Sunday Post September 22, 2019/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday September 23, 2019

I am linking with Sunday Post at Caffeinated Book Reviewer.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading now at The Book Date (at Wordpress).

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 was rather stressful. Two of the staff were out for two days which had me juggling their work as well as my own. Tuesday I had an eye appointment and I was totally wiped out after the doc dilated both eyes, shone really bright lights in my eyes and poked a bit. (I have an appointment with a specialist in two weeks.) I came home and went to bed after dinner. Wednesday we had a kick off function at church. When we got home I went to bed. So for those two nights I didn't even turn on the computer at night.

Here are our pets -- Bear, Princess and Tiger Lily -- at the chef's feet!

Our weather has cooled at least in the evenings - lows are 65 with highs in the 90s.

I had a slower week of reading/listening. Reading on my battery deficient Kindle is still slowing me down. I finished three audiobooks. I posted three reviews on the blog and one on Godreads. I also posted the usual memes.

I visited 20 blogs last week.
Shout Out this week to Michelle's Paranormal Vault of Books. Michelle has a striking blog and introduces herself: "I spend lots of my time reading, and blogging. I am not super young, but not old either, but am young at heart, and still enjoy YA books too."
Thank you to all the nice people who visit me.

These were last week's posts:

• Sunday Post September 15, 2019/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday September 16, 2019.

• A2019- Audio Book Review: Cyclone, Linear Tactical Series, by Janie Crouch; Genre: Military, Romance, Suspense; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.

• Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway September 20, 2019. Open Worldwide. Ending 9/26/2019.

• ATBR- Audible Book Review: The Lost World by Arthur Conan Doyle; Genre: Adventure, Classic, Historical, Science Fiction; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.5.

• ATBR- Audible Book Review: I Am Legend by Richard Matheson; Genre: Horror, Paranormal, Sci Fi, Vintage; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.5.

• ATBR- Goodreads Review: Skunk Hour by Robert Lowell; Genre: Poetry; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0.

• Sharing Beyond Books #378 Comment Giveaway September 21, 2019. Open Worldwide. Ending 10/5/2019.

• Sunday Words of Encouragement September 22, 2019.

Finished Reading:
1. Audio/Smartphone (ATBR)

The Handmaid's Tale
By: Margaret Atwood
Narrated by: Claire Danes
Length: 11 hrs and 1 min
I have mixed reactions to this (check the review this week).
Source: 11/25/18 Audible Sale $5.95.
Click on book title for full description.

2. Audio/Smartphone (ATBR)

The Remnant
(Left Behind #10)
by Tim LaHaye
Narrated by: Jack Sondericker
Abridged version 3hrs and 4 mins.
(Link is to an unabridged version.)
I have had this for a long time to continue the series.
I was surprised how I jumped right into the story.
Source: 2003 Audible.
The Great Tribulation unfolds as the forces of evil and the armies of God prepare for mankind's ultimate battle. Millions of Christians are protected by God as the anger of the Antichrist, Nicolae Carpathia, burns against them.

3. Audio/Smartphone (ATBR)

This American Life: Another Frightening Show About the Economy;
58min 2009
I found this interesting even though it was for a financial crisis ten years ago. 
Source: 2009 Audible Free download. 

Currently Reading:

1. eBook/Kindle (eB2019)

One Paris Summer
by Denise Grover Swank
I'm not sure if I will finish this or not.
This sort of YA is not my thing.
I'll give it a little more time.
Ladies Book Club discussed this on 9/21/19.
Source: Print books discounted through Christianbook.com. I picked up the Kindle version this week.
Click on book title for full description.

2. Audio/Smartphone (ATBR)

Genesis
By: Ken Lozito
Narrated by: Scott Aiello
Length: 8 hrs and 54 mins
This sci fi has started out quickly.
I'm still working on the TBR.
Source: 8/30/18 Audible Daily Deal $2.95.
Publisher's Summary
A mission gone wrong. Innocent lives have been lost.
Escaping wrongful imprisonment wasn't something Connor had in mind, but being put into stasis aboard Earth's first interstellar colony ship was something he couldn't have prepared for.
For 300,000 colonists, the new colony brings the promise of a fresh start...a second chance. Connor might be the wrong man for the colony, but he's the right man to see that it survives what's coming.
A new world with new challenges, but the mission has changed.
If you loved Old Man's War and Ender's Game, you'll love Genesis from First Colony, a new military science fiction series.
©2017 Ken Lozito (P)2018 Audible, Inc.

