ChatterTale

Review: The Luxe

2013-04-14T18:32:00.000-04:00

Title: The Luxe
Author: Anna Godbersen
Part of a series? Luxe #1
Publisher: HarperCollins
Release Date: November 20, 2007
Length: 433 pages (hardcover)
Genre: YA historical romance
Source: Library eBook

Pretty girls in pretty dresses, partying until dawn. Irresistible boys with mischievous smiles and dangerous intentions. White lies, dark secrets, and scandalous hookups.

This is Manhattan, 1899. Beautiful sisters Elizabeth and Diana Holland rule Manhattan's social scene. Or so it appears. When the girls discover their status among New York City's elite is far from secure, suddenly everyone--from the backstabbing socialite Penelope Hayes, to the debonair bachelor Henry Schoonmaker, to the spiteful maid Lina Broud--threatens Elizabeth's and Diana's golden future.

With the fate of the Hollands resting on her shoulders, Elizabeth must choose between family duty and true love. But when her carriage overturns near the East River, the girl whose glittering life lit up the city's gossip pages is swallowed by the rough current. As all of New York grieves, some begin to wonder whether life at the top proved too much for this ethereal beauty, or if, perhaps, someone wanted to see Manhattan's most celebrated daughter disappear...

In a world of luxury and deception, where appearance matters above everything and breaking the social code means running the risk of being ostracized forever, five teenagers lead dangerously scandalous lives. This thrilling trip to the age of innocence is anything but innocent.

First Impression: Gossip Girl with a historical twist. That's what I thought The Luxe was going to be. And to some extent, it does bear not-so-startling similarities with Gossip Girl: the gorgeous cast of rich and spoiled teenagers, the decadent setting, the deliciously snooty narrative, the life-altering scandals and secrets. But it only takes the first couple of pages for me to realize that there's something else in The Luxe that sets it apart from Gossip Girl: mystery. The kind that hooks your interest, gets you to sit up a little bit straighter, and turn page after page after page.

The rest, as they say, is history.

SQUEE-worthy: I absolutely adore how this novel opens! The mystery is there from the get-go, and I think using the flashback approach is a brilliant move. Then there's the characters. These are not your average cookie-cutter characters with one-dimensional personalities and even shallower problems. The main characters--Elizabeth, Penelope, Diana, Lina, even Henry--are not purely good or bad; they're a writhing mix of both. I find myself vacillating on my opinion of each character, and this is one of very few books out there that actually made me hate--like gut-wrenchingly despise--a fictional character (*cough-Lina-cough*). There's also something about Godbersen's narrative voice that swoops and swells, bows and curtsies, just like the glittering boys and girls whirling across the ornate marble ballroom. It's grand, it's atmospheric, it's delicious.

"Meh" Moments: If you're a hardcore history buff like me, you'll soon realize that The Luxe is riddled with historical inaccuracies and a few instances of clunky dialogue. But the thing is, it never promises a meticulous account of life at the turn of the century (for that, you may want to read something by Edith Wharton). At best it's meant to entertain and suck the reader into this posh, extravagant whirlwind of upper class pageantry, and I think it certainly managed to do both.

For fans of: Edith Wharton, Gossip Girl, Downton Abbey, Libba Bray's A Great and Terrible Beauty.

Buy or Borrow? Buy! This is a great read for historical fiction fans who can tolerate a couple of inaccuracies here and there. I borrowed the first book in the the Luxe series from the library, but as soon as I completed it, I bought the 3-volume box set on Amazon!

Waiting on Wednesday #2

2013-03-27T15:03:00.000-04:00

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

Isla and the Happily Ever After

by Stephanie Perkins

Release Date: Sept. 17, 2013

From the glittering streets of Manhattan to the moonlit rooftops of Paris, falling in love is easy for hopeless dreamer Isla and introspective artist Josh. But as they begin their senior year in France, Isla and Josh are quickly forced to confront the heartbreaking reality that happily-ever-afters aren’t always forever.

Their romantic journey is skillfully intertwined with those of beloved couples Anna and Étienne and Lola and Cricket, whose paths are destined to collide in a sweeping finale certain to please fans old and new.

These days I've been on a contemporary YA romance binge, yet I'm ashamed to say that I haven't read a single Stephanie Perkins novel. (I knoww! What's wrong with meee?) But anywho, I can't wait to read about Anna, Lola, and especially Isla. And if I haven't read the first two by the summer, feel free to stone me (and no, not with cupcakes).

What's your "waiting on" pick this week?

Review: Meant to Be

2013-03-27T14:15:00.000-04:00

Title: Meant to Be
Author: Lauren Morrill
Part of a series? Nope
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Release Date: November 13th, 2012
Length: 304 pages (hardcover)
Genre: YA contemporary romance
Source: eBook

Meant to be or not meant to be . . . that is the question.

It's one thing to fall head over heels into a puddle of hazelnut coffee, and quite another to fall for the—gasp—wrong guy. Straight-A junior Julia may be accident prone, but she's queen of following rules and being prepared. That's why she keeps a pencil sharpener in her purse and a pocket Shakespeare in her, well, pocket. And that's also why she's chosen Mark Bixford, her childhood crush, as her MTB ("meant to be").

But this spring break, Julia's rules are about to get defenestrated (SAT word: to be thrown from a window) when she's partnered with her personal nemesis, class-clown Jason, on a school trip to London. After one wild party, Julia starts receiving romantic texts . . . from an unknown number! Jason promises to help discover the identity of her mysterious new suitor if she agrees to break a few rules along the way. And thus begins a wild goose chase through London, leading Julia closer and closer to the biggest surprise of all: true love.

Because sometimes the things you least expect are the most meant to be.

First Impression:

It was love at first sight.

Gaaahh, just look at that cover! I know, I know, call me a cover slut or superficial or whatever, but you can't deny that that is one good-looking cover! All those bold colors are certainly STRIKING, and I remember thinking, "Omgosh, I don't even care what that book is about--it can be about sparkly male vampires wearing sequined dresses for all I care--I need to read that book!!"

Well, on Tuesday, March 19th, 2013, I finally started it. And on Friday, March 22nd (roughly 3 days later), I finished it. It took only THREE days, which is record time for me to finish a book--and read during a busy work week, might I add--so a book has to have been seriously, seriously addicting for me to gobble it up so quickly like that.

SQUEE-worthy: I love love LOVE Julia. Out of all the slightly neurotic heroines in YA lit, she ranks up there with Jessica Darling and Mia Thermopolis in my book. No, seriously. She does. I can usually spot from a mile away when authors try to make their heroines more neurotic than they really are, because the neuroses always feel more like add-ons rather than something that hugely shapes who the character is; but Julia is the real deal. I mean, the way Morrill goes through Julia's thought process and inject even the littlest detail with major OCD-type stuff makes her the kind of character that leaps off the page, the kind of character whose voice feels distinctly authentic, almost as if it's your best friend talking to you.

