Hard Listening by Stephen King, Amy Tan, Dave Barry and more Giveaway

Hard Listening

Have you heard of the Rock Bottom Remainders? No... oh man I am sorry for you!  It is a great band of authors who have joined together and make music. Rock Bottom Remainders  I am sure has a group member from someone who has written a book that you have read.  All these authors have sold over 350 million books. The group members are :   Dave Barry, Tad Bartimus, Roy Blount, Jr., Michael Dorris, Robert Fulghum, Kathi Kamen Goldmark , Matt Groening, Josh Kelly, Stephen King, Barbara Kingsolver, Greil Marcus, Dave Marsh,  Mitch Albom, Ridley Pearson, Joel Selvin, Amy Tan, Al Kooper musical director, Jerry Peters, Scott Turow,  James McBride, Greg Iles, Sam Barry, and Roger McGuinn.

As some of you may know I am a huge Stephen King fan.  So I am so pleased that the publisher Coliloquy asked if my group Stephen King Fans on goodreads would be interested in giving away a copy of Hard Listening to the members.  I knew the Constant Readers in the group would love it. In fact.. I know the band isn't performing anymore.. yes I know sooo sad!   But I thought I would post this fun video of Stephen King singing!

 So fun to see authors jamming out. Plus I love music so that is a plus too. Here is a better video from Good Morning America where you can get a good look at all the authors and listen to an interview with them. They used to perform once a year for charity and would not be paid for their performances.  All money went to charity.

 

For those of you entering the giveaway this is an ebook only, available for iBooks, Kindle, Kobo, Android, and NOOK. The reason this is an ebook only is because it's an interactive book. There are with its collection of essays, stories, musings, group email exchanges, candid conversations, compromising photographs, and audio and video (semi-musical) clips, as well as interactive quizzes! I myself have not read the book yet so no review yet from me ( I want it now!!).  There is a pretty good review over at Fearnet.com if you want to read more about it. It sounds like a lot of fun.  The Huffington Post is doing a contest to see if you can guess which except was written by Stephen King, though if you plan on reading the book I would skip this and wait till you read it because you also guess this and get the answer in Hard Listening. An excerpt of Hard Listening can be found on the publisher Coliloquy's website. 

So for the giveaway.  This giveaway is for members of the Stephen King Fan group so it is a requirement to be a member of the group.  I will check.  All other entries are optional.  This giveaway will be open for one week and then the publisher will email you the ebook in the format you prefer.  I will get your information and then provide it to them.  Good Luck!



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Under the Dome by Stephen King-Review

Under the Dome by Stephen King

Well with the CBS show coming out this week..I knew I had to read this book.  I am a huge King fan and had not made the time to dig into this book.  1074 pages later.. I loved the book.  I actually listened to my first ever audio with this book too.  34 hours of audio.  I went on a summer road trip so that was perfect time to listen!  Also... I discovered a readalong for it as well and jumped in on that... though I haven't seen any updates for it at all, so I have been updating over at The Stephen King Fans group.  

Here is the goodreads book description:

On an entirely normal, beautiful fall day in Chester's Mill, Maine, the town is inexplicably and suddenly sealed off from the rest of the world by an invisible force field. Planes crash into it and fall from the sky in flaming wreckage, a gardener's hand is severed as "the dome" comes down on it, people running errands in the neighboring town are divided from their families, and cars explode on impact. No one can fathom what this barrier is, where it came from, and when -- or if -- it will go away. Dale Barbara, Iraq vet and now a short-order cook, finds himself teamed with a few intrepid citizens -- town newspaper owner Julia Shumway, a physician's assistant at the hospital, a select-woman, and three brave kids. Against them stands Big Jim Rennie, a politician who will stop at nothing -- even murder -- to hold the reins of power, and his son, who is keeping a horrible secret in a dark pantry. But their main adversary is the Dome itself. Because time isn't just short. It's running out.

