The Neverending Shelf

Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes

noreply@blogger.com (Kate) — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 05:01:00 +0000

2011 has been a very interesting year for me, some good and some not so much. But after a lot (and I mean a lot) of contemplation, I am happy to announce the opening of my new blog: The Book Monsters.

While I would love to keep The Neverending Shelf going, it just isn't possible. Working 40+ hours a week, maintaining family and reading time, plus everything else is just exhausting. On top of everything else, I love blogging and want to give my best back to this community. Thankfully, with The Book Monsters, I will not be going at this alone.

Kristen (Bookworming in the 21st Century) and I had both been talking about how much we love working together and decided it was time to plunge into the project we had talked about forever - a combination blog. We've done a ton of projects together during the last two years and figured it was time to mix our genius together and start a whole new adventure in blogging.

We hope that you will follow us on this new adventure!

Editor Interview: Jacqueline Young

noreply@blogger.com (Kate) — Mon, 16 May 2011 05:01:00 +0000

The Neverending Shelf is happy to welcome Jacqueline Young today. Jacqueline is the editor of Dreamwalk.

After the death of her mother, Chloe Hawthorn is haunted by terrifying nighttime hallucinations. Determined to take control of her dreams, she uses them to find Shane Anderson, a charming and troubled musician whose online videos have been holding her in thrall. She finds him in the Dreamtime, sweating out heroin detox in a run-down rehab center.

Chloe sets out to find Shane in the waking world and discovers her dreams have been taking her into the past. Horrified, Chloe realizes Shane doesn't survive his addictions. In order to save him, Chloe must master her Australian mother's legacy — the secret of walking the Dreaming through time. But what price will Chloe pay for this Dreamwalk and will she save Shane only to lose him forever?

Describe what an editor does in five words or less.

Reorder, revise and tighten writing.

Did you always know you wanted to be an editor / work in the book industry, or did you just kind of fall into it?

I’ve loved books since childhood and for me, there is no greater pleasure than curling up with a good book. That’s where my passion for fiction started. After university I trained and worked as a teacher and began writing children and young adult fiction myself in my early thirties. YoungRebel Publications grew up as a natural extension of these interests.

What's a typical working day like for you? Are there daily goals you set?

I still work part time as a teacher, so my days vary according to my teaching commitments. I dedicate at least two full days a week to YoungRebel projects, and usually spend a couple of hours every evening answering emails and doing administration related tasks. I try to do the editing portion of my work in the mornings when I’m at my freshest. As we are a small company (it’s just me and my husband Paul) there are lots of essential jobs like accounting and marketing that need to be programmed in around the editing. I set myself daily targets and keep copious lists of ‘things to do’. I work through jobs in order of priority, and the priorities are constantly changing. For instance, at the end of the month the accounts take priority, but the weeks leading up to a release, keeping to the editing schedule is more important.

Is there anything in particular that you find challenging about being an editor?

For me, it’s juggling all the different aspects of the business. We launched in October 2010 and the learning curve has been steep. My own writing has taken more of a backseat, and this is something I’m keen to redress in the coming year. I’d like to get to a situation where YoungRebel Publications compliments but doesn’t eclipse my own work.

What book are you currently reading?

I’ve just downloaded ‘Angelology’ by Danielle Trussoni. I haven’t started it yet but I can’t wait to get stuck in. I love fantasy, so it’s right up my street.

Book Review: Dreamwalk

noreply@blogger.com (Kate) — Sun, 15 May 2011 05:01:00 +0000

Dreamwalk

by Sarah MacManus

Released: March 14th 2011

Publisher: Young Rebel Publications

Links:

Goodreads / Author

After the death of her mother, Chloe Hawthorn is haunted by terrifying nighttime hallucinations. Determined to take control of her dreams, she uses them to find Shane Anderson, a charming and troubled musician whose online videos have been holding her in thrall. She finds him in the Dreamtime, sweating out heroin detox in a run-down rehab center.

Chloe sets out to find Shane in the waking world and discovers her dreams have been taking her into the past. Horrified, Chloe realizes Shane doesn't survive his addictions. In order to save him, Chloe must master her Australian mother's legacy — the secret of walking the Dreaming through time. But what price will Chloe pay for this Dreamwalk and will she save Shane only to lose him forever?

To be honest, when I first read the summary, the first thought that popped into my head was "sounds like Wake by Lisa McMann." Part of me was really excited to start Dreamwalk because of this. The other half was hesitant due to how much I loved Wake, and I hate comparing two books together while trying to read one of them.

MacManus tells the story through Chloe's POV and Shane's journal entries. I applaud MacManus for blending these two POVs together in an almost effortlessly way. I am a sucker for novels with diary/journal entries, so I really enjoyed this aspect being included. It really allowed me to get into the heart of Shane. Discover his hopes, dreams, fears.

There was much of this novel that I really, really liked. However, I must admit that I am a little tired of seeing girl characters "fall in love" with a guy that she rarely knows. In Dreamwalk, Chloe become borderline obsessed with Shane just due to some videos. Part of me wanted to rationalize that it is similar to girls that have major crushes on celebrities. But Chloe's obsessed seemed like more. Like she really cared about this guy she didn't know.

All in all, Dreamwalk really was not what I was expecting it to be. It starts off as a YA novel that edges towards adult later in the novel. Plenty of elements that kept me reading, while a few made me roll my eyes. But at the heart of it, Dreamwalk has a lot more depth than I ever thought possible.

Unnatural: Top 10

noreply@blogger.com (Kate) — Fri, 13 May 2011 05:01:00 +0000

Today, The Neverending Shelf is happy to welcome Michael from Unnatural.

In the town of Eden in northwestern England stands the exclusive boarding school known as Archangel Academy. Ancient and imposing, it’s a place filled with secrets. Just like its students…

For Michael Howard, being plucked from his Nebraska hometown and sent thousands of miles away is as close as he’s ever come to a miracle. In Weeping Water, he felt trapped, alone. At Archangel Academy, Michael belongs. And in Ciaran, Penry, and especially Ciaran’s enigmatic half-brother Ronan, Michael finds friendship deeper than he’s ever known.

But Michael’s only beginning to understand what makes the Academy so special. Ronan is a vampire—part of a hybrid clan who are outcasts even among other vampires. Within the Academy’s confines exists a ruthless world of deadly rivalries and shifting alliances, of clandestine love and forbidden temptations. And soon Michael will confront the destiny that brought him here—and a danger more powerful than he can imagine…

Michael’s Top Ten List:

Michael Howard’s Top Ten Favorite things since he’s moved to Archangel Academy:

1. Ronan!

2. His new friendships with Ciaran, Penry, and Phaedra

3. Professor McLaren’s British Literature class

4. Exploring The Forest of No Return

5. Being part of the swim team

6. Day trips into Eden with the gang

7. Learning more about himself each day

8. Doing homework with friends and not just by himself any longer

9. Hanging out in St. Joshua’s library – who knew there were so many books in the
world?

10. One-on-one chats with Headmaster Alistair Hawksbry

Learn more about Michael and Unnatural at:

Goodreads

This or That with Amy Plum

noreply@blogger.com (Kate) — Mon, 02 May 2011 05:01:00 +0000

The Neverending Shelf is happy to welcome Amy Plum. Amy is the author of Die for Me, and will be sharing some of her favorite things.