And then there's the boys. SQUEEE!!! (Yes, I literally squee'd in the Squee-worthy section--sue me.) I really, REALLY don't want to be spoiler-y in this review, but I do have to say one thing: the boys are not only scrummy--they are ACCURATE. These are the guys you had crushes on in middle school and high school! The aloof yet uber popular guy you secretly stalk (and concoct whole daydreams about) but is too intimidated to approach. The near-stranger you met only once and whose very mystery is the main thing that he's got going for him (who knows? he might be EXACTLY like your perfect dream guy!). The cute, incorrigible jokester who infuriates you but--admit it--gets under your skin not in an entirely bad way. And they're all so multi-dimensional, too!!

I'm not even going to get into the fact that the story takes place in London (SQUEE!) and features Beatles songs (double SQUEE!!), but Meant to Be is bar none one of the most enjoyable and resonant light-hearted contemporary YA romances I've read in a while.

"Meh" Moments: I honestly can't think of any. Nor do I want to. Few books have the power to do what this book did: transport me back in time. No, not to a different time period (though I do love my historical fiction), but to an earlier version of myself. All of a sudden, I'm fifteen years old again, holed up in my room sulking because my parents just enforced a "no books at the dinner table" rule, reading and rereading every Sarah Dessen, Meg Cabot, and Megan McCafferty book like they hold the secrets to surviving high school (which they totally do). So for a book to do that... well, it's no easy feat that's for sure, and one that no amount of nitpicking can undermine.

For fans of: Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins, and if you want to go old school, the Jessica Darling series by Megan McCafferty.

Buy or Borrow? Buy! The witty chapter headings alone are worth shelling out a few bucks to have this on your bookshelf, virtual or otherwise.

Waiting on Wednesday #1

2013-03-20T16:28:00.000-04:00

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

Siege and Storm

(The Grisha #2)

by Leigh Bardugo

Release Date: June 4th, 2013

Darkness never dies.

Hunted across the True Sea, haunted by the lives she took on the Fold, Alina must try to make a life with Mal in an unfamiliar land, all while keeping her identity as the Sun Summoner a secret. But she can’t outrun her past or her destiny for long.

The Darkling has emerged from the Shadow Fold with a terrifying new power and a dangerous plan that will test the very boundaries of the natural world. With the help of a notorious privateer, Alina returns to the country she abandoned, determined to fight the forces gathering against Ravka. But as her power grows, Alina slips deeper into the Darkling’s game of forbidden magic, and farther away from Mal. Somehow, she will have to choose between her country, her power, and the love she always thought would guide her–or risk losing everything to the oncoming storm.

ZOMGOSH. I can't wait I can't wait I can't WAIT to read it!!!

What's your "waiting on" pick this week?

Review: The Nightmare Affair

2013-03-20T14:07:00.002-04:00

Title: The Nightmare Affair
Author: Mindee Arnett
Part of a series? Arkwell Academy, #1
Publisher: Tor Teen
Release Date: March 5, 2013
Length: 367 pages (hardcover)
Genre: YA contemporary fantasy
Source: NetGalley ARC

Sixteen-year-old Dusty Everhart breaks into houses late at night, but not because she’s a criminal. No, she’s a Nightmare.

Literally.

Being the only Nightmare at Arkwell Academy, a boarding school for magickind, and living in the shadow of her mother’s infamy, is hard enough. But when Dusty sneaks into Eli Booker’s house, things get a whole lot more complicated. He’s hot, which means sitting on his chest and invading his dreams couldn’t get much more embarrassing. But it does. Eli is dreaming of a murder.

Then Eli’s dream comes true.

Now Dusty has to follow the clues—both within Eli’s dreams and out of them—to stop the killer before more people turn up dead. And before the killer learns what she’s up to and marks her as the next target.

First Impression:

When I first heard about this book, I had no idea that nightmares could actually mean actual creatures. But then I looked up "nightmares" on Wikipedia and encountered this lovely visual:


Well, that's disturbing.

Thankfully, Mindee Arnett's heroine, Dusty, is nothing like that little gremlin--though she does have to employ a similar awkward position during her "feedings" (a fact that made me LOL on the subway). But for all intents and purposes, it becomes clear from the get-go that Dusty is very much your average teenage girl.


Okay, not that kind of teenage girl.

SQUEE-worthy: This book was such a FUN read! Not only is Dusty a hilarious narrator, but Arnett has really done a top-notch job with the fantasy aspect of this. From the intricate classification of magical beings to the classes at Arkwell Academy, it was like returning to Hogwarts--albeit a crazier, more diverse version of Hogwarts. I also thought the mystery component was well executed; I hate books with "mysteries" that are completely predictable, so the fact that The Nightmare Affair kept me guessing until the very end is commendable. Speaking of the end, I'm going to try hard not to be spoiler-y, but I love that Arnett has taken an old legend that we're all familiar with and turned it on its head. I mean, with so many retellings out there, sometimes "twists" can seem unoriginal or overplayed. That's definitely not the case with Nightmare Affair, though. The twist was creative and original enough that I didn't see it coming--and that's always a good sign!

"Meh" Moments: For me, this was the kind of book that was good... but could've been GREAT. I love the world that Arnett has created, along with its corresponding magical system, and I really like Dusty as a narrator, but the biggest drawback for me was the lack of depth in the secondary characters. They just fall a little flat and feel one-dimensional to me. I understand the need to place more focus on the action--it certainly helps put things at a faster pace--but there's also something to be said about thoroughly fleshed-out characters that feel real, that are complex, that linger in a reader's consciousness long after you turn the last page. And while Dusty as a heroine does achieve that to some extent, I can't help but wonder how much more epic the story could've been if more was revealed about Selene, Katarina, or even Eli. For instance, the Harry Potter series wasn't just about the magic and the adventure; it was also about Harry, Ron, and Hermione and the colorful cast of characters that they encounter along the way.

For fans of: Sherlock Holmes, Harry Potter, magical boarding school stories, and fairy tale retellings.

Buy or Borrow? A tentative buy. While it's a good, fun read, it might be worth skimming the first few pages of it first, just to see if you like it.

Top Ten Tuesday #4

2013-03-19T12:54:00.003-04:00

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme created by the folks over at The Broke and the Bookish. The idea is to put up a top ten list and share it with other bloggers. This week's topic is:

Top Ten Books I HAD To Buy. . .

But Are Still Sitting On My Shelf Unread

I swear I feel like every Top Ten Tuesday topic is meant for me. I just went on a massive book spending spree this past month, so I don't even know how I'm going to narrow this down to just ten but here goes...

Across the Universe by Beth Revis

I bought this AND A Million Suns (the 2nd book in the series) because I thought they'd be the perfect gateway YA sci-fi books for me. Plus, my goodness, just look at that gorgeous cover. Go on. Lust after it. I know I did.

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card

Speaking of sci-fi books, I have felt acutely ashamed not to have picked this up until now. I mean, this book is referenced SO many times that it's a wonder I've only just got around to it now, but alas, it's yet another evidence of my late start in the sci-fi genre.

Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson

I read an excerpt of Wintergirls a while back and knew I had to have it. Anderson's writing is just so richly evocative that I literally get a thrill every time I think about the moment I get to start this book.

Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore

I ADORE Graceling, and since this book takes place in the same realm, I had to have it. Plus, it's a lengthy read, and I do love my hefty books! (Feels like I'm getting more bang for my buck.)

