Bookworm Nation

Teaser Tuesday

2009-11-10T08:59:00.001-08:00

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by Should Be Reading. It is open to anyone and is a fun way to get a taste of different books. The rules are simple and everyone is welcome to participate.

1. Grab your current read.
2. Open to a random page.
3. Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page.
4. Be careful NOT to include spoilers (you don’t want to ruin the book for others.)
5. Share the title and author so that other TT participants can add the book to the TBR lists if they like your teaser.
6. After completing your post, return to Should Be Reading and add a link in their “comment” section.

The Red Necklace
By Sally Gardner
Page 285

“Yann knew there was hardly any time. The only way to get her out was to be bold—and bolder.”

Library Loot Monday

2009-11-09T10:44:00.000-08:00

Library Loot is a weekly meme that is hosted by A Striped Arm Chair. It gives book bloggers an opportunity to share what fun books we have checked out from the library. If you’d like to participate visit A Striped Arm Chair and add your post link to their site. It’s a fun way to check out what other bloggers are reading. Below are just a few of the books I have checked out this Monday. (Photos and description from GoodReads)

Enchanted, Inc. by Shanna Swendson
Katie Chandler gets a job offer from Magic, Spells, and Illusions, Inc., a company that tricks of the trade to the magic community. She quickly learns that office politics are even more complicated when your new boss is a real ogre, and you have a crush on the sexy, shy, ultra powerful head of the R&D department, who is so busy fighting an evil competitor threatening to sell black magic on the street that he seems barely to notice Katie. Now it’s up to Katie to pull off the impossible: save the world and–hopefully–live happily ever after.

The Red Necklace by Sally Gardner
A mysterious gypsy boy, Yann Margoza, and his guardian, a dwarf, work for the magician Topolain in 1789. On the night of Topolain’s death, Yann’s life truly begins. That’s when he meets Sido, an heiress with a horrible father. An attachment is born that will determine both their paths. Revolution is afoot in France, and Sido is being used as a pawn. Only Yann will dare to rescue her from a fearful villain named Count Kalliovski. It will take all of Yann’s newly discovered talent to unravel the mysteries of Sido’s past and his own and to fight the devilish count.

The Alchemyst by Michael Scott
He holds the secret that can end the world. The truth: Nicholas Flamel was born in Paris on September 28, 1330. Nearly 700 years later, he is acknowledged as the greatest Alchemyst of his day. It is said that he discovered the secret of eternal life. The records show that he died in 1418. But his tomb is empty. The legend: Nicholas Flamel lives. But only because he has been making the elixir of life for centuries. The secret of eternal life is hidden within the book he protects; the Book of Abraham the Mage. It's the most powerful book that has ever existed. In the wrong hands, it will destroy the world.

The Demon King by Cinda Williams Chima

2009-11-07T13:34:00.000-08:00

Genre: YA Fantasy

Author Website: www.cindachima.com

One Word Review: FANTASTIC!

First Line: “Han Alister squatted next to the steaming mud spring, praying that the thermal crust would hold his weight.”

Synopsis: Times are hard in the mountain city of Fellsmarch. Reformed thief Han Alister will do almost anything to eke out a living for himself, his mother, and his sister Mari. Meanwhile, Raisa ana'Helena, Princess Heir of the Fells, has her own battles to fight. Raisa wants to be more than an ornament in a glittering cage. She aspires to be like Hanalea-the legendary warrior queen who killed the Demon King and saved the world. But it seems like her mother has other plans for her--plans that include a suitor who goes against everything the Queendom stands for.

Kathy’s Review: You may remember that I chose The Demon King as one of my "Waiting on Wednesday" choices. I finally picked up a copy at the store yesterday and couldn't have been happier. I loved Chima’s Wizard Heir series and just knew that this book would be awesome! As much as I loved the WH series, I think I loved this book even more. It follows the story of a reformed thief and streetlord Han Alister who is trying to turn over a new leaf in order to take care of his mom and little sister. And Raisa the Princess Heir, who is quickly approaching her sixteenth birthday and will soon be eligible for a political marriage. I loved that the book alternated between these two very different characters with their individual stories. It really gives you a chance to get to know and care for all the different characters in the forest clans and the royal court and what struggles each are going through. Chima has created a great new world full of intrigue, magic, power and even a bit of romance. Han and Raisa’s paths cross briefly and even though they each have separate love interests, I can’t help but wonder if there may be something between them in the next book. This was a great start to the trilogy, giving us a lot of background information, character development, and left things with enough closure to make me happy, yet still leaving some cliffhangers so that I really CAN’T wait to find out what happens next.

Reading Order:
Book One: The Demon King
Book Two: The Exiled Queen (Fall 2010)
Book Three: The Gray Wolf Throne (Fall 2011?)