3. eBook/Kindle (NG2019)

Storm Rising
by Ronie Kendig
(35%) I want to get back to this one.
Source: 2019 NetGalley.
Click on book title for full description.

I'll continue to pick titles from my list of TBR audiobooks under 10 hours.
I'll decide when I get to the next one.


September 22, 2019 - I am still enjoying the devotions and readings with the One Year Bible plan through You Version App. I finished 4 day study this week: Using Your Time for God and plan to start a new plan tonight. [You can check out audio of the One Year Bible Plan on the companion commentary online.]

I completed three books and posted four reviews so that continues to keep me current with reviews.
I have been adding newer reviews to NetGalley, Goodreads, Amazon and Audible. (Eventually I will add older reviews.)
No change to NetGalley or author queue again this week.
[My NetGalley shelf is still at 10 unread. I have pulled/read titles released and on my list before July. Next week Soon I expect to start titles I received in July. [Plus I have 4 old titles (2012-13.)]
I have three author ebook titles left in queue. I plan to get caught up on these too- I better start soon.
Still many titles through InstaFreebie and many new author requests I haven't replied to.]

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. Thanks to the ladies sharing hosting duties: Leslie of Under My Apple Tree, Serena of Savvy Verse & Wit and (yours truly). Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.
No review titles.
Five audios: two at Chirp; two Audible daily deals and one free at ChristianAudio.
I still have two free September Audible Originals to pick and one Free VIP at Audiobooks.
I downloaded ten free kindle titles this week. (Note these are in my Amazon library, NOT on my Kindle until I download and transfer them.) Are your mailbox and TBR piles blooming?

Review Titles

NONE

Won

NONE

Purchased

9/16/19 Audible Daily Deal $1.95
I Hear You
The Surprisingly Simple Skill Behind Extraordinary Relationships
By: Michael S. Sorensen
Narrated by: Michael S. Sorensen
Length: 2 hrs and 45 mins
Release date: 08-16-17
This seems like a worthwhile skill to learn for a small price!

9/19/19 Chirp Audio Deal Purchase $.99
Little Comfort
Written by Edwin Hill
Narrated by Karen White
Run time: 10 hours and 34 minutes
I like the sound of this dark thriller.


9/21/19 Chirp Audio Deal Purchase $1.99:
The Darkling Bride
Written by Laura Andersen
Narrated by Sarah-Jane Drummey
Run time: 12 hours and 2 minutes
This sounds like one I will like - Historical Irish, gothic?, mystery.


9/21/19 Audible Daily Deal $3.95
After the Galaxy: The Unsung
By: Scott Bartlett
Narrated by: Mark Boyett
Length: 11 hrs and 39 mins
Release date: 03-27-19
Of course I'm drawn to Space Sci Fi.

Free

9/22/19 ChristianAudio Free book for September, 2019
Fire Road
Kim Phuc Phan Th
Narrated by: Emily Woo Zeller
Length: 9 hrs and 40 mins
This might be a hard one to listen to.

I picked up 10 free titles at Kindle this week to add to my Kindle library. Titles found linked through Bookbub, Bookfun, Ereader News Today, Free Par-tay, Ignite Your Book, Inspired Reads, Pixel of Ink or Kindle ebooks.

Sunday Words of Encouragement September 22, 2019

We shared praises and prayers. Then we watched a video interview with Jonathan Cahn sharing how he came to be a Christian and sharing on his newest book release, The Oracle.

Church service was ushered in with praise and worship music. Then we celebrated a baptism of one of our youth. Hallelujah!

Pastor continued his sermon series, Culture Shift. He reminded us of last week’s message that God wants us to be an Acts 2:42 church. This is focused on relationships; loving one another.

This week he started with the question: How often is doubt part of your decision making or future plan? Positive thinking is more likely to see your plan succeed. Doubt defeats more athletes than lack of skill.

Some people are challenged to complete what they are told they can't do. We are meant to live with the opposite of doubt: Hope; the absence of doubt. The final shred of any possibility is hope.

