Cheryl’s Bio

profile bite1 Cheryls Bio

Well as the lovely Natalina said, who knew that two babes from different continents would end up blogging about our love of all booky things together and be so fabulous? Well we think we’re fabulous and that’s what counts isn’t it?

I’m Cheryl, or CJ…depending on my mood and I’m from the sunburnt country of Oz – which happens to be totally waterlogged at the moment and in drought at the same time. Like my country I’m a bit diametrically opposed myself. Totally dry humour but a bit soppy at times. I can go from wit to twit in 0.3 seconds which I think is a world record. Someone call Guinness Book…or at least buy me a Guinness. I don’t mind a beer or three, a good bottle of wine or a gin and tonic. I try never to do all three at the same time. There are pictures, it was ugly.

I may be pocket sized but I can still manage to fall over my tiny feet constantly. Clumsy doesn’t even begin to describe me. I occasionally wear bubble-wrap to protect myself, plus I love going all Sumo on strangers just to make popping noises. Well I don’t really but how much fun would that be?

I’m a goofball who loves sci-fi. Natalina is a Trekkie and I’m a diehard Battlestar Galactica fracker. Bring on your Klingons baby and my Cylons will kick their ugly butts.

I’m addicted to coffee and sugar and I don’t think a day has officially begun until I’ve had my latte with two sugars or properly finished until I’ve consumed some dark chocolate. I love to shake the hand of the person who invented chocolate coated coffee beans. Pure genius. I’m also addicted to Stumbleupon and therefore waste many hours a week getting lost and finding little gems all over the web.

I love reading anything I can get my hands on, getting hooked on great TV shows, hanging out in cafes, my wonderful muso friends’ jamming parties or gigs – although I can’t play a thing – and all things that go bump in the night. I’m a little undead obsessed and you can find me over at Vampire Daze scaring up a storm with my own fiction or reviewing vamp, zombie and all the other juicy squishy gory stuff.

My interests are many and varied and you’ll probably find no rhyme or reason to the things that I read but I get obsessed with subjects for a while and then move onto something else…and then come back again. If I still owned all of the books that I’ve read I could probably use them as bricks to build a mansion or at the very least a large apartment building. I don’t know how a house of books would fair in wet weather though…and it probably wouldn’t be good to have a fireplace.

I love to smile and laugh and see the good in people. I’m not a girly girl, I’m more of a jeans, t-shirt and boots type but I’m trying to wear dresses more, I may as well try and show off my boobs a bit before they end up around my waist. My butt is already starting it’s downward descent to the back of my knees. I love science but gravity sucks! I’m about to start pilates. Those of you that know me can stop laughing now that I’ll be exercising. I know you’re all picturing this happening to me. I am.

I hope you’ll enjoy our little site and visit us often because we’re really needy. Nah, it will be fun. Promise!

Thanks to ebaumsworld for the vid!

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Goodnight Nobody by Jennifer Weiner

goodnight nobody Goodnight Nobody by Jennifer Weiner

At first glance, “Goodnight Nobody” appears to be your run of the mill classic chick lit.  While it is true that there are elements that will appeal to the traditional chick lit audience, the reality is that this is also a fantastic murder mystery, as well as an unapologetic commentary on the way women tend to lose themselves in their duties to others. It comes  from one of the most laugh out loud and brutally honest authors I’ve read in years, Jennifer Weiner.

The story involves housewife Kate Klein, who has been transplanted from New York City to the quiet town of Upchurch, Connecticut. She is married to a kind but distant career minded man and has 3 children.

While in the city, Kate herself was on the fast track as a journalist, and enjoyed fun nights out on the town with her best friend, Janie. But in Connecticut, she lives in a world of supermommies, mini vans, and designer diaper bags. Kate struggles to fit in, but she finds that she just isn’t really cut out for mommy-and-me pilates.  She remembers what it was like to be a free spirited writer, and grows weary of domestic life.

Her world is shaken by the murder of mommy extraordinaire, Kitty Cavanaugh, whose body Kate herself discovers. She finds herself completely wrapped up in trying to find the killer, and through this, discovers that not everything is what it seems in this perfect little town.

Things become more complicated when she finds that there is a connection between the deceased Kitty and Kate’s old flame, Evan. Although she hasn’t seen him for years, they meet again, and team up to try to get to the bottom of Kitty’s murder. In the process, they begin to rekindle some of those old feelings, leaving Kate confused and distracted as she tries to navigate her way through her feelings for Evan and her commitment to her husband.

