tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90892446320192966792024-03-13T07:46:54.438-07:00Little Miss KindleReading. Writing. Life.
Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12431925508949755275noreply@blogger.comBlogger91125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9089244632019296679.post-62855414943287185502018-05-01T06:22:00.002-07:002018-05-01T06:54:01.867-07:00'The Naturalist' - Read it with the lights on!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Sometimes it's almost <i>too</i> easy to measure the worth of a book, one method I use is called the <i>'Rinse and Repeat'</i>.<br />
It goes like this:<br />
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I read the last words of a book & probably fumbling with excitement, click into my Kindle store, search the book or author and immediately buy either the next in the series, or just another book by the same author.<br />
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As they say, money talks, and my dollars are saying<br />
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<i> 'You, my Dear Wordsmith, are doing it right.'</i><br />
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(They are also saying.... have you heard of the library???)</div>
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Andrew Mayne is onto that kind of cash cow winner with his Naturalist Series and I have devoured both book one, '<a href="https://amzn.to/2HHnULb" target="_blank">The Naturalist</a>' and last night book two, '<a href="https://amzn.to/2HHnULb" target="_blank">Looking Glass</a>' (after which followed a VERY bad night sleep....my tip would be do not read either of these in bed).</div>
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Today I am reviewing 'The Naturalist' because, well, first things first!<br />
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'<a href="https://amzn.to/2HHnULb" target="_blank">The Naturalist</a>' describes itself as a Thriller and yep, it lives up to its' genre tag with a plot that revolves around gruesome animal (?) maulings and a serial killer who the authorities remain stubbornly blind to (picture a group of uniformed officers with their hands over their ears chanting 'LA LA LA').<br />
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Mayne deftly drags his reader through a series of ever escalating scenes of horror, his narrative pace accelerating off the blocks from paragraph one, as our hero, Professor Theo Cray, is taken into custody on the suspicion he has murdered a former student.<br />
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Sadly for Cray, this experience is probably the best thing that happens to him for at least 300 pages.<br />
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A scientist (and possibly a borderline sociopath), Cray is driven hard by his analytical mind and his 'scientific' world view provides a believable basis for his increasingly extreme behaviour over the course of the book.<br />
Cray barrels through the plot with the momentum of a freight train , committing crimes against common sense, his own body, other peoples bodies, decency and finally the law in his efforts to avenge his students death.<br />
Problem is, for all his genius, he just cannot make himself heard; written off initially as grief stricken and finally as a creepy crackpot whose toes are inches from the line (spoiler alert... he crosses it;).<br />
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'The Naturalist' is an immersive read and I only managed to come up from its depths a few times; once to check the locks on the door (and if I'm honest, under the bed). If you like your reads fast paced, creepy and don't mind some graphic (scientific) description then I highly recommend this series to you.<br />
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Best thing is, there is a third book on the way!<br />
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As always, happy reading (with the light on). xxoo LMK<br />
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To buy and read, please click through the following links and you will support my reading and blogging habit:)<br />
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<a href="https://amzn.to/2HHnULb" target="_blank">Amazon US</a><br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com.au/Naturalist-Book-1-ebook/dp/B01N1UN91W/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1525180093&sr=8-1&keywords=the+naturalist" target="_blank">Amazon Australia</a><br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Naturalist-Book-1-ebook/dp/B01N1UN91W/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1525180448&sr=1-1&keywords=the+naturalist" target="_blank">Amazon UK</a><br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.ca/Naturalist-Book-1-ebook/dp/B01N1UN91W/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1525180383&sr=8-1&keywords=the+naturalist" target="_blank">Amazon Canada</a><br />
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Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12431925508949755275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9089244632019296679.post-42999331727880915732018-04-13T04:44:00.000-07:002018-04-17T02:28:20.714-07:00The Curse of the Multitasker<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RUqVBw_Q_Uw/WszwEFIbcHI/AAAAAAAABUo/39nPoLtO95IEDuy4lqYctEQMGHuPVSWZQCLcBGAs/s1600/the-curse-of-the-multitasker-mugs%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="700" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RUqVBw_Q_Uw/WszwEFIbcHI/AAAAAAAABUo/39nPoLtO95IEDuy4lqYctEQMGHuPVSWZQCLcBGAs/s400/the-curse-of-the-multitasker-mugs%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://society6.com/product/the-curse-of-the-multitasker_mug?sku=s6-8647895p30a27v199" target="_blank">Multitask Definition Mug</a></td></tr>
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Novelty Mugs aside (and being it's creator, I do think this is rather a good one ;) I take my mission to unearth the good and evil in words seriously.<br />
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<b><i>Multitask?</i></b></h4>
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Now that is one seriously evil nine letter word! Not as bad as 'abysmally' but still...</div>
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Perhaps though, it is a necessary evil and in my case a daily sin committed in the name of being all things to all people.</div>
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Coffee made while waking up (yes, it is a valid example!), ironing done while yelling at sleepy children (ditto), teeth cleaned in tandem with pulling on uncooperative jeans and shoes with their laces still tied. </div>
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All legitimate examples of multitasking endured in the name of just <b>getting through the day</b>.<br />
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<i>Now don't stress, I'm not here to suggest a blanket ban on all the tandem brushing/dressing/caffeinating activities that are </i><i>helping us survive in our hella crazy, over committed lives.</i></div>
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I am however, worried about the effect of 'real' (aka seriously complicated) multitasking on my life and, if I'm honest, my sanity. Surely all this relentless focus splitting is hard on the mind?<br />
If I <i>am</i> going to drain my brain bare, shouldn't I have something to show for it, other than a headache and a sense that something important has <i>definitely</i> been forgotten?</div>
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Is, I ask, the Holy Grail then the idea of 'Single tasking'? A blissful 'one thing at a time' approach? Would my days, if spent in this manner, pass in a flow of focused activity and end in a glow of achievement?</div>
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<a href="https://society6.com/product/one-thing-at-a-time1227698_wall-clock" target="_blank">'One Thing at a Time' Wall Clock - My own design :)</a></div>
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Being the proactive type, I googled it, Single Tasking, and surprise surprise I found me a book!</div>
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It was even called <a href="https://amzn.to/2qrxfzm" target="_blank">'Singletasking' - Get more done one thing at a time</a> which I took as a sign, the universe had spoken. I needed to read this book.<br />
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Devora Zack, the author of this little tome, is well credentialed to examine the benefits of singletasking, being a business leadership consultant with her company, 'Only Connect Consulting'.<br />
Even more importantly, she is a 'reformed' multitasker (though as she helpfully points out in her book, multi tasking itself is a myth) and a little bit like a reformed smoker, she is fervent about the benefits of quitting...... and the perils of not.</div>
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The pro's of taking it 'One Thing at a Time' include:<br />
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<li>Profoundly higher quality outputs.</li>
<li>Reduced anxiety, &</li>
<li>Vastly increased productivity.</li>
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It was however, one particularly sinister peril of riding the multitask roller coaster that found me jumping to attention:</div>
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<b>Multi tasking, or more accurately focus switching, will eventually cause...</b></div>
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<b>YOUR BRAIN TO SHRINK!</b></div>
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EEEEK.<b> </b>My take on that, multi tasking, is in fact, a poison. A poison that will physically damage your body.<br />
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Ok, I'm scared, but is there any hope for us who have well and truly bought into the 'do it all' culture? Zack is ever confident that we can indeed free ourselves from the 'Multi Tasking Monster' through a process of planning and removing from our day the sirens that lure us into multi tasking's lair.<br />