My life had always been blissfully, wonderfully normal. But it only took one moment to change everything.

Suddenly, my sister, Georgia, and I were orphans. We put our lives into storage and moved to Paris to live with my grandparents. And I knew my shattered heart, my shattered life, would never feel normal again. Then I met Vincent.

Mysterious, sexy, and unnervingly charming, Vincent Delacroix appeared out of nowhere and swept me off my feet. Just like that, I was in danger of losing my heart all over again. But I was ready to let it happen.

Of course, nothing is ever that easy. Because Vincent is no normal human. He has a terrifying destiny, one that puts his life at risk every day. He also has enemies . . . immortal, murderous enemies who are determined to destroy him and all of his kind.

While I'm fighting to piece together the remnants of my life, can I risk putting my heart—as well as my life and my family's—in jeopardy for a chance at love?

This or That

Regular or Peanut M&Ms: peanut

Matthew McConaughey or Colin Farrell: Rob

Boxers or Briefs: boxer briefs

Action or Romance: action

Truth or Dare: dare

Coffee or Tea: latte

Pastry or Biscuit: macaroon

Angels or Demons: demons

Polar Bear or Seal: polar bear, specifically Iorek Byrnison

Firefighter or Police Officer: Firefighter. Shirt off, please.

Vintage or Modern: Vintage, unless you’re talking Mid-century Modern

Wine or Cocktail: dirty gin martini, 2 olives stuffed with Roquefort

Plane or Train: I heart trains in a major way

Vegas or Bora Bora: Bora Bora

Gothic or Victorian: Gothic, especially for architecture

To learn more about Amy and Die for Me, please visit her at:

Reading Holiday

noreply@blogger.com (Kate) — Sun, 01 May 2011 05:01:00 +0000

As you may have noticed, The Neverending Shelf has been a little quiet lately. This is due to many, many factors. But first and foremost, I am quite simply drowning in books. My TBR probably at this point has a TBR. Due to the sheer volume of books that I have, and the fact that I have at least 20+ reviews that I need to catch up on, I will be taking May away from the blog to focus on reading and other things.

I do have a few posts that I have set up, mainly for tours, so the blog will not be completely abandoned. I am hoping that this month will really give me a chance to get back to my blogging roots so to speak. Plus, after doing this for about two years straight... I need a vacation.

See you guys soon!

Author Interview: Carmen Ferreiro-Esteban

noreply@blogger.com (Kate) — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 05:01:00 +0000

The Neverending Shelf is happy to welcome Carmen Ferreiro-Esteban. Carmen is the author of Two Moon Princess.

In this coming-of-age story set in a medieval kingdom, Andrea is a headstrong princess longing to be a knight who finds her way to modern-day California. But her accidental return to her family's kingdom and a disastrous romance brings war, along with her discovery of some dark family secrets. Readers will love this mix of traditional fantasy elements with unique twists and will identify with Andrea and her difficult choices between duty and desire.

Describe your book in five words or less.

Pride & Prejudice in Medieval Spain

How did the idea for "Two Moon Princess" come to you?

When I was a child, I saw a broken arch on a beach in northern Spain. In my mind, the arch was magical. It was a portal to another world, I called Xaren Ra. Later, I moved to California and Andrea, a teen princess from Xaren-Ra came with me. Two Moon Princess tells the story of what happened to Andrea when she went back to her world with an American boy.

What book are you currently reading?

Agincourt by Bernard Cornwell.

I discovered Bernard Cornwell while watching Sharpe, a TV series (1993 to 1997) based on his books. I have loved his writing since. Nobody does historical fiction like Bernard Cornwell.

If you weren't a writer, what would you be?

A biologist. I have a Ph.D. in Biology, so I guess I am still one, even if I haven't worked as such in forever.

What is one question that you've always wanted to be asked in an interview? How would you answer that question?

Do you want Two Moon Princess to be made into a movie?

And the answer is, "Yes. I'd love to."

And if I could choose the actors (It's my dream, right?) I would choose India Eisley (Ashley from The Secret Life of the American Teenager) to play Andrea, and Ben Barnes (Prince Caspian in The Chronicles of Narnia) as Don Julian.

____________

Learn More about Carman and Two Moon Princess at:

Book Review: Unnatural

noreply@blogger.com (Kate) — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 05:01:00 +0000

Unnatural (Archangel Academy, #1)

by Michael Griffo

Released: February 22nd 2011

Publisher: Kensington

Paperback: 480 pages

Links:

Goodreads

In the town of Eden in northwestern England stands the exclusive boarding school known as Archangel Academy. Ancient and imposing, it’s a place filled with secrets. Just like its students…

For Michael Howard, being plucked from his Nebraska hometown and sent thousands of miles away is as close as he’s ever come to a miracle. In Weeping Water, he felt trapped, alone. At Archangel Academy, Michael belongs. And in Ciaran, Penry, and especially Ciaran’s enigmatic half-brother Ronan, Michael finds friendship deeper than he’s ever known.

I am a sucker for boarding school novels. Still have not figured out why, so it is what it is. Unnatural immedately grabbed my attention because this setting.. then when I found out there was a possibility for a M/M YA romance, I just knew that I had to give it a try.

First off, I have to give Michael Griffo some credit. He is working with a creature that has been used to death. At this stage in my reading career, if I never have to put up another vampire book, I would probably be estatic. (Vampire series I am currently obsessed with aside.) But Griffo decided to go with using this character, and for the most part, I was pleased with the result.

Michael Howard views himself as apart from every one in his small town. He is lonely.. trapped.. you get the point. And so does the reader, after hearing about Michael's issues for a longer than needed time frame. Now, don't get me wrong. Whiny characters can be fun characters. But in Unnatural's case, I felt like I needed more than to constantly hear about the same issues over and over again. Thankfully, Michael began to grow on me once he got to Archangel Academy.

Unnatural may not be my favourite vampire novel of all time. But it definitely was creative. I loved that Griffo took a few risks in combining vampire lores that I have seen a few other places, and made it completely his. The novel, overall, felt like it took forever to read since Griffo includes more than enough details to fully grasp his vampire world. Alhough, it I would not have hurt my feelings any if some of the more redunant details had been left out. Overall, I will be looking forward to more from Griffo and waiting to see how this series evolves.

Interview with Her Royal Highness, Aurelia

noreply@blogger.com (Kate) — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 05:01:00 +0000

The Neverending Shelf is pleased to welcome her Her Royal Highness, Aurelia. Aurelia's adventures have been catalogued by her author friend, Anne Osterlund, in the novels: Aurelia and Exile.