“Goodnight Nobody” is a funny and honest look at how women struggle to fit in, and how boredom and doubt can sneak their way into even the most seemingly ideal of situations. The outcome is not necessarily what you would expect, and we are left relating to Kate, and cheering for her as she tries to find herself in a world where everyone tries to tell her who she should be, and where her loyalties should lie.   The title is a reference to the children’s book, “Goodnight Moon” in which a child says good night to everything in sight.  Kate says good night to nobody, spending most nights sleeping alone while her husband works.

The dialogue is funny and sincere, with some of the best comic relief delivered by best friend Janie, who joins Kate on her journey, and goes from drinking martinis in the city to Vodka and Pedialite cocktails in the suburbs.

I recommend this book especially to all women who find themselves trying to live up to standards that others have set for them, and who yearn to be loved in the way they deserve, without losing themselves in the process.
Natalina

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My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult

my sisters keeper lg My Sisters Keeper by Jodi Picoult

Here is my new review of a recently read book called My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult. It’s the fictional story of Anna, a thirteen year old who was genetically engineered and conceived to be a perfectly matched bone marrow donor for her sister Kate who has leukemia. Anna is not ill but she has had countless procedures and each time that Kate is sick Anna must give until one day she walks in to a lawyer’s office and asks to sue her parents for the rights to her own body. The book starts with the line, ‘In my first memory, I am three years old and I am trying to kill my sister’.

The story is told from the points of view of the people involved; Anna, her parents, brother, lawyer, court appointed guardian and her sister. It raises so many moral and ethical questions and decisions I could never imagine having to face in reality. Most people have felt the intensity of a love so strong for someone that it would make you jump in front of a train to save them, especially a parent for a child, but would you push someone in front of that train if you knew that the impact would not kill them but could possibly save the other… if the damage wasn’t going to be too bad… would it ever be OK? Do you have the right to make those decisions on behalf of someone else? Would you do the same thing in the same position? Is it OK to say ‘enough’ when you know the outcome of your decision will allow someone you love to die? Would that be selfish?

It is hard to imagine the knock on effect of having a seriously ill child. It affects everybody in the family. Parents are sometimes put in the position of deciding if it is OK to take from one child to keep the other alive. Some put themselves in that position by choosing to have a ‘donor’ child. And are the missed games, holidays, camps, birthdays and Christmases any less important for other siblings who are not sick? Does it make that child’s needs unworthy because those needs seem trivial in comparison? A missed birthday party pales into insignificance next to a rushed trip to the hospital because something else is failing in your poor sick child’s body, but does that make the importance of those missed games and birthdays etc any less valid for the ‘well’ children? How would this affect them? And for the donor child; each episode of poor health for their sick sibling means yet another procedure or donation from them. Would they feel proud and want to do it, or would they resent the life they are missing? What if it started before you were too young to make your own decisions or understand what was happening? With Anna, her first of many donations, and the least invasive, is her cord blood. Do parents have the right, or do they have a duty, to do whatever they can to save a dying child?

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The book is well written and reading the varying viewpoints makes for a good story. The only real fault lies with a love story that seems to have been thrown in for no particular reason which I found slightly annoying and is obviously meant for the ‘chick lit’ readers. Other than that it is an engaging story which has you questioning what is right and wrong, or even if there is a right or wrong, and so very glad that you are not in that position. I found it a bit of a page turner and at times felt anger, sadness and compassion toward each character, sometimes swapping from one emotion back to another. I guess it’s very much a case of ‘don’t judge a person until you have walked a mile in their shoes’ and in this story you get try on everyone’s shoes.

And now the long awaited feature film is set to debut 26 June 2009 starring Cameron Diaz, Alec Baldwin, Joan Cusack, Rick Crawford, Jason Patric and directed by Nick Cassavetes.

It’s a pity that the music on the trailer makes it sound totally like a chick flick. This book, and hopefully the movie, touches on such deep ethical and moral boundaries, I feel it would have crossover appeal for both men and women. I’ll review the movie when it is released. I hope they do the book justice. It was fabulous reading and very thought provoking.