Splendor by Anna Godbersen

2009-11-06T10:41:00.000-08:00

Genre: YA Fiction

Author Website: www.theluxebooks.com

One Word Review: Posh

First Line: “Fifty years ago, every American girl wanted to be a European princess.”

Synopsis: “A spring turns into summer, Elizabeth relishes her new role as a young wife, while her sister, Diana, searches for adventure abroad. But when a surprising clue about their father's death comes to light, the Holland girls wonder at what cost a life of splendor comes. Carolina Broad, society's newest darling, fans a flame from her past, oblivious to how it might burn her future. Penelope Schoonmaker is finally Manhattan royalty—but when a real prince visits the city, she covets a title that comes with a crown. Her husband, Henry, bravely went to war, only to discover that his father's rule extends well beyond New York's shores and that fighting for love may prove a losing battle.” -GoodReads

Kathy’s Review: I’ve been waiting for this one for quite awhile and was excited to finally get my hands on a copy so I could dive back into the crazy socialite lives of Elizabeth, Diana, Penelope and Carolina. This was a good conclusion to the series, although I was a little disappointed with how some things ended up, for the most part I thought everyone got what they deserved. This book didn’t captivate me like its predecessors and thought it was kind of lacking some of the drama and intrigue that I enjoyed so much in the other novels and I think really would have been better as a trilogy. I thought some storylines were kind of neglected and then resolved too quickly (Elizabeth), while others were drawn out and didn’t quite have the ending I was expecting. If you enjoyed the first three books then you will probably like seeing what happens with everyone.

Reading Order:
Book One: Luxe
Book Two: Rumors
Book Three: Envy
Book Four: Splendor

Teaser Tuesday

2009-11-03T07:40:00.000-08:00

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by Should Be Reading. It is open to anyone and is a fun way to get a taste of different books. The rules are simple and everyone is welcome to participate.

1. Grab your current read.
2. Open to a random page.
3. Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page.
4. Be careful NOT to include spoilers (you don’t want to ruin the book for others.)
5. Share the title and author so that other TT participants can add the book to the TBR lists if they like your teaser.
6. After completing your post, return to Should Be Reading and add a link in their “comment” section.

One Second After
William R Forstchen
Page 45

“It was dark. There wasn’t a single light down in the town, except for what appeared to be the flicker of a Coleman lamp, some candles.”

This book is not for the faint of heart. The premise of the book, which according to the author is a very real threat facing the United States, is downright sobering. The book has some coarse language as well. I’m letting it slide because if the US was hit with an EMP, caused by a nuke, I just don’t think, “Oh fiddlesticks!” is going to cut it. Am I right?

The Hourglass Door by Lisa Mangum

2009-11-01T17:38:00.000-08:00

Genre: YA Fiction

Author Website: www.lisamangum.com

One Word Review: Lackluster

First Line: “It is the counting that saves him.”

Synopsis: “His past. Her future. Can love bring them together in time? Abbys senior year of high school is going according to plan: good friends, cute boyfriend, and college applications in the mail. But when Dante Alexander, foreign-exchange student from Italy, steps into her life, he turns it upside down. He's mysterious, and interesting, and unlike anyone she's ever met before. Abby can't deny the growing attraction she feels for him. Nor can she deny the unusual things that seem to happen when Dante is around. Soon Abby finds herself drawn into a mystery whose roots reach into sixteenth-century Florence, and she uncovers a dangerous truth that threatens not only her future but the lives of those she loves” -GoodReads

Kathy’s Review: I’m definitely in the minority here when I say that I wasn’t that impressed with this one. For some reason it just fell a little flat for me. One reviewer compared it to an episode of Lost where you’re constantly questioning what is going on. I felt like that for the first 200+ pages. I had a general idea what the story was about, but I was still confused and had a hard time really taking to the characters. I did like Abby. I thought she was a good character. Dante was even okay (although, I lost track of how many times his eyes changed color…). He didn’t really come across as the “hero” type, he didn’t really do anything and by the end I wasn’t really feeling it between him and Abby. I was upset that he didn’t do anything to help Abby’s friend Valerie and his decisions at the end just didn’t really make sense to me. I thought the whole time travel idea was interesting, but was executed kind of weird. Overall, I thought it was okay. I had high expectations and have read a lot of great reviews so I’m sure I am one of the few that wasn’t blown away. I’ll probably still check out the sequel, maybe it’ll be better.

Reading Order:
Book One: The Hourglass Door
Book Two: The Golden Spiral
Book Three:

Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

2009-10-31T12:02:00.000-07:00

Genre: Adult Fiction

Author Website: www.elizabethgilbert.com

One Word Review: A Waste (I know that is two words)

First Line: “I wish Giovanni would kiss me.”

