Book Babble - August 2016

Hello and welcome to my August 'Book Babble' :-)

Wow, I have been blogging for seven months!  I am so proud of myself.  I'm not a natural diary style, reflective writer.  After my failed attempt at blogging #365PictureBooks last year I honestly had my doubts that I'd make it anywhere near this far through the year.

OK ... so it is the September 2nd and I'm a couple of days late with my August post.  Sorry about that if you were waiting.  Luckily I keep it updated throughout the month or a couple of days out sick would have ended up in more of a delay!  

I do also have to apologise if you are wanting some fantastic Children's & Teen book suggestions.  Oops!!!  I've gone completely Adult only in August.  It's been my escape from everything else.  #soz not soz

On Work & Volunteer Work.....
It's been a busy month at school and with SLANZA.  The SLANZA PD team has been moderating a really thought provoking 'Content Curation' online course.  These are always so interesting and even as a moderator we are constantly learning something new.  The conversations that arise from each discussion starter are a great place for bring new information to everyone's fingertips who is participating.  Even though it is only a two-week online course, there is always so much work that goes into them 'behind the scenes'.  MT I take my hat off to you for all you have done getting these modules off the ground and all the amazing work you do.  You are a truly inspirational person :-D   

And at school we have just signed up for Wheelers ePlatform1.  Nearly 1,000 eBooks with only a small handful that we already had available in our own collection.  Such a fantastic variety of Picture Books, Fiction & Non-Fiction appropriate for our Primary School students, as well as some great Teen and Adult reads.  Having these eBooks means our older students (particularly the year 6's) have access to reads that we don't provide at school (gotta think what is appropriate for most of our students), AND they will be able to continue reading awesome, amazing, fantastic books over the Summer Holidays before they head off to Intermediate School.  Oh yeah ...  and our staff also have access to these eBooks so lots of great reading opportunities for them too :-D   

I have catalogued them all in our ILS ... boy did that take a while!!!!!  But by doing this I am able to add them to reading lists that direct the students towards books more appropriate for their reading age - Junior (kinda year 1-2 / early readers+), Intermediate (year 3-4'ish), Senior (year 5-7'ish) and Teen/Adult (everything else ;-P ).  The ePlatform does have different age options, however 'Children' covers Picture Books through to Tween/Teen reads.  That's OK if the students are confident finding their own thing and being aware of how they can determine if it is appropriate, but that's not how most of them choose their reading material ... they really do 'judge a book by it's cover'!!!  

So I was seen doing a very happy chair dance today when our access was FINALLY sorted out.   I did restrain myself and gave the IT guy a high-five rather than the 'happy dance hug' I really wanted to do!!!  We had had no eBook issues at all last term, and I thought it was just because my very few eBook enthusiasts had just decided not to read any more of our small collection.  Nooooooo that is not what was wrong.  Our link was broken!!!!  And it had nothing to do with our ILS or Wheelers.  All I'm gonna say is ... N4L!!!!!  Small typo, and none of our students letting me know they couldn't get on!!!   Aaaaarrrrggghhhhh!!!!!  Anyhoo it is all fixed now.  Classes are being booked to re-acquaint them with this fantastic, awesome, brilliant resource, and my really really keen eBook reader will be a happy camper.  She has been asking me for two weeks when she can get back on!!!  

On Movie Adaptations.....
You know how 'The Book Is ALWAYS Better'?  Well I've found a movie that I can finally argue this statement with.  I finally watched The Dressmaker.  I read the book in December last year after hearing how awesome the movie was, and not being able to get to it.  Knowing that the book is always better, I was expecting epic & awesome things!!!  Well after reading the book I refused, REFUSED, to watch the movie.   I only rated it 1 star on my Goodreads list and didn't review it.  I am not a fan of Literature, and to me this book is definitely Lit.  Don't get me wrong, this is a very well written book, however it is soooooooo freaking descriptive to the point of being, IMHO, freaking boring.  Too much blah, blah, blah!  It has taken me over 9 months to build up the courage to watch the movie.   O.M.G!!!!  The movie was so so so good!!!  Yes the dresses were divine.  Yes the setting was so well done.  And the characters were just perfect.  Definitely well worth watching!!!   Just don't read the book!!!!! 

