Tag: Harry Potter

Categories
Books

My #FridayReads are All Over the Place

My #FridayReads

I havent written a #FridayReads post in a long time! Here’s what I’m currently reading:

On Audio

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

 

I’m rediscovering Harry Potter all over again thanks to the Oh Witch Please Podcast so I’m re-reading the Harry Potter series. But this time on audio. It’s been delightful. Do check out the Oh Witch Please podcast. WARNING: Not safe for work or children.

On My Lunchbreak

The Circle by Dave Eggar

 

For Bookclub

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

 

Believe it or not, kids, that’s all I’m reading at the mo.

Tell me what you’re reading!

 

Categories
Books Children Reviews

Capture the Flag by Kate Messner

Dontcha love a book that references other books?  It’s the BEST!  Capture the Flag by Kate Messner does this and I love it.  One of the heroes in the story carries around his Harry Potter collection and often quotes from them.  Like so:

The boy held up a copy of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, whose pages appeared to be on the verge of spilling out all over the terminal.  The cover was worn and torn, loved to death like Anna’s copy of Harriet the Spy.  The boy grinned.  “This one’s my favorite.”

 

To be sure, I have well-loved books like that too.  Not a feeling you can replicate with an electronic book.  Or can you?

Anyway, I was SO excited to share my review with you that I made a video!

Like to see it?

 

Do you have a fave well-worn book? What is it?

Maybe Capture the Flag will be MINE!

I give this book 4 paws for positive multicultural characters in an interesting and totally believable setting.

 

Categories
Books

The Magician’s Land by Lev Grossman

I’ve been quietly reading the Magicians series for the last year or so. Imagine if you are a book lover and and you’re too old to attend Hogwarts but you still want to live in a world of magic.  Enter Lev Grossman’s Magicians series.

19103097

I’ve been reluctant to read the last book because once you finish the book, then it’s over right? Duh. But when you love a series, you don’t want to leave your friends.  I know you can relate to that.  But as the saying goes, all good things…and I think I was finally ready to leave Brakebills and Fillory.  Here’s a blurb:

Along with Plum, a brilliant young undergraduate with a dark secret of her own, Quentin sets out on a crooked path through a magical demimonde of gray magic and desperate characters. But all roads lead back to Fillory, and his new life takes him to old haunts, like Antarctica, and to buried secrets and old friends he thought were lost forever. He uncovers the key to a sorcery masterwork, a spell that could create magical utopia, and a new Fillory–but casting it will set in motion a chain of events that will bring Earth and Fillory crashing together. To save them he will have to risk sacrificing everything.

I’m not going to say I cried at the end, but let’s just say that I was sad to see the story end and if you’re a grown up who loves magic this series is for you. Read it now.  Note, this series is NOT for children or teens. Maybe wait til your teen goes off to college: here’s some raunchy stuff in this series. But for grown folks?  All the YES.

And now it’s a tv series? Swoon.  Have you seen the show?

Categories
Books

Bookburners is My New Favorite

Have you ever been in a situation in which you’re dying for a good read, like a psychological thriller or something, but you donBookburners‘t have the time or mental energy for a 400 page tome?

That’s where Serial Box comes in. They are offering serial books! Kinda like penny novels of the twenties, you can get short installations of great stories in a length that’s just right for you.

I devoured the first installment of Bookburners which is a fast paced tale of a female police officer whose mysterious younger brother is somehow connected to weird people through eccentric magical books.  If I am reading adult fiction I love fast paced action; I love to be breathless from page one.

Bookburners delivers!

These are the perfect serials for summer reading fun on the beach.

I can’t wait to follow up and see how my gal Sal is doing.

 

Categories
Books

What’s in My Ear? Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

How many of you love audiobooks? I love that I can take an audiobook with me everywhere and plug in, even if it’s just for a few moments. I’m never too far away from a good read (or listen, haha). My latest audiobook from Audible is called Fangirl and it’s by Rainbow Rowel.