Synopsis: At the age of thirty-one, Gilbert moved with her husband to the suburbs of New York and began trying to get pregnant, only to realize that she wanted neither a child nor a husband. Three years later, after a protracted divorce, she embarked on a yearlong trip of recovery, with three main stops: Rome, for pleasure (mostly gustatory, with a special emphasis on gelato); an ashram outside of Mumbai, for spiritual searching; and Bali, for “balancing.” These destinations are all on the beaten track, but Gilbert’s exuberance and her self-deprecating humor enliven the proceedings: recalling the first time she attempted to speak directly to God, she says, “It was all I could do to stop myself from saying, ‘I’ve always been a big fan of your work.’

Jess’s Review: I did something I rarely do, but I put this book down about 55 pages in and all I can say is hallelujah. I’ve been seeing this book everywhere so I thought I'd give it a try. Only in American can a self-centered and pathetic woman make the New York Times Bestsellers List by re-telling her so-called life story about being so darned depressed because she lives in a big house in the suburbs with a husband that for some inexplicable reason she just doesn’t love anymore. Picture that sentence written in whinny 4 year old’s voice and you’ll understand the way this book comes across while reading it. I have a solution for Miss Gilbert. Pull yourself off the bathroom floor or whatever other surface you are “sobbing” on and get a life, stop thinking (and writing) about yourself and try helping or serving someone else. Once you’ve done that, write a book that matters and stop inflicting your personal pity party on the American public. I’ve always known the following to be true and this book just drove it home for me: Ingratitude is one of the grossest sins and will leave you helpless and sad. Funny, but also how reading this book will leave you. In all fairness I did only make it 55 pages so if I missed some “a ha” moment that made this book worth the paper it is written on please feel free to call me on the carpet.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

2009-10-30T12:55:00.000-07:00

Genre: Adult Fiction

Author Website: www.guernseyliterary.com

One Word Review: Delightful

First Line: “We sold over forty copies of the book, which was very pleasant, but much more thrilling from my standpoint was the food.”

Synopsis: January 1946: London is emerging from the shadow of the Second World War, and writer Juliet Ashton is looking for her next book subject. Who could imagine that she would find it in a letter from a man she’s never met, a native of the island of Guernsey, who has come across her name written inside a book by Charles Lamb….As Juliet and her new correspondent exchange letters, Juliet is drawn into the world of this man and his friends—and what a wonderfully eccentric world it is. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society—born as a spur-of-the-moment alibi when its members were discovered breaking curfew by the Germans occupying their island—boasts a charming, funny, deeply human cast of characters, from pig farmers to phrenologists, literature lovers all.Juliet begins a remarkable correspondence with the society’s members, learning about their island, their taste in books, and the impact the recent German occupation has had on their lives. Captivated by their stories, she sets sail for Guernsey, and what she finds will change her forever.

Jess’s Review: I can hardly find the words to express how much I enjoyed reading this book. The book is written as a series of letter, which at first I was very leery of, but once I got used to it, I fell in love. I savored reading each letter as if they were my own and when I was finished I literally hugged the book to my chest and sighed. Very cheesy moment, but true nevertheless. The characters were vivid and vibrant, and the story was interesting and moving. The book made me laugh and cry and had me wishing that people wrote more letters. Then I remembered all the great comments we get on Bookworm Nation and it made me feel better! Each of the characters finds solace in the books they have read and in the people they read them with. It’s the first book in a long time that I actually wrote down page numbers so I could go back and copy down the quotes. I’ll share a few with you….just to peek your interest so you’ll read this book…ASAP.

“I wonder how the book got to Guernsey? Perhaps there is some secret sort of homing instinct in books that brings them to their perfect readers. How delightful if that were true.” p.10

“Reading good books ruins you for enjoying bad books.” P.53

“Mind you I cannot always make sense of what he [Shakespeare] says, but it will come. It seems to me the less he said, the more beauty he made. Do you know what sentence of his I admire the most? It is, “The bright day is gone, and we are for the dark.” I wish I’d known those words on the day I watched those German troops land….” P.63

A good book can bring people together as friends and I’m honored to call each of you who read this blog…friend!

Dark of the Moon by Rachel Hawthorne

2009-10-29T18:58:00.000-07:00

Genre: YA Fiction

Author Website: www.rachelhawthorne.net

One Word Review: Entertaining

First Line: “Death hovers in the shadows.”