On Audiobooks.....
I was stuck in the back seat on a recent trip to Auckland.  Being a nice mummy I let my oldest sit in the front as his super-duper long legs don't fit in the back of the Ute.  Actually nor do mine.  I've threatened my husband that if we take his vehicle again HE is sitting in the back and I am driving!!!!!  Bloody uncomfortable.   Anyway back to the book ..... I was rather bored as both teenagers were listening to their own music, and it's very hard to have a conversation with the driver from the back seat, and I just can't read in a moving vehicle.  So jokingly I emailed some friends and said I should have downloaded an audio book and played it through the car speakers.   Have you been taking note of the kind of books I've been reading lately??????  That would have been so hilarious!!!!

Anyhoo before the return trip I DID find some Audio books on iBooks and downloaded a book of Mina Carters to listen to.  I had to actually do a search by author or collection (paranormal romance) rather than typing in 'Audio Books'.  Only a small selection comes up if you search for audio books.               OMG! I am such a ditz!!!  There is a whole tab for audiobooks.  Amazing how you can't see what is, quite literally, under your nose!!!  So a hint ... if you are an iBooks user ... at the top of the 'Favourites' page there are two options ... Book or Audiobooks.

Ya know what?????  I enjoyed it after I got used to someone else's voice reading out loud.  Still a couple of "OMG am I really listening to this" moments, however, the sex scenes in the story aren't until close to the end and not really that graphic.

I can highly recommend that if you love books and have a long trip coming up, or actually if you are doing some menial task that doesn't require a lot of concentration, then download an audio book or two and listen away.  There are even some more 'conventional' books out there, and I found a Stephen Fry set I'd like to get hold of for my next trip.  

Actually thinking back, in my early 20's when I was doing the Auckland work commute I had purchased 3 or 4 books on tape.  Boy that was a while ago!!!!!  It is certainly clearer listening to eAudio than scratchy tapes.

Alrighty .... so here is WIBR this month ....  Oh yeah, apologies again for the lack of Children's & Teen reads :-/

NOTE: ** Denotes sexual content (school librarians use your discretion)

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Dark Bk30 Dark Carousel** / Christine Feehan [eBook]

5 Stars

Adult. Paranormal.
Goodness gracious.  I can't believe that this is the 30th book in this series!!!  Christine Feehan in such a prolific writer, and manages to keep the series fresh, yet familiar.  I particularly like how she is giving a new take to the Dark series by setting the newer ones in different countries, as well as integrating the stories into the 21st Century.  She has cleverly woven the characters (both good and bad) into previous books and we now get to meet them in more detail.

For fans of Christine Feehan, you are going to love this new book.  If you haven't been hooked yet, then you are in for a great reading experience.   You don't need to read the books in any particular order, however IMHO you should read them in order to get the most out of the stories :-) 

There is not quite so much sex in this book.  It's more about the relationships and the fight with the Vampires.  Don't get me wrong ... there are some great romance scenes in here, and like many of the books the whole 'lifemate' thing does happen earlier in the storyline. 

Dark Carousel is set predominantly in the United States where we are introduced to Tariq, an ancient Carpathian, who owns a series of nightclubs and has a passion for carousel horses.  Charlotte, who also has a passion for carousel horses, and her best friend Genevieve are on the run from some ruthless killers, and they use one of Tariq's nightclubs to try and draw them out.         

I also really love how we are re-introduced to some of the ancients from the monastery as well as the triplets - Thomas, Mataias & Lojos, and get more of an insight into the back-story of the Carpathians.  

Dark Hunter Bk27 / Dragonmark** / Sherrilyn Kenyon [eBook]
4 stars
Adult.  Paranormal.

Another awesomely prolific writer :-D  This is also part of two other series: Dragons Rising #1 & Lords of Avalon #5.

We meet Illarion, one of a few surviving dragons and who was made human centuries ago.  I love how this book covers his back-story, finding his mate and then jumping to modern times  as well as including a number of other key characters in many of Kenyon's books.  The only downside, IMHO, was that the focus of the latter part of the book was taken off Illarion and his mate, but actually it worked really well and was still a really really good read. 

If you haven't guessed already ... I really really really REALLY like Sherrilyn Kenyon.  Her writing just hits all the right notes with me! 

Delroi Connection Bk1 / Invasion Earth** / Loribelle Hunt [eBook]
3 stars
Adult.  Paranormal.  Sci-Fantasy
Aliens are invading Earth and they are only after one key resource .... our women!  Apparently there are not as many females being born on Delroi and of course humans are very compatible with this alien race.  Enter some very scrummy Delroi warriors and some kick-arse human females and you have an enjoyable alien romance.

