Maw Books » videos

New Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Trailer – Amazing!

Natasha Maw — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 04:37:37 +0000

LOVE LOVE LOVE!!

Have you seen this new Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows trailer?

Can. Not. Wait.

__________________________________________________

Maw Books has an affiliate relationship with several bookstores, including Indiebound, Powell’s, and Amazon . When you buy a product (not just books – any product), via one of my links, Maw Books earns income from the sale and as always, it’s much appreciated as all affiliate income is used to support the blog. There is no cost to you.

I Can’t Stop Watching This Video . . .

Natasha Maw — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 16:08:01 +0000

My sister-in-law emailed me this video a couple of days ago, and then my husband later skyped it to me as well. After watching it at least five times, I tweeted about how hilarious it was. Seeing Angie at Angieville post it this morning I probably watched it again another five times. And then I realized that if I was watching it that much, then I should also post it here as well.

It’s a parody about libraries based on the Old Spice commercials. I have a special affinity for the video as it’s about the Harold B. Lee library (a gorgeous library at which I’ve spent much time) at my alma mater, BYU.

I love it.

__________________________________________________

You’ve Likely Watched it 20 Times Already But I Still Must Post the New Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Trailer

Natasha Maw — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 15:39:47 +0000

I am SO SO EXCITED!!! If I’m not there opening night at the IMAX, I think I just might cry a little.

Be honest – how many times have you watched the new Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows movie trailer?

__________________________________________________

Utah Readers! 2nd U.S Screening of Pope Joan the Movie to Be in Park City THIS Tuesday and Sunday!

Natasha Maw — Sun, 16 May 2010 01:17:36 +0000

Today my book club leader got an email from Donna Woolfolk Cross, author of Pope Joan, which just about sent my heart into palpitations. Last July Donna called into our book club to discuss her fabulous book which I reviewed here. At that time, we were given a sneak peek at the movie trailer. It looks SO good. Sadly, the movie has only been released in Germany and has had only ONE screening in the U.S. so far. But this is movie that we HAD to see. I even added my name and location to the petition on Donna’s website to let Constantin Film know that we want a U.S. release. I truly feared that I would not get a chance to see this book on the big screen.

Man, oh man. Am I lucky or what? The second U.S. screening of Pope Joan will be held in Park City, Utah this Tuesday May 18th at 7:30 at the Park City Music Festival. Tickets are $10 and may be purchased through the Park City Music Festival website. There *may* be a chance that Donna Woolfolk Cross will be in attendance as well. YES!

Edited to add: There is also a second showing at 7 pm at the Egyptian theater in Park City on Sunday, May 23rd.

Movie trailer:

Go! See it! Read the book!

I’m SO excited!! Short notice but will I see you there?!

__________________________________________________

A Child’s Journey Out of Autism: One Family’s Story of Living in Hope and Finding a Cure by Leeann Whiffen

Natasha Maw — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 15:15:02 +0000

Life couldn’t have been better for the Whiffen family when they welcomed newborn Clay into their lives. Mother Leeann was thrilled that he would grow up closely with his older brother. As any mother does, she has big hopes and dreams for her children and her family. But when Clay is two, he begins to regress, no longer speaks, and develops behavioral problems.

Autism.

It’s a word that Leeann refuses to even say. While she still has big hopes and dreams, they have suddenly shifted to something much more immediate. Each day Clay slips farther into his shell. This is something that she can not ignore or wait out. Through immediate and exhaustive treatment, Leeann fights as only a mother can fight. A fight to reclaim her son before it’s too late. The title of her moving memoir, A Child’s Journey Out of Autism: One Family’s Story of Living in Hope and Finding a Cure by Leeann Whiffen, is aptly named. For it is a fight that she wins. Clays diagnosis is completely removed.

This family’s story however is not as simple as the above description makes it seem. The research that Leeann conducts is overwhelming. The intensive, in-home therapy treatments are not covered by insurance and the $40,000 price tag is a financial strain. Add on top of that the added strain of relationships, friendships and simply on oneself, and the years of treatment are exhausting

In A Child’s Journey Out of Autism, Leeann shares her darkest moments, the lowest of lows, her guilt, worry, sadness, unbelief, and her highest of highs, her determination, strength, energy, and the happiness in reclaiming her son. She writes with such honesty and beauty. Such an important book to read regardless if you know somebody with autism or not. Every child is different and this is just one family’s journey of customized treatment and recovery but it’s a testament to a mother’s love for her child. It is a testament to empowered parents. It is a testament to the joy of a child. To reclaiming that which was once lost.

Watch this short trailer for the book featuring Clay himself and then watch for my author interview with Leeann Whiffen immediately following this post. Leeann lives locally to me and I’ve been fortunate to meet her on several occasions. Reading her book is like discovering a friend that you wish you always had and if it’s not to bold of myself to say, I feel fortunate to now call her one myself.

