google-site-verification: google935433b691795853.html KRISTY BERRIDGE: 2013-03-17

Saturday 23 March 2013

Me and my Bike

Well, it's been a crazy week, mostly because I made the decision about a month ago to stop using my car and buy a bike. No this was not a grandiose gesture to save the environment, although, if it makes you think more highly of me, then let's just say that was my motivation.
Anyway ...
The truth is, I'm a broke-ass author, and I've been walking the forty-five minute trek to and from work, and figured there had to be a quicker way. At this point, I may just mention that public transport, ie; the bus, scares the crap out of me, so don't even suggest it in the comment field ...
Right, so I have a bike now, and thus have been pedaling morning and night. I kept telling myself it would be easy, but it turns out I was dreaming.
The lovely, slightly downhill, early-morning ride to work is delightful. The wind in my face, IPod blaring in my ears - that's where it ends. So far, riding home has proved treacherous to say the least. It has rained, soaking me to the bone and rewarding me with soggy underpants. I've attempted to use a poncho, which when combined with South-Easterly winds, turns me into a freaking kite. I have to fight with the traffic, and sometimes endure the darkness. And since I am dead certain that the zombie apocalypse is coming, this just seems dangerous. I won't see those buggers lunging for my legs.
On the upside, lecherous guys with derogatory comments shouted from the open car windows have surprisingly made my week. Team that with the killer thigh muscles I'm developing, and I suppose I can suck up a bit of rain and the possibility I may take flight and end up in Fiji.
Have a good one,

Kristy :)

Friday 22 March 2013

Follow Friday #57


Happy Friday everyone!
Yes, it’s that time of week again where bloggers unite to participate in the Follow Friday venture. The idea behind #FF is to promote traffic to your own blog, make new friends with other like-minded bloggers and discuss new and interesting topics each week.
Participating is simple. First you need to follow my blog because I’m totally awesome, then you can follow me on Twitter @kristyberridge (actually you don’t have to do this, it’s wishful thinking), but do follow my blog or assassins will get you …
Then you must follow our illustrious hosts Rachel of http://www.parajunkee.com/ and Alison of http://www.alisoncanread.com/ If you want more details on how to enter your own blog in the follow and hop, all directions are on their webpages
Now, once you’ve followed, check out my answer to this week’s questions and don’t forget to leave a comment so I can do the right thing and follow you back!

This week's question: What is your guilty pleasure as far as reading? Is it a genre, or is it a certain type of book?

My answer: Okay, no real surprise here, but I love a bad boy, someone you want to slap around, but also secretly long to pull against your ... 
I also like hardcore action and descriptive violence. I want to be able see vivid imagery dripping from every written word.



Wednesday 20 March 2013

Book review: Pyxis by KC Neal

Pyxis, aptly titled "The Discovery" is a novel, for my mind, designed only to introduce you to the idea of a future plot and the building of strong character foundations.
Pyxis presents the idea of something compelling, a story involving a pyramidal group of teens - protagonist Corrine, her best friend Angeline, and her sometimes-maybe-boyfriend Mason. 
Formed by the trappings of high school, but forging closer upon the discovery of this mystery box known as the "Pyxis", and the novel attempts to explore its purpose and the reasons why these kids have been chosen.
Interestingly enough, you never find out what the Pyxis is. In fact, the novel doesn't explain much of anything bar family secrets never to be fully revealed. I felt bogged down by several chapters exploring a cookie experiment using unidentifiable liquids from the Pyxis box bearing no hypothesis or result. Following these lack-luster chapters with shared nightmares of fog between Corrine and Mason and I started to think we might be getting somewhere - at least some answer or deeper deluge into their meaning, but then boom, the novel is pretty much at its end.
I wish I could say that I enjoyed Pyxis, but with a million questions unanswered and no discernible plot direction, I can't imagine picking up the next installment as I wasn't left wanting.
I cannot fault the writing style, the descriptive content, or the dialogue, as this was very consistent throughout the novel. Imagery was particularly creative and the introduction of some sinister characters did give the book promise, but with too much space in between explanation, no moments of suspense and very little intrigue, I can only rate this book two out of five fangs.

Synopsis:

Corinne lives an average teenage life working at her dad’s cafe, hanging out with her best friend, and trying to forget a falling-out with her almost-boyfriend Mason. Things take a strange turn when she uses her late grandmother’s food dyes for a bake sale, and her customers suddenly find her irresistibly alluring. Then she discovers she and Mason are haunted by the same dreams of a dark force that consumes everything in its path. 
Pursued by shadowy figures and a crazy woman with secrets from the past, Corinne must find out who her grandmother really was. In her quest to unravel her family’s history, she learns she is destined to protect this world--and the dark world of her dreams. She races to find the answers she seeks before her nightmares break free.

Kristy :)