Saturday, April 30, 2016

It's Saturday! Giveaway Hints #17

  • Amazon gift card giveaways: Over at The Blair Book Project a fun spin on the Blair Witch Project there is a $25 Amazon gift card giveaway going on in tandem for the release book blitz of The Secrets We Keep by Trisha Leaver. Ends in less than 26 hours. Go enter fast.

Book Lover in Florida has a giveaway for a Gyft gift card good for using at Amazon.com plus various other stores. Ends May 13, 2016.

While Booktalk with Eileen has a $50 Amazon gift card and bracelet giveaway as part of the online book tour stop for Fatal Honor by Misty Evans. International giveaway and ends May 7, 2016.

Born to Read Books is having a giveaway for an Amazon Fire as well, in part to celebrate the online book tour of Something More than This by Barbie Bohrman. Ends May 8, 2016.

Friday, April 29, 2016

[Veteran Book Blogger Tips] Don't Worry about the Amount of Comments You Get


Whether denied or not, bloggers, all do crave comments for their blog but I'll tell you why that doesn't matter. You shouldn't care about that because a lot of the time and worry you put on that amounts to low quality comments that are at best superficial. And I don't know about you but I would rather get authentic, from the heart comments rather than simple comments like great post or looks great or nice post check out mine.

It's fine if people leave links or ways to get to their blog but along with that one would want their comments to be meaningful and not superficial.

That's why if you're a new blogger or someone who plans to be book blogging in the long run you should get used to not seeing comments on many of your posts. The faster you get used to this reality, the better, that way you won't ever lose drive or enthusiasm for blogging. Instead you should attempt to see this blogging thing as a way to bring benefit to your readers. Once you do that your readers will see the value of your blog and continue to visit thus attracting more traffic to your blog. Maybe even bring readers who comment, but remember. Comments are still not everything. It is the value you bring to others that matters.



About the blogger


A blogger at Book & Movie Dimension a Blog for years. I, Cassandra, pride myself on finding the next hottest thing in Entertainment wherever it may hide: books, movies, music, you name it. Huge reader, anime watcher, and huge appreciator of TK from Ling tosite sigure music and Ling tosite sigure music.

Follow me on Instgram: Culture.blogger

Thursday, April 28, 2016

Audio Book Review of The World As We Know It by Joseph Monninger

Overview
A lifetime of friendship begins the day brothers Ed and Allard save Sarah from drowning in an icy river near their rural New Hampshire home. Though their paths diverge through the years, the connection between the three endures until a heartbreaking tragedy in the remote mountains of Wyoming forces Sarah and Allard to confront the unthinkable. In their grief, they find themselves on separate journeys that test the enduring bonds of their relationship and time’s unremitting power to heal. Poignant and transformative, The World as We Know It is subtle and heartrending—a love story of friendship, nature, and the surprising twists that can alter our destinies forever.


Recommended: Yes.


About The World As We Know It
Available as: Paperback $11.76 from Amazon.com, E-book $10.99 from Amazon.com Kindle's Edition             
Recommended Ages: 15 and Up
                                                             Paperback: 320 pgs.
PublishedOctober 11th 2011 by Gallery Books (first published June 7th 2011)

For This Review: *Paperback Copy Provided by the Publisher*


To listen to the audio book review please consider turning up the volume to better hear the audio. Other than that enjoy getting to know more about the book.

*This is a new re-worked version of my 2012 audio book review that unfortunately disappeared because of Houndbite an audio hosting site*
            

                                                   



About the Author
Joseph Monninger has published eleven novels and three non-fiction books. His work has appeared in American Heritage, Scientific American, Readers Digest, Glamour, Playboy, Story, Fiction, The Boston Globe, Sports Illustrated and Ellery Queen, among other publications. He has twice received fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts and has also received a fellowship from the New Hampshire Council for the Arts. His young adult novel, Baby, was awarded the 2008 award for best children’s literature from the Peace Corps Writers. It was also chosen as a top ten book by YALSA, the American Library Association. The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s’ Books awarded Hippie Chick, a young adult novel, a blue ribbon for a top book of 2008. 


Joseph Monninger grew up in Westfield, New Jersey and attended Temple University on a football scholarship. He served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Upper Volta, now Burkina Faso, from 1975-77. He has been a licensed New Hampshire Fishing Guide and has fly-fished from New Zealand to Wyoming’s Wind River Range. He lives with his wife, Wendy, and his son, Justin, in a converted barn near New Hampshire’s Baker River. For several years his family competed in the New England Sled Dog sprint races and ran a small sled dog business in New Hampshire’s White Mountains. Laika and Willow, two sled dogs, live in happy retirement with them. 


