Backto the Books Blog hop winner!!

Congratulations to Krysta! She won the $25.00 Amazon giftcard!! Thank you everyone for participating! I wish I could give everyone a gift!

Faces of Hope 10 Years Later by Christine Pisera Naman

Title:  Faces of Hope 10 Years Later
Sub Title:  Babies Born on a day of Horror Live a Life of Hope
Author:  Christine Pisera Naman
Publisher:  HCI
Publication Date:  1 August 2011
Pages:  120
Source:  NetGalley

My Review

This book is dedicated to the memory of  Christine Taylor Green.  She was born 11 September 2001 and died 8 January 2011.  She was the youngest victim at the Arizona shooting spree on 8 January 2011 at Representative Gabriella Giffords political event.

Christine Taylor 11 September 2001 /12:50 pm - 8 January 2011

'If there are rain puddles in heaven, Christine is Jumping in them today."  -President Barack Obama in his address to the Nation, Memorial speech in Arizona, 2011.



The first edition of this book was filled with big eyed babies that were born 11 September 2001.  Ten years later this book shows those same big eyed babies as young children.  Now they show eyes filled with hope and big toothy grins.  Also, each child has made a piece of art that is included with their photograph, along with a quote from the child on how they plan to make the world a better place.

This is the first time I have read anything about this horrible day, that made me feel happy.  Usually anything about this day fiills me with an overwhelming sense of helplessness and sadness.  But,looking at the beautiful faces of these children and reading about their hopes and dreams, makes me realize that the world is still  a wonderful place.

There are 50 children in this book, one from each state.  All of the children express good things about the world, even though they are all very aware of what happened on the day they were born.  This is not a book about grief and sadness, it is a book of Hope and Happiness.  This can be seen in their art work, in their faces, and in their writings about making the world a better place.  I think this book is a lovely tribute to that day!

Jacob Robert, New York 12:23pm

"I will make the world abetter place by going in the woods and cleaning all the trash.  And then if I see a sick animal I will help it out and ask if I could take it to the vet.  That is how I will make the world a better place."

Carson Wil 7:56 am and Collin Levi 7:57 am, Texas

"We Will make the world a better place by making people laugh and giving big hugs."



Back To The Books Blog Hop Sept 1 thru Sept 7 $25.00 Amazon Gift Card

Welcome to the Back to the Books Blog Hop!!  My giveaway is open Internationally and i am giving away a $25.00 Amazon Gift card!

Thanks you to I am a Reader, Not a Writer and Buried in Books for hosting this wonderful hop!
Right now there are 305 blogs listed! Wow! Have fun and Happy Hopping!  To enter my giveaway, please fill out the form below.

The Art of Steampunk by Art Donovan

Title:  The Art of Steampunk

Sub Title:  Extraordinary Devices and Ingenious Contagions from th

Author:  Art Donovan

Publisher:  Fox Chapel Publishing

Publication Date:  29/6/2011

Source:  NetGalley

Pages:  128

My Rating: I loved it!

From Goodreads:









The Art of Steampunk seeks to celebrate the world of Steampunk: a world filled with beauty and innovation. A world in which steam power and technology intertwine to create machines that are not only functional and practical, but unique and striking.
Inside, you will find the fantastical and stunning artwork of Steampunk artists from around the world. The 17 artists featured on these pages, among the frontrunners of the Steampunk genre, have had their work displayed at an exhibition at The Museum of History of Science at the University of Oxford, UK and have attracted the media attention of BoingBoing, one of the world’s largest blogs. Their artwork consists of everything from clocks and watches to light fixtures and jewelry, but every piece demonstrates hours of painstaking work and devotion from its creator. You will find that the artists themselves are just as unique and colorful as their masterpieces. Fully embracing Steampunk ideology, many have adopted a Victorian alter ego—a mad scientist persona to match the complicated intricacies of their artwork.
The Art of Steampunk brings the vision of the Steampunk artist alive on the page, providing a unique insight into the captivating and dynamic world of a vastly underground genre.e Leading Artists of the Steampunk Movement.

