Category Archives: Helpful Hints

Romance Your Writer Within by Melba Burns

Book Review
Book Review

Book Review of Romance Your Writer Within: 3 Treasure Boxes
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc., File Size: 407 KB, Print Length: 175 pages, ASIN: B00636PZPK

Romance Your Writer Within and Reawaken Your Passion to Write is full of helpful and insightful instruction aimed at opening up inner creativity and improving the writing process.

Melba Burns has written several inspiration books for women including Romance the Writer Within And Reawaken your Passion to Write. This non-fiction book is in the education and reference genre, and is a unique guide  through the creative process.

This is a great book for writers and it is stuffed full of practical steps. If followed, the path will lead to deeper and more meaningful results.  The book is aimed towards women, but the exercises within can help anyone, male or female. Ms. Burns has been writing and teaching writing clinics for many years. This book is an amalgamation of all the insight she has gained. It is well written in an interesting and helpful manner.

I recommend this book as a very good read, and it is a helpful tool for any writer. Almost every chapter provides a new concrete method to help bring forth creativity. As a writer, I felt most inspired by the declaration of commitment, and in general I was most intrigued by the blind walk.

To Purchase: “Romance Your Writer Within” from Amazon, click here or on the picture above

Online Book Club Starts Today

Welcome all,

Today we start our new online book club, Find The Treasure. Our focus is on uplifting books and our first book is Where We Belong by Emily Giffin

 

To join our discussion, please click on the page tab on the right: Find the Treasure – Online Book Forum, and then click on “Where We Belong”

 

The first line reads “I know what they say about secrets.” The little I know about this book revolves around secrets, and this first line really sums it up and grabs the readers interest.  I am anxious to keep reading, to find out what happens next, and to see where this story is going to end.

We hope you join us on this journey of discovery.

Here are some editorial reviews as posted in Amazon

Editorial Reviews

 “In another surefire hit, [Giffin] serves up pathos, humor, and one doozy of a twist.” —Entertainment Weekly

“Sharply drawn characters and finely honed sensibility add up to a story that’s as bittersweet as an August evening.” —Family Circle

“Book clubs will have a field day with this one. Thorny mother-daughter relationships and secrets we keep from loved ones burn up the pages.” —USA Today

“After five charming relationship-themed hits, Emily Giffin had a lot to live up to with WHERE WE BELONG. Luckily, the author executes with a thoughtful finesse that makes this easily her best work yet. [WHERE WE BELONG] is that special type of story that takes priority over getting to bed on time. And the payoff is well worth it.” —Boston Globe

“Emily Giffin ranks as a grand master. Over the course of five best-selling novels, she has traversed the slippery slopes of true love, lost love, marriage, motherhood, betrayal, forgiveness and redemption that have led her to be called ‘a modern-day Jane Austen.’ With Giffin’s use of humor, honesty, originality and, like Austen, a biting social commentary, this modern-day ‘woman’s novel’ sits easily on nightstands and in beach bags. Even Austen would find it hard to put down.” —Chicago Sun-Times

“Emily Giffin’s new novel about the legacy of adoption, WHERE WE BELONG, imagines what happens when an 18-year-old girl tracks down her birth mother…the latest in a string of provocative, imaginative novels that began in 2004 with SOMETHING BORROWED. All the characters [here] are on a journey to find ‘where we belong,’ and Giffin knits together their journeys with a masterly hand.” —Seattle Times

“Emily Giffin’s WHERE WE BELONG is a literary Rorschach test. The book, while thoroughly entertaining, will also prod readers to examine choices they’ve made in their lives. It will compel them to muse about things they’d like to do over, to do differently, to do better…[and] gracefully examines themes of identity, family and forgiveness.” —Miami Herald

“Emily Giffin has a wonderful way with words. [WHERE WE BELONG] is an emotionally powerful story that will ring true with women who have given a child away and with those who grew up wondering where they came from. Giffin may be working with a premise and plot that is fairly simple, but there’s nothing lightweight about the emotional turbulence she creates.” —Ft. Worth Star-Telegram

“[Giffin] shows that real love is messy but meaningful in this delicious, easygoing read.” —American Way

“[Giffin’s] novels present tough moral dilemmas all related to love. And her latest, WHERE WE BELONG, is no exception and perhaps her best yet…It’s a classic Giffin tale, nuanced and messy and utterly addictive, with fully fleshed-out characters who face morally ambiguous choices that aren’t resolved in neat bows.” —Austin American-Statesman