Updates


A new podcast episode of my new anime podcast has been uploaded on Youtube. Episode 2.


[Veteran Book Blogger Tips] Increase Your Blog Traffic Organically


It is time for celebration of me pulling this off. I have managed to blog for about 5 years on here. Sure I took a break but since then I have been back and I'm continuing on. Chugging along even if in a snail's pace. 

Even so as I alluded to before, the book blogging world has changed. A lot of the book bloggers that I had known in 2011 and 2012 are gone and recently I have taken note of these never before seen book blogs and book bloggers popping up. Many of them ones who only just begun.

And while I would love to see them struggle on their own (hey everything in life requires you work for it). I think I would rather help since we're all going to the same place book blogging-wise so why not do it all together?

Here are tips I have personally used to drive traffic:

1. Be active on social media: For book bloggers in particular I suggest Twitter. You can talk about your favorite books on there, share quotes from books that resonate with you, and even upload photos right on there.

2. Host blog giveaways: Giveaways draw people and those people can become readers. Sure you may believe some won't stick around but that is pessimistic thinking. Some of them but not all may stay and continue checking out your blog. Thereby becoming faithful readers to your blog.

3. Join a giveaway blog hop: Alone a blog giveaway can drive traffic but when you join one in a circuit tied with other bloggers and blogs this brings a greater influx of individuals and potential readers.
Hosted by Shannon at It Starts at Midnight

4. Visit, read, and comment on other people's blogs: Bloggers believe if they write people will come. That is wrong. You need to get out there and interact too. That way people know you exist in the blogging world.

Best of all since you're going out of your way to comment. Feel free to leave a way for others to follow you back to your own blog. In the old days, this might have looked like you were pushing yourself on bloggers but I think now bloggers realize this is necessary and totally acceptable blogging etiquette. Mainly because it makes it easier for us to come across new blogs.

5. Share, share, and share: Your post on social media several times a day and several times a week. Think about it. At certain points in time people may not have taken notice of your post that was shared on social media so it makes sense to remind them.

6. Participate in Online Blog Tours: The traffic from this could introduce authors to your blog, other bloggers, and or readers. All a win-win.

7. Offer to guest post at another blog. Don't know what this is? Read this.

8. Write controversial pieces that fit with your views. If you ever do this make sure it is authentic to you. Other than that I do suggest doing it because people who disagree with you will be incited to comment at you. Here is an example from over on my anime blog.

9. Link off site but relevant blogs or websites to your blog: If you do this other bloggers will look into your blog and if that happens you can be sure other potential readers may come.

10. Diversify your content: I think this is majorly important. In my opinion, if you can get this right you can probably bring more readers to you. Diversifying content means you can pull from all your existing knowledge to touch different sectors from books to movies thereby getting more pools of possible readership. All this will depend on your level of knowledge when it comes to Pop Culture. 



About the blogger


A blogger at Book & Movie Dimension a Blog for years. I, Cassandra, pride myself on finding the next hottest thing in Entertainment wherever it may hide: books, movies, music, you name it. Huge reader, anime watcher, and huge appreciator of TK from Ling tosite sigure music and Ling tosite sigure music.

Follow me on Instgram: Culture.blogger

Latest in Blog Visiting: April 22-April 28, 2016 [Latest in Blog Visiting Returns!]

Check out!
The favorite blog stops of the week and why their content made them the favorite of the week of April 22-April 28, 2016!

1. The Starry-Eyed Revue blog: As Jen contemplates her upcoming 5th blogaversary coming on The Starry-Eyed Revue she wonders if she should bother doing a blog giveaway or not.


I really enjoyed reading How Book Blogging Has Changed Me as a Reader because I definitely relate to the knowing a lot about authors than you ever wanted part. As book bloggers we are invariably helping authors promote their books to the public and this leaves room for us to see a lot more of them than we bargained for behind-the-scenes.

Post Visited @ The Starry-Eyed Revue-How Book Blogging Has Changed Me as a Reader

and

I also read another of Jen's hilarious posts called The Weekend Updates of April 23, 2016 mostly of Jen lamenting the weather and when it will get better enough to read. 

Post Visited @ The Starry-Eyed Revue-{The Weekend Update} 4.23.16 - It's Hammock Time

Wednesday, April 27, 2016

DDLBiz Over-the-Knee Khaki Socks on Amazon Review


Huge reveal. I love Over-the-Knee socks with an overwhelming intensity. The way they wrap your feet like regular socks but in a higher distance is incredibly form-fitting. Makes it very flattering. Not to mention they go great in the Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall. They even go great with shorts or capri pants.