Bk2 Leaving Earth
Bk3 Stolen Earth
Bk4 Claiming Earth

Imp series Bk2 Satan's Sword** / Debra Dunbar [eBook]

4 stars

Adult. Paranormal.
Sam's next adventure is just as good a read as the first.  

Her brother Dar is in trouble and only Sam can help him out.  Of course there is the case of homeless people missing from her properties that she also needs to sort out, and an Angel whose good side she needs to stay on.  Oh yeah, and trying not to get killed by the demons!   

Not as many laugh-out-loud moments, but I am really coveting Sam's new horse and her dog!   

Note: The sex scenes in this series are negligible.

Bk3 Elven Blood

Bk4 Devil's Paw

Project Rebellion Bk1 / Perfect Mate** / Mina Carter [Audio Book]
3 start
Adult.  Paranormal.
An alternative way of getting your fix of reading / books.

This is the first in a Werewolf / Vampire / Zombie series.  The military have a super secret project they have been working on for a few years now ... and it's about to come back and bite them on the arse!!!  Quite literally!!!

Lots of blood and gore and the sex scenes don't kick in till nearly the end.

If you can get over having someone read-aloud to you in a voice you maybe weren't expecting, then go for it!  A great idea for long road trips, or if you are doing some menial task that requires your hands and eyes but not your ears :-D 

Redstar werewolf pack Bk1 / Once Bitten** ** / Loribelle Hunt [eBook]

3 stars

Adult. Paranormal. Erotica.

Pure escapism!  Werewolf romance.  Multiple partners.  Short reads.  Just the kind of book to read when you want to escape from the reality of your life, and probably not in a public place :-P

Bk2 Twice Shy

Bk3 Third Time Lucky

Book Babble - March 2016

Hello and welcome to my March 'Book Babble' :-)

I can't believe we are already a quarter of the way through the year!!!!!!  Where is it going???

I was looking at what books I read last month and realised that most of them were in the paranormal genre, and adult reads to boot.  I thought to myself that if I was going to blog about books then I should really be more widely read, after all I DO work in a primary school, and I need to promote the books to our students.  Then I remembered that I am supposed to be reading for enjoyment this year with no pressure on quantity or quality:-

And my Goodreads goal is to read 100 books - chapter, picture, non-fiction & professional development - just books.  But books that I am going to savor. Books that I am going to devour. Books that I am going to treasure (and I already have a few of these lined up!). And books that I am going to remember and be able to talk about to anyone that wants to listen.

Sometimes we get into a 'groove' with our lives - no I'm not saying a 'rut'! - and our body, mind and soul craves what it craves and just wants to 'groove to its own beat'.  Reading is like that for me.  

I looked back over some of the 'phases' I've been going through.  I've done the crime thing,  I've done the realistic war thing.  I've done the paranormal things ... actually I keep revisiting this one!  I've done the romance thing.  I've tried the literature thing but that one just really doesn't sit well with my preferences.  I've done the biography thing.  I'm doing the YA thing.  And then I thought about the other things I was doing during these times - both personally and professionally.  

When we are so busy doing things, or our minds are occupied with certain details, we need a way to escape from all this - and the way that I escape is to read ... some people play computer games, some watch TV and others go out and 'pound the pavement'.  When I was studying  for my Level 5 ILS Diploma all I wanted to read was 'quick & easy crap'.  When I'm not so busy doing paperwork I love to get my teeth into a big 'meaty' read.  Most of the time I just love to escape to other worlds or galaxies and pretend that there is more out there than just us.

Escapism.  Expanding my mind.  Connections.  Acceptance of self.  Fantasies - yeah we all have fantasies, and reading is a very safe way of entering new 'realms'.  Understanding how others live.  Travel.  Relaxation.  Excitement.  Adventure.  Self-healing.  Understanding new situations. ....

This got me to thinking how this reflects what our children and students are reading.  We so often see them coming up to issue the same books or series again and again.  As a primary school librarian I am always hearing "how do I stop my child reading xxx" or teachers saying " 'Jane Doe' you need to try something different" or variations of these comments.  Why????  Why should they have to read something different because an adult says so?

Honestly though ... Have you seen some of the things our students are reading?  Ug!  

The Daisy Meadows Rainbow Fairies series,  and there is a new one ... Magic Animals.  The just as prolific Geronimo Stilton books of which there is now Hero Mice and Cave Mice not to mention Thea and her sisters.  Fly Guy, Zac Power, Sally Rippin's Billie B Brown and Horrid Henry are just a few of the really popular reads for our younger students.

