Blog Hop also The I HEART The Jeremy Giveaway extended!

Work often means I tend to join this party a little on the late side. I say a little but really I am quite late here. Nonetheless clichés  permitting better late than...
I do enjoy a good Book Blogger Hop though the timing doesn't always suit me. The Book Blogger Hop is hosted over at Crazy for Books and this weeks question is

How many blogs do you follow?

Well I follow a fair few. Since you might be looking for a precise amount, I'm afraid I can't give you one as it's about to change considering I'm ff hopping s soon as I post this. It's around 150 I think.
Trouble is I don't get to as many as I want to daily cause I get home pretty late and well life often gets in the way and dictates the pace at which I blog let alone follow.
I do have a few that I'm addicted to and check out almost daily. Generally with all the blogs I follow even though I may not leave comments...I'm reading. I'm still working on my time management skills to get it all together. Ha!

Also I'm hosting a giveaway. The I HEART Jeremy Giveaway. I've had a few emails for extensions so I thought why not a few more weeks...considering there's a task involved. So feel free to get in there!

As always Happy Hopping....

Giveaway: I ♥ The Jeremy

Well I did say the best way to spread the love of this book, was to host a giveaway so I teamed up with Jo, the author and here we are. I'm officially hosting one- my very first and hopefully not the last.


We decided to make it more than just a simple entry...we thought it would fun if there was more involved. So the brilliance of Jo shone threw when he suggested a sort of Q & A. We ask a question and you provide the correct answer. Exciting right?!


So here's the question:
Which famous housewife does Mrs Bulging Bosoms resemble?
You can find the answer here: The Jeremy on fReado


Prizes:

• One winner will receive a paperback copy of the book.
• Two other winners will receive one digital version of the book each.

Deadline: Saturday 28th August and the winners will be announced on Monday 30th August.
This giveaway is International yep...you heard me open to EVERYONE! For extra entries and to submit your answer, simply fill in the form below. Good Luck!!


The Weekend-Snaps of the Jeremy Quick Links:
Review ♥ Guest Post ♥ Interview ♥ Jo on Twitter ♥ Jo's WP Blog ♥

The Weekend-Snaps of the Dragon Begins plus Smashwords Discount Code

Here we go everyone....this is the start of this weekend's mini event showing some lurve for The Jeremy-Snaps of the Dragon by Jo S. Wun.


So what's in store for you guys this weekend? Well here's a mini itinerary:

• Welcome post...which is what your'e reading and Smashword's discount.
• Full review of The Jeremy.i.e. the long version, that I was too chicken to post.
• A Jo S. Wun guest post- very excited about that I haven't even read it myself yet.I won't until it's posted.
• Interview with the author :)
• Kick off of The Jeremy Giveaway.

To get you in the mood for the rest of the event and giveaway, I thought it best to let you know about the discount for the ebook version of The Jeremy over at Smashwords. Just in case you have an ereader at hand and you don't win the giveaway, or you just want to start reading it now you can grab yourself  a digital copy and at a discounted price too! Who doesn't lurve a discount!

Promotional price: $1.49Coupon Code: KF86TExpires: September 1, 2010

The eBooks are available in these formats:

Mobi (Kindle)

Epub (open industry format, good for Stanza reader, others)

PDF (Adobe Reader, Foxit Reader, etc.)

LRF (Sony Reader)

The prices are in US dollars.



Also do take part in the Book Blogger Hop, it's a great way to channel the book blogosphere...a la Crazy for Books.


Music & Reading: Well I simply cannot get them to mix. One's just as distracting as the other. I lurve music so I tend to forget I'm reading and sing along or dance around to my tunes.


Natural/normal background noise like family, TV etc. doesn't really impede my reading...music is another story.

The Weekend-Snaps of the Dragon Giveaway plus Hop!

As some of you may know I will be hosting MY FIRST EVER GIVEAWAY here next weekend. From Friday 6th July- Sunday 8th August (the giveaway itself will run longer). I had to change the date from this weekend because I won't be around to look after it properly. Its will be a mini event over the three days:

The Weekend-Snaps of the Jeremy

It will focus on the book The Jeremy-Snaps of the Dragon, it's author Jo S. Wun and culminate in a giveaway!

To have a chance at winning-there's a little competition...well things must be kept a lil interesting after all. Also look out for the button I'm making in my sidebar too!


Book Blogger Hop time!

Book Blogger Hop courtesy Crazy for Books

FY1: Book Blog Hops, Follow Friday and Giveaway Coming Soon!