Book Mail from Andrea from over at the Little Red Reviewer!

A while back I gave everyone who follows the blog, a blog giveaway notification about Andrea's mystery wrapping paper book giveaway and somehow I was one of the winners of that giveaway.

Check it out! Just came in the mail today and I was definitely pretty excited. 


Adventure!
Old Timey Hollywood
Circus shows!
Detective's Dilemma 


Sunday, April 24, 2016

Upcoming Movie Spotting: Jason Bourne (2016)


It has come to my attention thanks to Twitter that there is going to be a new Jason Bourne movie with Matt Damon back as well as Julia Stiles. 

And am I happy to know this. I was always a huge fan of the Bourne films and while I haven't seen The Bourne Legacy yet it hasn't been out of wanting to. I am just always busy with one thing or another.

Saturday, April 23, 2016

Giveaway Hints #16


Friday, April 22, 2016

EyeBuyDirect's BOGO Sale! Buy One, Get One Free

Previously I shopped at EyeBuyDirect (EyeBuyDirect.com) and know that this online store offers quite the attractive and inexpensive prescription eyeglasses. So if you're looking to get inexpensive eyeglasses and a free pair to go along with it now is the time. From now until April 25, 2016. Enter the code: BOGO to activate this deal on EyeBuyDirect.

Tuesday, April 19, 2016

What I Hate Non-Bloggers Think of Bloggers or Blogging


This is post that I have been thinking of writing for quite some time. And I am glad it is time. If there is one thing that I hate about people who do not blog is that they think we bloggers are online diary writers. We are not. Or at least I am not, although I do see a lot of non-professional bloggers out on the blogosphere. But hey usually when I stumble on those blogs I cringe and make sure I never ever visit again.

Just take a look around on my blog you'll see that I hardly share a lot of about me posts. And the about the bloggers page is merely there out of obligation so you have a small idea of who I am. Sure there are some online diary writers out there who happen to blog but non-bloggers need to realize that not all bloggers are like that. My idea since I started blogging was with a goal in mind. That's what I believe sets my standard for everything I do. I strive to be as professional as I can be with my limited means in blogging. 

As DOZ said in Blogging trends for 2016, bloggers are quasi-journalists who put their online savvy and knowledge of Pop Culture together through images/text/video to tell a story and thus cause change. Although in my case, I am not trying to specifically be an influencer but I guess it sort of turns out like that.

A Movie Review: The New World (2005)

The New World Image Credit: telegraph.co.uk

At this point, it becomes clear how much a love for period films I have. I don't know. There is just this mystical and otherworldly quality to it that I find surreal because it looks terribly different than our own times, but at once possible. It's just so contradictory that I love it.

Looking back on The New World I am not sure when I first watched it but I know one thing I was curious to see what this movie would offer in terms of a portrayal of the New World. In historical context this means North America during the early beginnings of colonial times. When explorers were common. When the world was still a place that was widely unmapped.

Monday, April 18, 2016

Review of Let Me by Cecy Robson

 
Overview
 
Once he was broken beyond repair. Now this MMA contender is fighting to be a better man—for her. RT Book Reviews proclaims that the O’Brien Family series from award-winning author Cecy Robson “has the hottest brothers ever!” And in Let Me, it is Finn’s turn to discover how love can heal the deepest wounds.

A mixed martial arts star on the rise, Finn O’Brien dismantles his opponents with brutal precision. And yet beneath his fierce persona, Finn is raw from a trauma he’s buried for years . . . until the day his deep-rooted rage erupts and lands him in court-mandated therapy. Finn’s not one to bare his soul, but if talking it out means meeting beautiful women like Sol Marieles, he’ll give it a shot.

Sol is working toward her master’s degree in psychology, and already she feels like she’s in over her head. With an important internship on the line and a scary family situation demanding her attention, the last thing Sol needs is Finn around to distract her. The man is ripped and seriously sexy yet it’s his troubled side that warns her to keep her distance. But their attraction is intense, and he clearly has the heat to see how far and fast their passion takes them.

Alone, Finn and Sol have been fighting to find happiness in their lives. Together, there’s no stopping them as they face their greatest challenges—not in the ring, but in their hearts. 


Recommended: Yes.