What can I say. This book is epic. There are so many characters it's hard to keep track of. So much happens in this book I don't even know where to begin. I enjoyed this story more then I thought I would.  When I started the book I was a little bored... like we just kept reading about all these characters stuck under a dome and that was it.  But once I really got into the lives of each character and got to know them I was sucked in.  Which is what King tends to do with his huge books.  They are like a study of characters and how they interact.  Honestly to me the Dome was the side story of the book.

I discovered reading this book that listening to audio brings out way more emotions in me then just reading it.  I would cringe at the parts that were gross because I couldn't read fast to get past them.  I would roll my eyes when the bad villain guy Remmey would do something awful.  I even laughed out loud a few times!  Next time I do an audio I probably won't pick one so long... but then again it was a perfect way to get through a long book and make a road trip go by super fast.  In fact.. I was actually looking forward to driving so I could get back to the story.  I will admit though.. I wonder if I would've liked the story the same if I had read it myself without the audio.

 This is neat, Dome Day is Saturday, October 21, 2012. If you'll look at a calender, you'll see that this day doesn't exist. Due to the Leap Year, October 21 skips from Friday in 2011 to Sunday in 2012.  That is interesting and one of those things King always discovers and adds into his books. You just have to look closely to see these easter eggs!  

Spoilers to come... do not read if you don't want to know what happens in the book ending! 

I am OK with the aliens at the end. I didn't think of that as a bad ending but I'll admit I was surprised. I thought it was going to be something completely different. I still don't really get why if people touched it once or touched the dome once they got a zap and then after that no more zaps. I don't ever expect good ending from King... meaning feel good endings. And I like that. For me life is never a good smooth ride. It's bumpy and things never go right. I think I am OK with the aliens because I didn't expect that and was quite surprised.
 
I can't imagine living in a small town like this even before the dome fell. I think I would've noticed right away that Jim was terrible and an awful guy to be running a town. Jim was a creepy guy because he really did think that the people of the town were stupid and he was their savior. I am surprised that King said in an interview that his favorite character to write in this book was Chef. I didn't think Chef was that much of a main character compared to Jim and Barbie. I loved that though Chef went and buried Sammy. That was a beautiful thing. I was totally bothered by Andrea's death. To think she had so much courage and strength and was ready to turn her life around and then died. :'(

It's funny the comments about comparing this book to the Stand. I did that too and I don't even know why. I guess it is the size of the book and the fact that we get to know all these characters though the two books are nothing alike. I plan on re-watching the Simpsons movie now that I have read this book. I haven't seen that movie in years and can't really remember it. But I really want to see the similarities.  Of course I am also ready to watch the CBS series Under the Dome that started this week.  

End Spoilers

CBS has already released on Amazon what the DVD box set is going to look like for when the show comes out and it's amazing!

The crystal ball says:

Sun is shinning!!!  Great day to go outside and read this book.

Check out my other posts for the readalong:
Under the Dome Update 2
Check out Update 1 on Under the Dome

What Under the Dome Readalong is all about~

Under the Dome Summer Readalong- Update 2

 

So the Under The Dome readathon has begun for me... if you don't know about it and want to know more go here to learn more!  Hope you join all of us!!  It is super fun, though I haven't seen anywhere to post updates or to discuss what we are reading so far.  So I have been posting over at the Stephen King Fans group on goodreads.  Everyone is getting into some great discussions there.. especially about how much the show has changed the characters AND the ending (which I don't know yet since I am not that far). 

OK... so I am not on hour well I don't know.  Disk 11, about to start disk 12.  Yesterday was the second leg of my road trip and I am still listening to the audio book.  I am really getting used to audio books now.  The thing about a King audio book is that there are parts where I would've read really fast in the book to get past a crazy part, on the audio I have to sit there and listen.  Really imagine what is going on!

Those participating along are getting read for the show Under the Dome on CBS starting this week.  If you haven't seen the trailer... well here you go:



I am ready to get started watching.  I love Haven on SyFy based on the book Colorado Kid by Stephen King.  I think that show is fun to watch.