Crewel by Gennifer Albin

I've been cover-lusting after this one for a while now, and even though it's a dystopian, the premise seems so intriguing."The ability to weave the fabric of reality"? Yes, please!

The Hangman's Daughter by Oliver Pötzsch

Seen this one advertised on my Kindle a bunch of times, and finally went ahead and bought it. Seems like such an eery historical thriller. Perfect for a cozy night under the covers!

The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton

I LOVE Kate Morton. The Distant Hours is one of those books that will change my view of storytelling forever. And I have a feeling that Morton's newest book will be no exception.

Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel

I feel ashamed to call myself a historical fiction fan without having read this book, but alas, there is something terribly wrong with me. I have coveted a copy since it first came out (in 2010) but FINALLY purchased the hardcover edition last year (in 2012). It's still sitting on my bookshelf, so please do me a favor and smack me upside the head if I still haven't read this within the next month or so. Danke!

To Marry an English Lord by Gail MacColl

This seems like the funnest historical non-fiction book I've ever encountered! Not only is every page laid out in a magazine-style (complete with pictures!), but it seems to provide a pretty detailed account of Edwardian times. Perfect for one of those days when I'm mopey and suffering through a Downton Abbey withdrawal.

Splendors and Glooms by Laura Amy Schlitz

I'm always on the lookout for great middle-grade fiction, and this seems to more than fit the bill with its Victorian gothic undercurrent. So excited to read it!!

What are the books you had to have--but are still left unread?

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (1)

2013-03-18T15:30:00.000-04:00

Mondays are usually associated with the first day of the work/school week--and thus a gray, dreary sense of doom. But on Book Blog Land, it's the day we get to recap what we read last week and the books we're looking forward to this week. The meme is hosted by Sheila at Bookjourney and the kidlit/YA version is hosted by Jen at Teach Mentor Texts!

Finished Reading:

The Nightmare Affair by Mindee Arnett

Sixteen-year-old Dusty Everhart breaks into houses late at night, but not because she’s a criminal. No, she’s a Nightmare.

Literally.

Being the only Nightmare at Arkwell Academy, a boarding school for magickind, and living in the shadow of her mother’s infamy, is hard enough. But when Dusty sneaks into Eli Booker’s house, things get a whole lot more complicated. He’s hot, which means sitting on his chest and invading his dreams couldn’t get much more embarrassing. But it does. Eli is dreaming of a murder.

Then Eli’s dream comes true.

Now Dusty has to follow the clues—both within Eli’s dreams and out of them—to stop the killer before more people turn up dead. And before the killer learns what she’s up to and marks her as the next target.

The Luxe by Anna Godbersen

Pretty girls in pretty dresses, partying until dawn.
Irresistible boys with mischievous smiles and dangerous intentions.
White lies, dark secrets, and scandalous hookups.
This is Manhattan, 1899. Beautiful sisters Elizabeth and Diana Holland rule Manhattan's social scene. Or so it appears. When the girls discover their status among New York City's elite is far from secure, suddenly everyone--from the backstabbing socialite Penelope Hayes, to the debonair bachelor Henry Schoonmaker, to the spiteful maid Lina Broud--threatens Elizabeth's and Diana's golden future.

With the fate of the Hollands resting on her shoulders, Elizabeth must choose between family duty and true love. But when her carriage overturns near the East River, the girl whose glittering life lit up the city's gossip pages is swallowed by the rough current. As all of New York grieves, some begin to wonder whether life at the top proved too much for this ethereal beauty, or if, perhaps, someone wanted to see Manhattan's most celebrated daughter disappear...

In a world of luxury and deception, where appearance matters above everything and breaking the social code means running the risk of being ostracized forever, five teenagers lead dangerously scandalous lives. This thrilling trip to the age of innocence is anything but innocent.

Currently Reading:

So Close to You by Rachel Carter

Lydia Bentley doesn't believe the rumors about the Montauk Project, that there's some sort of government conspiracy involving people vanishing and tortured children. But her grandfather is sure that the Project is behind his father's disappearance more than sixty years earlier. While helping her grandfather search Camp Hero, a seemingly abandoned military base on Long Island, for information about the disappearance, Lydia is transported back to 1944--just a few days before her great-grandfather's disappearance. Lydia begins to unravel the dark secrets of the Montauk Project and her own family history, despite warnings from Wes, a mysterious boy she is powerfully attracted to but not sure she should trust.

Stung by Bethany Wiggins

There is no cure for being stung.

Fiona doesn’t remember going to sleep. But when she opens her eyes, she discovers her entire world has been altered—her house is abandoned and broken, and the entire neighborhood is barren and dead. Even stranger is the tattoo on her right hand—a black oval with five marks on either side—that she doesn’t remember getting but somehow knows she must cover at any cost. She’s right.

Those bearing the tattoo have turned into mindless, violent beasts that roam the streets and sewers, preying upon the unbranded while a select few live protected inside a fortress-like wall, their lives devoted to rebuilding society and killing all who bear the mark.

Now Fiona has awakened branded, alone—and on the wrong side of the wall.

Meant to Be by Lauren Morrill

Meant to be or not meant to be . . . that is the question.

It's one thing to fall head over heels into a puddle of hazelnut coffee, and quite another to fall for the—gasp—wrong guy. Straight-A junior Julia may be accident prone, but she's queen of following rules and being prepared. That's why she keeps a pencil sharpener in her purse and a pocket Shakespeare in her, well, pocket. And that's also why she's chosen Mark Bixford, her childhood crush, as her MTB ("meant to be").

But this spring break, Julia's rules are about to get defenestrated (SAT word: to be thrown from a window) when she's partnered with her personal nemesis, class-clown Jason, on a school trip to London. After one wild party, Julia starts receiving romantic texts . . . from an unknown number! Jason promises to help discover the identity of her mysterious new suitor if she agrees to break a few rules along the way. And thus begins a wild goose chase through London, leading Julia closer and closer to the biggest surprise of all: true love.

Because sometimes the things you least expect are the most meant to be.

So far, they're all really good, and I love the diversity: a time-travel sci-fi/paranormal, post-apocalyptic dystopian, and a light-hearted contemporary romance. I've certainly got my hands full!

How about you? What are you reading this week?

New Blog Home + Madman's Daughter Review + 1st GIVEAWAY Clue!

2013-03-17T11:55:00.000-04:00

WELCOME, new Blogger buddies and old Wordpress followers!!!

I... DID IT! I moved to Blogger!!! (Hence the lack of comments and followers on here... *sadface*) But after weeks of going back and forth on the merits of Blogger and Wordpress.com (not the self-hosted site), I've finally decided to go with Blogger, which I'm super glad about so far! I've subscribed to some truly incredible blogs on here but I can't wait to visit even more sites, so leave me a comment and a link to your blog if you have one--I'd love to check it out!

Without further ado, here's my FIRST EVER review on Blogger!

Title: The Madman's Daughter
Author: Megan Shepherd
Part of a series? Yes
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Release Date: January 29, 2013
Length: 420 pgs (hardcover)
Genre: YA gothic thriller
Source: Library eBook

In the darkest places, even love is deadly.