Links of interest: Leeann Whiffen website, blog and Twitter. More book blogger reviews. Did you know April is National Autism Awareness Month? Check out all my book reviews that address autism.
Genre: Non-Fiction, Memoir
Publisher: Sourcebooks. March 1, 2009
Paperback, 336 pages. ISBN 1402218389
Source copy: Review copy
A Child’s Journey Out of Autism is available from your favorite independent bookstore, Powell’s, and Amazon.

__________________________________________________

Sixteen Years in Sixteen Seconds: The Sammy Lee Story by Paula Yoo, Illustrated by Dom Lee

Natasha Maw — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 15:30:53 +0000

As an adult, I have found that I am introduced to much of history through picture books. Do you know the Sammy Lee story? Read Sixteen Years in Sixteen Seconds: The Sammy Lee Story by Paula Yoo and illustrated by Dom Lee and you will. Son to Korean Immigrants, Sammy Lee, would watch children play in the public swimming pool on the hot summer days in 1932. But people of color, like himself, were only allowed to use the pool one day a week. During that single day, he began to learn how to dive.

But discrimination wasn’t just apparent at the swimming pool, he wasn’t even allowed to attend his own prom despite being class president. Over the next sixteen years, he dreams of becoming an Olympic diving champion. He works hard and relentlessly. And all the while, fulfilling his father’s dream to become a doctor.

At the age of twenty-eight he finally gets his chance to compete for Olympic gold. Despite the international venue, he still faces prejudice because he wasn’t white. This only added to his determination to win. Winning a bronze medal in one competition, he aims for gold in his strongest competition – the 10 meter platform. Training for sixteen years brings him to a moment that would last only sixteen seconds – from the time he begins the dive to finding out his score. A score which would bring a perfect score from one judge and thus earning him the title of being the first Asian American to win an Olympic Gold medal.

A very inspiring story that ends with his father’s words: “In America, you can achieve anything if you set your heart to it.”

A short video that features an interview with Sammy Lee:

There is so much going for this book. It is a story of immigration, prejudice and discrimination, dreams, determination, practice, perseverance, struggle, and triumph. But this is no story. This is life. And an inspiring one at that. This picture book and Sammy Lee’s story deserves to be in the classroom, the library, the home, and in a child’s hands.

Links of interest: Paula Yoo website. Dom Lee is also the illustrator of the following picture books which I’ve reviewed: Baseball Saved Us, Be Water, My Friend: The Early Years of Bruce Lee, and A Passage to Freedom: The Sugihara Story.
Genre: Non-fiction Picture book, approx ages 9-12.
Publisher: Lee and Low Books. April 1, 2005
Hardcover, 32 pages. ISBN 158430247X
Source: Review copy
Sixteen Years in Sixteen Seconds: The Sammy Lee Story is available from your favorite independent bookstore, Powell’s, and Amazon.

__________________________________________________

Get Lucky by Katherine Center

Natasha Maw — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 18:00:06 +0000

I have been a fan of Katherine Center since she published her first novel The Bright Side of Disaster. And then after reading Everyone is Beautiful and later Katherine Skyping into my book club, the deal was cemented. Katherine is pretty much full of awesome. I’m an unabashed fan. And I’m happy to report that after highly anticipating and reading her newest novel, Get Lucky, I was not disappointed.

After growing up in Houston, Texas, Sarah Harper finds herself transplanted to Manhattan and is doing well in in her advertising career. But one stupid decision changes it all, she forwards an inappropriate email to all of her co-workers, and is suddenly out of a job and has a lot of time on her hands. So what better thing to do than go back home to visit her sister Mackie for Thanksgiving?

But what was going to be a simple vacation turns into something much longer as Sarah learns that Mackie has given up on having a baby due to infertility. Sarah puts forth a plan that nobody can resist and that will change them all forever, sometimes not always for the better.

But the storyline, of course, isn’t so simple. Memories of her deceased mother, reconnecting with her father whom announces he’s getting remarried and avoiding the hot ex-boyfriend whom she dumped horribly in high school play a role as she rediscovers who she is. Add to that a new job at a non-profit which will literally put her on top of a library roof by herself for 102 hours, and there is plenty to keep the reader engaged.

This is a story about relationships. With sisters, with friends, with parents, with co-workers and most important, with oneself. Katherine Center has a way of writing that just pulls you into the story and you have to remember to stop and breathe every once in a while. Or at the very least see if your kids have destroyed your house while you were previously engaged. She’s just so darn good at what she does!

These characters were real and flawed. Oh, there were times, when I wanted to say, “Sarah! Do you have any idea what you’re doing?!” But the beauty of the story is that Sarah is full of so many good intentions that she acts impulsively. We, the reader, have the benefit of watching Sarah as she journeys on a very steep learning curve. And Sarah certainly makes the journey well worth watching.

Those who go into this book expecting a quick, light read full of chuckles will find just that, but ultimately, will be surprised with the depth of emotion, story, and characters that labels Katherine Center has an author who has seemingly created a genre all her own.

