The following is the result of Twitter banter between Raych from Books I Done Read and Yours Truly. One dare lead to another and several ALL CAPS and !!!!!!!!!s  later, we’ve committed ourselves to a summer of cringe-worthy reading.

Raych, prepare to reel!  See that unicorn upchucking a rainbow below? I forsee a similar fate in your future. *Cue sinister laughter*

I DARE YOU to read 3/5 of my Horrible Summer Reading Challenge!!!!!!!!!!!

Behold! The Horrible Five:

1. Dawn by V.C. Andrews—Incest, a heroine who is too stupid to live, a grandmother who darts across the room with ‘lightening fast speed’…just a taste of the awfulness you will encounter.

2. Secrets of the Morning by V.C. Andrews—The sequel to Dawn. In my opinion, it’s even worse than Dawn. Muhahah, Sucka! Choose this at your own peril.

3. Evermore by Alyson Noel—I groaned through every chapter of this Twilight knock-off and ditched the drivel halfway. I’m too much of a wussy to ride this horse.  If you complete this book, I will erect an alter to your brass balls.

4. Beyond the Wild Wind by Sasha Lord—-Prepare for an anatomy lesson of the purple kind! No noun or verb will go unmodified.

5. SVH Wild Card—Because I don’t know which Sweet Valley High titles your library carries, you have the liberty of selecting a SVH book of your choice. Aren’t I nice? If you can get your hands on SVH: Beware the Wolfman (the one where the twins go to London and face Jack the Ripper who is also…a werewolf AND Elizabeth interviews Queen Elizabeth for the SVH newspaper), I’d be much obliged.

The Hastily Tossed Together Rules:

1. Read 3 out of the God-awful 5

2. Post snarky review on your blog

3. Optional: keep a public diary chronicling your pain. You’re encouraged to whine for the entertainment of all.

Brave souls who want to tackle the list may join in.   Just leave a comment down below.  Caution: this challenge is not for wusses.

Okay, Raych. I’m ready for your list.  BRING IT ON!

1. Notes on a Scandal by Zoe Heller—-Because I’m sick of all these goody-goody YA heroines, I want to read a story with an unsympathetic narrator.  And some sandal. Let’s not forget about the scandal.

2. Fried Green Tomatos at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg—-I’m also in the mood for a homey novel about small town Southern life.

3. Beyond Innocence by Emma Holly—-Sometimes I like my books spicy and by spicy I mean with plenty of steamy you-know-what.  Gotta learn about the birds and the bees somewhere…

4. The Babysitter’s Club Graphic Novel: Kristy’s Great Idea by Ann M. Martin and Raina Telgemeier—-I need to tame down the spicy read with kid lit. And I’ve read Kristy’s Great Idea 3X when I was 10!  Diabetes, fondue, nail-biting, nibbling your PB&J sandwiches into the shape of snowmen, bald stepfathers, scrunchies: I feel as if this was my childhood, except it was entirely fictional.

5. Grammar Girl’s Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing by Mignon Fogarty—– Because nobody learned me how to spoke.

This week, I’m browsing around for a steampunk novel. Off the top of my head, the closest novel I’ve read thus far that’s even remotely steampunk related is The Invention of Hugo Cabret, which contains clocks and automans.

I’m also anticipating the release of Cherie Priest’s Boneshaker.

In the interest of dipping my toe into a new sub-genre, I’m trying to compile a steampunk reading list.  Lend me your suggestions.

]]> http://thelitconnection.wordpress.com/2009/07/07/flavor-of-the-week-steampunk/feed/ 2 T Y Steampunk http://thelitconnection.wordpress.com/2009/07/07/flavor-of-the-week-steampunk/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheLitConnection/~3/guAS4UHMQ50/ http://thelitconnection.wordpress.com/2009/07/03/what-i-read-june-2009/#comments Fri, 03 Jul 2009 20:07:15 +0000 T Y http://thelitconnection.wordpress.com/?p=1276 ]]>

Methinks I just like to waste time compiling lists that I’ve already posted before and making collages. Methinks I need to attend a Procrastinators Anonymous meeting.