Here’s my video review:

Categories
Books Children

The Map to Everywhere by Carrie Ryan and John Parke Davis

 

The Map to Everywhere by Carrie Ryan and John Parke Davis

You know I’m all about books with pirates, right? Good or bad, ugly or princess, if there’s a pirate in it, I want to read it!

You also know that I love a good opening line in a book. It sets the tone and if done accurately opens up a world of wonder.  Here’s the first line of The Map to Everywhere:

Fin crouched behind a rack of bootleg flavors, trying hard to ignore the taste of rat fu and broccoli juice seeping from the grungy bottles.

Love it! Makes me want to barf and run away at the same time.  But it also lets you know that the author(s) have some good stuff in store for you.

map to everywhere

To Master Thief Fin, an orphan from the murky pirate world of the Khaznot Quay, the Map is the key to finding his mother. To suburban schoolgirl Marrill, it’s her only way home after getting stranded on the Pirate Stream, the magical waterway that connects every world in creation. With the help of a bumbling wizard and his crew, they must scour the many worlds of the Pirate Stream to gather the pieces of the Map to Everywhere–but they aren’t the only ones looking. A sinister figure is hot on their tail, and if they can’t beat his ghostly ship to find the Map, it could mean the destruction of everything they hold dear!

I have a sneaky suspicion this will be a series and we’re going to find out what other trouble Fin and friends can get into.  Think Harry Potter and Pirates of the Caribbean meet something; Oliver Twist maybe?

I dunno but I can’t wait for the next book. Sign me up, matey!

Arrrrrrgh!!

IMG_5679

Categories
Books Young Adult

Portals, Passages and Pathways #BRMaul @brmaul_author @SamiJoLien

Portals, Passages and Pathways

 

Screen-shot-2014-02-28-at-10.24.04-AM

 

Imagine finding a door to another world. Maybe it’s in your wardrobe a la Narnia or maybe it’s a portal like Harry Potter uses. What would you do? Would you enter that other world? I wonder…

When a portal to another world cracks open just outside the small town of Riverside, it sets off a series
of events forever changing the lives of two boys; one boy is chosen to lead a world to peace while the
other one is chosen to tear it apart.

Simon Whittaker lives an ordinary teenage life. That is until the most powerful ring in the land of
Magnanthia chooses him to become its guardian. Overnight, Simon has had to flee from something
trying to kill him, seen magical spells he had only read about in stories, and stepped into the most
majestic world ever imagined.

Swept away to the fantastic world that’s in the midst of a brutal war, Simon must place his life in the
hands of four unlikely travelers, a swordsman, ranger, cleric, and wizard, sent to lead him down the
right path.

While King Elderten has ordered death to Magnanthia’s nine guardians, the group he believes is
responsible for the kingdom’s devastation, Simon remains the only hope for those who believe the
guardians are innocent.

Meanwhile, Jak Jakobsin has been pulled through a portal by two of Bedlam’s undead scouts.
Bedlam’s overlord plans to use Jak, along with his army of undead, goblins, and trolls, to build a force
so powerful that Magnanthia will be his forever.

 

Someone’s trying to kill him just after he becomes guardian of a whole kingdom? And you thought you were having a bad day!

Think Brandon Sanderson for teens.

And also? Run for your life.  These people are out for blood.

“Portals, Passages & Pathways” is a story of our greatest journey, to discover our purpose in this life,
and the consequences of the choices we make to get there. “In the Land of Magnanthia” is the first
novel in the series and is complete just under 115,000 words. It’s told from the alternating viewpoints
of Jak and Simon.

Epic read!

 

Categories
Books

Harry Potterish Jewelry: Patronus Charmballa Bracelet

You know I’m all about bookish things.  Imagine my bookish delight when I came across The Patronus Charmballa Bracelet by Joseph Nogucci!  If you’re like me and still waiting for your special owl delivering your letter from Hogwarts, this bracelet will ease the pain of the wait.  I don’t post much about fashion but PammyPam does love to dress up! I especially love when I can combine my love of fashion with my love of books.

The Patronus Charmballa bracelet fits these two requirements perfectly. Look!