“A breezy, yet compelling read.” —Atlanta Journal-Constitution

“Emily Giffin is back with another must-read summer novel!” —Harper’s Bazaar

“The next must-read book of the summer!” —Star

“WHERE WE BELONG is too suspenseful to be called chick lit and too relationship-centered to be labeled a thriller. But most readers will have little time to think of a genre for Emily Giffin’s latest novel as they race through this gripping story about the reunion of a high school senior and the woman who put her up for adoption 18 years earlier.” —Connecticut Post

“Giffin has a way of tugging on our heartstrings while still making us laugh out loud…[a] perfect recipe.” —Woman’s World

“Graceful and inviting prose, careful plotting and vivid characterizations…The coming together of two people who share a genetic heritage and little else is dramatically and emotionally risky. But Giffin makes the most of the opportunity, and WHERE WE BELONG had me riveted.” —Winston-Salem Journal

“The issue about secrets isn’t about keeping them. It’s the reveal and its consequences. That’s the challenge faced by the characters in Emily Giffin’s new, briskly paced…WHERE WE BELONG. Taking a somewhat more somber tone than she did in her [previous] bestselling novels, Giffin’s approach and style mature in this latest effort.” —Philadelphia Inquirer

“Breezy and fun, this is definitely one for the beach bag!” —All You magazine

“Giffin’s latest will make you shed a few tears – and call your mom.” —Ladies Home Journal

“You’re sure to spy lots of pale-orange book covers at the beach this summer, as Emily Giffin releases her latest in a series of successful reads. The book has heart, meat and realistic characters.” —am New York

“[WHERE WE BELONG] delivers the readable, addicting prose we have all come to love [but] delves deeper than ever before, showing that the author is capable of making her signature style work with topics beyond typical relationships. Through Marian, her daughter and the rest of those affected by Marian’s decisions, the author beautifully tackles the complex issues of sex, abortion, adoption and the difficult decisions that go along with each.” —Woodbury magazine

“A satisfying and entertaining read. Giffin is a gifted storyteller [and] writes smart, snappy prose that elevates this novel.” —Vancouver Sun

Believable characters, [a] page-turning plot and [an] unblinking look at the choices we make as women.” —WeightWatchers magazine

To Purchase: “Where We Belong” from Amazon, click here or on picture above

The Casual Vacancy by J. K. Rowling

Treasure or Trash? Book Review Rating

Book Review: Yet To Be Determined
Publisher: Little Brown (September 27, 2012), Print Length: 512 pages, ASIN: B007THA4FI

J. K. Rowlings  new book: The Casual Vacancy, is going to be released on September 27. This book will be something completely different from anything she has previously written, and it is going to be available in a variety of formats. Can she successfully make the move from young adult fantasy to black comedy/adult drama?  Time will only tell, but if the cover is any example, it seems unlikely.  However, you cannot always judge a book by its cover.

J. K. Rowlings is the author of the beloved Harry Potter series.  From these books and movies she has earned millions, so it is surprising that she would want to risk publishing a new novel in a completely different genre.  She certainly doesn’t need the money, but perhaps she just loves to write. I enjoyed her writing and storytelling in the Harry Potter series; faithfully reading all 7 of the books as they were released. I can understand why she would would want to switch genres, perhaps she has written all she has concerning fantasy.

Following are the details about the new book directly from J.K. Rowlings site, http://www.jkrowling.com/en_US/#/the-new-book:

Little, Brown announces details of J.K. Rowling’s first novel for adults.

When Barry Fairbrother dies unexpectedly in his early forties, the little town of Pagford is left in shock.

Seemingly an English idyll, with a cobbled market square and an ancient abbey, what lies behind the pretty façade is a town at war.

Rich at war with poor, teenagers at war with their parents, wives at war with their husbands, teachers at war with their pupils…Pagford is not what it first seems.

And the empty seat left by Barry on the parish council soon becomes the catalyst for the biggest war the town has yet seen. Who will triumph in an election fraught with passion, duplicity and unexpected revelations?

Blackly comic, thought-provoking and constantly surprising, The Casual Vacancy is J.K. Rowling’s first novel for adults.

Publication date 27th September 2012 (UK & US)

This little snippet sounds interesting, but it also sounds a bit nasty with neighbor at war with neighbor. I guess this is where the black comedy comes into play.  I can also understand the meaning of the book cover, since the story appears to revolve around an election for a seat on the council.  It will be tempting to read and find out who these characters are and whether their lives are worth concern.

