Okay, the last contest update! Winners have been e-mailed and are ready to be announced. It was wonderful to read everyone’s entries and nearly impossible to judge. I ended up having some friends do the blind judging for me, because I just couldn’t pick. I’m very happy with the entries they chose. Along with the two grand prize winners, there were five other winners of books of my choice. I picked out five books that mean a lot to me and have helped shape my love of YA fantasy. Those books are: Summers at Castle Auborn by Sharon Shinn, Dealing with Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede, Alanna: The First Adventure by Tamora Peirce, Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine, and Crown Duel by Sherwood Smith.

Grand Prize Winners – Ashleigh and Natasha

Winners of other books I love –
Justene won Summers at Castle Auborn
Chantelle won Dealing with Dragons
Reeses won Alanna: The First Adventure
Maria won Ella Enchanted
Lisa won Crown Duel

The winner of the random drawing for the third signed book is only known as Merry Christmas. They have not contacted me back yet, so if they don’t in the next week, I will redraw for that book.

Behind the cut are the entries of the winners who chose to share theirs. Since many entries where personal, not everyone wished to share.

Sorry about no book reviews this week. We suddenly didn’t have heat or internet the other day, of course right before I was supposed to go out of town. Now I’m not sleeping so I can staff my hometown anime conventions (which is of course in the Midwest, and I now live on the West Coast. Flying, joy -_-). Maybe on Monday life will get back to normal. I have a review of General Winston’s Daughter (newest Sharon Shinn book) all written up and nearly ready to go, but I’m too exhausted to finish it up.

Ashleigh’s Entry - In response to the first question, I say I remember the review that you gave on Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine. I have to admit being new to this site but I did read several of your reviews and were drawn to this one in particular, perhaps because it was one of my favorite stories? I like how you begin with explaining the issue in the book or the main challenge Ella has without giving away the ending. I think this is enough to have potential readers look into this. The review is exactly that, an outline of the book that leaves the reader wanting to check the book out for themselves. About the book cover, I agree that the new one’s girl looks a bit young and that can be misleading to the reader and Anne Hathaway does make a good Ella though I was disappointed with the movie.

Now in response to the second question. In the room of riches I would take time, if thats possible. If I had time I would slow down different times of my life. Sometimes life just goes to fast for me or changes before I can turn around. Now a days, my sisters and I seem to grow apart as we grow older. One is currently absorbed in her boyfriend (who is a nice guy (grumbles) which doesn’t help my case in spending more time with her) and her student teaching. My younger sister is at an age where she would consider most of the family not “cool” enough and friends are the new trend. Please don’t get me wrong, I am glad that they are exploring new things and finding themselves, but on the same hand it can be lonely. I would slow down times when we are together. When we would spend all night talking, whispering, and giggling at silly things. Or the times when we have a girls night and eat junk food watch a romantic comedy and swoon over the leading man. Oh well, as the saying goes, nothing good lasts forever right? I’m sure there will be new memories to make with them but I sure do miss the old days, if only I could stop or slow down time.

Natasha’s Entry - Question 1: I have to say that I think your website now tops the list of the best websites I found this year. Your website I think will help people see the wonderful worlds of these books by addressing the things readers and parents care or worry about when researching what to read next. The design of the website really makes it easy to navigate. I love the style of it to look like a journal (or livejournal) and I love how the header stands out. Your rating index and the picture of the book really acts as an eye catcher as well, especially for the browsing type. Overall, the design of this works perfectly.
While browsing your website, I checked out several different book reviews to get a feel for your writing and the heart of the website. I found that Meg Cabot’s Avalon High as the most impressive review so far. I liked how you admitted your guilty pleasure (Mine’s Sweet Valley Twins Special Edition called The Magic Christmas— a fantasy novel in disguise!) and still managed to give out links related to Avalon, related books, and even an actual place to visit. I plan on visiting England with my husband next year and I am constantly trying to figure out where to go there. This information can truly help when I want to expand my knowledge or find myself involved in such stories and want to learn more. I think this knowledge you provide encourages the readers to read on if they find something they are interested in, such as the Arthurian legends.

I know I don’t get graded for this, but I thought you would like to know you have such a fresh look for your website. Keep up the work. In everything I have experienced so far, you have a lot willpower and imagination. Keep sharing it with the world and the best of luck in your endeavors! (And thanks for providing something for me to sneak a peak at when I am waiting for work to do (data entry!).