Crown Princess Aurelia stands in the face of exile. Behind her are the sister who tried to kill her and the father who ignored it. In front of her are the entire kingdom and Robert—the friend she can't help but fall in love with. Aurelia may finally be living her dream . . . but danger is not far behind. When Aurelia and Robert are betrayed by the very guards assigned to protect them, their expedition becomes a fight for survival that carries them from frontier to desert sands. Even with a hunter on their tail, the risks—to their lives, the throne, their hearts—only fuels Aurelia's determination to see her kingdom. And when their perilous journey is finally complete, she will discover just how much her people need her, and just how much of a risk loving Robert can be.

________

Chocolate or Cream: An Interview with Her Royal Highness

Me (aka The Author): Hello, Aurelia.

The main character of my first and upcoming third novel, Exile, gives me the Look.

Me: What? I thought you would enjoy being the center of attention.

Again the Look.

Me: Come on, come on. Look at this beautiful site.

Aurelia: It is a beautiful site.

Me: Yes, and I would like to introduce you to Kate. She invited us to visit.

Aurelia: It’s a very great honor, Kate. Thank you for bestowing upon us such kind hospitality.

Ah. There they are. The manners Her Royal Highness reserves for people other than her author.

Kate: Aurelia, it is quite an honor to have you as my guest. If you would please follow me this way, I have prepared some tea and treats for us to feast on while we get to know each other better.

Aurelia is not opposed to tea, but her ankle is twitching, and I can tell she is rather antsy.

Kate gestures to a maid-servant to pour the tea.

Kate: If Your Highness does not mind, I have a few questions I would love to ask.

Aurelia: Certainly, though I prefer to be addressed as Aurelia rather than by title.

A tray of doughnuts with various delectable glazes arrives upon the scene. The ankle stops twitching.

Kate: First things first, how did you meet Anne?

Aurelia: I imposed upon her time. She had too much of it, and I felt it could be put to better use.

Me: Time is not something I have ever had too much of.

Aurelia: Well, you were not executing it in a sufficiently fulfilling manner.

True. Who could ever find a better pursuit than writing the stories one loves?

Kate: Was it a quick friendship or did it take time?

Aurelia: It took a great deal of time. She scribbled three chapters and then left me on a shelf forever.

This is actually rather tactful of Aurelia. The truth is I left her hanging off the edge of a riverbank.

Kate: As a huge bookworm, I love to see what others are reading. Aurelia, what are you currently reading or what are some of your favorite books?

Aurelia: Alanna, the First Adventure. My author recommended it. Anne has extremely good taste in books. Personally I love this one and Witch of the Glens by Sally Watson; Mara, Daughter of the Nile by Eloise Jarvis McGraw; and Summers at Castle Auburn by Sharon Shinn. Oh, and The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi.

Kate: As a princess, I am sure that all your time is taken up with duties befitting a princess.

Aurelia shoots me a looong look. She does not consider exploring her kingdom, learning about her people, and trying to stay alive as “princessy.”

Kate (continued): However, when you do manage to escape those duties, what do you like to do in your spare time?

Aurelia: I remind my author that we ought to be employing her time in more useful ways.

Me: Teaching school and directing The Taming of the Shrew are useful.

Aurelia: And rewatching Season 2 of The Mentalist?

Me: Delving into a good story with a good character is sometimes the best use of one’s time.

She shifts in her seat, then nods.

Aurelia: Granted.

Kate: What's the one question that no one ever asks you and you wish they would?

Aurelia’s gaze travels to the tray of fresh doughnuts.

Aurelia: Chocolate glazed or cream-filled?

Kate’s maid-servant holds out the tray, and Aurelia selects a pastry with cream. She bestows the maid-servant with a tremendous smile.

Kate: If you had the chance to give one piece of advice to your fellow teens, what would it be?

Aurelia: Always use your own mind, believe in your heart, and be brave enough to say what you think.

Interesting.

Kate: Thank you so much for all of your time Aurelia. I have one final question. With all your adventures behind you, possibly, what events do you see occurring in your future?

Aurelia (smiling cryptically): Redemption.

Kate wisely does not attempt to unravel this particular statement. She does offer another cream-filled doughnut, but Aurelia selects chocolate this time and wraps it in linen.

(I happen to know Robert prefers chocolate).

Kate: Aurelia, thank you so much for your time. It was a great pleasure to get to know you better.

Aurelia slips the wrapped doughnut into a pocket attached to her skirt.

Kate: You and Anne are welcome back at any time.

Aurelia: And you and all of your readers are very welcome on our expedition. Though I have to warn you—(she glances over her shoulder)—it’s rather dangerous. And there aren’t any doughnuts.

Me: You are also all very welcome on our website: http://www.anneosterlund.com/ or our blog: http://www.anneosterlund.blogspot.com/. And thank you, Kate, tremendously for inviting us!

Cover Interview: Susan Bigelow

noreply@blogger.com (Kate) — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 05:01:00 +0000

The Neverending Shelf is happy to welcome Susan J. Bigelow. Susan is the author of Broken. Today, she is here to talk about her cover and how it came to be.

In a post-war future world where First Contact has been made, humans are colonizing the stars, and the nations of Earth have been united under a central government, Extrahumans are required by law to belong to the Union. When a young man with visions of the future sets out on a mission to define the course of human history, he encounters a devastated former hero, a fascist dictatorship bent on world domination, and the realities of living in a society where affiliation is everything.

________

Your cover is very unique. Did you design it yourself?

No, my editor/publisher, Kate Sullivan, designed it! She has many talents. I do love the way it looks, it's definitely a unique cover and I think it reflects the mood of the story perfectly.

What kind of input, if any, did you have in the final result of the cover?

I had a lot of input, actually. I was originally asked if I had any ideas, which, because my mind just doesn't work that way, I didn't! So then I was presented with several possible covers, which was incredibly cool to see. Some of the ones we didn't pick were outstanding. Once I picked the one I liked best, we worked to make some little design tweaks, and it was set. I think the only thing I really changed was the color of the title text, which was black and is now red.

What you want readers and/or potential readers to get out of the cover?

I want people to be drawn into this world. I think the cover says an awful lot about the mood of the world, from the gray skies to the crumbling wall. It's also a mysterious cover, the figure is in silhouette and the viewer doesn't know whether she's flying or falling. I'd hope someone would see this cover and want to know more about the story inside.

It looks like a few different techniques were used in creating the cover. Can you tell us a little bit about how a cover comes together?

Let me turn this over to Kate:

Hi there! Kate here, reporting in from the design end of things.

Every cover comes together differently – it all depends on the “feeling” of the book, and what will work best for its mood, setting, characters, etc.. For Broken, I knew right away that I wanted to see a flying/falling figure on the cover, something that could represent the character of Broken on a really gut level. Some books want images of people; some books want a more symbolic cover – Broken was one of the latter, for me. I started playing around with silhouettes of leaping or tumbling women, against different backgrounds – I think a few of the variations we went through had a dramatic sunset, or a sharp set of rocks at the bottom of a cliff. The bricks really seemed to work with the dystopian aspect of the story, though, and I loved that you wound up unable to tell if the figure on the cover was flying or falling – it seemed right for Broken, being as, well, broken as she is.