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According to Zack, unwinding ourselves from the grip of our 'smart tech' is a good first step. Turning off alert sounds on our computers and devices, reading from a book or Kindle so our focus is not broken by a News.com alert, not (and this is a massive peeve of mine) bringing your phone to the dinner table.<br />
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This is only one of many strategies Zack champions throughout out this very practical book. She delivers on a promise made early in the piece to not 'frustrate' the reader with advice that is out of touch with normal lives (a bit like the 'save $1000.00 a month' blog posts that assume no expenses and maximum income).<br />
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Her advice is versatile, down to earth and easily integrate-able into the lives of any person who has wondered enough about this topic to pick up her book (yes I'm looking in the mirror here).<br />
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If you have stopped to read a message, check the news, spit out the toothpaste, revive a fainted Pokemon or even if you are reading this while you are supposed to be doing something else (well done you!) this might just be the book for you!<br />
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Think of your poor shrinking brain!;)<br />
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As Always, Happy Reading<br />
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xoxo<br />
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LMK<br />
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To Purchase the book, and support the reading endeavours of Little<br />
Miss Kindle see below:<br />
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<a href="https://amzn.to/2HzRCCA" target="_blank">Amazon.US</a><br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/" target="_blank">Amazon.UK</a><br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.ca/Singletasking-More-Done-One-Thing-Time-ebook/dp/B00SGET3L4/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1523618958&sr=8-2&keywords=Devora+Zack" target="_blank">Amazon .CA</a><br />
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Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12431925508949755275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9089244632019296679.post-47224557644628571042018-04-10T08:22:00.001-07:002018-04-18T08:13:01.333-07:00A Viking Dream<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://society6.com/product/wave-dreams1217405_print?sku=s6-8950647p4a1v45" target="_blank">Wave Dreams Art Work</a></div>
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I recently had the chance (thank you world) to visit Norway, a place which can only be described with words that imply an excess of splendour.<br />
My fave part however had to be the Viking museum. My jaw is still in traction after a tragic floor hitting incident that occurred when I walked through the front doors.<br />
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Whilst recovering, I have been inspired to pair some of my photography with some of my words.<br />
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Interestingly enough all of the ships on display had been re purposed as burial vessels for important figures and I reference this in my picture. My hunch is that they would prefer to be surrounded by briny waters and filled with the sounds of creaking timbers and oars slicing rhythmically through the sea.<br />
But what do I know?<br />
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<b>Vikings. </b></div>
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<b>Could.Anything.Be.Cooler?</b></div>
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Happy pillaging (and lets leave it at that;).<br />
xoxox LMK
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<script async="" src="//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US&adInstanceId=a5e4bf9a-159e-47fa-b761-36b86756a31c"></script>Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12431925508949755275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9089244632019296679.post-60744257996218456752018-04-10T06:43:00.002-07:002018-04-10T08:33:58.155-07:00This Quote is Derivative.......<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ko0VJR3Ygv4/Wsy-2h7kkoI/AAAAAAAABT4/TTCWskcbqfQ9vGeAdW9VbKn6DnuJHlY0wCLcBGAs/s1600/derivative1052762-bags%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="700" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ko0VJR3Ygv4/Wsy-2h7kkoI/AAAAAAAABT4/TTCWskcbqfQ9vGeAdW9VbKn6DnuJHlY0wCLcBGAs/s400/derivative1052762-bags%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://society6.com/product/derivative1052762_bag?sku=s6-8567346p29a26v196" target="_blank">This Quote is Derivative Tote</a></div>
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Oh yeah, this one is for all of us whose 'brain waves' turn out to be reflections; like the time I had an unbelievably fantastic idea for a book.... which Netflix then ruined for me when I watched 'The 100'. It was like the plot had been ripped from my head, taken back in time and then written by SOMEONE ELSE!<br />
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Am still investigating copy write laws in these cases....<br />
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lol xoxoxox LMK<br />
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Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12431925508949755275noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9089244632019296679.post-38804807525722034402017-01-22T15:55:00.006-08:002017-01-22T16:06:37.856-08:00Because the best Writers were Readers first!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I am most definitley #amreading and #amwriting most of the time!<br />
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Design available also as totebag: Purchase from <a href="https://society6.com/product/reading-writing-mug_mug#s6-6498543p30a27v199" target="_blank">Society6</a>Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12431925508949755275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9089244632019296679.post-89196221791515582432017-01-20T14:25:00.002-08:002017-01-20T14:35:47.513-08:00Choose your words....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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For more like this visit: <a href="http://littlemisskindle.blogspot.com.au/search/label/Points%20to%20Ponder" target="_blank">Similar Posts</a></div>
<br />Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12431925508949755275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9089244632019296679.post-8494782746514291342017-01-19T17:35:00.000-08:002017-01-20T13:43:08.568-08:00Five Words to Dump This Year<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q7O0_e0h8iY/WIFoO-kzUtI/AAAAAAAABRA/G8Do9bgGoxYsxxkZhKdGuPQpNcb_DZpzQCLcB/s1600/WORDS.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q7O0_e0h8iY/WIFoO-kzUtI/AAAAAAAABRA/G8Do9bgGoxYsxxkZhKdGuPQpNcb_DZpzQCLcB/s320/WORDS.png" width="320" /></a>As a book blogger (who quite honestly struggles to stay on topic) it should come as no surprise that I have a passion for words <i style="font-weight: bold;">way </i>past what is sensible.<br />
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I love the way they can inspire, influence and even transport me to other worlds.<br />
Worlds that<i> exist only</i> at the whim of words!<br />
I love the way they change, I love the way they make me laugh and I sure as hell respect their power.<br />
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Books, while I love them, have been relegated to a relatively small percentage of the words we read.<br />
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They are our pleasure and escape ration. The words we read to nourish our minds, escape from our day, inspire tingles in our loins, frighten the life out of us, intrigue us, make us swoon, force tears to leak from the corners of our eyes and sometimes (God forbid), even learn.<br />
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The remaining quota of our wordy feast we absorb from an incredibly wide range of sources; which is a joy, an eye opener and sometimes a soul crushing excursion into the collective consciousness.<br />
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<b><i>For this reason, I really wish that some words would disappear.</i></b></div>
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Not from existence or in an 'out of the dictionary' kind of way; retained in the lexicon but removed from requirement.<br />
No longer in use. Kept as vintage horrors, described in museums, spoken of in hushed whispers by torchlight under covers. Bottom line, redundant.<br />
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A girl can dream.<br />
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Here is my list of words that can get lost; feel free to comment with yours!<br />
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Five Words to Dump this Year:</h4>
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<b>Vitriol: </b><i style="font-weight: bold;">'Burning or caustic'. </i>In the social media age the frequent tool of the haters and opinionated. Usually utilized by those with no insight into their own impact. People who could not even imagine a world in which they might be wrong; or shudder, that there are shades of grey.</div>
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<b>Hater: '</b><i style="font-weight: bold;">A person who thrives on the hate of other people or things'. </i>Often found wielding their vitriolic weapons with careless abandon. I find this one especially awful. I mean, '<i>thrives on the hate'. </i>That just gives me chills!</div>
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<b>Clickbait: '</b><i style="font-weight: bold;">Misleading text or images driving web traffic': </i> Otherwise known as 'The shocking secret Angelina kept from Brad!".</div>
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<b>Sensationalize: '</b><i style="font-weight: bold;">To make sensational'. </i>As Taylor Swift put it, 'God this is exhausting'. Can we just read what happened? Is that even a thing?</div>
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Last but by no means least in my sites for 'use based' extinction:</div>
