Clock Rewinders on a Book Binge: 9/16/12

Clock Rewinders on a Book Binge is the weekly recap feature created by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Tara @ 25 Hour Books, where they shamelessly plug each other, share the fantastic posts, giveaways, or whatever else they’ve found and loved by other awesome bloggers/authors/publishers/etc during the week, and talk about the books they plan on reading in the coming week.

Smash Attack Reads Recap

In the life of Smash

I had an interview on Tuesday afternoon with a national organization that has one of the best evidence-based programs to prevent high school drop outs. I interviewed for the Site Coordinator position, and I would be placed at a high school (working with seniors only) or a middle school (working with 7th & 8th graders). Adolescents are my favorite age group. They can be extremely difficult but they also have so much to share and show you, if we just listened. You’d be surprised about how much a child’s environment and personal experiences effect their ability to focus and remain interested in their future. I would identify at-risk youth and assess needs, link to services, all that jazz. I would do home visits for those families that have no transportation or refuse to come to school. I would have to recruit volunteers, recruit businesses and charitable orgs to assist with services, etc. Public speaking (EEEEEEP!) at school assemblies and businesses. Crisis intervention when needed. HELPING KIDS GRADUATE.

{Flicker: kurichan+}

It’s a 3-year grant but they foresee the position being extended if it proves useful, or other opportunities opening up somewhere. It would definitely be challenging but so very rewarding. I think I would grow tremendously from the experience because I will definitely be stepping outside of my comfort zone. Mandee from Books & Bling actually works at that middle school, so that’s a huge plus to wanting to go there. She tells me the principal is phenom, which is another plus. I’d likely be more involved with parents at the middle school, since they are still young. But the high schoolers are going to be a bit more independent, and some are already parents, unfortunately. (That is another population I really want to work with.) The high school position is a federal grant and focuses more on getting these kids work-ready. So, pros and cons to both. Anywho, I hope I get called back for 2nd interview this week!

Mandee and I went to a free screening of Pitch Perfect Thursday evening. Holy LOL, Batman! It’s a must see. Absolutely hilarious! I haven’t laughed that loud at a movie in a long time. And it has great singing and an adorable geeky male lead. I also got a new hat that day. I could not be more pleased to be in a climate where I can wear hats more often!

Finally, to top off my uber fun week, I had lunch with Kendall Grey on Friday! Have I mentioned what a rockstar she is? Adore her. I could not be more friggin happy to live in her area, and I promise I won’t stalk her…heh. Seriously though, it was a great time. She is easy to talk too and we shared a lot about ourselves, etc. Can’t wait til next time!

Tonight is book club! I will be making Pumpkin Spice cupcakes and we will be discussing Original Beauty. An extremely tough book but an incredible story that shows how resilient humans can be.

Smashtastic Stats

• Read in 2012: 78
  • Hunter’s Season (Elder Races #4.7): MY FAVORITE!!!
  • Married With Zombies (Living with the Dead, #1): So much fun, and so quotable!
  • Original Beauty: Tough, tough issues
  • Eve (Eve, #1): LOVE!
  • Blooded: Jessica McClain is da shite, yo!
• Currently Reading: 2
  • Once (Eve, #2) 
  • Flip This Zombie (Living with the Dead, #2) 
• TBR Owned Pile (Hardcopy + eBook): 471
  • Acquired for Kisten the Kindle: 9
    • {Free} Untraceable, A Job from Hell, Stained, Sovereign Hope, Arson
    • {Bought} Stifle, Dirty, Pet Shop Boys, Blood of the Wicked
  • Acquired for my bookshelves: 2
    • Won Goddess Interrupted from ARCycling (Thanks, Karen!! ♥), but it’s not an ARC and it’s signed! Double surprise!
    • Won Dear Teen Me from LT Early Reviewers. It’s about authors who write letters to their teen selves, and I can’t wait to read it!
    • Received The Dark and Hollow Places from Paperback Swap. WIN!

Unbreaking the Shelves Update

I exported and backed up my Goodreads List. I also deleted free ebooks from GR & Kisten that no longer interest me. I started with 281 and got it down to 254. Hey, it’s something! But of course, I added more ebooks this past week. Bad Smash! I also copied Kelly and Amanda and made a freebie ebook shelf on GR. I also created a WTF shelf. It needed to happen. I read ONE book on my Zombie list and TWO books on my Review list!

Tidbits from around the blogosphere

Authors/Publishers

• M.R. Merrick asks readers What’s In a Love Triangle?
• Leigh Bardugo announced that Harry Potter producer is making Shadow and Bone. ZOMG.
• Lenore Appelhans let us know that the first 50 pages of Level 2 is up on Facebook. I can’t watt to read this one!
• Galley Cat: Bookalicious Pam, who is a literary agent, was attacked by a disgruntled writer who she apparently rejected!  What the tittlepop? Glad she is ok. Holy smokes…
• Kendall Grey flogs Andrea (The Bookish Babes)!

Bloggers/Bookish Sites

• Amy (Lady Reader’s Bookstuff) posted an awesome interview with Andrew Smith!
• I truly loved Amelia’s (The Authoress) review of Blood Red Road. I don’t think this book gets enough recognition!
• And I also loved Amy’s (Lady Reader’s Bookstuff) review of THE MARBURY LENS!
• Amanda (On a Book Bender) and Kelly (Reading the Paranormal) bring you Tentacle Love. I kid you not.
• Advice to Blog By from Fat Mum Slim
• Brianna (The Book Vixen) is looking for a YA Reviewer!
• And Thea Harrison stopped by The Book Vixen to talk world-building for the last novella in the Elder Races, Hunter’s Season.
• Check out Cody’s (The Boyish Booklover) short story, Pharaoh’s Curse.
• Adam (Roof Beam Reader) gets real as he shares what book blogging means to him.
• Heroes & Heartbreakers had a fun post on Bromances.
• Rachel’s (Parajunkee) Best Advice to New Bloggers: Chapter 3 - Setting Goals, Road Maps & Editorial Calendars. She also mentions a WTFckery of epic proportions regarding a comic book author and his trademark on “Carnival of Souls” in the written text arena. Geez.
  • Rachel is also looking for reviewers of all different types. Check it out!

Things that make me smile

• Do you have Cock Fatigue? Chelsea (Vampire Book Club) reports signs and symptoms and provides a safe place for sufferers at Heroes and Heartbreakers.
• We’ve got a movie date for DIVERGENT!
• Kristilyn (Reading in Winter) had a really fun post about what her day would look like if she could do magic!

Search terms

•  what books should i read like patricia briggs: OH! I KNOW!
• Gena Showalter: is da shit?
• setting of the eleventh plague: Not a fun one, I’ll tell you that much!
• (warriors of the rift #1) by cynthia garner: Mel reviewed it!
• andrew smith passenger: ZOMG! I CAN’T WAIT!
• messenger by lois lowry christopher: I reviewed it!
• andrea cremer life timeline: That’s a tiny bit creepy…
• angel’s ink review: Mel reviewed it!

Up Next…

• Book Blogger Confessions: Blogger Relations
• Top Ten Tuesdays: Top Ten Bookish People You Want To Meet
• Smash reviews Eve and Adam by K. Applegate & M. Grant
• Hunter’s Season Blog Tour: Interview with Thea Harrison
• Smash reviews Hunter’s Season by Thea Harrison
• Review by Audrey: Intangible by J. Meyers
• Andrew Smith Saturdays: The Marbury Lens Discussion, Part Three

Have a fab week!

© 2012, Smash Attack Reads. All rights reserved.

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