However, before I spend my time and money reading this new book I want to obtain more information. I would like to access a preview of the book, but currently none are available. I would love to get a feel for the writing and of course I would also like to read some reviews so if anyone knows of any please let me know.

Interesting enough, as of September 9, this book has been one of Amazon’s top 100 sellers for 79 days and it is currently #9. So it appears that many people are anxiously awaiting this new release.  I am curious to find out if this book has merit.

Questions to ponder:

Can she successfully make the move into a completely different genre?

Should she be attempting something new or should she continue to bask in her previous successes?

Did anyone not enjoy reading the Harry Potter novels, and if not why not?

Please feel free to add your comments and let us know what you think.

 

To Preorder: “The Casual Vacancy” from Amazon, click here or on picture above

New Online Book Club

We are starting a new, exciting online book club with a focus on uplifting novels.  This book club is only for book lovers, so if that is you, be sure to be a part of this exciting new club.

Check out and contribute on our page: Find the Treasure – Online Book Club Forum

We want to hear from you!

Our first book is Where We Belong by Emily Giffin and we will start reading it together from September 20 to October 31

This is an awesome opportunity to read and talk about good uplifting books

We hope to see you stop by our forum and let us know what you think about the book; before, during and after reading

 

 

We have started thinking about what book to read next a few we are considering are Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed and Easy by Tammara Webber.  If there are any books you want us to add just let us know. Vote on our poll and let us know what you want to read.

 

 

Interview

Deirdra from A story book world has interviewed the author of Books-treasureortrash.com

Here is an excerpt of the interview:

Deirdra: How do you feel about e-books?
Linda@Books-treasureortrash.com:  I love reading books on my e-reader because I find it so convenient. I can carry any number of books on a fairly small device.  I also really enjoy listening to audio books.  That way I can get my read on, while I drive, exercise or do housework.
Deirdra: What kind of books are you looking to read next? What is on your reading list?
Linda@Books-treasureortrash.com:  I have several new authors who have asked me to read and review their novels. I am also looking forward to the final installment in the “Wheel of Time” and I plan to read “Pillars of the Earth” by Ken Follett.
Deirdra: Is there any other message you would like to give the literary community?
Linda@Books-treasureortrash.com:  Thank you for putting your heart and soul into creating more literature for the world to enjoy. Please stop byhttps://books-treasureortrash.com and drop me a note, I would love to hear from you.

 

To check out the full interview go to:

http://astorybookworld.blogspot.ca/2012/08/interview-with-linda-wright.html

Tips for Gifting Books

Even in this technological age, reading is still alive and well and makes a great gift for the people you care about. Books can teach and entertain in a variety of ways and giving the right book can create a significant impact on another’s life. However, it’s hard to make a novel or nonfiction book look impressive in comparison to flashier gifts like clothes, jewelry or electronics. Here are various ways you can liven up the gift of reading.

Continue reading Tips for Gifting Books

Reading Mobipocket books on your Kindle

When Kindle became available, I quickly became a Kindle obsessed reader. I was very excited when I found out that Kindle purchased Mobipocket, and then shocked and dismayed when I found out I could not open any of my Mobipocket books with my Kindle.

Needless to say, it took me four months, but I figured it out. Yay!! With much help and appreciation for Apprentice Alf’s Blog.

So if you too have purchased Mobipocket books in the past and you now want to read these books on your Kindle, then I have a plan for you. Continue reading Reading Mobipocket books on your Kindle

Convert Mobipocket books to EPUB

Converting Mobipocket protected files to EPUB files*

I love to read on my Blackberry, so several years ago I purchased many, many books from Mobipocket. When Kindle became available, I moved over to purchasing my books through Kindle. I was very excited when I found out that Kindle purchased Mobipocket, and then shocked and dismayed when I discovered that I could not open any of my Mobipocket books with my Kindle. (Side note: That was an evil decision by Amazon, especially when you take into consideration it is the same technology!)

Then, my Blackberry broke and it was time to make a switch over to the new Android phone (which I love!) but Mobipocket does not work on the Android.  Now, I was hooped, either read my Mobipocket books on my Laptop (not a good option) or find a way to make it work.

Needless to say, it took me four months, but I figured it out. Yaa!! With much help from and appreciation for Apprentice Alf’s Blog.

So if you too have purchased Mobipocket books in the past and the devices you used no longer work, but you want to read your books on an Android, then I have a plan for you. Continue reading Convert Mobipocket books to EPUB