The hardest part of this cover, honestly, was getting the fonts right. Sometimes I'll go into a cover knowing exactly what image I want to use, and sometimes I'll go in knowing exactly what fonts I want. In this case, I had an idea of what I wanted to see on the cover, but no idea how to get the font right. I must've gone through something like 40 different “stencil” fonts and old Soviet-era typefaces before I found the two that really worked, giving the book the right sort of rundown, industrial feel that didn't take away from the art!

If you could have any scene from Broken be on the cover, which would it be and why?

There's a scene when Broken jumps out of an aircraft flying thousands of feet above the ground without a parachute. For sheer excitement, maybe I'd choose that one!

Book Picks: Myrna of Odessa

noreply@blogger.com (Kate) — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 05:01:00 +0000

The Neverending Shelf is happy to welcome Myrna of Odessa, The Seraphym Wars Series. Myrna is visiting to share some of her favorite book picks.

Myrna Ashlin Watts graduated from High School in Jacksonville, Fl just in time to find herself transported to a bizarre and primal planet corrupted by demon-dragons. And they want her DEAD. Her problem is she has been recruited to kill them, too.

18-year-old Myrna is drawn into the middle of an epic battle between Seraphym and Demons. An average High School student from Florida, struggling with inner demons resulting from a rape two years earlier, she wakes one morning on the Steampunk planet of Dracwald, home of the demon-dragons responsible for her brother’s recent murder as well as many other atrocities in the news. She meets Michael, who becomes her guide and explains that according to prophecy, Myrna must gather the remaining six Vigorios (teen warriors with special talents) then train with the Majikals on an enchanted island.

__________

Hi, I’m Myrna Watts. Some people say I’m pretty superficial. They got the pretty right. My friends are all jealous of my wavy, waist-length black hair and even I like my emerald green eyes. Mom says I got them from her mother. I guess she was finished with them. Lol And okay, maybe the superficial part is true, too, ‘cause I don’t see much point in academics when my English professor Mom already has me hooked into the best University. And I’m still a Senior in high school! I don’t really even want to go to college, but my parents say I don’t have a choice. So to keep the peace, and the dough flowing, I agreed.

Most days I hang with my friends and sometimes their boyfriends. Occasionally we’ll skip school and go shopping at the mall. Or maybe find some fat kid to make fun of. So what is there to be concerned about in life, when everything is handed to you on a silver platter? Daddy bought me a Tessla for my 17th birthday, after all. A freaking Tessla! Not only is it probably the coolest sports car in the world, but there are none, zip, zero like it in all of Jacksonville.

Then this lady, Kate, asked me what I like to read. I’m like, I don’t have much time for that, but I guess there’re a few books on my bookshelf.

There’s The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot. I read the whole series when I was younger. They’re pretty cool. And I read all of the Harry Potter books next. At the time, I loved the magic and wanted to attend Hogwarts. Hermoine was just so cool. Even while being a complete nerd brain, she was just so. . .tough. Then my friends suggested the Vampire Academy series. But after a few of those I got kinda creeped out. See, when I was 15 I was attacked one night, walking home alone from a friend’s house, by these three dudes with red eyes. My brother arrived in the nick of time or else. . . Well, anyway, I stopped reading those kinds of books. I needed something happier, lighter. I picked up Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer and although I got immersed in the story about the world collapsing after the moon falls too close and causes all kinds of destruction, it wasn’t the happy book I was looking for. But I couldn’t put it down. Totally awesome book. Then someone suggested I try Robin McKinley’s books, especially The Blue Sword. OMG! Talk about not able to put it down. I so wanted to be Harry, the totally badass heroine. After that I read The Hero and the Crown and loved it too. She also has a whole set of fairy tales retold; like Beauty, Spindle’s End, The Outlaws of Sherwood and more. I haven’t read any yet, but I heard they’re awesome.

But all I can say is, after reading about all those badass girl heroines, wielding swords and slaying dragons and stuff, I wish my life was a little more interesting than skipping school to go shopping for clothes I don’t need. I wish I could do something that would make a difference. Maybe even save the world from something. I don’t know.

__________

Learn more about Myrna and Odessa at:

Book Review: Here Lies Bridget

noreply@blogger.com (Kate) — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 05:01:00 +0000

Here Lies Bridget

by Paige Harbison

Released: January 18th 2011

Publisher: Harlequin

Paperback: 224 pages

Links:

Goodreads / Author

What do you do when the five people you meet in limbo all want you to go to hell?

Bridget Duke is the uncontested ruler of her school. The meanest girl with the biggest secret insecurities. And when new girl Anna Judge arrives, things start to fall apart for Bridget: friends don’t worship as attentively, teachers don’t fall for her wide-eyed “who me?” look, expulsion looms ahead and the one boy she’s always loved—Liam Ward—can barely even look at her anymore. (...read more)

Here Lies Bridget takes on the meanest girl in school... and gives her a dose of her own medicine. Bridget Duke is hands down the Queen Bee of the school and knows that she is in charge. She has the adoring girl pack, the teachers wrapped around her little finger, and the attention of all the guys that she can handle. But when a new girl appears on the scene, Bridget begins to lose grasp on everything that she has "worked" so hard to get. When Bridget gets in a car accident, she realizes that things just got a lot worse.. being stuck in limbo, forced to face all her actions, and only one chance to make amends.

The first thing I noticed about Here Lies Bridget was, of course, Bridget Duke. She is the most annoying, whiny, and stuck up main character that I have had the misfortune to meet in a long time... if ever. Knowing you are the best and being the best are two totally different things. And for Bridget, half the battle. As with Lauren Oliver's Before I Fall, it took a lot for me to come to terms with this character. And it isn't always easy to forget that only 50ish pages ago, you were wanting to step into the novel just to smack the main character. But Harbison somehow not only manages to turn Bridget around, but also make her likeable. Which, for me, was a huge feat.

Here Lies Bridget is a novel that you will get mad at, want to throw (because you dislike the main character so much), and be 100% glad that you read. Despite the madness that is Bridget, there is a lot going on here. Redemption, overcoming fears and insecurities, and closure. Here Lies Bridget will leave you thinking about the effects that you have on others for a long time... I know I did.

Book Review: Through Her Eyes

noreply@blogger.com (Kate) — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 05:01:00 +0000

Through Her Eyes

by Jennifer Archer

Released: April 5th 2011

Publisher: HarperTeen

Hardcover: 384 pages

Links:

Goodreads / Author

Every ghost has a story to tell.

The last place Tansy Piper wants to be is stuck in Cedar Canyon, Texas, in the middle of nowhere, with a bunch of small-town kids. But when her mother decides to move to the desolate West Texas town, Tansy has no choice but to go along. Once there, Tansy is immediately drawn to the turret of their rickety old house, a place she soon learns has a disturbing history. But it's the strange artifacts she finds in the cellar—a pocket watch, a journal of poetry, and a tiny crystal—that have the most chilling impact on her.