Sixteen-year-old Juliet Moreau has built a life for herself in London—working as a maid, attending church on Sundays, and trying not to think about the scandal that ruined her life. After all, no one ever proved the rumors about her father's gruesome experiments. But when she learns he is alive and continuing his work on a remote tropical island, she is determined to find out if the accusations are true.

Accompanied by her father's handsome young assistant, Montgomery, and an enigmatic castaway, Edward—both of whom she is deeply drawn to—Juliet travels to the island, only to discover the depths of her father's madness: He has experimented on animals so that they resemble, speak, and behave as humans. And worse, one of the creatures has turned violent and is killing the island's inhabitants. Torn between horror and scientific curiosity, Juliet knows she must end her father's dangerous experiments and escape her jungle prison before it's too late. Yet as the island falls into chaos, she discovers the extent of her father's genius—and madness—in her own blood.

Inspired by H. G. Wells's classic The Island of Dr. Moreau, The Madman's Daughter is a dark and breathless Gothic thriller about the secrets we'll do anything to know and the truths we'll go to any lengths to protect.

Opening Lines:

The basement hallways in King's College of Medical Research were dark, even in the daytime. At night they were like a grave.

EEEEPP!! I got chills down my spine just from reading that!

SQUEE-worthy: If you know me in real life, you've probably heard me mention this book a bunch of times recently. I mean, let's be honest: my evangelical zeal about this book probably reached madness-like proportions but I can't help it! It is THAT good. The thing that really sold me about The Madman's Daughter was the brilliant writing. The concept can be the coolest thing on this planet, but if the writing isn't strong enough to back it up then it's a dud for me. So imagine how pleasantly surprised I was to find out that debut author Megan Shepherd not only came up with an AH-MAZE-ING concept (a twist on H.G. Wells's The Island of Dr. Moreau!) but also has the writing chops to execute the story to perfection. I mean, check it out for yourself (keep in mind that the following is told in the voice of Juliet, the daughter of a famous scientist):

He had Lucy's same fair skin and wide-set eyes... I timidly evaluated his tall forehead, the helix of his ears that projected only a hair too far from the skull. Good-looking, I concluded.

And this:

My heart tore, just a little, right along the ventricular septum.

I mean, WHOA. Talk about defining a character's voice!! Throughout the entire story I literally feel like I'm IN Juliet's head, as if I am her, faced with all these terrible choices, and frightening emotions, and coldly logical--almost eery--instincts. The writing is just so well done, and when you throw in a creepy Gothic mystery, a steamy love triangle, and plot twists that would make your head spin, it becomes nothing short of perfect.

"Meh" Moments: NONE. I was sucked in from start to finish and was sorry for the book to end. (It didn't help that the book ended on a pseudo-cliffhanger either! Gah!!)

For fans of: H.G. Wells, Lost (the TV show), Mary Shelley's Frankenstein.

Buy or Borrow? A definite buy! I'm clamoring to get a copy of it, and rest assured that I'll be first in line for Ms. Shepherd's second and third installment in the trilogy!

Let's chat!

What's your take on putting a different spin on an old classic? Brilliant idea or literary suicide?

On a separate note, in honor of my move to Blogger from Wordpress, I'm hosting my FIRST-EVER GIVEAWAY soon! (So excited!!!)

Here's a clue at what I'm giving away:

Can you guess what it is?

Review: The Reece Malcolm List

2013-03-07T10:25:00.000-05:00

Title: The Reece Malcolm List
Author: Amy Spalding
Part of a series? Nope
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Release Date: February 5th, 2013
Length: 352 pgs (paperback)
Genre: YA contemporary
Source: NetGalley ARC

Devan knows very little about Reece Malcolm, until the day her father dies and she’s shipped off to live with the mother she’s never met. All she has is a list of notebook entries that doesn’t add up to much. L.A. offers a whole new world to Devan—a performing arts school allows her to pursue her passion for show choir and musicals, a new circle of friends helps to draw her out of her shell, and an intriguing boy opens up possibilities for her first love. But then the Reece Malcolm list gets a surprising new entry. Now that Devan is so close to having it all, can she handle the possibility of losing everything?

Opening Lines:

Things I know about Reece Malcolm:

She graduated from New York University.

She lives in or near Los Angeles (even the internet can't confirm).

Since her first novel (Destruction) was released nine years ago she’s always had at least one book on the New York Times bestseller list.

She likes strong coffee and bourbon, the only personal details she gave in a rare interview with The Daily Beast.

She’s my mother.

I was in show choir the day I found out Dad died in a car accident.

Some opening lines are meant to shock. Some are (unfortunately) snooze-inducing. And some are just telling. This falls in the latter. As a reader, I know right away with that first sentence that this is going to be a book about a girl reuniting with her long-lost mother.

SQUEE-worthy: If you are a musical theater fan and know some cast recordings by heart, then this is the book for you. Devan, the protagonist, is a huge musical theater fan and an apparently incredible singer to boot, so the book is chock-full of references to popular musicals. But if you're like me and you're not that big on musicals, never fear! There are plenty of things in this book that will make you SQUEE with glee (#rhymetime). The boys, for one, are OMGOSH SWOONWORTHY. A ridiculously good-looking Chinese-Indian love interest? Yes, please! (Ethnic diversity in YA FTW!) And I love, LOVE Reece Malcolm as a character. Yes, she doesn't have her stuff together and she's not your conventional mom character, but that's part of her charm! I like that she's flawed. Also, the dialogue and Devan's narrative voice is spot-on, in terms of authenticity. It's got Modern Teenager written all over it, so kudos to Spalding for hitting that nail on the head.

"Meh" Moments: I can't quite pin my finger on what it is exactly, but I just didn't feel invested in this book. I think the biggest reason behind that is Devan. She was just "meh" to me; and in contemporary YA novels where it's primarily character-driven, I feel like the main character's gotta have more OOMPH than their paranormal/fantasy/sci-fi counterparts. I mean, the only truly unique quality about Devan seems to be her singing ability, but those scenes are just so glossed over that I'm left feeling like, "Mmkay. So I'm just supposed to believe that she's this amazing singer based on ONE sentence that says how much she blew everyone away during show choir practice? ...Riiiiight." I'm sure it didn't help that I know next to nothing about musicals, so to each their own. Funnily enough, I LOVE Reece, though. She's made of awesome.

For fans of: Glee, Smash, and High School Musical.

Buy or Borrow? I'd say it's worth a read, so at the very least borrow it (if only for the hot boys *sigh*).

Let's chat!

What are your thoughts on cultural diversity in YA lit? Too few, too many?

Top Ten Series I’d Like to Start But Haven’t Yet

2013-03-05T07:55:00.000-05:00

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme created by the folks over at The Broke and the Bookish. The idea is to put up a top ten list and share it with other bloggers. This week's list topic is:

Top Ten Series I’d Like to Start But Haven’t Yet

As a promiscuous reader/book philanderer/nerdy multi-tasker, this topic is SO perfect for me.

The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare. I know, I know. How can I claim to be obsessed with YA books if I haven't read this series yet? To be honest, it didn't appeal to me at first, but now with the movie out and everything, not gonna lie--I'm intrigued.

