In My Mailbox (6)

Hi. My wallet is currently mad at me right now. I had to hide it away because it’s about to scream obscenities at me for…well, spending so much. I can feel it grumbling at me at the middle of the week, but as of today, it’s positively seething.

But, but, I have a very good justification why I spent so much this week. One thing is the Cebu vacation…and another…well, are books. :P It didn’t spend as much as if I buy a Branson Missouri vacation, anyway. That is a perfectly justifiable expense even if I know I have about what, 70 books that I have yet to read.

Yeah, yeah, like that means something.

So yeah, I’m doing an In My Mailbox post this week because I find that I have a pretty huge stash of books this week! Well, including Friday last week, since I kind of count that purchase as part of the weekend purchase, and it feels like I just bought it this week. In My Mailbox is a weekly book meme hosted by Kristi from The Story Siren, where bloggers post about what books received that week, be it via  mailbox, library or store.

And here we go. *throws wallet under the bag and ignores it angry screams*

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All Things Dystopian (YA-D2 Challenge)

Lately I realized that I have been avoiding the shelves I frequent in the bookstore when I started reading more. By these shelves, I mean the shelves that contain paranormal romance, and even plain contemporary young adult romance. I don’t really know when or why it started, but I find myself not getting interested in any of the new stuff under those sub-genre. More often than not, I feel relieved when I decide not to pick up the book especially after I find some of the reviewers I follow say that they didn’t like the book or it’s a Twilight derivative. I mean, who wants that, right? (No offense to anyone, of course)

After some time, I realized again that I seemed to have found a new pattern to the books I have been reading lately, and I can only blame some of the guys I got to know recently for this new sub-genre fascination.

Friends, I think I fell in love with dystopia.

Aaron posted about this last week, and he managed to convince me to try out this challenge on top of the other challenges I’m doing. I figure, what the heck, right? It’s not like it’s going to be a hard challenge, anyway, what with all the dystopia books waiting on my TBR shelf.

So, yeah, here’s another one for my challenges for this year. I’m joining Bart’s Bookshelf‘s YA-D2: The YA Dystopian Reading Challenge. You want something crazier? I’m going for the die-hard’s choice:

Welcome to Level 3.

Oooh, how ominous. According to the challenge:

Level 3: Is for the dystopian die-hards! Minimum requirement for this level is five young adult dystopian novels, between the 1st October and 19th December. There is, however no maximum cap, you can keep reading for as many books as you like!

Just five, huh. I could do that. I mean, I set to read 20 fantasy books this year, and I lost count at how many I read this year. So, unless the world ends or the zombie apocalypse comes, I don’t think there would be a reason why I won’t be able to finish this challenge. :)

And now the books I will read for this challenge. Much thanks to Aaron for pointing them out of my shelf. :D

  1. The Ask and the Answer by Patrick Ness
  2. Gone by Michael Grant
  3. Tomorrow, When the War Began by John Marsden
  4. The Dead of the Night by John Marsden
  5. Z by Michael Thomas Ford

Wait, just five? I think I still have some I can add to this list! Some reserves/alternates, in case I don’t get to read the others for some reason, or in case I feel like going on and on and on and on until the challenge ends.

And that should be enough. I guess I’ll take today up until the end of September to read the other “normal” books I have before I plunge into all the end-of-the-world/post-apocalyptic dystopia goodness. :)

OMP 2010 Halfway Checkpoint

What do you know, it’s July! It’s the second half of 2010 — I echo everyone with what they’re saying: where did time go?

I thought I’d take a break from the scheduled Sample Fridays and instead, do the (obligatory) halfway checkpoint for my 2010 challenges, things that happened (as far as my reading habits and books are concerned) and plans for the next half of the year. I originally planned to post this Wednesday, but alas, I have no access to Internet or even a linksys router anywhere.

BUT FIRST! Time to announce the winner of my Feed book giveaway! Thanks to everyone who joined this first giveaway — I had so much fun reading your answers! I was kind of worried that I wouldn’t be able to get people to join this (but come on, who doesn’t want a free book?), and I even got…well, questioned with my choice of a giveaway. :o But nevertheless, I’m just happy to be able to share one of my favorite books to someone.

