David R. Fett M.D., Stephen Langford & Connie Malcolm; Spy Thriller; my rating 4.0. Open US; Ends 1/24.

• Book Review: The Wanderer by Cheryl Mahoney; Fantasy; my rating 4.5.

• Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway January 17, 2014. Open Worldwide. Ends 1/23/14.

• Spontaneous Dreaming of Books Giveaway Hop. Open Worldwide. Ends 1/24/14.

• Audible Book Review: Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson; Contemporary, Fiction; my rating 4.25.

• Sharing Beyond Books #135 Comment Giveaway 1/18/14; Open Worldwide. Ends 1/25/14.

• Sunday Words of Encouragement January 19, 2014.

Finished Reading:

1. Audible

The Fault in Our Stars
by John Green
Narrated by Kate Rudd
Heartbreaking; good listen.
I hope to post a review this week.
Click on book title for full description.

2. eBook/Kindle

Cloaked in Danger
by Jeannie Ruesch
This pulled me in and I enjoyed it.
Reviewing for the publisher through NetGalley.
Hope to post review this week.
Click on book title for full description.

3. Audible

Flight of the Bowyer
Author: Kenneth R. Lewis
Narrator: Alex Hyde-White
Publisher/Date: AudioGO, 11/01/13
This futuristic political thriller started slowly but became gripping.
I will post a review soon for the publisher through Audiobook Jukebox.
Summary
After six long years of political genocide carried out against the American people by the administration of President Benjamin Franklin Luder, the nation is stunned when Luder announces that he is issuing an executive order to suspend the next presidential election for “the good of the country,” giving him an unprecedented, and unconstitutional, third term as president. Luder has slowly and systematically robbed the citizens of various liberties and freedoms through similar acts, and in the process he has nearly destroyed the once-greatest country on earth. However, his environmental policy of “green communism” has done the most damage of all, resulting in a nationwide energy slowdown which has crippled every level of industry. It now costs the average American eleven dollars for every gallon of gasoline they put in their tanks, and in winter the elderly freeze like cordwood in their unheated homes because they cannot afford heating oil. (For full description link on title.)

Like any clever Svengali, Luder does not suffer from a lack of visionary delusions. Idaho’s unspoiled Sawtooth Mountain Range is rich in thorium, a much safer and cleaner alternative to the uranium currently used in the few nuclear power plants in the country that still exist. It is said that one thorium mine, located near the small mining town of Ransom, Idaho, contains enough energy to power every city in the United States for the next five hundred years. However, the mine is on private property and surrounded by federal lands.
Click on title to continue summary.

4. Print

In One Year and Out the Other
Cara Lockwood (Author), Pamela Redmond Satran (Author), Beth Kendrick (Author), Megan McAndrew (Author), Tracy McArdle (Author), Kathleen O'Reilly (Author), Eileen Rendahl (Author), Diane Stingley (Author), Libby Street (Author), Christina Delia(Author)
This is cute.
I'll do a brief review and giveaway later this week.
Click on book title for full description.

Line Edits/Releases:
Should get another print release out this week. 

Enter the bi-monthly drawings at eTreasures Publishing Facebook page.
This week's giveaway link:  New giveaway to be linked this week.

Currently reading:

1. ebook/Kindle

Warrior's Moon

by Jaclyn Hawke
Reviewing on Bookblast Tour 1/28.
Click on book title for full description.

2. Print
 
New Frontier
by Jeremy Lee
Reviewing for Blog Tour in February. 
Click on book title for full description.

3. Audible

Forever His: Stolen Brides, Book 1
by Shelly Thacker
Reviewing for the publisher through Audiobook Jukebox.
Click on book title for full description.

I am a one day ahead with my daily Bible reading. :-)

Line Edits: We are finalizing several formats for two new eBooks.

I am still enjoying reading books from my own TBR. :-) I did however update my list to include the two tour review titles I have this month, the three NetGalley's I picked up and two of the Audios I requested. So that is seven or so committed and open for the rest.
My backlog for review is still at four so that will cover this coming week.

January Scheduled-
I have several unscheduled Giveaways to get posted this month/week.
1/28 Warrior's Moon - Tour Review. 

NetGalley:
  Ashes & Alchemy (The Gaslight Chronicles) by Cindy Spenser Pape
  The Furnace (The Tanner Sequence) by Timothy S. Johnston

Authors
I have numerous requests to respond to.

AudioBook Jukebox 
 Forever His: Stolen Brides, Book 1 by Shelly Thacker  (listening)
Awaiting receipt of others requested.

From TBR Collection -In One Year...
Won Book - TBD
Free Kindle/Nook or Smashwords: TBD

Sunday Words of Encouragment January 19, 2013

I did not make it to church today.  I haven't had the strength to pull out a saved message.
I did not expect to have my energy zapped so early in treatment. I have not felt nauseous but have been sick- only once a day. But I have very little energy or appetite. Please pray for me to get more strength.

I chose this simple praise song today: Heal Me Oh Lord

A Verse for Today:
Psalm 28:7 (NIV)
The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.

I trust God to see me through this treatment.