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<b style="font-style: italic;">Intolerance: </b><i>'</i><b style="font-style: italic;">Unwillingness or refusal to tolerate or respect beliefs other than your own'. </b>I know I have a theme here, but people. seriously, I think we need to take on board our Mothers wisdom.</div>
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<i><b>'If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all!'</b></i></div>
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So there you have it. The words that are getting under my skin.</div>
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I find them all.... intolerable? :)</div>
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xoxo LMK</div>
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<br />Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12431925508949755275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9089244632019296679.post-25430646678177212252017-01-18T19:51:00.000-08:002017-01-19T16:06:51.051-08:00Clearing the Decks: Test Driving Marie Kondo's Tidying TreatiseHave you ever noticed how big changes in life loosen the hold of long held habits, opening the door to more change?<br />
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To me it seems that change casts a spell over our lives, creating a window of time where the weave that holds the fabric of our choices together relaxes just a little, releasing an energy capable of blasting through 'baked on' life norms.</div>
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My current life changing event, moving from part time to full time work (via an absolutely blissful month break) has had me thinking about change, 'impact' and 'bang for my buck'.<br />
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In my usual style I waited until the last week and a half before 'new job kick off' to start thinking about change. I asked myself a key question:</div>
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<i> "What can I do NOW as a gift to future 'Super Busy' me to allow ease, relaxation and even more integrally, spare time into my nine to five life?"</i></div>
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Yes, more of my style comes in here, I really wanted to find a BOOK that would link my 'Big Change Spell' and real life action. </div>
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More specifically, I wanted a book that would help me address a 'hard to shift' life habit; otherwise known as 'the lies we tell ourselves'.</div>
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My 'hard to shift' life lie is a common one: </div>
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<b><i>'I am just not an organised person'</i></b></h4>
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In fact, if you went back and read over previous blog posts I bet you would find me writing this exact line (unsurprisingly I even of alluded to it in paragraph four of this post!).</div>
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<b>What book could put me in a position to challenge this many tentacled foe? </b></div>
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As a believer in serendipity, I did not question when my mind latched onto a conversation with my (more organised) sister about Marie Kondo and her globally influential book about tidying.</div>
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This was my book then,<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1607747308/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=littlemisskindle.blogspot.com.au-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=1607747308&linkId=f7ac84cfaf64003002ff4b15d47330a0" target="_blank"> 'The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing'</a> by the aforementioned Marie Kondo.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marie Kondo's love note to tidying</td></tr>
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I did not doubt that a book about tidying could help destabilize my lifelong lie. I have long believed that our thoughts create our world; so it is not much of a stretch to imagine how a dramatic improvement in our environment could alter our thoughts.</div>
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The book itself is a whirlwind of dramatic tidying advice; some of which I found quite confronting.<br />
I mean the logistics of '<i>take ALL your books out of your bookshelf and put them in piles on the floor</i>' boggles my mind. Couple that with the direction to touch all of them before deciding if they 'sparked joy' had me wondering why I had not started this project a month before. I simply did not have enough time to handle each of my belongings in a search for those that inspired a spark of joy.</div>
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Kondo is clear on this subject though; to get the true life changing benefits of tidying, it has to been done all at once. In what she terms 'A Special Event' tidy (love it).</div>
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What to do? </div>
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Being a business minded type, I thought back to my 'Bang for Buck' goal and picked three home categories to transform using Kondo's method that would deliver me the most 'Daily Life' changing impact. </div>
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The 'Bang for Buck' list:</h4>
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<li>Clothes</li>
<li>Pantry</li>
<li>Linen Cupboard</li>
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These three would be the pioneer categories then, paving the way for the rest to come over a longer period of time.<br />
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The Book</h4>
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Kondo's writing splits neatly between very specific 'how to' instructions and more whimsical passages detailing her origin story and thoughts on the impact of mindful tidying.</div>
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I found her brand of no nonsense advice and her uncompromising process, wildly motivating and completely 'doable'.</div>
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Who after all, is incapable of moving smoothly through their home deciding what to discard and where to store what remains?</div>
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Add to this a constant and reassuring theme emphasizing the magical benefits that flow from serious decluttering and you have a book that gets you off the couch and striding purposefully towards your cupboards, garbage bags in hand.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S9d501nFTc8/WIA3b82J7QI/AAAAAAAABQk/Ek1WpbcobaMNEsqV9Of_WmAim_Jit9U9gCLcB/s1600/There%2Bis%2BLightat%2Bthe%2Bend%2Bof%2Btheclutter%2Btunnel.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S9d501nFTc8/WIA3b82J7QI/AAAAAAAABQk/Ek1WpbcobaMNEsqV9Of_WmAim_Jit9U9gCLcB/s320/There%2Bis%2BLightat%2Bthe%2Bend%2Bof%2Btheclutter%2Btunnel.png" title="Marie Kondo Shines a Light on the fine art of 'discarding'." width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marie Kondo shines a light on 'letting go with grace'.</td></tr>
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In the end though, it is the results that count. After much effort and many garbage bags, much letting go and some moments of rediscovery; was it worth it?<br />
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Do I feel lightened and open to new challenges? </div>
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As I stare into my unbelievably organised and uncluttered linen press (which I have done at least eight times since finishing the process) I feel a tiny fluttering of a new idea as it enters my mind.</div>
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<i><b>'My cupboard is organised.'</b></i></div>
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<i><b>(Maybe then, so am I!)</b></i><br />
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While I don't think extreme 'letting go' is for everyone (at least at the outset) I can with all my heart recommend reading Kondo's book.</div>
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See the magic for yourself; and possibly (as in my case) some shelf space that is deliciously and wonderfully.... empty.</div>
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If you would like try the 'KonMari Method' her book is available from the following retailers:</div>
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<a href="http://amzn.to/2iLn7M8" target="_blank">Amazon US</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com.au/d/ebook/Changing-Tidying-simple-effective-banish-clutter-forever/B00I0C46BO/ref=sr_1_sc_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1484795925&sr=8-1-spell&keywords=maire+kondo" target="_blank">Amazon Australia</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.kobo.com/au/en/ebook/the-life-changing-magic-of-tidying" target="_blank">KOBO</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.booktopia.com.au/the-life-changing-magic-of-tidying-marie-kondo/prod9780091955106.html" target="_blank">Booktopia.com.au</a></div>
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Happy reading, and dare I say, may your surfaces appear as magically as mine did! LMK</div>
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Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12431925508949755275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9089244632019296679.post-82256528152164332332017-01-09T17:02:00.000-08:002017-01-09T17:06:10.207-08:00Reading Resolutions<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The good news: I'm already up to book three!</div>
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The bad news? I think I may need glasses.</div>
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Yep: Definitely reading till it hurts!</div>