In the Bible, Hebrew and Greek the word Hope (Bataj and elpis) had no doubt. It is sure and certain.

Jesus says: “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes has eternal life.” John 6:47.
Believing in Jesus - Believing who He is, that He has the power to save. As soon as you believe, you have eternal life. This is Hope for a future. No doubt.

As one well known song says: My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness; I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus name. On Christ the solid rock I stand, All other ground is sinking sand

Once we believe in Christ, we should always be ready to explain our hope. 1 Peter 3:15.

The Point: the world grasps for hope as a last chance. The church offers Hope as a certainty and His name is Jesus.

This world needs to know Jesus. Our community needs Jesus. People need a life with no doubt, no fear. Hope is Jesus. The world needs us to bring the message of Hope for the desperate, depressed lost.

If you have this Hope; give this Hope.

I’ve had this video in my Song List for a long time.

I think it fits today. It's a longer video but I think it is worth listening to the end.

1 Peter 3:15 (NIV)
15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,...

Lord I give thanks that You gave Your live for my salvation. Thank You for the Hope of eternal life!

Sharing Beyond Books #378 Comment Giveaway September 21, 2019

Hello again and Welcome back to Sharing Beyond Books, SBB.

Thanks to everyone who commented last week.
Three people claim to be very organized; two are organized; one is organized with their books and one is a little organized. Then there is one who admits to being unorganized.

The Winner from SBB #377 comments is: #3 BN100 who can make a GC choice if international or book choice from the Updated (**Finally!) ARC/Review titles or (recently updated) Love and Christmas titles - all linked near the end of the post. -- [12/15/18 I am pulling out some new Christmas and Love titles to add to the Win box choices. I had to move the books due to the water threat in office. I will dig them out again soon.]  I plan to add a new box of book pics his week. 

**NOTE: I did post an Updated ARC and Other books for Giveaways. I have to go back and list the titles -- someday.
Please let me know your choice by completing the WINNER FORM.

WEEK #378

(One Question.)

Alina asks: What movie are you looking forward to??

I don't go out to movies often and don't keep track. The only one I know about which I do want to see is Overcomer.
I looked up the listings for September through December. I am surprised there are new Rambo, Terminator and Jumanji movies. The ones that caught my interest are Abominable and Knives Out. Maybe Judy, Gemini Man, The Aeronauts and The Rise of Skywalker.

Image found at IMDB.

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 draw from the suggestions I used during the month and that person will get a 1/2 book choice or $2.50 towards GC. I thank everyone for submitting questions. Thanks for sending in questions! The supply of questions is dwindling so share some if you think of any -- even if they are duplicates I'll weed through or try to modify.
Thanks go to Becky and Alina for September Questions. They each get $2.50 credit.

Your turn to share. Alina asks: What movie are you looking forward to??

SBB Comment Winners can choose a selection from the Updated ARC and Other books, including the "Love" and Christmas titles all in one post.

SBB Rules:
a) Must be a follower.
b) Share a comment on the question 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 through Saturday October 5, 2019 at 5 PM central.

Audible Book Review: I Am Legend by Richard Matheson

This is an engaging horror story.

I Am Legend
By: Richard Matheson
Narrated by: Robertson Dean

Length: 5 hrs and 20 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 12-31-06
Language: English
Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Genre: Horror, Paranormal, Sci Fi, Vintage
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.5.

Publisher's Summary
In I Am Legend, a plague has decimated the world, and those unfortunate enough to survive are transformed into blood-thirsty creatures of the night. Robert Neville is the last living man on earth. Every other man, woman, and child has become a vampire, and they are all hungry for Neville's blood. By day, he is the hunter, stalking the sleeping undead through the abandoned ruins of civilization. By night, he barricades himself in his home and prays for the dawn. How long can one man survive in a world of vampires?
©1954, 1982 by Richard Matheson (P)2007 Blackstone Audio Inc.

Review:
Robert Neville is a lone survivor of a plague that turned most survivors to a form of vampire. The authorities took his daughter to the burn pit but he protected his wife as long as he could. When the time came that she died he took her to bury her with dignity – he thought. At least he would be able to visit her grave. But when night came, she arrived at his door to visit him.