Now onto the book... so far I am really enjoying the character development.  All the stories tying together.  I love to see the difference between the villain characters and the heroes.  While listening to the audio I even get mad at some of the characters while listening to them talk and just want to warn other people.  Honestly I was expecting this book to be more like the Stand.. but surprisingly it's completely different. Not a lot of supernatural stuff in it.. well at least not yet. 

I wonder though if I would love this book so much if I wasn't listening to it.  I feel with an audio book you just can't get bored.  I mean... sometimes as I am listening I do think.. hummm this part is boring.  But I keep listening!  I think because of the animation in the narrator's voice I am intrigued.  When I am reading along with the voice in my head and I am bored then my voice in my head gets bored.  The story seems to be getting a little spooky.  I keep reading that readers didn't really like the ending.. or the explanation of the whole thing.  So I am a little nervous about getting to the end of the story!  Review to come!!

Under the Dome Review and Final post for readalong
Check out Update 1 on Under the Dome

What Under the Dome Readalong is all about~

Under the Dome Summer Readalong- Update 1

 

So the Under The Dome readathon has begun for me... if you don't know about it and want to know more go here to learn more!  Hope you join all of us!!  It is super fun.  So for me this is my first audio book.  Today I was on a long road trip and listened to the audio for 9 hours.  It's crazy but I haven't even put a dent in the number of disks that come with the audio.   It comes with 30 disks and I am probably in the middle of disk 7.  

I don't know what to think of audio books.  For one thing... it sure did make the trip seem like it was only a couple hours rather then 9 hours!! Loved that.  I did have to pay close attention though and listen.  My mind wandered a couple times and I had to rewind the CD.  Oh ... and I got pulled over.  No I didn't get a ticket... I got pulled over going 74 in a 70... REALLY?  I got a warning for that.  Ummm... yea wow... so I had to pause the disk for that stupid incident.  Back to the audio... I liked the narrator who is Raul Esparza  (click on his name to read a great Q&A with him about Under the Dome).  I did think when he tried to do a woman's voice it was kind of funny but what was he supposed to sound like... he is a man after all.   He did really well with mixing a ton of characters voices but allowing us to be able to tell who is who.  I mean Under the Dome has a TON of characters.  

In fact this week.... before I start my next listening session I was going to make a list of the characters so that I can keep them straight.  I'll include this list in my next update post.  I should be able to listen to the almost the whole audio (which I think is 34 hours) in this little family visiting vacation I am doing right now.  I still have a 6 hour trip to see my sister... and then 6 hours back.  And then 9 hours to get back home.  So I really think I am going to push out this audio book with ease. 

I am the moderator of the Stephen King Fans group and since I am the main moderator I am always embarrassed that I haven't read all the King books... so it's nice to get another one under my belt.

 

I check out the book from the library at the same time as having the audio book.  After listening to the audio I just knew there had to be a map in the hard copy book.. and sure enough there is.  So I am going to post it here!! 

Well I should post update 2 this coming weekend!!  Be sure to be on the look out for my Under the Dome adventure!!

What Under the Dome Readalong is all about~

Under the Dome Update 2
Under the Dome Readalong Final Post & Review

Armchair BEA- Blogger Development and Genre Fiction

Today topics are Blogger Development and Genre Fiction.  I have been blogging for a little over 2 years now.  I still feel like I don't know what I am doing!  I have tried to make my blog better by the example of others.  I have learned that using twitter to reach out to people is a good thing.  That not participating in too many memes is important too.  I have tried to incorporate my book clubs from goodreads into the blog to make it more interactive (the Young Adult Book Club, and  Stephen King Fans) .  I haven't had any giveaways or anything like that because I hate to feel like I am buying my readers.  Though I am going to have one for my OZ month here in September and I am not even sure what to expect!  It will be my first time! I have partnered with other bloggers for a few blogging events.  I don't think I am pro whatever that means.  I enjoy meeting other bloggers.  There is a small group of bloggers in my local area but I haven't really connected a lot locally.  I have found lots of friends who are far away from where I live.  I use Blogger.. which everyone says sucks but I am not some HTML genius and so I guess I will just hang here.  I have tried to find books on wordpress and html but they are all WAY over my head.  I just need someone to tell me in layman's terms.

