Yay for another book giveaway! I've been lax about posting a new Triviadventure every week but my sloth-like qualities are your gain because now I am giving away a box of 12 books. Because it will be rather heavy, I have to do US only.

Oh, and the winners of the New Zealand Triviadventure from eons ago were Maja C. and Lisa O. (two of my favorite Europeans!) Congrats, lovelies!

TRIVIA!!
1) Who doesn't love a bit of incest? (kidding!) This book, set in England, features a large family including siblings named Tiffin, Kit, Willa, Maya and Lochan and a *cough* over-the-line romance.
    ANSWER: Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma

2) The lesson from this book is this: If you are ever thinking of living in the wilderness in Alaska, BE PREPARED...and definitely know which foods are edible in nature. (hint: the author is Jon Krakauer.)
    ANSWER: Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer

3) Anjelica Huston creeps the hell out of me in the movie of this book. Written by Roald Dahl, this children's classic was illustrated by Quentin Blake and includes children being turned into mice.
    ANSWER: The Witches by Roald Dahl

4) This is a novella based in Orson Scott Card's Enderverse. In this book, the kids at Battle School are in a tizzy about celebrating (or not celebrating) holidays.
    ANSWER: War of Gifts by Orson Scott Card

5) This is the first book in the Steve Vail series by Noah Boyd. In this installment, a criminal group is blackmailing the FBI.
    ANSWER: The Bricklayer by Noah Boyd

6) A movie based on this book was recently released with Kristen Scott Thomas playing the lead. The plot involves a woman who moves into an apartment in Paris and tries to find out what happened to the family that lived there during WWII.
    ANSWER: Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay

7) This book is based on the ballad "Scarborough Fair." Written by Nancy Werlin, the plot involves date rape, teen pregnancy, and much more.
    ANSWER: Impossible by Nancy Werlin

8) This is the first in a series about a family of private investigators. It was first published in 2007 and the audiobook was narrated by Ari Graynor. (but I have the regular book.)
    ANSWER: The Spellman Files by Lisa Lutz

9/10) These two books are the first two in a series by Melissa de la Cruz. Vampires! In New York City!
    ANSWER: Blue Bloods and Masquerade by Melissa de la Cruz

11) I wish I could just say "this is my favorite children's book" and call it a day. Alas, I have to be more informative. This is a mystery whodunit where all the people trying to solve the mystery are tenants in an apartment building. The author of the book also illustrates books and illustrated a Christmas book by Dylan Thomas.
    ANSWER: The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin

12) Written by Ann Patchett, this book is about a party in South America where terrorists take everyone hostage.
    ANSWER: Bel Canto by Ann Patchett

This Triviadventure is open until October 4th at 9pm PST. (2 weeks!) The winner will be picked by www.random.org and I will notify him/her within 24 hours. Only trivia entries with all correct answers will be considered. (Edit: I decided to accept up to one incorrect answer due to the number of entries with wrong answers) You must be a follower to enter. Extra entries for comments, following on Twitter and/or Facebook, and spreading the word. If you have any questions, feel free to ask! (or write them in your trivia answers box) Good luck!

CONTEST CLOSED. The winner is Penny B.!

*Le Sigh* It turns out that classics aren't popular at all. Why is there no love for the oldies but goodies? I think the answer is clear--people don't understand just how amazing Edmond Dantès and Sherlock Holmes are. If they did, then last week's Triviadventure would've been the most highly entered one yet. Sadly, it was the least. However, I am very excited to say that Danielle R., a self-confessed classics lover, is the winner of the classic of her choosing!

This week I went to the Borders funeral sale. Well, actually I went to the Borders sale three or four times. On the third time, I was ecstatic to find Bernard Beckett's Genesis for $3.99 in hardback but when I went to the register, it ended up being $1.99. I think it is clear that I went back and bought several more copies. So, I will give away 2 this week for the trivia. For that, it's got to be US only. HOWEVER, I love my international buddies so you guys and gals can still enter and if you win, we'll figure a little summin' summin' out. Because Beckett is a Kiwi author, this week's trivia question will all be about New Zealand. (books and otherwise)

1) These comedians and musicians from New Zealand had their own show on HBO. The two of them basically play themeselves as a struggling NZ musical act in New York City.

2) This YA book features a storyline woven in with Maori lore. The author, Karen Healey, is a New Zealander, and the US cover features a white mask.

3) Keri Hulme penned this 1984 Booker Prize-winning work set in New Zealand. The main character's name is Kerewin Holmes.

4) What is the capital of New Zealand?