Tansy soon finds that through the lens of her camera, she can become part of a surreal black-and-white world where her life is intertwined with that of mysterious, troubled Henry, who lived in the same house and died decades earlier. It seems their lives are linked by fate and the artifacts she found, but as Tansy begins spending more and more time in the past, her present world starts to fade away. Tansy must untangle herself from Henry's dangerous reality—before she loses touch with her own life forever.

On the outside, Through Her Eyes had everything that I was looking for: paranormal, mystery, different medium for said paranormal. But on the inside, it really did not live up to what I had hoped it would be.

Through Her Eyes starts off on the right foot. Girl uplifted, again, from normalcy to follow her mother around country has she writes horror novels. When the family moves into an older mansion-type home, Tansy, our main character, discovers some trinkets left behind. These trinkets lead her to discover the mystery surrounding the home and teen that once lived there.

While the novel did start off in a good direction, it seems that nothing really happens after that.. until the almost very end of the novel. I am not one who usually gives up on a book due to slow pacing.. but Through Her Eyes definitely tried my patience.

As for the paranormal aspect, I was really surprised by how well done it was. Many cultures have interesting ideas about cameras, and the often funny notion that by getting your picture taken, your soul will be taken as well. I have not seen the camera used too often in the way that Archer incorporated it, so I was pretty refreshing to see her take on this.

Despite some major pacing hang-ups, Through Her Eyes was well done. The characters were easy to relate to. The plot was pretty original. And for some reason, I have become a sucker for novels with ghosts in them. For that alone, I would recommend Through Her Eyes. But with everyone taken into consideration, it was a good novel, but not exactly as great as I would have liked.

Book Review: Mermaid

noreply@blogger.com (Kate) — Sat, 16 Apr 2011 05:01:00 +0000

Mermaid: A Twist on the Classic Tale
by Carolyn Turgeon

Released: March 3rd 2011

Publisher: Crown Publishing Group

Paperback: 240 pages

Links:

Goodreads / Author

The story of two very different women, one mortal, one mermaid, and the clash between worlds best kept apart... It is a cold day at the end of the world when a young woman, a princess in hiding, looks out across a Northern sea and sees something she could not have seen. It looks...it can't be. It looks like a mermaid's tail. And, as she looks more closely, she sees that the mermaid is dragging a drowning sailor in her arms. Because, only hours before, another princess, the daughter of the sea queen, has decided to risk everything and take a look at the world above the sea: the world of mortals. And there she finds a storm, a shipwreck, a sailor, and sets in train events which will change both women's worlds forever.
The Little Mermaid tale and I have a long history. Growing up, it was my favorite Disney movie. And even knowing the grimmer Hans Christian Anderson tale, did not deter me from loving this fairy tale. I wish the same could be said about Carolyn Turgeon's Mermaid.

At first glance, I thought this twist on the classic tale would be a fun read. Something a little different, but an escape nonetheless. Readers are introduced to two very different princesses. Princess Margrethe longs to stop the fighting between kingdoms, and bring peace to the land. While Princess Lenia longs to explore more than just the vast oceans. And when the both girls fall in love with the same Prince, only heartbreak and misery can await one, if not, both of the Princesses.

While the characters, the plot, and even the writing, for the most part, were well done. Prince Christopher, the unforunate choice for a love interest, completely rubbed me the wrong way. The Princesses Margrethe and Lenia were both strong(ish) female characters until the Prince came around. Once he entered the scene, it was down hill from there. Nothing exasperates me more than women who completely loss all sense of self due to a man. And this is exactly what they do. And the worse part of it all is that I have no absolute clue what they see in this guy.

Carolyn Turgeon's Mermaid is not for the faint of heart. It is dark, sensual, and a novel that I would have a hard time recommending to anyone under the age of at least 17. But that being said, part of me really enjoyed seeing a darker side to the tale. The other half wishes that Turgeon could have done better with the so-called Prince.

Book Review: Rage

noreply@blogger.com (Kate) — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 11:00:00 +0000

Rage (Horsemen of the Apocalypse, #2)

by Jackie Kessler

Released: April 8th 2011

Publisher: Harcourt Graphia

Paperback: 228 pages

Links:

Goodreads / Author

Missy didn’t mean to cut so deep. But after the party where she was humiliated in front of practically everyone in school, who could blame her for wanting some comfort? Sure, most people don’t find comfort in the touch of a razor blade, but Missy always was . . . different.

That’s why she was chosen to become one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse: War. Now Missy wields a new kind of blade—a big, brutal sword that can cut down anyone and anything in her path. But it’s with this weapon in her hand that Missy learns something that could help her triumph over her own pain: control.

Rage, the second in the Horsemen of the Apocalypse series, was almost too much for me to take. No, it is not poorly written. No, it is not boring. What it is is pure emotion. A teen who cuts herself to deal with emotional pain... only to become a vessel of war.

First off, growing up, my best friend was a cutter. For years, I would watch her come to school with long sleeve shirts or jackets, even if it was 90 degrees outside, just to cover the marks. It was a very hard time for me. Watching her go through this pain. Trying my best to help her as best I could. Only to discover that no matter how hard I tried to reach her, I couldn't. So, when I decided to read Rage, I knew that this could be an emotion read for me. And it was.

My first surprise was that Rage does not glorify cutting, or even make excuses for our main character, Missy, being a cutter. Kessler approaches this subject with the utmost respect and honesty. This is a very hard subject to tackle. And Kessler writes Rage almost with an understanding of what Missy is going through. And that made this all the more difficult to read.

But there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Which leaves Rage as a multi-layered novel that at times stole my breath away. If you are looking for a light-hearted read filled with fluff, you will not find it here. Rage is a darkly beautiful novel that haunts you long after you have finished the last page.

Author Interview: Jackie Kessler

noreply@blogger.com (Kate) — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 05:01:00 +0000

The Neverending Shelf is pleased to welcome Jackie Kessler. Jackie is the author of Horsemen of the Apocalypse series, which thus far includes: Hunger and Rage.

Missy didn’t mean to cut so deep. But after the party where she was humiliated in front of practically everyone in school, who could blame her for wanting some comfort? Sure, most people don’t find comfort in the touch of a razor blade, but Missy always was . . . different.

That’s why she was chosen to become one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse: War. Now Missy wields a new kind of blade—a big, brutal sword that can cut down anyone and anything in her path. But it’s with this weapon in her hand that Missy learns something that could help her triumph over her own pain: control.

____________

Describe your book in five words or less.

Cutter becomes avatar of War.

What has your road to publication been like?