Across the Universe by Beth Revis. I don't dabble much in sci-fi but I certainly want to change that! And the premise to this series sounds too cool. Cryogenics and love on a spaceship? Yes, please!

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl. Unlike with the Mortal Instruments, I've wanted to read this series since FOREVER, and now that the movie's out I only feel compelled to read it even more. Plus, I bought the whole series from the Kindle store for under $10 in total (Sunday Kindle deals FTW!).

The Maze Runner by James Dashner. Apparently this book is a wonderful example of what very little backstory can actually do for plot, impact, and pacing. Plus, I love plot twists and turns, which this series apparently has in abundance. Brain shock, here I come!

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas. I've been looking for other sweeping epic fantasies like Graceling, and from the premise, this could be a winner.

Legend by Marie Lu. I haven't read a great dual-narrator story in a while, much less one packed with action, so this seems like it could be a great read.

Delirium by Lauren Oliver. Another YA dystopian classic. The cover hooked me from the start when it first came out, but I never got around to picking it up!

Ender's Saga by Orson Scott Card. A classic. Period. Even non-sci-fi fans love this and refer to it all the time. I just bought the paperback copy recently, so hopefully I'll get around to it sooner rather than later.

The Cousins' War by Philippa Gregory. I've been a fan of Tudor-era fiction for a long time--before I even hit middle school to be exact, thanks to the Young Royals books by Carolyn Meyer (and certainly before Jonathan Rhys Meyers entered my life). So when I found out that Philippa Gregory, one of my favorite authors, wrote up a series on the Plantagenets (the dynasty of royals before the Tudors) I scrambled to get my hands on it. Sadly I haven't had the time to read any of the books in the series, but I'm totally going to slap a post-it reminder somewhere and finally GET TO IT.

Princess Academy by Shannon Hale. Remember Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine? (The actual book, not the cheesy rendition with Anne Hathaway.) I LOVED that book; I think I read it like 20+ times. But yeah, I'm hoping Shannon Hale's series might be reminiscent of that. Or if not, for it to be even more epic.

A GIF Journey Through TFiOS

2013-02-27T08:34:00.000-05:00

Allow me to present you with...

My Journey Through The Fault in Our Stars

When my collector's edition of TFiOS came in the mail:

Reading first few pages on the subway:

(#truestory... unfortunately)

Which quickly changed to:

Nicely put, John Green. You make a good point. Never saw it like that before.

~~Please have my babies, etc.~~

Followed by:

Aww!

But...

THEN...

...

And all I can do to KEEP ON LIVING IS

And think...

But it doesn't matter because by the end of the book:

/ the end /

Check out my review of the book here!

But seriously. Nothing I can say will adequately express the SHEER EPICNESS of this book, other than: GO READ IT. NOW.

Review: The Fault in Our Stars

2013-02-27T08:28:00.000-05:00

Title: The Fault in Our Stars
Author: John Green
Part of a series? Nope
Publisher: Dutton Books
Release Date: January 10th, 2012
Length: 313 pgs (hardcover)
Genre: YA contemporary
Source: Limited Collector's Edition (purchased with own money)

Diagnosed with Stage IV thyroid cancer at 13, Hazel was prepared to die until, at 14, a medical miracle shrunk the tumours in her lungs... for now.

Two years post-miracle, sixteen-year-old Hazel is post-everything else, too; post-high school, post-friends and post-normalcy. And even though she could live for a long time (whatever that means), Hazel lives tethered to an oxygen tank, the tumours tenuously kept at bay with a constant chemical assault.

Enter Augustus Waters. A match made at cancer kid support group, Augustus is gorgeous, in remission, and shockingly to her, interested in Hazel. Being with Augustus is both an unexpected destination and a long-needed journey, pushing Hazel to re-examine how sickness and health, life and death, will define her and the legacy that everyone leaves behind.

Opening Line:

Late in the winter of my seventeenth year, my mother decided I was depressed, presumably because I rarely left the house, spent quite a lot of time in bed, read the same book over and over, ate infrequently, and devoted quite a bit of my abundant free time to thinking about death.

That sentence is SO Hazel. Green nailed her voice perfectly. And right off the bat, I know what kind of a girl she is: sarcastic, funny, and rather mature for her age.

SQUEE-worthy: Let's see... where do I start!? When a book is centered around teens dealing with cancer (or as Hazel would call it, "a cancer book about cancer kids"), you expect a lot of maudlin moments, tearjerky stuff, etc. But this book... Oh, it was so much more. It was full of humor, heart, and a profundity that was both deep yet somehow flawed -- which really made it seem all the more believable that a teenager, albeit a smart one, is narrating the story. And that's another thing: the narrator. Hazel. But not just her either: Augustus, Peter Van Houten, even Lidewij Vliegenthart! All the characters BURST with life! Never mind leaping off the page; it was like they were literally in the room with me, sulking and frolicking and bantering and flooring me with their all-consuming AWESOMENESS. In just 313 pages, John Green managed to make me feel emotionally and personally invested in his characters, and that's really saying something. Only J.K. Rowling has managed to do that for me in the past, and she had a lot more pages to work with.

"Meh" Moments: There were none. Even during the most mundane scene (e.g. Hazel watching TV), I am totally engrossed as the reader (which is kind of weird now that I think about it. I mean, how does John Green manage to make a fictional character watching bad television INTERESTING??) Bottom line: Not a single dull moment in this entire book. There will, however, be plenty of LOL and gut-wrenching Kleenex moments, so be prepared.

For fans of: John Green, Sarah Dessen, Jay Asher, and Sara Zarr.

Buy or Borrow? If there's one book you should buy this year, it's this one. Buy it HERE, or HERE, or HERE if you want the limited collector's edition -- which I recommend because it includes a Q&A with John Green and a snazzy silver cover.

Let's chat!

Have you read John Green's The Fault in Our Stars? (If yes, nerdfighter or casual reader? If not, what are you waiting for?? Go out there and get this book!!)

Review: The Book of Blood and Shadow

2013-02-01T15:12:00.000-05:00

Title: The Book of Blood and Shadow
Author: Robin Wasserman
Part of a series? Nope
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Release Date: April 10th, 2012
Length: 432 pgs (hardcover)
Genre: YA suspense/thriller
Source: Library e-book

It was like a nightmare, but there was no waking up. When the night began, Nora had two best friends and an embarrassingly storybook one true love. When it ended, she had nothing but blood on her hands and an echoing scream that stopped only when the tranquilizers pierced her veins and left her in the merciful dark. But the next morning, it was all still true: Chris was dead. His girlfriend Adriane, Nora's best friend, was catatonic. And Max, Nora's sweet, smart, soft-spoken Prince Charming, was gone. He was also—according to the police, according to her parents, according to everyone—a murderer.

Desperate to prove his innocence, Nora follows the trail of blood, no matter where it leads. It ultimately brings her to the ancient streets of Prague, where she is drawn into a dark web of secret societies and shadowy conspirators, all driven by a mad desire to possess something that might not even exist. For buried in a centuries-old manuscript is the secret to ultimate knowledge and communion with the divine; it is said that he who controls the Lumen Dei controls the world. Unbeknownst to her, Nora now holds the crucial key to unlocking its secrets. Her night of blood is just one piece in a puzzle that spans continents and centuries. Solving it may be the only way she can save her own life.