5) Despite being released in 1985, this Margaret Mahy book won the Phoenix Award in 2005. (I see this book on the YA shelves all the time and had no idea it was penned nearly 30 years ago!)

6) This paranormal author is of Indian descent but grew up in New Zealand. She's most famous for her Psy/Changeling series and her Guild Hunter series.

7) This New Zealander was the first to reach the summit of Everest with his companion, Nepalese Sherpa Tensing Norgay.

8) This New Zealand-born opera singer sang at the wedding of Charles & Diana. She is a well-known soprano and she started a foundation in her name to support young NZ musicians and singers.

9) This Kiwi YA author penned books including Lester, Red Cliff, Jolt, Home Boys, and Malcolm and Juliet. His newest release is entitled August.

10) Though this New Zealand movie director is much more famous for other movies, my favorite movie of his is definitely Dead Alive. ZOMBIE BABY!

This triviadventure is open until August 30th, 9pm PST. Two winners will be picked by www.random.org and I will notify them within 24 hours. Only trivia entries with all correct answers will be considered. You must be a follower to enter. Extra entries for comments, following on Twitter and/or Facebook, and spreading the word. If you have any questions, feel free to ask! (or write them in your trivia answers box) Good luck!

CONTEST CLOSED. Winners will be announced tomorrow. 

To be honest, I'm a bit nervous that not as many people will enter to win a book that is a classic. That usually means that they are available as free ebooks. But I KNOW that there are a few of you out there that want a copy of an old favorite or a future potential favorite, right? RIGHT? So, without further adieu, let's get to the trivia. The winner may choose a book from the correct answers as the prize.

1) The author of this book is considered an iconic member of the Beat generation. Lesser known than his On The Road, this work is about a mountain climbing trip.

2) This character has so many short stories written about him that there are two huge volumes. He lives as 221b Baker Street. (I hope you pick this book if you win:))

3) This well-known children's classic has been made into more movies than almost any other I can think of. It also spawned a series of books. It was originally published in 1900 and illustrated by W.W. Denslow.

4)This Dickens novel was made into an 8-hour Masterpiece Theatre show featuring Gillian Anderson. (*hums X-Files theme song*) There is a character named Sir Leicester Dedlock.

5) This epic is usually the go-to book that people say they aim to read at some point in their life. It is more than 1,300 pages and the original Russian title is Война и мир.

6) This book's author only ever wrote one book. She was friends with Truman Capote. The themes of the Southern gothic novel are racial injustice and the destruction of innocence.

7)This F. Scott Fitzgerald work, published in 1925, showcases the lavish lifestyle of some characters on Long Island and is narrated by Nick Carraway.

8) This one is one of my ultimate favorites. What, you don't know it already? It is set primarily in France and is the ultimate tale of exacting revenge on your enemies. Characters include Luigi Vampa and Monsieur Villefort.

9) Ben Barnes recently played the title character in a movie of this book. It is Oscar Wilde's only published novel.

10) This is a sweeping story of tangled passions and the rare courage of a group of people in Atlanta during the time of Civil War. It won the Pulitzer in 1937 and the author wrote it while recovering from an auto accident.

This Triviadventure, back to the usual, will be open for one week and will close for entries at 9pm PST on Tuesday, August 23rd. It is open anywhere that The Book Depository ships. Extra entries for spreading the word and bringing more people into my web of nonsense. You must be a follower to enter. Comment on this blog entry and that will  be another entry. Good luck!

Here's a sample tweet to use: Tuesday Triviadventures: Enter to win a classic book by answering some trivia questions at... http://t.co/pQ6Rly5

So this week I was  a bit lazy and didn't post a Triviadventure on Tuesday. Last week's winner was Gonza B. He picked Connie Willis' The Doomsday Book as his prize. So Bloodlines, the beginning of Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy spinoff series, comes out on the 23rd of this month. Let's make this quick. I'll give my ARC to the winner of this week's Triviadventure. It's the 13th today and I'll run it until Wednesday night, 9 pm (PST). I'll mail it out priority mail the next day so whoever wins will still have it a day or two before it comes out. I'll leave it open international, but I'll send it slow mail if anyone outside the US wins. As usual, you can win extra entries by spreading the word. And since Bloodlines is paranormal, that's the subject of this week's trivia questions. (only 4 questions because I am drowning in books to read)

1) This is the first book in a series by L.J. Smith that was adapted into a television show on the CW channel. The story follows Elena and two brothers, Stefan and Damon.