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Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12431925508949755275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9089244632019296679.post-2522848731932267042016-12-03T16:00:00.000-08:002016-12-05T23:23:33.957-08:00My Romance with 'The Obsession' by Nora Roberts<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>It is true, I am a word glutton.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As far as the seven deadly sins go, I am sure this is one of the less 'deadly'; after all, my endless pursuit of wordy calories doesn't hurt anyone (other than the occasional assault on my families taste buds when I cook, book in one hand, spoon in the other).</span><br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5znzdEBQLCk/WEILm5x2gOI/AAAAAAAABNo/EZ2JXKe0qBslRHPV3lj1VdxsoByOB0GXACLcB/s1600/car-1845574_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5znzdEBQLCk/WEILm5x2gOI/AAAAAAAABNo/EZ2JXKe0qBslRHPV3lj1VdxsoByOB0GXACLcB/s400/car-1845574_1280.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This being the case, it should come as no surprise that I LOVE to listen to audio books when I travel.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There is nothing better than an audio book to take the 'trial' out of travel, turning distance to cover from a burden to benefit.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On a long journey, a really great plot will transport your mind to an alternate reality, even as your car transports you to your destination.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Living, as I do, in Australia, the distances are <b>VAST</b> and the opportunities for word feasts are many (yay).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Normally, when I choose an audio book, it is to see me through a trip of at least ten hours; meaning when I've achieved my 'there and back', so has the story.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Recently however, I downloaded a book to keep me entertained for a solo drive of a mere three hours. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><i>My book philosophy? Take your reading (or in this case being read to) opportunities when they arise, however small.</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As my travelling companion, I chose <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01DDXXPNE/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=demolistheclu-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B01DDXXPNE&linkId=a95e558b7b1fde4ea79aed826b3ea660" target="_blank">'The Obsession'</a> by Nora Roberts, who I have come to adore as the author of the 'In Death' series under the pseudonym 'J.D Robb'.</span><br />
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<a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61n9H4eqwHL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61n9H4eqwHL.jpg" width="209" /></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> I was optimistic she would not disappoint me. Supremely confident that she would deliver a book that was sexy and intricate; one that could make the passing hours seem irrelevant in the face of the unfolding story.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">'The Obsession' delivered on my expectations and then some!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I was quickly lost in the plot, creeping though the dark and frightening chapters with Robert's heroine, Naomi Bose.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Naomi, a mere 'twelve on Monday' saves a young woman from death at the hands of a depraved (is there any other kind?) serial killer. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Needless to say, her life will never be the same.</span><br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01DDXXPNE/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=demolistheclu-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B01DDXXPNE&linkId=a95e558b7b1fde4ea79aed826b3ea660" style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">'The Obsession'</a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> follows Naomi as she grows from adolescent to woman, indelibly changed by her encounter with evil.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Composed, self contained, beautiful and artistic, Naomi dares to set down roots in small town America.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">First home, first love, can she have a normal life; or is that a shadow of evil we see passing over her sun?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here's where <i><b>my story</b></i> gets intense!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You see, I'm dating this audio book. Our relationship is rather one sided, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01DDXXPNE/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=demolistheclu-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B01DDXXPNE&linkId=a95e558b7b1fde4ea79aed826b3ea660" style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">'The Obsession'</a> is always available when I hop into my car (I seem to be strictly a travel listener).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our first date was long and satisfying; you get to know a book after three hours in its' company!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Dates two through seven, were rather shorter; but still amazing. Snippets of intrigue and romance delivered over twenty minute listening sessions.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So here I am, deeply in love with this relationship, conducted solely in the privacy of my car. Sad to know it will have to end soon.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Fact is, I don't yet know if Naomi can have it all; but I am having the BEST time finding out.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you are travelling soon, why not jump into your own audio book romance! I highly recommend <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01DDXXPNE/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=demolistheclu-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B01DDXXPNE&linkId=a95e558b7b1fde4ea79aed826b3ea660" style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">'The Obsession'</a>; after all, I'm not the jealous type:)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As always, Happy reading! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">xx LMK</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">P.S The narration is by Shannon McManus and it is 'on point'.</span><br />
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<a href="http://littlemisskindle.blogspot.com.au/search/label/crime" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium;" target="_blank">More Like This</a></h2>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Buy it, Listen!</span></h4>
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For more like this, visit <a href="http://littlemisskindle.blogspot.com.au/search/label/Pins%20to%20love" target="_blank">'Pins to love'</a>.
Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12431925508949755275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9089244632019296679.post-90364710770808295922016-10-19T01:38:00.003-07:002016-10-20T00:24:57.310-07:00The Castle Doctrine: Daniel Faust rides again (YES!!!).<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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God I love Daniel Faust. He is just the right combination of conflicted and naughty to keep me interested.<br />
So it will come as no surprise that I was delighted to crack the (digital) spine of book 6 in Craig Schaefer's amazing and addictive series.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1944806032/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=demolistheclu-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=1944806032&linkId=c5b2b4c130566c35620ec5e2e7b3c0bf" target="_blank">'The Castle Doctrine'</a> rolls seamlessly on from the previous volumes, with Daniel battling his immediate problems (a 3000 year old ego maniacal necromancer and a 30 something gangster with Daddy issues) while trying to unravel the mystery behind the series continuing theme; defeating the seemingly all powerful 'smiling man'.<br />
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More so that in other volumes, I was left wondering who was truly friend and foe.<br />
Certainly Daniel's girlfriend, Hell hound Caitlin is a head scratcher.<br />
Does she love him, is she even <i>capable</i> of love?<br />
Or is she playing a long game? Gradually, with each sweet encouraging nod in the direction of violence and mayhem, honing Daniel into the ultimate weapon to use in the service of Hell?<br />
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Certainly Daniel grows ever darker with each succeeding book; leaping across moral lines in <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1944806032/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=demolistheclu-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=1944806032&linkId=c5b2b4c130566c35620ec5e2e7b3c0bf" target="_blank">'The Castle Doctrine'</a> that were most definitely left uncrossed in previous books.<br />
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So in the face of my growing unease, did I enjoy my reading time as Daniel shot, stabbed and magicked his way though the pages of this book? You betcha I did!<br />
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If you share my love for magic mixed with taut story telling and a billowing sense of encroaching doom, then you <i><u>need</u></i> to jump on board this series!<br />
Do me a favor, start at the beginning; you <i><b>will</b></i> enjoy the show!<br />
<br />
Happy Reading!<br />
xoxox LMK<br />
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Buy it, Read it!</h4>