Genre Fiction:

Now onto the Fiction post.  I love all books.  I do review a lot of Young Adult but that is because I run a young adult book club... if it weren't for that I would probably read a lot more adult books.  I love Stephen King~ one of my all time favorite authors.  I love Charlaine Harris' books.  I really enjoy R.A. Salvatore's books too and need to finish up the Drizzt series. I think the only type of genre I don't like is romance.  I just have never been able to get into it.  I don't mind it mixed in with other genres but stand alone romance is just eh to me. 

Well... I wish I was walking around BEA right now.. but here I am typing up this post and needing to make time for some reading!

Under the Dome by Stephen King Summer Readalong

As some of you may know I love Stephen King. I run the goodreads Stephen King Fans group and shockingly I haven't read Under the Dome yet.  The size of this book makes my eyes fall out of my head.  But I am going to do it... I mean I did read the Stand!! One of the main reasons I need to get this book read is because in June the show is going to start on CBS and I must read this before it starts.  I always like to read the book BEFORE a movie/show. 

How the readalong works:
• Do you need a blog to participate? No way. If you don't have a blog, you can either sign up in the comments below, or you can create a free account with either Goodreads, Shelfari, or LibraryThing and enter that information into the linky below. Any of those sites will make it easier for you to track your thoughts, or you can use a Twitter account to sign up. If you don't want to do any of those, but still want to participate, then you can post your thoughts in the comments for each of the mile-marker posts throughout the readalong.
• Timeline: May 25 through July 27
• How many posts? Who cares! It's informal. However, if you want a little structure, you can do a kick-off post now, then a middle-of-the-road post (halfway through the book) on June 24 (to celebrate the mini-series premiere even though we all probably won't watch it until we're done reading), and then a final sayonara post on July 27. Sound good?
• Twitter-chat? Use the hashtag #domealong
• Mini-series Twitter chat? After the readalong as we watch our DVR'd recordings of the show? Maybe?
• And do anything you want in-between! Throw a "Stephen King, you are freakishly awesome" party, or do a screamfest movie marathon, or write a gushing post on the fall release of Dr. Sleep, the sequel to The Shining. Or, you can just post your glee on the fact that you've been a horrible blogger and reader in 2013 and this readalong is going to bring. you. back. Back, baby! Oh, maybe that's just me...

So if you have been meaning to read this like myself this is a great way to motivate yourself.  Be sure to stop by Coffee and a Book Chicks' blog and sign up!

Updates:
My first update on tackling Under the Dome
Under the Dome Readalong Final Post & Review
Under the Dome Update 2

Cover Reveal! Stephen King Doctor Sleep

I am so excited about the UK Doctor Sleep by Stephen King interactive cover! You can access interviews, trailers and a lot of other fun things off the cover.  I really like the American cover too (which can be seen below the UK cover).  I am really excited to read Doctor Sleep and we will be doing a group read in my group Stephen King Fans on goodreads!! Are you as excited as I am???

Colorado Book Blogger Month-This is Colorado Life

As some of you may know March is Colorado Book Month!  This is a month where authors and bloggers in the area get together to celebrate the book community here.

Today I am participating in This Colorado Life , where we discuss different topics about this fun state!

Today's topic is: What’s your favorite mountain town? Do you visit for fun, inspiration, nature or something else?

I don't go up to the Mountain Towns often so when I do it is a big deal.  I really enjoy Breckenridge, CO.  I have gone tubing there, and snowboarding of course.  I have also been to a really fun snow sculpture festival there which was really a lot of fun.   I love Estes Park too.  As some of you may know, the Stanley Hotel is there which is the hotel that the Shining novel by Stephen King is based off of.  We stayed at that hotel and it was a blast.  They have ghost tours and everything!   You can read all about my adventures there here in my Stephen King Fans group on goodreads!