I will be hosting MY FIRST EVER GIVEAWAY here next weekend. From Friday 30th July- Sunday 1st August (the giveaway itself will run longer).Its will be a mini event over the three days:

The Weekend-Snaps of the Jeremy

It will focus on the book The Jeremy-Snaps of the Dragon, it's author Jo S. Wun and culminate in a giveaway!
To have a chance at winning-there's a little competition-so it promises to be fun! I'm very excited about too! Also look out for the button I'm making in my sidebar too!


Now on to Friday's usual business-the getting to know new Book Blogs/bloggers or ones you've not yet discovered business. Click each link posted for the rules and how to's to join in the fun!

Follow My Book Blog Friday a la Rachel aka the Parajunkee

Book Blogger Hop courtesy Crazy for Books

DISCLAIMER:

The Hop isn't just for you to throw your link in there and not visit any other blogs.  It's all about networking and finding new blogs that are of interest. So, in the spirit of the Hop, try to make some time to visit other blogs and don't post your link if you are not planning on visiting other blogs in the Hop that week.  This is a weekly event, so if you don't have time this week, that's fine!  We'll see you next week!

I'm of now to follow and hop.

The Jeremy-Snaps of the Dragon by Jo S. Wun

When the author asked me for a review I was very surprised because my blog's still fairly new and I don't think of myself as an amazing book blogger yet. I was also very unsure whether he was even the author and inquired whether he was some crazy stalker man...he's not so I decided to read and review it. I wanted the book anyway so it a win-win all round.

So what exactly is The Jeremy all about? I did write my own synopsis but I give too much away in every version I write so I'v decided to stick with the one on Goodreads.

The story of an English boy's life in Britain during the 50's and 60's.  Born into a Catholic household in the Year of the Dragon his progress is revealed through snapshots of the milestone events which forge his character. Life's oddities, including family, religion, education and sex, regularly present themselves for attention during his quest for that elusive thing called 'enlightenment', but fortunately, he is not alone. Help arrives in the form of Mrs Bulging Bosoms, the Colonel, Professor Melchior Da Maven and Lewd Rude Dude, to name a few of his advisers, who endeavour to guide him in the ways of the world. Unfortunately, they don't always agree.

This book is a story about a boy and his life told from his POV, including all the funny characters in his head who help with his thinking process and decision making. Because of this it is not the essential page turner, thriller, paranormal, coming of age drama etc. etc. etc. This does not mean it's not a great book. It is. It effectively has it's own page turning quality courtesy of Jo himself. His sense of humour and great wit is what pushes the read to keep on chugging. Jo is a comedic genius or at least dancing on it's borders. His sense of humour is similar to mine and I had a good chuckle while reading.

I totally related to this story. I grew up in a religious home and went to a Catholic primary school  just like the Jeremy. I'm no Catholic but have met a scary nun or three. It's a book that allows you to relive your childhood as you step into the Jeremy's head and live his. To quote the author this book is a bit like puberty...it appears, takes over your life for a little while and then leave you in a place you didn't expect to be.

VERDICT: This is a charming, funny, witty, warm coming of age story, told from conception...yep you heard me. It starts off with the 'Spermatazoan Olympics'. I would recommend this to anyone who loves coming of age stories. It's perfect for a sunny day at the park, where you could sit in the shade of a tree and read...provided you're not prone to crazy hay fever like me.

Reading it was like listening to one of my uncle's favourite stories about his childhood. You know at a family get together where stories are shared and you find yourself laughing along not only for the jokes but the level at which you relate. Because you do/did similar things or had similar experiences growing up too.

It was difficult deciding what to rate it as I found myself dancing between Ooh la la (9/10) and Giggity (10/10). Why? 

I cannot guarantee that everyone would relate to it like I did. This would affect the extent to which you'd enjoy it. I wasn't able to read it in one full go but that's not a regular occurrence for me either. Reading often takes a couple of days even weeks for me. 

It was also difficult reading in some parts...I thought I had a wide ranging vocab but Jo's vocabulary is quite extensive so I had to keep my dictionary on hand; just to make sure I really 'got' what he was saying. This negative however is a plus- I've learned some new words...so this book is educational too :D

I'm scoring it a Quagmire's giggity...for me it was that good and I'm not just saying that. At first I didn't want to give it such a high rating because I know it won't appeal to some and I wanted to take in consideration how others would perceive it. Some  people would pass this book by because there's no "I just couldn't put it down" magic but it is an enjoyable feel good book and I felt good.

