I read Pure because I read a tweet from someone who was recommending it to people who like Hunger Games. I’m always up for a good dystopian novel, so I checked it out.

Aside: I should clarify that Pure is NOT dystopian but post-apocalyptical. Perhaps the distinction doesn’t matter to anyone else, but it would bug me if someone read this and didn’t realize I recognize the distinction. As far as the two similar genres go, I tend to like dystopian better, probably because it’s closely related to science fiction.

Anyway. I didn’t really like Pure, though it’s hard to pin point why. I didn’t despise it, and it’s not particularly poorly written.

I think what bugged me the most about this book is just the images of the deformities: most of the characters have objects or other people or creatures fused to their bodies. I had a hard time with this. I don’ t think we’re supposed to be comfortable with it, but I found it difficult to read because of these images.

And now, when I hear the beating of birds’ wings, I shutter.

A Million Suns by Beth Revis ♥♥♥♥♥

Just finished this last night. I just couldn’t put it down. Thankfully, it only kept me up 20 minutes past my bedtime.

This is the 2nd book in a trilogy (and now I have almost a year to wait for the final book). I liked the first, but it wasn’t necessarily a book that I’d be raving about. Well, this one might have brought the whole series up to ‘raving’ status.

You can read more about Across the Universe here. Please ignore the cover…I can’t stand kissing/passionate embraces on the cover. This is not a romance series, but science fiction of a dystopian bent.

What I so enjoyed about this second book was that the author was able to pull out more surprises, after a fairly surprising first book. Even a few things that I anticipated worked out differently than I thought. Even more interesting, it makes you think about what it means to truly live.

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher ♥♥♥♥

I had heard about this book some time back and finally got to it during the Readathon. It was a good choice, as it’s a fast-paced read. It is the story of a teenage girl who commits suicide and leaves behind tapes detailing the people in her life and their actions that led her to the decision she made.

I think there are 2 major things to take away from a book like this:

1. Our words/actions/inactions affect others more than we think

2. We are responsible for our own choices.

I could imagine using this book as a discussion starter with a teenager about issues such as suicide and interpersonal relationships.

I’ve already contacted the winners, but don’t despair…you’re a winner, too! Right now Amazon and Barnes & Noble have The Journal for sale for $8.63! I don’t know how much longer it’ll be this cheap, so I’d snatch it up now!

If the ebook is more your style, enter the coupon code “RE59G” when checking out from Smashwords and you can get it for $2.99.

To celebrate the launch of The Journal, I have decided to host a little giveaway here. I’ll be giving away a $25 Amazon gift card (which could always be used to purchase The Journal, of course), as well as 3 hard copies of my book (a total of 4 winners).

Would you like to win? Simply leave a comment on this post (make sure you enter your email address!). Extra entries may be earned by posting about this giveaway on Twitter, Facebook, or a public blog (1 extra entry each) as well as for downloading a free sample of The Journal in your preferred format from Smashwords (1 extra entry). Total possible entries per person is 5. If you’ve earned an extra entry, leave a separate comment for each letting me know.

This contest is open until Friday, January 6th at 11 PM Eastern.

Legalese:

No purchase is necessary to enter this giveaway. All entrants must be U.S. residents, ages 18 years or older, and must provide a valid email address along with their entry comment.

The odds of winning a Sweepstakes is dependent on the number of entries. Winners will be selected randomly by Ronnica using http://random.org and have 48 hours to claim their prize after email notification. If a potential prize winner forfeits or does not claim a prize, the prize will be re-awarded, at Ronnica’s sole discretion.

Any entries received after 11 PM Eastern 1/16/2012 will not be considered. Entries that do not follow all of the entry requirements will not be considered. All winners must be willing to furnish a valid shipping address in order to receive a prize.

When I thought of a way I can do that while providing some goodies for you all, my lovely readers, I was tickled.

One of the ladies in my church has been raising funds for her family’s adoption by selling soap.  This stuff smells so delicious, I wish I could eat it (I promise I haven’t actually tried to!).

So, what about the goodies for you?  I’m giving away two soap sets:

The purple box contains two Lavender Love hearts, and one Tahitian Vanilla Heart Salt soap, and one Oatmeal Scrub soap. Value: $14.75.

Sorry this isn’t the best picture–my camera is at work, so I had to do the best I could with my phone. This pink soap set contains one Pearberry Love heart, one Sweetheart Bar, and one Pink Grapefruit Scrub. Comes with loufa and box. Value: $12.50.

To enter to win one of these soap sets, leave a comment with the soap YOU’D most want to eat (okay, or just use!) from Bright Star Soaps. US and Canada only. Comments open until 11 PM Eastern Friday, February 4th. Make sure to leave a way for me to contact you with your comment!

You know what else’s cool? The first 10 people who buy $10 of soap from Bright Star Soaps, you’ll get an extra soap free! Don’t forget to mention I sent you, so she can give you your free soap!