2013-12-20 11.42.20

Isn’t it FAB?!!? Here’s the deal:

Inspired by one of the most famous wizards in the magical world, we’ve collected recognizable pieces of his story to bring you this awesome Patronus Bracelet.   Adorned with the symbol of the three brothers to protect and bring strength, this fascinating wrist piece features the lightning bolt that started it all. Ruby red crystals complement the black nylon braiding and keep the Philosopher’s Stone close at hand. And how could we forget about the Quaffle. Also represented are two green-eyed silver owl charms to characterize our wizard’s loyal feathered companion, and little Pigwidgeon. Black beads with silver stars bring invisibility a whole new meaning.  Last but not least, at the forefront of this magical piece of arm candy is a sparkly golden crystal shamballa with silver dangling wings representing the fast and elusive game-winning snitch.   You’ll be sure to turn heads and keep the darkness at bay with this mysteriously beautiful bracelet. Available in limited quantities only so get yours before the other witches and wizards make them disappear.

 

You’ll see that although mine didn’t have the red crystals it is still FAB!  I was the envy of all the bookish ladies at the bookstore the day I premiered it.  I especially heart the wings. This website isn’t joking when they say get yours soon, they get grabbed up quickly.  And guess what?? It’s ON SALE! grab two, one for you and one for your bestie!

What are you waiting for?

Go!! Here’s the link again.  http://www.josephnogucci.com/products/the-patronus-charmballa-bracelet

Happy Shopping Witches & Wizards!

 

PammyPam

 

*I received a copy of this product for endorsement.  PammyPam is not influenced by outside sources; she determines what she loves and what she doesn’t.  And now she’s done speaking in 3rd person.*

 

Categories
resources

Donate Your Old Books & Create Jobs at Goodwill #DonateStuffCreateJobs

Friends, here’s a little Public Service Announcement and something I feel very strongly about: Goodwill.  Now don’t laugh:

Did you know that donating one bag of clothing and one bag of books can equal up to 2.3 hours of on-the-job training for someone in your community? Add to that a used lamp, a dusty computer and perhaps a box of DVDs and CDs, and that number nearly doubles to 5.2 hours.
Donating to Goodwill and other agencies is important to me for many reasons:
  1. It’s green! You recycle your old stuff by letting someone else use it.  This saves the planet and I like this planet; it’s where I keep my books.
  2. You can buy books (donated by someone else) for dirt cheap, like a quarter! This is how I’ve developed the world’s largest Harry Potter collection.
  3. It helps people work. People who might not otherwise be gainfully employed learn work skills, contribute to society, and generally feel better about themselves.  What’s more important than that?

Nothing is.  That’s why Goodwill is so important. The things we take for granted might be life changing to someone else.  Check out this great video:

Now, I might not have had a keytar (keyboard + guitar) from the 80s, but did you notice that there were plenty of books in each video clip?  There’s something for everyone at Goodwill!

So what are you waiting for? Dig out those old Babysitter Club books and romance novel s(you know the ones with all the pages containing the good scenes folded over) and whatever else is just cluttering up your home (and my planet) and drop that stuff off at Goodwill.

Click here to enter your zip code to find a Goodwill near you.

What have YOU donated recently?

 

 

Categories
Books Children Reviews

Capture the Flag by Kate Messner

Dontcha love a book that references other books?  It’s the BEST!  Capture the Flag by Kate Messner does this and I love it.  One of the heroes in the story, carries around his Harry Potter collection and often quotes from them.  Like so:

The boy held up a copy of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, whose pages appeared to be on the verge of spilling out all over the terminal.  The cover was worn and torn, loved to death like Anna’s copy of Harriet the Spy.  The boy grinned.  “This one’s my favorite.”

 

To be sure, I have well-loved books like that too.  Not a feeling you can replicate with an electronic book.  Or can you?

Anyway, I was SO excited to share my review with you that I made a video!

Like to see it?

 

Do you have a fave well worn book? What is it?

Maybe Capture the Flag will be MINE!

I give this book 4 paws for positive multicultural characters in an interesting and totally believable setting.