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Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12431925508949755275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9089244632019296679.post-36989848258199937952016-10-18T00:12:00.001-07:002018-04-12T03:45:18.571-07:00'Big Magic' by Elizabeth Gilbert: A Love Song to The Creative Life<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">n <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1594634726/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=demolistheclu-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=1594634726&linkId=b792fc0361f1366abf835c8361077949" target="_blank">'Big Magic'</a>, Elizabeth Gilbert's ode to the 'life creative'; there is a <i><b>lot</b></i> of spooky stuff going on.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I'm not just talking about Hogworts' style magic (although bless her cotton socks, Gilbert does); rather I am referring to her uncanny ability to nail every single insecurity and phobia held dear by us creative types and then:</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"> Tear. Them. Apart.</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">By chapter three, I had book marked eight separate cliche destroying paragraphs designed to free the creative spirit.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Turns out, I (and I'm guessing I'm not alone here) have been beavering away creating a razor wire topped wall between myself and my love of creative expression.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Bricking in fear, doubt, struggle, expectation and perfectionism (which is after all just fear dressed in a gold buttoned coat) until my wall was strong and rigid and such a God Damn waste of time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">If ever there was an example of the Power of Words to remove obstacles and blast away barriers,<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1594634726/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=demolistheclu-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=1594634726&linkId=b792fc0361f1366abf835c8361077949" target="_blank">'Big Magic'</a> is it. Even better, Gilbert manages all this without preaching. Not for her a sandwich board warning of a 'creative apocalypse' or mega phone on the street corner hectoring us to repent of our sins against our god given talent.</span></span><br />
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So what's inside?</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Within the pages of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1594634726/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=demolistheclu-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=1594634726&linkId=b792fc0361f1366abf835c8361077949" style="text-indent: 0px; white-space: normal;" target="_blank">'Big Magic'</a>, Gilbert launches an all out attack on ‘attachment’ in all its sneaky and evil forms; encouraging all creative types to</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>‘Please try and relax!’</b></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">She has no time for attachment to the struggle, noting of the professional creative community;</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>‘'You would think these people had been sentenced to their vocations by an evil dictator, rather than having chosen their work with a free will and an open heart’</b></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Complaining she says, scares away creative inspiration; making it ‘take it’s business elsewhere’.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1594634726/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=demolistheclu-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=1594634726&linkId=b792fc0361f1366abf835c8361077949" style="text-indent: 0px; white-space: normal;" target="_blank">'Big Magic'</a> is not <i>all</i> about the what <b><i>not</i></b> to do!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Within its pages is a multitude of wisdom aiming to free our creative souls from our self imposed bondage.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><u>My favorite advice?</u></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><span style="text-indent: 23.811px;">Treat your creativity like a treasured lover. Delight in it, make commitments to </span><span style="text-indent: 23.811px;">it, dress up for it. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; text-indent: 23.811px;"><b><i>Own it.</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; text-indent: 23.811px;">Gilbert's book is a balm for all writers and artists, crafty types and chefs, landscape gardeners and Bullock decorators (you'll have to read the book to figure that one out ;).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; text-indent: 23.811px;">Whatever form your creative spark takes (and she assures us we were all born to make and create), isn't it a relief to hear that we can approach it with love, unshackle ourselves from doubt and perfectionism and just get on with the job we were born to do?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><span style="text-indent: 23.811px;">For me, </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1594634726/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=demolistheclu-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=1594634726&linkId=b792fc0361f1366abf835c8361077949" style="text-indent: 0px; white-space: normal;" target="_blank">'Big Magic'</a><span style="text-indent: 23.811px;"> is worth each an every one of five out of five stars. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">For all those who are in need of a joy filled guide to conducting a hot and steamy love affair with creativity, then </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1594634726/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=demolistheclu-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=1594634726&linkId=b792fc0361f1366abf835c8361077949" target="_blank">'Big Magic'</a><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"> is the potion for you!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">As always, may your books be long and your reading time (like life) be unlimited:)</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">xoxox LMK</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Buy it, Read it!</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><a href="https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/big-magic-1" target="_blank">Kobo Australia</a></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.ebooks.com/2146576/big-magic/gilbert-elizabeth/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Ebooks.com Australia</span></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Big-Magic-Creative-Living-Beyond/dp/1408866757/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1476773339&sr=1-1&keywords=big+magic" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Amazon UK</span></a></span></div>
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<script src="//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US"></script>Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12431925508949755275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9089244632019296679.post-39130141544765172082016-10-16T02:23:00.000-07:002016-10-16T02:33:58.242-07:00Today<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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See more like this at <a href="http://littlemisskindle.blogspot.com.au/search/label/Pins%20to%20love" target="_blank">Pins to Love</a> and <a href="http://littlemisskindle.blogspot.com.au/search/label/Points%20to%20Ponder" target="_blank">Points to Ponder</a>Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12431925508949755275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9089244632019296679.post-14004410438481798302016-10-15T22:07:00.001-07:002018-04-15T05:23:35.544-07:00'Brave Enough' By Cheryl Strayed: Prepare to be Delighted!<div style="text-indent: 23.811px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">For a self described 'over thinker' it is <i>strange </i>that I had never given any real thought to the power of quotes, other than to tout the ones I love and to blindly believe in their inbuilt power to inspire and uplift.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">But the 'how’ behind their emotional clout, I had no real concept. I had never wondered why certain phrases move the collective consciousness with all the efficiency and consistency of a law of nature (like gravity, but more uplifting;).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Why <i>‘I had a dream’</i> and ‘<i>We will never give up’</i> and <i>‘'Be the change…’</i> all have the power to resonate across the world and stay inspiring, the soul strengthening impact of their message never diminishing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">In the forward to Cheryl Strayed’s new book, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1782398538/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=demolistheclu-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=1782398538&linkId=0c1cc466eff4b08224b214b8190b0664" target="_blank">'Brave Enough: A Mini Instruction Manual for the Soul'</a>; she discusses this ‘why’and her insights into the ongoing power of quotes caused me to have what is called in the ‘self help’ world, an ‘Ah ha!’ moment.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">As Strayed puts it;</span></div>
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<i><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Their (quotes) existence is proof that others have questioned, grappled with, and come to know the same truths we question and grapple with too.”</span></b></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 23.811px;">Quotes then, are nothing less wonderful than </span><i style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 23.811px;">empathy</i><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 23.811px;"> and </span><i style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 23.811px;">understanding</i><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 23.811px;">, solidified into words that are inked in gold onto the pages of humanity. Little snippets of truth that can be shared across all boundaries of faith and space and time. </span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-H9UpR6UmALk/WtNDZ3qxACI/AAAAAAAABVs/1y41fD5Dy-scCDngn6N2OIN3zcKXCmK7wCLcBGAs/s1600/Quotes%2Bthen%252C%2Bare%2Bnothing%2Bless%2Bwonderful%2Bthan%2Bempathy%2Band%2Bunderstanding%252C%2Bsolidified%2Binto%2Bwords%2Binked%2Bonto%2Bthe%2Bpages%2Bof%2Bhumanity.%2B%25281%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="The Power of Quotes" border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-H9UpR6UmALk/WtNDZ3qxACI/AAAAAAAABVs/1y41fD5Dy-scCDngn6N2OIN3zcKXCmK7wCLcBGAs/s400/Quotes%2Bthen%252C%2Bare%2Bnothing%2Bless%2Bwonderful%2Bthan%2Bempathy%2Band%2Bunderstanding%252C%2Bsolidified%2Binto%2Bwords%2Binked%2Bonto%2Bthe%2Bpages%2Bof%2Bhumanity.%2B%25281%2529.png" title="Quotes Definition" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Quotes' - Little Miss Kindle</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 23.811px;"><b>What's Inside?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">In her enchanting little book, Strayed has selected those quotes that continue to guide her and move her. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Most are her own;</span></div>