Tom Gates, Captain Underpants and Diary of a Wimpy Kid are really popular with our older readers.  And it's not just the boys that love this style of writing!  Knife & Packer's Meet the Humansons, and new Wheelnuts series are bright and colourful and very popular.  Harry Potter, 39 Clues - currently in it's 4th or 5th series, and not to forget the old and still popular Babysitter Club and Goosebumps books.

Mills & Boon / Loveswept ... my mum wouldn't let me read these but I found a way as soon as I could buy them myself.   Her words if I recall - "rubbish" and "a waste of time".  'Realistic fiction' - you know ... those books about realistic life experiences of children being abandoned, 'hurt', dying, stuck in war-ravaged lands .... just heartbreaking and so sad .... and yet allowing our teens to understand that there are others in similar situations to them or worse-off situations.  This realistic fiction can enable our children to find their 'voice' and ask for help if they need it. 

The biggest thing these books all have in common ....... there are lots and lots and lots and lots of them for the students and children to read.  They know they can find more of the same kind of book to read.  They can connect with the characters, find their own sense of self  in the stories and move on when they are ready and have built their confidence.

When our students are ready to move on they will.  Until then let them get comfortable with what they are reading (it may be that they are coming to terms with their own situation), let them get confident enough to try something new, and be ready to offer them a variety of formats / platforms / options / suggestions so that they can choose where they want to travel next.  It may not be our 'cup of tea', but it is their choice.  

And in other news this month ... 

• HBPubrarians has had it's second catch-up, this time in Hastings - a time for a casual chat among librarians from all walks of life.

• Hawkes Bay Book Talk is having its first gathering for the year tonight, hosted by Gail at Parkvale School.  This is a book club for librarians (not just school librarians) where we can promote the amazing, fantastic, awesome books that pass through our reading piles.   See our blog for reviews, suggestions and dates for our 2016 gatherings.

So here is WIBR this month ....... Allrighty so this time I'm trying sorting them in alpha order AND by age category.   Gotta try thinking outside the square and come up with the process that works best.  Definitely typing my notes up as I read/finish a book is the easiest tho :) #cleverthinking

NOTE: ** Denotes sexual content (school librarians use your discretion)

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An Elephant & Piggie Book : Should I Share My Ice Cream? / Mo Willems [Paperback]

4 stars

Picture Book 0-6

I really love Mo Willems' books. They make great read-alouds and are awesome to share with a buddy. Because the story is told in speech bubbles it is easy to read as one character each. 

Particularly love this story as Elephant is having a conversation with himself as to whether his friend Piggie would also like an icecream or whether he should share. You can just see what's going to happen to the icecream as it slowly drips more and more in each image. I was drawn to keep reading faster and faster ... after all it's not a slow process when your thoughts are flying through your head. 

Goodnight Already! / Jory John [Paperback]

4 stars

Picture Book 0-6

This was my favourite pick in week 6 of all the books I had on display. 

It's told in speech bubbles (similar to the Elaphant & Piggie books) and is great for two of you to read together - one can be Bear and one can be Duck. 

Poor Bear is sooooo tired. All he wants to do is sleep. 

Duck however is WIDE awake!!!  And he wants to do stuff with bear.  It's quite hilarious to see where he pops up next. 

OMG what an annoying neighbour!!!  I can think of a few people that have been like him during my lifetime - and yes ... I'm Bear!!!!

A fabulous read-aloud. 

How Many Legs? / Kes Gray [Paperback]

3 stars
Picture Book 0-6
This is a bright and colourful counting book with a difference. Try counting and adding the legs of all the different creatures on each page.  Trickier than it looks. 

I Yam A Donkey! / Cece Bell [Paperback]
5 stars
Picture Book 0-6
What a fantastically ridiculous read-aloud!

A Yam tries to teach a Donkey about correct grammar.  I am so not going to spoil the surprise by telling you any more!  You really truly HAVE to get a copy of this for your libraries!!!  Just DO IT!!!

Thanks to Kristen Clothier at our first HBPubrarians catch-up last month for recommending this one to us.  I was surprised when it arrived from Wardini Books the next week in a consignment for me to check out for school.  I snapped it up as quick as can be when I saw it!!!  

Star of Deltora Bk1 Shadows of the Master [Paperback]
0 stars
Children 7-12.  Fantasy.  DNF.
This is a new series set in the same world as Deltora Quest and the Three Doors Trilogy.

Unfortunately I just couldn't get into this book even though I am a huge fan of the other two series.  Hence I did not finish it :-(

Storm Horse / Nick Garlick [Paperback]

4 stars
Children 7-12. Animal stories. Coming of Age.     
What a truly lovely story. 