Synopsis: “Brittany is determined to prove herself to the Dark Guardians. And yet she's been keeping a devastating secret: She hasn't experienced any of the intense, early signs of change that mark a Dark Guardian's transformation. The only intense feelings she has are for Connor—and she's kept that a secret, too. But she knows she'll never truly have Connor's love if she's not a Shifter like him. At the first full moon after her birthday, her greatest fear is realized: She doesn't transform. Brittany is so desperate to become a wolf that she'll go to extremes she never thought possible . . . and put all the Dark Guardians in incredible danger.” -GoodReads

Kathy’s Review: Book three in the Dark Guardian series follows Brittany. We get to see Brittany in a totally different light in this book. In the first two, she kind of comes across as moody and stuck-up. Once you get inside her head you begin to understand all her insecurities and the hardships she’s going through. I really came to love Brittany’s character in this book, she may be my favorite. Brittany has been in love with Connor (Lindsey’s boyfriend in books one and two) pretty much all her life, knowing she could never be with him. She is also approaching her seventeenth birthday where she will have her first transformation into a werewolf. In their culture you’re suppose to go through this with your mate, the only problem is that no one has claimed Brittany as their mate, so she has to face it alone. I really enjoyed Brittany and Connor’s story. I was a little confused with how quickly Connor came around, but I guess it all makes sense in the end.

I’m looking forward to reading Shadow of the Moon which comes out next Spring. Everything seemed to come together at the end of Dark of the Moon, so I’m curious to see what Hawthorne has in store for our characters.

Reading Order:
Book One: Moonlight
Book Two: Full Moon
Book Three: Dark of the Moon
Book Four: Shadow of the Moon

Full Moon by Rachel Hawthorne

2009-10-28T16:12:00.000-07:00

Genre: YA Fiction

Author Website: www.rachelhawthorne.net

One Word Review: Entertaining

First Line: “The full moon has become my enemy.”

Synopsis: “Lindsey is wild and reckless, a natural rebel—maybe because her entire life was laid out for her even before she was born. Her parents are among the most powerful members of the Dark Guardians, an ancient tribe of werewolves, and they arranged Lindsey's betrothal to Connor long ago. The next full moon is coming all too soon, and then her commitment to Connor will be final—no turning back. She should be happy . . . so why can't she stop thinking about gorgeous, brooding Rafe? When a dangerous threat on the pack escalates, so do tensions between Connor and Rafe. A fight over Lindsey is imminent, but will it be to the death?” -GoodReads

Kathy’s Review: Book two in the Dark Guardian series follows Lindsey (Kayla’s best friend from book one). I was looking forward to hearing Lindsey’s story, I really enjoyed her character in Moonlight and she was enjoyable in Full Moon as well. I’m not really big on love-triangles, especially when they are really drawn out, like this one kind of was. I was getting a little tired of the back and forth, especially when the choice was so obvious. There were some good moments with Lindsey and Conner, as well as with Lindsey and Rafe. There wasn’t as much action in this one as there had been in Moonlight, but it still moved along quickly and kept my attention. Overall, I really enjoyed it and look forward to reading Dark of the Moon (which will be from Brittany’s point of view).

Reading Order:
Book One: Moonlight
Book Two: Full Moon
Book Three: Dark of the Moon
Book Four: Shadow of the Moon

Waiting on Wednesday

2009-10-28T09:45:00.001-07:00

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating. This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

Destiny’s Path
By Frewin Jones
Release Date: November 1, 2009

Synopsis: “After an epic battle that left her home in flames and her father dead, Branwen knows that now is the time to follow her Warrior Princess destiny. But she soon finds that those she trusts most are capable of the greatest betrayal.” -GoodReads

Why I’m Waiting: This is the second installment of the Warrior Princess series. I really enjoyed book one, Warrior Princess, and I’m looking forward to seeing what Branwen will be up to now. The first book was loads of fun, well written and I really like Branwen’s character. I do hope this one has a little more romance though! If you haven’t yet, you better hurry and read book one before this one comes out!

Moonlight by Rachel Hawthorne

2009-10-28T09:42:00.001-07:00

Genre: YA Fiction

Author Website: www.rachelhawthorne.net

One Word Review: Exciting

First Line: “Moonlight washed over us, washed over Lucas and me.”

Synopsis: “The moonlight calls to them. The full moon determines their destiny. The dark of the moon seals their fate. A secret society of werewolves. The Dark Guardians are their protectors. Betrayal will put their very existence in danger.” -GoodReads

Kathy’s Review: This book was recommended to me by BugHunter, and I’m so grateful. This was exactly the kind of book I was in the mood for and I thoroughly enjoyed it! Kayla is a wonderful character. Her parents were tragically killed in front of her when she was only five. She is now seventeen and trying to face her demons by returning to the woods where her parents were killed. She gets a job at the national forest and helps lead people on hikes throughout the park. She has made friends with the other “Sherpa’s” and has a major crush on their boss Lucas. Lucas was a fun character, he was dark and mysterious and yet you know you can trust him. I thought he and Kayla had great chemistry together. The book is fast paced with a lot going on. There were some twists and although some things were resolved a little too quickly I really enjoyed everything. I loved the setting and Hawthorne’s take on werewolves. I’m really becoming a sucker for a good werewolf story!! Thanks again to BugHunter for recommending this one!