                                About Let Me

Available as: E-book from Amazon 
Recommended Ages: 18 and Up
Kindle Edition: 263 pgs.
Published: April 19, 2016 by Self Published
 For This Review:  *E-copy provided by the publisher*

So, I have to confess; I have a slight addiction to books by Cecy Robson. Ever since I read the first Wird Girls novel, I was hooked. And the O’Brien Family series is no different.
  To me, the mark of a Cecy Robson book is a beautiful amount of humor, fantastic dialogue, loveable and tortured characters with a large dash of emotional pain and suffering mixed in. Needless to say, Let Me didn’t disappoint!  
 Let Me is one of the authors darker novels, as it deals with both mental illness, depression, family and sexual assault. Anyone who’s read Once Kissed – the first book in the O’Brien series – will remember Finn as the jokester with a dark past. At the start of Let Me, the jokester is still there, but he’s harder to find as his previous trauma is gradually catching up to him. Sol is his perfect foil. She’s a newly introduced character, but I loved her from the get go, given her warm and giving nature and her feisty side. Both characters develop and change in leaps and bounds, so it’s truly heartbreaking at the climax of the novel where both regress.
  Sol and Finn’s romance is adorable, and their witty banter had me laughing out loud. At times and Sol had me wanting to beat her over the head in order to get her moving faster in their relationship. I think that’s my main criticism – sometimes Sol’s thought process irritated me, as her inclination to protect those around her pushed her to make terrible decisions. But, at the same time, you can very easily see where she’s coming from, and her choices are not unrealistic.
  I really enjoyed the MMA setting, as I have a soft spot for the sport, but I also loved reading about Sol’s work as a councillor. Robson really highlights the importance of therapy in this novel, and her handling of mental illness is incredibly well done.  
 It’s also nice to see returning characters and see where they are at in there lives, and how Finn and Sol fit in.
 All in all Let Me did not disappoint, and I cannot wait for the next book in the series!
  
Overall: Touching read!
Genre: New Adult Fiction

Excerpt:

The heavy door to the lobby opens with a loud smack, drawing attention to those waiting to be seen. The counseling center is private and held in high regard. The majority of our clients come from money, but a few of our therapists work pro bono, counseling those from working class backgrounds similar to mine. Some are like Loretta, suffering from eating disorders and mild anxiety issues. But the majority are severely damaged individuals with suicidal tendencies. I catch sight of one of our more heartbreaking cases sitting in the corner beside his father. Poor kid, he can’t be more than fifteen. And there he waits with his wrists bandaged down to his elbows.
I want to walk over and give him and his dad a hug. Both look like they could use one. Those people on the street who offer free hugs to strangers? I’m one of them. I always have been.
Today though, I refrain, staying focused on Loretta. “Good job,” I tell her, knowing how hard she’s trying. “I’ll see you next week.”
“Sol?”
I turn my head. I know that voice. Loretta doesn’t bother with a goodbye, leaving me instead with a “Mm, yummy” when she sees who called to me.
“Yummy”. Yes, that about sums up Finn.
Finn O’Brien, damn. You know those cute guys . . . those really hot kind of cute guys? Finn blows them away. I’m not typically attracted to redheads, but I make the exception for Finn. Oh, and Jamie from Outlander.
Finn has the whole bad boy thing going on, tats crawling along his muscular arms, hair buzzed on the sides and short on top. A modern Mohawk, it think that’s what it’s called. Oh, and don’t get me started on that dimple on his right cheek that appears when he grins, just like he’s doing now.
“Hi, Finn,” I say. His brother is with him, the one that looks the most like him. He’s older by a few years, handsome, polished, perfect. Well, if you like that sort of thing. Me? Did I mention how sexy Finn is?
His light blue eyes sparkle as I pass Zorina, the poor girl trapped in her own world following a brutal assault on the train. She pretends to play instruments that aren’t there, reality slipping so far from her grasp, it’s almost out of her reach.
I tilt my head in the direction of Finn’s brother because by now it’s obvious I’m gawking at Finn. “You’re Seamus, right?” I ask.
“No, I’m Declan,” he answers in a deep voice.
Oh, right. The district attorney. “Sorry. I know that Finn has a few brothers,” I offer. I should be impressed seeing how Declan has made quite a name for himself in the political arena, and I am. But Finn is who lures my attention and keeps it, despite my best efforts to appear more relaxed. “What are you doing here?” I ask.
He shrugs. “Waiting for you.”
Declan sighs, moving away from us and reaching for his phone. I grin even though I’m sure Finn is feeding me a line. The last time I saw him was at my cousin Sofia’s wedding. I’d brought my friend Alex as my date and Finn, well, he showed up with some girl with big breasts and very little clothes. And funny enough, I still had a hard time keeping my eyes off him.
“Really?” I ask.
“Yeah. Really,” he answers, leaning back on his heels and making a show of checking me out. “Don’t forget, you still owe me a kiss.”