Set in a remote Dutch island this is a coming-of-age story about a young boy recently orphaned. 

When I read the blurb it seemed like a modern take on 'The Black Stallion'.  Ya know ... ship wreck, boy rescues horse, horse rescues boy, friendships are formed and bonds of family are strengthened.  Actually that pretty much sums up this story too ... but it is so much more. 

A must read for horse lovers, those that enjoy good prevailing over evil (otherwise known as bullies), and those that like coming-of-age stories with strong characters.  Aside from the bullies this is a good clean really enjoyable read. 

Running Girl / Simon Mason [Paperback]
4 stars

YA. Crime.

An interesting read with lots of twists and turns in the plot. Crime, maths, and not-so-good every-day kind of people.  It's got quite a few interviews throughout which gives it a 'first person' feel. 

Strong male characters. It's great to read a novel where the main characters are not the normal 'white male'. 

It has quite a slow start ... kind of like Garvie himself ... and then as more information about the murder comes to light and Garvie gets involved the story starts to get more 'energy', just like Garvie when a puzzle catches his attention.

Very keen to read the next one when it comes out.  

Shifter Squad Bk9 Hell Spawn** / J.C. Diem [eBook]

5 Star

YA. Paranormal. 

What a really great read for the final (???) book in the series. All the hardship and training that Lexi has been through in her life stands her on good stead for the trials & tribulations that are set to face her and her friends as the end of the world draws near.  An exciting read. 

There is only one sex scene towards the end of the book. Fathers and other supernatural creatures with super-hearing would definitely put a crimp in anyone's sex-life. 

The Dream Engine Volume 1 / Sean Platt & Johnny B Truant [eBook]

3 stars

YA. Steampunk.  Adventure. 

A very interesting read. Not sure if I want to read the next one -The Nightmare Factory ... at least not at this stage when I have so many other books to choose from.

Even though the main character is only 15 years old, this reads like a sophisticated YA novel rather than a younger YA read.  

Set in a world where everyone takes a tablet to stop them from dreaming and therefore going insane, Eila Doyle is employed by the Ministry of Manifestations to build things she sees in her mind.  Eila is different from everyone else as she does dream and in her imagination she sees a boy tempting her to find him.  

When she decides to listen to what her imagination is telling her she finds that her world is not what everyone has been led to believe, that there is another city below their own and that the mist surrounding her city is filled with monsters that imagination has brought to life! 

Country Calendar : Homestead Baking / Allyson Gofton [Paperback]

5 stars

Adult. Non-Fiction. Cook Book. 

This is so much more than just a cook book!  The stories of the family with some of the history of their homestead are just a joy to read. And the Recipes .... Mmmmm mmmmmm mmmmm!  Good old-fashioned style basic divine baking!  A delight to read and a fantastic idea for a gift.

Oh and the food is truly scrummy.  First weekend and three dishes made. Mmmmmmm mmmmmm mmmmm!  Especially the golden syrupie goodness of Ethel's Gingerbread!
Dark Bk29 Dark Promise** / Christine Feehan [eBook]

4 stars

Adult. Paranormal. 

* Warning : bit of a Christine Feehan fan here :-) *

This was a another great read in the Dark series. It follows two sets of lifemates  - Gabriella who was turned to save her life a number of years ago, but who has yet to embrace her Carpathian life.  And Trixie, a grandmother who came to the Carpathian Mountains searching for her granddaughter. 

I know, you think "a grandmother, really!"  But actually I'm really pleased that there is an older woman. Honestly, why would a Carpathian male who has lived for hundreds, if not thousands of years, want a young innocent woman who has not had any life experience!  Trixie is a strong woman in her 50s who has raised a daughter & 4 granddaughters and done everything she can to make sure they have the best life possible. Who said innocence must be a 'state of body' ... it is more a case of the sole being innocent, and Trixie may have lived a long life but she has a very innocent soul. 

The only thing I found disappointing was that the main focus of this book was on the budding relationship (read 'sex') of the two sets of lifemates. I would have loved to have seen more of the fight between the Carpathians and the Vampires & their puppets. 

Mercy Thompson Bk9 Fire Touched / Patricia Briggs [eBook]

5 stars

Adult. Paranormal. 

Awesome read. This is a fantastic paranormal series. There is a good storyline, Mercy is a strong character, there is lots of monsters and yummy werewolves. And there is little to no sex in these books - see it's really not necessary for a fabulous paranormal read to involve sex!!!