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<i><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">‘'I considered my options.</span></b></i></div>
</div>
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<i><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">There was only one, I knew.</span></b></i></div>
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<i><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">There was always only one.</span></b></i></div>
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<i><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">To keep walking.”</span></b></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 23.811px;">Some attributed to others;</span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">“If your nerve deny You-;</span></i></b></div>
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<div style="text-indent: 23.811px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
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<b><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Go above your nerve”</span></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="text-indent: 23.811px;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Emily Dickinson </span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Some are hard truths and some gentle, all will speak to her readers at the time when they are needed, to offer motivation, solace, inspiration or just a kick in the pants.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I loved this charismatic book, wrapped like a chocolate in its pale pink cover. Reading it was a 'stop and start' process; with frequent pauses necessary to absorb those lines that caused the hairs on the back of my neck to stand up.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1782398538/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=demolistheclu-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=1782398538&linkId=0c1cc466eff4b08224b214b8190b0664" target="_blank">'Brave Enough'</a> is a must have for any library that seeks to inspire as well as entertain; as all the best libraries do!</span><br />
For similar reviews, check out my <a href="http://littlemisskindle.blogspot.com.au/search/label/%27Better%20life%22%20reads" target="_blank">Better Life Reads</a>, it's a theme I love to revisit:)<br />
Happy (and uplifting) reading!<br />
<br />
xoxo LMK<br />
<br />
Buy it, read it (and support the reading 'work' of Little Miss Kindle)<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Brave-Enough-Mini-Instruction-Manual/dp/1782398538/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1476603756&sr=1-1&keywords=brave+enough" target="_blank">Amazon UK</a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1782398538/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=demolistheclu-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=1782398538&linkId=f64add2830b33ede3e664cc0eb8cc71e" target="_blank">Amazon US</a><br />
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<a href="https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/brave-enough-5" target="_blank">KOBO Aus</a><br />
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Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12431925508949755275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9089244632019296679.post-58822535408331606402016-10-12T04:11:00.002-07:002016-10-15T21:33:03.740-07:00Word Power<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7_Zanc43m5g/V_4WRNBKU9I/AAAAAAAAAsc/hnAAglekDOkxjwHiseJ7-O43WkI7FDu0QCLcB/s1600/DSC_0318-004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="277" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7_Zanc43m5g/V_4WRNBKU9I/AAAAAAAAAsc/hnAAglekDOkxjwHiseJ7-O43WkI7FDu0QCLcB/s400/DSC_0318-004.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
There is never a time when we don't need at least a <i>little</i> inspiration and there is nothing with more power to inspire than words.<br />
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Written, spoken or even just thought; words create our world.<br />
<br />
In a nod to the power of words, over the next month I will be reviewing books with real wordy grunt.<br />
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Books that force your chin up, raise your eyes to the sky and get your heart beating just a little faster.<br />
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So stand back, polish your glasses in anticipation and enjoy, as Little Miss Kindle presents.</div>
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<b><i> 'Word Power'.</i></b></h2>
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<b><i>xoxo LMK</i></b><br />
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<b><i>For similar reviews check out my <a href="http://littlemisskindle.blogspot.com.au/search/label/%27Better%20life%22%20reads" target="_blank">'Better Life Reads'</a></i></b></div>
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<br />Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12431925508949755275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9089244632019296679.post-89105006245292025262016-10-12T02:55:00.001-07:002016-10-12T03:21:52.123-07:00The Popish Midwife: History that Conspires to Enthrall<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
I have been lucky enough to
interact with a many word smiths on my favourite social media platform,
'Twitter'. As an avid reader, getting to chat with authors is as exciting to me
as meeting Angelina Jolie would be for a United Nations groupie (with the added
bonus that I don't have to hide my unusually gorgeous husband in the
background).</div>
<div>
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<a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51zqhlQkOLL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51zqhlQkOLL.jpg" width="258" /></a></div>
Quite often, I am inspired to read books merely by the cut of an authors 'Jib' on Twitter. If I like the author, I feel compelled to read their book!<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01IIQNWOI/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=demolistheclu-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B01IIQNWOI&linkId=ffbdb6625656bcb9cfbea1e1283ab8ae" target="_blank">'The Popish Midwife'</a> By Annelisa Christensen, (@Alpha_Annelisa) is a classic example of this.<br />
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<div>
The novelists cheerful and positive twitter profile led me to think;</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>''By God, I need to read her book!"</b></i></div>
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<i><b><br /></b></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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So, never being one to miss an opportunity, I downloaded <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01IIQNWOI/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=demolistheclu-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B01IIQNWOI&linkId=ffbdb6625656bcb9cfbea1e1283ab8ae" target="_blank">'The Popish Midwife'</a> and got to reading.</div>
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There was something exciting about reading a <i>debut</i> novel that successfully removed me from my modern existence; depositing me firmly amidst the religious prejudice and intrigue of 17th century England.<br />
<br />
The plot was both remote from my life <i>and</i> incredibly familiar, highlighting how, with an appalling sense of routine, society will separate and persecute people based on nothing more than religion and race.<br />
<br />
In <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01IIQNWOI/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=demolistheclu-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B01IIQNWOI&linkId=ffbdb6625656bcb9cfbea1e1283ab8ae" target="_blank">'The Popish Midwife'</a>, Christensen tells the tale of real life heroine Elizabeth Cellier, a midwife who fearlessly trod the line between acceptance in gentile society and execution.<br />
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Catholic by marriage, she finds herself unable to turn away from the horror and injustice that abounds in the English legal system; where decisions of life and death are based less on fact and more on fear and ignorance. (Sound at all familiar?)<br />
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After witnessing and documenting Catholic prisoners being tortured, Elizabeth sets out to expose the players in a wicked conspiracy to frame innocent Catholics in a plot against the life of the King.<br />
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Will her brilliant mind and determination be enough for her to prevail and just <i>how</i> much is she willing to sacrifice in her pursuit of justice?<br />
<br />
You'll have to read this intriguing novel to find out! Combining documented fact with engaging story telling, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01IIQNWOI/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=demolistheclu-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B01IIQNWOI&linkId=ffbdb6625656bcb9cfbea1e1283ab8ae" target="_blank">'The Popish Midwife'</a> will convince even readers who do not usually 'do' historical fiction to dive in and enjoy.<br />
<br />
A compelling and composed debut novel, Christensen has crafted a work that earns its space on any bookshelf, or in my case, Kindle Storage.<br />
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As always, may your books be awesome and your reading opportunities many.<br />
<br />
:) LMK<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
</div>