2) *Sigh* Oh Barrons. This is the finale to the Fever series by Karen Marie Moning. The Fever series involves just about every paranormal creature possible and is set in Ireland.

3) This sixth book in Jim Butcher's Dresden Files series opens up with Harry and Thomas rescuing a litter of pups from a group of demon gorillas. Yep, you read that correctly.

4) This Sookie Stackhouse series book is arguably the best of the bunch because Eric has amnesia in it. (Hint: It is the fourth book)

CONTEST CLOSED. The winner is Kim from Baggins Book Blabber! Congratulations

Mmmm, space. Everyone who knows my reading tastes knows that I am love with space stories. Kids in space, adults in space, going there, learning there, fighting there, DOING ANYTHING there. This week's trivia questions will all have to do with science fiction novels. Most of them are among my favorites but a few of them are ones I have on deck to read in the next few months. The winner can pick any one of the books as their prize. As per usual, anyone who lives in a country where The Book Depository ships may enter. Extra entries for being awesome. (More awesome than you obviously already are. (you can accomplish this by spreading the word) Without further adieu,

1) This is probably the most famous children's science fiction novel. It began a series, including other installments called A Swiftly Tilting Planet, A Wind in the Door, and An Acceptable Time.

2) Control the spice, control the universe. This book is one of the most famous sci-fi works of all time. It has been made into several movies, one memorably starring Sting in a diaper. (fine, it wasn't really a diaper, but it looked like one)

3) Jeff Winston keeps reliving portions of his life in this novel. Published in 1998 by Ken Grimwood, this book is supposed to become a movie in the next few years. (I really hope it does!)

4) This kooky sci-fi novel was made into a movie in the past couple years that starred Martin Freeman and Zooey Deschanel. This book, the first in the series, reminds space travelers of the advice: "Don't panic...and always bring a towel."

5) This book is the first in a young adult series by Patrick Ness. The Chaos Walking series follows Todd Hewitt, a young man living in another world.

6) The title city in this book by Brandon Sanderson was walled when its inhabitants started to get sick. If anyone falls ill outside the walls, they are thrown inside to die...but do they actually die?

7) Temporal displacement allows soldiers to keep fighting in wars with the Taurans in this sci-fi classic from Joe Haldeman. The main character is named Mandella.

8) This 1992 book by Connie Willis won both the Hugo and Nebula awards. In it, Kivrin Engle goes back to 14th century Oxford.

9) Alfred Bester penned this sci-fi novel in 1955. The word for traveling in this book is 'jaunting.'

10) Young kids get shipped off to Battle School in this best-known YA sci-fi book. Once there, all the geniuses fight in 'toons' and practice tactics for their eventual war with The Buggers. Orson Scott Card wrote this one and it spawned an entire series and offshoot series.

This week's Triviadventure will be open until next Tuesday, August 9th, 2011 at 9pm (PST). I will notify the winner by email in the following 24 hours. You can gain extra entries by commenting on this post, following the blog, liking it on Facebook, and tweeting about it. Come back next week to win another ARC!

Here's a sample tweet to copy and paste: Think you know your sci-fi trivia? Answer some ?s at www.thereadventurer.com to win a free book!

CONGRATULATIONS TO LAST WEEK'S WINNER, JANINA!! She won an ARC of Marie Lu's upcoming YA dystopian novel, Legend.

This week's triviadventure has a pretty badass prize, if I do say so meself. (Don't worry, I don't actually say "meself" but I did just say that like Eliza Doolittle's dad in My Fair Lady) Alternatively, you could imagine me saying it in Dick Van Dyke's horrific British accent from Mary Poppins. It's a jolly holiday. Anyway, I have been MIA for a week and will be MIA for another week so this trivia quiz will last TWO whole weeks. (or 1,209,600 seconds if you are some sort of robot who counts things in seconds...which I'm not considering it took me about 2 minutes to do that math) The prize will be an ARC of Marie Lu's upcoming debut, Legend.

Here's the blurb from Goodreads:

What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic's wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic's highest military circles. Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country's most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem.

From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths - until the day June's brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family's survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias's death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets.

Full of nonstop action, suspense, and romance, this novel is sure to move readers as much as it thrills.

Whoa. Exciting, right? I read it a week or two ago but my exam studying has prevented me from writing a review. And it is going to continue preventing me for another week. But you want it. I can see you salivating from here. Wipe off your keyboard, for crying out loud! Just to give you an idea of how I felt about Legend, I'll give you a few bullet points:

• Totally riveted throughout. I enjoyed that the dystopian future society felt possible, whereas other not-to-be-named YA dystopian novels are a bit far-fetched.
• Both the heroine and hero have interesting quirks and weaknesses that made the novel more enjoyable. I'm happy that no one was so badass that they were above making mistakes or emotional decisions. People have flaws.
  