Opening Line:

I should probably start with the blood.

Automatically I'm thinking, "BLOOD?! NOICE. Do tell!"

SQUEE-worthy: Some call this The Da Vinci Code for the YA set, and I have to say I agree. It's definitely got a Dan Brown vibe to it, but maybe more Angels and Demons than Da Vinci to me. It's got secret societies, mysterious artifacts, murder, and the use of history and Christianity as motifs--PLUS, Latin and inarguably hot guys thrown into the mix. (That last component is a REAL nice perk!) Seriously, how can you go wrong with so much awesomeness?? Also, the TWISTS. Oooohhh, the plot twists. It was definitely equal parts suspenseful and mysterious. I was kept guessing the whole time, which is no easy feat for a paranoid reader like me.

"Meh" Moments: I honestly cannot think of a moment where I was like, "Meh, I'm bored." This book seriously sucked me in and didn't let go until the last page. Granted, I do admit that it does have a slightly slower pace than most YA suspense/thrillers, but I liked that Wasserman provided enough backstory and rich detail to make the tale feel complete by the end of the novel. I mean, it is a standalone novel after all, and I think Wasserman did an excellent job weaving everything together: from the backstory, to the historical elements, to the atmospheric detail, to the high-stakes, action-driven scenes.

For fans of: Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons.

Buy or Borrow? I borrowed the eBook version from the library, but this book is DEFINITELY on my To-Buy list, if only for the cover alone. (#coverslut)

Let's chat!

Since this book takes place mostly in Prague (one of my dream destinations!), what are YOUR dream book destinations?

Review: The Crown of Embers

2013-01-16T13:44:00.000-05:00

Title: The Crown of Embers
Author: Rae Carson
Part of a series? Fire and Thorns, #2
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Release Date: September 18th, 2012
Length: 410 pages (hardcover)
Genre: YA fantasy
Source: Library hardcover

In the sequel to the acclaimed The Girl of Fire and Thorns, a seventeen-year-old princess turned war queen faces sorcery, adventure, untold power, and romance as she fulfills her epic destiny.

Elisa is the hero of her country. She led her people to victory against a terrifying enemy, and now she is their queen. But she is only seventeen years old. Her rivals may have simply retreated, choosing stealth over battle. And no one within her court trusts her-except Hector, the commander of the royal guard, and her companions. As the country begins to crumble beneath her and her enemies emerge from the shadows, Elisa will take another journey. With a one-eyed warrior, a loyal friend, an enemy defector, and the man she is falling in love with, Elisa crosses the ocean in search of the perilous, uncharted, and mythical source of the Godstone's power. That is not all she finds. A breathtaking, romantic, and dangerous second volume in the Fire and Thorns trilogy.

Opening Line:

My entourage of guards struggles to keep pace as I fly down the corridors of my palace.

Wasn't as epic as the first line from The Girl of Fire and Thorns but it certainly does its job of establishing the setting (a palace, royalty) and the kind of princess Elisa is (one that is constantly on the move with no regard for her safety). So, not a bad line all around.

SQUEE-worthy: Like in Fire and Thorns, I love how Carson continues to explore the themes of faith, prayer, and God. Granted, there's a much stronger fantasy element in Embers but I find that it only adds to the complexity of the plot. I was also REALLY impressed by the romance aspect in this book. It wasn't cheesy. It wasn't insta-love. It wasn't chaste to the point of cousinhood. (Um, what?) It was SWOON-WORTHY. Not in a "Ooh, Edward, you're so sparkly and pale and *swoon* I just wanna have glittery babies witchu" kind of way. But in a way that makes sense, in a way that feels real and raw and powerful. I kid you not, my heart ached for Elisa and her Mystery Man (I don't want to give it away if you haven't read the first book!!), but I think part of why I feel so emotionally invested is because the romantic timeframe is realistic. It's the furthest thing from insta-love; it's all tense and angsty and emotionally charged and GAH. SO GOOD.

"Meh" Moments: There was a bit of a plot lull about 30% of the way into the story. Things start to slow down a bit as Carson gets into the political grit of Elisa's situation, but I promise you that things will pick up past the halfway point. Persevere, and you won't regret it!

For fans of: Anything by Kristin Cashore and Tamora Pierce.

Buy or Borrow? A highly recommended read! And I actually think that I will purchase the entire series once the third book is out.

Let's Chat!

What's your take on thinly-veiled religious elements in fantasy literature?

Can't-Wait-YA-Books of 2013

2013-01-02T17:14:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year, friends! My sincerest apologies for failing to post much during the holidays. No wonder so many bloggers put up a leave-of-absence note on December 22nd; in between all the food, company, and this flu bug going around, there's just no time for blogging! Nevertheless, I'm back, slightly rejuvenated (came down with a cold... boooo), and ready to kick off the year with some of my most anticipated YA new releases of 2013!

Introducing...

The Madman's Daughter by Megan Shepherd

A mad scientist? Creepy Animal Farm-like mutant animals? The crippling self-doubt of one's own sanity? YES, PLEASE! Inspired by H.G. Wells' The Island of Dr. Moreau, this is a gothic YA thriller that sounds like it's part Wide Sargasso Sea and part LOST (of which the author is apparently a fan of!). In short: I CAN'T WAIT TO READ IT!!! *does a jig* Not only are great historical YA novels few and far between--at least in my opinion--but this has all the potential of a juicy mystery wrapped up in the promise of a fast-paced action adventure. Although this looks to be the first part of Megan Shepherd's debut trilogy, I truly hope she delivers.

Scarlet (Lunar Chronicles, #2) by Marissa Meyer

I'm trying not to include so many sequels in this list--which is hard to do since everything in YA seems to be part of a trilogy these days--but Cinder, the first book of the Lunar Chronicles series, was great! Granted, it didn't resonate with me as much as I thought it would have, it was one of those books that ended with a cliffhanger, so of course I need to know what happens next! Scarlet, in particular, is a retelling of Little Red Riding Hood, and even though fairytale retellings are incredibly overdone, I'm excited to see what fresh, innovative twist Meyer comes up with this time.

The Moon and More by Sarah Dessen

Okay, I admit it: I'm a Dessen fan. But I can't help it!!! The woman writes with so much heartfelt teen candor. If contemporary YA fiction was prom night, she's definitely got my vote as prom queen. Anywho, I'm especially excited for The Moon and More, because like Along for the Ride, the story takes place the summer before the main character leaves for college. It's such a monumental moment in every teen's life, and one that's unusually charged with a lot of emotions, anticipation, and trepidation. Already clearing my favorites bookshelf for this one!

Mind Games by Kiersten White

The premise of Mind Games hooked me from the get-go. It's a story about two sisters with extraordinary powers (and what oddly unique powers they are!) who are trained for "corporate espionage." My response: COOL. Count me in for some corporate psychological thriller!