It does pay to read these in order, however in saying that you can quite easily read them as a stand-alone novel. You may just miss some of the deeper nuances from previous books. 

Riley Adamson Bk8.5 Stitched / Shannon Mayer [eBook]

4 stars

Riley Adamson Bk9 Rising Darkness

4 stars

Riley Adamson Bk10 Blood of the Lost

5 Stars

Adult. Paranormal. 

The final three books in this exciting series.  Riley Adamson is a Tracker - she can track the threads of a person and know where they are.  She used to use this skill for finding lost children.  Now however she is the prophesied savior and has to save the world from the demons!

Along with her family, friends and not-so-friends (a mixed bag of creatures she has met during her life) Riley must do her best to ensure that Orion - the biggest & baddest overlord of all - and his minions do not get the chance to take over the world!

You do need to read this series in order, however it really does help to follow all the threads. 

Warning ... The final book is a doozy!  Have tissues at the ready!

Shoegasm : An Explosion of Cutting-Edge Design / Clare Anthony [Hardback]

5 stars

Adult. Non-fiction. 

Shoes!  Shoes!  Spectacular Shoes!   

OMG drool!!!!!  This book is just a feast for the eyes ... well for those of us that love shoes. 

I was in Wellington mid-March and just happened to pop into Arty Bees bookshops after dinner and this and a number of other books were just begging to be taken home. It was open very late night on a Saturday - my wallet got a good work-out that night :-)

Did I mention that I really really really like Arty Bees bookshop?!?!?!?!

Book Babble - February 2016

Hmmmm interesting!  On reviewing the books I read last month 9 were eBooks vs 4 paperbacks.  Actually of the 219 books I read in 2015 (72 being picture books I reviewed), 106 were eBooks .... making my physical book total 41!!!!  Wow, that's quite scary!  I'll be interested to see what the breakdown is this month.

Electronic devices give instant access to reading material making them a handy tool for those of us keen to keep up our reading - especially when we finish a book in a series and just can't wait till the book shop or library opens again on Monday morning.  I always thought that I'd read more physical books over eBooks  - I love the tactility of a physical book (smell, feel, page turning.... Mmmmmm books!).  I remember when eBooks & eReaders first became available I honestly thought they wouldn't ever really take over from 'real' books ... at least not in my own reading collection.  Now my TBR pile numbers in the hundreds ... in eBooks alone!!!!

I read an interesting article recently re owning physical books vs leasing eBooks - yes it was aimed at Amazon, but in reality it is can relate to any provider of eBooks.  I hadn't actually given any thought to all those eBooks I've been buying but it got me thinking about the amount of money I've been spending on books (both physical & eBook) and the longevity of the use of these books.  Most of us assume that when we buy an eBook or app online we own it.  In actuality we are only leasing or renting long-term the use of this item.  We can't lend it out to anyone else.  We can't on-sell it.  And if the provider decides for some reason that they are no longer stocking that item it can be removed from our collection, or they may go out of business and cease to exist at all!!! 

On the plus side, you don't have to worry about the binding falling apart after one or two readings (sometimes during the first reading). It doesn't get misplaced among your many bookcases or packing boxes. It can't be damaged by excess moisture or the family pet. And if you are a library you don't have to chase overdue items!  At the end of the day we have to trust that the providers of our eBooks are going to be around for a very long time .... after all I honestly can't see our use of eBooks and the like reducing anytime soon (unless we all end up in a dystopian world where power and access to the Internet is no longer available - Nooooooooooo!).   We have to decide at the time of purchasing wether a physical book or an eBook is going to be the best fit for our need.

On a different topic .... For our PD teacher only day at the start of the term we had the pleasure of Mark Treadwell's company.  He has done a lot of research into how the brain works and he is a strong advocate of visual and oral language over the written and read.  His presentation was highly interesting and extremely thought provoking. For more information about Mark and his research visit his website.  

However at the end of the day it reiterated to me my belief that we need a variety of platforms to ensure our students (and actually anyone that wants to learn) are able to learn and gain knowledge in a way that best suits their needs. As part of this variety of platforms we should also be providing multiple formats of material enabling our learners to find the information they need in a way that continues to promote their lifelong learning. 