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Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12431925508949755275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9089244632019296679.post-72533848185172462302016-09-22T16:39:00.003-07:002016-09-22T18:17:47.415-07:00Things I Clearly Need to be a better Writer.....<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.urbanoutfitters.com/is/image/UrbanOutfitters/39741814_001_d?$medium$&defaultImage=" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://images.urbanoutfitters.com/is/image/UrbanOutfitters/39741814_001_d?$medium$&defaultImage" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/urban/catalog/productdetail.jsp?id=39741814&category=A_DESK_SUPP&cm_mmc=Zanox_eu-_-1009338-_-977275-_-2214176450369016832&setlocn=eur&log=4">'Qwerkywriter' from Urban Outfitters</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Well, if I'm honest, this post is basically me advertising to myself.<br />
<br />
You see I want one of these gorgeous little beauties so bad!<br />
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I can just see me (for some reason in Film Noir style black and white) tapping away on a genre defining master piece late into the night. Coffee on one side, Whiskey on the other.<br />
<br />
Of course I have fallen victim to the<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>'If I just had this 'one thing' I could move moutains!'</b></i></div>
<br />
curse before. No, this is definitely NOT my first rodeo.<br />
<br />
A testament to this being the water rower currently gathering dust in my spare room, the Kitchen Aid food processor that did NOT revolutionise my cooking (thanks Jamie Oliver) and any number of vitamins slowly shuffling towards their expiry dates in my pantry.<br />
<br />
But this, an old timey key board that wirelessly contects to my device; surely this is real?<br />
<br />
I am absolutely confident it will deliver on every writing benefit I am imagining for myself, including but not limited to:<br />
<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>A sudden ability to write 'romantic' scenes where the word 'throbbing' does not appear.</li>
<li>An unshakeable commitment to 'doing the work'. Daily, As in EVERY day.</li>
<li>Stomp all over writers block. (I'll be all like, 'Writers Block, What!?')</li>
<li>Never ever. ever, getting confused on what tense I am writing in, ever; and perhaps most importantly</li>
<li>Always having the patience to edit, edit and re-edit before launching my genius onto the world.</li>
</ul>
<div>
<br />
So here I go, whipping out my credit card to do a little ESSENTIAL online shopping.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Happy Writing!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
LMK</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
p.s. happy to hear about any <b>actua</b>l 'sure things' ;)</div>
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pps I still want one.....</div>
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<br />Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12431925508949755275noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9089244632019296679.post-43972498219680171562016-09-04T01:47:00.001-07:002016-12-11T19:58:17.368-08:00Hostage to your book? Escape is possible.....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ifGvjjQU0Kw/V-MXzfkQ57I/AAAAAAAAArU/nRqkfKVhOYEJnZ6dxj_UFWASr07zoqmOACLcB/s1600/Enlight1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ifGvjjQU0Kw/V-MXzfkQ57I/AAAAAAAAArU/nRqkfKVhOYEJnZ6dxj_UFWASr07zoqmOACLcB/s400/Enlight1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Do you ever have the feeling that you have been trapped by the book you are reading? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"></span>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">You <b>definitely</b> have things to do, sometimes even IMPORTANT things. You have been guilty of ignoring repeated requests from family members that you:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"></span>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><i> 'Shut that Damn book and,</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><i> LISTEN TO ME'!</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><i></i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><i></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span id="goog_1911582261"></span><span id="goog_1911582262"></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a>You haven't done the washing, written that report or seen the sun in days. Your skin is pasty and vitamin D deficiency is looming as a real issue (rickets anyone?).</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/product/home-curtains/34967026.jsp?color=005#/">There's a world out there.... check it out!</a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">It's scary I know, that feeling that the world is passing you by, as you remain mired in an alternative reality.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><i>Slowly sinking into bookish quicksand, suffocation only moments away.</i> </span></div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Yep. It's time to call in the hostage negotiators; keep the black phone free and come up with some exit strategies.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">My favorite: <b>Close the damn book.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">It's freeing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">The sun is shining.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">The world is out there, pay it an occasional visit!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">xoxo LMK</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span>
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Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12431925508949755275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9089244632019296679.post-78544522105410283562016-09-03T01:35:00.001-07:002016-10-16T01:00:45.411-07:00Bloodwalker: By L. X. Cain; Unique and Chilling!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51w5IPKafzL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51w5IPKafzL.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">I will make you a bold promise before you read <a href="http://amzn.to/2caTG4D">'Bloodwalker'</a> by L. X. Cain....</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">You have NOT read this book before.</span></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">You will not find it published under a different title, written by a different author with a slightly different plot.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">The characters will not mingle in your mind with those from other dark thrillers, merging into one vague, troubled mass.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Bottom line, you will find it wonderfully...... <i>unique.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">It is not often I can, in good conscience, make that promise. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Being a card carrying reading addict(read-anon member #43) I am reading ALL the time and to be honest, most books <i>remind</i> me of other books.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">This is not usually a bad thing, especially if I loved the book I am reminded of. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">It is however, my version of paradise to lose myself in the plot of a book that stands alone.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><i>Best of all; you will NOT figure out what the hell is going on!</i></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">In <a href="http://amzn.to/2caTG4D">'Bloodwalker'</a> , L. X, Cain deftly weaves her magic through two seemingly separate stories; both dark, both laced with a sense of creeping dread.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Each staring a protagonist who feels damaged beyond repair and unworthy of any hope for their own lives. Both retain however, a sense of responsibility to their communities.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Rurik, </span><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">former Strong Man for the Zorka Circus, now reduced to security, has uncovered a horrific string of child abductions and murders linked to the circus.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">The authorities are clueless to the connection; with the children separated by country and language.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Disfigured to gargoyle proportions by a lightening strike at age seventeen, he is left unable to show his face without inspiring fear and revulsion. How can he, the ultimate circus freak, track down the worst type of criminal? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Crucially though, he has a clue, gathered from a strange and brutal fight with the killer. A button from a antiquated clown costume; is this the evidence he will need to catch the killer and stop the stomach turning crimes?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Sylvie is fighting her own battle, born into a family of Romanian 'Bloodwalkers' (women who over countless generations have tended to the dead), she is to be married to a stranger; as is the custom of the Skomori Tribe.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">She is elated and <i>frightened</i>, will her failures as a Bloodwalker be exposed during the ceremony? Will her new husband reject her?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Sylvie's story is particularly bleak; bound to a tradition that suffocates her and shreds her self worth, then to a husband who is abusive.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">She is however, lovely, a ray of light that illuminates others, yet leaves herself in darkness. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">With murder and violence dogging both their steps it is inevitable (and frankly Yay!) that Sylvie and Rurik will find their way to each others' half of the plot.</span><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Together can they stop the horror before it destroys them?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">I loved the elements in this book; </span><a href="http://amzn.to/2caTG4D" style="font-family: "courier new", courier, monospace;">'Bloodwalker'</a> <span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">is crammed full of darkness and has a suffocating atmosphere that will chill readers, immersing us into this strange and frightening world.