Etiquette and Espionage by Gail Carriger

From the author of the Parasol Protectorate series comes a YA steampunk quartet about a Victorian finishing school that trains girls for a different kind of "finishing"--as in finishing... someone of. *HISTORICAL YA FANGIRL MOMENT!!!* Other than the premise, I think I would have picked up this book based on the cover alone. So gorgeous.

The Archived by Victoria Schwab

The first sentence of the synopsis: "Imagine a place where the dead rest on shelves like books." Um. Hello!? How is one not hooked by a sentence like that? Mac is a Keeper, whose job is to make sure the Histories--that is, the dead--stays undisturbed; but when chapters in the Histories go missing, it's up to Mac to put everything back to rights. Such a creative concept concerning life and death! I can't wait to see what Schwab does with it

Last but certainly not least...

Detergent* (Divergent, #3) by Veronica Roth

*title is not yet known.

I know, I know... yet another installment to a trilogy. But this is it!! The LAST book in the bestselling Divergent trilogy! Finally, every twist and turn concerning Tris, Tobias, and co. will be RESOLVED. I'm looking forward to devouring this edge-of-your-seat, action-packed adventure in one sitting. Plus, you gotta respect an author who would jokingly refer to her upcoming book as "DETERGENT."

What are you looking forward to reading in 2013?

The Top 10 Most Read Books in the World

2012-12-27T11:36:00.000-05:00

From GalleyCat:

Out of all the infographics we featured this year, one literary graphic was by far the most popular (and controversial) among our readers. Follow this link to see a larger image.

Designer Jared Fanning created a simple infographic comparing the Top 10 Most Read Books in the World, using a list compiled by freelance writer James Chapman–based on the number of copies each book sold over the last 50 years.

Check it out: “I have compiled this list of the 10 Most Read Books In The World after completing a long project of research to establish exactly which are the most read books in the world … You will find in this list a varied array of subject matter, covering a considerable number of years of some truly talented author’s work. Some of the authors are no longer with us, but the majority are still producing their masterpieces for our ongoing delight.”

Simply encouraging to see that the Bible is still the most widely read book in the world! It's also fun to know that I've read approximately 7 out of the 10 books listed there ("approximate" because I couldn't bear to put myself through the torture that is Twilight).

How many of these Top Ten books have you read?

Review: Looking for Alaska

2012-12-27T10:44:00.000-05:00

Title: Looking for Alaska
Author: John Green
Part of a series? Nope
Publisher: Dutton Juvenile
Release Date: January 1st, 2005
Length: 221 pgs (hardcover)
Genre: YA contemporary
Source: Library e-book

Before. Miles "Pudge" Halter's whole existence has been one big nonevent, and his obsession with famous last words has only made him crave the "Great Perhaps" (François Rabelais, poet) even more. Then he heads off to the sometimes crazy, possibly unstable, and anything-but-boring world of Culver Creek Boarding School, and his life becomes the opposite of safe. Because down the hall is Alaska Young. The gorgeous, clever, funny, sexy, self-destructive, screwed-up, and utterly fascinating Alaska Young, who is an event unto herself. She pulls Pudge into her world, launches him into the Great Perhaps, and steals his heart. After. Nothing is ever the same.

Opening Line:

The week before I left my family and Florida and the rest of my minor life to go to boarding school in Alabama, my mother insisted on throwing me a going-away party.

Now, while that isn't an especially thrilling/exciting first sentence, it certainly says a lot about the narrator, Pudge, and the kind of guy he is. And since the book revolves around Pudge and his experiences, I'd say that's a pretty spot-on statement!

SQUEE-worthy: Alaska. Alaska, Alaska, Alaska. No, not the place, the PERSON. She's no literary character; the way Green has portrayed her, she's like a living, breathing human being. And what a girl! No wonder Pudge is hopelessly in love with her! But it's not just Alaska either. From Pudge to Takumi, the whole cast of characters in Looking for Alaska throbs with life! Their relationships, their conversations with each other, their wants and dreams and woes--Green has captured and distilled the very essence of teenagehood (teenagedom?) and even what it means to be alive. And subsequently what it means to be dead.

"Meh" Moments: It's not so much a "meh" moment as it is a tiny twinge of disappointment. My expectations for this book were stacked high--like, SKY high--before reading it, and to be fair, Looking for Alaska had won a lot of awards, including the Printz and the ALA Teens' Top Ten. But alas, it fell short for me. I mean, everything was great in the beginning; there was so much tension, and it was building, building, building. BUT THEN, the "After" portion of the book struck--the pivotal moment I've been waiting for as the reader--and after a few minutes of initial exhilaration as my eyes whizzed through the page... the tension died. Literally just flat-lined. Honestly, the second half was rather disappointing. I mean, it's probably my fault for going into a book with such high expectations, but I expected more: more mystery, more tragedy, more twists and turns and all that good stuff, just... more. Instead, I just kept thinking, "Okay. That was a good book. But it wasn't that GREAT." And that, my friends, is a reaction no writer wants to evoke.

For fans of: Stephen Chbosky's The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Ned Vizzini's It's Kind of a Funny Story.

Buy or Borrow? Definitely read it. Green's insights on life and death alone are worth a read. But unless the ENTIRE story really resounds with you, I'd say it's a solid Borrow.

Let's Chat!

What do you think of Looking for Alaska? YA masterpiece or so-so story?

The Reason for the Season

2012-12-25T11:21:00.000-05:00

Oh, Charlie Brown! You've got it all wrong; Christmas isn't about you. It's not about the gifts, or the presents, or the sparkly tree (although all those things are nice). It's about celebrating the birth of the one and only Savior of the World! CHRISTmas. Instead of focusing on our many shortcomings, we should focus instead on the HOPE and JOY that are found in Jesus Christ, the only gift that matters.

Happy birthday, Jesus!

And wishing you all a very merry Christmas!

O Holy night, the stars are brightly shining
It is the night of our dear Savior's birth
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
'Til He appeared and the soul felt its worth
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn
Fall on your kneesO hear the angel voices
O night divine!
O night when Christ was born
O night divine!
O night, O night divine!

The World Didn't End! But For These Book Characters It Did...

2012-12-22T07:24:00.000-05:00

It's December 22nd, 2012... and we're all still here! No nuclear holocaust. No insta-pandemic. No rogue meteorite. No Transformers-esque technological breakdown. And certainly no Son of Man coming in the clouds (seriously, Matthew 24:36, people. Read it. Better yet, read the whole book; you won't regret it.)

So the world didn't end yesterday, but for those wondering "what if?" I give you... post-apocalyptic novels that you can live vicariously through!

My Post-Apocalyptic Picks for...

those living under a rock (or a bunker in case you've been expecting this Mayan apocalypse for a loooong time):

those who dream of a Harry Potter-esque post-apocalyptic world:

those who like zombies:

those who secretly hope for a natural disaster:

those who miss the Terminator:

those who like strong world-building (and have really strong stomachs):

and last but not least...

those who don't read YA but want a good thought-provoking book:

Your Turn: What are your favorite post-apocalyptic books?

Tattle Thursday: Snow White & the Huntsman producer to adapt Daughter of Smoke & Bone!