This was a good clean read (there was a bit of underage drinking), without any bad language (that I can remember).

Reading Order:
Book One: Moonlight
Book Two: Full Moon
Book Three: Dark of the Moon
Book Four: Shadow of the Moon

Teaser Tuesday

2009-10-28T09:28:00.000-07:00

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by Should Be Reading. It is open to anyone and is a fun way to get a taste of different books. The rules are simple and everyone is welcome to participate.

1. Grab your current read.
2. Open to a random page.
3. Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page.
4. Be careful NOT to include spoilers (you don’t want to ruin the book for others.)
5. Share the title and author so that other TT participants can add the book to the TBR lists if they like your teaser.
6. After completing your post, return to Should Be Reading and add a link in their “comment” section.

Moonlight
Rachel Hawthorne
Page 3

“His lips were almost touching mine. Almost. ‘Kayla’ he murmured invitingly, and his warm breath caressed my cheek. ‘It’s time.’”

Blood Promise by Richelle Mead

2009-10-26T16:20:00.000-07:00

Genre: YA Fiction

Author Website: www.richellemead.com

One Word Review: Good

First Line: “Once when I was in ninth grade, I had to write a paper on a poem.”

Synopsis: “Dimitri’s heart has gone dark. Now Rose must journey to the ends of the earth to find--and kill--her one true love... Or has the time come to join him? The recent attack on St. Vladimir's Academy devastated the entire Moroi world. Many are dead. And, for the few victims carried off by Strigoi, their fates are even worse. A rare tattoo now adorns Rose's neck, a mark that says she's killed far too many Strigoi to count. But only one victim matters . . . Dimitri Belikov. Rose must now choose one of two very different paths: honoring her life's vow to protect Lissa—her best friend and the last surviving Dragomir princess—or, dropping out of the Academy to strike out on her own and hunt down the man she loves. She'll have to go to the ends of the earth to find Dimitri and keep the promise he begged her to make. But the question is, when the time comes, will he want to be saved? Now, with everything at stake—and worlds away from St. Vladimir's and her unguarded, vulnerable, and newly rebellious best friend—can Rose find the strength to destroy Dimitri? Or, will she sacrifice herself for a chance at eternal love?

Kathy’s Review: So, if you haven’t read the other books you may want to read this review with caution as there may be spoilers. So, Blood Promise was a lot better than Shadow Kissed, in my opinion. It was fun to get outside the Academy and see the world a little (although there were many times when Rose would “visit” Lissa, so we were still kept up to date on everything going on back at the VA.) Rose is as consistent and tough as ever. I enjoyed her journey, and things really picked up about 300 pages in! Which brings me to Dimitir…oh, Dimitri! To be honest, I really didn’t like him in this book, obviously isn’t quite himself. Three words that come to mind are: Creepy, sad and…hopeful. I’m hopeful that things will somehow work out, but I know it’s a LONG shot. This book ends with a little more closure than last time, but defiantly still left me wanting more. Look forward to reading book five (and I’m still wondering about the length of the series…).

FYI…As usual there is some swearing (at least one “f” word), and this book has a lot more sex in it, although no one actually has sex…if that makes sense?

Reading Order:

Book One: Vampire Academy
Book Two: Frostbite
Book Three: Shadow Kiss
Book Four: Blood Promise
Book Five: Spirit Bond
Book Six: To Be Announced

Library Loot Monday

2009-10-26T09:53:00.000-07:00

Shadow Kiss by Richelle Mead

2009-10-26T09:40:00.000-07:00

Genre: YA Fiction

Author Website: www.richellemead.com

One Word Review: Okay

Synopsis: “Is Rose's fate to kill the person she loves most? It's springtime at St. Vladimir's Academy, and Rose Hathaway is this close to graduation. Since Mason's death, Rose hasn't been feeling quite right. She has dark flashbacks in the middle of practice, can't concentrate in class, and has terrifying dreams about Lissa. But Rose has an even bigger secret . . . .She's in love with Dimitri. And this time, it's way more than a crush. Then Strigoi target the academy in the deadliest attack in Moroi history, and Dimitri is taken. Rose must protect Lissa at all costs, but keeping her best friend safe could mean losing Dimitri forever.” -GoodReads

Kathy’s Review: This was just okay for me. I still liked Rose, she is a pretty consistent character and yet has matured quite a bit since the first book, although she can still be impulsive at times. I like Dimitri as well, but they are hardly together so that’s a little disappointing. The overall story kept me interested and it moved along well. Some things seemed a little repetitive and I thought the book was longer than it needed to be. There really isn’t a whole lot of vampire stuff, especially in the first half; you’d almost think you were reading about any high school setting. The storyline was kind of predictable so I wasn’t surprised with how everything panned out but the ending is definitely a cliff hanger and left me wanting more. I admit, I’m a little nervous at the length of this series. I normally don’t like series that are more than four books long. They sometimes lose something along the way and I’m hoping that book four will be a little better than book three.