Filled with traffic! :) I still haven't sold my first novel (going on,
um, 24 years now, yikes). And my second novel had a great narrator and characters but, well, no story. Oops. My third book was the one that scored me an agent and got me a three-book deal. (I thought it was urban fantasy; it sold as paranormal romance. Sometimes, the two don't play nicely together!) Then I coauthored a dystopian superhero series with Caitlin Kittredge, and the books came out in trade paperback...just as the economy tanked. Ack! But then I finally started the Riders of the Apocalypse, and
life was good. **pauses** What does it say about me that writing about the end of everything is when I'm happiest? :)

How did the idea for the series, Riders of the Apocalypse, come to you?

I had the idea for the first book, HUNGER, for 10 years. That's about an anorexic girl who becomes the new Famine, one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. I used to be bulimic, and I very much wanted to write a book that focused on eating disorders. My agent convinced me to write it, and she
sold it to Harcourt (hooray!!!). And after I handed it in, my agent said to me, "So which Horseman are you writing about next?" And this time, I didn't have 10 years to let it percolate! Based on events in HUNGER, it made sense that the next Horseman would be War. And because of that, I came up with the notion of a self-injurer becoming the next incarnation of War.

What is the hardest part of writing for you? What's the easiest?

Hardest? Finding the right beginning. I can't start writing until I have my first sentence. It's one of those annoying author quirks. I wish my quirk were that I had to start every writing session with a bit of chocolate! (Oh, wait...)

Easiest? When I really get into the flow of the story, it's like magic. Seriously. That's when the words come so fast that it feels like all I'm doing is transcribing the story that's been beamed into my brain. Crazy but true.

What's something surprising about yourself that most people wouldn't think true?

I've been told that people think I'm taller. I'm really not! I'm not even five feet tall. Sad, really. I'm positive the nurse during my physical was a total sadist. Four eleven and three-quarters. Sheesh! Give me the 1980s, when, thanks to Aqua Net and Big Hair, I was at least five-foot three!

What is one question that you've always wanted to be asked in an interview? How would you answer that question?

Heh. Okay, here you go:

Question: Is it true that your editor had to get off the phone with you because Joss Whedon was on hold?

Answer: Yes, it's true! I was talking to my Dark Horse Comics editor about doing a short comic book set in the Buffyverse, and at one point he said to me, "Jackie, that's Joss on line 1. He's very difficult to get a hold of; would it be OK if I call you back?" And I was like, "Oh, sure thing." But I was thinking: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH THAT'S JOSS WHEDON ON LINE ONE!!!!!!!!!!!

____________

Learn more about Jackie and Horsemen of the Apocalypse at:

Jackie's next stop is Lauren's Crammed Bookshelf at http://laurenscrammedbookshelf.blogspot.com/.

Book Review: Memento Nora

noreply@blogger.com (Kate) — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 05:01:00 +0000

Memento Nora (Memento Nora #1)

by Angie Smibert

Releases: April 28th 2011

Publisher: Marshall Cavendish Children's Books

Hardcover: 192 pages

Links:

Goodreads / Author

Nora, the popular girl and happy consumer, witnesses a horrific bombing on a shopping trip with her mother. In Nora’s near-future world, terrorism is so commonplace that she can pop one little white pill to forget and go on like nothing ever happened. However, when Nora makes her first trip to a Therapeutic Forgetting Clinic, she learns what her mother, a frequent forgetter, has been frequently forgetting. Nora secretly spits out the pill and holds on to her memories. The memory of the bombing as well as her mother’s secret and her budding awareness of the world outside her little clique make it increasingly difficult for Nora to cope. She turns to two new friends, each with their own reasons to remember, and together they share their experiences with their classmates through an underground comic. They soon learn, though, they can’t get away with remembering.

If you could take a little white pill to forget all the traumatic events in your life... would you do it? Would the events that you have forgotten make your life different? Would it make you a different person?

It is not everyday that a book evokes all these questions and really makes you think about the events that shape who you are as a person. But Memento Nora tackles all these questions. And does so in a way that completely threw my brain for a loop.

Told through three teen point of views, readers are given a deep look into the exciting and often times frightening world that Angie Smibert has created. Each character has their own hopes.. dreams.. fears that make the novel all the more powerful. And adds a level of depth to Memento Nora that I was not expecting to find.

The events of Memento Nora all revolve around one word: Memento. Here it is not a trinket, but rather an ode to remembering. Remember the past: the good, the bad, and the ugly. Smibert effortlessly weaves this mantra throughout the tale. And I adored her for it. It really makes you think about how life is suppose to be savoured. That life is an experience, and that you have to take the good with the bad.

Ultimately, Memento Nora is a novel full of surprises. It is an exciting look at what the world could be like if we all went down the rabbit hole. There seems to be a lot more up Angie Smibert's sleeve. And I cannot wait to see what it is.

Book Review: Clarity

noreply@blogger.com (Kate) — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 05:01:00 +0000

Clarity (Clarity, #1)

by Kim Harrington

Released: March 1st 2011

Publisher: Scholastic Point

Hardcover: 242 pages

Links:

Goodreads / Author

When you can see things others can't, where do you look for the truth?

Clarity "Clare" Fern sees things. Things no one else can see. Things like stolen kisses and long-buried secrets. All she has to do is touch a certain object, and the visions come to her. It's a gift.

And a curse.

When a teenage girl is found murdered, Clare's ex-boyfriend wants her to help solve the case--but Clare is still furious at the cheating jerk. Then Clare's brother--who has supernatural gifts of his own--becomes the prime suspect, and Clare can no longer look away. Teaming up with Gabriel, the smoldering son of the new detective, Clare must venture into the depths of fear, revenge, and lust in order to track the killer. But will her sight fail her just when she needs it most?

With the YA selection overflowing with paranormal reads, Clarity stands out from all the same old, same old to offer something completely new and refreshing.

Clare Fern is one part of a family with special abilities. Her mother is a telepath, her brother is a medium, Clare is a physic... and the father? Not much is known about him. Clare's family have craved out a special niche as the local "entertainers" in a small New England town. They do readings and the like which has most of the town classifying them as freaks. But when the town experiences an ultra rare murder, it is up to Clare and her family to find out who-done-it.

Going into Clarity, I had low expectations. The summary lead me to believe that the novel would primarily focus on the paranormal, and not so much on the murder mystery aspect. But actually, the opposite occurred. The powers were there.. the characters use them.. but it does not define who they are. And for that alone, I adored Clarity.

But there is so much more to this novel. Ms. Harrington, my hat goes off to you for creating a paranormal novel that defies everything that is on the shelf right now. Fantastic characters, a murder mystery that will leave you guessing up until the very end, and a romance that is FAR from typical.

I have gotten to the point where romances in YA paranormal novels annoy me. They are easy to predict, and usually offer nothing new. But Harrington took all of this a step further.. in the opposite direction. Nothing in Clarity is as it seems. Which makes me love it all the more.

Clarity is hands down one of the best YA paranormal reads of this year. And Harrington is a debut author to boot. If you are looking for something that strays for the typical path, give Harrington's Clarity a try. You will not be disappointed.