The neighbors and strangers prowl his lawn at night seeking his blood; hoping to make him one of them. He struggles with being a true, living survivor, with no one to talk to and only the taunting shouts of the dead outside his barricaded home. During the day Neville tracks the sleeping monsters to their lairs and kills them first with wooden stakes and later by other means he discovers. One night after a drunken rage he decides to study the decease to see if he can find a cure. After all he has hours and days and years…

It has been a long time since Neville has seen a person during the day or heard a voice other than the dead. He is shocked when he finds a woman wondering in a field one day. His ravings frighten her but he ends up dragging her home. Then he begins to wonder if she is another survivor like him.

The character of Neville in the book is not the one I remember from the movie. I suppose it is understandable that Neville would have bouts of craziness – being alone so long and always under night attacks. At times he is a sad character and other times pathetic. I hoped things would improve when he began reading medical journals. Some of the monologues and medical jargon got a bit tedious but it was part of the character development. I especially found the history and myth testing regarding vampires interesting.

This is a Vintage book written in 1954 and it did not have some of the more modern items I think I remember in the movie. I had forgotten enough of the movie to make this worth listening to as part of my TBR. I knew it was horror and I am thinking that the book achieves a different level of sci fi horror than the movie.

I enjoyed the ending dilemma which reveals the meaning of the title. I recommend this to horror fans, fans of a different, dark vampire (no sparkles), and fans of post-apocalyptic. I also recommend it even if you have seen the movie.

Audio Notes: Robertson Dean does an excellent job with the narration. He captures the dark tone of the story and the mania of Neville. I’m glad I listened to this rather than reading.

Source: 11/18/17 Celebrating 20 years of Listeners Membership Perk Free #audible20. This qualifies for 2019TBR and 2019Audiobook goals.

Audible Book Review: The Lost World by Arthur Conan Doyle

This was enjoyable even if not as high octane as Jurassic Park.
The Lost World
By: Arthur Conan Doyle
Narrated by: Glen McCready

Length: 8 hrs and 34 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 02-25-08
Language: English
Publisher: Naxos AudioBooks
Genre: Adventure, Classic, Historical, Science Fiction
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.5.

Publisher's Summary
Here is the precursor to Jurassic Park. Victorian explorers have heard there is a remote plateau where dinosaurs still survive, and a group set outs on a dangerous mission to find out more about it.
Download the accompanying reference guide.
Public Domain (P)2008 Naxos Rights International

Review:
Edward D. Malone is a reporter who determines to do something adventurous to impress the woman he wants to marry. He attends a scientific lecture where Professor Challenger, an egotistical, quick tempered scholar, is mocked when he claims he has seen living dinosaurs. Challenger can’t prove his claims because he lost a specimen and his camera in a boat accident as they were leaving the area. His prime cynic is closed minded Professor Summerly. The only way to prove (or disprove) Challenger’s outrageous claims is to take an expedition to the same location. Four people are assigned to go: Challenger, Summerly, Adventurer Sir John Roxton and Malone as a unbiased reporter.

These four men make for an interesting team, often arguing and occasionally working together for protection and live saving schemes. They retrace Challenger’s earlier trip and then proceed further into ‘the lost world’ to discover the fantastical secrets of a world locked in Jurassic times. There are dangerous encounters with prehistoric creatures and even more startling encounters with prehistoric ape-men and cavemen.

I totally enjoyed the four distinct explorers and the imaginative world they explore. The story wasn’t quite as suspenseful as I expected but it was satisfyingly interesting and creative especially considering it was published in 1912! I was also impressed that it was written by Doyle who is primarily known for the Sherlock Holmes mysteries. I did see a hint of the Sherlockian deductive reasoning and the Watson side kick relief in the characters.

This isn’t as thrilling as Jurassic Park but as a classic novel of Jurassic exploration it is quite engaging. The audiobook comes with a pdf download and I was disappointed that there were no images which is what I hoped for. (I found some on the Wikipedia article.) I recommend this to Doyle fans and readers who enjoy classic sci fi. (There are free ebook versions available.)

Audio Notes: Glen McCready does and excellent job with the narration. He matches distinct voices to each of the characters and captures the underlying humor that fits the historic time of the writing. I am very glad I listened to the audio book.

Source: October 2017 Audible Daily Deal $2.95. This qualifies for 2019TBR and 2019Audiobook goals.