Reading Order:
Book One: Vampire Academy
Book Two: Frostbite
Book Three: Shadow Kiss
Book Four: Blood Promise
Book Five: Spirit Bond
Book Six: To Be Announced

Booking Through Thrusday

2009-10-22T09:24:00.001-07:00

Booking Through Thursday is a weekly meme hosted at Booking Through Thursday. It asks fun book related questions each week. It’s a fun way to get you thinking about your books and share you're thoughts with other book bloggers. Once you’ve completed your post return to Booking Through Thursday and leave a comment and link. This week's question is:

If you could ask your favorite author (alive or dead) one question … who would you ask, and what would the question be?

The dead author I could have a serious gab fest with would be, of course, Jane Austen. The question I would ask is: what female character, that she wrote, does she identify with the most? I've always pictured her as an Elizabeth but the more I thought about this question I wonder if she identified with all of them in some way? If I could squeeze one more question out of her I would ask her what books she enjoyed reading.

The author, who is alive but not my favorite, who I have a burning question for would be Stephanie Meyer. I would ask her: when she set out to write the Twilight Series if she had always intended it to have four books or if she was swayed by money and the Jacob hysteria to write Breaking Dawn? I enjoyed that book the least and I think it didn't fit in with the rest of the series at all. She should have wrapped it up in Eclipse. Just my humble opinion.

Waiting On Wednesday

2009-10-21T09:03:00.000-07:00

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating. After completing your post return to Breaking the Spine and add a comment with a link to their post. This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

Gone (Dream Catcher #3) by Lisa McMann
Release Date: February 9, 2010

Synopsis: Janie thought she knew what her future held. And she thought she'd made her peace with it. But she can't handle dragging Cabel down with her. She knows he will stay with her, despite what she sees in his dreams. He's amazing. And she's a train wreck. Janie sees only one way to give him the life he deserves--she has to disappear. And it's going to kill them both. Then a stranger enters her life--and everything unravels. The future Janie once faced now has an ominous twist, and her choices are more dire than she'd ever thought possible. She alone must decide between the lesser of two evils. And time is running out...

Why I’m Waiting: I just discovered this series while roaming around good reads. I have not actually begun this series, although I have the first two in the series on hold from the library. You can usually tell how good a book is by the hold list and they both are in the 100's...I'll take that as a good sign. I did find the following comment from a fan, Laura Koenig, on Good Reads and I think it says it all....and perhaps then some. It is a long comment but very telling...

Dear Ms. McMann,

Please stop writing books. This is a very serious request. To this date, you have written and published two novels, Wake and Fade. Because of your books, I have on two occasions been compelled to read deep into the night, and in this manner I have lost two good nights of sleep. I can only conclude that any further books written by you will lead to long nights with the bedside lamp switched on, frantically reading. I will not have it! I must firmly request that you stop at once. If you insist on continuing with your flagrant book-publishing, I have a few suggestions that may alleviate the problem. Please take the following requests into account in any and all future books.

1. If there is one thing on which I really must insist, it is a general loosening-up of your writing style. This tight, exciting prose will be the death of me! If every sentence did not compel me to read the next, perhaps I would be able to put your books down long enough to get a few good hours of sleep. Perhaps you could insert some clunky dialogue?

2. Your characters must - MUST - be less compelling. In fact, it would be best if Janie and Cabel could be excised completely, and less interesting characters could be inserted in their place. If I am forced back inside of Janie's head, where I can see the fascination, terror and exhaustion that are caused by her ability to see other people's dreams, I will most certainly not be able to put your book down. And Cabel, with his terrible past and his willpower and determination to do good, both in his relationship with Janie and in his work, is much too sympathetic a character.

3. In a related note, the tumultuous romance between Cabel and Janie is much too intense. If you persist in writing about these characters, their relationship must be taken back a notch. As it currently stands, their emotions are too strong! Their sense of discovery of themselves and each other is too genuine! Their frustrations with one another are too palpable! Their sex is too sexy!

4. Slower pacing is a necessity in any future novels. Constantly throwing your readers from horrific nightmare to sweet and sexy romance to exciting mystery causes agitation and suspense, forcing the reader to keep turning pages until the very end of the book. Thank you for your time. I look forward to not reading your books in the future.

Sleepily yours,

Laura

The heavens know I could use a good page turner so I'll be excitedly waiting for the release of this 3rd book as well as the first two.

A Heartfelt Award

2009-10-19T12:03:00.000-07:00

A BIG thanks to Mary over at Writers Butt Does Not Apply to Me, who can also be found at Literary Girls Writing Group, for nominating Jessica and I for the Heartfelt Award!! Mary has become a great blogging buddy. She always writes wonderful reviews on her blog and leaves tons of fun comments on our blog as well. It has been fun getting to know Mary! Thanks again!