So, using Random.org List Randomizer, I put the names, and the extra entries, and the winner of Feed is…*drumroll*

HONEY

Congratulations! She did not only leave a comment, but she tweeted this contest too — so multiple entries do count. :D Her weapon of choice in case of a zombie apocalypse: shotgun with unlimited ammo. That’s a good choice — just make sure to aim for the head to kill them fast!

I’ll be sending you an email about shipping and stuff I make this post. :D

* * *

Now onto the 2010 halfway checkpoint. Here are my 2010 statistics as of June 30:

  • 50 out of 100 books in 2010
  • 26 out of 20 (!) fantasy books
  • 2 out of 10 classic novel
  • 7 out of 20 for Project 20:10
  • 2 out of 12 in TBR challenge
  • 43 books reviewed

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(Closed) Book Giveaway: Feed by Mira Grant

CONTEST CLOSED!

I found out about Feed by Mira Grant when I was doing my book blog rounds in my Google Reader. I remember coming across the cover and seeing the RSS logo and thinking, “Oh cool, it’s an RSS logo.”

Then I read the blurb and my next thoughts were:

Blogging…and zombies? OMG AWESOME. I must have this!

I ended up getting the Kindle edition of this book, and I ended up loving it so much that I knew this is one of the books that I would want to have an actual copy of…and because I really, really love it so much and I want someone to talk to about this, I bought two copies of this book so I can hold a *drumroll*book giveaway.

Yes! I figure, One More Page is already six months old, and what better way to celebrate that by giving away one of my favorite books in 2010!

Feed by Mira Grant giveaway

Feed by Mira Grant
Book # 1 of the Newsflesh Trilogy
Published by: Orbit Books

The year was 2014. We had cured cancer. We had beat the common cold. But in doing so we created something new, something terrible that no one could stop. The infection spread, virus blocks taking over bodies and minds with one, unstoppable command: FEED.

NOW, twenty years after the Rising, Georgia and Shaun Mason are on the trail of the biggest story of their lives-the dark conspiracy behind the infected. The truth will out, even if it kills them.

→ Read my review of Feed at Pinoy Pop
→ Read an excerpt of Feed

I will be giving away one brand new copy of Feed by Mira Grant, fresh from Fully Booked. Since I love the book so much, I want to share it with others and this is your chance to get to read the awesomeness that is zombies and blogging. :)

How to enter the contest: just leave a comment on this entry, with an answer to this question: What would be your weapon of choice in the case of a zombie apocalypse? (I am serious about this question, I want to know your answers!)

To get an extra entry, just share this contest on Twitter (see that retweet button up there?). Leave a comment with the link to your tweet, or just include my twitter handle in your tweet — @tinamats .

More chances! Blog about this contest and leave a comment with the link to your blog! You can answer the zombie apocalypse entry there, too, if you want. :) I’d love to read your entries.

The contest will is open up to June 30, 2010. This contest is open to residents of the Philippines only. Unfortunately, I can’t afford international shipping just yet, but you can get Feed by Mira Grant on Amazon.com.:)

Book Happy Friday # 2

So the other day, my friend Jana tweeted one of her high’s for the day. I was at the gym then, but thanks to Wifi, I was updated with their tweets. Her tweet made me stop short from what I am doing:

high #1 Feed by Mira Grant…on paperback :P

So right after I worked out, I headed to Fully Booked Eastwood to check if they already have a copy. They don’t. I was heading to Shang that afternoon for an office thing, so I thought I’d pass by.

I didn’t get to pass by Fully Booked in Shang, and I was already getting agitated. I need to get a copy of Feed, stat! So when I got back to the office, I made a phone call. Turns out there are no more copies in Shang, but there may be some at The Fort. I called The Fort, and success! I got them to send my copy to Fully Booked Eastwood.

I was expecting it to arrive next week, since they said it would take 3-5 business days. But surprised, I got a text message earlier and now…viola.

Don’t you just love that RSS logo on the cover? :)

But wait, there’s more:

I bought two copies of the book. One for myself and one for…well, you’ll find out in this weekend. ;)

Wait, you don’t know what Feed is about? Read my review here!

So it’s another Book Happy Friday! I found a lot of awesome books in Fully Booked earlier, too, and too bad I’m over my monthly book allowance…and I still have a ton of books on my TBR list. I must exercise control.

Right. But happy weekend, fellow bookworms! :)