And I LOVE the videos that Katherine makes. Check these three out. And tell me, how can you not help loving her!

The first ends with these words: “Your time is now. To be fearlessly resilient. To rebound with purpose and power. To lead with intention. To discover what you want – and go get it.” Powerful.

This video makes me want to get up, move around, and features words from Get Lucky:

And last, a video about sisters. A very appropriate celebration of Get Lucky:

Seriously, don’t skip them! Already waiting anxiously for Katherine’s next book and passing off my copy of Get Lucky to everybody in my book club, who all audibly gasped when I mentioned her new book was out.

Links of interest: Today’s post is in conjugation with Katherine’s TLC blog tour, more blogger reviews, Katherine’s website, my book review of Everyone is Beautiful, The Bright Side of Disaster, my author interview with Katherine, Nikki’sguest post interview with Katherine, and let’s not forget her awesome soup.
Genre: Fiction
Publisher: Ballantine Books. April 6 2010.
Paperback, 288 pages. ISBN 0345507916
Get Lucky is available from your favorite independent bookstore, Powell’s, and Amazon.

__________________________________________________

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, Creating Currents of Electricity and Hope by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer

Natasha Maw — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 16:25:48 +0000

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, Creating Currents of Electricity and Hope by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer was simply inspiring. One of those books that I knew I would like if I just took the time to sit down with it. And one that I wouldn’t have been aware of had it not been for the book blogosphere.

At the age of 14, William Kamkwamba was forced to drop out of school because his family was unable to pay the $80 school fees. Having a very inquisitive mind and not wanting to fall behind his peers, the library quickly became his best friend. Checking out book after book, particularly books about energy, he would studiously analyze each one. Most were in English, so he would have to infer the text through the diagrams and illustrations.

In 2002, his home country of Malawi was struck with a severe famine which left his family farm devastated and thousands died of starvation. Each day his family ate less and less. But yet with an empty stomach, William continued to study. When he saw his first picture of a windmill, he was blown away. Here was a machine that would use their abdunant natural resource of wind to create energy, thus bringing electricity and running water to his home. With electricity, his family could accomplish more in the evening hours at home and with running water they could irrigate and harvest a second crop.

William foraged for scrap metal, bicycle parts, and other components that he would need to build his own windmill. He received no support from his village or even his family, as they all thought he was crazy. Building the windmill took patience and perseverance but his work paid off. Soon the villagers were all marveling when he began to power his radio and light his home. And what blew my mind away was that he was FOURTEEN! He stuck with this project for months and self-taught himself everything that he needed to know. William blew me away.

The best part about the book is that what could ultimately be a dry and technical read – “How to Build a Windmill 101″ – was a great narrative. I couldn’t put it down. William’s story is a testament of what one person can accomplish if they don’t give up in the face of opposition. It’s also a testament to the thought that with knowledge comes power. And it also reminds me, the Western reader, that electricity is something that I shouldn’t take for granted. When I flick a switch, it’s something that I don’t even think about. The light comes on. But for Williams’ Malawi village, electricity is something that seemed out of their reach. That is, until a fourteen year old boy, changed it all.

Here are a few videos to whet your appetite for the book. This is the first public appearance that William Kamkwamba made at age 19 at TEDGlobal 2007. As he wrote about this event in the book, I really liked to watch this video:

Two years later, he spoke at the same event again. I loved seeing his transformation, his confidence, and his message at the end – “Trust yourself and believe. Don’t give up.”

A Moving Windmills short based on the full-length documentary of the same name, Moving Windmills: The William Kamkwamba Story which is currently in production:

Take the time to watch the videos and let me know what you think. Have you read the book? What was most inspiring to you?

Links of interest: William Kamkwamba website, on twitter, more book blogger reviews. buildOn.org is the charity organization which Moving Windmils project has partnered with to rebuild Kamkwamba primary school. I read this book as part of the water theme for the Social Justice Challenge.
Genre: Non-Fiction, Memoir
Publisher: William Morrow. September 29, 2009.
Hardcover, 288 pages. ISBN 0061730327
Source copy: Library
The Boy Who Harnessed the Windis available from your favorite independent bookstore, Powell’s, and Amazon.

__________________________________________________

Eat Pray Love Movie Trailer

Natasha Maw — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 15:50:01 +0000

I saw the Eat, Pray, Love movie trailer posted on Galleycat this morning and as my Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert book review is still among my highest viewed posts each month I thought that the movie trailer would be of interest to my readers:

As apparent from the comments on the book review, it’s a love it or hate it book. What about the movie? Planning on seeing it? I admit, it looks good but I wonder if I’ll find it slightly annoying.

__________________________________________________

The Blog, My Boys and I Make the Ten O’Clock News

Natasha Maw — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 21:17:51 +0000

What happens when the local news sends a camera crew out to my house to tape a segment about blogging?

Follow this link to watch the story.

It was fun!

__________________________________________________