About Cecy Robson

Author Info
Cecy Robson is a new adult and contemporary author of the Shattered Past series, the O’Brien Family novels and upcoming Carolina Beach novels, as well as the award-winning author of the Weird Girls urban fantasy romance series. A 2016 double nominated RITA®finalist for Once Pure and Once Kissed, Cecy is a recovering Jersey girl living in the South who enjoys carbs way too much, and exercise way too little. Gifted and cursed with an overactive imagination, you can typically find her on her laptop silencing the yappy characters in her head by telling their stories.
Author Links: Website Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads
 

Saturday, April 16, 2016

A Movie Review: American Psycho (2000)


Oh, American Psycho this is one of those films that very rarely comes along that I just love to review. While horrific, what most people don't realize is how it is really a social commentary on the pressures of society and the stress it puts on certain people. If anything this is a tragic story. Although interestingly strangely among all this it does give birth to a true portrayal of a psychopath. Don't tell me how I know. I simply sense it in the cold gaze that actor Christian Bale gave off. His cool, and often too collected mannerisms. While suave, as I heard one reviewer of this film once say "this Patrick Bateman psychopath could potentially be anyone". And in that moment I felt the truth of that statement. Particularly when an individual would be willing to completely disregard the rules of society or social contracts out of hatred or dispassion with the way of things. Seen like this, this movie holds quite the Horror factor in a detached, psychological way. 


Major highlights of the film that carefully portray the persona of a psychopath are the routines Patrick Bateman subjects himself to on a daily basis. All of this done is a detached manner. Which is why I love this movie, I'm not one to view movies or any Entertainment for that matter as classics or masterpieces but if there ever was one this is one of those. Although in my own words it is simply a movie that can withstand the test of time over this alien, yet at once familiar portrayal of a psychopath.


If you were ever thinking about giving this movie a look. Please, do, it is a story about a young man who is a corporate executive who secretly ends up committing violent acts. Whether this is reality or not is up to you the viewer! Remarkable film that I strongly believe will always hold up. Better yet, by a female director, Mary Harron!
 Patrick Bateman reflecting on his inner turmoil, American Psycho


Standout Performances: Christian Bale, Justin Theroux, Jared Leto, Reese Witherspoon, Willem Dafoe, and Matt Ross.

Warning: Sexually explicit and contains views of violent acts or suggestions of violent acts.



Buy American Psycho on Digital or DVD



Updates


Take a look at the Tokyo Speakeasy radio talk between TK of Ling tosite sigure and Saori Hayami. English translation available now!


Friday, April 15, 2016

A Movie Review: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011)


It can't be said enough that watching The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is what made me want to high-tail it up and read The Millennium trilogy by Stieg Larsson. Something that almost never happens when it comes to book or movies that have tie-ins. There was this sense that I had stumbled on something amazing. A premise that offered something like a high-stakes mystery thriller with unforeseen consequences with oh, so human characters but with their own turmoils. I don't know there was just an air of intrigue.

And after all that. You can bet I was incredibly convinced that this film was a perfect rendition of the book's world. Trust me on this when it comes to books I am good with this. Part of the reason is due to me easily envisioning book universes pretty quickly.

Enough of that, though, why is it that I believe The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo was brought to life so well by the 2011 film? Well other than the distinctly Swedish-like setting required from the books, we also have to take into account the often times sexually explicit content. And most of these times these are never pleasant. This is something the movie handles incredibly well, especially as Salander is about to get raped and the movie uses an interesting cinematographic technique, by cutting off. Leaving little to the imagination.
Image Credit: blackboxblue

The other stronger favor the movie does to The Millennium trilogy is the development of Salander and Blomkvist's relationship. It's much like the books will have you believe. Both familial and romantic. If there are any book to movie tie-ins this movie is one of the higher-end ones along with The Hunger Games films based off Suzane Collins's book series.

Image Credit: troysbucket


Standout Performances: Both actor Daniel Craig (Blomkvist) and Rooney Mara (Salander).



Buy The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo




Updates


A new episode of my anime podcast has gone up. Episode 2. Give it a listen when you can. 


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Blog Graphics: Pictures aren't owned by me that are found on this blog. Most of them can be found via Google/Bing! images or from author press releases and are in no way used for profit. Credit goes to them entirely.

Reviews: Are not given either positively/negatively based on compensation. Reviews are entirely out of speculative opinion. Put out for readers to ultimately make their decision on a book, movie, and or product. They are honest reviews based on opinion. And ultimately I would never falsify information or exaggerate, given I do not see a benefit in doing so.

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