If you love books like this...you will lurve this book!

I heart this book...total lurve and thank you Jo for sending it to me. It was truly my pleasure.

The Jeremy-Saps of the Dragon

Jo S.Wun

Release Date: Dec 2009

Publisher: Epic Press Ltd.

324 pages

I was sent this book by the author for my honest review.

Changes, other happenings and new things

Well you may have noticed my blog looks a little different lately. I decided to change it; it's not totally what I want but the thing is I'm not sure what I want or how to eve do that....I probably never will. I'm weird like that. I have some ideas for it but not an overall look. So expect it to change again...SOON. Like in a couple of weeks...I'm getting a custom one...YAY! I figure I better leave it up to the experts. For now this is a little more me-ish! Can't wait till I pimp my hide!


Also it's been four months since I've started blogging and I think 3 since I've gone public...exciting! I've not been on here since Wednesday...I have really bad hay fever; I lurve it when it gets warm, I'm an island chick after all but the pollen index kick my ass everytime; so I've been checking out other blogs and sleeping, of course reading and adding to my music collection...I heart MiniViva.


I have a new feature planned for this blog as well as the revival of my Filmage Friday feature...

Not writing which I should be doing considering I want to get some work published and I'm taking part in the Once Upon a Time Project...another story or rant if you will. I think I spend all my time thinking about what I want to write and never seem to actually write it....for shame! There's a scientific term for that- procrastination...I'm considerably good at that.


What else has been happening....I'm rereading a book that should have already been reviewed The Jeremy...I've even written the review but I want to make just right because....well when you read the review you'll get why.


That's about it for now. I'm off to post a review not that one above that one will be up tomorrow.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #4

This is a weekly event, where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week. It's hosted by One Persons Journey Through a World of Books.

Well not much has happened in the last week. I've been crazy busy...I take care of my bro before and after school...while my parents are at work and while I'm job hunting- I volunteer; to keep my CV updated. I'm still reading the books from last week so the plans of last week are pretty much the plans for this one.


I'm rereading bits of The Jeremy-Snaps of the Dragon by Jo S. Wun so I can write a proper review...and other reasons but if I said here it would spoil my review.
I'm also reading Fudoki and My Championship Year by Jenson Button.


I also have some changes in store for my blog....there are some thing it needs and I want to sort that ...so look out Change is coming...teehee. Not to mention my lack of reviewing, I haven't reviewed a book in a while so expect at least 3 this week.
I hope I have a better lit week this week and I hope all your books treat you well :)

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #3

This is a weekly event, where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week. It's hosted by One Persons Journey Through a World of Books.


Right so I only managed reading the one book again and even that took some doing. It wasn't the book's fault mostly mine. I've been very busy this week trying to sort my life out, with potential Masters Degree and Job Hunt. No to mention that since yesterday I've been having THE WORST CRAMPS IN THE WORLD...EVER!!!


I wish I could read more than one book at once but I can't tends to enjoy only one story at a time.


Upcoming Reviews, can be seen in the marquee above all my posts...it moves :) 

Last week I finished reading:The Jeremy-Snaps of the Dragon by Jo S. Wun.




I'm Currently engrossed in: Fudoki by Kij Johnson & My Championship Year by Jenson Button (this doesn't count as reading 2 at once as I'm really not reading the latter properly yet just a smidge)




On Deck for Next Read: The Pissed-Off Parents Club by Mink Elliot & The Last Concubine by Lesley Downer.





Any new books?...Why yes simply click my Mail on Sunday, sidebar pic, all new books will be pictured there.


I am also thinking about changing the look of my blog...I like it but it's not totally me and because I'm still new and relatively clueless to CSS, HTML and Java...I'm not sure how to make it more me...well I might just leave but I might not who knows...I also need to top up on my pain killers...I hate cramps!


Well that's me...off to post a review...it's been a while, I keep writing them and forgetting to post! I AM occasionally silly like that.

Teaser Tuesday: The Jeremy

Teaser Tuesdays, is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.It's very easy to get involved. Just do the following:

Grab your current read

Open to a random page

Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page...

NO SPOILERS! SO BE CAREFUL! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Teasing you today is The Jeremy-Snaps of the Dragon by Jo S. Wun.

"EVIL CHILD!"she screamed, over the roar of the baying crowd," THERE'S A SPECIAL PLACE IN HELL JUST WAITING FOR YOU!" Then, abruptly, there was silence. The spotlight snapped off and there was total darkness. p. 91

Good huh?! That's all folks...