My Review:

The Art of Steampunk is rooted in the Aesthetics of Victorian Technology.  Steampunk can be described as Victorian Sci fi because authors such as Jules Verne and H.G. Wells opened peoples imaginations like no one else had ever done before. But, it was not until the late 1980's that it got the name, "Steampunk".  The term was used by K.W. Jeter during the Cyberpunk era  to describe the stories written during the Victorian period, and it has stuck ever since. 

This Victorian period and the writing that ocurred during that period has provided inspiration for artists of today.  The inspiration for this book was due to a Steampunk exhibition at the University Museum of History and Science in the UK.  This exhibition occurred because of Art Donovans encouragement for doing the exhibition and thank goodness he was persistant.  Otherwise, these wonderful artists may have been overlooked.  The artists that participated in the exhibition came from all over the world.  For your viewing pleasure, please visit http://steampunkmuseumexhibition.blogspot.com/   But beware, because this stuff will make you drool!   Surely, after seeing this, you will become a fan of this Art!

Here are a few photo's of the art in this book, but please visit Art's website to see the Art as I believe it showcases the Art much better than the pictures provided here.





Scavenger Hike Adventures Great Smoky Mountains National Park

by Kat and John LaFevre

There is no place on earth that brings me more happiness than the Great Smoky Mountains!   I have a little place in Sevier County, about 10 minutes from downtown Gatlinburg and when I am not there, I am trying to figure out when I can go back.  I have been a lot of places in my life, but I have never found anywhere that is as beautiful as the Smoly Mountains.  Last week, me and my Mom had a wonderful time hiking some of the trails.  Over the years, I have hiked almost every trail, but this time I found a book that added a lot of excitement to some of the trails that I have hiked several times.  This book helped me to see things that I have over looked in the past and I learned some new things.  I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the Smoky Mountains.  I think kids would love this. I know when I was a kid, I loved a good scavenger hunt.  The hikes range from very easy to extreme, with most of them in the easy to moderate range. 

Here are a few photographs that I took while on a couple of these hikes.

A dynamite hole in a big rock on Porters Creek Trail

An old Cemetary that I would have missed without this book!  Also on Porters vCreek Trail.

Never knew this barn was in this area, but thanks to the book, I can mark it off my list!

On the Laurel Falls trail, this little bird kept trying to land on my head!

OK, I didn't find him on a trail, he lives near my house, but he was so cute, I wanted to share him with you!

I have a mushroom habit! It takes me twice as long to hike a trail, because i keep stopping to take mushroom pictures.

More Mushrooms!

More Fungi, but I will stop here, because I have thousands of mushroom pictures and I could go on all night.

Anyway, I love, love , love this book and I think anyone that is planning to hike in the Smoky Mountains should have this book!

Tree Craft by Chris Lubkeman

Title:  Treecraft

Sub Title:  35nRustic Wood Projects That Bring the Outdoors In

Publisher: Fox Chapel Publishing

Publication Date:  1 August 2011

Source:  NetGalley

Pages:  128

ISBN:  9781565234550

My Review:

My husband and me recently purchased a little place in the Smoky Mountains.  Since then, I have been on a quest to decorate it in a rustic or lodge style and to do it inexpensively.  This book is just what I have been looking for.  It is full of fantastic ideas that are exactly what I have been looking for.  The crafter or do it yourselfer will love the projects shown in this book.  Chris Lubkeman gives you the   basic information you need for working with different kinds of wood and wood working techniques.  But, the best thing about this book is the inspiration.  There are ideas for candle holders, checker sets, lamps, coat racks, kitchen utensil racks, salt and pepper shakers, curtain rods, etc.  Each and every one of the projects can be made out of wood from trees growing in your yard.  These projects are perfect for anyone wanting to go green because you can use wood from fallen trees or limbs you may trim from the trees in your yard.  I love, love , love this book!

Here are a few photos of the many wonderful projects in this book:

Classic Elite's Quick Knits Coming Soon

On September 18 I will be reviewing Classic Elite's new Book.  Please come back and take a look.  I will be sharing many photo's from the book and I don't think you will be disappointed.  It is a great book!

Remeber, /come back 18 September 2011 for my review!