Book View: Birthmarked

noreply@blogger.com (Kate) — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 11:00:00 +0000

Birthmarked (Birthmarked, #1)

by Caragh M. O'Brien

Released: March 30th 2010

Publisher: Roaring Brook Press

Hardcover: 362 pages

Links:

Goodreads / Author

After climate change, on the north shore of Unlake Superior, a dystopian world is divided between those who live inside the wall, and those, like sixteen-year-old midwife Gaia Stone, who live outside. It’s Gaia’s job to “advance” a quota of infants from poverty into the walled Enclave, until the night one agonized mother objects, and Gaia’s parents are arrested.

Badly scarred since childhood, Gaia is a strong, resourceful loner who begins to question her society. As Gaia’s efforts to save her parents take her within the wall, she herself is arrested and imprisoned.

Fraught with difficult moral choices and rich with intricate layers of codes, Birthmarked explores a colorful, cruel, eerily familiar world where one girl can make all the difference, and a real hero makes her own moral code.

Short and Sweet: I am a dystopian junky. No matter how hard I try to get away from these type of books... they just keep pulling me back in. When Birthmarked first released, I was dying to get my hands on it. Months later, I have finally had the chance to get my hands on it. First impression? Birthmarked was certainly worth the wait. A brave character. An enticing world. A romance that was a sweet as it was frustrating. Yep, I am sure glad I had a chance to dive into these pages.

Final Verdict: A very satisfying dystopian. Well-written with plenty of action and romance. And an ending that made me want more. O'Brien certainly impressed me. If you have not given Birthmarked a try, you are missing out on something special. I cannot wait for the sequel!

LadyStar: The Dreamspeaker

noreply@blogger.com (Kate) — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 05:01:00 +0000

LadyStar: The Dreamspeaker (LadyStar Ajan Warriors Series)

by W. Scott

Released: February 10th 2011

Publisher: Palace in the Sky Publishing

Kindle Edition

Links:

Goodreads / Book Website

Prepare to do battle with the Greatest Fighting Team of Teenage Girls ever assembled!

Jessica Hoshi is just like any other girl. She loves music, playing in the marching band at school and spending time with her friends. One day, Jessica and her friends visit the Lakeshore Historical Society to take the Tall Ship Tour.

After they get separated from the tour group, Jessica discovers a gem-encrusted Lantern and a magically locked jewelry box below decks in the ship’s hold. A voice from inside the Lantern tells Jessica they are all in great danger. The jewelry box contains priceless stolen artifacts sought by ruthless and evil sorcerers known as Cryptics. (...read more)

Going into The Dreamspeaker, I had no clue what I was getting into. The cover was quite interesting. And if you take a moment to play around on the book's website, it is filled with girls who give off the manga vibe. Which, as a side note, is what I thought The Dreamspeaker was.. a manga.

In a lot of ways, I really enjoyed The Dreamspeaker. Jessica was a very colorful character and her friends and their personalities added in nicely. Scott's writing was simple and well-written, which is sure to please many readers. I never felt like the writing was talking over my head nor too simple that I wanted to throw the book at the wall due to over-explanations. It was a very nice combination.

Despite not being a manga, The Dreamspeaker has that feeling to it. Kick butt girl characters who have an adventure.. great friendships.. and a evil villain who needs desperately to be taken down. I enjoyed exploring Jessica's world and hope to see more of it soon.

The Shelf Report

noreply@blogger.com (Kate) — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 05:01:00 +0000

The Shelf Report explores really cool stuff happening around at The Neverending Shelf. Whether it be what I got in my mailbox, what book my nose is currently hiding in, or fun stuff to look forward to this week, you can find it here. The Shelf Report is inspired by Kristi's In My Mailbox and Sheila's It's Monday, What are you Reading?

Bought:

Born at Midnight (Shadow Falls, #1) by C.C. Hunter

One night Kylie Galen finds herself at the wrong party, with the wrong people, and it changes her life forever. Her mother ships her off to Shadow Falls—a camp for troubled teens, and within hours of arriving, it becomes painfully clear that her fellow campers aren’t just “troubled.” Here at Shadow Falls, vampires, werewolves, shapshifters, witches and fairies train side by side—learning to harness their powers, control their magic and live in the normal world.

Kylie’s never felt normal, but surely she doesn’t belong here with a bunch of paranormal freaks either. Or does she? They insist Kylie is one of them, and that she was brought here for a reason. As if life wasn’t complicated enough, enter Derek and Lucas. Derek’s a half-fae who’s determined to be her boyfriend, and Lucas is a smokin’ hot werewolf with whom Kylie shares a secret past. Both Derek and Lucas couldn’t be more different, but they both have a powerful hold on her heart.
Even though Kylie feels deeply uncertain about everything, one thing is becoming painfully clear—Shadow Falls is exactly where she belongs…

Contest Winners:

Chaos:

Joyce Fierro

Chelsea / Vampire Book Club

Hex Hall Set:

Laura Ellis

Sorry, these are a bit late. I have sent your info to the respective person for your prizes.

Currently Reading:

Awaken by Katie Kacvinsky

Maddie lives in a world where everything is done on the computer. Whether it’s to go to school or on a date, people don’t venture out of their home. There’s really no need. For the most part, Maddie’s okay with the solitary, digital life—until she meets Justin. Justin likes being with people. He enjoys the physical closeness of face-to-face interactions. People aren’t meant to be alone, he tells her.

Suddenly, Maddie feels something awakening inside her—a feeling that maybe there is a different, better way to live. But with society and her parents telling her otherwise, Maddie is going to have to learn to stand up for herself if she wants to change the path her life is taking.

In this not-so-brave new world, two young people struggle to carve out their own space.

TBR Pile:1 / Kate:0

noreply@blogger.com (Kate) — Sat, 09 Apr 2011 12:00:00 +0000

In the past few months, my TBR pile has become like kuzdu. You know that plant that just spread everywhere and is practically impossible to get rid of? Yea, that is my TBR pile. It seems that no matter how hard I try to get the pile down... it just keeps coming back.

Therefore, I will be participating in this year Dewey's 24 Hour Read-A-Thon. Sadly, I have to work for a majority of it. But I am hoping to get in a few modest hours and put a dent into it.

The Goal: 7 hours. I am hoping to get in more, but this is a good place to start.

The Books: Now, that is a good question. I have plenty of manga series that I have been wanting to catch up on in addition to my review books. So, my current plan is just to read organically. Find a few shortish review books... add in some manga... and I should be set.

This will be the first time that I will be participating in Dewey's 24 Hour Read-A-Thon. I am really excited to get started.

Have you participated in Dewey's 24 Hour Read-A-Thon before? Any tips for a newbie?