• A few people mentioned not enjoying the actual book design. Whaaa? I was like a little kid in a candy store. (Actually, every time I think of it, I hear Ralphie's little brother from A Christmas Story going, "Oh wow! Look at that! Wooow!" The outer cover of the ARC (so I'm assuming the finished edition will be similar, though hardcover) is metallic silver and gold. To differentiate the shift in narration between June and Day, both the font and color of the text is different and one half of it is a mesmerizing gold color.
  
• The book has an initial print run of 350,000 (!) and the movie rights are already picked up with two writers attached to the adaptation.
  

So, in an effort to keep this from being the longest blog entry ever, I'll get to the giveaway requirements. If you thought you were going to just get a regular giveaway, DREAM ON. I'm still going to make you do trivia. And to keep it topical, I've made the questions about other dystopian books and movies.

Batter Up:
1) This Aldous Huxley novel, written in 1931, features a futuristic London, a world that is limited to 2 billion people, and characters named Bernard Marx and Lenina Crowne.

2) This dystopia was featured as both a cartoon on MTV and a live action movie starring Charlize Theron. (it has also been a video game and a comic book)

3) This 2009 movie by Neill Blomkamp was set in South Africa and concentrated on what relations between aliens and humans could be like. (Yikes!)

4) Is there a District 13? If you're into YA dystopian novels, you'll know it from that comment alone. This book (and soon to be movie) tells the tale of Katniss Everdeen, Peeta Mellark, and others bucking the system.

5) Ethan Hawke wants to be sent into space in this film. His society, however, only allows the most healthy specimens to partake in the program so he concocts a plan to fool those who would prevent him from doing so. It was nominated in 1997 for the Academy Award for Best Art Direction.

We'll just do 5 questions this time. You must be a follower to enter. Additional entries will be given for other awesome stuff like liking my blog on Facebook, following me on Twitter, or tweeting about the giveaway. The triviadventure will close for entries on August 2nd at 9pm PST. I'll notify the winner by email within 24 hours. One entry per address/person and it is open internationally. You must get all 5 questions correct for your entries to count! In addition to the opportunities for +1 entry that are listed in the entry form, you can get up to 5 additional entries by commenting on this post. (1 entry per comment) Good luck!

Here's a sample tweet to copy and paste for those who are as lazy as me: Win an ARC of Marie Lu's Legend @TheReadventurer .com by answering some dystopian trivia! Enter at: http://t.co/EvBGw6T

CONTEST CLOSED, The winner was the amazing Janina! Congrats, ladyface!

Congratulations to last week's winner, Missie @ The Unread Reader who got all the mystery books right and won a box of 10 books!

This week's Triviadventure will be about books made into movies. I've been thinking, and I'm going to start doing a series of "Book vs. Movie" postings. Of course, I'll have to rewatch and reread before doing so. Anyway, you should answer all the questions and specify which book you'd like as your prize if you end up winning. It is open INTERNATIONALLY anywhere The Book Depository ships. (Thaaat's you, Elle!!) Good luck!

1. This upcoming movie is based on a book that is arguably the biggest phenomenon since Harry Potter and Twilight. The book is the first in a trilogy and is currently being filmed in North Carolina.

2. This movie contains a theme song that makes everyone want to get the hell out of the ocean. Written by Peter Benchley in 1975, the movie contains the famous line, "We're gonna need a bigger boat."

3. Oh man, this movie is so scary for a kid. Starring Anjelica Huston and based on a book by Roald Dahl, this story is about a young boy who is turned into a mouse by some, shall we say, evil women.

4. Jack Nicholson is totally insane in this movie. Based on a book by Stephen King, this movie features creepy identical twins and REDRUM...

5. What is dust, anyway? This book was made into a movie with Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig. The sequels have yet to be filmed (if they ever will be) but they are entitled The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass.

6. This upcoming movie is based on a bestseller from last year. The book tells the story of a Southern woman who writes and exposé on maids in a Mississippi town.

7. The subject of this book/movie is women's writing (Nüshu) in China over the years. It tells the story of a very special friendship (laotong) between two women. The book was written by Lisa See.

8. This girl's head goes completely around. Written by William Peter Blatty, this movie contains the famous line, "The power of Christ compels you!"