Question 2: I am on Facebook quite a bit so I have friends asking questions constantly about trading places with other people or something similar. I would never do that since I truly have the love of my life, and our tuxedo kitty girl, Cherrie. If people ask me what I want for the holidays, I have to think long and hard. What book, or movie, or even an article of clothing? It takes me forever to think of an answer.

When I read this question, I knew instantly what I could take if I found sitting there among the piles of gold or even a long-lost book: my grandmother’s wedding ring. After I was married about two years ago, my mother called me and asked me if I had it. I didn’t, and asked why. She said that my aunt Carol thinks she lost it, and since I was to inherit it, she thought maybe she gave it to me. I didn’t even know this news, and with a bit of frustration and grateful tears, I told my mother I had no idea.
If I were to choose anything for myself out of anything in the world, it would be that I would have my grandmother’s wedding ring to set with my own wedding ring. I could ask for my book to be published, but must come from my own hard work. I could ask for more self confidence, but that’s something I need to learn. I could ask for love, but I have my true love. I could ask for money, but it won’t last as happiness. This ring, however, would be the thing my heart would desire to give myself. My grandmother said, “If you don’t give from the heart, then you give nothing at all.” I think she would have given this to me with her heart, as my grandfather had given it to her almost 84 years ago. Those other things have come, or will come, with time. However, who knows if there will be a time when that ring will be safe on my finger.

Justene’s Entry - 1) Definitely the one for Countess Below Stairs, because yours was the first review of the book that I actually agreed with. I usually don’t mine fluffy books but Anna was so perfect that I found her boring. I didn’t really see a drop of feisty-ness in her; like you said, she just seems to take everything that happens to her and smiles at it. I like at least a tiny little bit of human flaw in my protagonists. Back to the point of the question, it was really nice to read a review of the book that had the decency to say that, though it was a cute story, Anna was not a particularly strong heroine.

2) Does it have to be something that actually exists? I hope not, because my answer is honestly the first thing that came to mind. I’d take a never-ending bottle of some sort of potion that cured all illnesses. I look at it from both ends of the spectrum; I mean, how nice would it be to wake up one morning with a horrible cold, take a quick drink, and never have to use decongestant again? At the same time, on the other end, I’d never have to worry about cancer or Alzheimer’s either, for example. It’d be wonderful to know that–barring some physical accident–I’ll get to live a full long life without some unseen enemy destroying me from inside, so that I could die of old age surrounded by my friends and family with the knowledge that I’d had the chance to do everything I’d wanted to do.

Chantelle’s Entry - 1) Last year I bought Book 1 of the Artemis Fowl series, and yesterday as I finished reading your review, your description just lured me into going to my bookshelf and read the book again. I’m in the middle of it and I can’t put it down. Of course it’s the portuguese version, but still captivating. I applaud your accuracy and way of words on your review. The book’s simply captivating.

My favorite character’s Holly, as it is for many I’m sure, the whole story is so creative, full of imagination, and better yet, it was the first time I read a fantasy book with a fairy character that is present and permanent in the whole story.

2) I’d take a bottle full of courage. I wrote a story a while ago, in portuguese of course, but I haven’t showed it to anyone. It’s hidden away in a drawer for more than two years. I wish I could be brave enough to face my fears for what others may think of it and show it. I truly wish I could… but I can’t.

Maria’s Entry - 1. I would say the review for “Beka Cooper” influenced me the most because it convinced me that the book was just like all of Tamora Pierce’s other books and therefore not something I wanted to read.

2. I would take from the room the small gold circle brooch of opals and diamonds that was stolen from the apartment my mom, sister and I lived in after my parents separated. It was a very hard time for my mom because she was working a new job to support me and my sister, my father was still giving her a hard time because he did not want a divorce, and she also had to suddenly take care of two pre-teen kids all on her own. Two kids who were not really happy with the new living situation, I might add. I just thought it was horrible that on top of that she had to lose the small amount of jewelry that she owned to a heartless thief, including her engagement and wedding rings. If I could get some small part of those things back, it would be that brooch, which she really treasured and has often lamented. I’ve always wished I could somehow find—and also somehow be able to afford–something like it to give to her.

Trackback Post

Related Posts