Whilst I love reading books not everyone gets the same pleasure from it. It could be that the font is too small, the size of the book may be off-putting, there are too many words, not enough visual clues, it's just plain boring ..... there are just so many reasons.  Providing multiple formats of 'reading' material ensures that our students can continue to grow their thirst for knowledge, gain a love of reading and set them firmly on their path as lifelong learners.  Formats of reading material are as varied as the genres that are available.  They can be physical books, eBooks, audio books, graphic novels, videos, oral retellings (either being read to, or like our traditional myths and legends, being handed down from generation to generation at social gatherings), magazines, Internet files ..... the list goes on. 

As a library our responsibility to our members (yep read an article recently that called library visitors members rather than users - sounds so much better) is to provide a space they feel comfortable in with a variety of 'areas' to cater to their different requirements; approachable staff that are willing and able to help with the many and varied needs of our members; a willingness of the library and staff to adapt to the constantly changing information landscape keeping them at the forefront of Information & Library Services; and above all else, a variety of appropriate resources to assist and tempt their curiosity.  'Appropriate' being that different libraries serve different communities and whilst we don't (or shouldn't) censor our resources we certainly need to be mindful of the special circumstances of each library community. 

So here is WIBR this month ....... Sorry it's a bit of a 'paranormal' joy ride!   Trying it in alphabetical order this time rather than the order in which I read them.  Next month I'll try sorting them in alpha order AND by age category.   Gotta try thinking outside the square and come up with the process that works best.  Definitely typing my notes up as I read/finish a book is the easiest tho :) #cleverthinking

NOTE: ** Denotes sexual content (school librarians use your discretion)

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3013 Bk 11 Genisis** / Laurie Roma [eBook]

4 stars

Adult. Paranormal. Erotica

If you like your romance of the Sci Fi / Alien variety then this is a really good series to get hooked on. The erotica component comes mostly from the fact that this series is about multiple partner relationships ... hence things get a bit 'racey' in the bedroom scenes.  In saying that there is really only one scene that is rather descriptive.  

The storylines are well written and are easy to follow if you are reading one of the series as a standalone.  However following the series in order gives you a better understanding of the whole concept of inter-alien race relations and how they are all trying to rebuild from a war that wiped out so many of them. 

A nice bit of escapism!

Crow / Leo Timmers [Paperback]
4 stars
Picture Book 0-6

Poor Crow!  He's all alone and really wants some friends.  But all the other birds are afraid of him because he's scary-black!  What's a poor crow to do?  ...... How about give himself a makeover!

A gorgeously simple story about trying to fit in.  Lots of bright illustrations.


My favourite line (purely for the adults) is .... "Now Crow looked like a tit!" (A bird of course .... what did you think I meant???)

Entwined Realms Bk 1 Stone Guardian** / Danielle Monsch [eBook]

4 Stars

Adult. Paranormal. 

You don't see many paranormal books with Gargoyles as the main characters. Whilst this is a romance at heart, it has a really decent storyline (and not much at all in the way of sex scenes). 

Larissa is a human woman, born on the day that Earth and a magical realm collided. She has lived her entire life in a human city protected by he father & brothers, with no contact with magic. That is until one night she is attacked by a group of Zombies. Watch out normal ... Hello world full of all sorts of magical creatures and beings wanting her for some unknown reason. 

A really enjoyable series starter. 

Entwined Realms Bk 2 Stone Embrace** : A a stone Guardian after-scene / Danielle Monsch [eBook]

4 Stars

Adult. Paranormal. 

Tying up the end of book one with meeting Larissa's overprotective family. A nice quick read. 

GhostWalker Bk 12 Spider Game** / Christine Feehan [eBook]

4 stars

Adult. Paranormal.  

I do love Christine Feehan's work and especially enjoy the concept of the GhostWalker series. I did however find there was a tad too much sex in this one - it nearly overrode the storyline :(   Almost verging on 'erotica'. 

Even though you can read these books as stand-alone stories it is much better to read them in order.  Especially as Trap and Ceyenne's story actually starts during the previous book, which gives you a bit more insight into much of this story. 

Making It Up As I Go Along / Marian Keys [eBook]

4 stars

Adult. Non-Fiction. Memoirs. 

OK, this book is completely 'left field' from my normal reading - which is quite eclectic already!

The blurb sounded interesting so I downloaded a sample to see if it stood up to the hype. Oh Boy!  Did it ever!  Keys had me hooked from the start with her 'Cast of Characters' and her 'Lexicon' of Irish words. I was having visions of 'Mrs Browns Boys' in my head as I was reading it.  I got to the end of the sample and there was no way in heck that I wasn't going to download and read the rest of it. I seriously considered buying a paperback copy so I could share it but I wasn't willing to wait for a trip to the shops or to find out they didn't have it yet as its only just been released!