So, here it goes... "Do you reach for a cup of cocoa or tea when you're relaxing, seeking comfort, sharing a plate of cookies with family and friends? You know the feeling you get when you drink a yummy cup of cocoa, tea, or a hot toddy? That is what the Heartfelt Award is all about, feeling warm inside. Rules: Put the logo on your blog/post. Nominate up to to 9 blogs which make you feel comfy or warm inside. Be sure to link your nominees within your post. Let them know that they have been nominated by commenting on their blog. Remember to link to the person from whom you received your award."

There are so many blogs I would want to nominate over and over again. So I decided to make a list (I LOVE making lists) of all the past recipiants to make sure I don't have duplicates and to help spread the love to some of the blogs we haven't given awards to in the past. I came up with seven fantastic blogs that I love to read, have great layouts, and think they really deserve the Heartfelt award!

Well-mannered Friviolity

A Manic Monday

2009-10-19T08:10:00.000-07:00

Usually for Mondays we participate in the meme for Library Loot. I have a serious case of the book blues this Monday. The shocking truth is that I have nothing checked out from the library right now! Last week I started The Grapes of Wrath and I seriously only made it about 10 pages before I put it down. I read it once before, in college, but I really just skimmed it so I could write a paper on it and when I sat down to read it for fun, well it was just too heavy for me. Then my copy of Gone finally became available at the library and I was excited to start reading it, but last night I put it down also. I was haunted by the fact that all the adults disappear and by the 4th chapter a 5 year old girl has died and another 5 year old boy is clutching his blanket asking for his mother and all I could picture was my own 5 year old and it was just not enjoyable for me. So I went back to the sappy love story that I've read before and that I borrowed from my mom's book collection so you can see that I'm in a pickle. I have no idea what to read next to get me out of this funk. If you have suggestions please leave me one!

Since I have nothing to offer by way of Library Loot, I thought I'd put forth a discussion question. I saw a commercial over the weekend for Audible.com. Have you heard of it? It's an online book store, for lack of a better word, where you pay a membership and can stream audio books to your listening device of choice. For some reason this just makes me sad. I love holding a book. I love looking at the cover. I love that when I read, the words and characters become a part of me because I hear them in my head and not because someone is reading it to me. Kath loves the smell of books so much that she wants to make a perfume of the scent. So dear blog reader I have two questions.

Do you listen to audio books? If so, Why?

Would you ever or do you own a Kindle?

Again, the Kindle seems neat but it just makes me sad for some reason. It would solve my problem of storing books though.

East by Edith Pattou

2009-10-17T19:03:00.001-07:00

Genre: YA Fiction

One Word Review: In-depth

First Line: “I found the box in the attic of an old farmhouse in Norway.”

Synopsis: “In the rural villages of Norway, there is an ancient belief that children inherit the qualities of the direction in which they are born. Nymah Rose, the last daughter of eight siblings born to a poor mapmaker and his superstitious wife, was a North-born baby. It is said that North-born babies are wild, unpredictable, intelligent, and destined to break their mothers' hearts because they all leave hearth and home to travel to the far ends of the earth. To keep her close, Rose's mother lied and told her she had been born of the obedient and pliable East. But destiny cannot be denied. One day, a great white bear comes to the mapmaker's door to claim Rose's birthright.” –GoodReads

Kathy’s Review: This is a retelling of an old Norwegian fairy tale called “East of the Sun, West of the Moon.” I was first introduced to this story when I read (and loved) Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow by Jessica Day George.

Pattou’s retelling really takes on a life of its own and it was easy not to compare it with George’s version. Overall, I really liked the book, but felt it was a little long in parts. Pattou provides a really in-depth version of the story, which gives you the opportunity to really get to know the characters. The story rotates between five different points of view (Rose, White Bear, her Father, her brother Neddy and the Troll Queen). In a way I was grateful for the rotating narratives, it helped move the story along, and also gave you an insight to a lot of the characters that you normally wouldn’t have. On the other hand it was almost a bit too much, I would have preferred maybe only two. I liked Rose, thought she was a smart character who makes the best of her situation. She teaches herself new skills, languages and even how to play musical instruments. I liked the white bear, although I felt that they cared about each other but not in a romantic way, so that left me wanting more.

If you like re-tellings then you will probably enjoy this. I would also highly recommend Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow.

Are you watching Vampire Diaries?