June 2009

1. That Summer—Sarah Dessen
2. Liquor—Poppy Z. Brite
3. Beyond Heaving Bosoms: The Smart Bitches’ Guide to Romance Novels—Sarah Wendell & Candy Tan
4. Nerd in Shining Armor—Vicky Lewis Thompson
5. My Nerdy Valentine—Vicky Lewis Thompson
6. The First Five Pages—Noah Lukeman
7. Lord of Scoundrels—Loretta Chase
8. Shawdowed Summer—Saundra Mitchell

Big news! Christopher Pike’s Last Vampire series receives a cover makeover.

Before…

After…

The first edition, Thirst No. 1 includes 3 novels: The Last Vampire, Black Blood, Red Dice.

The second edition, Thirst No. 2 includes: Phantom, Evil Thirst, Creatures of Forever.

Release date: August 4, 2009.

While I’ve read my share of Pike in the ’90’s, I haven’t read his Last Vampire series.  Frankly, I’m a little over the entire vampire YA craze, but it’s Pike, folks! I guess I could squeeze in one more vamp book before I put the ban on vamps altogether.

New Moon Posters

OR

In my opinion: Jacob. Despite that lame tribal tattoo on his arm (he sooooo did NOT have tats in the novel! Or maybe he did. Maybe I just didn’t want to believe it… ), he’s got hip dips and dangerously low-riding jeans.

Edward, what’s up with the jacket? Now is not the time to be shy.  Show us your vamp titties!

There ya go…

More half-naked men.

Because I’m a self confessed perv, this looks like a gang rape waiting to happen.

1. Dream Girl by Lauren Mechling

2. Tender Morsels by Margo Lanagan

3. Wings by Aprilynne Pike

Also…

I don’t think this qualifies as a ‘Flavor of the Week’ so I dub it my ‘mini flavor of the weekend’: How much do I love Emma Watson’s photoshoot in the new Teen Vogue? I covet this wardrobe.  Problem is, So. Cal’s dress code consists of flip flops and distressed denim; people would look at me funny if I strutted around in chiffon.

In which I dump my latest collage backlog (April to present)  for your viewing pleasure…

In the process, you’ll discover more about me, maybe more than you want to know…

My boyfriend informs me that I have a new obsession every week, hence, my ‘Flavor of the week.’  Familiar readers of my blog will know about my ‘Sweep the Leg’ challenge or my ‘Wuthering Heights’ phase.  Said  flavors are usually intense at the beginning of the week and tend to dissipate at week’s end.

To recap, boyfriend has taken measures to document my ‘Flavor of the week’ on his calender. I’ve taken measures to document it here…

Starting with the movie Bright Star (2009), the soon-to-be released biopic of 19th century poet John Keats.

Look at the luscious screen caps!  Did I ever tell you about my star-crossed lovers fetish?  Or my Victorian Romance fetish? Or my Ben Whishaw fandom? This movie is like a stew or salad or casserole (insert your own food simile) of all my favorite ingredients!

May 2009

1. Perfect You—Elizabeth Scott
2. Dreadful Skin—Cherie Priest
3. Someone Like You—Sarah Dessen
4. Stuff White People Like—Christian Lander
5. Those Who Went Remain There Still—Cherie Priest
6. The Big Sleep—Raymond Chandler

June 2009

1. That Summer—Sarah Dessen
2. Liquor—Poppy Z. Brite
3. Beyond Heaving Bosoms: The Smart Bitches’ Guide to Romance Novels—Sarah Wendell & Candy Tan
4. Nerd in Shining Armor—Vicky Lewis Thompson
5. My Nerdy Valentine—Vicky Lewis Thompson
6. The First Five Pages—Noah Lukeman
7. Lord of Scoundrels—Loretta Chase