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">With classic nods to the horror genre, despicable clowns, a circus that harbors death and the more unusual, a heroine whose life work is to minister to the dead, this book could not be any more delicious.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Yes, this is every part a five star read!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Get on board, before the lights are dimmed, the Big Top lowered and the Circus leaves town.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Happy (and creepy) reading to all lovers of the dark and twisted corner of the book shelf.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">xo LMK.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Disclaimer: I was kindly provided with a review copy of 'Bloodwalker' in return for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own thoughts on the work.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>Buy it, Read it!</b></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><a href="https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/bloodwalker" target="_blank">KOBO Australia</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bloodwalker-L-X-Cain/dp/1939844258/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1476604615&sr=1-1&keywords=Bloodwalker" target="_blank">Amazon UK</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Bloodwalker-L-X-Cain-ebook/dp/B01IAGHS5K/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1476604658&sr=1-1&keywords=bloodwalker" target="_blank">Amazon US</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com.au/Bloodwalker-L-X-Cain-ebook/dp/B01IAGHS5K/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1476604717&sr=8-1&keywords=bloodwalker" target="_blank">Amazon Australia</a></span>
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Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12431925508949755275noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9089244632019296679.post-85586575312106858512016-08-21T16:44:00.001-07:002016-08-21T16:44:59.473-07:00Magic Bitter Magic Sweet: A Dark and Delicious Read<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51M9rWUbbDL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51M9rWUbbDL.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">If you have read my review of Charlie N Holmberg's series <a href="http://littlemisskindle.blogspot.com.au/2016/04/the-paper-magician-magic-and-love.html" target="_blank">'The Paper Magician'</a> you will already know I am a raving fan of her delicious prose and being '<i>delicious</i>' is key to the success of her new book 'Magic Bitter Magic Sweet'.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">'Maire', is Holmberg's gifted yet exquisitely <i>confused </i>heroine. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">A baker of somewhat 'unusual' talents, Maire can infuse her edible creations with intent. Cakes to calm and strengthen and promote feelings of love.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Confections full of hope and serenity and 'charm'.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Maire uses her talents to support herself in her adopted home village of Carmine, selling delicious and uplifting pastries and cakes from a small shop in the centre of town.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">There is some grit in the batter however, Maire cannot remember any of her life before being brought broken and bruised to Carmine; who is she and from where does her talent spring?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The plot twists begin early as Maire is kidnapped by slavers before being sold into a brutal and vicious life as slave to the disconcertingly odd Allemas.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Utterly disconnected from his humanity, Allemas uses Maire's talents for money. Forcing her to bake less savory ingredients into her creations. Cakes that once promoted hope now lure children into dark forests, biscuits that brought resilience to the down trodden now grant unending stamina to fellow slaves so they can be worked without pause.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">'Magic Bitter Magic Sweet' unfolds like a dark fable; there is danger in gifts misused, peril in wanting more. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Holmberg's characteristic warmth persists in 'Magic Bitter Magic Sweet', even through the frequent plot detours into brutality and violence. Radiating still while the reader is left unsure of the motives of the protagonists and clueless who to trust.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">S</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">o, no spoilers, I can literally say no more! Except of course this; I wholeheartedly recommend you sink your teeth into <a href="http://amzn.to/2b8lMkI" target="_blank">'Magic Bitter Magic Sweet'</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">My only further advice, bring a large slice of cake with you when you read!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">As always; may your opportunities to read be many and your books be AWESOME!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">xx LMK</span>
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Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12431925508949755275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9089244632019296679.post-40945485711140879712016-07-17T22:32:00.001-07:002016-07-17T22:32:29.200-07:00A Gentle Reminder: Just Write!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9IqoTOv8_7w/V4xpm_lHQOI/AAAAAAAAApI/zQX1OhSgNmgnSjuC_02RnUNe2lwzVuxMgCLcB/s1600/DSC_0110-002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9IqoTOv8_7w/V4xpm_lHQOI/AAAAAAAAApI/zQX1OhSgNmgnSjuC_02RnUNe2lwzVuxMgCLcB/s640/DSC_0110-002.JPG" width="425" /></a></div>
<br />Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12431925508949755275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9089244632019296679.post-51758342652842733702016-07-05T03:08:00.000-07:002016-07-17T21:21:35.991-07:00Thoughts of an Anxious Creative<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12431925508949755275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9089244632019296679.post-45579204672701097432016-06-21T23:19:00.000-07:002016-06-21T23:19:07.201-07:00Let the 'Whole Wide World' Inspire you!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ClHhUrl3ag4/V2otWTP-16I/AAAAAAAAAnA/OOJkUuIhxYUewwPWpQl_LoiSN8GtqyTwgCLcB/s1600/DSC_0174-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ClHhUrl3ag4/V2otWTP-16I/AAAAAAAAAnA/OOJkUuIhxYUewwPWpQl_LoiSN8GtqyTwgCLcB/s640/DSC_0174-001.JPG" width="425" /></a></div>
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<br />Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12431925508949755275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9089244632019296679.post-89905201257054081292016-06-14T02:09:00.001-07:002016-06-14T02:09:42.676-07:00'A Dark Lure': Read and Read Again!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51A2WFZt-5L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51A2WFZt-5L.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
One of the best measures of a good book is the tried and tested 'Second Read Test'. (Patent pending of course;).<br />
<br />
Can I scroll back through my Kindle history, open the book, drag the percentage read bar back to '0' and dive in again with as much pleasure as the first time read?<br />
<br />
(For those of you who are disgusted by my love for the e-format, I guess you <i>could</i> just open the book back at page one.)<br />
<br />
Now, while I don't want to confuse you with complicated mathematical equations, (all tested of course in the 'Little Miss Kindle' research facility) I will say this:<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>T<i>he better the book, the sooner a successful 'reread' can be achieved.</i></b></div>
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From this equation it can be assumed, that the very best book would stand being reread immediately after the last word on the last page has been scanned.</div>
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I have yet to find this holy grail of great books (no... poems don't count), though I have found many that can stand a same year or even same month read.</div>
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'A Dark Lure' by Loreth Anne White is one such book that has successfully passed the reread test, slotting in with a very respectable reread at month seven!</div>
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<b>What is it about 'A Dark Lure' that enabled this success? </b></div>
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Is it the menacing tone, underpinned by the ever present grey and foreboding onset of winter (Think deep snow and frost bitten toes)?</div>
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Is it the heroine, Sarah Baker, who is attempting to hide from her past as the 'one that lived' after escaping from the brutal 'Watt Lake Serial Killer'?</div>
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Perhaps it is the handsome, capable and equally conflicted hero who is realizing that family and love might save him after all? (I do love a hero who is as capable as he is cute!)</div>
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Surely it's not the animalistic perversity of the Watt Lake Killer himself that makes this novel a definite reread winner?</div>
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If you were to ask me, I would say it is all of the above, wrapped in a chilling and tense thriller that makes 'A Dark Lure' so appealing as a novel to read again.</div>
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If you like scary page turners then this one is for you! Read it now, you'll thank me in seven months (or less).</div>
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As always, Happy Reading!</div>
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<script src="//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US"></script>Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12431925508949755275noreply@blogger.com1