Also here are some pictures from my Shining adventure:

 This is the old working elevator!

Have you ever been to Colorado?  What did you enjoy in the Mountains?

Tomorrow there will be a twitter chat with Colorado bookies 9am – 10am MST is our first Twitter party! Use hashtag #COBookMonth and join us.

Stephen King book club pick!

 

Have you been wanting to read a King book with someone?   My Stephen King Fans group is now voting for the next Stephen King book club pick.  So stop on by and join in the fun!!

Poll

March 2013: a book by King

A Face in the CrowdBlack HouseBlazeIn the Tall GrassGerald's GameDesperationChristineThe Dark HalfFrom a Buick 8UR, Mile 81DreamcatcherDanse MacabreDolores ClaiborneThe Running ManThe Colorado KidRose MadderThe RegulatorsRageCycle of the WerewolfThe Green MileHearts in AtlantisRoadwork

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The Wind Through the Keyhole by Stephen King-Review

 

The Wind Through the Keyhole by Stephen King

I just love King and his series the Dark Tower so when I found out there was a new book of course I picked it up.  Also it was this month's pick for my group Stephen King Fans on goodreads. Here is the description from that site:

In The Wind Through the Keyhole, Stephen King returns to the rich landscape of Mid-World, the spectacular territory of the Dark Tower fantasy saga that stands as his most beguiling achievement. Roland Deschain and his ka-tet—Jake, Susannah, Eddie, and Oy, the billy-bumbler—encounter a ferocious storm just after crossing the River Whye on their way to the Outer Baronies. As they shelter from the howling gale, Roland tells his friends not just one strange story but two . . . and in so doing, casts new light on his own troubled past. In his early days as a gunslinger, in the guilt-ridden year following his mother’s death, Roland is sent by his father to investigate evidence of a murderous shape-shifter, a “skin-man” preying upon the population around Debaria. Roland takes charge of Bill Streeter, the brave but terrified boy who is the sole surviving witness to the beast’s most recent slaughter. Only a teenager himself, Roland calms the boy and prepares him for the following day’s trials by reciting a story from the Magic Tales of the Eld that his mother often read to him at bedtime. “A person’s never too old for stories,” Roland says to Bill. “Man and boy, girl and woman, never too old. We live for them.” And indeed, the tale that Roland unfolds, the legend of Tim Stoutheart, is a timeless treasure for all ages, a story that lives for us. King began the Dark Tower series in 1974; it gained momentum in the 1980s; and he brought it to a thrilling conclusion when the last three novels were published in 2003 and 2004. The Wind Through the Keyhole is sure to fascinate avid fans of the Dark Tower epic. But this novel also stands on its own for all readers, an enchanting and haunting journey to Roland’s world and testimony to the power of Stephen King’s storytelling magic.

Well... I must say this was a good book. But it is not really about Roland and the Ka-tet that we thought we were going to read about. Which is why I gave it 4 stars instead of 5. This is a story within a story within a story. Yeah you read that right. Roland tells a story of his youth, and then his youth self tells a story. Personally I think the book is more about Randal Flagg. For those of you who keep up with King you will know who that is since he appears in many of King's books.

To me this is not a Dark Tower book.... it is sold as one but it is a story all it's own.  Makes me wonder if perhaps there will be some sort of Dark Tower spinoff based off this other character introduced in this book named Tim?  I kinda hope so.  I really wish I liked audio books... Stephen King is the actual narrator of the audio version so I am dying to hear HIM read it!!  Here is a pic of him recording it:

 

I am a little disappointed this Dark Tower book wasn't illustrated.   All the other ones I bought in hardback were and this one would only be illustrated if you spent $100 some dollars on the book.   But I scoured the internet and found some of the pictures from the illustrated version and they are beautiful!

Read this book Dark Tower fans... you will not regret it!