2009-10-16T14:53:00.000-07:00

Is anyone else watching Vampire Diaries? I'm six episodes in and loving it! I admit it is gory, but what else do you expect when you're dealing with vampires!! I think they have done a fantastic job with casting, I couldn't have chosen three better actors to play Stefan, Elena and Damon. I think Damon is perfect! He really pulls off the whole "evil vampire" while still being charming and...likable. Stefan really gives Edward a run for the money (he is MUCH hotter than Robert Pattinson) and he does a great job of playing the nice guy, yet not being wimpy. Elena is also great, she has spunk! I like that she has a normal reaction to the whole vampire thing, she doesn't just except it. They also have great chemistry together.

I've only read the first two books in the series, so I know a few things have been changed for the TV show, like in the book Elena has a little sister and in the show its a little brother. What other things have been changed? I really need to get on the ball and finish reading the books! I think this would definitely fall under the "guilty pleasure" category. There are some things I don't care for, but overall I am a huge fan.

So, what are your thoughts? Have you been watching? What do you like, don't like? Who's your favorite character? Do you like the books or the TV show better?

Retro Friday Review

2009-10-15T22:57:00.001-07:00

Retro Friday Review is a weekly meme hosted by Angieville. This focuses on classics, out of print books or just old favorites that don’t get the attention they deserve. This Friday’s review is:

I decided for today’s RFR I would focus on two books written by the great Julie Andrews (Sound of Music, Mary Poppins). When I was in elementary school I stumbled upon Whangdoodles and Mandy and was so impressed. She really is an amazing author with a vivid imagination and a gift for storytelling.

The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles
First Published: 1974

Whangdoodles are a “fanciful creature of undefined nature,” who are very wise, kind and love life. When people stopped believing in them they were forced to create a special land full of other forgotten critters. Three children and an old professor go on a quest to find the Whangdoodle and head into a fun adventure.

I remember reading it for the first time and being completely blown away by the whole new world Andrews created. I loved all the little critters she came up with and how important and fun it is to have imagination. In some ways it is your typical fantasy novel: you have your good guys and bad guys, magical creatures, beautiful landscapes and of course a quest. But, it is also very original, creative and full of fantastic writing.

Mandy
First Published: 1971

Mandy lives in an orphanage where everything is predictable and comfortable. As she gets older she gets more restless and decides to go on a little adventure over the orphanage wall. It is there that she finds a rundown cottage which she decides to care for and make her own. She enjoys her cottage and the feeling of belonging that she finds there and decides to keep it a secret from her friends at the orphanage.

Mandy was completely different than Whangdoodles but also very memorable. I loved the little lonely cottage Mandy discovers and takes upon herself to care for. I can picture it in my mind and wish I had my own little cottage just like hers. The cottage is a lot like Mandy. Both alone, no one to properly take care of them and both have the potential for beauty and happiness. To protect her secret Mandy lies about where she spends her time and when she becomes ill no one knows where to find her. It is then that she realizes she has a secret admirer whom she never knew she had.

Both Whangdoodle and Mandy are packed away in storage, but I think next time I’m home in Utah I will have to re-read them. Both are such cute imaginative stories, ones I look forward to sharing with my kids.

Booking Through Thursday

2009-10-15T10:53:00.000-07:00

When’s the last time you weeded out your library? Do you regularly keep it pared down to your reading essentials? Or does it blossom into something out of control the minute you turn your back, like a garden after a Spring rain?

This is a tough one. I try and go through my library each time we move (which is every 1-3 years). Since we move so often I have to keep my collection under control and mainly just keep my favorites. For the most part I get all my books from the library, there are of course a few must-buys. Since I do have to keep it under control my library looks a little small at the moment. Below is a picture of my bookcase, most of the books there are keepers but there are a few I will probably give away before the next move. The other picture is of books I own but haven’t read yet.

Waiting on Wednesday

2009-10-14T10:17:00.000-07:00

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating. This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

Heart’s Blood
By Juliet Marillier
Release Date: November 3, 2009

Synopsis: “This is a stunning gothic love story based on the legends of Beauty and the Beast. Whistling Tor is a place of secrets, a mysterious, wooded hill housing the crumbling fortress of a chieftain whose name is spoken throughout the district in tones of revulsion and bitterness. A curse lies over Anluan's family and his people; those woods hold a perilous force whose every whisper threatens doom. For young scribe Caitrin it is a safe haven. This place where nobody else is prepared to go seems exactly what she needs, for Caitrin is fleeing her own demons. As Caitrin comes to know Anluan and his home in more depth she realizes that it is only through her love and determination that the curse can be broken and Anluan and his people set free.” -GoodReads

Why I’m Waiting: For those of you who know me, you know that I have a very big weakness for fairy tales and their re-tellings. So, of course when I heard that one of my favorite authors, Juliet Marillier, was writing a book based on Beauty and the Beast I couldn’t have been happier. Marillier is a fantastic writer and I know she will create a wonderful world with rich characters, magic, and of course romance. I’m looking forward to getting my hands on a copy of Heart’s Blood!