A great book to dip in and out of at will!   

The Marvels / Brian Selznick [Hardback]

4 stars

YA. Adventure. Visual narrative. Text Free (approx 2/3 of book)

Breathtaking!  The first 380'ish pages are the visual story of Billy Marvel and his family over 5 generations. There is so much depth to the black & white images. Take the time to 'read' each page and tell yourself the story as it unfolds. Be prepared for surprises that take you back a number of scenes to reacquaint yourself with the 'new' storyline. There is terror, heartbreak, joy, love, anger and sadness imparted in the images. So awesome!

The rest of the book is the story of young Joseph Jervis after he runs away from school and goes looking for his uncle. It's intreaguing, heartwarming and heartbreaking in turns. And it will make you rethink the whole first part of the book. 

A truly awesome read. Be prepared to let your imagination take off!  Oooh .... and the page edges are GOLD!

This is more of a Tween / YA read than his previous two books. I would be happy giving it to our more sophisticated year 6 students, however there is so much depth to the book that I don't know how much of the story they will 'get'. 

A Max Starr Novel Bk 1 Dead to the Max** / Jasmine Haynes [eBook]

4 stars

Adult. Paranormal. Crime. Romance. 

Thirty'ish year old Max Starr is a down-on-her-luck accountant. Two years previously she witnessed her husbands murder and ever since she has been psychic - but don't let her hear anyone call her that ... she is quite happy to be crazy, not psychic!

This first book introduces us to Max who is very emotionally scarred, her ghost of a husband, the yummy Detective DeWitt Long and the first of the murder victims whose spirit is now inside Max. To help her exorcise this spirit Max must try and solve the case. 

Quite an interesting series although I found it rather uncomfortable at times - mostly with the detailed recall of Max & the victims abusive childhood memories.  It has a good storyline and really good character depth.  Be prepared for quite a few explicit sex scenes though - both of the ghostly and real type.

A Max Start Novel Bk 2 Evil to the Max** / Jasmine Haynes [eBook]

4 stars

Adult. Paranormal. Crime. Romance.

OK, if you are wanting a 'nice' crime novel where the details of the crime are glossed over, the process of solving it moves along logically and there is a 'happy' ending .... you're not going to get it by reading the Max Starr series.  After all, life's not all about what we see through our rose-coloured glasses!

This series is messy, violent, full of explicit sex scenes, twists and turns within the crime and although the victims 'killer' is apprehended, the really bad guy is still out there.  

I read this book because I wanted to see where the series was going.  I must admit I was a bit dubious about it and unsure if I would finish. It starts off with a quite graphic sex/murder scene. Whilst there are less sex scenes than the first book they seem to be more explicit. (I'm no prude, but I did find them a bit too much!). However the storyline moves along really well and it is a really intreaguing crime novel. The character depth and the scene building has been very well written. 

By the time I got to the end of the book I just wanted to start the next one. You are drawn into the details of Max's life, the possibility of her relationship with Witt and the hints that are coming out about the instigator of these crimes. Whilst the main crime is solved there is that need to follow the story to its ultimate (hopefully) conclusion. 

Muddle & Mo / Nikki Slade Robinson [Paperback]
4 stars
Picture Book 0-6.  New Zealand author
This is one of those really simple stories where the images DO make a difference.

Muddle (the duck) and Mo (the goat) are friends.  Unfortunately Muddle is a bit confused about the fact Mo doesn't look or act like him.


I absolutely love the look on Mo's face when Muddle informs him he is a "funny colour for a duck!".  And the look of horror on Muddle's face when he thinks that HE is a goat!  Brilliant!!!!

A great read for fans of 'Baa Baa Smart Sheep'.


Preposterous Rhinoceros / Tracey Gunaratnam [Paperback]
4 stars
Picture Book 0-6
I loved, loved, loved, loved, loved this book.  It's silly, it's colourful, and it's about reading books.

All the animals in the jungle love story time.  And the best person to read books to them is King Lion.  But oh the disaster ..... King Lion has lost his voice.  Who can the animals pick to read their favourite book?    Luckily Rhinoceros offers.  Unfortunately he doesn't actually know how to read.

The animals all offer suggestions of how Rhinoceros can learn to read, with much hilarity ensuing as he takes their ideas quite literally.


A fantastic read-aloud.  Great to use for prediction as well.

Wild Operatives Bk 1 The Right to Bear Arms** / Vivienne Savage [eBook]

3 stars

Adult. Paranormal. Romance. 

A light romantic read.