2012-12-20T10:43:00.000-05:00

From GalleyCat:

Universal Pictures has acquired the film rights to Laini Taylor‘s young adult novel and National Book Award finalist, Daughter of Smoke & Bone.

Oz: The Great and Powerful executive producer Palak Patel will serve as an executive producer. Snow White & the Huntsman producer Joe Roth has signed on as a producer.

Little, Brown Books for Young Readers released this book in 2011. Days of Blood & Starlight, the sequel, came out in November 2012. Taylor plans to conclude her series with a not-yet-titled third book.

OMGOSH OMGOSH OMGOSH!!! How exciting is this?? It's finally happening! The production wheels are turning! This is gonna TOP The Hunger Games for me. I can already feel it. Can't wait to see Prague! Lovely, lovely Prague! Karou with her ultramarine hair! Brimstone and the chimaeras in all their glory!

Oh, and here's a short little letter I'm gonna send out soon:

Dear Casting Producers,

Please, please, please cast Kellan Lutz as Akiva. Kthx.

*MELTS*

What are you most looking forward to about the on-screen adaptation of Daughter of Smoke and Bone? And since we're on the topic ahem... any thoughts on who should play Akiva a.k.a. the Hottest Archangel of All-Time?

Road Trip Wednesday #161: What's In A Name?

2012-12-19T10:28:00.000-05:00

Road Trip Wednesdays is a "blog carnival" where the contributors at YA Highway put up a reading- or writing-related question and bloggers all around the world answer it!

This Week's Topic is:

The list of top baby names in 2012 had us talking about naming characters. How do you decide on names? Would you ever name a character after a friend/family member/ex?

Fact: I'm a super indecisive person. On my current work-in-progress, I've changed my main character's name FIVE times. No joke: Lavinia, Violet, Evelyn, Vivienne, and now Ava. (Obviously I'm slightly obsessed with the letter "v.") Regardless, I mainly decide based on feel. Now that might sound slightly strange, but different names have a different "feel" to me--either derived from various people I know, how the name sounds, or the meaning of the name--and I try to match up that "feel" with how my main character is. For instance, the name "Ava" connotes a simple elegance and symmetry to me, perfect for an unassuming girl in post-Edwardian times who's finding her true worth. As for the foil character's name, "Seraphina," that was decided purely on meaning (FYI, Seraphina came from the biblical word "seraphim" and means "the fiery ones"). Speaking of the meaning behind names, here are a couple of sites I've found tremendously useful: Behind the Name, Baby Names, and Behind the Surname.

Lastly, while I would never name a character after an ex (why? just... why?), I'm of the opinion that friends' or family members' names are totally up for grabs.

So, there you go! That's how I play the name game!

And now... tag! You're it! How do you decide on names?

A Moment of Reflection

2012-12-14T11:20:00.000-05:00

In lieu of a #TGIF entry, I just wanted to express my deepest condolences to those families affected by the senseless tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School. My heart and prayers are with the victims and survivors of this incident. In moments like these, it becomes unbearably clear just how broken and depraved we are as human beings.

Please take a moment to pray for those who are suffering, not just in this country, but all around the world. Thank you.

(Also, to all those who are turning this into a political debate about gun control, while I empathize with your concern, guns are not the real danger here, but people. Earlier today, another man stabbed 22 children in an elementary school in China. Different weapons, same depravity. Guns are only part of the problem, not the root of it.)

Road Trip Wednesday #160: How Many Books Do You Read?

2012-12-12T12:37:00.000-05:00

Road Trip Wednesdays is a "blog carnival" where the contributors at YA Highway put up a reading- or writing-related question and bloggers all around the world answer it!

This Week's Topic is:

About how many books do you read in a year? Do you want to read more? Or, less?

I'm not a fast reader. I like to take it slow, linger over particularly poignant imagery, marvel at an unusual turn of words. That said, Goodreads tells me that since July of this year, I've read 13 books. So about 2 books a month if I'm going by that rate, which is not too shabby considering what a slowpoke I am! I'm definitely looking to read more, though, maybe a book a week if I'm lucky. Imagine that--52 books a year!

How about you? How many books do you read in a year? Are you a lightning-fast reader or a slow-and-steady turtle like me?

Top Ten Tuesday: 10 New-to-Me Authors

2012-12-11T18:16:00.000-05:00

So I was lurking around some awesome blogs (*ahem-ahem*) when I stumbled onto this:

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme created by the folks over at The Broke and the Bookish. The idea is to put up a top ten list and share it with other bloggers. This week's list topic is:

Top Ten New-to-Me Authors I Read in 2012

(in no particular order)

Veronica Roth. One word: Divergent. I couldn't put it down. The plot and pacing sucked me in from the very beginning. A masterful debut for such a sweet, down-to-earth young author!

Kate Morton. I can't believe I only discovered Ms. Morton now. The Distant Hours is hands-down the most beautifully crafted book I've ever read. Why do I say "crafted"? Because not only is Ms. Morton a wonderful writer (her descriptions are so vivid, I could taste them), but there are so many twists and turns in that book, my head was spinning by the time I was done with it--in a GOOD way.

Laini Taylor. Ms. Taylor is a testament to all readers and writers everywhere that YA books can feature top-notch writing. Daughter of Smoke and Bone took my breath away: from the striking characters, to the stunning backdrop of Prague, to the heart-wrenching romance, Karou's story is forever emblazoned in my heart.

Rae Carson. Elisa from The Girl of Fire and Thorns, Ms. Carson's debut novel, won me over completely; her transformation was incredible, and most of all, believable. I also loved that Carson wasn't afraid to portray faith in all its fullness, especially Elisa's reliance on God through heartfelt prayer.

Marissa Meyer. Oh, she of the innovative ideas! From the cyborg Cinderella to the unique choice of setting (futuristic Beijing, anyone?), Cinder blew my imagination out the water.

Leigh Bardugo. Three cheers for fantasy stories that do NOT take place in medieval European kingdoms! Shadow and Bone took place in a distinctly Russian setting and was all the more rich and vibrant for it. The villain in this book is also extremely superb.

Kristin Cashore. When I found out Ms. Cashore wrote her stories by hand (by HAND, people!) and then transcribed them onto her computer via voice recognition software, my jaw dropped. Literally, dropped. For one thing, that just shows her dedication to her craft. And for another, Graceling, her debut fantasy, was such an intricately woven story that I can't even fathom the amount of thought and work that went behind it. God bless this woman. Seriously.

Susan Dennard. I first stumbled upon Ms. Dennard from NaNoWriMo; she was one of the published authors who was participating in the event. Not only did she answer people's questions with a thoughtfulness that I found refreshing, but her writing was RIDIKKULUS GOOD. (Yes, it's so good, it warranted slang-spelling). After all, very few authors would attempt something as insane(ly awesome) as mixing steampunk and zombies.

G.K. Chesterton. The man who contributed to C.S. Lewis's conversion to Christianity. I really wasn't expecting him to have a sense of humor, but Chesterton is HILARIOUS. Before you make up your mind about Jesus or even after your mind's been made up, go read The Everlasting Man. You can thank me later.

John Green. I know. I've been living under a rock. But better late than never, right?

Who are some authors you've discovered this year?