CJ


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The Book of Joby

book of joby The Book of Joby

The Book of Job is a tricky section of the Bible, as it shows God and Satan entering into a challenge or a wager, with the life of Job, a humble servant of God, and his family, as the pawns.

I have always been fascinated by Job and his trials, and was mightily intrigued when I came upon the novel The Book of Joby by Mark Ferrari. I picked it up on a whim having read the synopsis on the back, and have never been so pleased by an impulse purchase.

“I thought so,” the Creator sighed, “The same stupid bet.”

This line outlines the premise of the book. God and Lucifer have entered into yet another bet. Lucifer is constantly challenging God for the souls of his most beloved, and God never loses. But this time, the bet is slightly different. God cannot intervene at all. The Devil and his minions may do whatever they please. The target: 9 year old Joby, a young boy with a rich fantasy life. The stakes: The fate of the World as we know it. The terms: Lucifer has 30 years to turn Joby away from the forces of good, God may not intervene, Lucifer may not physically harm the boy.

Thus begins the fascinating journey of Joby, as we watch him turn from bright-eyed boy, to disillusioned adolescent, to world weary man. We follow him every step of the way as he suffers from wave after wave of attack delivered by Lucifer, in an effort to break his spirit. And, while Joby becomes worn and weakened by the assault on his soul, he seems to retain always a spark in him, that keeps the reader rooting for him to triumph.

Now, this is not a Christian lit novel.  It is a book for grown ups with some very adult situations. In fact, most Christians would probably find this book a bit on the blasphemous side. While the main characters are mostly Biblically based (God, Lucifer, the Archangels) the themes veer into the Sci-Fi and Fantasy realm, with Arthurian intrigue and magic, as well as very human drama. The characters are so well fleshed out and believable, I found myself laughing out loud and then sobbing. I particularly loved the way God is depicted as a combination of a wise sage and a wise cracker. Lucifer is of course a slick business man, who gathers his minions in a board room, and uses power point presentations to lay out his wicked schemes.

This novel is epic in scope, and weighs in at 628 pages.  I found myself breezing through it quickly, and not wanting it to end. Never before have I read a book that so accurately portrayed the human experience and our life long struggle to make sense of the world around us.

If you are a fan of great epic tales like The Lord of the Rings you will love this book. If you are a fan of literature in general, I would highly recommend giving The Book of Joby a chance. It is one that I will re-read, that I will give as a gift, and I will treasure always.

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Natalina Bio

What happens when two babes from opposite hemispheres collide and create a blog?  Clearly, it is magic!  I couldn’t ask for a better, foxier, or brighter partner in crime than Cheryl, and I just know you’re going to love the fruits of our collective labor as we set the literary world aflame with our sharp observations and keen intellect.  As you read our reviews, try not to be too jealous of our wit and grace, ok?

As you can see, my name is Natalina.  I’m a short little spitfire from the high plains of the northern United States, and if you knew me, you’d love me.  I love the color green.  If I could have green skin…I might consider it.  I fancy myself to be like one of those alien Star Trek babes.  I like cats.  I love Diet Coke, trying to quit the smoke, and I’m usually flat broke.  No joke.  I like talk radio, Tequila sunrises, and Cabernet nightcaps.  There’s a whole heap of random trivia for you!  You’re welcome.

A perfect day for me would involve playing my Viola outside (something I rarely get to do in the city without being pelted with quarters),  I’m sure I’d love a long walk on the beach if there was one within a 1,000 mile radius of my home, and ending the day curled up with a good book.

I am a certified sucker for all things unexplained. There are few things that would fall outside the realm of my general interest.  You can always find me venturing into the land of the unknown on my other blog ExtraordinaryIntelligence.com.  The name of the site indicates the outside of the ordinary items you’ll find me discussing.  I felt the need to clear this up lest you think it was meant to be a commentary on my own vast intellect.  I love ghosties and ghoulies and political intrigue and conspiracy.  These are a few of my favorite things!

I hate people who are mean.  I feel that there is a special place in hell for those who intentionally tear others down to build themselves up.   I hate people who do good deeds just to receive recognition, rather than for the sake of the deed or the recipient of the charity.  I love Oprah.

I love all types of books.  I will read nearly anything.  Try me.  I bet I’ll read it.  Unless it’s some kind of historical romance where a Viking kidnaps a princess and forces her to fall in love with him.  With those types of books, I just skim until I get to the good parts, if you know what I mean…

Well, that’s me in a nutshell.  Cheryl is probably a lot more interesting than me, so if you had to choose, I wouldn’t blame you for picking her…I’m a handful!   Now, get reading damn it!