Book Review: The Opposite of Amber

noreply@blogger.com (Kate) — Sat, 09 Apr 2011 05:01:00 +0000

The Opposite of Amber

by Gillian Philip

Released: April 4th 2011

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Paperback: 320 pages

Links:

Goodreads / Author

Ruby and her older sister Jinn live together on their own, just about making ends meet. Jinn is beautiful, with glittering blonde hair, and makes it her business to look after Ruby. They are horrified by, but try to ignore, the local newspaper stories of prostitutes who are murdered, their bodies eventually discovered underwater. Then the no-good Nathan Baird turns up on the scene - again - and Jinn starts to change. First Nathan moves in with Jinn and Ruby, making Ruby feel an outsider, and then Jinn and Nathan move out, leaving Ruby alone. Jinn no longer has time to look after Ruby. And it seems to Ruby that Jinn herself needs looking after. Her beautiful glittering hair starts to lose its shine. And then Jinn disappears. A deeply moving, chilling, and incredibly powerful thriller that celebrates the love two sisters have for each other and mourns the events beyond their control that will conspire to drive them apart.

In thinking back about The Opposite of Amber, the phrase "don't judge a book by its cover" instantly comes to mind. Don't let this cover fool you.

The Opposite of Amber was nothing like I thought it would be. This novel is not a happy-go-lucky novel. It is a dark, thrilling read that surprised me with its depth. Even now, days after reading it, I feel like a lot of me is still trying to digest Philip's message.

Going into this novel, I was looking for a fast-paced thriller. And I got some of that. But Philip and her prose completely deserve more than being declared a fast-paced read. Because, in all honesty, this is not a fast read. It literally took me days to finish it. And that is not a bad thing. Philip has created a very character driven novel which focus more on understanding the characters, the situation, and their feelings than a quick slasherish read with little substance. And substance is definitely a department that The Opposite of Amber is lacking in.

The Opposite of Amber is a novel that deserves to be savored. If you are like me, it may take you a little while to get into the novel.. to like the characters. But once you hit that stride, The Opposite of Amber will become a novel that will be hard to put down.

Book Review: Enclave

noreply@blogger.com (Kate) — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 05:01:00 +0000

Enclave (Razorland, #1)

by Ann Aguirre

Releases: April 12th 2011

Publisher: Feiwel & Friends

Hardcover: 259 pages

Links:

Goodreads / Author

New York City has been decimated by war and plague, and most of civilization has migrated to underground enclaves, where life expectancy is no more than the early 20's. When Deuce turns 15, she takes on her role as a Huntress, and is paired with Fade, a teenage Hunter who lived Topside as a young boy. When she and Fade discover that the neighboring enclave has been decimated by the tunnel monsters—or Freaks—who seem to be growing more organized, the elders refuse to listen to warnings. And when Deuce and Fade are exiled from the enclave, the girl born in darkness must survive in daylight, in the ruins of a city whose population has dwindled to a few dangerous gangs. As the two are guided by Fade’s long-ago memories, they face dangers, and feelings, unlike any they’ve ever known.

Deep below the surface lies a group of people. They are fierce, fearless, and absolute in their quest for survival. A people who will do whatever it takes.. and I mean whatever. In the Enclave, each person has their own special task: breeder, builder, hunter. For Deuce, there is only only option.. to become a huntress. The bravest of the brave. No longer will she just be Girl15, but rather a person of value within her society. But just has you think you have gotten all that you have ever dreamed of, fate has a way of stepping in.

It is not every day that you find a novel like Enclave. I am so enthralled with it that I simply do not know where to start. The one of a kind characters? The intense world? It is all so perfect that I sometimes wonder if I imagined half of this book. It is like Ann Aguirre read my mind. She gave me everything that I have been dreaming about in a dystopian novel all in one pretty package.

In this world, freaks, kinda like zombies, roam the planet in search of their next meal. Earth as we know it is pretty much devoid of life and resources. This is a world where it is everyone and everything for themselves. And Deuce fit perfectly into this world. I probably cannot give her enough credit. I loved her attitude. Her thirst to prove herself in a world that does not want to accept her. But she is not all tough. She has the gooey inside that makes her relatable to.

Enclave is exactly what a dystopian novel should be. It is gritty and down right brutal. And I love every moment of this book. Based on what I have seen, there will at least be a sequel, and to that I say BRING IT ON!

Top Ten Playlist: Memento Nora

noreply@blogger.com (Kate) — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 05:01:00 +0000

For every novel there is a song. For in Memento Nora's case, ten songs. Today, The Neverending Shelf is happy to welcome Angie Smibert as she shares some of Top Ten songs for her novel, Memento Nora.

Nora, the popular girl and happy consumer, witnesses a horrific bombing on a shopping trip with her mother. In Nora’s near-future world, terrorism is so commonplace that she can pop one little white pill to forget and go on like nothing ever happened. However, when Nora makes her first trip to a Therapeutic Forgetting Clinic, she learns what her mother, a frequent forgetter, has been frequently forgetting. Nora secretly spits out the pill and holds on to her memories. The memory of the bombing as well as her mother’s secret and her budding awareness of the world outside her little clique make it increasingly difficult for Nora to cope. She turns to two new friends, each with their own reasons to remember, and together they share their experiences with their classmates through an underground comic. They soon learn, though, they can’t get away with remembering.

__________

For Memento Nora, I made up a few songs for my characters to mellow out to. The rest of the songs on this list are just what I think are appropriate for the story. Enjoy.

1. “Glossy Girl” by the Bag Boys

When she can’t sleep, Nora plugs in her ear buds and tries to drown out the sights and sounds of what she witnessed earlier that day with this tune.

2. “My Credit Rating Sucks and So Do You” by the Lo-Fi Strangers

Micah listens to this gem as he sketches black vans.

3. “Haji Patrol Theme”

Micah hears this coming from the backseat of a parked car, which clues him in that someone’s in danger.

4. “Forget You” by Ce Lo Green (either his version or the Glee version)

Ok, I know what the original lyrics are to this song, but I like the double-entendre of this “F” word. Memento Nora is about forgetting, or being made to forget. And the first paragraph of the book is almost Nora’s little “forget you” to the powers that be.

5. “Bad Day” by REM

This song is REM’s joyful noise unto the times: “We're dug in deep the price is steep. / The auctioneer is such a creep.” And those times haven’t gotten any better in Nora’s day.

6. “Sons & Daughters” by the Decemberists

This is just a lovely little ditty about surviving when “all the bombs fade away.” Memento Nora isn’t a post-apocalyptic story, but bombs are still going off.

7. “Sheep Go to Heaven” by Cake

The ads for the Therapeutic Forgetting Clinics often feature an idyllic pasture setting, complete with blue skies, green meadows, and fluffy white sheep.

8. “Waiting on the World to Change” by John Mayer

Despite feeling like they “don’t have the means / To rise above and beat it,” Micah, Nora, and Winter do try to change their small corner of the world.

9. “Stuck in a Moment You Can’t Get Out of” by U2

The forgetting pill dispensed by TFC is supposed to treat or prevent Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), which essentially happens when your brain gets stuck in a moment you can’t get out of.

10. “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” by Simple Minds

The title of the book could be translated: Remember Nora.

11. Bonus track: “Hummingbird” by Wilco.

This one’s for Winter. She sees her thoughts as hummingbirds at times.

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