9. A lifelong friendship and romance is the subject of this 2009 book by David Nicholls. The characters are named Emma and Dexter and will be played by Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess.

10. Leonardo DiCaprio and Mark Ruffalo starred in the adaptation of this book by Dennis Lehane. The story follows cops onto an island off the coast of Massachusetts that houses a sanitarium where someone has gone missing.

You should give the title and author of each of the books and then pick which one you'd like if you win. The contest will be open until Tuesday, July 12th at 9pm (PST). The winner will be picked by a randomizer from all completely correct entries and I will notify the winner by email. Good luck!

Oh, and one more thing, if you follow me on twitter (@thereadventurer), it will be +1 entry, if you are a follower of this blog, it is +1, and if you tweet about it, it is +1.

I think some of you may curse me for this one. In an attempt to slim down my piles of books, the winner of this week's Triviadventures will win the ten books that are the answers to this week's questions. Ooooooh, mysterious, right? There are 4 like new hardbacks, 2 like new paperbacks, 3 very good paperbacks, and 1 former library book that is still in very good condition. They are ALL worth winning and reading and cross many genres--humor, YA, chick lit, paranormal romance, urban fantasy, and thriller. Because the box will be pretty heavy, I can only do this one within the US. (sorry:() Good luck!

Last week's winners of my first Triviadventure were Jasprit K., who picked Mira Grant's Feed (Newsflesh, #1) and Catie C., who picked Ann Aguirre's Grimspace (Grimspace, #1). Congratulations to both of you! Those will be shipped within the week:)

1. This book is written by someone named Emily who abbreviates her first name with E. It is set at a summer drama camp. What book is it?
2 & 3. These two books are the first two in a series about a female serial killer in Portland, Oregon. What are they?
4. I won a copy of this book from my friend Nic @ Irresistible Reads. She sent me Finding Cassie Crazy. Turns out, I had the same book under a different title and didn't know it. I bought it in the US--what's the title?
5. I almost pissed myself laughing when I saw this book's North Carolina-raised humorist author do a reading. This book, published in 2000, contains some of his funniest essays.
6. I mentioned in an earlier blog post that this book as one of my favorites to read when I need cheering up.  The female lead is named Kate Mackenzie.
7. This book was made into a movie starring Brendan Fraser (no it isn't Encino Man. You wish!) There is a character called Dustfinger.
8. This book is the first in a series called "Women of the Otherworld."
9. This book's author is most famous for a YA series about vampires but this book is the first of hers in a different series. The name of the series is very similar to the title of  a recent Natalie Portman movie.
10. This master storyteller's work could probably knock a person out if you threw it at someone. (like many of his) First published in 2009, this book is set in Chester's Hill, Maine.

Tuesday Triviadventures, Part 2 will be open for entries until 9pm, PST on Tuesday, July 5th, 2011. Winner will be selected by a randomizer from all entries with 10/10 correct answers. One entry per person. Good luck!

To celebrate the start of my new blog, I'm going to give away a book to TWO lucky winners. Since this is the beginning of something for me, I think it is fitting to give away the first book in a series. That said, here are the choices:

Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead
Mind Games by Carolyn Crane
Undead and Unwed by Maryjanice Davidson
Graceling by Kristin Cashore
Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning
Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins
Gone by Michael Grant
Grimspace by Ann Aguirre
Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris
Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews
Sloppy Firsts by Megan McCafferty
Feed by Mira Grant
Friday Night Bites by Chloe Neill
Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
(or you can pick your own but there must be at least 2 books in the series already published in the US)

The contest will open internationally to anywhere The Book Depository ships.

Now, on to the fun part! This is the first of hopefully many Triviadventures! (see what I did there? I amuse myself) To enter, you'll have to get your book trivia on and answer these five questions. The answers are easily found on the internet, on Goodreads, Amazon, or in your memory. Feel free to ask people who've read the book! (besides me, of course)

1. In what town and state is Henry David Thoreau's Walden Pond located?
2. What is the character Ashley obsessed with eating in Lish McBride's Hold Me Closer, Necromancer?
3. What poem does John Hannah read at his deceased boyfriend's funeral in Four Weddings and a Funeral?
4. What is unique about the writer Ilona Andrews?
5. What book is the character Conor Larkin from?

Tuesday Triviadventures, Part 1 will be open for entries until 9pm, PST on Tuesday, June 28th, 2011. Winner will be selected by a randomizer from all entries with 5/5 correct answers. One entry per person. Good luck!

CONTEST CLOSED. WINNERS TBD.