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The Boy With The Striped Pyjamas

boy uk film pb The Boy With The Striped Pyjamas

When I picked up this book I had no idea it was a book meant for children. It was the blurb on the back that made me want to read it and although it is written for kids it is a story that just as easily speaks to an adult audience. It will certainly distress sensitive souls no matter their age because of the subject matter. It’s a simple story with a powerful impact.

It’s the story of Bruno, a nine year old, who is moved from his comfortable house and surrounds to a house in the middle of nowhere. He has no friends and no children to play with until he meets Shmuel, a boy on the other side of the wire fence outside his new home. A boy, who like everyone else on the other side of the fence, wears striped pyjamas.

Bruno is completely unaware of the horrendous violence being inflicted on the people of Europe by his homeland. He just knows that his father works for a very important man called ‘The Fury’ and he has moved to a very lonely place called ‘out-with’. He knows nothing of the Holocaust. It is Germany. It is war time.

It is Bruno’s friendship and loyalty that leads him to climb beneath a gap in the fence to explore Shmuel’s world and go on a mission to help his friend in his search for his father whom he cannot find.

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The narrative of the book is written from the perspective of the innocence and cavalier attitude of a child in a language that children can relate to and adults can see for the unmistakable story of horror that unfolded in World War II. This is the author’s first children’s book after four novels for an adult audience which is probably why it can hold the attention of adults through to its final horrible realisation of evil.

The Holocaust is a hard subject to think and read about but this story is worth the read and would be an incredibly good and gentle way for older children to understand the impact of the atrocities of war. I would easily recommend it for anyone but take into consideration the age, personality and sensitivity of a child if you give them the book. As it says in the quote from The Australian newspaper, ‘It haunts the mind for days after’.

This too has been made into a major motion picture

I’ve heard many mixed reviews on the film but I can’t pass judgement until I see it myself. Personally, I don’t think they will be able to do what the book managed to. To see the war through a child’s eyes.

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Welcome to Book Review Babes!

We are currently building the site so it may take on a few different schizophrenic personas over the next months as we toss ideas back and forth in a civilized manner over a cup of coffee and then move on to sipping Gins and Tonic…which will most likely end with us rolling on the floor pulling hair and bitch-slapping each other senseless until one of us gets our way. We’ll just have to see who the tougher babe is.

As my partner in crime is off the interwebs for a short time, I’ll wait for her to come back to see if we add in some photos to introduce ourselves to you all. I’d just go ahead and post some but she’s stronger than me and may punch me for doing so…which of course takes us back to the hair pulling and scratching…just no biting or hitting below the belt (at least not while she can see it coming).

coffee girls Welcome to Book Review Babes!

But without further ado, the Babes are:

CJ - who lets out her bloodlust by running Vampire Daze. She also has a couple of others up her sleeve because she seems to have a nasty case of multiple personality disorder. She’ll let you know when they’re up and running.

And,

Natalina – who chases down the paranormal and all other weird, wonderful and spooky things over on Extraordinary Intelligence. She also has her fingers in many pies (metaphorically speaking or we’d have very sticky keyboards) and we both may expand a little on ourselves with some mini bios…if we can be bothered. And you may choose to read them…if you can be bothered.

We don’t fool ourselves, we know you don’t give a tinker’s damn about us, it’s all about the books!

Well about that. We both read a lot. Not just books either, the occasional cereal box and junk mail gets a look in too sometimes. But we won’t be reviewing them. Unless of course it is an exceptionally well written cereal box or junk mail. What we will be reviewing is many different genres and every now and then – just to shake things up – we will give our separate opinions on the same book.

You can expect to find, drama, history, horror, thrillers, Sci-fi, award winning literature, classics, fiction, non-fiction, biographies and maybe even the odd graphic novel. What you won’t see too much of is chick lit. Neither of us are really into the romance genre. We may visit there every now and but expect it to be infrequently.

If you love books as much as we do we hope you’ll come back and visit, we’ll be posting reviews as often as we can. Damn, if you actually like what we write feel free to subscribe. Go on…please…our egos need boosting.

Happy reading.

CJ & Natalina

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