This weekend I’m going up to Virginia to stay in a cabin with my care group from church.  I’m really looking forward to it as a break from the normal.  Have a wonderful weekend!

Oh, and the winner of Radical Womanhood is…

Lora!  Congratulations!

A giveaway.

As a part of the SITS Spring Fling, I’m giving away a copy of the best book I’ve read so far in 2009 (and I’ve read 20, so I have some room to talk).

The book is Radical Womahood by Carolyn McCulley.  To learn more about this book, check out my review.

To enter this giveaway, all you have to do is leave a comment on this post.  For kicks, mention what you think is the most rewarding or most difficult part of being a woman. (Though I’m not necessarily limiting this review to ladies, I assume that it’s primarily ladies who are interested in this book.)

Fine Print: Comments will be open until 5 PM EDT, Thursday, March 12th.  This contest is open to residents of the US and Canada.

First of all, staying up late last night to watch the end of the game (and an episode of The Office to get me to calm down enough to sleep…the game was a nail-biter!) did nothing for the cold I’m harboring.  It’s back today in full force.  Here’s to a good night’s sleep tonight, and a weekend of little to do!

Secondly, thanks for letting me know what you are working on improving!

The number one area that you said you wanted to work on was losing weight, getting healthy (17 people).  After that, the areas you wanted to improve in are:

Family relationships (14 people)
Organization (14 people)
Relationship with God (12 people)
Learning/improving an art/craft (7 people)
Saving/earning more money (6 people)
Improving your writing/blogging (5 people)
Learning to relax more and/or worry less (5 people)
Increasing your patience (4 people)
Improving your relationships outside your family (3 people)
Reading more (2 people)
Improving your photography (2 people)

I wish you all the best in pursuing these areas!

But you didn’t come to this post to see all that.  So, And now it’s time for what you’ve been waiting for (I feel like Ryan Seacrest right now)…

Out of 178 entries, the winner of the $50 giftcard to Target  is…

#173…Hi-D!!!

Congrats Hi-D…shoot me an email (ronnica @ ignoranthistorian . com) with your address, and I’ll get that out to you shortly!

(fine print: If I don’t hear back from her by Wednesday, I’ll pick someone new.  But don’t count on that!)

One of the problems with changing blogs is losing your audience.  Now, if you’re here, you’ve made the transition with me, and I thank you.  But in order to make the transition complete, I need all eyes on me.  Oh wait, sorry, fell into my teacher-voice.  But I think what I’ve about to say will give you cause to pay attention.

I’m giving away a $50 Target gift card.  Yessiree.

You can receive entries by:

• Commenting on this post.  Easy peasy.  I’d love for you to tell me one area you would like to grow in/improve in 2009.  Maybe a habit or hobby you’d like to add/subtract or a personal characteristic you’d like to grow in.
• Updating your blogroll link to link to Ignorant Historian, not Tale of a Kansas Girl.  If you have already done it, good for you, and that counts, too.  If you never linked to me in the first place, you can link up to me now for this entry.
• Update your reader to this blog if you haven’t already done so.  If I wasn’t in your reader before, add me now and that’ll count too.  If you already updated your reader, than let me know that and you get this entry, too.
• Blog about this contest, with a link back here.

If you do/have done any of the last three options, leave a separate comment for each one.  I will be closing entries at 5 PM Eastern, Friday, January 9th.  This contest is open to anyone with access to a Target.

Thanks for updating your links to Ignorant Historian!

Congrats on being the winner of my giveaway! I’m happy to give you the $20 Target gift card and hope that you’ll be able to put it to good use. Out of the numbers 1 – 482, the random number generator picked 479. It apparently liked your last minute entry!

I loved having all the different visitors to my site this week. I would love to get to know you better. Stop by again so that I can truly “meet” you!

To everyone else that entered, I wish that I could have given you gift cards as well! Unfortunately, I’m just not that rich. Maybe next time?

Congrats again,

Ronnica

Dear Shopper,

Do you like to shop? Well, I have a deal for you. It’s giveaway time!

I’m giving away a $20 gift card to Target. I love to shop at Target and imagine that many of you do to. They’ve got lots of cute things at reasonable prices.

This contest is open to anyone, and all you have to do is enter is comment on this post before 5 PM Eastern Friday, April 25.* Please remember to leave a link to your blog or an email address in order for me to contact you if you win!

Please also take a chance to look around my blog while you’re at it. I’m a twenty-something seminary student that loves to write about anything and everything that I’m interested in: faith, travel, politics (though I try to do it sparingly), and of course funny stories. This month I’ve been writing every post in letter format, which has been a lot of fun!

Also, don’t forget to check out my giveaway over on the Book Nook!

Best wishes to all,

Ronnica

*Update: I just remembered that I’ll be traveling Friday and most likely out of touch with my computer at the time I selected above to close comments. I now plan on closing the comments 11:59 PM Eastern, Friday, April 25. Ish.